Book Nerds Across America: David Baldacci

Showing posts with label David Baldacci. Show all posts

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Book Review: Zero Day by David Baldacci

Jacque's Review:

I have read all of Baldacci's King and Maxwell series and decided to start the John Puller series. The King and Maxwell series was about a couple of former secret service agents who become private investigators. I loved that series and hope he will release additional books, but this is another great series with a similar feel.

John Puller is a former Army Ranger and war hero. He is now working for the Army's Criminal Investigations Division and is one of their top investigators. When a Colonel, his wife, and two children are found murdered in a small town in West Virginia, Puller is sent to investigate. He finds the situation extremely unusual because he would usually be accompanied by a team of investigators. In this case, the Army insists he must work alone. The Colonel had access to high level classified information and Puller is convinced the Army is trying to keep something under wraps. He begins collaborating with Samantha Cole, who is a local police officer. She was born and raised in Drake and her brother-in-law is by far the wealthiest man in town. He owns and operates a coal mining business and has a number of other businesses in town. Teaming up with Cole gives him access to just about everyone and everything in town.

When additional bodies start turning up and attempt are made on Puller and Cole's lives, they begin to realize this is more than just a military or personal family matter. The colonel wasn't the victim of a random act of vilience and the killers are still after something. Puller and Cole must get to the bottom of things before the entire town falls victim.

This was a fast paced and highly entertaining start to the series. If you enjoy murder mysteries / thrillers, this was an excellent read. I wasn't able to unravel the mystery until everything was pretty much spelled out for me in the end, but it made perfect sense in retrospect. I will definitely continue the series to see what is in store for Puller in The Forgotten.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Book Review: The Sixth Man by David Baldacci

Jacque's Review:

The Sixth Man is the fifth book in the King and Maxwell series. Sean and Michelle are former secret service agents who are now working as private investigators. This time around they are contacted by one of Sean's former law professors, Ted Bergin, to help with a case he is working on. When Bergin turns up dead, Sean begins to take the case personally. Even when the stakes are more than they are willing to risk, he can't back away from uncovering the truth behind his friend's murder.

Edgar Roy is accused of killing six people and burying them in the barn on his family farm. He is one of the smartest people in the world, if not the smartest, so nobody believes he would have been caught red handed if he truly were a killer. He had to have been set up, but why? And why is the FBI so involved in a case that is clearly outside their jurisdiction?

As people associated with the case keep dropping like flies, Edgar is locked away in a maximum security facility in Maine. He obviously isn't involved in the latest murders. It is becoming increasingly clear that there are some very high powered players who are determined to keep Edgar's real story under wraps.

This was a very fast read with a ton of action and some very unique plot twists. Until the very end, I didn't really know who was on what side or how all of the pieces would come together. As usual, Sean and Michelle find themselves in immense danger. They are fortunate to have Edgar's half sister on their side for most of the investigation. Her background is never revealed, but she was obviously part of the FBI, CIA, or something along those lines. She is very resourceful and has a very large support network, which helps them out of numerous dire situations.

I accidentally read the last two books in this series out of order, but that didn't make too much of a difference. There were a few references in King and Maxwell to events that took place in this novel, but I felt like these could be read as stand alone novels. The characters and their personal relationships develop throughout the series, but each of the cases are completely independent.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far and sincerely hope Baldacci will continue Sean and Michelle's story. I know he has a number of other series, which I plan on exploring now that I have read all of these, but this series seems far from complete.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Book Review: King and Maxwell by David Baldacci

Goodreads Overview:

It seems at first like a simple, tragic story. Tyler Wingo, a teenage boy, learns the awful news that his father, a soldier, was killed in action in Afghanistan. Then the extraordinary happens: Tyler receives a communication from his father . . . after his supposed death.

Tyler hires Sean and Michelle to solve the mystery surrounding his father. But their investigation quickly leads to deeper, more troubling questions. Could Tyler's father really still be alive? What was his true mission? Could Tyler be the next target?

Sean and Michelle soon realize that they've stumbled on to something bigger and more treacherous than anyone could have imagined. And as their hunt for the truth leads them relentlessly to the highest levels of power and to uncovering the most clandestine of secrets, Sean and Michelle are determined to help and protect Tyler--though they may pay for it with their lives.

Jacque's Review:

Sean and Michelle are planning a relaxing vacation away from the office when they come across a teenage boy running in the rain carrying a gun. He seems frightened, so Michelle insists Sean follows him. Michelle chases him down, but he is reluctant to share his story with them. They discover the Army was at his house and had notified him and his step-mother that his father had been killed in the line of duty. Tyler was distraught and simply couldn't believe this was the truth. Michelle gave him their card in case he needed anything, but they figured that was pretty much the end of things until Tyler contacted them shortly thereafter. He received a message from his father after he was supposedly dead. Now the Army is backtracking and has all sorts of excuses as to why they can't return the body.

