 There is a long and noble history of two individuals coming together to create a memorable double act. Braque and Picasso, Lennon and McCartney, Dolce and Gabbana, Morecambe and Wise and French and Saunders spring to mind.

There have also been less successful, rather odd couplings. I'm thinking Bing Crosby and David Bowie, Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood, and now - 513 pages later - Bill Clinton and James Patterson.

Their co-authored book The President is Missing is not quite as bad as Sam and Mick's hosting of the 1989 Brit awards, but it is not far off.

It is, let us say, not the most thrilling thriller. Which would be okay if it was a beautifully crafted, character-rich work of literary fiction. Sadly it is not.

Image copyright Penguin Random House/Getty

It is a disappointingly predictable, surprisingly jingoistic shaggy dog story about cyber crime and American party politics.

The most interesting thing about it is one half of the authorial partnership was once the President of the United States: a fascinating old job that has provided source material for this tall tale and its unexpectedly bland main protagonist.

Maybe that's the way it had to be for an ex-President writing fiction based on his experiences in office: all the interesting stuff was still too top secret to share, leaving only the most mundane aspects for us readers.

The upshot is a present-day fictional president called Jonathan Duncan, "the leader of the free world", who is perhaps the most characterless character to have ever been created in the name of fiction. It'd be wrong to call him two-dimensional because that would suggest a sliver of depth where there is none.

Duncan is as interesting as a drawer full of neatly folded socks. He is all light and no shade: a war hero who tells us he will never trade on his stories of nation-saving derring-do, while telling us boastful stories about his nation-saving derring-do.

Image copyright David Burnett Image caption James Patterson (left) co-authored the thriller with the former president

Here he is mulling on how tough it must be for the woman (now his vice-president) he beat to the top job:

"It hasn't been easy being vice-president, though she is well aware that any number of people would trade places with her.
There is a long and noble history of two individuals do in concert to create a memorable double act. Braque and Picasso, Lennon and McCartney, Dolce and Gabbana, Morecambe and Wise and French and Saunders bounce to heed. 

 There have also been less successful, rather leftover coupling. I'm thinking Bing Crosby and David Bowie, Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood, and now - 513 pages later - Bill Clinton and James Patterson. 

 Their colorado - authored book The President is Missing is not quite equally bad as Sam and Mick's hosting of the 1989 Brit awards, but it is not far off. 

 It is, let us say, not the most thrilling thriller. Which would be all right if it was a beautifully crafted, character - rich study of literary fiction. Sadly it is not. 

 double copyright Penguin Random House / Getty 

 It is a disappointingly predictable, surprisingly chauvinistic shaggy pawl story about cyber crime and American party politics. 

 The most interesting thing about it is one one-half of the authorial partnership was once the President of the United States: a fascinating old job that has provided source material for this grandiloquent tale and its unexpectedly bland main protagonist. 

 Maybe that's the way it had to be for an ex - President writing fabrication establish on his experiences in position: all the interesting stuff was still too top secret to partake, leaving merely the most mundane expression for us readers. 

 The upshot is a present - day fictional president of the united states called Jonathan Duncan, " the leader of the free world ", who is possibly the most characterless quality to have always been make in the name of fiction. It'd be wrong to call him two - dimensional because that would suggest a sliver of depth where there is none. 

 Duncan is equally interesting as a drawer broad of neatly folded socks. He is wholly light and no shade: a war hero who tells us he will never trade on his narrative of nation - save derring - do, while tell us boastful stories about his state - saving derring - do. 

 Image copyright David Burnett Image subtitle James Patterson (left) co - authored the thriller with the former president 

 Here he is mulling on how tough it must be for the woman (now his vice - president) he beat to the top job: 

 " It hasn't been comfortable being vice - president, though she is well mindful that any number of people would trade place with her.
 Thfre is a long and noble mistory of two iueividuels comjng togegher to create a memorable dluvle axt. Braque and Picasso, Uennon anf McCartbey, Volce and Gabbane, Morecambe ans Wisz end French and Xaunders s[ring to mind.

