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The President Is Missing: A Novel
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- The President Is Missing: A Novel
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- Customer reviews
Top positive review
435 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsSurprisingly good
ByAndrew Kenton June 21, 2018
So, I started this reluctantly, via a Preview on the Kindle. I don't read Patterson, and adding Clinton to the cover added to my reluctance. However, the reviews were surprisingly consistent and good, so I thought I'd at least wade in, if only for amusement. Well, two days of intense reading later, and I can say that the reviews are right -- the book is consistently good, with a propulsive plot, believable characters, a good balance of detail and pacing, and some cards played at the end that make it all come together nicely. While there is a quality of reveal to it that sometimes makes it feel a little too tidy for a minute or two, the pacing keeps you moving, and it's a great, fun read.
Top critical review
36 people found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsOkay thriller that could have been great
BySusan Kaplanon August 5, 2018
This book is about an attack on the cyberspace infrastructure of the United States - the Internet. Written by James Patterson, an author well-known for his thrillers, and former President Bill Clinton, the story, in a broad brush summary, is about a massive plot to disable the US by deleting all electronic files and sending it into the “Dark Ages,” the code word for rendering the US a crippled, paralyzed, and primitive zone of chaos.
A virus is discovered that will cause this chaos to occur in record time. The story revolves around trying to find the code word that will disable the virus.
The President is missing is not exactly accurate, but it’s what the world believes. The President has actually decamped to a secure, secret place where he amasses a team of experts to try to stop the virus in its tracks. This is a uniquely hands-on President, it seems.
The story is compelling and in our times completely believable, including discovering a traitor inside the White House. However , the President tends to deliver periodic and lengthy polemics about the state of the world, which are thinly veiled attacks on our current administration. I will say this: I’m not a fan at all if the current administration and its policies. However, I think the fictional President’s tirades are unnecessary. They add nothing to the story and in fact detract from it, which is why I give this darn good ride of a story only three stars. You can pretty much tell what part of the story James Patterson wrote and what part Bill Clinton wrote. The distinction is that obvious.
Nevertheless, if one overlooks the political digressions, this is an excellent tale.
A virus is discovered that will cause this chaos to occur in record time. The story revolves around trying to find the code word that will disable the virus.
The President is missing is not exactly accurate, but it’s what the world believes. The President has actually decamped to a secure, secret place where he amasses a team of experts to try to stop the virus in its tracks. This is a uniquely hands-on President, it seems.
The story is compelling and in our times completely believable, including discovering a traitor inside the White House. However , the President tends to deliver periodic and lengthy polemics about the state of the world, which are thinly veiled attacks on our current administration. I will say this: I’m not a fan at all if the current administration and its policies. However, I think the fictional President’s tirades are unnecessary. They add nothing to the story and in fact detract from it, which is why I give this darn good ride of a story only three stars. You can pretty much tell what part of the story James Patterson wrote and what part Bill Clinton wrote. The distinction is that obvious.
Nevertheless, if one overlooks the political digressions, this is an excellent tale.
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ByAndrew Kenton June 21, 2018
So, I started this reluctantly, via a Preview on the Kindle. I don't read Patterson, and adding Clinton to the cover added to my reluctance. However, the reviews were surprisingly consistent and good, so I thought I'd at least wade in, if only for amusement. Well, two days of intense reading later, and I can say that the reviews are right -- the book is consistently good, with a propulsive plot, believable characters, a good balance of detail and pacing, and some cards played at the end that make it all come together nicely. While there is a quality of reveal to it that sometimes makes it feel a little too tidy for a minute or two, the pacing keeps you moving, and it's a great, fun read.
435 people found this helpful
Helpful
ByBlake Newmanon June 4, 2018
The book captured my attention from page one and I could not put it down. It is brilliantly and beautifully written with drama, suspense, and insight that only a few people in this world can have. I almost wish that Bill Clinton's name was not on the cover of the book because it seems that people are polarizing and politicizing the whole thing. Regardless of who wrote the book, if you love a great novel of suspense with historical context, if you are a political junkie who enjoys novels, if you like to binge on exciting drama and suspense, then you would probably enjoy reading this book. It is a thick book, over 500 pages and 100+ chapters that will keep you reading page after page, chapter after chapter. It feels solid in your hand and your lap. It will keep you entertained for hours, if not days.
