Book 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. He's retained Dick Pender to "perception manage" his company to even more riches by manipulating world conflicts. However, Creel may have an even grander plan in mind. Shaw (no first name), a man with a truly unique past, travels the world reluctantly doing the bidding of a secret multi-national intelligence agency in order to keep the world at peace-and safe. Katie James, a journalist who will do anything to get back to the top of her profession, has just gotten the break of a lifetime, the chance to interview the sole survivor of a massacre that has left citizens around the world stunned.In this terrifying thriller with a global backdrop, 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 Baldacci fans expect-and still goes beyond anything he's written before. ... Read more

Book Description
"Matt, I need a war."So begins David Baldacci's new book--a thriller unlike any he's written before. "Matt" is Mathew Pender, of Pender Associates--a shadowy organization that specializes in managing seemingly impossible situations for its clients. Sometimes, those services extend to managing--and creating--armed conflict. When Matt Pender is asked by his client--the largest defense contractor in the world--to manipulate two nations against each other, a shocking and surprising series of events are set in motion that will possibly bring the world to the brink of World War III.*In this epic thriller with a global backdrop, David Baldacci delivers all the twists and turns, compelling characters, and can't-put-it-down pacing that readers have come to expect from this master storyteller. ... Read more

Book Description
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club are back in their most dangerous adventure yet, a war on two fronts. Casino king Jerry Bagger from The Collectors is hunting Annabelle Conroy who conned him out of millions. Stone and his colleagues Reuben, Milton, and Caleb marshal all their resources to protect Annabelle. Yet all their skills may not be enough when a deadly new opponent rips off the veneer of Stone's own mysterious past. Bagger's menace pales next to newcomer Harry Finn's lethality. Seeming a normal family-man, Finn has already killed three men with more targets to come. When Finn also sets his bulls-eye on Stone, his reason why will be the greatest shock of all, making readers reconsider their beliefs in good and evil. As bodies and institutions topple, the story rockets toward a shattering finale that will leave the survivors of this explosive tale changed forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (109)

David Baldacci is the best
David Baldacci's way of writing capture me as a reader spellbound. I loved The Winner, Absolut Control among other of his work. The Camel Club grows on me and together with Annabelle in Stone Cold- they are simply irresistible ! The way David Baldacci describes his characters are amazing. I have read almost all his books and he is my favorite followed by Ken Follett and John Grisham.

Hits the ground running and never lets up
Stone Cold is the third installment in the Camel Club series and is easily the best.The first novel in the series (The Camel Club) was a bloated, convoluted mess.The second (The Collectors) was a considerable improvement but still a far cry from `must read fiction'.With Stone Cold, Baldacci finally delivers the knock out punch.

Baldacci hits the ground running in Stone Cold, carrying on where The Collectors left off.Stone Cold is lean for a Baldacci novel, maintaining a relentless pace from start to finish.The novel incorporates two story lines: one involving a casino boss determined to track down the woman who scammed him out of millions, and one involving the son of a former CIA agent falsely accused of treason, who is methodically murdering the men responsible for his father's death.

My only complaint (actually, more of an observation than a complaint) is related to the big showdown in the closing chapters of the novel.There is a point (I don't want to reveal too much) where Stone is on the verge of escape after a daring rescue, when something happens to make him very angry.He turns back and, almost single-handedly, annihilates a highly trained, heavily armed team of men.

My issue with this scene is three-fold.First, it's just too `Rambo-like' to be plausible.(Stone is described as killing with such efficiency, it is as if he can direct the path of his bullets through sheer force of will).My second gripe is the fact that Baldacci writes this scene `after-the-fact' in summary.There is a missed opportunity for the reader to experience the action `as it happens'.The third issue I have with this scene is the misplaced morality of it.The men that Stone retaliates against are only foot soldiers following orders, armed with inaccurate information (much as Stone was, as a member of an elite assignation squad during the Cold War).Stone's fury is misdirected in this case at men who are just doing their job and think that they are protecting the interests of their country.(Rest assured, Stone will settle all old scores before the final page is turned)

My complaint (ok - my `petty whining') about this scene is half-hearted.There isn't much to complain about.The genre doesn't get much better and let's face it; `Rambo-like' behavior is a requirement in this type of novel and, quite frankly, if a few faceless, nameless soldiers have to die so we can fully appreciate Stone's fury - so be it.

The bottom line:If The Camel Club left a bad taste in your mouth and you're reluctant to read another bad Baldacci novel, put your fears aside.Stone Cold is a good one.In fact, it's very good.

Return of a favorite
The Collectors, the second installment of the Camel Club, left me looking at my watch and tapping my foot in anticipation of the next installment. There had to be more to this compelling story.Would Annabelle survive the vengeance of Jerry Bagger?What adventures would befall the members of the Camel Club next? In Stone Cold, David Baldacci does not disappoint.In spite of being written with the film camera in mind, this is a totally satisfying read. Character and plot development are not sacrificed.Only a few authors can create the conflict I experienced listening to this book on my commute. The conflict between wanting to know the plot's outcome and not wanting to leave these fully developed characters.It's a delicious place for a reader.Baldacci wrote a totally engaging read; it was a great treat. I look forward to the further adventures of the Camel Club.

Too James Patterson-esque!
Not a bad story, but Baldacci has gone the way of James Patterson.Short chapters, half-pages, jumpy story-line.One of the things I liked about Baldacci was that he had his own style.Now he has Patterson's instead.I quit reading Patterson due to the cookie-cutter, half-page, short chapters - basically half a book in a whole-book price - and quality!Now I may have to give up on Baldacci, too?!Have to add - can't wait for the next Nelson DeMille!!

Stone Cold by David Baldacci
A very good read.... David Baldacci upholds his high standards with his latest book, Stone Cold. The pace is fast and it is well written and eminently readable.....he has created great characters - you can meet them in Camel Club and The Collectors, Stone Cold comes after these two. One can always count on a great book from Baldacci...! ... Read more

Book 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 (101)

Dreadful
I fancied reading a thriller over Christmas, and having heard positive things about Baldacci's stories, picked this one up. I really wish I hadn't. The prose was leaden, the characters unbelievable and the plotting simply insulting. I'd like to believe this was a blip in quality from an author that clearly sells a lot of books, but I'm afraid I'm not going to be tempted enough to find out.