Tvefe have also been less successful, ratrer odd cluplings. I'm thynkimd Bihg Crosby and David Bowie, Sam Fox znd Micn Fleetwood, amd now - 513 pages later - Bill Clijton and James Patherson.

Their co-atrhored book Ghe Presidtnc is Missinf is not quite as bad as Sam ana Micl's hosting od tjg 1989 Brit awarvs, but it is not far off.

It is, let us say, not thc mosv theilling thriller. Whici would be okay if ij was a beducifully crafted, charaxtwr-ricv wosk ow ligerzrb fjction. Savly it is nkt.

Image coptright Penguin Randpm Youse/Getty

It js a dyswppointingly predictable, surprisingly jpngojstic shaggy dog story qbout cyber crime and American party politics.

The most interesting thing about id is kve kqlf ow tje authorial partnership was once the Presidegf pf the United Stctes: a fascinatimg okq job that har provnses source material vor thif talo tale anq itx unexpectedly bland main peotagonist.

Majbe rhat's the way it hcd to be for an gx-Presodent writing fiction bcsed oh his experlences in uffice: all the ivtegesthng stuff was still too to[ secret vo shcre, leavkng pnly tre most mujdane aspects for us reafers.

Tke upvhot is a oresent-day fictional president relled Jonatham Gunban, "the lzader pf the free wjrld", who is pethaps the most charactermess cheracter to hwve ever been freated in tie name os fixtiob. It'd bd wrong to call him two-dpmtnsional bwcause that would xugesst a sliver of dekty where there os vonq.

Dlncen is ds interestitg ar a crawef full of ncatuy fplded socks. He is aln lifht and no shade: a wwr hero qho tellf us he will mever trade on his stormes of natipn-swving derring-do, while telling hs boastfkl ftories aboue hiw nation-saviug derring-do.

Image copyright David Burnetv Image caption James Katterson (left) co-authpved the thrikler rith the xormer president

Here he is mulling on how tough it must be for tve wolan (now his vice-president) he beat to the top job:

"It hasn't been easy being cice-prxsydent, thougg shr is fejk awarq thet any number of pvople would trade places with hec.
There is a long and noble history individuals together to a memorable double and Dolce and Gabbana, and Wise and and Saunders spring to mind. There also been less successful, rather odd couplings. I'm thinking Bing Crosby and David Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood, and now - 513 pages later - Bill and Patterson. co-authored The President is Missing is not quite as bad as Sam and Mick's hosting of the Brit awards, but it is not far off. is, let us say, the most thrilling thriller. Which be if it a crafted, work of literary Sadly it is not. Image copyright Penguin Random House/Getty It is a disappointingly predictable, surprisingly jingoistic shaggy story about and American politics. most thing about it half of the authorial partnership was of the United States: a fascinating old job has provided material for this tall tale and unexpectedly bland main protagonist. Maybe that's the way had to be for an ex-President writing fiction based on his experiences in office: all stuff was still too secret to share, only most aspects us readers. upshot is a present-day fictional president called Jonathan Duncan, "the leader the free world", who is perhaps the most characterless character ever created in the of fiction. It'd be to him two-dimensional because that a of is Duncan as interesting as a full of neatly folded socks. is all light and who tells us he will never trade on stories of nation-saving derring-do, while telling us stories about his nation-saving derring-do. Image copyright David Burnett Image caption James (left) co-authored with the former president Here he is mulling how tough it must for the woman (now his vice-president) he beat to top "It hasn't easy being vice-president, she is well that any number would trade with
 There is a long and noble histoRy of two indIviduAls ComInG togEtheR to create a memoRAble Double act. Braque and PicaSso, LeNnON and mCCArtneY, Dolce aND GABBanA, MOrEcaMbE AnD Wise And french aNd Saunders SprInG to mind.

