Product Description
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club return in #1 bestselling author David Baldacci's most stunning adventure yet.

An attack on the heart of power . . .

In sight of the White House . . .

At a place known as . . .

HELL'S CORNER

John Carr, aka Oliver Stone-once the most skilled assassin his country ever had-stands in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, perhaps for the last time. The president has personally requested that Stone serve his country again on a high-risk, covert mission. Though he's fought for decades to leave his past career behind, Stone has no choice but to say yes.

Then Stone's mission changes drastically before it even begins. It's the night of a state dinner honoring the British prime minister. As he watches the prime minister's motorcade leave the White House that evening, a bomb is detonated in Lafayette Park, an apparent terrorist attack against both leaders. It's in the chaotic aftermath that Stone takes on a new, more urgent assignment: find those responsible for the bombing.

British MI-6 agent Mary Chapman becomes Stone's partner in the search for the unknown attackers. But their opponents are elusive, capable, and increasingly lethal; worst of all, it seems that the park bombing may just have been the opening salvo in their plan. With nowhere else to turn, Stone enlists the help of the only people he knows he can trust: the Camel Club. Yet that may be a big mistake.

In the shadowy worlds of politics and intelligence, there is no one you can really trust. Nothing is really what it seems to be. And Hell's Corner truly lives up to its name. This may be Oliver Stone's and the Camel Club's last stand. ... Read more

Product Description
David Baldacci-the #1 bestselling author of The Whole Truth and First Family-returns with his most surprising, heart-stopping, and timely thriller to date . . .

DELIVER US FROM EVIL

Evan Waller is a monster. He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything . . . and anyone. In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture: one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe.

On Waller's trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from The Whole Truth, who must prevent Waller from closing his latest deal. Shaw's one chance to bring him down will come in the most unlikely of places: a serene, bucolic village in Provence.

But Waller's depravity and ruthlessness go deeper than Shaw knows. And now, there is someone else pursuing Waller in Provence-Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate-and she has an agenda of her own.

Hunting the same man and unaware of each other's mission, Shaw and Reggie will be caught in a deadly duel of nerve and wits. Hitchcockian in its intimate buildup of suspense and filled with the remarkable characters, breathtaking plot turns, and blockbuster finale that are David Baldacci's hallmarks, DELIVER US FROM EVIL will be one of the most gripping thrillers of the year. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (196)

JUST PLAIN AWFUL
It is hard for me to believe this is the same David Baldacci that, in the past, wrote entertaining novels. This book is proof that as long as you are a recognized author, you can get anything published. This book is unbelievably, slow, boring and incredibility awful. Save your money and your time! Hopefully, Baldacci will recover from his malaise/coma for his next book.

Best book by far!
This is THE best Baldacci book I have read so far (and I have read them all). He does great with the characters from The Whole Truth and adds in new ones to keep the story going, I can't wait for the 3rd A. Shaw book!! (this might even be close to beating out my favorite series The Camel Club) Keep up the great work!!

Slow & Boring start
Usually when you pick up a Baldacci book you are HOOKED from the first chapter. Not so with this one. I agree with the other posts, if I had not read The Whole Truth where Sahw was introduced, I probably would not have continued reading this book - took so long to get going & I thought often about putting it down! gettingt o the end became a chore - this is an unusal departure for Baldacci so hopefully his new book coming out later this year gets back on track.

Thrilling ride!
Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci

Not my favorite Baldacci book, but still a thrilling ride, action never lets up.The violence was too graphic for my tastes and the plot was implausible, but I'm willing to suspend reality for the sake of a good story.However, the bad guy was able to pull too many tricks out of the hat and I'm not convinced that money and cunning could accomplish all of that.That said, all of Baldacci's books, including this one, are above average compared to what is available to read today.He is a good writer and story teller.

Deliver Us From Evil
Love his books.Will pass on this one and read at library.Rididulous price. ... Read more

Product Description
A mysterious high-profile homicide in the nation's capital collides with the dark side of national security in David Baldacci's new, heart-stopping thriller.

TRUE BLUE

Mason "Mace" Perry was a firebrand cop on the D.C. police force until she was kidnapped and framed for a crime. She lost everything-her badge, her career, her freedom-and spent two years in prison. Now she's back on the outside and focused on one mission: to be a cop once more. Her only shot to be a true blue again is to solve a major case on her own, and prove she has the right to wear the uniform. But even with her police chief sister on her side, she has to work in the shadows: A vindictive U.S. attorney is looking for any reason to send Mace back behind bars. Then Roy Kingman enters her life.

Roy is a young lawyer who aided the poor until he took a high-paying job at a law firm in Washington. Mace and Roy meet after he discovers the dead body of a female partner at the firm. As they investigate thedeath, they start uncovering surprising secrets from both the private and public world of the nation's capital.

Soon, what began as a fairly routine homicide takes a terrifying and unexpected turn-into something complex, diabolical, and possibly lethal. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (189)

Good, but not his best
He is introducing two new characters who will no doubt appear in future books.Of his recurring characters, these two are my least favorite.

Pedestrian for Baldacci
This one is just not up to Baldacci's usual work. One can easily see where Mace and Beth could return in a new series for Baldacci, but if they do, he'll need to step up the action. The Camel Club and King/Maxwell series have remained revved up throughout - True Blue presents as an ongoing introduction to these two characters. That type of foundation is necessary for a new series, but the book seemed to focus TOO much on intros. Just when it seemd the action was picking up, Baldacci bogs down, then revs the engine, then slows it back down. If you're a Baldacci fan, read True Blue. Be forwarned it won't be your favorite, but you'll probably appreciate his other works that much more.

Just OK, barely
Haven't read anything else by Balducci, but based on this one book I would probably avoid his books in future.Not too carefully crafted.One-dimensional female character who is, of course, physically and mentally stronger than most men, drives/rides the perfect sexy vehicle, lives as the guest of a politically correct multi-millionaire in a gigantic and beautifully appointed home complete with butler service AND spends what little down time she has leftover from multiple near-death scrapes helping the poor.Seriously?There is nothing wrong with Mace Perry at all.Her feet aren't too big, she has no facial blemishes, personality quirks or even one bad hair day...despite riding all over the place in a motorcycle helmet.Boring.Just once I'd like to read a popular fiction book that depicts a realistic main character.I paid way too much (14.99 Kindle edition) to read a story of this quality.

Not good
I agree with Jim M. The plot's bad, character's and decisions they make are not believeable.I wondered whether perhaps Baldacci was writing for high school age audience; I had to just put it down after about 2/3 of the way through.

Two Strong willed Women
It's a bit rare now days for someone to willingly do just about anything to keep their profession especially that of a cop which was the case of Baldacci's prime character, Mace. Convicted of a crime she did not commit she with her sister who is the chief of police, find themselves solving a crime which has dirty politics written all over it.
Baldacci keeps us moving through the seedier side of the city to the fat cats in the political arenas of Washington DC. An exciting portrayal of two very strong women.

... Read more

Product Description
The #1 bestselling author of The Collectors and Simple Genius returns with STONE COLD...an unforgetable novel of revenge, conspiracy, and murder that brings a band of unlikely heroes face-to-face with their greatest threat.


Oliver Stone, the leader of the mysterious group that calls itself the Camel Club, is both feared and respected by those who've crossed his path. Keeping a vigilant watch over our leaders in Washington D.C., the Camel Club has won over some allies,
but it has also earned formidable enemies-including those in power who will do
anything to prevent Stone and his friends from uncovering the hidden, secret
work of the government.


Annabelle Conroy, an honorary member of the Camel Club, is also the greatest con artist of her generation. She has swindled forty million dollars from casino king Jerry Bagger, the man who murdered her mother. Now he's hot on her trail with only one goal in mind: Annabelle's death. But as Stone and the Camel Club circle the wagons to protect Annabelle, a new opponent, who makes Bagger's menace pale by comparison, suddenly arises.


One by one, men from Stone's shadowy past are turning up dead. Behind this slaughter stands one man: Harry Finn. To almost all who know him, Finn is a doting father and loving husband who uses his skills behind the scenes to keep our nation safe. But the other face of Harry Finn is that of an unstoppable killer who inevitably sets his lethal bull's-eye on Oliver Stone. And with Finn, Stone may well have met his match.


As Annabelle and the Camel Club fight for their lives, the twists and turns whipsaw, leading to a finale that is as explosive as it is shattering. And when buried secrets
are at last violently resurrected, the members of the Camel Club left standing
will be changed forever.


With unrelenting pacing, stunning reversals, and two of the most compelling characters in modern fiction, STONE COLD is David Baldacci writing at his breathtaking best. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (179)

Haunted by the Past
Filled with suspense, thriller, and excitement, Stone Cold is everything I expected from a Baldacci's novel. The author grabbed my attention right from the beginning and held it until the very end of the novel.

