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. But how many of those people came within a breath of winning thenomination only to see their dreams upended by a war hero with rugged good looks and a sharp sense of humour."

Here is a man who is always staunch in the face of adversity, carrying on regardless because that's what presidents do. His wife dies, he carries on regardless. He has a life-threatening medical condition, he carries on regardless. He risks impeachment for his actions (no stained dresses in this instance, just heroics), he carries on regardless.

Image copyright William J. Clinton Presidential Library Image caption Former President Clinton was photographed with Monica Lewinsky at the Oval Office in 1997

You get the picture. If you're looking for insights into life in the White House beyond finding out there is a subterranean bowling alley, you are going to be sorely disappointed.