Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and best-selling author James Patterson sat down with the BBC to discuss the new real-life political thriller "Mr. First."

What happens when the president’s husband is tried for murder? This is the latest collaboration between former U.S. President Bill Clinton and thriller Maestro James Patterson, the core of the first gentleman. This is a novel that only these two people can reminisce because of their earlier books, the president's disappearance in 2018 (three million copies sold) and the president's daughter (2021). Patterson is as big as they entered the world of thriller (selling more than 230 million books worldwide), but Clinton, a longtime fan of the genre, told the BBC: "It's just an adventure in my old age." It’s obvious how fun they are still together when they talk to them in person.

Their new novel focuses on U.S. President Madeline Wright and husband Cole Wright, a former professional American football star. He still brings career scars and is seeking goals at the White House as he defends his name during a murder trial for the cheerleaders 20 years ago. It's a classic police program - a touring drama, as journalists, detectives and political agents, all strive to reveal the truth about killing the cheerleader and lowering the first gentleman or destroying his people, or destroying his political agenda. And, of course, if his wife Hillary Clinton won the 2016 election against U.S. President Donald Trump, then President Clinton may find his role in 2017.

It's obvious that Bill Clinton's presidency is still written with him. "The White House sometimes, not only is it when Republicans try to implode me, but when we go through something really controversial and difficult - in the hearts of those who cover me, my storyline is more important than the storyline. We try to get everything there."

However, the book does not focus the narrative on the first couple, but rather has the heart of a journalist. Independent investigative journalist and attorney Brea Cooke and her partner Garrett Wilson are discussing the disappearance of Suzanne Bonanno. It seems like Wright may have killed her because Cook and Wilson uncovered what really happened and where her body might be. Inspired by iconic couples like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Patterson believes that the press conference is at the center of the novel, “Reporters, sometimes they deserve what they get, but most journalists want to pursue the truth…that’s what we want reporters to do.”

Clinton had his own quarrel with conspiracy journalists over the years, and he agreed that even in a feverish party-respected journalists would succeed: “I still think being able to stand up like a brilliant person and tell the truth even when it means facts, even if it means it, I’m wrong, I’m wrong, but I think it’s a truth. Brea Cooke might be the centerpiece – journalists dig out the truth.

But the first gentleman is not just a court drama. It's also likely the first thriller in history, the central part of the plot, a bargaining on U.S. debt and spending. Without spoiling the ending, we just say that President Wright elaborates on how to address rights spending and balance budgets. The book comes at the same time as Donald Trump and the Republicans formulate their own plans. Can President Wright's proposal work? Patterson's joke: "We have a big and beautiful bill in our book."

"Sneaking into some substantive information is part of how they view the connections of books," Clinton said. "I don't think people are mind learning something useful and entertaining in hell of a good story. "In their first book, it's cybersecurity, and now it's budget negotiations.

What did writing learn from each other on their third outing? For Patterson, it was all about research and authenticity, and after completing his recent memoir, he focused more on “more attention to sentences…I think I’m more important than ever, between staying true and truly aware of the sentence.”

But even for this experienced pair, the first draft of the book is tough. Patterson admitted: "From the beginning, honestly, it's a mess, we've never had one. We don't have a president, they're not a good character. Journalists are not a good person. We kind of know what the story is, but the character is totally wrong." Then Clinton called him one night and said, "I have a real problem. I shouldn't die for these people." They added depth and scenes to attract the characters.

But despite their passionate collaborators, they are also combined with a certain prospect of life. Patterson describes it: "The one thing we have together, I think we see the world as not black and white. It's always complicated. It's subtle. There's shadows, and I think that's one of the reasons we can work together."

Finally, the reason for pushing the novel toward its twisted torture is a sense of responsibility. Will the president do the right thing for his husband and the country? Clinton is clear about the Echo: “One thing I know is that when the other side declares war on you at the White House, you still have to show up and do the job.”

In times of turbulence, the former president's thriller may provide essential advice for world leaders.

Lucas Wittmann is executive director of the Unterberg Center for Poetry and Literature on Y, 92nd Street, New York. He was the editor of the day and the Beast of the Daily.

The First Gentleman of Bill Clinton and James Patterson was published by Century and is now available.