Oliver Stone is the leader of the mysterious Camel Club. The Camel Club consists of three other men with different personalities and jobs ranging from a librarian, ex-soldier, and a genius with OCD. In the past, members of the Camel Club have band together to carry out esoteric missions that have saved the life of their leader. The Camel Club may be called on again to help their leader and friend. Stone's past life is threatening to catch-up with his present life. Some of Stone's co-workers from the past are turning up dead. Is it possible that these deaths are not coincidental and that the person/persons responsible for the deaths knows about Stone and wants him dead too. Will Stone's secret life be exposed because of this scandal?Thanks to the former head of the CIA, Carter Gray, Stone might get the opportunity to find out. Gray's connection with a secret ploy to have two of Russia's head of state leaders killed may haunt him and Stone.

I have enticed you enough. You will have to read the book to find out what happens :-)

Stone Cold Large Print
The book was exactly as advertised.It was in very good condition. It arrived quickly.

Baldacci is Best
Very pleased with the condition of book.Prompt in delivery.Will by again from this seller.

Excellent Read!
I could not put this book down from start to finish. Can't wait to read more of Mr. Baldacci!

Stone Cold
The book arrived really quickly and in very good shape.Haven't started reading it yet, but know it will be another great book by David Baldacci. ... Read more

Product Description
When LuAnn Tyler is asked to be part of a crooked lottery scheme, she refuses, even though it would mean millions of dollars. But when she is framed for murder, the frightened single mother is forced to participate. Ten years later she has become a wealthy woman determined to live a normal life. But it will take more than money to escape the attention of the FBI who may want her for murder, and the dangerous man from her past who wants to kill her--if she doesn't stop him first. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (338)

Winner
No longer have a casset player gave the book away and that person said it was five star book
I need on CD or MP3

This Man Can Sure Tell A Story
Boy oh boy can Baldacci ever tell a story. This novel about a lottery winner (or future lottery winner) was unique, original, and captivating. It's been years since I've read it, but I distinctly remember falling in love with main female character. You will, too. And you'll definitely enjoy this book!!

Above average plot with intricate developments, but it was missing the wow factor.Good but not great.
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
To let readers know where I'm coming from, my preferred genre is romance novels.The fact that I liked this should mean something since it is off genre for me.Throughout the book there was the underlying frustration of how can anyone ever stop this bad guy, but he gets it eventually.The story was excellent mechanically with good showing not telling.I would have liked more emotional draw to the characters.Not necessary, but I also would have liked more witty or thought provoking dialogue.I liked the LuAnn character a lot.She was physically very strong.Her strength of mind and body actually scared some men.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
There were a couple parts that were a little too convenient to the plot for me.Jackson wanted to kill Charlie and LuAnn.He should have shot them, but he chose to do things that they could survive.

DATA:
Story length: 626 pages.Swearing language: moderate.Sexual language: none.Number of sex scenes: 2.Total number of sex scene pages: 2.Setting: current day mostly Georgia, New York City, Virginia, and Washington D.C.Copyright: 1997.Genre: action suspense thriller.

Lie, Cheat, Steal and Kill or better yet, life's moral issues
I recently started reading David Baldacci books, so I have a lot of catching up to do with some of you.

But this book is really interesting.As a Pastor I am always thinking about the moraldilemmas of life that people face.So, this book really hit home.LuAnn Tyler is an attractive young woman with an infant child, poor as all get out, working as a waitress and just wants to have a good life.So, when she is offered the chance to win $100 million dollars, she is faced with a dilemma.Does she compromise moral values and take the "gift", or does she ignore it and go on living in poverty?OK, OK, so she isn't maybe as moral as I would like to believe.

BUT, how many of us when faced with the same alternative would have a dilemma on our hands?Let's face it, human nature is a sinful nature.Thus we all want something better than what we have.The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill.I was left wondering, what would I do if offered this "gift".It lead to some entertaining thoughts about how I would spend the money.

OK, back to the book.I found it spell binding.Sure the scenario is implausible, but come on folks, it's a book.We want the implausible, the impossible, the unthinkable.That gives us a diversion from our true lives for the little while, while we read.

If you like suspense, thrills, a love story, yeah it's a chick flick book (smile), then this is the book for you.Try and not dwell to long on the improbability of this really happening and just enjoy the read.

Enjoy!

Not David Baldacci's Best. At All.
In D.Baldacci's Camel Club books, he creates believable characters. He also creates believable scenes. In The Winner, neither is true. First, it seems that Part One was written as a short story or novelette. He could have ended there nicely. Unfortunately, he didn't, and the beginning of Part Two has the main character, LuAnn, making a decision that--given her independent spirit, not having a good childhood, and love of her little girl--never would have done. All of the characters are cardboard and unbelievable. The story line is contrived. Then there is the constant use of the words, "...eyes bored into..." And the worst phase--"...her breasts quivered." Breasts quivering?! Come on, David, that's for the newbie writers!

Yes, it's a page turner, and that's why I give it two stars. Something is always going on, and you'll read it to see if your guesses are right. ... Read more

Product Description
Sidney Archer has been living the perfect life--a loving husband, adorable daughter, and a successful career at a major Washington law firm. Suddenly, her husband is killed in a fiery plane crash, and her life is shattered. But the nightmare is just beginning: the FBI believes that her husband was responsible for the crash, and that he is still alive. Did he betray his wife and country? The hunt is on for Jason Archer--and the startling truth which threatens to destroy the country's most powerful individual. Ads in "People". 5-city author tour. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (189)

Total Enjoyment!
With his thriller novel titled Total Control, David Baldacci succeeds in building up a tremendous amount of tension and intrigue in the world of high tech business takeovers.

The protagonist, Sydney Archer, is a lawyer with a prominent law firm and she is involved in the takeover deal between the company her husband's is working for, a leading technology business, and a cash-filled buyer.Sydney's husband, Jason is a rising executive at his company, but is involved in some secret project at his office, which keeps him busy day and night. He does not confer any details of the project to his wife, but tells her that, when it is completed, it would make all their dreams come true.

But then suddenly Sydney's world shatters apart. Jason is reportedly killed in an air crash. At first, it seems just like an accident, but the FBI gets involved when sabotage is suspected -- and then Jason's name is linked to the sabotage and a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. Although the FBI tries to help her, but is very suspicious of Jason's recent activities, Sydney tries to solve the case on her own as she wants to clear her late husband's name. She gets pulled deeper into trouble as she gets closer to the real perpetrators, and her life is threatened. Furthermore, she has a disk with encrypted information that Jason had sent to her before his death, only she cannot decipher it and is frantically trying to find someone who can break the code for her while the antagonists are right on her heels in the process, trying to get hold of the disk themselves and stopping at nothing or no-one to get what they want.

After many twists and turns, the story climaxes with Sydney, her young daughter and her parents in grave danger and the diligent FBI agent fruitlessly trying to come to her aid.

I certainly liked the fast pace, the tension, the suspense and the many twists and turns in this great book, although I had a few problems with the handling of the technology (keeping in mind that the book was first published about 13 years ago). One example was where an email message appeared on a computer screen and then suddenly disappeared again -- gone forever. But for the rest, I can only comment that this thriller novel provided me with 'total' enjoyment!

Good book
This is the second Baldacci book I read (after Absolute Power) and while I enjoyed Absolute Power more, this is still a solid book. For people who like thrillers with fast-paced action, this should be a satisfying read for anyone who is already a fan of Baldacci or just a newbie looking for a good read. If you've never read David Baldacci, I recommend you try Absolute Power first. The tale of the Archers here and their trials and tribulations are a interesting read, and there were quite a few parts where I had no desire to put down the book. Solid 4/5 stars for a book written by a good author.

Baldacci at the top of his game
Synopsis

Sidney Archer's near-perfect world implodes when her loving husband Jason reportedly dies in an airplane crash. Questions arise when attorneys working on an international high-tech merger worth hundreds of millions of dollars reveals that Jason was stealing corporate secrets that would put the merger in jeopardy.

A savvy FBI agent investigates the crash and becomes suspicious when the evidence suggests that Jason not only sabotaged the plane, but engineered a multi-million dollar embezzlement plot. The loving wife is crushed at the allegations, but is even more shocked when she discovers that her husband had switched planes at the last minute and was likely alive, but missing and thought to be held captive by a group whose ultimate goal was to move in on the action and acquire the corporate merger for a rival company.

With the aid of her lawyer, Sidney sets out to rescue her husband and reveal the truth. She proves to be a capable heroine, outwitting the murderous goons at every turn and uncovering an immense conspiracy that holds Jason's future in the balance. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

My fifth Baldacci in the past month, you could call me a fan. Okay, I am a avid fan, but for good reason - he knows how to tell a story. His research is remarkable, allowing him to write with discipline and precision.

The industrial espionage theme of the book moves with an electric pace and I found myself completely captured by the plot. I read 140 pages in the first sitting, which was enough for me to find it difficult to get out of my mind. I actually got out of bed, unable to sleep, and read another 92 pages. This is a rare event for me. I was also aware that I did not read nearly the 100 page per hour that I usually average for the standard size paperback.

