Simply Lies by David Baldacci

 

                                           

                                                      Simply Lies by David Baldacci-416 pages

Mickey Gibson, single mother and former detective, leads a hectic life similar to that of many moms: juggling the demands of her two small children with the tasks of her job working remotely for ProEye, a global investigation company that hunts down wealthy tax and credit cheats.

When Mickey gets a call from a colleague named Arlene Robinson, she thinks nothing of Arlene’s unusual request for her to go inventory the vacant home of an arms dealer who cheated ProEye’s clients and fled. That is, until she arrives at the mansion to discover a dead body in a secret room—and that nothing is as it seems.

Not only does the arms dealer not exist but the murder victim turns out to be Harry Lancaster, a man with mob ties who used to be in Witness Protection. What’s more, no one named Arlene Robinson works at ProEye.

In the blink of an eye, Gibson has become a prime suspect in a murder investigation—and now her job is also on the line until she proves that she was set up. Before long, Gibson is locked in a battle of wits with a brilliant woman with no name, a hidden past, and unknown motives—whose end game is as mysterious as it is deadly. Enjoyed this book and the twist at the end.  Looking forward to more coming out in this series.

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

 (The 6:20 Man #1)

593 pages / 11 hrs, 51 mins

"Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance.

"Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead.

"Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the Army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm.

"This treacherous role will take Travis from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power…where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bullseye."  --from the publisher

This is a fun, exciting read. I had a hard time putting it down. I don't usually like corporate crime novels, but Devine isn't your stereotypical financial analyst. There are a few holes in the plot, but nothing major. I give it four out of five stars.

Absolute Power by David Baldacci

 Absolute Power by David Baldacci - 550 pages, Audiobook - 18.5 hours

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A grizzled professional cat burglar gets trapped inside the bedroom closet of one of the world's richest men, only to witness, through a one-way mirror, two Secret Service agents kill the billionaire's young wife as she tries to fight off the drunken sexual advances of the nation's chief executive. Running for his life, but not before he picks up a bloodstained letter opener that puts the president at the scene of the crime, the burglar becomes the target of a clandestine manhunt orchestrated by leading members of the executive branch.

Meanwhile, Jack Graham, once a public defender and now a high-powered corporate attorney, gets drawn into the case because the on-the-lam burglar just happens to be the father of his former financee, a crusading Virginia prosecutor.

Embroidering the narrative are the hero's broken romance, the prosecutor's confused love-hate for her burglar father, the relentless investigation by a northern Virginia cop, the dilemma of government agents trapped in a moral catch-22, and the amoral ambitions of a sexy White House Chief of Staff, all with a sociopathic president at its center.

Especially since this was David Baldacci's debut novel, it's exceedingly good. It captures your attention from the very beginning and just keeps going from there. While there are a lot of characters and a lot of moving parts, it never gets confusing and kept me wondering how it would end throughout the entire book.

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

 The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci - 432 pages, Audiobook - 11 hours 45 minutes

⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance.

Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead.

Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the Army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm.

This treacherous role will take Travis from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power…where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bullseye.

I love David Baldacci's Amos Decker series, and I enjoyed the Mercy series. I didn't enjoy this book as much, and if he turns this into a series, I'm not sure I would read any more of it. I enjoyed the mystery/thriller part of the plot, but there was a lot of computer lingo that went over my head.

Long Shadows by David Baldacci

Long Shadows (Amos Decker #7)  by David Baldacci, 448 p.

"When Amos Decker is called to South Florida to investigate a double homicide, the case appears straightforward: A federal judge and her bodyguard have been found dead, the judge’s face sporting a blindfold with two eye holes crudely cut out, a clear sign that she’d made one too many enemies over her years on the bench.

 

What at first seems cut and dry is anything but: Not only did the judge have more enemies than Decker can count—from violent gang members, drug dealers, and smugglers to a resentful ex-husband—but the bodyguard presents additional conundrums that muddy the waters even further. Who was the real target in this vicious attack?