As Sean and Michelle dig deeper into this case their lives are increasingly more endangered. The Army and Pentagon have shut down all communications involving Sam Wingo and are clearly involved somehow. When the President becomes the next target via leaks in the press, he reaches out to Sean and Michelle and offers his support in their investigation. They are making far more progress than the FBI, Homeland Security or any other government agency and may be his last chance at saving his political reputation and preventing an impeachment. Little did he know, his relationship with King and Maxwell would ultimately save his life.

This was another action packed adventure involving a slew of characters from all aspects of the government. I love all of the secret service elements and sincerely hope Baldacci is planning on releasing additional books in this series. It certainly seems like he left things open for the possibility of another book and even had a lead in for a new employee in their firm. If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, this is a great series that I would definitely recommend.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Author Event: David Baldacci at the Columbus Metropolitan Library

To help celebrate the grand reopening of the Columbus Metropolitan Library's main branch there was an author event and book signing with David Baldacci. I am currently working my way through his King and Maxwell series, but my Mom has read just about all of his books. She lives only a couple of hours away, so I invited her to attend as well.

From the time the doors opened at 1:00 until the presentation began at 2:00, we were treated to some classical music performed by members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

Then David Baldacci took the stage for about 45 minutes. His presentation was as engaging as any of his books, so I would highly recommend seeing him speak if you ever have the opportunity. He told several humorous stories about encounters with readers and events that have taken place while researching content for his books. He also discussed the fact that he was an avid reader as a child, which inspired him to write.

The one thing that caught the attention of my 11 year-old, who was forced to tag along, was the fact that he wrote the final book in the 39 Clues series. He discussed the differences between writing adult and children's books and how he was approached by Scholastic to write the final book in the 39 Clues series. He also discussed what it is like writing a book for a series like the 39 Clues, which has so many different authors. Preston and I just completed the fourth book in the series, but Baldacci wrote book 16, so we have a long way to go. Hopefully this presentation will inspire him to keep reading, which is always a good thing.

He also discussed his foundation, which was established to help "promote the development and expansion of new and existing literacy programs." He is a proponent for libraries in a time when decreased funding often hits libraries the hardest.

After his presentation there was a book signing. When I met him at BEA a few years ago I received a copy of his latest book, which I had personalized for my Mom for Christmas. It was part of a series I wasn't currently reading and I thought she would appreciate it more than I would. This time around I was able to get a couple of my books signed.

In addition, my son decided he wanted to have "his" book signed. The book he is currently reading is Flush by Carl Hiassen, which is one of the books he chose from the 6th grade summer reading list. It was really funny when Preston handed Baldacci the book. He looked at the fish on the page Preston wanted signed....then looked at the cover and laughed. He told Preston that he knows the author and his kids really enjoyed the book. He was a good sport and signed the book, which definitely made the little man's day.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

First Family by David Baldacci

First Family (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, #4)

Jacque's Review:

First Family is the fourth installment in the King and Maxwell series. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell were both members of the secret service and now run their own private investigation firm. This time around they are hired by the First Lady to help find her twelve-year-old niece, Willa, who was kidnapped from her home. On the surface it appears to be a plot against the president, who is well on his way to reelection.

Shortly into their investigation into Willa's disappearance, Michelle receives a phone call from one of her brothers. Her mother passed away unexpectedly. After a brief examination of the scene of death, Michelle begins to wonder if foul play may have been involved. She calls Sean and they begin looking into her mother's case in addition to Willa's.

The closer Sean and Michelle get to uncovering the truth, the more resistance they receive from the First Lady. She says her number one priority is returning Willa to her family safely, but that doesn't appear to be her only motivation for hiring Sean. The two have known each other for years and it becomes clear that she is banking on that friendship once again.

I was extremely surprised by how this book ended. In my opinion, Sean made the correct decision. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will simply leave it at that. I was also happy to see Michelle come to terms with her past. She spend quite a bit of time in one of the previous books seeking counseling for an undisclosed reason. We are finally clued into the events in her past that caused the emotional distress. Now that everything has come to light, I believe she is well on her way to recovery. The final scene also sets up a potential change in the status of Sean and Michelle's relationship. I felt like this was a long time in coming, but the timing seemed to be perfect.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Hour Game by David Baldacci

Jacque's Review:

When we left Sean King and Michelle Maxwell at the end of Split Second, the two ex-secret service agents had decided to open their own private investigation firm. This book starts out with Harry, a local attorney, asking them to investigate his client's involvement in a burglary he doesn't believe he committed. Junior is accused of stealing from a very wealthy family he was working for at the time. There is SO much evidence pointing to Junior that Harry believes it has to be a set up.

