A fast-paced political thriller that brings readers into the high-stakes world of the White House. However, while the premise of the book is intriguing, my overall impression is that it falls short of the gripping, unpredictable nature we might have expected.
The real problem, however, is the lack of suspense around the identity of the murderer. From early on, it’s pretty clear where the story is heading, and when the First Gentleman is wrongfully accused and later found guilty, the sense of inevitable overturning hangs heavy. This is a spoiler, but it’s a point that's hard to miss: by the time the twist occurs, it feels like a mere formality.It's an entertaining read, to be sure, but it lacks the layers of complexity or the shocking turns that you might expect from a truly gripping thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley for advance copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sending me an ARC of The First Gentleman in exchange for an honest review.

President Madeline Wright is daring greatness: trying to secretly negotiate a grand bargain with both parties in Congress that will save our entitlement programs and improve the economy. But at the very same time, her husband, Cole Wright—the First Gentleman—is on trial for the long ago murder of a cheerleader named Suzanne whom he dated when he played for the New England Patriots. He claims he’s innocent, and the President is standing by him. But Brea Cooke is covering the trial and working on a book she’s sure will prove Cole also killed her partner, a journalist named Garrett Wilson.

The first two novels by the odd couple of James Patterson and former President Bill Clinton, The President is Missing and The President’s Daughter, were completely unserious and yet completely entertaining. So I went into The First Gentleman ready for more guilty pleasures, but this one didn’t quite live up to the first two. Make no mistake: it’s completely unserious, with mobsters and hitmen and whatnot. But the pacing is strange, with some of it written from Brea’s first person perspective and the rest in a third person perspective usually focused on Cole. In part because of that choice, when we finally get to the courtroom scenes, most of them just rehash what we already learned earlier in the book. Another pacing problem is that too many facts come perfectly, unrealistically late though, strangely, as Brea learns new information that contradicts what she’d believed about Cole, she doesn’t really do anything with that information. And the book ends with a speech by President Wright about her grand bargain, which seemed so out of place that I’d kinda believe it if you told me that the entire novel was a way for Bill Clinton to lay out how he’d save entitlement programs and improve the economy.

But the biggest problem in The First Gentleman is that, while I guess it’s supposed to be a mystery who killed Suzanne, there was never a time in the entire novel that I did not know what the big revelation was going to be. And it’s hard to be a satisfying mystery when there’s no actual mystery. A bit disappointing.

Each of President Clinton’s fiction books have been fast paced and thrilling. Although this one at times struggle with pacing and could definitely be shorter, it is a thriller. Overall a fun book that could have been edited some more

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“The First Gentleman” by James Patterson and Bill Clinton is the third collaboration between the famous author and 42nd President of the US.
The story revolves around the husband of the first female president. He is a former NFL Patriots player now accused of the 13 year old murder of one of the team’s cheerleaders. Two authors are investigating the past crime as well as writing a book about the last person to see the cheerleader alive and that person is the Presidents husband!
This book seems so relevant in today’s political climate and at the same time so much fun to read. The short chapters and rapid plot turns make this thriller a highly addictive read!

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The First Gentleman is on trial for the murder of a NFL cheerleader from the team he played on. Against NFL rules, they had been dating. The President is about to announce an agreement with Congressional leaders on an agreement that will take down the national debt and make Social Security solvent. The chapters are short. The story is told by a criminal defense law professor Brea, who is researching the case with her author boyfriend, and the Cole, the first gentleman. Although the chapters are brief and come in rapid fire which along with the pacing makes the story sail by quickly. There is no doubt Patterson and Clinton had as good a time writing this novel as the reader will have reading it.

BTW - I have no doubt as an Arkansan that all the inside Wal Mart security stuff was provided by President Clinton as his time as our Governor coincided with the rise of Wal Mart to a multi-national corporation.

Five Stars all the way.
Clinton and Patterson have grabbed the golden ring once, again, with this suspense filled and riveting story
of the President's husband's murder indictment.
Clay and Maddy seem to have it all; the Presidency and a seemingly perfect marriage.
Until he is arrested and charged with the murder of his former college sweetheart, over a decade ago.
Two relentless writers, Garrett and Brea, are on the trail of the missing girl, determined to find out what
really happened between her, a cheerleader and the VP, then a college football star, who was the last person to
see her alive on the night she disappeared.
Murder, mayhem and chaos follow them on the trail.
Super story that screams relevance in today's fatal political atmosphere of maelstrom and disregard for law.
Great read.