The only problem I had with the book was with the character of Sidney Archer late in the book. I was with her until the action found its way to the east coast and she left home to save her man.
She morphed from a young and intelligent mother of a two-year-old girl into a mercenary that would have make Rambo blush. I applauded her mission, but found it a stretch to believe that she had more lives than an alley cat.

If you are a fan of espionage, intrigue and high-action, give Total Control a read.

Paperback
694 pages
8 hours

rambling
This book was way to long and rambling. Wouldnot have bought if I had known.

Baldacci's major gift is dialogue.
I am surprised that not more of his books have been put to film because Baldacci is a master of dialogue. I imagine that it may be due to the fact that "Absolute Power" was so badly mangled as a film and by the Clint Eastwood no less.

I put down Philip Margolin's "Sleeping Beauty" and opened this book up trying to catch up on some novels that were lying around.I rarely don't finish a book but Margolin's dialogue was so terrible that I just could not finish "Sleeping Beauty" even though the plot was semi interesting.So Baldacci seemed like a breath of fresh air.The criticisms about the plot implausability from many other reviewers is somewhat true, but it is well crafted and reads well because his characters come alive with their always spot on dialogue.A lot of the internet dot com intrigue seems a bit dated already, but it still is an excellent page turner.Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
#1 New York Times bestsellingauthor David Baldacci follows the instant success of Divine Justice with another unstoppable thriller.


Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, back from their harrowing and near-fatal adventure in the blockbuster #1 bestseller Simple Genius, return in a mesmerizing new thriller. A daring kidnapping turns a children's birthday party at Camp David into a national security nightmare, but the hostage is not who anyone would expect. The First Lady enlists the services of King and Maxwell to bring the child back safely. Years ago, King saved her then-senator husband from an assassin's bullet; whether they shared anything else is their secret. With Michelle still recovering from her own demons the pair are pushed to the limit, with forces aligned on all sides against them, and the line between friend and foe impossible to define...or defend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (258)

Good, Just Not His Best
Overall, another quality thriller from Baldacci. The main plot was good and the characters believable; the secondary story about Michelle's mother? We've learned a little more about Michelle in each of these books.My guess is Baladacci will start revealing more and more about Sean as the relationship between the two grows. Not sure he had to go so far with the portions about Michelle's mother, but it didn't kill the book for me either. I've read all his books and. while this one wasn't his best, it won't derail me from reading all his books in the future.

One of Mr. Baldacci's Best Works
Who is Sam Quarry, the patriotic Vietnam vet, & why is he doing this? The book opens as a mystery which unravels over a span of time. The mystery of Mr. Quarry's bitterness revolves around the first family. Bring in your two heroic PI's, Sean & Michelle, & you wind up having a first class mystery on your hands. Throw in an eventual second, separate, mystery & you wind up with a rather long novel which is very well written.

Mr. Baldacci has done very well providing accurate details. He's not lost sight of his original plot, thus giving the reader a story & characters which are very well developed.

I found this more entertaining & a pleasant departure from the "Camel Club" mysteries. The book is both captivating & entertaining

Book
Book was in good shape, as indicated in the offer, it arrived in the time frame suggested.
Thanks,

A mediocre potboiler
First Family is the first David Baldacci novel that I've read and I have somewhat mixed feelings about it.

David Baldacci's writing is pretty readable and this is very, very important.A readable author can get away with a lot of shortcomings and, believe me, Baldacci strains the limits of his readability beyond the breaking point in places.

The story opens with the President of the United States' brother's wife being killed and one of his children kidnapped in a mysterious break-in.By co-incidence the two main protagonists, ex secret service agents turned detectives Michelle and Sean, drive up to the house as the kidnappers are leaving but cannot prevent them from escaping in a hail of gunfire.The first lady, who knows Sean from an ancient scandal, then hires them to investigate the kidnapping.

What follows is a long, drawn out 450 pages far too full of problems.

There's the glaring use of cliches - not just ordinary cliches mind you, but full-on b-movie inspired escaping from the exploding building in slow motion style cliches.There's the weak side plot that the protagonists jaunt down in the middle of their "every second counts" kidnapping investigation.There's the slow descent into full-bore ridiculousness sublimely illustrated when the President of the United States snatches a secret service member's pistol and holds it to his own head to insure that he gets his own way (echoes of Blazing Saddles!)The sheer unintentional stupidity of the closing act almost turns the book into a parody.

The trail of clue (yes clue) that the protagonists follow require leaps of intuition that would baffle a kangaroo ridden by Sherlock Holmes.Overcoming completely arbitrary blockages, invented conflicts, pointless side-plot will they rescue young Willa?Will they find out why she was kidnapped?Will you care as you navigate your way around inconsistent characters, gaping plot holes and about 250 more pages than are necessary?

Readability is what bumps this book up from two to three stars...But it's a very generous 3.

Pleased with the pace, plot, and characters . . .
But something about this entire book just seemed "forced".I can't put my finger on it.

Several storylines-within the story never really went ANYWHERE.I think Baldacci was trying to do too much and should have just stuck to a fantastic thriller/suspense novel.I wish I would have skipped every 3rd chapter, may have liked it better...

There are some male authors who write female characters amazingly well.Baldacci is NOT one of those!Poorly understood, I assume.

Will try another of his books, because I'm told that this isn't one of his best... ... Read more

Product Description
"Dick, I need a war."
Nicolas Creel is a man on a mission. He heads up the world's largest defense contractor, The Ares Corporation. Dick Pender is the man Creel retains to "perception manage" his company to even more riches by manipulating international conflicts. But Creel may have an even grander plan in mind.
Shaw, a man with no first name and a truly unique past, has a different agenda. Reluctantly doing the bidding of a secret multi-national intelligence agency, he travels the globe to keep it safe and at peace.
Willing to do anything to get back to the top of her profession, Katie James is a journalist who has just gotten the break of a lifetime: the chance to interview the sole survivor of a massacre that has left every nation stunned.
In this terrifying, global thriller, these characters' lives will collide head-on as a series of events is set in motion that could change the world as we know it. An utterly spellbinding story that feels all too real, THE WHOLE TRUTH delivers all the twists and turns, emotional drama, unforgettable characters, and can't-put-it-down pacing that readers expect from David Baldacci-and still goes beyond anything he's written before. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (149)

Amazing book!
One of Baldacci's better books, it kept me guessing and was action packed, i LOVED it!!

His Worst Effort
Don't waste your time with this one.It is by far Baldacci's worst effort.The characters are flat & boring.The plot is pretty predictable.No suspense, no thrill, no mystery at all.Way too much exposition.And, with writing like "He'd had" and "The Pentagon, always unafraid it make its intentions public, announced ...", you just want to pull your hair out!

I Love Baldacci, but . . . . . .
What are some possible reasons why this book was so disappointing?

1. Baldacci had a September 1 deadline and decided to play all summer instead of write.
2. He wanted to see how well a book of his would sell while "mailing it in".
3. He accidentally submitted the discarded drafts instead of the actual novel.
4. He actually wrote a good book but his editor played an April Fools joke on him - by removing random sentences and replacing them with sentences submitted by candidates for a writers' correspondence school.

I guess you can tell I was underwhelmed by this book. The writing in the first half was so un-Baldacci like.It was shallow, sophomoric, and superficial.The second half was better, but what an ordeal getting through the first half.

David Baldacci has written some of my favorite books. I pity the person who picks this up, reads it, and swears off Baldacci for life.

Some hack writing under a Baldacci pseudonym
"No, I'm not going to kill you! I'm going to place you into an easily-escapable situation and just assume it all goes according to plan!" --Dr. Evil.

Sadly, that quote summarizes about three or four scenes in "The Whole Truth." Personally, I believe the title of Baldacci's latest "thriller" actually refers to a secret that the publishers don't want you to know -- the fact that Baldacci's 13-year-old son stole his computer and used it to write this story, which blithely skips along with no effort at depth, character development, mystery, background, human interest, or plot.

Secret agent Shaw is seven feet tall, stonger than anyone alive, more handsome than any man on Earth has ever been, and can take hundreds of bullets without flinching. Chicks fall all over him; terrorists dread him. In scene after scene, he easily infiltrates whole dens of the latter, then quickly takes them all out without batting an eye. Yet, somehow, he's so abysmally naive that all of the other characters' motivations -- even the most patently obvious (and all of them are, in this story) -- are a total mystery to him, which he can't even unravel when they stop and explain everything to him using small words. We're led to believe he's been a top-level super-spy for years, but he seems not to have learned anything at all about being a spy during that time (as opposed to randomly blundering about and then killing everyone in sight). Luckily, all of the other characters are equally oblivious (and one-dimensional), so the whole thing leads to a happy ending.

