An Obama Biden Mystery (Obama Biden Mysteries) - Hope Never Dies

Disclaimer: I live in Delaware so my view of this book won't be that of the average reader. I had a great time reading this funny irreverent caper. Why not have these famous people as somewhat bungling detectives?
But...I always pay close attention to the geography in any book I read. In this case, I drive the roads, walk the sidewalks and I was frequently lost as the book shifted from real to fictional places.
I have met Biden four times, twice in the train station and twice at the state fair. Next time I will ask him what he thinks of this book.

According to his author's page on the store, Andrew Shaffer is best known for his parodies of best-sellers, tv shows, etc. So one might expect this to be more of the same.

And, to a degree, I guess you can make that case.

But it's also a perfectly respectable genre comedy/mystery that appears to be just the first in what I, for one, hope will be an ongoing series

If Obama and Bide aren't exactly Holmes and Watson, well, neither are they Abbott and Costello

The mystery is a solid, if not stunning, tale and the two leads are perfectly within, if not their true characters, at least their plausible ones

Indeed the story of how Joe and Barack solve the mystery of who killed Joe's favourite amtrak conductor... and why comes real close to being a read in one sitting novel

Heck, even Donald Trump might like it

Do you remember the Obama/Biden memes that were ever so popular and super funny? Well, if you liked those, you are probably going to like Hope Never Dies, because Andrew Shaffer has taken everything that tickled the funny bone in those memes and translated that into a fanfiction buddy tale that has Joe Biden solving the mystery of "who killed Amtrak Joe's favorite conductor".

The story starts with an adorably insecure former vice president Joe Biden missing his friend Barack Obama while being angry at him for seemingly deserting him now that they are both out of office. But when Barack drops by in the dead of night to tell him about the death of his favorite conductor, it's the the evidence that points to Joe Biden that has him determined to find his friend's killer.

Written entirely in Joe Biden's first person point of view, what follows is a romp around Delaware in which Joe solves the murder with the help of Barack Obama. There's all sorts of characters involved -- insurance investigators, motorcycle clubs and dirty cops. This story touches upon every tidbit of Joe's and Barack's public personas, and I found myself either chuckling or groaning over most of what Biden has to say in this fanfic. Some of the bits made me laugh out loud, and I believe there was a gigglesnort of two along the way. While the mystery keeps the story moving, it really is the one-liners that made this book an almost 5 star read for me.

If you are looking for some relief from the current political scene and just want a good head-shaking laugh, you will probably like Hope Never Dies. I'll admit to buying a copy of this just for the cover that makes me smile every time I look at it. I think Andrew Shaffer did an amazing job of capturing the personality of Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and I can only hope that their real relationship was akin to how they are portrayed in Hope Never Dies because it's pretty terrific.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

HOPE NEVER DIES by Andrew Shaffer reunites former-Vice President Joe Biden with his best friend and partner in crime, former-President Barack Obama, in a hilarious and somewhat-suspenseful mystery. The novel is due out on July 10th 2018 by Quirk Books.

Ever since their term in the White House ended, Joe Biden has been hanging around at his home in Delaware and getting increasingly more upset with Barack Obama for going off and having the time of his life while ignoring his best friend. Needless to say, but the bromance is definitely suffering. And it’s unfortunate circumstances that bring the dynamic duo back together. When Barack learns that one of Joe’s old friends – a railroad conductor that Joe has known since he first started traveling on Amtrak to Washington DC during his early days as a Senator – has died under mysterious circumstances, he travels to Delaware to give Joe a heads up. The two then team up together to uncover the truth of what happened to Joe’s friend, and help bust a crime ring in Delaware.

While HOPE NEVER DIES is definitely campy fanfiction, it is also an interesting mystery novel staring Joe Biden and Barack Obama. When I first saw the novel, I almost couldn’t believe it was real. But it is real, and it is a must read regardless of your political affiliation. I mean, how could you not read a book starring Joe Biden as a straight-forward, sarcastic, corny, and slightly bitter protagonist? The man is bumbling around and going up against biker gangs and hardened criminals. And his wife, Jill, has no idea what he’s gotten himself in to. Joe Biden doesn’t even know what he’s gotten himself in to! What makes it even better is that his best friend is reluctantly along for the ride. Barack Obama is Joe’s shotgun wielding, unicorn riding, Secret Service dodging, ninja-like side-kick. Yes, the tables have turned and now Joe is the one calling the shots.

I’ll admit that I couldn’t take this book all that seriously. The whole concept is absurd – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a wonderfully, insanely, absurd idea. After reading HOPE NEVER DIES, I want to believe that somewhere – perhaps in a parallel universe – Barack Obama’s and Joe Biden’s bromance is alive and well, and that they are fighting crime while ducking the Secret Service and accidently breaking the law themselves.

