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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Baldacci's books made good audiobooks. The thriller's engaging plot is easy to listen to and they're all well narrated.
I could have done without the bits of a romance narrative, but other than that, I liked the first John Puller novel. The characters were believable -- I wouldn't say I was entirely invested, but enough that I wanted to keep going. I liked the bits of his family's background and feel that provides a lot of potential going forward.
I could have done without the bits of a romance narrative, but other than that, I liked the first John Puller novel. The characters were believable -- I wouldn't say I was entirely invested, but enough that I wanted to keep going. I liked the bits of his family's background and feel that provides a lot of potential going forward.
Extremely good beginning and end, with a somewhat flat middle. John Puller is a military investigator, and is told to investigate a multiple murder in a small town in West Virginia. Immediately after he arrives on the scene, even though it's extremely early in the morning, he appears to hear a cop being murdered in the basement, sees a flash of someone running into the woods, and discovers a hidden drug lab.
From there, he soon discovers that two people across the street have also been murdered, and one of the cops canvassing the neighborhood, apparently talked to the killer, thinking he was the owner of the house. So, you soon catch on that everyone else on the case isn't quite as sharp as John Puller, and he pretty much has to figure everything out himself. That gets a little old, especially the part where his brother is the only one smart enough to... well, I can't tell you that part.
It does have a good finish to it though, so perhaps John Puller will turn out to be a good character to follow in this new series.
From there, he soon discovers that two people across the street have also been murdered, and one of the cops canvassing the neighborhood, apparently talked to the killer, thinking he was the owner of the house. So, you soon catch on that everyone else on the case isn't quite as sharp as John Puller, and he pretty much has to figure everything out himself. That gets a little old, especially the part where his brother is the only one smart enough to... well, I can't tell you that part.
It does have a good finish to it though, so perhaps John Puller will turn out to be a good character to follow in this new series.
I have been on a Baldacci brake for a while and reading the start to this series was a great return to a great writer. Love the detail in characterization. Love the surprise yet sad ending.
Very exciting and lots of intrigue. A lot of research went into the technical info on nuclear bombs. Like how it showcased a poor rural area in combination with national security. Spoiler alert: Was sad one of the good people got killed. Glad the bad guys got it in the end. As usual the writing was excellent, gave good descriptions of people and place without being boring. Quite an intricate plot.
I enjoyed this a lot -- it gave a good feel for West Virginia, and I enjoyed hanging out with the uber-competent Puller.
Cracking read - my big bugbear, though, is that Puller is basically Jack Reacher with a slightly different job. Shame on Baldacci for the blatant lift.
I mean, he had to know, right? There is no way you write a thriller about a hulking, lone protagonist in the military and not know about Child and Reacher. I’m continuing my Baldacci kick and read this first in a new series about a military investigator named John Puller (even the name is similar!) and I was just constantly struck by the very,very close similarities to Reacher. I mean some of background of these types of characters is bound to overlap, but this seemed to be pushing the envelope.
Once I stopped worrying about it, I mostly enjoyed this facsimile about a conspiracy around a closed military base in a rural town. Puller is a little more human, a little less didactic and the plot is a little less linear (or believable) than the average Reacher book, but it’s a good way to pass some time while waiting for the real thing.
Once I stopped worrying about it, I mostly enjoyed this facsimile about a conspiracy around a closed military base in a rural town. Puller is a little more human, a little less didactic and the plot is a little less linear (or believable) than the average Reacher book, but it’s a good way to pass some time while waiting for the real thing.
John Puller is another over-the-top fighting character. These guys are pretty unbelievable, but then the biographical stories I've read of some real military people have been amazing as well. Puller is also very real as a man. He owns a cat. He deals with a father who is harsh and under care for dementia in a nursing home. His brother and his story add another dimension to make me want to follow this series.
The story is very good as usual for Baldacci. I listened to the audio version which is done well. As usual, I could do without the sound of the gun blast now and then. It startles me. I guess that is the point. Maybe it does add to the feel of the story. There is not a lot of this extra noise, certainly not enough to keep me away from the audio versions of these stories.
The story is very good as usual for Baldacci. I listened to the audio version which is done well. As usual, I could do without the sound of the gun blast now and then. It startles me. I guess that is the point. Maybe it does add to the feel of the story. There is not a lot of this extra noise, certainly not enough to keep me away from the audio versions of these stories.