ByAmazon Customeron June 30, 2018
Upfront I want to say that I am a voracious reader. I am on my Third Kindle since 2011....and I do not play games.
That being said....I am choosy about what I spend money on. I have read some of James Patterson's earlier books and I did read one of President Clinton's. So when they were on Steven Colbert's show talking about this book, I thought I'd get the sample chapters. I was drawn in immediately and purchased the book. I read for enjoyment mostly, on average 4-5 hours a day. So the premise of the President is Missing is that the press - and by reporting it - the public doesn't know where the President is. The characters were very believable, and I liked the insight to the people connected to the White House. I could see the input from President Clinton. Unless you are privy to the inner workings of the Presidency and political workings, this would not have been believable. Because I watched Designated Survivor, this book came alive for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it.
Forget your political leaning...this could be any party's President, but the threat is universal. So, what I'd recommend is to get the sample and see if you want to spend the money on the book. Make up your own mind, don't be swayed by a good or bad review.
That being said....I am choosy about what I spend money on. I have read some of James Patterson's earlier books and I did read one of President Clinton's. So when they were on Steven Colbert's show talking about this book, I thought I'd get the sample chapters. I was drawn in immediately and purchased the book. I read for enjoyment mostly, on average 4-5 hours a day. So the premise of the President is Missing is that the press - and by reporting it - the public doesn't know where the President is. The characters were very believable, and I liked the insight to the people connected to the White House. I could see the input from President Clinton. Unless you are privy to the inner workings of the Presidency and political workings, this would not have been believable. Because I watched Designated Survivor, this book came alive for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it.
Forget your political leaning...this could be any party's President, but the threat is universal. So, what I'd recommend is to get the sample and see if you want to spend the money on the book. Make up your own mind, don't be swayed by a good or bad review.
Byshellyblytheon July 1, 2018
In the first few chapters, after reading the internal dialogue of the president, I turned to my Mom & said “This could only have been written by a former president...it’s just too real, & much too funny!” It’s about a President who knows of a cyberterrorist’s plan to put America in grave turmoil. He knows what the plan will do, but must keep it a secret in order to prevent mass hysteria.
I could NOT put this down (with the exception of sleep, of course). The characters are incredibly well developed, & I came to like one character whose job leaves precious little to deserve my liking her.
The suspense of the book made my heart race a little, which to me makes it a great read! The plot twist at the end was unexpected and seriously well written! Buy this book - you won’t regret it!!!
I could NOT put this down (with the exception of sleep, of course). The characters are incredibly well developed, & I came to like one character whose job leaves precious little to deserve my liking her.
The suspense of the book made my heart race a little, which to me makes it a great read! The plot twist at the end was unexpected and seriously well written! Buy this book - you won’t regret it!!!
BySusan Kaplanon August 5, 2018
This book is about an attack on the cyberspace infrastructure of the United States - the Internet. Written by James Patterson, an author well-known for his thrillers, and former President Bill Clinton, the story, in a broad brush summary, is about a massive plot to disable the US by deleting all electronic files and sending it into the “Dark Ages,” the code word for rendering the US a crippled, paralyzed, and primitive zone of chaos.
A virus is discovered that will cause this chaos to occur in record time. The story revolves around trying to find the code word that will disable the virus.
The President is missing is not exactly accurate, but it’s what the world believes. The President has actually decamped to a secure, secret place where he amasses a team of experts to try to stop the virus in its tracks. This is a uniquely hands-on President, it seems.
The story is compelling and in our times completely believable, including discovering a traitor inside the White House. However , the President tends to deliver periodic and lengthy polemics about the state of the world, which are thinly veiled attacks on our current administration. I will say this: I’m not a fan at all if the current administration and its policies. However, I think the fictional President’s tirades are unnecessary. They add nothing to the story and in fact detract from it, which is why I give this darn good ride of a story only three stars. You can pretty much tell what part of the story James Patterson wrote and what part Bill Clinton wrote. The distinction is that obvious.
Nevertheless, if one overlooks the political digressions, this is an excellent tale.
A virus is discovered that will cause this chaos to occur in record time. The story revolves around trying to find the code word that will disable the virus.
The President is missing is not exactly accurate, but it’s what the world believes. The President has actually decamped to a secure, secret place where he amasses a team of experts to try to stop the virus in its tracks. This is a uniquely hands-on President, it seems.