Seriously, This is Good!
David Baldacci has reached bestseller status over a dozen times since his debut in 1996 with ABSOLUTE POWER (shortly thereafter turned into a film of the same name starring Clint Eastwood). His genres have varied considerably: political thriller, crime thriller, autobiographical drama, even a Christmas story. With his latest novel, THE WHOLE TRUTH, Baldacci boldly steps into the arena of international thriller and may have created his most explosive and hard-hitting story to date.

The premise of THE WHOLE TRUTH involves three primary characters. The first is Nicolas Creel, a multi-billionaire who runs the defense company ARES Corporation. Current trouble in the Middle East has not been good for his business. He uses his near-bottomless resources to hire a PM (Perception Management) Firm by the name of Pender & Associates. Dick Pender and his team specialize in going beyond mere "spin doctoring" and actually succeed in placing false truths out in the public that have major impact. The false truth precipitated between the association of Creel and Pender is to put the Russian Empire in a negative light by condemning them as mass murderers. This is done via doctored news footage and the hiring of an actor to portray a Russian whistleblower named Konstantin, who is going public with these tales of atrocity.

The second character is known by just his last name, Shaw. Shaw works for an unnamed international intelligence agency that sends him on dangerous missions all over the world in an effort to thwart evil. Ready to "retire" from this line of work and finally marry his fiancée, Anna, Shaw begrudgingly accepts a few small assignments from Frank, his contact at the agency, and vows that they will be his last. Unfortunately, Anna works for a London company known as the Phoenix Group, which is used as a pawn in Creel's truth-bending game. A team of supposed Russian hit men invade the Phoenix Group and kill everyone in the building --- including Anna. When Shaw learns of this, he re-ups with his agency and vows to find and destroy the people behind this massacre.

The third character is Katie James. James is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has been going through hard times stemming from the heavy guilt she carries over the death of the subject of one of her stories. As she tries to get back into the swing of things with her career, she steps directly into the Phoenix Group massacre after befriending both Shaw and his fiancée. James meets with a Polish immigrant who is allegedly the only survivor of the massacre, and he is the one who fingers the Russian government for the crime. What makes things worse is the fact that the Phoenix Group ends up being an organization tied to the government of China --- and they are not at all pleased with the unwarranted Russian attack.

Meanwhile, Creel is sitting back and benefiting from the global panic that he has created. As Russia and China begin to square off with each other, the ARES Corporation is selling trillions of dollars in defense weaponry to all the major countries on the planet. Creel is thrilled at the idea of bringing back the Cold War and seeing himself in the role of liberator by taking the focus off the Middle East and putting the world back into the days of nuclear-war threat. With the help of Pender & Associates, it appears this plan can do nothing but succeed and thereby cause the loss of many lives around the globe.

The thrilling part of this novel is the level of suspense Baldacci keeps up as he jumps between Shaw and James and the Creel/Pender alliance. The reader will turn the pages briskly as the inevitable meeting between these three characters will bring fireworks of unknown catastrophe. At times, THE WHOLE TRUTH has the feel of a James Bond adventure or one of Robert Ludlum's Bourne novels. I have enjoyed everything Baldacci has done and hope that this is not the last time he ventures into the international thriller genre, or the last we see of his great protagonist, Shaw. ... Read more

Product Description
This explosive novel and instant "New York Times" bestseller is the tale of two disgraced Secret Service agents racing against time to find the common thread that connects a series of assassinations and abductions. "A fast-paced thriller."--"The Denver Post." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (190)

Total bust
This will be short and to the point:a high school freshman creative writing class student could do a better job this disaster of a novel.Terrible dialogue, shallow characters, idiotic plot - just plain bad.The best part of the novel?"The End"

Disappointing and Unsuspenseful
I have read Baldacci's entire Camel Club series and was looking forward to reading King and Maxwell series. Prior to reading "Split Second" I read "Hour Game", the second in the King and Maxwell series. I didn't know that it was second in the seris since it was the first Baldacci book I read. I enjoyed all his Camel Club books as well as "Hour Game" and was expecting the same level of entertainment from this book. I have to admit that about halfway into it I just didn't recognize Baldacci. It was the first Baldacci novel where I couldn't wait for the end just so I could get it out of the way. His other books draw you in and keep you engaged throughout the end. Not this one. The end is totally contrived, the villain is just not believable. Nor are any explanations that are given for his actions. Worse yet is that I just simply did not care who the villain was as I was not at all following any of the other possible leads that were considered. I would not recommend this book to anyone except the most die hard Baldacci fans who are probably going to read despite all the negative reviews given here. I am very disappointed in this one. But I suppose they can't all be great.

I expect better from Baldacci
I like David Baldacci's books, but Deliver Us From Evil read like one of those books you feel like you've read again or even seen at the movies.

Deliver Us From Evil is a sequel to The Whole Truth. It continues to follow the mysterious agent, Shaw, as he tracks Evan Waller, a Canadian businessman who sells children into prostitution and is planning on selling terrorists nuclear materials.

Reggie Campion is a British agent who works with a secret group that tracks down and executes war criminals. As the number of WWII criminals begins to diminish, the group begins expanding its scope to other criminals. Waller was once a Soviet officer known for his sadism and brutality.

With both Shaw and Campion hunting Waller, their paths begin crossing. They find themselves attracted to each other even as they try and hold each other at arm's length in order to complete their mission. When their missions fall apart, the two assassins must team up in order to survive.

I didn't find the characters as interesting as his repeating characters in The Camel Club or his male/female detective pairing of Sean King and Michelle Maxwell in books like Split Second and Hour Game. Still, Baldacci's writing was exciting and the story moved along swiftly. The problem was that the plot didn't seem all that exciting. I didn't think that it even had a lot of interesting twists that could breathe life into a stock plot. I might have thought this was a good book from another writer, but I expect more from Baldacci.

LISTENING TO THE ABRIDGED VERSION OF SPLIT SECOND
You can scrap most of the reviews based on a reading of the unabridged text version of the book. Listening is not the same as reading, Abridged is not the same as Unabridged.
I assume the reader of the review is familiar with audio books and familiar with the generic differences between the Abridged and Unabridged versions.
The first two-thirds of the book moves well as a story and is performed well by the reader. Editing of the text provides sufficient substance to provide life to the character and clarity to the story. At about the two-thirds mark, one of the basic flaws of abridgment takes hold as the story line includes too many characters too rapidly passed over and too many plot complications fully to grasp. The reader himself tends increasingly to go over to a more inflated tone rather than the good acting that preceded this part. The drama of the wham-bang conclusion is diluted although still reasonably effective. This listener had too many things to process to participate satisfactory in that ending.
All in all, at the price,I believe that it will make good listening on-the-go, less satisfactory when sitting comfortably at home. Of course, it is impossible for me to judge the virtues and defects of the written text or of an unabridged audio version.

Not as exciting as I remember earlier Baldacci books....
I read Baldacci's books several years ago (early 2000's), and I remember them being spine-tingling and full of intrigue.This one, however, didn't evoke the same feelings.I'm not sure if it was the content or the fact that it was an audio book, but I did not enjoy it nearly as much as other books by this same author.

The premise of the book is that a duo of Presidential candidates, with their candidacies separated by some 8 years, are both the victims of some strange events - one is assassinated, while the other is kidnapped.The book then ties this two events together.It's a fascinating premise, and is a good yarn, but in the audio version the way that the lead-ins are depicted (the idea of "the party to whom she was speaking" rather than simply explaining who the character was talking with, are tough to swallow - I think they just stand out more in this audio version than they ever do in a written version.

I would say that if you're going to enjoy this work by Baldacci, read the book - don't listen to it; this particular narrator just doesn't quite do it justice, even though his portrayal and varying voices do keep things interesting & entertaining.Three stars - mostly because I can't tell if I didn't like the story or if I didn't like the narration. ... Read more

Product Description
He's copying famous serial killers and the game has just begun.

A woman is found murdered in the woods. It seems like a simple case but it soon escalates into a terrible nightmare. Someone is replicating the killing styles of the most infamous murderers of all time. No one knows this criminal's motives...or who will die next.

Two ex-Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, have been hired to defend a man's innocence in a burglary involving an aristocratic, dysfunctional family. Then a series of secrets leads the partners right into the frantic hunt that is confounding even the FBI. Now King and Maxwell are playing the Hour Game, uncovering one horrifying revelation after another and putting their lives in danger. For the closer they get to the truth, the closer they get to the most shocking surprise of all.Amazon.com Review
Two disgraced former Secret Service officers team up to solve a seriesof copy-cat crimes in this exciting new thriller by a master of thegame. Sean King was momentarily distracted when a presidentialcandidate he'd been guarding was assassinated a few feet from where hestood, and Michelle Maxwell left the Service under a similar cloudwhen she lost a "protectee" to an ingenious kidnapping scheme, eventstold in Baldacci's typical terse, fast-paced style in Split Second. Nowpartners in a private investigation firm in a small Virginia town,they're hired to investigate a burglary at the home of a wealthy localfamily. But even before the chief suspect in the break-in meets hisdeath in a gruesome slaying reminiscent of a serial killer long sincecaught and punished, King and Maxwell get caught up in a string ofother murders, each of which copies the techniques of another madman,from San Francisco's Zodiac Killer to Chicago's infamous John WayneGacy. While the two protagonists aren't especially complex orwell-developed, the action never stops, and Baldacci's trademarkpacing keeps the reader turning pages until the denouement, whichunfortunately isn't quite as satisfying as the rest of thenovel. --Jane Adams

Amazon.com Exclusive Content

Why Hour Game: An Exclusive Essay by David Baldacci

It's hard not to notice that the majority of fictional serial killers are cut from the same mold. When David Baldacci wrote Hour Game, he went out of his way to create a murderous original. Read this Amazon.com exclusive essay to learn how and why he did it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (200)

GREAT BOOK!`
This is the first Baldacci book I had read and I con't understand how anyone could rate it under 4 Stars!It's a "Can't put it down" type of book... Totally engrossing and every step of the way is another unknown!Loved it!Often Buy it as gifts for friends/family!

I don't understand ....
how this author appears on the best seller list so often, that is unless his other books are leaps and bounds above this "work".I am an avid reader and I must say that I have never (ever, ever) read a book with a plot so convoluted, so full of such insipid dialog nor so self-serving in it's solutions to the events that take place to be, well, laughable.

My recommendation:To avoid insult to your sensibilities as a reader avoid this tripe, and move cautiously into any of the other mulitude of books written by Mr. Baldacci.

Avid Non Avatar

A standard setter
This book sets my standard for one of the worst that I've ever listened to. A friend bought the set of CD's and based on the Baldacci name, I made the error of uploading the CDs into my computer - at least I didn't compound my error by spending my own money. I then completed my error by listening to this "book" and actually finishing it. The plot is trite and full of holes, the characters are not even two dimensional, and the writing is sophomoric. I previously read one Baldacci book. I won't read another after this junk.

Typical Baldacci, Outstanding
Former secret service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are back again. In this story they deal with a serial killer. The first body is found in the woods in Virginia. Her watch is missing and clues found lead the police along a trail to a famous serial killer from the past. Meanwhile Sean and Michele are investigating the burglary of a wealthy couple in the area. More bodies pile up, more clues are left which make the murders look like the work of someone copying famous serial killers and it looks like the case our erstwhile ex-secret service agents are working on is connected. Like all David Baldacci books, you won't be able to put this one down, not till you're finished. Then you just might want to start over. It's that good.

Time Stops For Some, But Not When Navigating This One. :(
This book is a so-so book. It just is not quite what you would expect from this very capable and entertaining author. I have come to expect much from Baldacci, but this book just does not quite measure up to my expectations. Why? well, it is not because the writing is bad. It is not. It is not because the book is slow. It is not that either. Where the problem rests is in the fact that there are too many subplots to allow you to focus on the main plot of the book. It just gets entirely too busy, which detracts from the overall quality of the work. Anyway, get it and (maybe) enjoy a so-so work from a great author. ... Read more

Product Description
Oliver Stone and his Camel Club are in a race to stop a man who is determined to auction off America to the highest bidder: Roger Seagraves is selling America to her enemies, one devastating secret at a time.On a local level, Annabelle Conroy, the most gifted con artist of her generation, is becoming a bit of a Robin Hood as she plots a monumental scam against one of the most ruthless businessmen on earth.As the killings on both fronts mount, the Camel Club fights the most deadly foes they've ever faced. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (182)

the colletors
just as exciting as his other books --could not put it down--just about got caught in the CIA web

The Collectors
I love David Baldacci's books. This is the first "Camel Club" I've read. I will be looking for more.

My first one of his, but not my last
I work in a public library and I see Mr. Baldacci's books come and go on a regular basis.I decided to take the plunge and read The Collectors.I'm pretty happy with my choice.

I don't have a lot of patience for books that fail to draw me in right away.In this book, the author delivers - big time.There are two stories running side by side in this non-stop thriller.The story lines are believable, enticing and educational as well.

I will admit to a certain bias as I am a book lover and that is central to one of the story lines in the book.With that said, I've tried to not color my opinion too much in this regard.

If you have not had the chance to read any of Baldacci's stuff then you are missing out on some great writing.

Get this book.I believe you will not be disappointed

Would love to find out how it ends
As with all David Baldacci stories this one does not disappoint. Unfortunately tape #4 is so warped it cannot be played. I had to surgically remove it from the player.

Great book
Loved this book, it is the second installment in the Camel Club collection.David Baldacci, another great book. ... Read more

Product Description
Following the instant #1 New York Times bestseller Stone Cold,
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club return in David Baldacci's most astonishing thriller yet.

DIVINE JUSTICE

Known by his alias, "Oliver Stone," John Carr is the most wanted man in America. With two pulls of the trigger, the men who destroyed Stone's life and kept him in the shadows were finally silenced.
But his freedom comes at a steep price: The assassinations he carried out prompt the highest levels of the U. S. government to unleash a massive manhunt. Yet behind the scenes, master spy Macklin Hayes is playing a very personal game of cat and mouse. He, more than anyone else, wants John Carr dead. With their friend and unofficial leader in hiding, the members of the Camel Club risk everything to save him. Now as the hunters close in, Stone's flight from the demons of his past will take him from the power corridors of Washington, D.C., to the coal-mining town of Divine, Virginia-and into a world every bit as bloody and lethal as the one he left behind.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (156)

Good Read
I just started reading David Baldacci.I like his characters.The protagonists are varied, loyal, have integrity and are willing to risk everything for each other.The antagonists are self assured, brilliant and evil.The stories are well plotted.

OUTSTANDING
I've read most of Baldacci's novels and all of the Camel Club series. This one goes down as the best of the series and perhaps one of his finest books. Beyond his writing style and the twists and turns, he has put together one of the better series in the mystery/thriller genre.His characters are deep, the plots are great, and the Camel Club has undergone various changes, losses and additions.As much as this is escapism at its finest, there is a "real" feel to the series and this novel specifically. I rarely say "you must start at the beginning," but with the Camel Club, you must. Start there and read these in order - you will NOT be disappointed!

Spy novel in the middle of nowhere, Virginia.
The book "Divine Justice" by David Baldacci - a pretty good and fun read.It's my first Baldacci book, and I've read completely out of order, missing subplots from previous books that make their way into this one.Nonetheless, it reads well.It is an interesting amalgam of a spy novel, with a local drug ring mystery, and is unique in my reading of spy thriller novels.For that, I give it a good rating.I definitely did not expect the story to take the turns Baldacci traversed.Rather than being an international setting, typical of spy reads, this one is firmly placed in Appalachian Virginia, in the middle of nowhere - namely in the town of Divine.The inhabitants of that town are pretty much all up to no good, with a select few exceptions.If you are looking for a fictional spy novel with something "different" to it - this is a good book to select; practically guaranteed to satisfy.

wonderful book!
I am now a serious follower of the Camel Club Series written by David Baldacci.I all started with me some getting the first one in the series and then acquiring the other books to read the story of their lives.He writes very well, I read a ton of books, and this series has my interest.It is entertaining, I love reading to find out "who done it" and how the Camel club will resolve their latest crisis.

Divine Justice: Book 4 of the Camel Club Series
The best book yet regarding the Camel Club - can't wait until book 5 comes out!Intriguing - keeps you on the edge of your seat - Oliver Stone is some man! ... Read more

Product Description
Precocious 12-year-old Louisa Mae Cardinal lives in
the hectic New York City of 1940 with her family.
Then tragedy strikes--and Lou and her younger brother,
Oz, must go with their invalid mother to live on their
great-grandmother's farm in the Virginia mountains.
Suddenly Lou finds herself coming of age in a new
landscape, making her first true friend, and experiencing
adventures tragic, comic, and audacious. But the forces
of greed and justice are about to clash over her new
home . . . and as their struggle is played out in a crowded
Virginia courtroom, it will determine the future of two
children, an entire town, and the mountains they love.Amazon.com Review
David Baldacci has made a name for himself crafting big, burly legal thrillers with larger-than-life plots. However, Wish You Well, set in his native Virginia, is a tale of hope and wonder and "something of a miracle" just itching to happen. This shift from contentious urbanites to homespun hill families may come as a surprise to some of Baldacci's fans--but they can rest assured: the author's sense of pacing and exuberant prose have made the leap as well.