 

Meanwhile, Decker must contend with a series of unsettling changes, including a new partner—Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White—and a devastating event that brings Decker’s own tragic past back to the present . . . and forces him to reckon with his future. As potential witnesses start disappearing, Decker and White are inexorably pulled down a twisted tunnel of secrets, crimes, and scandal—at the end of which lies Decker’s deadliest threat yet." --Amazon blurb

The Amos Decker series is one of my favorite series, and definitely my favorite Baldacci series, but this one was showing its age a bit. I wasn't disappointed, but didn't give me the edge-of-the-seat feeling others in the series have. Amos's struggles made his emotions erratic, and I didn't enjoy that, but I think that was the point. Freddie was an excellent addition to the character roster, and I hope to see more of her in the future. 

Redemption by David Baldacci

 (Amos Decker #5)

417 pages / 12 hrs

"Amos Decker and his FBI partner Alex Jamison are visiting his hometown of Burlington, Ohio, when he's approached by an unfamiliar man. But he instantly recognizes the man's name: Meryl Hawkins. He's the first person Decker ever arrested for murder back when he was a young detective. Though a dozen years in prison have left Hawkins unrecognizably aged and terminally ill, one thing hasn't changed: He maintains he never committed the murders. Could it be possible that Decker made a mistake all those years ago? As he starts digging into the old case, Decker finds a startling connection to a new crime that he may be able to prevent, if only he can put the pieces together quickly enough..."  --from the publisher

I thoroughly enjoyed this story line mixing past and present cases, and the humanization of Amos Decker. I give it four out of five stars.

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci, 432 p.

"Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance. Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead. 

Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the Army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm.

This treacherous role will take Travis from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power…where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bullseye."--Goodreads blurb

This was Baldacci's usual fast-paced and deadly thriller. This was a great introductory story to his new character, Travis Devine. This seems like a promising series that I will be continuing!

 

Mercy by David Baldacci

 (Atlee Pine #4)

416 pages / 12 hours

"For her entire life, FBI agent Atlee Pine has been searching for her twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Mercy’s disappearance left behind a damaged family that later shattered beyond repair when Atlee’s parents inexplicably abandoned her.

"Now, after a perilous investigation that nearly proved fatal, Atlee has finally discovered not only the reason behind her parents’ abandonment and Mercy’s kidnapping, but also the most promising breakthrough yet: proof that Mercy survived her abduction and then escaped her captors many years ago. 
 
"Though Atlee is tantalizingly close to her family at last, the final leg of her long road to Mercy will be the most treacherous yet. Mercy left at least one dead body behind before fleeing her captors years before. Atlee has no idea if her sister is still alive, and if so, how she has been surviving all this time. When the truth is finally revealed, Atlee Pine will face the greatest danger yet, and it may well cost her everything."  --from the publisher

Well, this story has a lot of abuse/torture, and it was pervasive. I didn't enjoy it, and I'm rethinking my feelings about Baldacci. I give it two stars out of five.

Mercy by David Baldacci

Mercy (Atlee Pine #4) by David Baldacci, 432 p.

"For her entire life, FBI agent Atlee Pine has been searching for her twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Mercy’s disappearance left behind a damaged family that later shattered beyond repair when Atlee’s parents inexplicably abandoned her.

Now, after a perilous investigation that nearly proved fatal, Atlee has finally discovered not only the reason behind her parents’ abandonment and Mercy’s kidnapping, but also the most promising breakthrough yet: proof that Mercy survived her abduction and then escaped her captors many years ago.

Though Atlee is tantalizingly close to her family at last, the final leg of her long road to Mercy will be the most treacherous yet. Mercy left at least one dead body behind before fleeing her captors years before. Atlee has no idea if her sister is still alive, and if so, how she has been surviving all this time. When the truth is finally revealed, Atlee Pine will face the greatest danger yet, and it may well cost her everything." --Goodreads blurb

The Atlee Pine series has been a favorite of mine from Baldacci, but I have to honestly say I was a bit disappointed in its conclusion. Atlee is a great character, but the new character introduced in this conclusion isn't as likeable. While that in and of itself isn't necessarily bad, the build-up to this conclusion had too much riding on it to fall even a bit flat. However, the story and messes they get themselves out of in this last story were great. It was worth the read.
 

