Book Review-The-Fix

The Fix

by

David Baldacci

As Amos Decker is making his way to work, he becomes an unintentional witness to a murder/suicide just outside FBI Headquarters.

Even Decker’s total recall of events brings him no closer to working out why a man would simply walk up to a woman kill her and then turn the gun on himself.  There is no known connection between the gunman and his victim. He is a successful businessman, and she was a school teacher.   And no matter how much Decker investigates the murder the connection between the victim and perpetrator remains a mystery as does a motive.

Harper Brown, a Defence Intelligence Agency (D.I.A.) agent, orders Decker to back off the case as the murder is part of an ongoing DIA Investigation.   Decker soon becomes aware the DIA believes solving the murder is a national security issue as critical information may have been leaked to foreign sources and that a terrorist attack may be imminent.

As usual Baldacci’s The Fix (my 20th Baldacci read) moves at a fast pace with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing.

I rated The Fix as a solid

four-star read

At the time of writing my review,

other Goodreads readers have rated

 The Fix

an average of 4.17 stars

from 68,773 ratings

and 4,051 reviews

***

The Fix

can be purchased online at

Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon

 

 

 

Book Review-The-6.20-Man

The 6.20 Man

by

David Baldacci

World War II veteran Travis Devine works for the prestigious firm of Cowl and Comley, a finance company in the Manhattan District of New York.

Every morning he rides the 6.20 commuter train into Manhattan’s Finance District, where he works long and hard.

One morning the tedium of his work is shattered by an anonymous email that reads simply; She is Dead.

 ‘She’ is Sara Ewes, Devine’s former girlfriend and now co-worker.

Sara’s body was found hanging in a largley disused storage room of his office building.  Even though it was presumed to be a suicide that did not stop NYPD question him regarding his whereabouts at the time of her death.

Hot on the heels of the NYPD questioning comes another visitor who threatens to dredge up his secrets from his days in the army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm.

Devine’s role in this investigation will take him from the wealthy life style he used to glimpse through a train carriage window to some dark corners of the country’s economic power.  As he carries out his part of the investigation the body count mounts around him.

I rated The 6.20 Man as a solid

four-star read

At the time of writing my review,

other Goodreads readers have rated

 The 6.20 Man

an average of 4.19 stars

from 33,195 ratings

and 1,957 reviews

***

The 6.20 Man

can be purchased online at

Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon

 

 

Book Review-A-Gambling-Man

A Gambling Man

(Archer #2)

by

David Baldacci

 

 

After reading One Good Deed (Archer #1) I was looking forward to the next installment in the Archer Series and was not disappointed.   Archer is on his way to Bay Town, California, and a job with Willie Dash a local private eye.

He stops for a while in Reno and with some luck, he finds a wad of cash in his possession and a French, Delahaye convertible.  He also gains a traveling companion in the form of the beautiful Liberty Callahan who is an aspiring actress.

Archer quickly lands a job with Willie Dash and immediately finds he is investigating extortion, blackmail case.  Very soon murder is also added to the list and as the body count grows so too, does the complexity of the case, along with his feelings towards Callahan.  As it was in One Good Deed it was the wealthy who were the villains of the story as they strived to increase their wealth by fair means or foul.

Should you have never read a David Baldacci story I can recommend Books 1 and 2 of the Archer series and have no reason to believe Dream Town (Book 3) will be any less enjoyable.

*****

I rated

A Gambling Man

as a five-star read.

***

At the time of writing my review,

other Goodreads readers have awarded

A Gambling Man

an average of 4.15 stars

from 32,183 ratings

and 1,756 reviews.

***

A Gambling Man

may be purchased online at

Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon

Book Review-One-Good-Deed

One Good Deed

(Archer #1)

by

David Baldacci

Upon reading the blurb I was not all that keen on reading One Good Deed, as is set in 1949 before mobile phones, television and the internet were widely used.  One Good Deed, however, is a Baldacci book so I persevered.  And I am so pleased I did as the story moved along briskly, as do all of Baldacci’s books.

