When an upcoming political thriller covering historical events of international importance is slated for release, excitement is natural. However, exhilaration and edginess touch a different level altogether when it is co-authored by a chart-topping mystery writer and a seasoned politician of global repute.
Written jointly by former US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Canadian novelist, Louise Penny, State of Terror is a much-awaited book hitting stores on October 12, 2021. Â
Set “after four years of American leadership that shrank from the world stage,” it depicts a world of perilous political diplomacy and deceit. The story follows the life of a novice Secretary of State who has recently joined the administration of a president who has been her political rival, and landscapes a situation of global panic and chaos as a result of a sequence of heinous terrorist attacks. She bears the responsibility of getting together a team to “unravel the deadly conspiracy, a scheme carefully designed to take advantage of an American government dangerously out of touch and out of power in the places where it counts the most.”
The major high-point of the novel has to be the many details that only Clinton could imbue into Penny’s accomplished narration for she has been part of the US politics through its various phases since the late 1970s in different capacities. Having served the nation as the First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States, United States Senator from New York, and 67th US Secretary of State, Clinton is certainly in a formidable position to give us an insider’s view of what goes on behind the scenes. More importantly, Clinton has seen both the highs and lows of US politics and understands very well the dynamics of power.Â
“This is emphatically a story for our times and we are confident it will establish itself as a bestseller for years to come, read both by thriller fans and by Hillary Clinton’s and Louise Penny’s legions of admirers around the world.”—Jeremy Trevathan, Pan Macmillan publisher
While some of Clinton’s non-fiction books have been bestsellers already, this is the first time she is venturing into fictional realms. What Happened, which focuses on her loss to Donald Trump in the 2016 elections was an international bestseller. Her memoirs, Living History (2003) and Hard Choices (2014) have also been very well received. In 2019, Clinton collaborated with her daughter, Chelsea Clinton for The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience.Â
My first work of fiction, but drawing from some life experience! https://t.co/IkN0PhU7Tu
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 24, 2021
Penny and Clinton have been friends for many years and the latter is also a great admirer of Penny’s mysteries. Penny was also one of the three writers to discuss books with Clinton on her podcast, You and Me Both—an episode Clinton announced writing, “Love books? ME TOO.” When the idea of co-writing a political thriller struck them, both were equally excited. Clinton recently expressed her anticipation saying, “I’m thrilled to be writing my first book of fiction with Louise Penny, one of my favorite authors and a dear friend. Get ready for some high-stakes diplomacy and treachery.”
In the United States, the book will be jointly published by St Martin’s Press and Simon & Schuster, and under Pan Macmillan in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.
Written by
Ambika Singh, PhD
Content Manager, Shulph