For those of you going through the seven stages of grief with me since last January, I give you a book that may lighten your load and remind you of the days when we had a real administration, not the dumpster fire we’ve got now. I give you the first Obama/Biden mystery, Hope Never Dies, by Andrew Shaffer.

Joe Biden isn’t enjoying the post-White House life (but seriously, who is?). He’s puttering around the house, and getting mopier and upset because his buddy, Barack, is out there having fun, loving life, and taking a long-needed vacation. He’s on Branson’s yacht, he’s hanging with Bradley Cooper, but has Joe’s phone buzzed even once? What happened to their bromance?

Just when Joe is about to give in to ennui, a mystery lands in his lap. One of his favorite Amtrak conductors, Finn, has turned up dead in a highly suspect accident. “Amtrak Joe” launches his own investigation, trying to get to the bottom of the death and keep his friend’s name clean. Who ends up along for the ride? Why, who else? Number 44 himself, riding in Michelle’s Escalade, affectionately named “The Little Beast”. But this ain’t no love in, no sir: Joe’s conflicted as all hell, because Barack just has this way of showing up, like Joe was pining away for him (yes, he was, but still), and he’s supposed to just pick up where things left off? Joe knows Wilmington, Delaware, and Obama’s got access to the Beast and the extra muscle, so the two are off together to repair their friendship and solve a mystery. Happy Days are here again!

Hope Never Dies is – as I just learned from visiting Andrew Shaffer’s website – the first in a new Obama-Biden series of mysteries. I cannot explain the joy this news gave me, and I hope this joy spreads to you, dear readers. Is it presidential fan fiction? You freaking bet it is, and it is the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup that my soul needed. Shaffer gives us a story that’s part cozy mystery, part noir thriller, with Biden as first-person narrator so that we can hear Uncle Joe talk to us, Sam Spade-like. We get a murder mystery with biker gangs, drugs, and a friendship gone wrong all in one compulsively readable book.

What didn’t I love? I would have liked Biden’s dumped teen angst to have been resolved a little sooner. I liked his introspection and awareness of his age – sometimes, your body just won’t do what you want it to do after a while, and it sucks. (11 pm bedtime, I’m’ looking at you.) I liked his being put out over Obama’s nonchalance, but would have liked more Riggs and Murtaugh; another reason I’m psyched for future installments is to recall the Obama-Biden bromance that sustained me for eight years. Inspired by Sherlock and Watson, Obama can come off a bit robotic at times, but I’m hoping he’ll warm up as the two take on their next adventure. There’s some Hillary humor, and a couple of shots at the new administration, that I would love to see more of, but most of all, I just want JoeBama to take on their next case.

So what’s the overall feeling on Hope Never Dies? Get off Twitter, stop watching the news, get this book in hand, and enjoy it. It’s exactly what you need these days.

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer is an intriguing new mystery featuring, yes, Joe Biden and Barack Obama as detectives. Biden is Mr. Relationship, driven in all aspects of his post VP life by his connections to family and friends. And he's pissed at Barack, who doesn't answer his calls and doesn't care about keeping the friendship going. That part --the relationship between the two-- is very believable and almost overshadows the mystery they choose to solve together.

It has to do with the death of an Amtrak conductor Joe Biden knew, the opioid epidemic and corrupt cops, among other things. Obama is certainly the remote Sherlock figure and Biden the folksy Watson type, but both men are more complicated than they first appear. The Secret Service agent, Steve, remains two dimensional for most of the book. The writing sparkles from time to time, and Biden's self-mockery is delightful. After they escape yet again from peril, for example, Biden observes, "I collected myself as best I could, threw the gear shift into drive and stepped on the gas like my wife was in labor."

Here's hoping this is a series. The cover is hilarious. The plot is suspenseful. It's a good read and the political jokes are actually funny.

Andrew Shaffer had a very funny idea. Why not write a mystery with Barack Obama and Joe Biden as amateur detectives? If you’ve ever seen some of the Obama-Biden “bromance” memes (click here for a few), you’ll know this pair has plenty of rapport to wrap around a good story line. Who better to solve a mystery than the former President and Vice President of the United States?

The story begins soon after the 2016 election. Obama has adjusted nicely to a new life filled with adventure. He’s windsurfing, kayaking and hanging out with celebrities. But Biden is at loose ends and is a little stung by Obama’s new life and friends. “Why doesn’t Barack ever call me, his best friend?” he wonders.

The pair reconnects when Biden’s favorite train conductor dies under suspicious circumstances. “Amtrak Joe” senses there is more to the story. Biden has been a regular on Amtrak for decades and he knows that Finn Donnelly was a good, family man. But questions arise when Obama shares what police know. Could there be a national security interest at stake? Is Donnelly’s death connected to opioid trafficking?

Biden takes the lead and jumps straight into the case in his full-force, pantser style. And before long, Obama and his cool and calm self are part of the team. As the pair bumbles through their undercover investigation, in caps and shades, it becomes clear that this case is big and that not everyone is on the same team. Can the Obama-Biden team sort it out?