The year is 1940. After a car accident kills 12-year-old Lou's and 7-year-old Oz's father and leaves their mother Amanda in a catatonic trance, the children find themselves sent from New York City to their great-grandmother Louisa's farm in Virginia. Louisa's hardscrabble existence comes as a profound shock to precocious Lou and her shy brother. Still struggling to absorb their abandonment, they enter gamely into a life that tests them at every turn--and offers unimaginable rewards. For Lou, who dreams of following in her father's literary footsteps, the misty, craggy Appalachians and the equally rugged individuals who make the mountains their home quickly become invested with an almost mythic significance:

They took metal cups from nails on the wall and dipped them in the water, and then sat outside and drank. Louisa picked up the green leaves of a mountain spurge growing next to the springhouse, which revealed beautiful purple blossoms completely hidden underneath. "One of God's little secrets," she explained. Lou sat there, cup cradled between her dimpled knees, watching and listening to her great-grandmother in the pleasant shade...

Customer Reviews (268)

Its All Good..
The Voice on the CD for this book is awesome.She really makes this book interesting to me.Hope you enjoy it as well.

Wish you Well
This was a very good book.Could barely put it down.Well written.Author makes you feel like you are right there living in the mountains.Very touching story.They should make a movie out of it.

laughed and cried
I loved this book and grew to know the characters so well that they became friends of mine. It took me back to my Missourian childhood and grandparents and summer days plus happiness and sadness. It tells us of when times were more family oriented and our country was more united, in a way what we have lost we would love to have back, I feel. Was truly a marvelous story written by a really great story teller and one I shall remember forever---Thank you Mr Baldacci------

Great read
David Baldacci seems to write in a way that I like to read.I have enjoyed many of his books but this one was different.This book was a "wow."

This is an extraordinary short novel.Anyone who likes to read abut growing up and facing great difficulties and overcoming will like this book.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

Wish You Well
This was the first Baldacci book I read, and I loved it. The main character was wonderfully drawn, the story entertaining and engaging. It was a gift from a coworker, and I have since recommended it to my husband, who also enjoyed it enough to buy this copy for his niece for this past Christmas. She has a teen daughter, who I hope will also enjoy the story. Highly recommended. Baldacci has also written a number of "thriller" books, also excellant. ... Read more

Product Description
Sizzling David Baldacci's novels have been called "sizzling" (USA Today) and "superior" (Houston Chronicle). Now Baldacci is back, with the story of a death row inmate, a Supreme Court clerk, and a crime that is costing people their lives... Terrifying Michael Fiske broke the law when he took Rufus Harms's prison letter from the Supreme Court. But he also sealed his own fate. Now Michael's brother, a cop turned attorney, is coming to Washington to find out why his brother was murdered-and what it had to do with a crime that Rufus Harms committed twenty-five years before... Simply the Best In his new novel of corruption, romance, family, and justice at the heart of the American republic, David Baldacci takes us on a journey of harrowing conspiracy-and proves once again that in the realm of suspense, he is in a league of his own. The Simple Truth It's never what it seems...Amazon.com Review
Rufus Harms is rotting in a Virginia military prison. Asreaders learn in the terse opening of The Simple Truth, he wasconvicted 25 years ago of the brutal killing of a younggirl. Readers also learn that Rufus did not commit the crime; out of ahaze of memories and with fragments of evidence, he has reconstructedthe truth about the horrid event that ruined his life. He knows hisdiscovery could cost him his life, so he breaks from prison aftersending an appeal to the Supreme Court that details a massiveconspiracy tied into the foundations of Washington.

The complex drama of Rufus Harms is only one of the interwoventhreads in this massive, violent legal thriller that also draws fromthe vocabulary of hard-boiled crime fiction. Baldacci offers glimpsesinto the arcane politics of the high court, where Justice ElizabethKnight wages war with the manipulative Chief Justice HaroldRamsay. And while Harms struggles to keep out of harm's way and thejustices duke it out, Supreme Court law clerk Sara Evans toils withex-cop John Fiske to discover the import of Harms's appeal (and,simultaneously, to uncover the murderer of Mike Fiske, John's law clerk-brother and the original holder of the appeal). Their interest in thedocument apparently draws the attention of the same deadlyconspirators who manipulated Harms over two decades earlier. While thearmed mayhem sometimes rises to the point of excess, Baldacci's novelcontinues to offer new surprises until the final pages. --PatrickO'Kelley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (193)

The Simple Truth is a Real Page Turner
I am a true fan of David Baldacci works and have read every one of his novels.This is one of his best.It has a great plot with enough intrigue to keep you wanting to keep reading way into the night.

Not his best, but......
I've read almost all of Baldacci's books now and always find them to be compelling page-turners.This was no exception, though as other reviewers have pointed out, it was a bit slow during the first 100 pages or so. The only thing that holds this one back from 5 stars is the notion that the female lead (Sara)could fall in love, having never yet actually met the male lead (John). We are expected to believe she is a highly intelligent, critical component of the U.S. Supreme Court, yet turns a school girl crush into a full romance before even knowing the man.Also, towards the end, some of the twists and turns are a bit far-fetched, but that can often be said about Baldacci's books. That isn't a huge issue for me - it is like going to a great action or thriller movie.You are SUPPOSED to suspend belief to some degree! If you like his other books and haven't read this earlier novel, get to it!!

Good thriller
*The Simple Truth*, while not my favorite of David Baldacci's novels, was certainly a fun and enjoyable book to read. While I found *Absolute Power* to be entertaining because of the implications of the story and the imagining of it, *The Simple Truth* was enjoyable not because of the idea of the story necessarily, but because of how Baldacci twisted it.

Baldacci's tying together of the story's different parts was very well done. However, the villainous mastermind in the book became apparent oto me I believe around 100 pages in (I'm just guessing here, to be honest, but it was very soon) because of an offhand comment. If you're perceptive you should pick it up too, which ruined my enjoyment a little (the entire passage was so inane and useless to the story if taken at face value that there had to be a reason to include it in the book - oh yeah, because that character's plans are based off the fulfillment of an evil plot!).

The main characters in *The Simple Truth* are more or less typical Baldacci stereotypes - gorgeous woman and ex-cop. A lot of Baldacci's novels, it seems, are the same recycled two characters, which I think illustrates just how well Baldacci can create an interesting story. (It's certainly not Baldacci's writing style which sells his books; it's not bad or anything, just not great, either.) The side characters are done much better. The motivations of one side character in particular, though, are not quite as beleivable.

If you enjoy thrillers, *The Simple Truth* is well worth a read, as most of Baldacci's novels are.

Love, Passion,Treachery & Redemption, What more do you need?
One more score for Baldacci, another book I couldn't put down. I like intricate stories and I hate being able to figure out the plot. Well, you can always depend on Baldacci for intricacy and you might be able to figure out where he is going, but you are never going to be able to figure out how he is going to get there.This story features sibling rivalry, love, passion, treachery and redemption. The Army, the U.S. Senate and the Supreme Court are all involved.If those participants don't pique your interest then you probably are not a reader anyway. I highly recommend it.

Pretty good but lacking
David Baldacci is a good author, but having said that he basically writes the same book over and over again. As earlier as this, his fourth book, we start to see a pattern in all of his works. We have the evil big organization with a secret to cover up and operatives that are seemingly everywhere. We have the average joe who gets caught in the mix and is basically running around here and there looking for clue while being chased by unknown enemies.

Having said that, this still holds interest rather well. Some twists to basic plot include the military and supreme court perspective, and the characters of Rufus and Josh Harms, one who is a super religious optimistic gentle giant man convicted in military prison for a crime he was not responsible for, and the other who is a Vietnam vet B.A. who basically hates everyone. Other than these two most of the characters are very typical, one dimensional, and that creates corny situations like the sub-par love side story that Baldacci is desperately clinging onto.

There are twists and turns throughout, but some of them, seem like they were just thrown in there because, like m night shyamalan, baldacci has become known for unexpected twists. That's not a fair comparison because unlike m night shyamalan, baldacci didn't hit rock bottom with this one, it is still interesting in fact. All I'm saying is that there have been better thriller novels written by both this and other authors. ... Read more

Product Description
"Accomplished and amazing - one of the hottest reads around" - "Daily Mail." Set in Washington D.C., this fascinating thriller of unparalleled suspense dares to explore an unthinkable abuse of power and criminal conspiracy: a vicious murder involving the US President and a cover-up orchestrared by his zealously loyal Chief of Staff and the Secret Service. But, unknown to the President and his lackeys, one unlikely witness saw everything. Trapped behind a two-way mirror in a country house in Maryland, Luther Whitney, a professional burglar, witnesses an event that destroys his faith in justice. By the time he escapes, pursued by two Secret Service agents, a young woman has been sexually assaulted, then shot dead. And a breathtaking cover-up has been set in motion. "Baldacci's prose is fluent and amazing ...this book is sure to make a killing"- "The Times." "A high-octane legal thriller. An almost Shakespearian study in the nature of evil - horror in its purest form" - "Spectator".Amazon.com Review
Can the President get away with murder?The fictional answer tothis question results in a fast-paced page turner that combines political intrigue with gritty, hard-boiled suspense ... Read more

Customer Reviews (180)

Fine example of book beating movie.
I had already seen the movie a number of times.However I had know idea how much the story in the movie veered from the original story in the book, and how the book's tale was so superior to that of the movie.For anyone who has enjoyed the film version, but has not yet read the book, get the book.You are in for a treat.

