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 Terroris a unique and utterly compelling international thriller cowritten by Hillary Rodham Clinton, the 67th secretary of state, and Louise Penny, a multiple award-winning #1New York Timesbestselling novelist. (From Simon & Schuster)

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Interviews with Louise Penny

22:30Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny on State of Terror

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny talk to Shelagh Rogers about their novel, State of Terror.

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny on their political thriller, State of Terror

3 years ago

Duration 2:43

Good friends Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny talk about their first novel together, State of Terror, which follows newly appointed U.S. secretary of state Ellen Adams and her race to stop a series of international terrorist attacks.

Louise Penny on her unexpected road to success

8 years ago

Duration 9:13

The Canadian mystery author talks to Wendy Mesley about the twists and turns in her personal story.

Breakaway17:28Talking 10 years of mystery novels with Louise Penny

It has been 10 years since Louise Penny published her first novel, introducing the world to Chief Inspector Gamache and Three Pines. The CBC's Rachelle Solomon spoke with Penny about this special anniversary.

Other books by Louise Penny