Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny

On Tuesday, this headline from the New York Times caught Nyel’s eye on his Google feed: “Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny to Write Political Thriller.”  Wow!  Our all-time-favorite  mystery writer and the woman who shoulda-coulda-woulda, been our first-ever woman prez!  It’s a writing duo I’d never have imagined but, as I read the article, their collaboration makes perfect sense.

According to Times reporter Alexandra Alter’s story: “When it was suggested my friend Hillary and I write a political thriller together, I could not say yes fast enough,” Penny said in a statement. “Before we started, we talked about her time as secretary of state. What was her worst nightmare? ‘State of Terror’ is the answer.”

Implied in the article is that Clinton and Penny have been friends for a long time.  On the other hand, Alter writes:   In her memoir,  “What Happened,” the former presidential candidate wrote that she read Penny’s books after losing the election in 2016, a time when thrillers were sources of comfort along with yogic breathing and chardonnay.  But a “long-time” friendship may be relative. And, besides, friends don’t necessarily read one another’s books in a timely manner.  (Penny’s first book in the Gamache series was published in 2005.)

Sydney at “Three Pines” – 2016

State of Terror is due out in October.  I can’t wait!  Nor can I quite imagine a book authored (even partially) by Louise Penny without mention of Armand Gamache and his family or the wonderful characters of the imaginary village, Three Pines.  I’m trying to keep an open mind…