State of Terror

State of Terror is a 2021 political thriller written by mystery novelist Louise Penny and former United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The novel follows a recently appointed secretary of state as she tries to prevent a terrorist attack. The book incorporates many experiences and details from Clinton’s political career, while also referencing contemporary political events.

Plot Summary

Ellen Adams is the former head of a global media company who has recently been appointed as secretary of state by the newly elected President Williams. They have been enemies for many years, so her appointment was a surprise. As the new administration seeks to repair the damage caused by the previous President, Eric Dunn, Ellen returns from a catastrophic trip to Korea with her friend and counselor Betsy Jameson and her Chief of Staff Charles Boynton. Amid the fallout of the trip, Ellen suspects that President Williams has set her up to fail.

Meanwhile, a group of Pakistani nuclear scientists travel to Europe where they are killed by bus bombings in London and Paris. A low-level State Department employee named Anahita Dahir receives a strange message but dismisses it as spam. She makes a copy of the message, believing that it might be written by her friend and former lover

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