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State of Terror cover art

State of Terror

Written by: Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton
Narrated by: Joan Allen
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Publisher's Summary

An instant number one New York Times best seller​ 

Named one of the most anticipated novels of the season by People, Associated Press, Time, Los Angeles Times, Parade, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Guardian, Publishers Weekly, and more.

From the number one best-selling authors Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny comes a novel of unsurpassed thrills and incomparable insider expertise — State of Terror.

After a tumultuous period in American politics, a new administration has just been sworn in, and to everyone’s surprise the president chooses a political enemy for the vital position of secretary of state.

There is no love lost between the president of the United States and Ellen Adams, his new secretary of state. But it’s a canny move on the part of the president. With this appointment, he silences one of his harshest critics, since taking the job means Adams must step down as head of her multinational media conglomerate.

As the new president addresses Congress for the first time, with Secretary Adams in attendance, Anahita Dahir, a young foreign service officer (FSO) on the Pakistan desk at the State Department, receives a baffling text from an anonymous source.

Too late, she realizes the message was a hastily coded warning.

What begins as a series of apparent terrorist attacks is revealed to be the beginning of an international chess game involving the volatile and Byzantine politics of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran; the race to develop nuclear weapons in the region; the Russian mob; a burgeoning rogue terrorist organization; and an American government set back on its heels in the international arena.

As the horrifying scale of the threat becomes clear, Secretary Adams and her team realize it has been carefully planned to take advantage of four years of an American government out of touch with international affairs, out of practice with diplomacy, and out of power in the places where it counts the most.

To defeat such an intricate, carefully constructed conspiracy, it will take the skills of a unique team: a passionate young FSO; a dedicated journalist; and a smart, determined, but as yet untested new secretary of state.

State of Terror is a unique and utterly compelling international thriller cowritten by Hillary Rodham Clinton, the 67th secretary of state, and Louise Penny, a multiple award-winning number one New York Times best-selling novelist.

©2021 Hillary Rodham Clinton and Three Pines Creations, LLC. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

What listeners say about State of Terror

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Turn up the speed!

I started this book with narration at 100% and was appalled that the great Joan Allan's voice just about put me to sleep. When I sped it up to 110% I finally got the beat.
This is a really good book ... lots of action, good characters and a riveting and addictive story. Glad I got it!

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7 people found this helpful

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So disappointed

First of all, I don’t like the narrator. Second of all I don’t like the writing. This is not the writing of a good writer like Louise Penny. The story may be good, I’ll never know because it’s so poorly written I can’t read it

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

This story never really got off the ground. It seemed like a patchwork quilt with bits cobbled together that didn't suit.

I have been a big fan of Penny for years now and this book was a sad disappointment. I did, however, enjoy the little bit when Gamache and Three Pines were featured. This was not enough to save the story, and sadly, it didn't particularly fit together with the rest.
Overall it was a brave try but it just didn't work.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Formulaic

I wanted this to be a good book however it was very predictable, formulaic and the ending was completely Hollywood in the worst way. The addition of Three Pines and Inspector Gamache from Louise Penny's crime series was awkward and in my opinion lazy. A big disappointment.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The most gripping novel I’ve ever read

I bought this book because I love Louise Penny’s writing and she did not disappoint! The story details could only have come from an insider and boy, were they realistic. Could not put this book down, binge read it. So taut and compelling. I sure hope the world never comes to this point but one can see how it could. Brava to this dynamic duo.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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great plot

Had to listen to in one go. Loved that it was so fast moving. Wanted to hear what happened next.

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2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing on many levels

The story was pedantic and predictable, while adding implausible layer after implausible layer. I have read all of Louise Penny's books and this one was so disappointing. And trying to tie in Inspector Gamache didn't work. The narrator was awful and I would go out of my way to avoid any book read by her in the future. Her voice was cloying, slow and did not convey the urgency of different parts of the book.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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wow...exciting to last chapter...way to go ladies

loved the book...cant wait for the next one...maybe a series.?
was not sure about whether to purchase ..u.s.politics not my thing.....as a Canadian was impressed

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent story!

I really enjoyed this book. Who better to write a book about this topic than Ms Clinton, given her resumé? I detected Ms Penny's sly humour running through the book also. The performance was excellent. I can't recommend this book more highly!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Intriguing plot, a bit slow at times

I enjoyed the book overall, and really liked the narrator. The ending was suspenseful and a page turner. However, there were parts of the book that seemed to drag a bit. I still would give this a thumbs up as the storyline was definitely worth the read.

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