I adored both of the Hope book by Andrew Shaffer! Hope Rides Again picks up after Hope Never Dies, with VP Biden and President Obama having gotten back on track in the friendship department. Biden is visiting Chicago with the thought of running for President in 2020, when a young boy is found dead after having met Biden at a conference. But who would kill this boy who was trying to better himself? Obama and Biden to the rescue! One of my favorite parts of the book is when Obama promises a store owner to tell him what really happens at Area 51, but still will not tell Biden because "it's classified." I laughed out loud on almost every page of this book!

Like the first book, this gives a fictional account front Joe Biden's point of view of a crime he wants to investigate. He also involves Barak Obama in the shenanigans. It is a light hearted, humorous romp through a could have been story.

It was no secret in my shop that I loved the first instalment of this Joe Biden/Barack Obama series, & the sequel is just as good, if not better!

I thoroughly enjoyed this, & I would recommend it to anyone who loves the friendship between Biden & Obama, along with a good mystery and plenty of humour. Long may this series continue!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's a pulp noir mystery with Joe Biden and Barack Obama. I liked that it took place in Chicago, the city itself almost felt like a character. It's enjoyable! Not the buddy cop book I hope for, but enjoyable nonetheless.

The second book in the Joe Biden/Barack Obama mysteries starts with Joe reading a pulp paperback detailing his exploits in Hope Never Dies, an amusing and unexpected bit. He's heading into Chicago to meet up with Barack, meet some people who may be beneficial to his potential presidential run, and maybe run into Oprah while she's hanging out with Michelle. Things don't go quite according to plan though, as a bright young man Joe met is soon found critically injured after a shooting in a rail yard. Joe is troubled by the potential loss of this bright young man's future, and is determined to find the shooter, a dangerous prospect on Chicago's South Side. Luckily, Chicago is his buddy Barry's turf, and together, they're going to do what they can to make things right.

It's a quick read. It's entertaining. You get true details about the characters, like Biden never drinking alcohol, and talking about his Catholic upbringing. It makes you wonder how the real people feel about their portrayals. Does Rahm Emanuel like being thought of as someone to fear, wandering the streets with enforcers, aka goons? It seems to go on a little longer than necessary- it's like a movie that would be so much better if you cut 30 minutes out. Overall though, fans of the Obama/Biden bromance will enjoy this.

Overall, it was a great, fun read! Not as strong as the first, but I didn't expect anything more than simple fun. Especially now that Biden has actually declared for 2020, it's quite a lot of fun to read. I especially enjoyed the minor appearances of Michelle Obama, who just showed up, fixed a problem, and went on her merry way. I will definitely be talking this book up to library patrons.

The second Obama-Biden mystery is even more fun than the first! In a deliciously meta beginning, Joe Biden starts his hard-boiled narration with a vent on the novel that's come out, on Biden's search for the murderer who killed his favorite Amtrak conductor, noting that it's all a "bunch of malarkey". Biden heads to Chicago to see Obama, who wants to introduce him to a wealthy potential backer for a Presidential run that Biden still isn't sure he's going to undertake. While in Chicago, a teen Biden takes a shine to is shot, and Uncle Joe and Obama find themselves on the beat once more.

There's so much to enjoy with Hope Rides Again: the renewed bromance between Obama and Biden; the seedy Chicago not-so underworld the two navigate together, and having more Michelle Obama are just three of the best things. Andrew Shaffer has hilariously captured Biden's voice - you won't NOT hear him as you read this - and puts true friendship at the heart of the story this time. Noir with a heart of gold, and I loved spending every second with this book.

So, when's the next one coming out?

Hope Rides Again by Andrew Shaffer is a rollicking, fast-paced story with former Vice President Joe Biden as the narrator. The escapes of President Obama and VP Biden are fun to read and truth be told, hard to put down. Looking forward to reading their next adventure!

The best fanfiction I could ever ask for. Our favorite crime fighting team are back and this time they're on Michelle and Barack's home of Chicago. Joe and Barack get into all sorts of fun hijinks and there is not one page where I wasn't laughing out loud. Love.

Our favorite fictional presidential crime fighting team are back together and this time it's on Obama's home turf instead of Biden's. If you like first person narrator Biden from the first book, you'll enjoy this one too.

There was not a single chapter where I did not laugh out loud at least once. Delightfully campy and a much needed joyride. Almost like a Ferris Bueller's Day Off for Barry and Joe.

But that being said there were also some truth bombs scattered throughout the storyline.“Truth” had somehow become subjective. Who had seen that coming? The country was crumbling in slow motion, being dismantled and sold off under our noses in real time ."

Chicago is very much is a real character with revealing its many tragic realities to those that may be unfamiliar with them. While having such tough issues as systemic poverty, racism, and corruption being a plot point in a humorous tale, it never felt that the city and its people were being mocked. Being from the area, I found this second installment even more engaging than the first.

Only one minor irritation- United doesn’t fly out of Midway. Frontier, Porter, Delta, and Southwest are the big ones. So Biden couldn’t have been dropped off at the United gate to slog over to Delta.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quirk Books for the ARC.