First and Last
This was the first book I have read by David Baldacci and it will hopefully be the last.The characters were completely unbelievable, the entire psychology subplot was obviously written by someone who knows nothing about the field and the rest of the plot was just ridiculous.

Phony, ruse or reality
First of all let me tell you that I don't live in America and that's why I could rate this book higher than many of you. For me the book was thrilling, all of it except the shrink and hospital part. You'll read and read about it and Mick will never know why she was distraught and that is really disappointing. On the other hand, what the CIA does if it's real or ruse that will be in your mind.

Entertaining
This is the third outing for David Baldacci's private detective team of Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, in which solving a case is complicated by the surfacing of Michelle's internal demons. One has to give the previous one-and two-star reviewers their due, there are indeed major implausibilities in the story, and there are places where the whole edifice starts to creak and groan noticeably. However, Baldacci is an outstanding story teller and in spite of these, I found myself carried along and really quite enjoyed the ride.

Average for Baldacci
This book is really tough to review without giving away too much information.I'll try.POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT!

I really enjoyed the main premise that the conclusion is based on.However,I didn't like Michelle's emotional situation.It did not seem real connected to the overall story and showed a weekness that didn't seem plausible.Also, the discussion of codes did not seem to materially impact the conclusion.

I love Baldacci and look forward to the next book in the series. ... Read more

Amazon.com
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'KelleyBook Description
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'KelleyDownload Description
Danny Buchanan and Faith Lockhart are the greatest influence peddlers in Washington because they can guarantee results. But Buchanan's bribery scheme is uncovered by Robert Thornhill, a zealous CIA chief, and he is forced to spy on his clients and network of politicians to further Thornhill's grand plan. Separately, Lockhart goes to the FBI to tell all, and thus becomes a target of Thornhill's. As the FBI is unknowingly pitted against the CIA mastermind, and Buchanan and Lockhart think each is destroying the other, it's left to private investigator Lee Brennan to "save Faith." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (179)

Good casual read
Good story, although a bit slow in places.Faith Lockhart has information that will allow the FBI to put away quite a few Congressmen.Problem is that CIA has been using her boss to gather intelligence on these same Congressmen for their own purposes.

My Favorite Baldacci Novel
I'm surprised that the average rating is only 3 stars. I've read every Baldacci Novel published through 2007 and Saving Faith is still my favorite. Everything - the story, characters, and settings - were all appealing and interesting to me. Last Man Standing is a close second favorite.

Fun Political Thriller
Maybe not Baldacci's best, but still good. Interesting look into Washington politics, the book starts out a little slow, but picks up quickly and soon I couldn't put it down!

fair beach read
The book weaves in and out of interesting scenes. Towards the end you get a bit bored of the necessary language that must take you through the predictable ending.
My plane was delayed and this was the best book in the small airport bookstore and it was better than what my husband picked up. So, if you have nothing else, it is a fine read.

Not his best
I'm still confused on how Faith and Danny did what they did. Not much character developement and suspending disbelief seems to be a major prerequisite for this book (and the narrator was horrible). But there are a few surprises and not much else. Overall, not a very memorable story. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Can the President get away with murder?The fictional answer to this question results in a fast-paced page turner that combinespolitical intrigue with gritty, hard-boiled suspenseDownload Description
In a heavily guarded mansion in a posh Virginia suburb, a man and a woman start to make love, trapping Luther Whitney, a career break-in artist, behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and Luther is running into the night. Because what he has just seen is a brutal murder involving Alan Richmond, the president of the United States, the man with . . . Absolute Power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (161)

Absolute Entertainment!
David Baldacci successfully provides entertainment that rivals the best CSI or government conspiracy books.ABSOLUTE POWER is primarily a story about a corrupt presidency that covers up a high profile murder.If that were all, then this story would only rate 3 stars or less since the idea of the government participating in a crime and getting away it is not new, not even in real life - Watergate, Iran-Contra, etc.What is unique is the crime can only be solved with the help of criminals and Baldacci surrounds the story with a number of relatable conflicts that add to the story's intrigue - love versus hate of an absent father, greed versus virtue, and loyalty versus criminal behavior.

The main character, Jack, is a lawyer who is faced with a choice between an easy life and getting involved in a crime that appears to be over his head.His choice ultimately impacts an emotionally high maintenance ex-girlfriend, easy-living wealthy fiancé, a seasoned detective, a prominent law firm with stereotypical attorneys, a habitual burgalar who finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time, and ultimately a presidency.

My only criticism of Baldacci is that he waites to the end to resolve most of the major conflicts created by the multiple characters.As a result, the story feels like it ends abruptly.I am of the belief that a well written story does not need an epilogue to resolve conflict or finish a story.

one of Baldacci's two best
Along with Baldacci's "The Winner," this book ranks in the top 10 of all books of this genre in my view.While the movie was well acted and well written, for those of us who read the book first, the storyline couldn't compare to the incredible depth, character development and subplots of the book. Treat yourself to a page-turner you won't be able to put down.

Different than movie
I finally decided to go back and read the Baldacci thriller that I hadn't read.I was reluctant because I have seen the movie and thought I would be a step ahead every page.I was wrong.As usual, the book is better than the movie.The main premise of the book and movie is the same, but parts of the storyline and characters are a quite different.I would rate this as one of my favorite Baldacci books up there with The Winner.If you like the movie, you'll love the book.

If books were rated.. this one would get more than an "R"
David Baldacci has a great gift for descriptive imagery and writing. Unfortunately he gets carried away with more than one sexual encounter that really aren't necessary - at least in such detail - for the plot of the book.

It's definitely a thriller, and definitely a page turner if you enjoy a good political thriller, but the sexual plots just aren't beneficial to the book.