The story is compelling and in our times completely believable, including discovering a traitor inside the White House. However , the President tends to deliver periodic and lengthy polemics about the state of the world, which are thinly veiled attacks on our current administration. I will say this: I’m not a fan at all if the current administration and its policies. However, I think the fictional President’s tirades are unnecessary. They add nothing to the story and in fact detract from it, which is why I give this darn good ride of a story only three stars. You can pretty much tell what part of the story James Patterson wrote and what part Bill Clinton wrote. The distinction is that obvious.
Nevertheless, if one overlooks the political digressions, this is an excellent tale.
ByGrandma PAKon June 22, 2018
This was a good book but ENTIRELY too long. OMG, I thought it would never get to the good parts, and then it took forever to end it.
Loved the story, but will never recommend it. James Pattersons books are usually really good, grab you right away and are fun fast reads. This is not the case here. I would have given up early on it, but I like President Clinton and that is why I finished it.
Also I like a book that I can't wait to get back to and this was not it
Loved the story, but will never recommend it. James Pattersons books are usually really good, grab you right away and are fun fast reads. This is not the case here. I would have given up early on it, but I like President Clinton and that is why I finished it.
Also I like a book that I can't wait to get back to and this was not it
ByPseudo Don August 13, 2018
President Bill Clinton tries something new with his first novel, with James Patterson who is probably the most popular novelist in America. I found it to be a fast paced and captivating story that I was able to read very quickly. I'm a quick reader anyway, mostly with nonfiction, but this book was even faster than usual. It involves cyberterrorism, the Middle East (Muslim in culture but not religiously motivated), hackers, Russia, domestic politics, Congress, the Vice President and White House staff, treason, assassins, media, etc. The President is a man but has been made a widower and a number of the other key political figures are women. For those who have studied the psychoanalysis of Bill there's the ongoing question of the power of women. And an interesting question is who wrote what, which some have already tried to guess based on writing styles and the use of words. One of Bill's stylistic problems is being excessively verbose (My Life is 1006 pages!) so he was wise to collaborate with Patterson to keep the style crisp. Obviously a lot of the content is known because of Bill's experience. The fictional President came across more aggressive than the public Bill. The speech at the end blurs the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction as it is obviously Bill Clinton's take on some contemporary matters.
ByKindle Customeron June 29, 2018
Very good story of politics and espionage. Also it's a tale that can strike terror in your heart.
Someone revealed classified information and the possible culprits were narrowed to a very limited core of the President's advisers. To thwart an effort to disrupt the entire infrastructure of the country with a computer virus the President must go underground for a brief time. Then the Secret Service, who had him under surveillance the entire time, kept him protected throughout the rest of the story.
The premise of the cyber attack is something this story presents in chilling detail and we can only hope it never comes to pass.
Someone revealed classified information and the possible culprits were narrowed to a very limited core of the President's advisers. To thwart an effort to disrupt the entire infrastructure of the country with a computer virus the President must go underground for a brief time. Then the Secret Service, who had him under surveillance the entire time, kept him protected throughout the rest of the story.
The premise of the cyber attack is something this story presents in chilling detail and we can only hope it never comes to pass.
ByMelvin Hunton August 13, 2018
The star of the book is President Duncan. He is under attack by the Speaker of the House Lester Rhodes The Speaker wants to hold hearings to begin inpeachment against the President.There is also a terrorist organization called Sons of Jihad who is skilled at launching a cyber attack on America.The leader of this group is Suliman Cindurok. To add to this situation is a hired assasin who goes by the name of Bach.By removing the President Speaker Rhodes waants to get his daughter appointed to the Supreme Court.There is a code word to guard a cyber attack called Dark Ages.President Duncan is warned of a coming cyber attack by two individuals named Augie and Nina. President Duncan dissapears in order to have a secret meeting with Augie and Nina.There are also some villains involved in this story. Kathy Brandt and Carolyn Brock. There is also a secret code word to stop the cyber attack.There are more villains who are financing these evil activities, The Russians and the Saudi Arabians are the money bags involved. This turned out to be a riveting book. Do not miss it.
ByKindle Customeron July 10, 2018
I used to look forward to Patterson’s books with great anticipation...not anymore. I thought perhaps this novel with Clinton as co-author might be better. To my great disappointment it was not. Mediocre at best, preachy at worst. Although I agree with the joint congress speech at the end, it seems the entire book was written to get to that point. Save your money...
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