The main character, Aloysius Archer, a parolee, after serving his country during World War 2 and time in Carderock Prison had been told to meet his parole officer in Poca City.

During their first meeting Archer’s Parole Officer, who just happens to be an attractive young woman, reinforces the list of dos and don’ts he received upon his release from Carderock.

However, with his immediate past address being a prison, Archer becomes the prime suspect when the first of a series of murders occur.  In league with Detective Shaw, Archer works on solving all the murders which occur in or near Poca City.

One Good Deed is certainly well worth a read for anyone who likes the whodunit genre and I am certain Baldacci fans will enjoy One Good Deed as much as I did.

I rated

One Good Deed

as a five-star read.

***

Other Goodreads readers have rated

One Good Deed

an average of 4.10 stars

from 39,110 ratings

and 3,019 reviews.

***

One Good Deed

may be purchased online at

Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon

Book Review-Daylight

Daylight

(Atlee Pine #3)

by

David Baldacci

Daylight, by David Baldacci, is the third of three books, featuring FBI Agent, Atlee Pine.    Daylight sees Atlee continuing to search for answers regarding the kidnapping of her twin sister, Mercy, thirty years earlier.

After discovering who kidnapped Mercy, Pine and trusty assistant Carol Blum accidentally bump into John Puller after blowing his arrest during a drug operation.

Working together, Pine and Puller discover a connection between the kidnapper’s family and corrupt politicians.

Among layers of lies and cover-ups, Pine makes some discoveries about her personal quest that shock her to the bone.

Atlee finally discovers the truth about what happened to Mercy.  Truths, which shatter Pine’s beliefs about who did what, and what did not happen to her sister Mercy. 

As with Long Road to Mercy, A Minute To Midnight and Daylight are all good quick reads/audiobooks.  Readers of the Atlee Pine series should commence with book one, Long Road to Mercy, in my opinion.   

Baldacci fans will enjoy Daylight.

I rated

Daylight

as a four-star read.

Other Goodreads readers have rated

Daylight

an average of 4.19 stars

from 27,336 ratings

and 1,964 reviews.

*****

Daylight

may be purchased online at

Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon

Book Review-A-Minute-to-Midnight

A Minute to Midnight

(Atlee Pine #2)

by

David Baldacci

A Minute To Midnight by David Baldacci is the second of three books, so far, featuring FBI Agent, Atlee Pine.    Midnight sees Atlee returning to her hometown to find out what became of her twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted when they were six.  The thirty-year-old kidnapping of her sister, Mercy, has been the main force behind Attlee joining the FBI.   However, her anger over the unresolved kidnapping nearly has her thrown off the FBI.

Upon arriving in her hometown in Georgia, with her assistant Carol Blum, she soon discovers that no one really knows who owns her family home.  She only seems to be in town a short while before being seconded by local police to help track down what proves to be a serial killer.

One body becomes two.  Two becomes three.   The FBI is called in to officially assist with the investigation.  During which Atlee may have been the target of an ambush shooting saved only by the fact that she was driving.

As with Long Road to Mercy, A Minute To Midnight is a good quick read/audiobook.  One thing which makes the audiobook stand out is that a male and a female narrator are used which gives more character to each voice.

The ending had me reaching for book 3 of the series, Daylight.

Baldacci fans will love A Minute To Midnight

I have just squeezed A Minute to Midnight into a four-star rating.

I have rated

A Minute to Midnight

as a

four star read.

Other Goodreads readers have rated

A Minute to Midnight

an average of 4.20 stars

from 33,900 ratings

 and 2,457 reviews.

***

A Minute to Midnight

may be purchased online at

Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon

Book Review-Long-Road-to-Mercy

Long Road to Mercy

(Atlee Pine #1)

by

David Baldacci

 

Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci is the first of three books, so far, featuring FBI Agent, Atlee Pine.  The underlying storyline is that of Atlee finding her twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted when they were six.  However Atlee’s job as FBI Agent relegates her personal desires to the background during Long Road to Mercy.

