The First Gentleman by James Patterson and Bill Clinton

Imagine an opening scene in which President Madeline Wright is riding in a motorcade with her husband Cole Wright, the First Gentleman, toward a courthouse in which the jury has reached a verdict—a verdict in which the First Gentleman is accused of murder.

Cole Wright, a former NFL star, stood trial for the murder of a cheerleader, a crime dating back seventeen years. The allegations risk both his reputation and President Wright's political career, throwing the administration into disarray at the peak of an important legislative campaign for her “Grand Bargain” policy package.

Two investigative journalists, Brea Cooke and Garrett (no other name offered), race to unravel the mystery behind the murder. They believed the First Gentleman had done it, and they attempted to prove it. The investigation grows dangerous with anonymous threats and a web of deception implicating high-level political operatives, including a corrupt law school professor and a mobster.

As a writer, I found one concept interesting. Everyone writes about actions in the third person, which is common in novels. Except for Brea Cooke. Her story is written in the first person. That is particularly intriguing to me since Brea does not play a major role until well into the novel.

The story blends courtroom drama, police procedural, political intrigue, and media manipulation. It explores the collision between public perception and private truth, the burdens of leadership, and the personal sacrifices demanded by political life. The narrative culminates in a dramatic reveal of the real mastermind behind the conspiracy.

Recommended

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BTW: Check out my latest novel

Nicholas Foxe and the Lost Code of Montezuma

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