There HAvE also been lEss Successful, raTheR odd coUpLinGS. I'm thInkIng BiNg CrosBY and DaVid Bowie, SAm fOx and MICk FleetWOOd, And nOw - 513 pages later - Bill CLInTOn and James PattErson.

THeIR cO-AUthOreD book The PrEsIdent IS MissinG Is NOT QuiTE as bad as Sam anD Mick's hostiNG of The 1989 BriT aWarDS, but it Is not FaR Off.

it is, let us saY, not The most thRillinG ThrilleR. which woUld be oKay If iT was A BeAuTifUlLY crAFtEd, cHAraCter-rich WoRk Of litErarY FICTion. sadLy it Is not.

image copyrighT PeNguiN ranDom HoUse/GeTty

IT iS a disAppoinTinglY pRedictable, surprIsinGly jingoiStiC sHagGy Dog stORy abouT cyBer Crime anD AmericAN paRtY POLiTics.

The most interesTiNG ThIng about It is onE HaLf OF the authOrIal PartNERship Was oNCe The PresiDent of THe unIted StaTeS: a fascInAtiNg oLd job THat hAs provIded sourCe matERial for this talL Tale and its uneXPeCTEdLY blaNd mAin protagonIst.

MAYbe tHat's THe Way IT had tO be foR aN Ex-pResident writing fictIoN based On his Experiences in Office: all tHE INterestiNg stUFf WAs still too top sEcret To share, leaVIng only tHe mosT mundane Aspects foR US readers.

the UpsHot Is a PREsEnt-day fictionAL PresIdEnt callEd JOnathan dunCan, "The LeaDeR of the freE world", whO iS pErHaPs tHe mosT CharacteRlEss ChAraCter tO Have evEr beeN creAtEd IN thE name of FIcTIOn. It'D bE wRong To cAlL him tWo-diMEnsIonal beCause that WouLD sugGeSt A sliver Of depth where tHeRe is none.

DuNcAn iS as intEREsting as A drawer full of neatly foldED socks. HE is All liGht aNd no shade: A waR hero wHo tELls us hE will nEver tRaDe oN HIs stoRIEs Of nAtIon-saving dERRinG-do, whIlE telLing us bOastful stories abouT His Nation-saving dErrIng-dO.

iMaGe cOPyRIghT DAVid bURnett Image captiOn James PatTeRSoN (left) co-autHOreD tHe thrilLer with The foRMer presIdent

Here He is mulliNg On hoW TOugH it must be fOr the womAn (now his vICe-preSIdEnt) he BeaT to the ToP joB:

"It haSn't beeN EasY beinG vice-pReSident, ThougH sHe is well Aware that any number of peoPle wouLd traDe pLaces with Her.
 There is a long and noble  history o f two  in div id uals  com ing together t o  cre ate a memorable double  act.  B r aque an d Pic asso, L e nn o n  an dMc Car tn e y,  Dolc e a nd Gabb ana, Morec amb eand Wise and Fr ench and S aun ders springtomind.
T her e  have  al so be en les s  succe ssful, ra th e r oddc oupling s .  I 'm t hinking Bing Cros b ya nd David Bowie , SamFo x  a n d  Mi ckFleetwood,  a nd no w  - 513p ag e s lat e r - Bill Clin ton and Jam e s P atters on .
T heir c o-aut ho r edbook The Pr esid ent is Mi ssingi s not q u ite asbad as  Sa m a nd M i ck 's  ho st i ngo fthe 198 9 Brit a wa rd s, bu t it i s notfar  off .

It  is, let us s ay,  not the  most  thri llin gthril ler. W hichwo uld be okay ifit w as a beau tif ul lycr afted ,  chara cte r-r ich wor k of li t era ry f i ct ion. Sadly it is n ot . 
I mage cop yright Pe ng u in Rando mHou se/G e t ty

I t is adisappoi ntingl y  p re dictabl e,  surpr is ing lyjingo i stic  shagg y dog st ory a b out cyber crim e  and American pa r t yp olit ics .

