Customer Reviews

The President's Henchman

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I enjoyed this book as a 'before bedtime' read. It moved along and had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. Defintely a low-calorie thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously.

What bothered me were the characters. Everyone was a relentless cardboard cut-out 'Mary Sue,' especially the president. Not content to make her brilliant, insightful, kind, and thoughtful, without a single controversial opinion, she had to also be an athletic supermodel and movie star who does aerobics every morning. Of course, she also had overcome a supreme tragedy in her life that not only left an air of sadness about her, but also propelled her into the realm of greatness. Freaking YAWN . . . what a bore.

The rest of the characters are little better. They are all noble and fine with unassailable virtues. The women are stunning, soft yet tough. The men are handsome and manly, tough yet soft. . . . Puh-leeeze . . .

However, mary-sue-itis aside, Flynn is a good storyteller and keeps the tale moving. The many subplots dovetail nicely and I did enjoy it to the end, despite my craving to see one of the perfect characters, especially the president, to fall and fail.

The President's Henchman offers a timely fictional look inside the Oval Office. It is a story with a focus on the first woman president and the First Family. Specifically, her retired cop husband, an average guy trying to find a comfortable balance in the political spotlight. Finding humor in it all, he identifies himself to the media as the President's Henchman.
The reader takes a journey into the everyday political drama, but it extends to religious and social intolerance and a conspiracy that threatens the safety of many. It is a suspenseful thriller that also offers some great humor as the First Man goes against the grain of what is expected from him by his wife's Chief of Staff and his Secret Service detail. The President's Henchman will stop at nothing to solve a mystery and protect his family.
Flynn brings elements of suspense and political intrigue. He seamlessly connects the plot lines and leaves the reader with a sense of closure, but also with a strong desire to know what further adventures await the First Family. This book was hard to put down. It could easily be read in a day.

The Presidents Henchman is the story of Jim McGill, America's First Man of the White House, who is strong-willed, has a mind of his own, and with a completely different persona than one would expect. McGill is a former Chicago cop who met Patricia Darden Grant before she became president when he solved her first husband's murder. He turns down the job of heading up the FBI, and instead gets his license and becomes the first private investigator to live in the White House. As McGill's first case gets underway, the reader joins him on an action-packed journey of unpredictable twists and turns as he tries to uncover who is stalking a member of the White House press corps before that stalker turns the tables on him or, worse still on his wife, the president. While working this case he assists an investigator on an alleged adultery charge against a female colonel at the Pentagon, which has the potential of derailing the new president's administration before it even has a chance to begin.

Crisp dialogue, believable characters that one can care about and complex, interweaving plots characterize Joseph Flynn's 7th novel, The President's Henchman. Jim McGill, divorced father of 3 and a Chicago cop, solves the murder of a local billionaire philanthropist. He subsequently marries the man's widow who later becomes the first female president. Not a politician, McGill seeks a productive role for himself and opens an office as a licensed private investigator, to the consternation of those charged with protecting him. That makes him the First Henchman. McGill's first case involves a beautiful, incredibly fit news anchor who is the victim of an unscrupulous doctor who takes the treatment of patients suffering from emotional distress to a bizarre level. As McGill tracks the perpetrator, the reader is drawn into a series of other unique events involving the president: unethical behavior from an opposing senator; impassioned efforts by evangelical fanatics to promote an anti-abortion agenda; and an Air Force case of a lady colonel being threatened with expulsion from the military for adultery.

One is impressed with the level of detail deftly woven into this tale, from colloquial Spanish from Cuba, to an unusual drug application; from the inner workings of the White House and military high command to personality disorder issues; from the dynamics of divorced parents relating effectively to their children and to each other to matters of personal greed. In Flynn's fine hand, characters like McGill, his anxious first wife who couldn't handle being married to a gun-carrying cop, his beautiful actress-model-scholar-politician wife Patti, his lively children, the tough as nails head of security Crogher, the diligent lieutenant who is charged with investigating the adultery case are all distinctly drawn. Pacing, dialogue, site research all are well handled.

If you like Dick Francis or Robert Parker, here's a book that is worth your time and interest. What good news that the next one is coming out soon!

First Joseph Flynn novel for me, I could be a big fan. Have to read the next book to be sure. McGill reminds me of Lee Child's character John Reacher. Good Read.

Wow look at all these positive reviews! With so many good reviews, I will make mine short and to the point:
1. Best Hook; the title gets your attention right away.
2.Setting: Washington D.C. nothing new here
3. Characters: most are painted with broad strokes just enough to give most of them some character. This is done because there will other books in which these characters will get time to shine.
4. Main character is solid and is very likable, a lot like a modern John Wayne. The idea of a woman president whose husband is a private detective is new and curiously satisfing.
5. Writing: This is where the book shines. The author gets you into the action with the first page and before you know it, you into the flow of the story and you lose track of time. The author's style doesn't interfere with the reader, like some other writers.
6. Strong points that stand out: The women in this book are all very strong and are more than sex objects. The President is a strong and likeable character. As matter of fact, you will like most of the people in this book. From the Gina to the Secret Service Head man, the kids, and of course Sweetie!
7. Is it worth time and money: YES!!!
When I was finished I thought this book remind me a lot of the tv series NCIS, solid and stomg with story and character.

As a voracious reader, I jumped upon this book after I had devoured the author's book entitled Digger. To my great delight, I LOVED this book for a multitude of reasons - not limited to the following: 1) The plot's mystery was well-paced, well-peopled, and struck a credible note in today's complex society. 2) Having a woman as a President, folks have often wondered just what that would/could do to the spouse. James J. McGill's character as the President's husband/henchman demonstrated that a strong couple can balance 2 careers, 2 "type A" personalities, and succeed. Loved how this was handled!!! 3) With the divorce rate in the US so high, it was great to see two families in HIGHLY difficult circumstances working TOGETHER for the benefit of all.

I can't recommend this book highly enough, and, I can only hope to see MANY sequels!!! Thank you Mr. Flynn!

This was a fast pace, very well written book. It held my attention from page 1. The development of characters was well thought out. The plot was very interesting.

Flynn is masterful at weaving a complicated storyline with an intriguing cast of characters. The characters built as the story progresses. I didn't want to put it down. We need more Flynn books on Kindle.

I received The President's Henchman as a belated birthday present from a friend. I was in the middle of reading another book at the time (Bram Stoker's Dracula to be exact), but I flipped open Henchman and started reading a few pages. I had intended to put it aside until I finished Dracula, but as you can tell from my title, I couldn't put the book down. You can read the summary of the book above, so I won't go over plot lines. I'll just say that it was a great read. Interesting characters, fast paced, great dialogue. The political context was interesting and timely, but don't expect a West Wing-type look into the minutiae of presidential politics. Political junkies (of all affiliations) would certainly enjoy this book, but you don't have to be a devout follower of current day politics to enjoy the plot. Recommended for those who like a fast-paced, suspenseful read. Would be good for anybody looking to pass the time on a long flight.