Stationed in a small town near The Grand Canyon, Atlee finds herself invested in the murder of a mule and the disappearance of its presumably, tourist rider.  Atlee is soon drawn into this mysterious murder and missing person case.  She seems to be making headway when she receives orders to stand down from her superiors.  While loyal to her employer Atlee is not so easily brushed off a case.  She is told to take some vacation time which gives her the opportunity to go off the grid to solve this mystery with the help of her secretary, Carol, a long time FBI employee.

The problem for Pine is she doesn’t know who are the real villains.  Is it the Russians, the North Koreans or rogue elements of her own government?  Or could two be working against the third?

As with all good heroes, Atlee not only saves the day but the world.

I enjoy David Baldacci’s novels one reason being that they move along at a good pace.  Long Road to Mercy is no exception.

I have rated

Long Road to Mercy

a solid

four stars.

 

Other Goodreads readers have rated

Long Road to Mercy

an average of 3.83 stars

from 47,200 ratings

 and 3,462 reviews.

Long Road to Mercy

may be purchased online at

Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon

 

Book Review-Divine-Justice

Divine Justice

(Camel Club #4)

by

David Baldacci

 

 

Divine Justice  by David Baldacci is another in the Oliver Stone/John Carr series.  Divine, a town in the United States of America in which Oliver Stone finds himself, after stepping in to end a three against one brawl.

Divine is a very small town but appears to be prospering because locals are employed at a nearby super maximum security prison and a coal mine.  However….are these industries the only source of income?

Shortly after arriving in town Stone hears of some unexpected deaths in the town.  And then physical violence and bodies seem to follow Oliver around.  This body count and violence is only from the Divine bad guys.  The government has its own bad guys who think nothing of adding to these statistics.

The only negative I find with series is that the hero is almost super human and no matter the odds barely gets a hand laid on him during a brawl.  It would slow the story if we had to wait for him to heal, wouldn’t it?

As with other David Baldacci novels this one was well paced at no time did I feel the story line was slowing.  However, while reading Divine Justice, I was also listening to another book which would make a glacier appear to be breaking the sound barrier.

I enjoy this genre and David Baldacci’s novels

and think

Divine Justice

 

is a

read.

Goodreads readers have rated

Divine Justice

an average of 4.19 stars

from 45,097 ratings

and 1,4882 reviews

Divine Justice

can be purchased on-line at

Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon

 

Book Review-No-Mans-Land

No Man’s Land

(John Puller #4)

by

David Baldacci

 

No Man’s Land is the fourth in the John Puller series by David Baldacci.  John and Robert Puller’s mother disappeared without trace thirty years prior.  The boys’ three star general father is now suffering from advanced stages of dementia.  The Puller family receive a letter from a former acquaintance accusing the retired General Puller of murdering his wife all those thirty years ago.

It is up to the Puller brothers, accompanied by a female colleague to solve this mystery.  And solve it they do.

Entwined in this plot is a super strong criminal created by a clandestine research program, which operated all those years ago and is still operating.  An espionage ring selling government secrets to commercial enterprises also adds some intrigue to the plot.

Everyone who knew Jackie Puller when she was alive has nothing but praise for her.  So why did she disappear.  Was it marital problems or an extramarital affair?

I should also add that No Man’s Land was narrated by Kyf Brewer with Orlagh Cassidy providing the female character voices.  Both narrators provided excellent character voices for this book, which as I have repeatedly written, makes or breaks an audiobook.

I don’t think I have read a David Baldacci book that I have not enjoyed so my review may be biased.

However my four star rating is still below the Goodreads average from over 18,000 ratings.

 

I think

No Man’s Land

 

is a

read.

Goodreads readers have rated

No Man’s Land

an average of 4.19 stars from 18,668 ratings and 1,243 reviews

No Man’s Land

can be purchased on-line at

Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon