Book Review: State of Terror

Here’s my book review for State of Terror by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you’ve read it too. And check out today’s writing prompt at the bottom of this post.

State of Terror by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny is a novel that is so realistic in our current world that it didn’t end up being as thrilling as I expected it to be when I finished it… but I mean that in a good way. 

At no point when I was reading this novel, did I think anything being written about was overdone or hyperbolic or silly, especially because it was mainly about a Secretary of State written by a former Secretary of State. While the plot itself was fictional, it felt all too real, all too believable. So, I would understand how some readers might not think it’s too exciting, as routine terror or fear can dull all our senses and feelings after a while. And perhaps this novel will hit a little too close to home for some?

As I was reading this novel, I could sense (through the lens of Ellen Adams) how frustrating it would be to deal with foreign heads of state, even if you like them on a personal level, when trying to get information and save lives. And how certain calls that need to be made as a head of state can easily turn morally gray when hundreds, thousands, or millions of lives and an entire country are at stake. Her character also made the story more believable to me, as heroines can and should do whatever it takes to get the job done, especially if that job entails serving the people of The United States and protecting them from all enemies, foreign and domestic. 

While portions of the plot were easier to figure out than others, the pacing of the novel kept me reading and curious about what was going to happen next, and who could and couldn’t be trusted. So, while my pulse wasn’t necessarily heightened the entire time reading this novel, I was intrigued and invested in unpacking the mysteries in the novel as the main characters followed various leads and clues—up until the very end.

The characters were also incredibly well developed in this novel. I enjoyed experiencing how each of them evolved as the plot evolved. And I enjoyed each of their idiosyncrasies and personalities, especially Betsy. It was also interesting to see who became allies or stayed allies, and who was not to be trusted in the long run. 

Overall, I would recommend this novel to those who are interested in reading a good international mystery thriller that is based in reality. I should also mention that you will likely enjoy this novel regardless of your political leanings (truly), unless you have a more extreme set of beliefs. 

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Today’s Writing Prompt