>>14778741
>You can read an excerpt of my new book (and first novel!), "State of Terror," here—exclusively in @people
https://people.com/politics/hillary-clinton-and-louise-penny-new-thriller-read-an-excerpt/
Keep reading for an exclusive excerpt from 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 Doug Williams, 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. Ellen Adams now returns from her first overseas diplomatic mission, which has been an unqualified failure, and must face the anger of her new boss.
First, she meets at the state department with her Chief of Staff Charles Boynton, a Williams loyalist who was assigned to work with Ellen.
Together Ellen and her Chief of Staff rushed down the wood-paneled corridor of Mahogany Row toward the Secretary of State's office, trailed by aides and assistants and her Diplomatic Security agents.
"Don't worry," said Betsy, racing to catch up. "They're holding the State of the Union address for you. You can relax."
"No, no," said Boynton, his voice rising an octave. "You can't relax. The President's pissed. And by the way, it's not officially a SOTU."
"Oh, please, Charles. Try not to be pedantic." Ellen stopped suddenly, almost causing a pileup. Slipping off her mud-caked heels, she ran in stocking feet along the plush carpet. Picking up her pace.
"And the President's always pissed," Betsy called after them. "Oh, you mean angry? Well, he's always angry at Ellen."
Boynton shot her a warning glance.
He didn't like this Elizabeth Jameson. Betsy. An outsider whose only reason for being there was because she was a lifelong friend of the Secretary. Boynton knew it was the Secretary's right to choose one close confidante, a counselor, to work with her. But he didn't like it. The outsider brought an element of unpredictability to any situation.
And he did not like her. Privately he called her Mrs. Cleaver because she looked like Barbara Billingsley, the Beaver's mother in the TV show. A model 1950s housewife.