The President Is Missing

Publisher's Summary

The White House is the home of the president of the United States, the most guarded, monitored, closely watched person in the world. So how could a US president vanish without a trace? And why would he choose to do so?  

An unprecedented collaboration between President Bill Clinton and the world's best-selling novelist, James Patterson, The President Is Missing is a breathtaking story from the pinnacle of power. Full of what it truly feels like to be the person in the Oval Office - the mind-boggling pressure, the heartbreaking decisions, the exhilarating opportunities, the soul-wrenching power - this is the thriller of the decade, confronting the darkest threats that face the world today, with the highest stakes conceivable. 

©2018 James Patterson and Bill Clinton (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Wanted it to be so much better

Other reviews will give you a sense of the low quality narration but that wasn't the worst problem for me. There were a number of points in the book that were, quite simply, utterly unbelievable. There was not much surprise and by the time I got close to the end, I just wanted it to be done. The long, final "speech" was overly long, although I can say I got work done waiting for it to end. I am a fan of DC-based suspense, political books but feel I wasted my credit on this ONE HUNDRED THIRTY CHAPTER book. Patterson's penchant for (what could be considered a shameless attempt to make the book seem more substantive) beginning a new chapter every couple of pages is so frustrating. He starts a new chapter even when there is no change in setting, point of view, or timeline. It totally interrupts the flow of a scene and the overall book. I thought the book's underlying premise was truly frightening to think about but did not have the payoff. And like many later Patterson books, too often secondary characters were not given the attention and respect they deserve.

378 of 412 people found this review helpful

Not Awesome

This narration seemed challenging for Dennis Quaid and it was definitely challenging for us to listen to. I am a James Patterson fan, but this book veered too far off into political red herrings with nothing tying those asides back to the actual story. Would not recommend. We did listen to the whole thing - the underlying premise was good and we wanted to see what happened.

98 of 110 people found this review helpful

Dreadful Narration!

Dennis Quaid's narration of this is absolutely appalling! It sounds like its being narrated by an army drill sergeant!
I love James Patterson's writing and I'm intrigued by Bill Clinton's input so I will buy the print edition, but honestly, don't waste your time with the audio version.

432 of 489 people found this review helpful

Like Putting a Cheese Grater In Your Ear

The best I can say about this book is that it's boring. Not at all what one would expect from James Patterson & Bill Clinton. I got half way through, and just can't force myself to finish the book, since that would involve more hours of Dennis Quaid's voice...

...which is like a cheese grater in your ear. He has absolutely no sense of timing, no sense of when to emphasize and when to back off, and he can't do characters at all. But it's the sound of his voice that I just can't stand. Since the book is boring, there's no point to tormenting my ears anymore.

I preordered this book with great anticipation. What a terrible disappointment.

117 of 134 people found this review helpful

Don't get this book.

Unless you want your ears to bleed, don't get this book. I have never written a bad review like this and am a long time customer. I usually like Dennis Quaid, but audible narrator he is not. It's even worse when he tries other voices and accents. It gave me a panic attack listening to it. I have never returned an audio book but this will be my first. I think the story would be ok if someone else narrated it. I really wanted to like it.

268 of 315 people found this review helpful

Horrible Horrible Horrible! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME.

Horrible preachy story. The basic storyline was ok, but those monologues had absolutely no place in the story. They overpowered the story. Horrible narration. Are you serious? It sounded like a little kid was doing impersonations. I usually like when there is an ensemble doing the story, but this just bad. Whomever casted Quaid in this role, has to do some soul-searching. Quaid seems like a nice guy, but not suited for multiple voices. It sounded as immature as you would expect from a little kid trying to do imitations. Horrible overall. I usually like James Patterson stories, but this one was a true misstep. I’m asking for a refund on this one. I really wanted an ex-President to be successful. He was an excellent politician, but the Teflon isn’t working for the fiction writer. Sorry.

100 of 118 people found this review helpful

please re-narrate and re-release.

horrible narration! men sound like women, eomen sound like men and all sound drunk or concussed. strong story line and plot

149 of 178 people found this review helpful

The President Is Missing

The President Is Missing is a cyber-crime story. There is an unknown entity with the power to plummet America into the dark ages leaving the country vulnerable in a multitude of ways. There is a small circle of people surrounding the President, and one of them is a traitor. The President, a recent widower, isn’t healthy; he is battling a serious blood illness.

Liked: It’s a decent who-done-it; the plot is timely given the modern threat to US infrastructure. There is a significant element of tension; things happen quickly. Life-threatening situations traverse the pages.

Didn’t like: narration of Dennis Quaid. I like his acting, so was intrigued by the idea of listening to his reading. Quaid sounds like a lifetime smoker that needs to cough. Further, the author presents events that make the reader jump back a few chapters to see what they missed. Nothing was missed. Circumstances are tough to grasp until clarified in a later chapter … a strange writing style that is difficult to follow on occasion.

The book is an opportunity for Bill Clinton to voice his opinion about the viciousness of today’s politics in the United States – mentioning no names. The current social media world, press bias to both left and right, and how it is jeopardizing the fundamental fibre of America. The country is changing, and not in a good direction in the opinion of the author. The book is a platform for his views. A platform unavailable without writing this book with the exception of commencement speeches. So …. take it for what it’s worth. The book isn’t liberal or conservative but conveys observations that can come across preachy at times.

Listen to the free audio sample. If you can handle several hours of Dennis Quaid’s need to clear his throat, have at it. It is not great literature, by any stretch. But, a good story.

The unabridged audiobook is thirteen hours of listening and released by Hachette Audio in June of 2018.

87 of 105 people found this review helpful

Patterson at His Absolute Worse !!

Long time Patterson reader, this is by far the worse book I've come across.

The first 18 chapters are nothing but an series of inane soliloquies, the plot is absurd, and the reader will wait incessantly for the awful narrator to clear his terrible foggy voice, which he never does.

I'm surprised an intellect like Clinton would put his name to this waste of time.

30 of 36 people found this review helpful

Honestly from a 53 year old life long republican

This Thriller is fantastic. Well worth the credit. The opening scene is gripping, has you clenching your teeth, getting behind this president as he is attacked by political foe's. Then Patterson (probably) deftly compounds the presidents precarious situation with health issues (real life right). Clinton (obviously) serves up genuine insight into todays political climate, shit us 9-5ers never think about. Thank you Bill for that insight it was enlightening. About two hours in the president makes a decision that most humans can't even comprehend and he orders a strike that is sure to kill innocent children as collateral damage. Next you're gonna laugh out loud as he tries to drive a car. About five hours in and another barbarian at the gate while the others haven't been resolved yet, just continues to add to the insurmountable mountain that the president of the united states must face every day (all enemy's foreign and domestic right). Great line "Is there anything else Madam Vice President" will make your neck hair stand up. This book gives you much more respect for the office of the president and has a way of making your own personal complaints about the U.S. seem petty. Every single sentence in this book advances the plot and is gripping. THERE is NO fluff. Thanks Bill and James nicely done. Performance Dennis Quaid is Dennis Quaid, he did a great job (4 stars) would have loved his performance if he didn't do FBI Liz, but Dennis and the cast were still great.

144 of 185 people found this review helpful