I thoroughly enjoyed imagining Obama and Biden as they adjust to their new lives as regular citizens. And seeing them operate as amateur detectives makes for many hilarious scenarios. Shady characters and a few false leads make the mystery an enjoyable puzzle to solve and, while the crimes and consequences reflect grim problems, the story is light and great fun to read.

I recommend Hope Never Dies to all readers. It is pure entertainment, with a few political jabs and a lot of laughs.

I received a copy of Hope Never Dies from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's always fun to see "famous" people (celebrities, political figures, etc.) involved in situations you're certain could never happen. We see them on television or in publis, but have no idea of the tense situations and dangers they face behind the scenes. Books such as this gives us a fictionalized idea of what we'd like to think happens, while at the same time we're certain it could never happen.

The former president is still a celebrity, hang-gliding, golfing with movie stars while his Vice President sits at home brooding, because his friend Barack never calls. When the conductor on the line Joe Biden rode to the Capitol every day is killed in a suspicious accident (read suicide), the Veep and the ex-POTUS spring in some well-needed action. Ditching the ex-Prez's Secret Service guard, they don disguises (Hawaiian shirts and ball caps) and head out to discover what the man knew that made someone kill him. It's an adventure that's at the same time dangerous (visualize the former VP wrestling with a gun-wielding assassin while on a moving train) while retaining a Keystone Kops-type air of slapstick.

It's fun, it's entertaining, and I hope there's more to some.

This novel was supplied by the publisher and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.

Many years ago, in an online discussion about "the best SF/F on TV today," one buddy responded: "The best fantasy right now is West Wing." He was right: The show demonstrated what we all wanted from politicians: caring, intelligent, thoughtful people doing the right thing (and also telling interesting stories). And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you keep in mind that we should not expect the fantasy to match the reality.

That description applies equally to Hope Never Dies. This is a cozy mystery starring real-life people, with Biden as protagonist and Obama as sidekick, but part of the reader's suspension of disbelief is that it reflects "who he really is" rather than "who he presented himself to be publicly" or "who I wish these people are/were." ...And there's nothing wrong with that. It's a fantasy -- and it's a REALLY FUN ONE, with scenes that made me laugh out loud. The story is also soothing, to those of us who would prefer that (in the real world) things might have gone another way.

The mystery itself: Biden was and is well known for spending much of his senatorial career commuting to Washington DC from Baltimore via Amtrak as "just a guy." In the novel, a train conductor whom Biden knew well is found dead on the tracks in hinky circumstances, including the Amtrak guy having on his person a map to Biden's house. Biden realizes that he has to solve the mystery himself (as is usual for cozies), and Obama shows up to help out. ...Which is rather a tough setup, since it isn't like these guys are unrecognizable. (Let's see, what sort of disguise would YOU give the ex-President for snooping around dive bars in Delaware?)

In mystery terms -- and goodness knows I've read and reviewed plenty of them -- this is a solidly good story. I didn't figure out the whodunnit before the big reveal; I liked the characters as presented (whether or not they match the real people); and I appreciated the way Shaffer referenced "the current administration" without making any nasty political pot-shots. Biden and Obama are busy with solving this problem, rather than whining about the guy they refer to once as the Tweeter in Chief.

And did I mention THIS IS FUNNY? It is, decidedly so. Quite a good summer read.

According to his author's page on the store, Andrew Shaffer is best known for his parodies of best-sellers, tv shows, etc. So one might expect this to be more of the same.

And, to a degree, I guess you can make that case.

But it's also a perfectly respectable genre comedy/mystery that appears to be just the first in what I, for one, hope will be an ongoing series

If Obama and Bide aren't exactly Holmes and Watson, well, neither are they Abbott and Costello

The mystery is a solid, if not stunning, tale and the two leads are perfectly within, if not their true characters, at least their plausible ones

Indeed the story of how Joe and Barack solve the mystery of who killed Joe's favourite amtrak conductor... and why comes real close to being a read in one sitting novel

Heck, even Donald Trump might like it

Do you remember the Obama/Biden memes that were ever so popular and super funny? Well, if you liked those, you are probably going to like Hope Never Dies, because Andrew Shaffer has taken everything that tickled the funny bone in those memes and translated that into a fanfiction buddy tale that has Joe Biden solving the mystery of "who killed Amtrak Joe's favorite conductor".

The story starts with an adorably insecure former vice president Joe Biden missing his friend Barack Obama while being angry at him for seemingly deserting him now that they are both out of office. But when Barack drops by in the dead of night to tell him about the death of his favorite conductor, it's the the evidence that points to Joe Biden that has him determined to find his friend's killer.

Written entirely in Joe Biden's first person point of view, what follows is a romp around Delaware in which Joe solves the murder with the help of Barack Obama. There's all sorts of characters involved -- insurance investigators, motorcycle clubs and dirty cops. This story touches upon every tidbit of Joe's and Barack's public personas, and I found myself either chuckling or groaning over most of what Biden has to say in this fanfic. Some of the bits made me laugh out loud, and I believe there was a gigglesnort of two along the way. While the mystery keeps the story moving, it really is the one-liners that made this book an almost 5 star read for me.

If you are looking for some relief from the current political scene and just want a good head-shaking laugh, you will probably like Hope Never Dies. I'll admit to buying a copy of this just for the cover that makes me smile every time I look at it. I think Andrew Shaffer did an amazing job of capturing the personality of Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and I can only hope that their real relationship was akin to how they are portrayed in Hope Never Dies because it's pretty terrific.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

HOPE NEVER DIES by Andrew Shaffer reunites former-Vice President Joe Biden with his best friend and partner in crime, former-President Barack Obama, in a hilarious and somewhat-suspenseful mystery. The novel is due out on July 10th 2018 by Quirk Books.

Ever since their term in the White House ended, Joe Biden has been hanging around at his home in Delaware and getting increasingly more upset with Barack Obama for going off and having the time of his life while ignoring his best friend. Needless to say, but the bromance is definitely suffering. And it’s unfortunate circumstances that bring the dynamic duo back together. When Barack learns that one of Joe’s old friends – a railroad conductor that Joe has known since he first started traveling on Amtrak to Washington DC during his early days as a Senator – has died under mysterious circumstances, he travels to Delaware to give Joe a heads up. The two then team up together to uncover the truth of what happened to Joe’s friend, and help bust a crime ring in Delaware.

While HOPE NEVER DIES is definitely campy fanfiction, it is also an interesting mystery novel staring Joe Biden and Barack Obama. When I first saw the novel, I almost couldn’t believe it was real. But it is real, and it is a must read regardless of your political affiliation. I mean, how could you not read a book starring Joe Biden as a straight-forward, sarcastic, corny, and slightly bitter protagonist? The man is bumbling around and going up against biker gangs and hardened criminals. And his wife, Jill, has no idea what he’s gotten himself in to. Joe Biden doesn’t even know what he’s gotten himself in to! What makes it even better is that his best friend is reluctantly along for the ride. Barack Obama is Joe’s shotgun wielding, unicorn riding, Secret Service dodging, ninja-like side-kick. Yes, the tables have turned and now Joe is the one calling the shots.

I’ll admit that I couldn’t take this book all that seriously. The whole concept is absurd – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a wonderfully, insanely, absurd idea. After reading HOPE NEVER DIES, I want to believe that somewhere – perhaps in a parallel universe – Barack Obama’s and Joe Biden’s bromance is alive and well, and that they are fighting crime while ducking the Secret Service and accidently breaking the law themselves.

For those of you going through the seven stages of grief with me since last January, I give you a book that may lighten your load and remind you of the days when we had a real administration, not the dumpster fire we’ve got now. I give you the first Obama/Biden mystery, Hope Never Dies, by Andrew Shaffer.

Joe Biden isn’t enjoying the post-White House life (but seriously, who is?). He’s puttering around the house, and getting mopier and upset because his buddy, Barack, is out there having fun, loving life, and taking a long-needed vacation. He’s on Branson’s yacht, he’s hanging with Bradley Cooper, but has Joe’s phone buzzed even once? What happened to their bromance?

Just when Joe is about to give in to ennui, a mystery lands in his lap. One of his favorite Amtrak conductors, Finn, has turned up dead in a highly suspect accident. “Amtrak Joe” launches his own investigation, trying to get to the bottom of the death and keep his friend’s name clean. Who ends up along for the ride? Why, who else? Number 44 himself, riding in Michelle’s Escalade, affectionately named “The Little Beast”. But this ain’t no love in, no sir: Joe’s conflicted as all hell, because Barack just has this way of showing up, like Joe was pining away for him (yes, he was, but still), and he’s supposed to just pick up where things left off? Joe knows Wilmington, Delaware, and Obama’s got access to the Beast and the extra muscle, so the two are off together to repair their friendship and solve a mystery. Happy Days are here again!

Hope Never Dies is – as I just learned from visiting Andrew Shaffer’s website – the first in a new Obama-Biden series of mysteries. I cannot explain the joy this news gave me, and I hope this joy spreads to you, dear readers. Is it presidential fan fiction? You freaking bet it is, and it is the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup that my soul needed. Shaffer gives us a story that’s part cozy mystery, part noir thriller, with Biden as first-person narrator so that we can hear Uncle Joe talk to us, Sam Spade-like. We get a murder mystery with biker gangs, drugs, and a friendship gone wrong all in one compulsively readable book.