I rated it a 3/5 because it's a good plot and well written, but the other factors warranted some deductions for spoiling a good book.

The Yardstick All Other Thrillers Are Measured By
Cat burglar extraordinaire Luther Whitney is getting a little long in the tooth. He's in his sixties and should probably retire, but he decides to pull of one last heist, a big one. He breaks into this rich guy's home, finds a secret room off the master bedroom. He's hit the jackpot. The room has a mirrored door, he can see out, but whoever is in the bedroom can't see in. Just as Luther is wondering what the rich guy has watched from behind this door he hears someone coming.

Uh oh, it's Alan Richmond, the President of the United States and he's with the wife of the rich guy. He's making advances, she fends him off, there's noise. The secret service busts into the room and shoots the woman dead. This is not good. Not good for the president and definitely not good for Luther. Needless to say, after Luther makes his getaway and the Secret Service cleans up the mess and starts their coverup, they figure out about the mirrored door. And they figure out someone was behind that mirror. And it doesn't take them long to figure out who it was.

And that is the beginning of a thriller that will have you up all night. Because even though it was written years ago, and even though Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman made an excellent movie, the book is still the yardstick all other thrillers are measured by. It's that good. Yes the move was great, but the book is better. ... Read more

Book Description
Mystery/SuspenseLarge Print Edition* A New York Times Bestseller* A Literary Guild Main Selection* A Doubleday Book Club Main SelectionSidney Archer thought she had the perfect life: a loving husband, an adorable baby daughter, and a great career as a senior partner in a major Washington law firm. But when her husband is killed in a plane crash, her whole world begins to disintegrate. The FBI believes her husband is responsible for the bombingand that he may still be alive!Following on the heels of his sensational bestseller, Absolute Power, David Baldacci returns with an explosive tale of terror and deception, and one womans courageous battle for the truth.Download Description
Sidney Archer has the world. A husband she loves, a job at which she excels, and a cherished young daughter. Then, as a plane plummets into the Virginia countryside, everything changes. And suddenly there is no one whom Sidney Archer can trust. Jason Archer is a rising young executive at Triton Global, the world's leading technology conglomerate. Determined to give his family the best of everything, Archer has secretly entered into a deadly game of cat and mouse. He is about to disappear--leaving behind a wife who must sort out his lies from his truths, an air-crash investigation team that wants to know why the plane he was ticketed on suddenly fell from the sky, and a veteran FBI agent who wants to know it all. From Seattle to Washington, D.C., from New Orleans to Maine, the hunt for Jason Archer follows a trail as complex as the world he lived and worked in--a world of enormously powerful computers, a multimillion-dollar takeover deal, titanic financial standoffs, artificial intelligence, and the Internet. With brilliant minds colliding, ruthless men waging battles of intimidation, rainmakers going toe-to-toe with killers, and security specialists making a fortune trying to plug the holes, the startling truth behind Jason Archer's disappearance explodes into a sinister plot with the murder of the country's single most powerful individual And soon Archer's wife, Sidney, aided by the relentless and sharp-eyed FBI agent Lee Sawyer, will plunge straight into the violence that is leaving behind a trail of dead bodies and shocking, exposed secrets. . . . In Total Control David Baldacci pulls out all the stops. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (178)

Out of Control
Sometimes Baldacci writes entertaining material (Absolute Power for one) - this is definitely not one of those times.His characters in this overlong novel are absurd - every one of them.The plot is way too convoluted.Just awful stuff - avoid at all costs.

Colorful, literally
Have you ever seen anyone with a blood red face?How about whiter than paper?Green?Couldn't help but note these descriptions in Baldacci's novel.His or her face occasionally "reddened,""went pale,""reddened", "paled," "was eggshell pale," "white as a ghost," "carried a red sheen," "turned ashen," "was red with anger," "face flamed red," "was a shade of white," "turned a shade paler," "was now blood red," "flushed," "turned whiter than paper," "grew red," "froze," "went stone cold", "turned green."Are these aliens Baldacci is dealing with?Aside from this, a readable book.

DUMB WASTE OF TIME...
I read about 80 books a year, and this one was a TOTAL WASTE of time.The main character, Sydney Archer, is a blonde dingbat.Simpering and helpless one moment, she's Wonder Woman the next, demonstrating unbelievable prowess.A really annoying character, one begins to hope that the bad guy wins.The book goes all over the map with complicated interactions among a host of characters, but none of it is credible.Don't waste your time.Baldacci must have needed the money to write something this bad.

Back on Track!!!
This is more like it.A good exciting book that keeps on moving.It was not as good as Absolute Power but way better than The Winner.I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys good non-stop excitment.

Brain Dead Main Character Kills Story
This book was simply not up to Baldacci's usual quality.The story goes all over the place, but doesn't get anywhere until the last 50 pages.Even after 200, 300, and even 400 pages we are still chasing dead ends and no closer to figuring out where this thing is going.I don't mind suspense, but you can stay "suspended" only so long until it becomes boredom.

The main character is the worst one Baldacci has ever created.One minute she is crying her eyes out, and puking her guts out totally paralyzed by fear, and the next minute she is tracking down trained bad guys and saving the lives of the inept FBI agents and police.This is repeated throughout the story.........I would think she had worn out all the emotional crap by the end of the book.She makes one blunder after another resulting in the deaths of innocent people, but at the same time comes up with brilliant deductions that help her stay one step ahead of the mastermind killers.By the end of the book I found myself pulling for the sadistic killer to finally finish this stupid [...] off.