I enjoyed this book. It was my least favorite of the books that Bill Clinton and James Patterson have written together but still a great read. I really enjoy the mystery side with the political background. 4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Just like any James Patterson x bill clinton book I ate it up. This was so much fun and I loved it cover to cover. I will say this one wasn’t my absolute favorite but I did love the First Lady angle that made me very happy

James Patterson has quite a few co-authors, many of whom he mentors to greater fame and their own books. Bill Clinton is Patterson’s co-author for a third time, but I suspect this is more of a great friendship with the former President offering expertise to Patterson. After “The President is Missing” and “The President’s Daughter,” we get a story about a position that hasn’t happened yet (too bad, although I totally imagined a young Doug in the Cole role, instead of Bill), “The First Gentleman.” This is a bit of a mash-up of the old Chappaquiddick incident (granted, Patterson and Clinton were young men at the time, so they probably have a good recollection of that scandal) with a conspiracy theory twist.

Two sides of the story are featured: Cole, the First Gentleman’s; and Brea Cooke (first person POV), the Black criminal law professor/co-author girlfriend of the deceased writer Garrett Wilson — who was about to expose the First Gentleman’s post-college connection to a missing cheerleader. Madeline Parsons (the President), Cole, Brea, and Garrett all went to Dartmouth, as did the President’s chief of staff, Burton Pearce, who was a third roommate with the First Couple.

Most of the first half action returns to the recent past as the two investigators are researching Cole’s college days, very brief NFL career, and dating rumors. They are obviously stirring things up. Also at that time when Brea and Garrett are digging around, Maddie Parsons is secretly negotiating something called “The Great Bargain,” while her and her hospitalized VP’s chiefs of staff (Burton and Rachel Bernstein) are acting like strutting peacocks trying to one up each other.

At the halfway point, we are introduced to New Hampshire Sergeant Detective Marie Gagnon and NH Deputy Attorney General Hugh Bastinelli who also find themselves involved in the cold case of the missing cheerleader, plus a couple of related targeted homicides (another cheerleader and the writer).

Some of the transitions between telling Cole’s story, Brea’s observations, and Sgt Gagnon investigations are abrupt — it takes a few sentences to realize who we’re following in the next chapter. Patterson’s books are known for their many short chapters (142 for this book!). President Clinton’s assistance isn’t as noticeable as it was in the previous two collaborations, but it’s obvious these two old guys probably had a lot of fun writing this thriller (if anything, there was more about the inner workings of Walmart security than of the White House’s). This is an agreeable read worthy of a Netflix streaming series with a twisty plot that had me guessing until the end. I hope we can have more Patterson/Clinton books in the future. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES The Vice-President’s chief of staff has flashing green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO It’s winter as Brea investigates.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

This is the third collaboration between the famous author and the famous President. This one involves the first female President and her husband, the First Gentleman and a former NFL star, who is now accused of murder back when he was a player. Two reporters are also involved in the mystery. It is fast-moving and adventurous. I liked the relationship between the President and her husband, in spite of all the stress they are under. Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC.

This was a very enjoyable read. I have liked all the Patterson/Clinton books, but I found this a bit too long. Sadly, I knew how it would end, almost as soon as it began. As always, very interesting characters, including (thank goodness,) a female president.

It centers around THE FIRST GENTLEMAN being accused of murdering a long ago girlfriend. The main characters, Brea and Garrett, are investigating this with plans to write about the murder. Instead, more murders abound. Brea intends to carry on the investigation and continue the work, despite all the threats.

As a reader, I found some of the use of multiple narrators a bit confusing.

There is an intense and timely political plan running through this book. I wish the current president would read it and think about the “grand bargain “ which the president is trying to use to save our nation. It’s a good plan!

Thank you Netgalley for another great Patterson/Clinton novel.

The First Gentleman by Bill Clinton and James Patterson is the only book I have read so far by this very talented duo. I liked it so much, I plan to read the other two that they worked together to write..

The story definitely kept me on my toes with great characterization; I was so wrapped up in the characters lives, I worried about some of them. It was easy to come to care for the main character Brea, with hope that she wouldn't be hurt since others had been.

The plot was intricately woven with some red herrings--I didn't have a clue how all the pieces would be tied together, but they were wrapped up neatly by the end.

Great book!

This book was another hit from the dual authors. The storyline was unique and characters well developed. Filled with good mystery and suspense with a fun twist at the end. This is a book which I would recommend to all who enjoy a good mystery.

This novel, written by two of my favorite authors, is almost like watching a movie. The story moves quickly...even the title is intriguing. Patterson does not disappoint, and Clinton is right there with him...curl up in a comfy chair...grab a cup of herbal tea...settle in for this journey of the first "gentleman." The red herrings kept me guessing. The ending is not easily discerned. The characters are likable, some of them...don't miss this book. Thanks Netgalley.