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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
3.5 I'll keep reading Baldacci, for sure. These new characters are intriguing. I'm not a huge fan of psychological thrillers, but somehow he tells the story with hope and resilience in trauma.
Hooray for a new standalone by one of my all-time favorite authors! David Baldacci, a master storyteller with 150 million copies sold worldwide, is back with Simply Lies, a psychological thriller that pits two formidable women against each other.
In this gripping tale, we meet Mickey Gibson, a single mother and former police detective who now works for ProEye, a global investigation company specializing in tracking down the financial assets of tax-evading elites. When Mickey receives a phone call from a colleague asking her to inventory the home of an arms dealer who has disappeared, she thinks it’s just another routine assignment. However, things take a dark turn when she discovers a murdered man on the property.Mickey finds herself framed for a crime she didn’t commit, and her job is on the line.
Baldacci weaves an intricate web of deception and suspense as Mickey races against time to clear her name. The novel is packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. While I appreciated the complex plot and Baldacci’s portrayal of strong female characters, I couldn’t connect with Mickey or the writing style. The dialogue felt forced and didn't ring true to real-life conversations.
As a devoted Baldacci fan (I’ve devoured twenty-eight of his novels), Simply Lies may not be his best work, but it’s still a thrilling read. I found myself engrossed in the story, eager to unravel its secrets. Despite its flaws, Baldacci’s storytelling prowess shines through, making it a solid addition to his impressive body of work. I suspect I will read every book he writes. 4 stars.
** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a comp of this book. The opinions are my own.
In this gripping tale, we meet Mickey Gibson, a single mother and former police detective who now works for ProEye, a global investigation company specializing in tracking down the financial assets of tax-evading elites. When Mickey receives a phone call from a colleague asking her to inventory the home of an arms dealer who has disappeared, she thinks it’s just another routine assignment. However, things take a dark turn when she discovers a murdered man on the property.Mickey finds herself framed for a crime she didn’t commit, and her job is on the line.
Baldacci weaves an intricate web of deception and suspense as Mickey races against time to clear her name. The novel is packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. While I appreciated the complex plot and Baldacci’s portrayal of strong female characters, I couldn’t connect with Mickey or the writing style. The dialogue felt forced and didn't ring true to real-life conversations.
As a devoted Baldacci fan (I’ve devoured twenty-eight of his novels), Simply Lies may not be his best work, but it’s still a thrilling read. I found myself engrossed in the story, eager to unravel its secrets. Despite its flaws, Baldacci’s storytelling prowess shines through, making it a solid addition to his impressive body of work. I suspect I will read every book he writes. 4 stars.
** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a comp of this book. The opinions are my own.
This was just an ok read for me. Definitely not my favorite from this author.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tedious conversational style.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
in contention for the worst book I've ever read.
(extra angry about it because I've liked his other books.)
(extra angry about it because I've liked his other books.)
*Spoiler Alert* This was my first mystery/thriller and I think I’ll have to read more of the author’s works because I really enjoyed this one. I only wish Mickey and Francine ended up together, but that’s just personal preference. I’m glad they at least became friends. I also liked Francine’s character development.
Slogged through the first half and gave up. Too tedious and never caught my full attention
Mickey, a single mother of two very young kids and a former cop now works from home because of her situation. She gets a phone call from a woman who suckers into finding a dead body and Mickey now is a suspect in the murder. A burner phone is left on her porch, and there is video of a hooded figure leaving it there. The strange woman calls her back. Mickey is frightened for herself and her kids. But she doesn’t call the police and give them this further evidence that she is innocent, and have them protect her. She doesn’t want to be left out of the investigation. This desire overcome her desire to protect her family. It took me longer to explain all this than to read that far and decide Mickey deserves whatever happens and i don’t care to read about it. It could be a very good book put that plot point is too stupid. Baldacci should be better than that.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I enjoyed the challenge of the book and all the mysterious pretenses.
That said, some of the themes were a bit drawn out so it was difficult to remain engaged through the whole book. I think it could have ended several chapters sooner. The book ends with a pretense for a potential for a sequel and maybe those chapters could have been carried forward.
Favorite part of the book is that two strong female characters solved a case that numerous police officers and FBI agents could not.
That said, some of the themes were a bit drawn out so it was difficult to remain engaged through the whole book. I think it could have ended several chapters sooner. The book ends with a pretense for a potential for a sequel and maybe those chapters could have been carried forward.
Favorite part of the book is that two strong female characters solved a case that numerous police officers and FBI agents could not.