Hope Never Dies

By: Andrew Shaffer

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Advance Praise: A Publishers Weekly Summer Read 2018

"The Obama/Biden buddy-detective-story we never knew we needed." (Advance NetGalley review)

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 fan fiction - and a cathartic listen for anyone distressed by the current state of affairs.

Cover illustration by Jeremy Enecio (2018), Levy Creative Management NYC.

©2018 Andrew Shaffer (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Perfect for those seeking escape from the realities of Washington, D.C., in 2018." (Publishers Weekly)

"The feel-good read of the summer." (Rebecca Dowling, owner, Hockessin Book Shelf)

"Probably the most unlikely pair of detectives I have ever seen." (Rincey Abraham, Book Riot)

What a fun ride

Humor abounds and a mystery to boot! Can't really get better than that. You can identify the mannerisms of the two most unlikely and famous detectives ever. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Republican Approved!

Loved every minute. Laughed out loud many times. Hoping for more Barack and Joe adventures.

Fun book with familiar characters

Fun who done it story with a familiar cast of characters that took me away from today’s news.

Absurd, but hilarious

Let me preface this review by stating that this particular book is not great literature; it is corny as hell and reads like terrible fanfiction. However, I believe that that is part of what makes 'Hope Never Dies' a genius. I mean, what could be more entertaining than reading about Joe Biden and Barack Obama solving crimes in a sweet car?

Considering who the characters in this novel are, I don’t believe that I need to go into characters too much. However, in terms of the mystery, I wasn't expecting too much; however, I was delighted to discover that the plot contained a fully developed mystery with engaging characters and plot twists instead of fully depending on the Biden/Obama novelty.

As for the narration of 'Hope Never Dies,' I didn't care too much for Joe Barrett's performance. I mean, I have heard worse, but to me, it sounded like he had smoked an entire carton of cigarettes before recording. Also, there was barely any voice diversity between characters.

Overall, 'Hope Never Dies' is completely batshit with some of the most unreal Obama/Biden scenarios that one could imagine. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone that has had enough of the current administration and would like to escape for some lighthearted entertainment.

Best train ride

Listening to this on the train is really the best way to experience the book. A fun nostalgic distraction from reality.

A must read or listen. Book

Hope Never Dies was so great the story line was out side of the box. Who would think to write a book about Joe Biden and Barack Obama. As detective. It was funny good natured and just well written and performed. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you for writing and performing this book.

I miss him

I know this is fiction, but, listening to this book over the course of a day made me feel as if I was along for Joe's adventure/investigation. His kindness and honesty were characterized in a way that made it feel real. His homey family quotes, the wry self commentary all felt genuine. I loved the portrayal and laughed, and even teared up, especially in the final chapter. Yes, the former president was part of the story, but, it was Amtrak Joe who sealed the deal. Throw in a unicorn and you are in for a great read/listen.

Cheesy good fun

I honestly enjoyed the story, and I could picture Joe and Barack clearly the whole time.

Unexpected

OKAY. I liked it but didn't love it. It was funny sometimes and other times kind of silly and dumb. It's kind of predictable too. if the narrator talked like Biden and Obama it would have helped!!

Surprisingly fun!

This book was just fun … a mystery, relationships, familiar characters, moral quandaries, and conducive settings joined with genuine humor. The narration was excellent. The story would be good even without using Obama and Biden, but that novel approach just juices it up. Of course, I like Obama and Biden and the characterizations jived with my sense of them,, so take that into account. Would really like to see a series in this one. And curious what Biden and Obama think of it. My bet is they both just smiled and laughed. A fun read so do yourself a favour when you are tired of the serious stuff.