Thrilling
This was the first David Baldacci book I ever read. I was not disappointed. The storyline is overall interesting and enjoyable, and well-paced. You don't get the whole story at first - just a thief witnessing a murder - but as more characters get involved, it becomes a rather good story, and one I ended up enjoying. That's a pretty good start for anyone new to this author.

Very explosive novel... maybe too much
The title of my review refers to the overuse of the words "explode, exploded, exploding..." throughout the book.Otherwise a very decent read, the suspense is sufficiently engrossing, especially since we know from the beginning 'whodunit'.

I'm reading the first novels of several mystery/thriller authors like Baldacci, Connelly, Flynn, etc. and this one is one of the better ones in terms of the unfolding of the plot, and intelligent description of the scenes.My gripe may be with the sheer unbelievability of some of the turns of events in the story.Three stars is not enough, but four is too much.Looking forward to the next Baldacci book in the series (Total Control, I believe).

Also saw the movie right after completing the book.I love Clint Eastwood, but the movie was quite poorly done.Decent cinematography, but awful screenplay.Did not adhere to the book in major ways, but I guess it didn't have to.

Very suspenseful in parts, but otherwise boring & silly
The novel starts well--five stars. It follows with lots of padding--pretentious stuff not relevant to the thriller stuff such as lots of erotic stuff and padding, padding, padding. It loses one star per 100 pages. The final portion becomes a page turner but with still occasional padding. End result: one star out of five.

Examples of the nonsense: The chief of staff of the White House (a woman) rapes the unconscious President of the United States! A lieutant of the state police of Virginia forces his way into the White House during a cabinet meeting to deliver court documents. The President of the USA sentenced to death (no mention of impeachment) while his chief of staff, who is even guiltier (but is a woman) gets off with community work. The book is full of such silliness.

Fans of Baldacci will enjoy this audio book
David Baldacci offers readers a political thriller that they will remember for a long time. This is an action-packed, fast-paced novel. The story begins with a cat burglar who witnesses a murder. A young woman fights off the unwelcomed advances of the President of the United States. The Secret Service murders her to protect him. The witness has evidence that the President does not want made public and the President will do anything to make sure that it is never revealed.

Fans of Baldacci will enjoy listening to this audio book. Many will remember the movie, Absolute Power, starring Clint Eastwood. My favorite Baldacci book was First Family, this one comes in asa close second. "Absolute Power" grabs your attention and does not let go. This makes great listening for long trips. ... Read more

Product Description
Believe the Power In a secluded house not far from Washington, D.C., the FBI is interviewing one of the most important witnesses it has ever had, a young woman named Faith Lockhart. For Faith has done too much, knows too much, and she'll tell too much. Believe the Suspense Feared by some of the most powerful men in the world, Faith has been targeted to die. But when a private investigator walks into the middle of the assassination attempt, the shooting suddenly goes wrong, and an FBI agent is killed. Believe the Astounding New Story That Only David Baldacci could Write... Now Faith Lockhart must flee for her life-with her story, with her deadly secret, and with an unknown man she's forced to trust...Amazon.com Review
It sounds like a movie pitch: "The story is like Tom Clancy crossed with John Grisham set in the Washington D.C. political world." But David Baldacci's Saving Faith successfully fuses elements from both of these chart-busters in this political thriller spiced with techno-wizardry.

The villain is a classic spy caricature: cold-war CIA super-patriot Robert Thornhill wants to reclaim the glory days of the Central Intelligence Agency--when money flowed like the Mississippi during a flood, and the FBI watched helplessly from the sidelines. Working from his secret underground bunker, he blackmails Danny Buchanan, one of the great Washington lobbyists, to front an enormous bribery scheme that will force Congress to bend to the CIA's whims. But Thornhill's plan springs a leak: Buchanan's assistant Faith Lockhart discovers her boss's dirty dealings, and she intends to expose the whole mess to Thornhill's nemesis, the FBI. Thornhill's associates attempt to assassinate Faith, but their bullet kills her FBI escort instead. Faith finds herself on the run with Lee Adams, a fit-and-trim PI who had been shadowing her at the behest of Buchanan.

If all this sounds a bit confusing, it is at times. Baldacci works hard to keep the tension steadily rising, but it is sometimes difficult to remember why Faith and Lee can't just stop running and go for help. Nevertheless, they are very likable heroes, and Baldacci's depiction of the world of lobbyists and the internecine warfare of the FBI and CIA (complete with state-of-the-art spy gadgets and transmission-proof chambers) elevates the novel with details that can come only from careful research. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (187)

Saving Faith
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I am about 80% through all of Baldacci's Books, and this is one of the best.

Faith is on the Run
Lobbyist Faith Lockhart and her boss Danny Buchanan have done wonders with their help for the poor in third world nations, but sometimes they bent the rules a bit, legally speaking. Now Faith suspects perhaps Danny may be bending them too much, so she decides to make a deal with the FBI to save both herself and her boss.

However unknown to Faith, Danny has done some deals with the CIA and they don't want her telling the FBI anything. On her way to meet with the Fibby guys, an assassin tries to kill her, luckily she is saved by PI Lee Adams, who has been hired by an anonymous client to follow her. Unfortunately the FBI agent who had been accompanying Faith is killed.

Now, all of a sudden, Faith and Lee are on the run. The don't trust each other, but they have no one else to turn to. The FBI wants them alive, especially agent Brooke Reynolds, who was supposed to be in that car with Faith when the assassin struck, but the CIA apparently wants them dead.

This story is one long chase scene, full of intrigue and government power gone mad. It's a book that I couldn't put down. As usual David Baldacci nails his characters and draws his readers in right from the get go.

Book Purchase
Disappointed - the book that was delivered was the large type for easier reading format and I did not know that is what I purchased.I am sure it stated such somewhere but apparently is wasn't too obvious as I wouldn't have purchased the book it I had know.

Fantastic Book
This was a fantastic book that was hard to put down.I really enjoyed it.

Good Read
I am a Baldacci fan so I'm a pushover for most of what he writes but this book has a slightly different slant.It's packed with action and turnarounds.I would recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
In a world of secrets, human genius is power.

And sometimes it is simply deadly...

A three-hour drive from Washington, D.C., two clandestine institutions face each other across a heavily guarded river. One is the world's most unusual laboratory, whose goals and funding are a mystery. The other is an elite CIA training camp shrouded in secrecy. Now a man and a woman are about to run a gauntlet between these two puzzle factories, straight into a furious struggle to exploit a potentially world-shattering discovery--and keep some other secrets underwraps forever...

Former secret service agents turned private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell have seen their lives splinter around them. Michelle lies unconscious ina hospital bed after a night of suicidal violence. And Sean is forced to take on a thankless investigation into the mutder of a scientist just inside the CIA's razor-wire fence near Williamsburg, Virginia.

Soon he is uncovering layer after layer of disinformation that shields a stunning world filled with elite mathematics, physicists, war heroes, spies, and deadly field agents. Amid more murder, a seemingly autistic girl's extraordinary genius, and a powerful breakthrough in the realm of classified codes, Sean soon learns enough to put his life at risk. Now more than ever, he needs Michelle--at her best--to help stop a conspiracy of traitors operating in the shadow of the White House itself.

From Michelle's courageous struggle to defeat her long-buried personal demons to a
centuries-old secret that surfaces in the heat of action, SIMPLE GENIUS pulses with stunning, high-intensity suspense. The heroes ofSplit Second and Hour Game, David Baldacci's #1 New York Times bestsellers, are back--as you've never seen them before. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (173)

Simple Genius
Very disappointed in Baldacci with this book.It just didn't seem to be his writing !!I hope this isn't going to be a trend with his books because he is one of my favorites.

Funny, not in a good way
This is the first Baldacci book I "read" (listened to) and the first audio book I tried. Despite the extra cost of a paperback, I'm glad I bought it as an audio book. I listened to it while driving around to do errands, so I didn't have to carve out any additional time to read it. If I had, I'm sure I wouldn't have finished it. The problem with this book is that Baldacci throws in just about every mystery/thriller plot archetype there is. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but he throws in a lot. It became a game to guess what next he would add, and when it was revealed, it made me laugh at its triteness, hence the title of this review. It might've been cool if he'd managed to tie them all in to a Super Grand Conspiracy. Instead, he chucked most of them and retained the one that in my opinion is the least interesting. And that didn't even tie in with the title of the book. In addition to chucking a lot as red herrings, he also left loose ends, such as: why was the little girl kidnapped? Was it because she could factor large numbers in her head? Yes, I just gave a spoiler. So sue me. You shouldn't be reading this anyway. The plot also is not that tight, such as the beginning, where one of the main characters is forced to go to a mental hospital and then later joins her partner in the Secret Think Tank Town. I assume--because this book is part of a series--that this was there for the series' larger plot arc.

