Divine Justice (Camel Club)
by David Baldacci
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Book Reviews of Divine Justice (Camel Club)
Book Review: Tiresome
Summary: 2 Stars
David Baldacci's fourth Camel Club novel, Divine Justice, picks up where he ended the third one, Stone Cold. Protagonist Oliver Stone (John Carr) has to get out of D.C. following his murder of both a United States Senator and the head of the CIA. He ends up hiding out in Justice, Virginia, a mining town with a supermax prison. Despite Stone's skills, he couldn't successfully hide from either his government pursuer or from the remaining members of the Camel Club who wanted to find him. Since trouble always follows Stone, life in Justice, Virginia isn't what it seems to be, and the cast of bad guys there leads to big trouble for Stone. There's violence, murder, secrets and more near-death experiences than one individual could ever expect. Baldacci stretches it all out, milking the chapters for all he possibly contrive, and may actually bring this series to an end with this book. Fans of Baldacci and the series will probably appreciate the effort in Divine Justice, but fans of thrillers and mysteries may find the writing too tiresome to enjoy reading this mediocre offering.
Rating: Two-star (Mildly Recommended)
Book Review: Trash Writing, Trash Characters, Trash Story
Summary: 1 Stars
"Divine Justice" may not be the worst book I have ever read, but it certainly ranks in the bottom 10. I have no idea how I remained reading it to the end. A testimony to reader tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds to throw it in the garbage can.
Why is it so bad? Well for starters, there is juvenile dialogue, silly scenarios, stick figures, phony patriotism, unlikely and unbelievable plot and too many coincidences to render any part of the story credible.
There are way too many characters, all superficial, all uninteresting and all amateurishly drawn. Even the main guy who dominates almost every page, Oliver Stone, never quite reaches a level of humanness needed to make the story work or him believable.
In an attempt to make the hill country people of Virginia seem realistic, Baldacci borders on reducing all of them to stereotypical white trash, described with a tinge of racism.
The worst part is the dialogue, taken right out of junior high school (apologies to all 11 to 13 year olds). This book is a disgrace. It is simply awful.
Book Review: Baffling plunge: hastily dashed, clumsy & flimsy plot; brutish agency brawling
Summary: 1 Stars
Baldacci long has been one of my favorite authors: solid and clever plot, witty terse style and elegant prose. Hence I felt cheated by what appears to be a hastily dashed together plot ... as if the author tried to meet a publisher's deadline with a (once) successful formula. The result is a drifting aimlessly rambling unimaginative plot, relying on tediously boring brutish fighting--and incongruously lucky victories--substituting for Baldacci's normally substantial and masterful thriller development.
Homeland Insecurity, and intelligence agencies run by bumbling desk warriors with CYA mentality, seem no match for a single loose cannon rogue agent. After a dozen chapters of hoping that the puzzle eventually would fall together, and the actions and motives begin to make sense, I gave up in disgust, exasparated by book jacket promises unmet. "Divine Justice" seems more like a ghost-written "Dubious Legacy" -- utterly devoid of this gifted author's deft touch in sustaining edge-of-seat suspension to the very end.
Book Review: The "Carr/Camel Club" legacy lives on...
Summary: 4 Stars
I met David Baldacci in Atlanta this time last year in a Stone Cold signing and before his springtime release of The Whole Truth. He was clearly satisfied with SC but more excited over TWT and breaking away from the Camel Club saga. I was excited as well over reading The Whole Truth but "truth" be told, I enjoyed more reuniting with "Oliver Stone" as I suspect many of his loyal readers have or will as well. This fourth book in the Camel Club series, Divine Justice, is nearly perfect with just the right amount of background to catch up a reader who didn't have the benefit of the first three novels detailing John Carr's past clandestine associations. Divine Justice was just a really good story with mulidimensional characters (i.e. Danny, his Mom, the sheriff, his naughty brother, etc.), an exciting plot and some closure reconciling John Carr from his final vindictive act in Stone Cold to help us further appreciate him as a tragically flawed but true American hero.
David, I miss Oliver already. More- please?
Book Review: The Camel Club Rules!
Summary: 5 Stars
In this fourth Camel Club book our hero Oliver Stone is on the run. He
has just assassinated two of his major enemies Carter Gray of the CIA and Senaotr Roger Simpson from the state of Alabama. The two had ruined his life. While riding an AmTrak train to New Orleans Stone breaks up a fight. Three men are beating up Danny Riker.They get off of the train and
proceed to Divine, Virginia. There Stone meets Danny's mother Abby. In the
meantime there is a massive manhunt for Oliver Stone. It is being spearheaded by Joe Knox a CIA tracker. The further Knox gets into the chase the more he doubts Stone's guilt. Stone's partners Annabelle Conroy,Caleb Shaw, and Reuben Rhodes mobilize to rescue Stone. In Divine
Virginia there are several murders. Stone winds up discovering a huge drug ring operating there. He immediately becomes a target of this ring.
The truth behind the drug ring is startling. This is a good continuation
of the Camel Club series. Besure to read this book.