This is one of those books to keep next to the bed in case you are having trouble sleeping.
... Read more

Book Description
People are dropping dead in Washington, D.C. First the Speakerof the House falls victim to a hitman in a carefully orchestrated murder infront of dozens of the city's power elite. Next, the director of theLibrary of Congress's Rare Books Room dies in a book vault, but no oneknows how. Caleb Shaw, Camel Club member, nearly falls victim, too. Acrossthe country, a gifted con woman assembles an A-list team to pull off one ofthe most audacious scams ever, against one of the most dangerous men in theworld. When the worlds of Washington and the elite con collide head-on, theCamel Club finds itself teamed with a person they don't really trust butwhose skill helps them unravel a secret that threatens to bring America toits knees. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (129)

The Collectors Collects Flies?...
"The Collectors" is a page-turning thriller with a great deal of authenticity. However, the believability of the story is about eight on a scale of one to ten. The major plot revolves around corruption in the State Department in Washington D.C. Some bad guy named Roger Seagraves, former assassin for the CIA, leads of group of conspirators that sells the country's secrets to the highest bidder. Of course, Seagraves murders anybody who gets in his way. His victims begin dropping like clay pigeons when people begin getting wise to the cabal's treasonous acts. A group of concerned folks, including a retired FBI agent, a clerk at the Library of Congress and one Annabelle Conroy, a slick-talking con artist, begin their pursuit of this evil clique. As a subplot, Annabelle Conroy - apparently a continuing character in Baldacci's books - has revenge on her mind when she conspires to cheat casino owner Jerry Bagger out of millions of dollars. (Bagger had murdered Conroy's mother, trying to recover $10,000 that had been stolen from him.) Bagger, single-minded and ruthless, is about as stereotypical as any character I've encountered since the days of Godfather clones. Unfortunately, the big showdown between Conroy and Bagger never happens at the end of the book. It seems one has to buy another of Baldacci's books to find out what transpires. Oh, screw you very much, sir! Altogether, though, the book is exciting and amusing, when banter takes place between characters. Maybe one of these days I'll find out what happens to Annabelle - without forking over the price of a book? Who knows?...

Great Reading
Wonderful reading.I couldn't put it down.Baldacci does it again.first with the Camel Club, now with The Collectors.Can't wait to read
Stone Cold.Love David Baldacci's work. Have read other books by this author and will continue to read his works.

Baldacci does it once again.
If you loved The Camel Club's characters it's hard not to love and become addicted to this book.His eloquent style of writing brings several clever tragedies together showing Oliver Stone's greatness.Wonderful to say the least!!

Con artists mixed with murder
The author brings back The Camel Club, a group of four men who together fight corruption within our government.Each member has or has had a connection with the government through one job or another and becomes very irritated when things go wrong that shouldn't.The club's unofficial leader is called by the name Oliver Stone.Caleb Shaw, Milton Farb, and Rueben Rhodes join Oliver in this secretive group that live and meet in the strangest places.

When several important government officials were found murdered, The Camel Club jumped into action, if you want to call their movement "jumping" since some are up in years but mostly in good physical shape.The club had a great liaison in the FBI who would help them when called, but the club stayed out of the way and didn't want to be known by others because of the secretive work they do.

Roger Seagraves is a go-between between some government officials and those that would hurt our nation by selling secrets to other foreign powers.Seagraves was a powerful man who thought he could do anything he wished from hurting someone's chance at a job to killing without conscience.

Add to this mix a super-con artist, Annabelle Conroy, with the looks and brains to pull off almost any con even to the best con men and to those that considered themselves con-proof!Oh but she was good.She worked with three others, one of whom was new and not quite up to par with Annabelle and Leo, her key co-conspirator.But he had to learn--and FAST before Annabelle pulled off any more big jobs.While the four of them were learning to pull off cons together, they did rip off a few that felt they couldn't be conned.All this while practicing for the big one with the notorious Jerry Bagger, the owner of a huge organization and one of the best con men around.Annabelle had some big ideas to really get Jerry where it hurt the worst, his wallet, and his pride.

When one con after another was successful, Annabelle felt they were ready for Bagger.Annabelle got very chummy with him and gained his confidence, as no one had ever been able to do.Meanwhile, Annabelle's ex-husband was killed in Washington and was a murder that The Camel Club was investigating.Annabelle was hiding from Bagger knowing if he ever caught her she would be good fertilizer when he was finished with her.But when she heard of her ex's demise she had to try to find out the how's and why's since she still had deep feelings for him.She eventually got to Washington and discovered The Camel Club quite by accident.They made a formidable team as they joined all their talent to delve into the killing of the ex and the other key murders.

I enjoyed the book but felt it bogged down a bit in places.I have always enjoyed Baldacci's books and while I would recommend The Collectors to you, I felt it was stretched out a bit but still contained a lot of action.It just was not the non-stop action I expect from David Baldacci.

the collectors
possibly one of the most boring books ever -- had to put it down after about page 175, and i rarely ever abandon a book

no point or plot -- it just never went anywhere

i've never read baldacci before - just going by reviews so i picked it off the shelf - maybe this is one of his earlier efforts ... Read more

Download Description
THE DREAM . . . She is 20, beautiful, dirt-poor, and hoping for a better life for her infant daughter when LuAnn Tyler is offered the gift of a lifetime: a $100 million lottery jackpot. All she has to do is change her identity and leave the U.S. forever. THE KILLER . . . It's an offer she dares to refuse . . . until violence forces her hand and thrusts her into a harrowing game of high stakes, big money subterfuge. It's a price she won't fully pay . . . until she does the unthinkable and breaks the promise that made her rich. THE WINNER...For if LuAnn Tyler comes home, she will be pitted against the deadliest contestant of all: the chameleon-like financial mastermind who changed her life. And who can take it away at will . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (306)

good story
I read The Camel Club at the end of last year, and I thought that this book was a little slower (especially in the middle).Also, I'm not sure why Baldacci always has a character whose super-strong (as evidenced by his/her handshake), but it was a little distracting when he kept describing LuAnn's strength in this book.Overall, though, this book's movie-like plot made it a good read.

GOOD OLD FASHION FUN
The more I read, the more I could not put this book down. I was already a fan of David Baldacci and this book did not disappoint. All the characters are likable and interesting. The story has a great villian. At the end, it really keeps you wondering which one of the supporting characters will survive. Some reviews have mentioned unrealistic aspects of the story, however, it is categorized as fiction and thus was meant to entertain, not tell a real life story. Like most fiction, you will not enjoy it if you take the story line too serious.

