Review of "Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Amateur Sleuth Mystery" by Andrew Shaffer

Former Vice President Joe Biden is in low spirits. Since leaving office he's been idling around his Wilmington, Delaware home, feeling bored.

Meanwhile, Biden's 'best friend', former President Barack Obama, has been hanging out with celebrities all over the world - parasailing, windsurfing; kayaking; and BASE jumping in Hong Kong with Bradley Cooper.









As Biden is throwing darts at a picture of Bradley Cooper on his office wall, he's fuming about Obama not calling, texting, emailing.....or even sending a postcard. It seems Obama has cut loose his "dead weight loser vice-president" and wants nothing more to do with him.



Or maybe not.

When Biden hears scuffling sounds in his backyard, it turns out to be Obama and a Secret Service Agent named Steve - who've slipped in to deliver some bad news.



An Amtrak conductor named Finn Donnelly, whom Biden has known for decades, was hit by a train and killed.



Obama delivers the news personally because Donnelly had a map showing Biden's address, and the Secret Service fears Biden may be the target of a terrorist attack.



Biden reaches out to cop friend, and learns that Donnelly was suspected of using drugs, and had a baggie full of heroin when he died.



Moreover, the police believe Donnelly's death was probably a drug-related accident or a suicide - in which case Donnelly's family won't get his life insurance.

Biden doesn't accept any of this. He doesn't believe Donnelly was a bad guy or a drug addict or a drug pusher, and he doesn't want Donnelly remembered like that by his loved ones. So Biden decides to investigate Donnelly's death himself, and Obama jumps on board to help.

Obama even offers up his new car, the 'Little Beast' for transportation. The Little Beast - purchased with Obama's own money - is an armored Cadillac Escalade that's as bulletproof and bombproof as a personal car can be.



As Biden starts making inquiries, he learns that Donnelly's wife is terminally ill and residing in a long-term care facility. He also discovers that Donnelly had sold his house and was living in a cheap motel.



To further his inquiries, Biden plans to visit Donnelly' wife; attend Donnelly's funeral; talk to Donnelly's daughter; examine the accident site; speak to Donnelly's Amtrak co-workers; scope out Donnelly's motel room; etc. Obama more or less tags along for the ride and jumps in when he's needed.



Biden insists on 'disguises' for himself and Obama, which consists of things like baseball caps; sunglasses; and an aloha shirt and shorts for himself.





This isn't very effective, and most people recognize the former Commander-in-Chief and his right hand man. Secret Service Agent Steve tries to keep Biden and Obama from doing anything dangerous, but he's only partially successful.....especially when the detective duo ditches him.

Biden's inquiries infuriate Lieutenant Selena Esposito, who's in charge of the Donnelly case. Esposito warns Biden off repeatedly, but the former Vice President keeps investigating, and charges in where he shouldn't go. Thus the amateur detectives come across a beautiful blonde swathed in nothing but a towel; a dangerous gang; and another dead body!!

In the end, Biden demonstrates some serious cojones, Obama proves to be a valuable sidekick; and the truth about Donnelly's death comes to light.

As you might expect, there's a good bit of humor in the book, a few laments about the current administration, and Biden's speculations about running for President.

In one funny scene, Biden and Obama play a game - popular in the Capitol - called POTUS, SCOTUS, OR FLOTUS. In this game, one player names three women and the other player decides which should be POTUS; SCOTUS; and FLOTUS. Biden names Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and Hillary Clinton.....and Obama decides who to put where.

This is a good story, and (fictional) Biden and Obama make a great sleuthing team. I'd recommend the book to fans of quirky, amusing mysteries.

Rating: 3.5 stars