Bill Clinton teases third novel with James Patterson: 'We really take the gloves off'

Former President Clinton and James Patterson are putting their writing pens together again, teaming up for a third book about a potentially murderous presidential spouse.

"The First Gentleman" is poised to hit shelves on June 2, publishers Alfred A. Knopf and Little, Brown and Company announced Wednesday.

The thriller is described as a tale about a president's husband who goes on trial for murder.

"Like their previous collaborations, the story will be told with Patterson’s signature suspense and will be informed by details that only a president can know," a news release said. 

The 42nd president and the bestselling author first joined forces in 2018 with the release of "The President is Missing." The book went on to sell 3.8 million copies, according to its publishers. The pair followed up that project with another novel, "The President's Daughter," in 2021.

"The First Gentleman" won't be a sequel to the previous books from Patterson and Clinton, the publishing houses said, calling it a "stand-alone novel" with a "new, original cast of characters."

"Jim and I always have a great time writing together, but we’re admittedly pretty tough on our fictional presidents. We've sent one chief executive into hiding to stop a global terror attack, and thrust another into a deadly firefight to protect his family," Clinton said in a statement about his latest literary effort. 

"In our new book, we really take the gloves off. I hope this one is as much fun to read as it was to write,” Clinton, 78, said. 

“President Clinton and I have written a couple of well-received thrillers so far. But 'The First Gentleman' is at a whole new level," Patterson said. 

"When we first got writing — two presidential administrations ago — we simply could not have dreamt this one up,” the scribe said in a statement.