What didn’t I love? I would have liked Biden’s dumped teen angst to have been resolved a little sooner. I liked his introspection and awareness of his age – sometimes, your body just won’t do what you want it to do after a while, and it sucks. (11 pm bedtime, I’m’ looking at you.) I liked his being put out over Obama’s nonchalance, but would have liked more Riggs and Murtaugh; another reason I’m psyched for future installments is to recall the Obama-Biden bromance that sustained me for eight years. Inspired by Sherlock and Watson, Obama can come off a bit robotic at times, but I’m hoping he’ll warm up as the two take on their next adventure. There’s some Hillary humor, and a couple of shots at the new administration, that I would love to see more of, but most of all, I just want JoeBama to take on their next case.

So what’s the overall feeling on Hope Never Dies? Get off Twitter, stop watching the news, get this book in hand, and enjoy it. It’s exactly what you need these days.

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer

Opening with Biden catching an internet video of Obama parasailing in Cape Town’s harbor, and being upset at their lack of communication over the years since their bromance was YouTube viral. A nighttime glow outside his home beckons his investigation. Out in his backyard woods, secret service standing by, Barack bears news of an Amtrak conductor’s death. A man Joe knew well. In his work office was a map with Joe’s home location marked out. No longer a VIP to the government, Joe is left with a burned out motion detector bulb and no other security than his dog and cache of firearms.

Barack’s concern for his old buddy sets them off to solve the how & why of the conductor’s death. Secret Service Steve along for the begrudged ride. Insurance PI’s, DEA, biker gangs, and disgruntled cops add to the cast as masks fall to reveal who’s what and why.

As Norman Lock writes Emily Dickinson saying in “The Wreckage of Eden” “It is one of those books you cannot put down for fear the story will go on without you.” So, on a hot, muggy & eventually rainy day, I did not put it down (except to eat, of course) and winced, LOL’d, and cheered on this team of justice seekers as they solve one mystery after another, dents, concussions, cigarettes and all.

With snarky barbs at the current occupancy of the White House and related affairs, it made it even more hilarious. (The bike chase Bernie line still has me chuckling.)

I sure hope there is more to come.

*Note to Jeremy Enecio, who designed that awesome cover.. they were driving a Dodge Challenger, not a Pontiac Trans Am. Just saying.

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer is an intriguing new mystery featuring, yes, Joe Biden and Barack Obama as detectives. Biden is Mr. Relationship, driven in all aspects of his post VP life by his connections to family and friends. And he's pissed at Barack, who doesn't answer his calls and doesn't care about keeping the friendship going. That part --the relationship between the two-- is very believable and almost overshadows the mystery they choose to solve together.

It has to do with the death of an Amtrak conductor Joe Biden knew, the opioid epidemic and corrupt cops, among other things. Obama is certainly the remote Sherlock figure and Biden the folksy Watson type, but both men are more complicated than they first appear. The Secret Service agent, Steve, remains two dimensional for most of the book. The writing sparkles from time to time, and Biden's self-mockery is delightful. After they escape yet again from peril, for example, Biden observes, "I collected myself as best I could, threw the gear shift into drive and stepped on the gas like my wife was in labor."

Here's hoping this is a series. The cover is hilarious. The plot is suspenseful. It's a good read and the political jokes are actually funny.

Andrew Shaffer had a very funny idea. Why not write a mystery with Barack Obama and Joe Biden as amateur detectives? If you’ve ever seen some of the Obama-Biden “bromance” memes (click here for a few), you’ll know this pair has plenty of rapport to wrap around a good story line. Who better to solve a mystery than the former President and Vice President of the United States?

The story begins soon after the 2016 election. Obama has adjusted nicely to a new life filled with adventure. He’s windsurfing, kayaking and hanging out with celebrities. But Biden is at loose ends and is a little stung by Obama’s new life and friends. “Why doesn’t Barack ever call me, his best friend?” he wonders.

The pair reconnects when Biden’s favorite train conductor dies under suspicious circumstances. “Amtrak Joe” senses there is more to the story. Biden has been a regular on Amtrak for decades and he knows that Finn Donnelly was a good, family man. But questions arise when Obama shares what police know. Could there be a national security interest at stake? Is Donnelly’s death connected to opioid trafficking?

Biden takes the lead and jumps straight into the case in his full-force, pantser style. And before long, Obama and his cool and calm self are part of the team. As the pair bumbles through their undercover investigation, in caps and shades, it becomes clear that this case is big and that not everyone is on the same team. Can the Obama-Biden team sort it out?

I thoroughly enjoyed imagining Obama and Biden as they adjust to their new lives as regular citizens. And seeing them operate as amateur detectives makes for many hilarious scenarios. Shady characters and a few false leads make the mystery an enjoyable puzzle to solve and, while the crimes and consequences reflect grim problems, the story is light and great fun to read.

I recommend Hope Never Dies to all readers. It is pure entertainment, with a few political jabs and a lot of laughs.

I received a copy of Hope Never Dies from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's always fun to see "famous" people (celebrities, political figures, etc.) involved in situations you're certain could never happen. We see them on television or in publis, but have no idea of the tense situations and dangers they face behind the scenes. Books such as this gives us a fictionalized idea of what we'd like to think happens, while at the same time we're certain it could never happen.

