The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton

The President is Missing

By James Patterson and Bill Clinton

Little, Brown and Co. 2018. Fiction. 512 p.

President Jonathan Duncan is under fire because he made a phone call to one of the world's most famous cyber terrorists.  The Speaker of the House and even the Vice President are talking impeachment.  What they don't know is that the country is in eminent threat of a massive cyber attack that could topple America's economy.  Duncan has also discovered that one of his top advisors is a traitor working with the terrorists. Not knowing who he can trust, Jonathan Duncan puts his own life on the line to try to uncover the virus and its creator and stop them both before it is too late.

How often does a past President of the United States team up with one of the most successful American authors to create a fiction novel? This book got a lot of attention when it was published in 2018 because of its unique authorship, but is it worth all the hype it received?  I was a little skeptical starting out, but I ended up enjoying the book pretty much.  It is fast paced and exciting with unexpected plot twists and a very interesting view of the life inside the White House.  It also has a sobering message about how modern dependence on the internet creates vulnerabilities unlike any from past centuries. Those who like Patterson's other action adventures will enjoy this one.  Those who are new to Patterson's writing should be aware that this is written for an adult audience, and there is some swearing, violence, and brief references to sexual exploitation of women.