Daylight by David Baldacci

(Atlee Pine #3)
416 pages

"For many long years, Atlee Pine was tormented by uncertainty after her twin sister, Mercy, was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Now, just as Atlee is pressured to end her investigation into Mercy's disappearance, she finally gets her most promising breakthrough yet: the identity of her sister's kidnapper, Ito Vincenzo.

"With time running out, Atlee and her assistant Carol Blum race to Vincenzo's last known location in Trenton, New Jersey -- and unknowingly stumble straight into John Puller's case, blowing his arrest during a drug ring investigation involving a military installation.

"Stunningly, Pine and Puller's joint investigation uncovers a connection between Vincenzo's family and a breathtaking scheme that strikes at the very heart of global democracy. Peeling back the layers of deceit, lies and cover-ups, Atlee finally discovers the truth about what happened to Mercy. And that truth will shock Pine to her very core."

I enjoyed the character combo of Pine and Puller. Some of the subject matter is disturbing, but Baldacci moves quickly past it without giving details. Much of the plot comes from real events maybe?? Think Jeffrey Epstein's island. I give it three out of five stars.

Daylight by David Baldacci

Daylight by David Baldacci, Atlee Pine #3, 432 pages

CW: Kidnapping, child abuse

"For many long years, Atlee Pine was tormented by uncertainty after her twin sister, Mercy, was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Now, just as Atlee is pressured to end her investigation into Mercy's disappearance, she finally gets her most promising breakthrough yet: the identity of her sister's kidnapper, Ito Vincenzo.
With time running out, Atlee and her assistant Carol Blum race to Vincenzo's last known location in Trenton, New Jersey -- and unknowingly stumble straight into John Puller's case, blowing his arrest during a drug ring investigation involving a military installation.
Stunningly, Pine and Puller's joint investigation uncovers a connection between Vincenzo's family and a breathtaking scheme that strikes at the very heart of global democracy. Peeling back the layers of deceit, lies and cover-ups, Atlee finally discovers the truth about what happened to Mercy. And that truth will shock Pine to her very core." --Amazon blurb

While I don't read many bestselling authors, I inexplicably love David Baldacci. He writes well thought out characters and manages to write female leads well. As much as I love Atlee, I also love her brave assistant Carol Blum. I was excited to see a character from another favorite Baldacci series, John Puller. This one had some scenes that were hard to deal with. 
 

Daylight by David Baldacci

 

Daylight by David Baldacci  404 pages

This is the third installment in the Atlee Pine series.  Atlee has been on the search for her missing twin, Mercy, ever since she was abducted at age six and Atlee was left for dead.  Atlee is now an FBI agent with many resources available that aids her in her search.  With this book it seems like we are getting very near to finding Mercy.  I liked this book very much; especially because the author puts in a character from one of his other series and they end up working together.  Can't go wrong reading a Baldacci book.

Walk the Wire

Walk the Wire by David Baldacci  418 pages

London, North Dakota is a thriving fracking town that promised to be the new gold rush. People are moving into the town faster than homes can be built for them. However, with all the new people, there comes new problems.
Amos Decker and Alex Jamison are called to investigate a murder that happened in the town of a woman named Irene Cramer. As they dig further into the case they realize that Irene was a teacher at a religious school, but also a prostitute. The case gets stranger and stranger but Amos and Alex need to figure it out quickly before the whole town may be on the verge of chaos.

Walk the Wire by David Baldacci

Walk the Wire by David Baldacci
(Amos Decker aka Memory Man #6)
432 pages / 11 hrs, 57 mins

"When Amos Decker and his FBI colleague Alex Jamison are called to London, North Dakota, they instantly sense that the thriving fracking town is ripe for trouble. The promise of a second gold rush has attracted an onslaught of newcomers all hoping for a windfall, and the community is growing faster than houses can be built. The sudden boom also brought a slew of problems with it, including drugs, property crimes, prostitution - and now murder."  --from the publisher

This series has been a favorite for the last few years, but this one didn't seem up to the usual standard. For me, the writing didn't feel true to the established characters. There's one good surprise I enjoyed, but it's a spoiler so I'll keep it to myself. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci

A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci
(Atlee Pine #2)
300 pages

"FBI Agent Atlee Pine's life was never the same after her twin sister Mercy was kidnapped--and likely killed--thirty years ago. After a lifetime of torturous uncertainty, Atlee's unresolved anger finally gets the better of her on the job, and she finds she has to deal with the demons of her past if she wants to remain with the FBI.

