Scan barcode
veronica87's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
Book four in the Will Robie series didn't actually feel like a Will Robie book at all. After suffering a couple of setbacks at his two most recent assignments, Robie decides to take some personal time off. The timing works because he's also just learned that his father, from whom he's been estranged for 20 years, has been arrested for murder back in Mississippi. The story follows him back to his hometown and we finally learn about his origin story, if you will. And I gotta say, I'm not really sure I see how it led Robie to become a lethal government sanctioned assassin. I mean, I totally understand why he'd want to get out of small town life and away from a turbulent relationship with his father but he had other, better choices available to him so I'm not sure why he didn't go that route. (Jessica Reel's backstory was a lot more compelling.)
Anyway, the story basically involves Robie playing detective in order to find out what really happened to result in the deaths of two people. The problem is, playing detective is not Robie's strong suit. Thankfully his recent partner, Jessica Reel, shows up about midway through the story. She and Robie make a good team and they're really the only good thing about this installment. While there are a few action sequences and gun fights that result in quite a few dead bad guys - which is, after all, part of the reason one reads books about assassins in the first place - it's not enough to rescue our two main characters from a mostly boring plot that only gets more convoluted and unbelievable with every chapter. Robie and Reel make too many absurd leaps of logic and then, worst of all, the guilty person gives a lengthy monologue at the end detailing their whole diabolical plan. Really?
Add all that up and throw in the fact that Baldacci's long-time male narrator has apparently retired from the audiobook business resulting in a new narrator taking over the voice of Will Robie and you get my least favorite Will Robie story. I can adjust to the new narrator (the female voice remains the same) but hopefully Robie and Reel will return to form in the next book.
Book four in the Will Robie series didn't actually feel like a Will Robie book at all. After suffering a couple of setbacks at his two most recent assignments, Robie decides to take some personal time off. The timing works because he's also just learned that his father, from whom he's been estranged for 20 years, has been arrested for murder back in Mississippi. The story follows him back to his hometown and we finally learn about his origin story, if you will. And I gotta say, I'm not really sure I see how it led Robie to become a lethal government sanctioned assassin. I mean, I totally understand why he'd want to get out of small town life and away from a turbulent relationship with his father but he had other, better choices available to him
Spoiler
(i.e. a full college scholarship)Anyway, the story basically involves Robie playing detective in order to find out what really happened to result in the deaths of two people. The problem is, playing detective is not Robie's strong suit. Thankfully his recent partner, Jessica Reel, shows up about midway through the story. She and Robie make a good team and they're really the only good thing about this installment. While there are a few action sequences and gun fights that result in quite a few dead bad guys - which is, after all, part of the reason one reads books about assassins in the first place - it's not enough to rescue our two main characters from a mostly boring plot that only gets more convoluted and unbelievable with every chapter. Robie and Reel make too many absurd leaps of logic and then, worst of all, the guilty person gives a lengthy monologue at the end detailing their whole diabolical plan. Really?
Add all that up and throw in the fact that Baldacci's long-time male narrator has apparently retired from the audiobook business resulting in a new narrator taking over the voice of Will Robie and you get my least favorite Will Robie story. I can adjust to the new narrator (the female voice remains the same) but hopefully Robie and Reel will return to form in the next book.
scottpm's review
4.0
Great read. I loved diving in to Will Robie's past. I really enjoyed the play off between Robie and reel. My only complaint was so excited of the plot threads wrapped up too quickly.
dhilderbrand's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Great story. Did not see the end coming. Reminds me of just how creepy Baldacci 's mind is!
afox98's review
4.0
Will Robie serves his country as one of the best assassins around. When he fails to complete a mission, however, he finds he must go to his past to fix his future. So he returns to his hometown of Cantrell, Mississippi where his father, a local judge, has been arrested for murder. His ever faithful companion and fellow assassin, Jessica Reel, shows up to watch his back as well.
This is one of my favorite series from David Baldacci, and even though this one veered from the usual formula of one of Robie's missions, it was enlightening to see how Will's past and his choices and got him to where he is now. Lots of twists and turns in the plot, and an overall fun read.
This is one of my favorite series from David Baldacci, and even though this one veered from the usual formula of one of Robie's missions, it was enlightening to see how Will's past and his choices and got him to where he is now. Lots of twists and turns in the plot, and an overall fun read.
bbboeken's review against another edition
3.0
Niet het beste van de Will Robie series, maar wat een eerder inspiratieloos verhaal is, dat leentjebuur leek te spelen bij zovele andere plotlijnen, draait dan uiteindelijk toch uit op net dat tikkeltje meer. Gelukkig. Baldacci verontschuldigt zich bij het begin, waarbij hij waarschuwt dat het hier om een achtergrond verhaal gaat, dat hij nodig heeft om de rest van de Robie serie verder te ontwikkelen. Excuses aanvaard, en nu terug vooruit.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
4.0
Found it hard to put the book down, loved it. I couldn't rate it five stars because I felt there could have been more interaction between Robie and his brother, and I suspected the person who did it from the get go.
sfitzgerald04's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
grim0805's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5