While King and Maxwell are investigating Junior's case, a serial killer strikes the small town of Wrightsburg, Virginia. He has been toying with the authorities and copying famous serial killers from the past. The killer is obviously not your run of the mill serial killer and the local police are baffled. The chief decides to deputize King and Maxwell, which gives them full access to anything related to the investigation of the murders. This is by far the smartest thing the chief could have done. Without Sean, I have to believe they would still be looking for the killer.

As was the case in Split Second, Sean and Michelle manage to get themselves right into the middle of all of the action. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how they would get themselves out of each potentially deadly situation. There were clues throughout the book, which I missed almost every time, but Sean quickly picked up on and would investigate. Clearly, this is why I am not an investigator. I was not surprised by who the serial killer was, but why he did it was really the mystery. There were two murders that were not the result of the serial killer. I was SHOCKED to find out who committed them and why. Everything all comes together in the end thanks to Sean, but without Maxwell protecting him along the way...we never would have gotten to the bottom of this case. Sean is one person that truly needs his own secret service agent watching his back.

If you enjoy mysteries, I would highly recommend the King and Maxwell series. I absolutely love these characters and can't wait to see what is in store for them in Simple Genius, the next installment in this series.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Split Second by David Baldacci

Jacque's Review:

Sean King was a secret service agent protecting a presidential candidate on the the campaign trail. He had a lapse in concentration that resulted in the death of his protectee. It is now eight years later and he has reestablished himself as an attorney in a small town in Virginia. He is living a very quiet and comfortable life when he hears that another presidential candidate was kidnapped while under the watch of the secret service. Michelle Maxwell was the lead agent assigned to the candidate, John Bruno, at the time of the kidnapping.

Shortly after the kidnapping, Sean discovers one of his employees murdered inside his law office. The story makes the headline news and Michelle immediately recognizes Sean as the disgraced agent she learned about during her secret service training. She feels a connection to him due to their similar circumstances and begins looking into the events surrounding the death of Clyde Ritter, the candidate Sean was protecting on that fateful day.

She eventually contacts Sean and they begin investigating the events pertaining to his murdered employee, Clyde Ritter, and John Bruno. The closer they get to uncovering the truth the worse the personal ramifications become. Before long I was constantly worried that something terrible was going to happen to both Sean and Michelle. The only thing that gave me any sense of reassurance is the fact that I know there are four other books in the series. They must make it out of this alive if there are additional books, right?

The details of the mystery were constantly evolving and were very convoluted. I felt that Baldacci did a remarkable job of weaving all of the clues together throughout the story, which kept me constantly wanting to see what would happen next. The ending was like nothing I had ever read. I will compare it to the grand finale of a fireworks show. I don't want to give it away, so I will just leave it at that.

I really enjoyed the characters King and Maxwell. They are both brilliant detectives and complemented each other perfectly. I can't wait to see how things unfold in the rest of the series. Hopefully they can keep themselves a little further from the action in the future. I also hope their relationship evolves more throughout the series. Baldacci planted the seed that they are attracted to each other, but the circumstances in this book did not leave any room for a personal relationship. There is over a decade between their ages and they have very different personalities...King is a neat freak and Maxwell is a slob. How will this play out as they work together in the future and perhaps on a more personal level? I can't wait to find out.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

November Read Alongs

Monthly Read: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss. (B&N Overview)

Mystery Corner: Split Second by David Baldacci

Michelle Maxwell has just blown her future with the Secret Service. With heavy reluctance, she let a presidential candidate out of her sight to comfort a grieving widow. Then, behind closed doors, the politician whose safety was her responsibility vanished into thin air.

Living a new life on a quiet lake in Central Virginia, Sean King knows how the younger agent feels. He’s been there before. In an out-of-the-way hotel eight years earlier, the hard-charging Secret Service man allowed his attention to be diverted for a split second. And the presidential candidate Sean was protecting was gunned down before his eyes.

Now,Michelle and Sean are about to see their destinies converge. She has become obsessed with Sean’s case. And he needs a friend -- especially since a series of macabre killings have brought him under suspicion and prompted the reappearance of a seductive woman he’s tried hard to forget.

As the two discredited agents enter a maze of lies, secrets, and deadly coincidences, they uncover a shocking truth: that the separate acts of violence that shattered their lives were really a long time in the making -- and are a long way from over...

With an adrenaline rush on every page and a plot that springs one jaw-dropping surprise after another, David Baldacci’s new novel will plunge you into a dangerous realm of rage, desire, betrayal and revenge.

Book to Movie: Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison

The publication of this magnificent trilogy of short novels — Legends Of The Fall, Revenge, and The Man Who Gave Up His Name — confirmed Jim Harrison's reputation as one of the finest American writers of his generation. These absorbing novellas explore the theme of revenge and the actions to which people resort when their lives or goals are threatened, adding up to an extraordinary vision of the twentieth-century man.

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