The former president is still a celebrity, hang-gliding, golfing with movie stars while his Vice President sits at home brooding, because his friend Barack never calls. When the conductor on the line Joe Biden rode to the Capitol every day is killed in a suspicious accident (read suicide), the Veep and the ex-POTUS spring in some well-needed action. Ditching the ex-Prez's Secret Service guard, they don disguises (Hawaiian shirts and ball caps) and head out to discover what the man knew that made someone kill him. It's an adventure that's at the same time dangerous (visualize the former VP wrestling with a gun-wielding assassin while on a moving train) while retaining a Keystone Kops-type air of slapstick.

It's fun, it's entertaining, and I hope there's more to some.

This novel was supplied by the publisher and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.

Many years ago, in an online discussion about "the best SF/F on TV today," one buddy responded: "The best fantasy right now is West Wing." He was right: The show demonstrated what we all wanted from politicians: caring, intelligent, thoughtful people doing the right thing (and also telling interesting stories). And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you keep in mind that we should not expect the fantasy to match the reality.

That description applies equally to Hope Never Dies. This is a cozy mystery starring real-life people, with Biden as protagonist and Obama as sidekick, but part of the reader's suspension of disbelief is that it reflects "who he really is" rather than "who he presented himself to be publicly" or "who I wish these people are/were." ...And there's nothing wrong with that. It's a fantasy -- and it's a REALLY FUN ONE, with scenes that made me laugh out loud. The story is also soothing, to those of us who would prefer that (in the real world) things might have gone another way.

The mystery itself: Biden was and is well known for spending much of his senatorial career commuting to Washington DC from Baltimore via Amtrak as "just a guy." In the novel, a train conductor whom Biden knew well is found dead on the tracks in hinky circumstances, including the Amtrak guy having on his person a map to Biden's house. Biden realizes that he has to solve the mystery himself (as is usual for cozies), and Obama shows up to help out. ...Which is rather a tough setup, since it isn't like these guys are unrecognizable. (Let's see, what sort of disguise would YOU give the ex-President for snooping around dive bars in Delaware?)

In mystery terms -- and goodness knows I've read and reviewed plenty of them -- this is a solidly good story. I didn't figure out the whodunnit before the big reveal; I liked the characters as presented (whether or not they match the real people); and I appreciated the way Shaffer referenced "the current administration" without making any nasty political pot-shots. Biden and Obama are busy with solving this problem, rather than whining about the guy they refer to once as the Tweeter in Chief.

And did I mention THIS IS FUNNY? It is, decidedly so. Quite a good summer read.

The story held my interest mostly, though it seemed to me like a fairly standard crime mystery with the "special parts" (Biden, Obama, Secret Service agent, etc.) sort of bolted on.

Certain details felt awkward. Here's is one example: there were repeated mentions of Jill Biden and Michelle Obama, even though neither woman played any real function in the plot. If not for common knowledge regarding the former president & vice president, their wives probably wouldn't have been mentioned in the story at all. I guess this is a risk of trying to write a novel where major characters are extremely famous living people: the author is "stuck" trying to wedge commonly-known aspects of the characters' lives into the story whether or not those features actually fit.

I also thought most of the inter-character (I won't go into detail about this to avoid spoilers) tension felt contrived, as if considered obligatory by the author.

Other details, obviously intended to flesh out the characters and make them seem more real, seemed contrived. Biden's headache was mentioned over and over, but it never had much of an effect on the story. The same is true of the knee injury he suffered early on. He limped around a lot and thought about the discomfort a lot, but his knee never failed failed at a critical time. The bits about lightbulbs, climate change, national politics, etc. were just *there*; they didn't do anything to drive the plot.

All this aside, I thought there were spots where both the Obama and Biden characters felt real. I enjoyed those bits quite a lot. Of course I don't know either of the main characters any more than any other random citizen, so I can't really judge whether or not the men and their friendship were portrayed accurately.

So overall, I enjoyed the story but didn't think it was great. As always, your mileage may vary.

This review is of the kindle version of the novel, which I checked out from my local library.

I expected this to be a straightforward cozy mystery with Obama and Biden as the "detectives." It was that, but it also layered in the complexities of two friends who spent 8 years in each others' pockets suddenly left with no role. Biden's missing Obama, Obama is wary of crowding Biden. (I bet Michelle and Jill could fix the whole thing over lunch, but we don't really see them.)

It was just - very humane, even when having a lot of laughs. The humor wasn't mean-spirited, the mystery was solved, and it was a thrill-ride meanwhile. I hope it's the first of a series, though I think this level of fun will be difficult to sustain.

If there's a book 2, I will be pre-ordering it!