It does a good job of relating what it would be like to come into a lot of money by dishonest means. One of the underlining themes is that you need more than money to be happy and that often times it is not until you have some that you truly realize it. I personally felt vested emotionally in the characters and wanted good for them.

I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as me.

A book you cannot put down
I could not stop reading "The Winner". One night after another I stayed up later and later wanting to get further to the conclusion. I always think that is the best judge of a book. Do you want to keep reading when you have the time? If so, then it is a good book. This one passes the test.

Yes, some have commented on perceived flaws they have with the book. Upon reflection (I read it some years ago)I can understand the criticism of the plausability of the main theme (fixing the lottery). But isnt that what fiction is all about. Taking us someplace we would not necessarily go? The theme and events are unique. So much so, that I wanted to find out the ending at the expense of everything else. Give me a book like that any day. That is precisely why I have recommended this book to all I know.

Sam Hendricks, author of "Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football"

The Winner? Not so much
I wasn't motivated to finish this book. An earlier review had this title: Unbelievable events and characters ruin interesting story. That's really my take as well. Once I've read a certain amount of a book, I'll usually finish it, but after investing the time to read 200 pages of this one, I saw no reason to "throw good money after bad."

The book has a strong premise, but completely wastes the reader goodwill that's established early on. Too many unbelievable things happen (one small example I remember: the character who could clearly see the faces and emotions of drivers of two racing vehicles through binoculars, then had time to get in his own truck and overtake one of them). It would take very little work in most cases to make the unbelievable events ring truer. Skipping ten years in the middle also isn't a great way to maintain interest in the characters. Much of the writing is crisp enough, but some scenes are clumsy, such as Jackson wondering from point to point in his apartment so the auther can describe the contents. I would have been all over that if I were a college creative writing teacher, but apparently the author's advisors had bigger problems to stew over.

the Winner
Very interesting concept on the lottery, very well written. I couldn't put the book down. probably the first book I have read so fast. enjoyed it very much. and will pass it on to my colligues in my group that like to read. ... Read more

Book Description
It took ten seconds for Web London to lose everything: his friends, his team, his reputation. Point man of the FBIs super-elite Hostage Rescue Team, Web roared into a blind alley toward a drug dealers lair, only to meet a high-tech, custom-designed ambush that killed everyone around him. Now coping with the blame-filled words of anguished widows and the suspicions of colleagues, Web tries to put his life back together with the help of his psychiatrist, Dr. Claire Daniels. To do so, he must discover why he was the one man who lived through the ambushand find the only other person who came out of that alley alive....a ten-year-old boy who has since disappeared. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Last Man Standing has the essential elements of a terrific DavidBaldacci novel: a tough but tender-hearted hero, dirty dealings in the nation'sbureaucracy, and a roller-coaster plot. Web London, a member of the FBI'sHostage Rescue Team, froze up on a drug raid and thus became the sole survivorof a remote-controlled ambush that killed six of his compatriots. Now the onlywitness has disappeared and the inside man on the botched raid has goneunderground.

As a pretty psychiatrist puzzles over the corners of Web's brain that kept himalive, Web himself stays on the move. He's certain that the ambush is connectedto the prison escape of a neofascist leader, Ernest B. Free, whom he helpedarrest five years earlier, and a series of new murders leads him to a Virginiahorse farm and the driving force behind all the carnage. It may seem as thoughBaldacci gives away the mastermind too soon, but both the bad guys and the goodguys are complex enough that there's plenty of punch all the way to the lastpage. --Barrie TrinkleBook Description
Last Man Standing has the essential elements of a terrific DavidBaldacci novel: a tough but tender-hearted hero, dirty dealings in the nation'sbureaucracy, and a roller-coaster plot. Web London, a member of the FBI'sHostage Rescue Team, froze up on a drug raid and thus became the sole survivorof a remote-controlled ambush that killed six of his compatriots. Now the onlywitness has disappeared and the inside man on the botched raid has goneunderground. As a pretty psychiatrist puzzles over the corners of Web's brain that kept himalive, Web himself stays on the move. He's certain that the ambush is connectedto the prison escape of a neofascist leader, Ernest B. Free, whom he helpedarrest five years earlier, and a series of new murders leads him to a Virginiahorse farm and the driving force behind all the carnage. It may seem as thoughBaldacci gives away the mastermind too soon, but both the bad guys and the goodguys are complex enough that there's plenty of punch all the way to the lastpage. --Barrie TrinkleDownload Description
It took ten seconds for Web London to lose everything: his friends, his team, his reputation. Point man of the FBI's super-elite Hostage Rescue Team, Web roared into a blind alley toward a drug dealer's lair, only to meet a high-tech, custom-designed ambush that killed everyone around him. Now coping with the blame-filled words of anguished widows and the suspicions of colleagues, Web tries to put his life back together with the help of his psychiatrist, Dr. Claire Daniels. To do so, he must discover why he was the one man who lived through the ambush--and find the only other person who came out of that alley alive . . . a ten-year-old boy who has since disappeared.

Web's search leads him from inner-city Washington, D.C., to the rolling hills of Virginia horse country--while people connected to him are violently silenced. Acting on his instincts, Web believes he knows where the killer will strike next. Only this time, he may not survive the attack. Last Man Standing is an explosive psychological thriller about a man desperate to find answers--from the secret terrors he has kept from himself to his unbearable guilt. His fight to save himself and those he cares for will come at a high cost . . . and threaten everything he has grown to believe in. With vividly realized characters and a breathtaking pace, this is another spellbinding novel from David Baldacci, one of today's best storytellers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Another Baldacci winner!!
Web London is the single survivor of a well planned government drug bust and he is hot water for it. As he strives to understand the why of his survival and the evil that arranged the dramatic episode, he is lead on a chase with more twists than a slinky. As his mission unfolds, readers will lose track of who is good and who is evil. Baldacci plots never disappoint.
Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge, Ruth Fever and Jena's Choice

Good action, cheesy dialogue
This is the first Baldacci novel I have read, not bad, not great. I was a big fan of Clancy's Rainbow Six, which for those who haven't read it is about a team much like HRT, but while the plot is interesting, the characters are slightly derivative and the twists are not wholly unexpected. The main character, Web London, is real in that he's not some invincible force, but inconsistent in that he goes from being an intellectual and emotional man to a cookie-cutter tough guy.

