This mystery thriller reunites Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama for a political mashup full of suspense, intrigue, and laugh out loud bromance.
Vice President Joe Biden is fresh out of the Obama White House and feeling adrift when his favorite railroad conductor dies in a suspicious accident, leaving behind an ailing wife and a trail of clues. To unravel the mystery, “Amtrak Joe” re-teams with the only man he’s ever fully trusted—the 44th president of the United States. Together they’ll plumb the darkest corners of Delaware, traveling from cheap motels to biker bars and beyond, as they uncover the sinister forces advancing America’s opioid epidemic.
Part noir thriller and part bromance novel, Hope Never Dies is essentially the first published work of Obama/Biden fanfiction—and a cathartic read for anyone distressed by the current state of affairs.
Source: purchased
I had two reasons to read this book. One, Andrew Shaffer is incredibly funny. Two, Barack and Joe together again - heck yeah
If you're used to all the Obama-Biden bromance memes and you're expecting that right off the bat, you're not going to get that. This is the post-presidency, and Barack and Joe have gone their separate ways doing their own thing. The entire story is told from Joe's POV and let me say, Uncle Joe actually sounds kind of mopey at first. It's mostly that he's hurt that Barack is off doing these amazing things now that he's out of office and Joe hasn't been included. You can understand why after they've been working side by side for 8 years. What does bring them together is the death of a train conductor, someone Joe knew personally. Barack flagged it as suspicious because the deceased had something connected to Joe. Nothing lifts your spirits during retirement like a murder mystery to solve. Things don't automatically go back to normal between Barack and Joe but that awkwardness will have to take a back seat to the more important task at hand.
I enjoyed reading Hope Never Dies and there's no way you can read it without hearing either Barack's or Joe's voice in your mind. I think we could all use a little lightheartedness (yes, I know they're solving a murder) but you know, seeing them back together in action even in fiction form is the hope that most of us want and need right now. Shaffer doesn't veer towards current politics too much, maybe an allusion to it here and there but not enough to derail the story and take it in a different direction.
The story starts out a bit slow as Joe reminisces about his youth, friendships and the White House days. The pacing makes sense for this dynamic duo and reminded me a little of those old-timey black and white detective shows. It's all about nostalgia and if you're feeling sentimental for the ultimate bromance, make sure you read Hope Never Dies and then eagerly wait for the next book coming out in 2019!
~ Bel
No comments:
Post a Comment