"Atlee and her assistant Carol Blum head back to Atlee's rural hometown in Georgia to see what they can uncover about the traumatic night Mercy was taken and Pine was almost killed. But soon after Atlee begins her investigation, a local woman is found ritualistically murdered, her face covered with a wedding veil--and the first killing is quickly followed by a second bizarre murder."  --from the publisher

I really enjoyed the first installment in this series, but this one is a bit disjointed, imho.  I think it is a bit under par for Baldacci's usual work.  Still, I'm intrigued to find the reason her twin was kidnapped so I'll be reading the next one for sure.  I gave it three out of five stars.

Bullseye by David Baldacci

Bullseye by David Baldacci
(Will Robie #2.5) (Camel Club #5.5)
60 pages / 2 hrs, 2 mins

"Will Robie is closing in on his next target when he finds himself in the middle of a bank heist--and he's taken hostage alongside Oliver Stone. But is this just a simple bank job, or are the robbers after something even more valuable--and dangerous--than the cash in the vault?"  --from the publisher

I don't usually read short stories, but I'm glad I read this one. It was very good!  I gave it four out of five stars.

One Good Deed

One Good Deed by David Baldacci 420 pages

In 1949, war veteran Aloysius Archer is let out of jail on very strict parole. In his search for a job (and a stiff drink), he is led to a local bar where he is offered a job to collect a debt for Hank Pittleman, a powerful businessman. Although, the task is not that simple. The man in debt is angry with Hank and will not pay. In the midst of everything , there is a murder, and the police believe it may be Archer. It is up to him now to discover the real killer to save himself from more prison time.
It was a little slow, but I did still enjoy this book.

One Summer by David Baldacci

One Summer by David Baldacci
351 pages

"It's almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care of them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country.

"Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie's death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie's childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begin to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more."   --from the publisher

I received this book as a Summer Reading reward from my home library.  I thought it was a good read even though this isn't my favorite genre.  Baldacci does an excellent job illustrating how grief, sadness, and survivor's guilt impact people and their relationships.  I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

Redemption

Redemption by David Baldacci 420 pages

Amos Decker and FBI partner Alex Jamison are visiting his hometown when he is approached by Meryl Hawkins, the first person Decker ever arrested for murder. Meryl is now terminally ill, but still swears her never committed the murders. Decker starts to go through the old case when he finds a connection to a new crime he may be able to prevent as long as he figures it out fast enough.

End Game by David Baldacci

End Game by David Baldacci
(Will Robie #5)
416 pages / 11 hrs, 54 mins

"Will Robie and Jessica Reel are two of the most lethal people alive. They're the ones the government calls in when the utmost secrecy is required to take out those who plot violence and mass destruction against the United States. And through every mission, one man has always had their backs: their handler, code-named Blue Man.

"But now, Blue Man is missing.

"Last seen in rural Colorado, Blue Man had taken a rare vacation to go fly-fishing in his hometown when he disappeared off the grid. With no communications since, the team can't help but fear the worst.

"Sent to investigate, Robie and Reel arrive in the small town of Grand to discover that it has its own share of problems. A stagnant local economy and a woefully understaffed police force have made this small community a magnet for crime, drugs, and a growing number of militant fringe groups...Robie and Reel find themselves up against an adversary with superior firepower and a home-court advantage, they'll be lucky if they make it out alive, with or without Blue Man..."  --from the publisher

It was a good thriller, but I must admit I didn't care for some of the attitudes and opinions expressed. Although it would make for some good discussion in a book group on the subjects of prejudice, vigilantism, self-defense, and violence in general.