
Welcome to our Ninth First Book of the Year Event! I love participating, and have joined in every year since the beginning. Thanks to Sheila, at Book Journey, for making the event so much fun!
Here is my pick: State of Terror, by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
Named one of the most anticipated novels of the season by People, Associated Press, Time, Los Angeles Times, Parade, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Guardian, Publishers Weekly, and more.
From the #1 bestselling authors Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny comes a novel of unsurpassed thrills and incomparable insider expertise—State of Terror.
After a tumultuous period in American politics, a new administration has just been sworn in, and to everyone’s surprise the president chooses a political enemy for the vital position of secretary of state.
There is no love lost between the president of the United States and Ellen Adams, his new secretary of state. But it’s a canny move on the part of the president. With this appointment, he silences one of his harshest critics, since taking the job means Adams must step down as head of her multinational media conglomerate.
As the new president addresses Congress for the first time, with Secretary Adams in attendance, Anahita Dahir, a young foreign service officer (FSO) on the Pakistan desk at the State Department, receives a baffling text from an anonymous source.
Too late, she realizes the message was a hastily coded warning.
What begins as a series of apparent terrorist attacks is revealed to be the beginning of an international chess game involving the volatile and Byzantine politics of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran; the race to develop nuclear weapons in the region; the Russian mob; a burgeoning rogue terrorist organization; and an American government set back on its heels in the international arena.
As the horrifying scale of the threat becomes clear, Secretary Adams and her team realize it has been carefully planned to take advantage of four years of an American government out of touch with international affairs, out of practice with diplomacy, and out of power in the places where it counts the most.
To defeat such an intricate, carefully constructed conspiracy, it will take the skills of a unique team: a passionate young FSO; a dedicated journalist; and a smart, determined, but as yet untested new secretary of state.
State of Terror is a unique and utterly compelling international thriller cowritten by Hillary Rodham Clinton, the 67th secretary of state, and Louise Penny, a multiple award-winning #1 New York Times bestselling novelist.
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When I have finished reading this book, I will post my review here at this blog.
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Happy New Year, and may you love every page of your First Book of the Year!
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Enjoy your first book; I’ve read really great reviews on it. It’s a bit of a chunkster! I hope to try it sometime as well.
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Thanks, Diane, I bought the book a couple of months ago, and hadn’t started it because of the “chunkster” aspect,,,but then I thought “perfect,” for First Book. Enjoy yours!
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Great choice, should be very interesting. Look forward to your thoughts when you have finished it.
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Thanks, Kathryn, I hope to spend good times with it! Enjoy yours, and Happy New Year,
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That’s a good choice Laurel! What we all suffered thru during the last Admin. I look forward to hearing what you think of it. Happy 2022!
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Thanks, Susan, I am ready to dig into this one! Happy New Year!
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I hope you love it, Laurel. Happy New Year!
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Thanks, Mary, enjoy yours, and have a Happy New Year!
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Enjoy! Looking forward to your thoughts.
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Thanks, Nise, and enjoy your pick, too!
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A scarily relevant choice Laurel!
Wishing you a happy, healthy & safe new year
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Thanks, Shelleyrae, I think so, too! Enjoy yours, and Happy New Year!
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What a great sounding book to begin the year with!!
Happy new year and enjoy your day!
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Thanks, Erin, yours too! I do love this event. Happy New Year for the whole year!
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ENJOY your book!!
I actually just finished my book…LOVED IT.
It was THE NIGHT SHIFT by Alex Finlay.
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Thanks, Elizabeth, I have my eye on your pick!
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Great pic! Thanks so much for doing First Book!
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Thanks for hosting us each year, Sheila!
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I have been curious about this book. I cannot wait to see what you think of it!
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Thanks, Carole, I had it on hand when this date approached, and I suddenly realized it would be perfect for me. So far, it’s really good.
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I may read it though it sounds like a What If by the former secy of state!
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Thanks, Harvee, and there are already reminders of that corrupt former administration in everything that happens…so far.
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Hope you enjoy your first book.
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Thanks, Cheryl, it is a page turner so far! Enjoy yours.
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