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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I read one of Baldacci's books years ago, and wasn't really thrilled by it, so I never went back to him. Recently, I saw a review of this one, and it looked intriguing, so I checked it out from the library. It was actually pretty good. I may have found another series to read, though this one only has 3-4 books in the series. Apparently Baldacci isn't afraid to end a series when he runs out of ideas.
John Puller is a CID inspector, reminiscent of a more law-abiding Jack Reacher. He finds himself in West Virginia trying to figure out who murdered an entire family. Eventually, his brilliant brother, in prison for treason, takes on a pivotal role in solving the mystery. I'm looking forward to finding time for the next one.
John Puller is a CID inspector, reminiscent of a more law-abiding Jack Reacher. He finds himself in West Virginia trying to figure out who murdered an entire family. Eventually, his brilliant brother, in prison for treason, takes on a pivotal role in solving the mystery. I'm looking forward to finding time for the next one.
Every time I read a David Baldacci book, I wonder why I waste my time. His characters are wooden, the plotting has holes you could drive a truck through, and his writing is atrocious. But for some reason I keep picking up his new ones, thinking somehow that this one will be better than the last. Much like John Grisham, I guess, Baldacci showed promise early on and I keep hoping he'll live up to it. But he doesn't -- not in past books, and not in this one either. As Baldacci books go, this one was less awful than previous ones, but still pretty horrible.
Excellent book and I will continue to read many more of Baldacci's.
A bit far fetched but very readable, as his thrillers usually are. Maybe the U S government would leave bomb-ready material under concrete in a rural area for decades and maybe an underpaid military VIP would be willing to blow up several states for money... I can't quite swallow that but of course our hero is the customary large man trained to do amazing things and always victorious in a fight. So he wins!
I am going to beg to differ from all those readers who claim that John Puller is a Jack Reacher wanna-be. He's not. Sure he's a 6 foot something or other and tough as nails. But there the similarity ends.
John carries a cell phone, a change of clothes, has a home and a cat and is currently still employed by the Army. Jack does not and is not.
Jack is a bit of social misfit who is somewhat uncomfortable around other people unless it's a woman he wants to sleep with, John is not.
I like John Puller a lot. I like Jack Reacher a lot. I don't get them confused.
I have read two of the John Puller books now and intend to keep reading them as long as the author keeps writing them. Page turners that are easy to read and keep you interested to the last page. What more can you ask for.?
John carries a cell phone, a change of clothes, has a home and a cat and is currently still employed by the Army. Jack does not and is not.
Jack is a bit of social misfit who is somewhat uncomfortable around other people unless it's a woman he wants to sleep with, John is not.
I like John Puller a lot. I like Jack Reacher a lot. I don't get them confused.
I have read two of the John Puller books now and intend to keep reading them as long as the author keeps writing them. Page turners that are easy to read and keep you interested to the last page. What more can you ask for.?
I am a fan of Baldacci. Have been from the first book I've read. I was excited to find a new character...and promptly tracked down a copy of this book. It was a good read, really smooth and quick. And cliche.
One thing that I find most interesting about Baldacci is the twists in the storyline. He's great at developing characters and making you care about them and their lives. And....he keeps the story going as well. Nothing is simple, there is always a twist or surprise. Maybe a little conspiracy. It makes the read fun.
Zero Day definitely had that element. However, I was disappointed with his character. First because he seemed so much like Lee Child's Jack Reacher character. A military man, not vain or superb or whatever just a regular soldier doing what he's told. But he is special. In fact, he's so special that a 1 star general's eyes widen at the ribbons on his chest. So special that all 3 female characters in the book all want to bed him (thankfully this is written subtly). So special that he escapes death (and saves others, both individually and in huge numbers) multiple times. So special that he takes on beefy bikers and leaves without a scratch while they are holding broken noses. I get it...he's a ninja. But quintessentially good. And romantic. Yeah, hot nice ninja. Sure, they exist.
Still...if you can get past the cliche hero part...it's a great read.
One thing that I find most interesting about Baldacci is the twists in the storyline. He's great at developing characters and making you care about them and their lives. And....he keeps the story going as well. Nothing is simple, there is always a twist or surprise. Maybe a little conspiracy. It makes the read fun.
Zero Day definitely had that element. However, I was disappointed with his character. First because he seemed so much like Lee Child's Jack Reacher character. A military man, not vain or superb or whatever just a regular soldier doing what he's told. But he is special. In fact, he's so special that a 1 star general's eyes widen at the ribbons on his chest. So special that all 3 female characters in the book all want to bed him (thankfully this is written subtly). So special that he escapes death (and saves others, both individually and in huge numbers) multiple times. So special that he takes on beefy bikers and leaves without a scratch while they are holding broken noses. I get it...he's a ninja. But quintessentially good. And romantic. Yeah, hot nice ninja. Sure, they exist.
Still...if you can get past the cliche hero part...it's a great read.
I loved this book, if I could have rated it higher than 5 stars I would have without hesitation. I'm intrigued by Puller and his family back story, I enjoyed the glimpses into his military career and everything in between. David Baldacci is on to another great series with this novel. As a long time fan of Jack Reacher the comparisons are easy to draw, but if it keeps going the way it is I think John Puller may surpass him as my favorite military loner.
Good holiday read.
I read some comments about Puller being too heroic. I didn’t see the credence in that though, considering he had to enlist the help of his brother, and he didn’t get the girl.
I feel for Sam though, was that really necessary? Surely she deserved a good ending.
Well I suppose that’s one of the aspects that make the story more tangible.
Anyway, good enjoyable read.
Thanks NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.
I read some comments about Puller being too heroic. I didn’t see the credence in that though, considering he had to enlist the help of his brother, and he didn’t get the girl.
I feel for Sam though, was that really necessary? Surely she deserved a good ending.
Well I suppose that’s one of the aspects that make the story more tangible.
Anyway, good enjoyable read.
Thanks NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.
I have to confess to being a David Baldacci fan. He doesn't write great literature, but i have found his stories, and more importantly, his characters, to be entertaining. In particular, his Camel Club series is very good as is his Sean King & Michelle Maxwell series. This book is the first in the John Puller series. I found it to be OK, but not great. It will hold your interest, yet isn't quite at the level of the two series i've listed. If i could give half star ratings, this would be 3 1/2 stars. Giving this even further thought, the similarities between Baldacci's John Puller, and Lee Child's Jack Reacher series are strong. The Reacher series started 10 or 12 years before the Puller series, and Reacher seems to have a bit more personality. At this point i'd give the thumbs up to Reacher over Puller, but that may change as i read the next few books in the Puller series.
I am a huge Baldacci fan. Have read almost all of his books. This isn't one of his best. It's a good book. An easy read. I found myself comparing this book to Lee Child's character of Jack Reacher. John Puller Jr. is CID in the Army, Criminal Investigative Division. Reacher is a former MP. Puller's father is an Army legend with dementia. Reacher's a marine. Puller's brother is in federal prison. Reacher's is dead. Both are essentially "alone" in the world. And like Reacher, Puller can kick the crap out of anyone. "Zero Day" is a typical thriller. But Puller does nothing for me. "Zero Day" reminds me of Baldacci's book "True Blue", good but just fell a little short. If you are a Baldacci fan, read it. If you're a Baldacci fan AND never read Lee Child's books then definitely read "Zero Day". You will like it more than I. In the end, I like Reacher much more than Puller Jr. But I will take Oliver Stone or Sean King over Reacher any day.