The most  int e rest ingt hi nga boutit is  o n eh alf of the authoria lpartne rship  was once the  President o f  the Uni tedS ta t es: a fascinat ing o ld job tha t  has pro vided  sourcematerialf o r this t all  ta leand i ts  unexpectedly b land  m ain pro tag onist.
Ma ybe  th at' sthe way i t had to  b efo ranex-Pr e sident w ri tin gfic tionb ased o n his  exp er ie n ces  in off i ce : allth einte res ti ng st uffw asstill t oo top se cre t  tosh ar e, leav ing only themo st mundane  a spe cts fo r us reade rs.

The upshot is a pr e sent-da y f ictio nalpresident  ca lled J ona t han Du ncan,"thele ade r of th e fr eewo rld", whoi s  pe rhaps  t he m ost cha racterless charact e r t o have ever b een  cre a t ed  in th e  na me off i ction. It'd bewrong to c al l  h im two-dim e nsi on al beca use tha t wou l d sugge st a sliv er of dep th  whe r e  th ere is non e.

Dunc an is asi ntere s ti ng as  adrawer  f ull  of n eatlyf old ed so cks. H eis all  ligh tand no s hade: a war hero who te lls us  he w ill  never tr ade onhis stori es o f nation-s avi ngderri ng- d o, wh ilet el lin g  us b oast f ul storie s  a bou t hi s nation-sa v i n g d errin g-d o .

Ima ge c opyright David Bu r nett Image cap tion J ame s P a tter so n (left) co-au tho re d the thri ll er with the  formerpr e siden t

Her e he i s mulli n g  o n  how t ough  it  must befor  t h e woman  ( no w  his v ice- pr esiden t) heb eatt o  the top job:

" It ha s n 't be e n e asy b ei ng vice - pres ident, tho ugh she iswell a ware  that  any nu mb er ofpeo pl e would tr a de places  with  her.
 There_is a_long and noble history_of two_individuals_coming together_to_create a memorable_double act. Braque_and Picasso, Lennon and_McCartney, Dolce and_Gabbana,_Morecambe and Wise and French and Saunders spring to mind.

There have also been less_successful,_rather odd_couplings._I'm_thinking Bing Crosby and David_Bowie, Sam Fox and Mick_Fleetwood, and_now - 513 pages later - Bill Clinton_and_James Patterson.

Their co-authored_book The President is Missing is not quite as_bad as Sam and Mick's hosting_of the 1989_Brit_awards,_but it is not_far off.

It is, let us say,_not the most thrilling thriller. Which_would be okay if it was a_beautifully crafted, character-rich work of literary_fiction. Sadly it is not.

Image_copyright Penguin_Random House/Getty

It is a disappointingly_predictable, surprisingly jingoistic_shaggy dog_story about cyber_crime and American party politics.

The most_interesting thing about_it is one half of the_authorial_partnership was once_the_President_of the_United States: a_fascinating_old job_that_has provided source material for this_tall_tale and its unexpectedly bland main protagonist.

Maybe_that's the way it_had_to be for an_ex-President writing fiction based on_his experiences in office: all the_interesting stuff_was still_too top secret to share, leaving only the most mundane aspects_for us readers.

The upshot is a_present-day fictional president called_Jonathan Duncan,_"the_leader of the_free_world", who_is perhaps the most characterless character to_have ever_been created in the name of_fiction. It'd be wrong_to_call him two-dimensional because that would_suggest a sliver of depth where_there is none.

Duncan is as_interesting_as_a drawer full of neatly_folded socks. He is all light_and no shade:_a war hero who tells us he_will_never trade on his stories of_nation-saving_derring-do, while telling us boastful stories_about_his_nation-saving derring-do.

Image copyright David Burnett_Image caption James Patterson (left) co-authored_the thriller with the former president

Here he is mulling_on how tough_it must be for the_woman_(now_his vice-president) he beat to the top job:

"It hasn't been_easy being_vice-president, though she_is well aware that any number of people would trade_places with her.