- FBI guy to Web: "If you see Macy on the street, my advice would be to run".
- Web's reply: "I'm HRT, I eat guys like him for breakfast".

Come on, that's just weak. That line was used by the current govenor of CA in the classic film "Commando":

Tough guy to Arnie: "You ready? Cause this Green Beret's gonna kick your [expletive]".
Arnie's reply: "I eat Green Beret's for breakfast, and right now I am very hungry".

I like that the details of HRT, the FBI and problems that seem inherent in the system are dealt with pretty fairly. I don't like that the dialogue in parts seems like it was written for Jean-Claude Van Dam. There are moments of brilliance, like when Web is confiding to his shrink about the letters he wrote at Ruby Ridge, but overall the characters and dialogue pale in comparison to Baldacci's contemporaries. The action is not as good as Ludlum and the characters just don't interest me the way Clancy's seem to. ... Read more

Book Description
From #1 bestseller David Baldacci comes a new thriller reminiscent of his phenomenal bestselling debut, Absolute Power.It was only a split second--but that's all it took for Secret Service agent Sean King's attention to wander and his "protectee," third-party presidential candidate Clyde Ritter, to die. King retired from the Service in disgrace, and now, eight years later, balances careers as a lawyer and a part-time deputy sheriff in a small Virginia town. Then he hears the news: Once again, a third-party candidate has been taken out of the presidential race--abducted right under the nose of Secret Service agent Michelle Maxwell. King and Maxwell form an uneasy alliance, and their search for answers becomes a bid for redemption as they delve into the government's Witness Protection Program and the mysterious past of Clyde Ritter's dead assassin. But the truth is never quite what it seems, and these two agents have learned that even one moment looking in the wrong direction can be deadly. Full of shocking twists and turns, and introducing a villian to rival Jackson in Baldacci's The Winner, SPLIT SECOND is pure, mind-numbing adrenaline to the last page.Download Description
"eBook Special Feature:? David Baldacci's personal thoughts on writing The Simple Truth and The Christmas Train? Includes excerpts from The Simple Truth and The Christmas Train. It was only a split second;but that's all it took for Secret Service agent Sean King's attention to wander and his "protectee," third-party presidential candidate Clyde Ritter, to die. King retired from the Service in disgrace, and now, eight years later, balances careers as a lawyer and a part-time deputy sheriff in a small Virginia town. Then he hears the news: Once again, a third-party candidate has been taken out of the presidential race;abducted right under the nose of Secret Service agent Michelle Maxwell. King and Maxwell form an uneasy alliance, and their search for answers becomes a bid for redemption as they delve into the government's Witness Protection Program and the mysterious past of Clyde Ritter's dead assassin. But the truth is never quite what it seems, and these two agents have learned that even one moment looking in the wrong direction can be deadly. Full of shocking twists and turns, and introducing a villian to rival Jackson in Baldacci's The Winner, SPLIT SECOND is pure, mind-numbing adrenaline to the last page." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (170)

An excellent thriller pairing a fine reading by Scott Brick with a moving thriller
David Baldacci's SPLIT SECOND is an excellent thriller pairing a fine reading by Scott Brick with a moving thriller revolving around one Michelle, who has blown her future with the Secret Service and when she lets her charge vanish. She joins forces with the unlikely Sean King who has a similar problem - and the two delve into a world of secrets and deadly coincidences. Both are high-powered thrillers.

Another Baldacci Favorite and the Start of a Great Series
Very interesting story and characters. It keeps you guessing until the end. I'd love to see some sparks develop between Maxwell and King.

A very cool book to read
This was my first book by David Baldacci; I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it, The main characters were interesting & well-developed. The focus on Secret Service agents on presidential candidate protection details is a nice touch. However, the plot was a little too complicated & implausible, and there are too many vaguely-defined peripheral characters to make this book a hands down winner. But still an excellent story.

That split second that determines your life, and the lives of others
Baldacci's presentation of that "Lord Jim" moment, the moment that determines the course of your life, is told quite well.Two of these moments, actually.It's an interesting story about two Secret Service agents, one male and one female, who both make split second mistakes, and their attempt to redeem themselves by finding out who kidnapped a presidential candidate.Again, however, I wish the author had condescended to include explicit lovemaking scenes between the two agents.What does it take to get an R-rated book these days anyway?

fun, easy read, intriguing, but lacks something
I enjoy increasing my vocabulary as I read. This book didn't challenge me in that aspect. I like following plots, deciphering clue, guessing the ending. Baldacci drops enough hints yet the ending seems believable only if one is as demented as the arch villain. The story maintains a high level of suspense throughout. At times the agents follow dead ends or scant clues but that is life in the FBI and Secret Service at times. Baldacci uses too much dialog which doesn't develop enough depth for some of the characters. Overall, a good choice if you want an exciting read where you don't need to engage your brain. Just enjoy the plot, don't try to figure it out. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Two disgraced former Secret Service officers team up to solve a series of copy-cat crimes in this exciting new thriller by a master of the game. Sean King was momentarily distracted when a presidential candidate he'd been guarding was assassinated a few feet from where he stood, and Michelle Maxwell left the Service under a similar cloud when she lost a "protectee" to an ingenious kidnapping scheme, events told in Baldacci's typical terse, fast-paced style in Split Second. Now partners in a private investigation firm in a small Virginia town, they're hired to investigate a burglary at the home of a wealthy local family. But even before the chief suspect in the break-in meets his death in a gruesome slaying reminiscent of a serial killer long since caught and punished, King and Maxwell get caught up in a string of other murders, each of which copies the techniques of another madman, from San Francisco's Zodiac Killer to Chicago's infamous John Wayne Gacy. While the two protagonists aren't especially complex or well-developed, the action never stops, and Baldacci's trademark pacing keeps the reader turning pages until the denouement, which unfortunately isn't quite as satisfying as the rest of the novel. --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.Book 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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (173)

Great suspense book! Couldn't put it down!
Awesome book! Quick read because I could not put it down in soite of 490 pages. Highy recommend!