This is a fun, lighthearted mystery featuring Joe Biden and Barack Obama investigating the death of an Amtrak conductor that Biden knew from his many years commuting between Delaware and DC. It’s told from Biden’s point of view. The author did a great job bringing to life the aging, working class Joe who leads with his heart and the cerebral and super cool Barack. Their bromance is on the rocks because Joe’s feelings are hurt now that Barack is living the celebrity lifestyle with his super famous friends, while Joe is living the simple life at home in Delaware. Poor Joe! I knew I was going to like this book when Joe said that wife Jill liked to read on her Kindle because she can make the print bigger (me, too!) and download her “bodice-rippers” (me, again!). There’s a lot of humor in the book. The digs at the current administration are kept fairly low key, but of course there are a few because Obama and Biden would bemoan the current state of affairs. I recommend this book if you are nostalgic for the Obama/Biden years. It’s probably not for you if you are a Trump fan.

The idea of using two well-known beloved figures was clever both in terms of marketing and in keeping the reader’s attention. It was from the point of view of Joe Biden. I found it curious and risky that it was written in first person as it caused this reader to expect an accurate portray of Biden’s personality. In fact the portrayal barely arises above the caricature level for both Biden and Obama. Biden’s portrayal is almost cruel, while Obama’s reflects his cool. The writing is OK except for a few forced similes that don’t work. Suggesting that Dr. Jill Biden, professor of English, reads bodice rippers was off the wall.

Oddly, the plot of this murder mystery didn’t become suspenseful until toward the end when it became intense. I found it a good distraction from today’s awful politics. BTW, I received this as a gift.

Ugh, what a mashed up mess. I would typically have rolled my eyes and moved along, but since this was written by the author of the hilarious [book:Fifty Shames of Earl Grey|14060248], I decided to give it a whirl.

Clever idea (I guess) to have Obama and Biden getting involved in solving a mystery (is this going to be a series?), but I hate to say it - the jokes fell flat, as did the characters, as did the mystery. Biden is the narrator (first person), and he was especially annoying and his constant falls and injuries just weren't funny. Nothing was funny, except for the dig at Fox News.

Your mileage may vary, as always, but this one just wasn't my cup of Earl Grey tea.

The 2016 Presidential Election has ended. Former Vice President Joe Biden doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. As he watches his former boss Barack Obama vacationing with the likes of Richard Branson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Hollywood superstar Bradley Cooper, he feels discarded and hopeless. All this changes when Obama arrives on Joe’s doorstep one evening with the news of the death of a dear friend of Joe’s..

Hope Never Dies is a fun read with an interesting premise – “Hey, I got an idea! How about Biden and Obama team up to solve a murder?” When the story begins, it doesn’t appear to be anything deeper than a total bromance between the internet’s two favorite political pals, however, there is actually a pretty solid mystery at the novel’s core. Shaffer kept me guessing right up until the end due to several sly red herrings thrown in to misdirect this reader.

I can’t say I know much about Joe Biden, so I’m not sure if this characterization comes anywhere close to that of the former Vice President. I’m not sure if that even matters, to be honest. Biden is described as a broken-down man struggling to come to grips with a directionless life. Some of the similes and descriptions that Biden explores are surface-level deep and downright groan-worthy, although, I believe that’s the point. Above all else, it’s his incorruptible character that makes him the perfect fit for an amateur sleuth.

On the other hand, Obama is played like the ultimate bad-ass dripping with swagger, which is a far cry from the casual, Dad-jeans wearing forty-fourth president we all remember. That said, he ends up being the perfect Yin to Biden’s Yang. To put it another way, if Biden is Carlton, than Obama is Will Smith. Shaffer succeeds in writing some entertaining back-and-forth dialogue between the two, even if I could never imagine them saying some of the things that come out of their mouths.

I have to admit I really only asked for a copy of this book because the cover made me laugh. When I finished it, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. While I generally like my mystery novels dark and bleak, it’s nice to try something lighter once in a while. Hope Never Dies is the literary equivalent to a fun buddy-cop movie; an ideal summer read.

The whole thing is told from Joe Biden's perspective, there's almost no Obama in book, not really. That's fine if you want to listen to an old white guy complain a lot about being old, and white, and a guy, a guy who is old. While he's complaining he's involved in a by-the-numbers sorta-noir adventure, and when that's done there's a chapter or three about how Joe should run for president and serve his country because that's just the sort of guy he is, told from Joe's perspective.

Whatever. It wasn't a terrible read but it was mostly a waste of time. There was one funny line. ("Everybody wave at Bernie".) But towards the end I was more than ready for it to be over. Assuming the sequel uses the same voice I'm not touching it.

Even though the murder mystery genre isn't my favorite, I was drawn to this novel by its premise. What if Joe Biden and Barack Obama solved crimes together post-administration? The story is told by Joe Biden, the former Senator and Vice-president, as a churlish old man who uses his Irish heritage as his excuse for spontaneous actions. Is the plot realistic? Absolutely not but that's part of the fun. Shaffer is a competent enough writer to keep me engaged. His Joe Biden narrator reflects a playful quality, if not a wistful one, given the current news cycle. I probably won't read any more of the series (if it continues) because murder mysteries just aren't my thing, she says as she steps into the shadow of her bookcase...