From reading some of the other reviews, Baldacci's earlier work may be better. Maybe I'll give him a shot again. But this one you can skip. Even if you're trying to squeeze more "reading" time in while you're driving, there are better books out there you could be listening to.

Great book!
I love the characters of Sean and Michelle and all David Baldacci books!Leads right into First Family (next in the series) - need to read or listen to them in order.

Excellent
A must buy.This book will keep you up hoping you will get to the truth.A MUST read

Great Read
Mr. Baldacci spins a really good story.You'rehooked within the first few paragraphs and have a great deal of difficulty parting from the book. ... Read more

Product Description
When Web London's FBI Hostage Negotiation Team is ambushed in a dark alley, Web is the only survivor. As the FBI investigates, suspicion surrounding Web deepens. Now, he needs help from an unlikely ally in his desperate search for the killer of his friends, and finds himself up against a force intent on finishing the job that began in the alley.Amazon.com Review
Last Man Standing has the essential elements of a terrific David Baldacci novel: a tough but tender-hearted hero, dirty dealings in the nation's bureaucracy, and a roller-coaster plot. Web London, a member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, froze up on a drug raid and thus became the sole survivor of a remote-controlled ambush that killed six of his compatriots. Now the only witness has disappeared and the inside man on the botched raid has gone underground.

As a pretty psychiatrist puzzles over the corners of Web's brain that kept him alive, Web himself stays on the move. He's certain that the ambush is connected to the prison escape of a neofascist leader, Ernest B. Free, whom he helped arrest five years earlier, and a series of new murders leads him to a Virginia horse farm and the driving force behind all the carnage. It may seem as though Baldacci gives away the mastermind too soon, but both the bad guys and the good guys are complex enough that there's plenty of punch all the way to the last page. --Barrie Trinkle ... Read more

Customer Reviews (250)

Spell binding
I just recently discovered David Baldacci's writing.This one kept me guessing the entire way.I had trouble not skipping to the end to see how things came out.

Confirmation
I am now reading page 434 of Last Man Standing.I kept on reading this book trying to make this a good book with a good plot, interesting characters, etc. So far, it has none of the aforementioned qualities.I thought I would check out other reviews.Didn't want to be the only one to think this book was a waste of time. Thankfully, I bought it at a used book sale for a dollar. I'm not sure it was worth even that, though it does have a nice-looking jacket.

Last Man Standing
This book pulls you in from page one and never lets you go. You will not be able to put it down.

The worst 'thriller' I've ever come across.
Unbelievably bad. Many of the characters have laughable names, there's repetition of the plodding plot for readers too dumb to keep up, a lot of it is predictable and the writing is so bad there are exclamation marks sprinkled here and there to remind you that you should be excited. Appalling even for trash airport fiction. As another reviewer alluded, I spent time watching my bare in-flight seatback which was considerably less teeth-grinding an experience. Shame you can't rate a book with no stars.

"The absence of the beloved, short though it may last, always lasts too long." Jean Baptiste Poquelin Mollieri
Web London's FBI Hostage Rescue Team is lured into a trap, caught in a crossfire and slaughtered. He is the only survivor.

One witness to the team's massacre is a ten year old named Kevin Westbrook. He's the younger brother of a drug dealer named Big F. After the shooting, Kevin disappears.

Knowing that he needs to deal with the emotional effects of the loss of his team members, Web goes to a psychiatrist, Claire Daniels. As he tells her about his past, we learn ofthe anguish and the guilt that he feels that he's alive and couldn't do anything to save his team mates.

FBI supervisor, Percy Bates meets with Rancall Cove, the undercover agent who was giving officials details about what the building contained, that was the subject of the raid. Cove suggests that one group is controlling the Oxycontin flow from rural areas to the major cities in the East Coast. Cove believes that the drugs could be coming from small pockets in Appalicia.

I enjoyed the book and feel that Web London is one of the author's better protagonists. He's easy to sympathise with, compassionate, and dedicated. The interaction between Web and Claire Davis was well done and left me hoping for more.

The author also provided a number of plot twists that caught me totally unaware. ... Read more

Product Description
This edition of the "New York Times" bestseller--a heartwarming tale of humor, romance, and mystery by the bestselling author of "Split Second"--includes the brand-new short story, "Waiting for Santa.""Baldacci whips up a pleasant holiday confection."--"People." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (168)

ANOTHER OKAY CHRISTMAS BOOK
AN OKAY CHRISTMAS BOOK.AN EASY, QUICK READ.
THE WHOLE PART ABOUT THE AVALANCHE----UUUHHH???---
WELL--THAT WAS A BIT MUCH.BUT ALL-IN-ALL, IT WAS OKAY

Everything But The Kitchen Sink
This tried to be everything: a romance, a mystery, a travelogue, and even contained several references to Mark Twain--but in the end failed to live up to this reader's expectation of anything but a Christmas story, and not a very well thought-out one at that. The train lore and geography were its saving features. From the author of "Absolute Power," I would have thought there would be more action, but no--this too fizzled out after straining the limits of believability. Way too much coincidence and sappiness, even for Christmas. For a Christmas suspense novel in a snowy English country setting, try Christmas is Murder (A Rex Graves Mystery), which at least doesn't try to be serious.

Charming
I don't know what took me so long to find this little gem.I read Baldacci AND read him while I ride trains!What an oversight on my part.

This book has it all:A cross country train trip, star crossed lovers who rediscover each other, a film crew, a boy's choir, an avalanche, crooks, men of the cloth, sage car attendants, circus folk, young starry eyed elopers,Amtrak lore and a big dose of holiday cheer.

OK, this is not university level literature but it sure is a good yarn.bg

A great adventure
This book was sensational!My husband and I travel as often as possible by train and this book just made us want to travel more.

There was a little bit of everything for every reader and you don't need to have traveled by train before for this book to be interesting for you.You meet great people on board a train and The Christmas Train laid this out perfectly.

Great book...exceptional read!

Cozy Christmas Journey..
The Christmas Train is a pleasant read at any time of the year although especially at christmas.You feel like you are reading a cross between the warmth of 'Polar Express' and eccentric Miss Marple. From almost the first page you meet unusual characters and as the train journey travels on you are drawn more and more into the lives of everyone on board.
Helpful staff, gusty carol singers, eccentric old women and a priest (to name just a few) all come together for a journey of a lifetime.

Sit back relax and enjoy the ride,as that is what this book is all about. The story begins slowly idling along perfectly for the beginning of the story,then toward the middle of the book it picks up memento and there you are hurtling towards the stories final destination! A heart warming light read, great lovable characters, engaging tale and surprising twists......

Enjoy this book for what it is a sweet, warm, cozy, Christmas 'Journey'

... Read more

Product Description
Welcome to THE CAMEL CLUB.Existing at the fringes of Washington, D.C., the Club consists of four eccentric members. Led by a mysterious man known as "Oliver Stone," they study conspiracy theories, current events, and the machinations of government to discover the "truth" behind the country's actions.Their efforts bear little fruit-until the group witnesses a shocking murder...and become embroiled in an astounding, far-reaching conspiracy. Now the Club must join forces with a Secret Service agent to confront one of the most chilling spectacles ever to take place on American soil-an event that may trigger the ultimate war between two different worlds. And all that stands in the way of this apocalypse is five unexpected heroes.Amazon.com Review
Conspiracy theories--everybody has one. The difference with this conspiracy is that it's all too real. David Baldacci's The Camel Club takes readers inside the Beltway as four unlikely misfits struggle not only to survive, but to save their president and their country from a plot that will lead to nuclear disaster.

Bestselling Baldacci

Last Man Standing	The Winner	Total Control
The Simple Truth	Absolute Power	Saving Faith

... Read more

Customer Reviews (284)

Too many unbelievable moments to be good
This was my second attempt at a book by David Baldacci, who I know is very popular.Sadly, I still don't know why that is.This novel, while interesting in its many sides of American/Muslim relations has so many impossible to believe moments and coincidental happenings that belief is totally suspended.The climatic ending actual reads like '80s GI Joe cartoon.That's probably too harsh but that's the first thing I thought.Another problem was the title/series itself is the "Camel Club" although the members save one are almost purposeless.So, I'm glad I read a novel by a popular author to see if I agreed and I simply don't.Skip it.

I LOVE this book!
Even though I read the two books that follow this book before I read Camel Club, I still really LOVED this book. DB is awesome! This book was like watching a very good movie. Everything flows so well and the plot never gets dull.

Love Baldacci, but not my favorite of his books
Love the relevant political theme of the book, but I did not love the characters and it was a little too much.It just went past the point of believability to a point I did not enjoy.Still my favorite author in this genre though.

camel club
This one is a must have ---I really liked the Camel Club ---had to loan it out so my friends would get hooked like I am

Baldacci's Masterpiece
Marvelous Book--Possibly David Baldacci's best ever and he's a superb master of the art of mystery writing. ... Read more