Badly Written - Laughable Characters & Dialogue
This book might have been funny, had it not been quite so lame and badly written as it was.The publisher should be boycotted for putting this one on the market!To say that the co-protagonists are "cartoonish" is being kind.The author gives them their only dimension via having them gush admiration for one another.I enjoy a complex book with a lot of characters, except when those are as badly conceived as had been the case in this book.Not having previously read any books by this author, I'd initially wondered if this one were meant to be a farce, but the plodding tedium soon dispelled that notion. The laughs turned to groans of astonishment that anyone who could write so badly had ever produced a best seller!This book was truly pitiful!

Good Book
Although there are lots of boring parts such as Michelle visiting eddies battle, but other than that this was a pretty good book with a good ending

Lame, Oh so very Lame
Now, let me start by saying Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are bad charecters.They are to generic, to much so to carry a single novel, much less a series.Their last book, Split Second, is the worst book David Baldacci has ever written. The plot stunk, and the charecters stunk, so you would think Mr. Baldacci wouldn't bring such lame charecters.

Say it with me, WRONG!!!!

King and Maxwell, and all their lameness are back in this terrible outing from Mr. Baldacci.Their are two plots in this book, one good, the other one of the worst I've ever read.

The first plot starts the book, with a seriel killer murdering people in the style of old serial killers.This polt lasts for aproximetly 70 pages.Then King and Maxwell are hired by a familly called the Battles (can you see where I'm going).The Battles have been robbed (gasp) and King and Maxwell investigate the Battle's, and their assisstents, and the family of the guy they think robbed them, and about 10 other people, untill we have so many under developed charecters, we can't keep them straight.

The Battle plot line of course takes over the book, untill the serial killer, who wasn't even mentioned, appears with 30 pages to go, and is flimsily tied into the Battle plot line.This is a bad book, don't read it.

Good Read
Great follow-up novel to Split Second.I really enjoyed it.While there were a lot of characters, it wasn't unmanageble to keep up with them.

Enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com
Rufus Harms is rotting in a Virginia military prison. As readers learn in the terse opening of The Simple Truth, he was convicted 25 years ago of the brutal killing of a young girl. Readers also learn that Rufus did not commit the crime; out of a haze of memories and with fragments of evidence, he has reconstructed the truth about the horrid event that ruined his life. He knows his discovery could cost him his life, so he breaks from prison after sending an appeal to the Supreme Court that details a massive conspiracy tied into the foundations of Washington.

The complex drama of Rufus Harms is only one of the interwoven threads in this massive, violent legal thriller that also draws from the vocabulary of hard-boiled crime fiction. Baldacci offers glimpses into the arcane politics of the high court, where Justice Elizabeth Knight wages war with the manipulative Chief Justice Harold Ramsay. And while Harms struggles to keep out of harm's way and the justices duke it out, Supreme Court law clerk Sara Evans toils with ex-cop John Fiske to discover the import of Harms's appeal (and, simultaneously, to uncover the murderer of Mike Fiske, John's lawclerk-brother and the original holder of the appeal). Their interest in the document apparently draws the attention of the same deadly conspirators who manipulated Harms over two decades earlier. While the armed mayhem sometimes rises to the point of excess, Baldacci's novel continues to offer new surprises until the final pages. --Patrick O'Kelley Book Description
Rufus Harms is rotting in a Virginia military prison. As readers learn in the terse opening of The Simple Truth, he was convicted 25 years ago of the brutal killing of a young girl. Readers also learn that Rufus did not commit the crime; out of a haze of memories and with fragments of evidence, he has reconstructed the truth about the horrid event that ruined his life. He knows his discovery could cost him his life, so he breaks from prison after sending an appeal to the Supreme Court that details a massive conspiracy tied into the foundations of Washington.The complex drama of Rufus Harms is only one of the interwoven threads in this massive, violent legal thriller that also draws from the vocabulary of hard-boiled crime fiction. Baldacci offers glimpses into the arcane politics of the high court, where Justice Elizabeth Knight wages war with the manipulative Chief Justice Harold Ramsay. And while Harms struggles to keep out of harm's way and the justices duke it out, Supreme Court law clerk Sara Evans toils with ex-cop John Fiske to discover the import of Harms's appeal (and, simultaneously, to uncover the murderer of Mike Fiske, John's lawclerk-brother and the original holder of the appeal). Their interest in the document apparently draws the attention of the same deadly conspirators who manipulated Harms over two decades earlier. While the armed mayhem sometimes rises to the point of excess, Baldacci's novel continues to offer new surprises until the final pages. --Patrick O'KelleyDownload Description
Twenty-five years ago, Rufus Harms was convicted of a murder he doesn't remember committing. When his memory is jogged by a letter from the army, he has a shocking realization: he never intended to kill anyone--he was coerced. From prison, Rufus files an appeal with the Supreme Court, unaware that the real killers are on to him. But the long-time convict knows he's running out of time when the Supreme Court clerk, who is the first to see Rufus's appeal, is murdered. Sprung from prison by his brother, Rufus must now elude capture long enough to expose a shocking cover-up and save his own life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (184)

David BAdacci
Book arrived in excellent condition.I have not had the time to read it but it is next.

thank you

The Author is Consistently Good

David Baldacci attended law school at the University of Virginia, and went on to work as a trial lawyer, and later as a corporate lawyer, in Washington, D.C. He is now a full-time writer whose best selling novels include Absolute Power, Total Control, The Winner and Saving Faith. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.

First published in 1998 this is yet another winner for the author, whose books are consistently good and have well thought out plots andbelievable and well-rounded characters. Baldacci has established himself as one of the best suspense thriller writers around at the moment.