I picked this book up solely to have the bromance continued (I have missed those memes). This book won't win any prizes in literature and the diaglogue is kind of unbelievable, but the ride is fun. I laughed and wrote memes in my head. The best part of the book is that Joe Biden is the crime solver (I adore Joe Biden)...all in all, it was a fun little cozy and a good way to spend an afternoon

A fictional story of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Joe conductor friend is found dead on the tracks and Joe sets out to find out what happened. A fictional story of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Joe conductor friend is found dead on the tracks and Joe sets out to find out what happened. While looking into his friends's murder he tells Barack about it and before you know it they are both going on this wild and crazy adventure with just one secret service.
Premise was interested but I felt the story did not fully come together. I was giving an arc by netgalley

First things first, this is not an Obama/Biden mystery. It is a Joe Biden mystery, with Obama along for the ride. One of the main problems with the book is that this is just a basic cosy mystery plot, with Biden and Obama added to sell the book. The first quarter of the story is Biden pining over missing Obama (and being jealous of him having new friends) like a schoolgirl crush, and he spends more time being acting like an old fool (Biden comes across bad in places)

I was hoping for more here, A better story, for one thing and a less cliche ending. This would however, make for a fun made for tv movie.

I thought the concept was a little gimmicky but interesting enough to give it a try. Barack Obama and Joe Biden investigate the death of an Amtrak conductor. There's a substory about Joe missing his closeness with Barack. Of course these are fictional versions of real people but it's believable. The story is well plotted. There's a sudden yet inevitable betrayal or two and a satisfying denouement. Worth reading.

Additional note - this publisher also did The Last Policeman trilogy. I think I must investigate their list.

Andrew Shaffer has begun a mystery series with a novel titled, Hope Never Dies. The two investigators are Barack Obama and Joe Biden, finding new things to do now that they have left political office. No reader would mistake this novel for fine writing, but I found the premise funny, the mystery interesting enough, and the new roles for familiar characters a real hoot. Readers looking for quick escapist reading should consider this novel.

Rating: Four-star (I like it)

This parody of cozy mysteries is told from Joe Biden's point-of-view as he and Barack Obama chase down a killer. I loved it! I laughed so hard at times. Suspend belief but you have to read it. It was so much fun.

I liked the characters. Watching them solve the crime is a scream. I liked how they view the current happenings in D.C. I felt bad when Joe had to change some of his idealistic beliefs about others. I hope there are more in this series. I adored it.

I have never enjoyed a book more! This action packed mystery leaves you nostalgic for the good old days when our country was safe in the hands of this dynamic duo. It's the perfect book to read while enjoying an ice cream. I received a free copy of "Hope Never Dies" from the publisher.

PLOT: A conductor friend of Joe Biden’s is killed on the train tracks. When they find a map to Joe’s house amongst his belongings, Barack comes to break the news to Joe. Joe finds his friend’s death suspicious and works to find answers.

PROS: There are funny moments. It’s mostly the conversations between Biden and Obama. Oh, and that shoe incident.

CONS: I have to wonder how Joe Biden would feel about this book. If it was me being fictionalized here, I’d hate it. He’s portrayed as a character who is often whiny, annoying, unreasonable, reckless, impetuous, needy, naïve and dimwitted. And let us not forget OLD. The reader is beat over the head with how old he is. From his language to his bad knees, we are never allowed to forget how close to the grave he is.

I found some parts to be unbelievable. Ignoring the bit about a former president and vice president investigating a possible murder, I was bothered by their oftentimes seeming ignorance of the law. They’re both former lawyers and former lawmakers. There’s one point where Joe says he learned the trick of running a pencil over paper from television. What kid doesn’t know how to do that? I found it inconceivable that the detective in charge of the case would have been so rude to him. Whether she was a Republican or not, he’s a former politician and would still have friends in high places. I could go on, but I don’t want to spoil the plot.

At the point where Joe drives the SUV in a ditch, I threw my hands up and gave up reading for the night. It was just so incredibly stupid. It wasn’t the last time I thought his character was stupid in this book. What bothered me most was the property destruction that was never addressed. At least, Joe seemed remorseful about the accident for a second.

3 STARS: For the majority of this book, Obama and Biden are not sure if they are even investigating a murder. And they’re pretty inept detectives. Their investigation was going so poorly, I think it would have gone better if they’d stayed out of it.

When I read the book description, I laughed out loud. I just had to read this book. Unfortunately, the blurb is the funniest thing about it.

Bought it because it looked hilarious. It starts strong but the "suprises" at the end are pretty easy to predict. Honestly feels like the author has an idea for low effort mystery and decided to throw Biden and Obama in there to make sure it would sell.