Rufus Harms is an old hand at prison, he should be, he has been rotting there for the last 25 years for the brutal killing of a young girl. The he receives a letter smuggled into the jail by his brother. It reveals that a possible massive miscarriage of justice has occurred, something that threatens to blow the justice of the Supreme Court wide open . . .

The Simple Review
Quite a good story with interesting characters and a well-paced plot.

I did have a few nits with it, though.(Mainly because I've made the same mistakes in my own writing. ^_^)The main one was the constant subject-verb, subject-verb, subject-verb sentences.Quite a few times I noticed over half the sentences in any one paragraph beginning with "he," "she," and the like.And, of course, once I saw that, I couldn't un-see it, so it bothered me for the remainder of the book.In general, the writing is good, but a little more variety in sentence structure would have been wonderful.

And I felt bad for John for losing his brother before being able to become friends with him again.There's quite a gulf between me and my own brother that I doubt will ever be bridged, but seeing it from an outsider's perspective is sad.

I would definitely read this author again.

A thriller!
David Baldacci gives us Rufus Harms, a man unjustly imprisioned for 25 years, and an ex-cop, John Fiske, turned lawyer turned investigator again when his brother, Michael Fiske, a Supreme Court clerk, is murdered after inquiring into an appeal that came to the Supreme Court from Rufus. Sara Evans, another SC clerk, who was good friends with Michael Fiske becomes emotionally involved with John Fiske and they team up to try to solve the mystery of who would murder Michael Fiske. Along the way they are searching out the truth about Rufus. There are twists and turns and surprises. David Baldacci gives an a behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court and the surprising power the clerks actually have. You will have a hard time putting this book down once you open it.

As always, a superb book!
If anyone has read Jack Olsen's book, THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF GERONIMO (ELMER)PRATT, you'll see the parallels in this fiction book to Jack Olsen's true crime story of Mr. Pratt.This was a fabulous book and should receive 5 stars from everyone that reads it.Spending 25 years in a prison for a crime you didn't commit is horrific.Can you imagine losing that many years of your life.Geronimo Pratt lost those many years, 26 to be exact.He is the only man that sued the FBI and the police and won and it was a long battle."They" tried to kill him in prison to shut him up.You must read the book after you've read this fiction novel.I really have to wonder if David Baldacci read Jack Olsen's book before writing this novel.Excellent...superb! ... Read more

Amazon.com
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

Book Description
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 BaldacciLast Man StandingThe WinnerTotal Control The Simple TruthAbsolute PowerSaving Faith ... Read more

Customer Reviews (234)

The Camel Club
This book arrived on time. It was a little smaller than a standard book but is no prblem reading. I'm half way thru it.

Great book and a new FAN!
I had the honor of meeting David Baldacci a couple weeks ago and I must say he is a very nice person and considerate of others. Because I needed something for him to sign, I picked up a copy of The Camel Club, didn't know what I was getting, just picked it up because I had never read one of his books before! Well, let me just say that it is a great book, quite the thriller for someone who doesn't normally read thrillers. I ended up buying the entire series.

Enjoy it, it's very good!

I am the author of:

One Boy's Struggle: A Memoir: Surviving Life with Undiagnosed ADD

Poor
The blurb on the back states that Balducci is "one of the world's most read writers", 20mil copies sold blah blah. If that's true, you would think that he would be at least a half decent writer......


Problemo Uno: How many freakin cardboard "characters" do we need in a cheap thriller?
a. The Camel Club itself has four or five members
b. Then there's a bunch of cops and Secret Service agents - Alex Ford, and his female (tough, Southern, daddy's little girl - original this ain't) partner, Simpson, not to be confused with his love interest, whatshername, who works for the Justice Department.
c.Then there are the bad guys - some arabs, some Americans, some soldiers, some CIA, some on the inside, some on the outside - and some other good guys.
d. Then there's also the president, who life is in danger, and his national security advisor, also key to the plot.

If you're not a lazy dumbass like me you can probably think a little and try and remember who everybody is. You could probably also add some non f-words to your everyday vocabulary too, but what's the point?

Probleme Deux: Sure many tomes in this genre are derivative, but this just feels like the taped together fag end in the bottom of a Friday night trash can. There is not one jaunty, original thought or sentence in this whole slock. For instance the Camel Club go to an old bookstore. "Reuben was inside reading a Dickens masterpiece". Right, buddy. Inspiring. Next time take the two minutes to Google a few Dickens titles and find one that might link to your plot. Paste it in. Or is it that they just go to the museum and look at a Van Gogh masterpiece, a John Moore masterpiece, read a Tolstoy masterpiece and then retire with some "fine whisky and a nice smooth cigar".....

okay, not great
I had a tough time keeping all of the characters straight when I first started to read the book. Thought that some of the story lines were a little far fetched and somewhat boring. I kept wondering when the book would come together, there seemed to be 3 different plots going on. It's an okay book, not great, I almost gave up on reading it, only reason I kept on going was because I wanted to get my money's worth and atleast finish the book.

The Camel Club
This novel is the best among the best in terms of plots. I could not put it down once started. Strongly recommend. ... Read more

Amazon.com
David Baldacci has made a name for himself crafting big, burly legal thrillers withlarger-than-life plots. However, Wish You Well, set in his native Virginia, is a tale of hopeand wonder and "something of a miracle" just itching to happen. This shift from contentiousurbanites to homespun hill families may come as a surprise to some of Baldacci's fans--but they canrest 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 leavestheir mother Amanda in a catatonic trance, the children find themselves sent from New York Cityto their great-grandmother Louisa's farm in Virginia. Louisa's hardscrabble existence comes as aprofound shock to precocious Lou and her shy brother. Still struggling to absorb theirabandonment, they enter gamely into a life that tests them at every turn--and offers unimaginablerewards. For Lou, who dreams of following in her father's literary footsteps, the misty, craggyAppalachians and the equally rugged individuals who make the mountains their home quicklybecome 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 anddrank. 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 littlesecrets," she explained. Lou sat there, cup cradled between her dimpled knees, watching andlistening to her great-grandmother in the pleasant shade...