First Family
by David Baldacci
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Book Reviews of First Family
Book Review: `Is the past finally catching up?'
Summary: 3 Stars
First Lady Jane Cox engages Sean King and Nichelle Maxwell to find her 12 year old niece Willa. Willa has been kidnapped following a birthday party at Camp David. The story that follows is simultaneously improbable, unbelievable and highly entertaining. Why has Willa been kidnapped, and where is she?
The interactions between King and Maxwell, and the other security agencies involved are fascinating. The various security processes invoked and the egos of the participants often seem to make it unlikely that Willa will be found in time. At the same time, Michelle Maxwell is dealing with a number of personal issues. The story's focus on these issues serves to slow down the pace of the narrative a little as well as providing some insight into Michelle's past. The kidnapper is only one of the villains in this story, and uncovering the truth is indeed a messy business. I found the kidnapper, 62 year old Sam Quarry, to be the most interesting character in this novel. His planning and his actions are complex, while his motivation (once revealed) is simple.
Everyone, it seems, has secrets.
This is the fourth novel to feature Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, former Secret Service agents who are now private investigators. An entertaining escapist read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Book Review: Baldacci's Back! And thankfully, this time he's left the Camel Club grazing out at the oasis
Summary: 4 Stars
The niece of the First Lady is kidnapped, and the little girl's mother is killed during the crime. At the request of the First Lady, PIs Sean King and Michelle Maxwell take on the case due to King's prior involvement with the First Family and his and Maxwell's ability to work outside the system. As they dig ever deeper into the case, things aren't what they at first seemed, and the investigation starts uncovering overtones of malfeasance in high places.
Baldacci returns to his roots, and the themes he explored so successfully in novels such as "Absolute Power". King and Maxwell are compelling, multi-faceted and captivating characters, much more so - in my opinion - than the overly cutesy Camel Club.
Further, the "bad guy" in this piece is also a fully realized human being; chillingly but understandably portrayed.
The actual key plot point is actually pretty easy to figure out from about halfway through the book; one of the reasons I didn't give it the fifth star. Further, I simply don't think Baldacci has yet managed to recapture the full depth and scope of his earliest works that brought him to prominence.
But for a light and escapist book to take to the beach or pool, this would be a good choice.
Book Review: Nothing exceptional
Summary: 3 Stars
Baldacci has become a prolific author, pumping out a couple of books a year at the moment. Sadly quantity is overcoming quality as his recent efforts have been decidedly average. It's a shame because as an author he is brave enough to try different things and not always stick with the same characters or themes.
In First Family he brings back ex Secret Service, now PI pair, King and Maxwell. The pair are brought in by the First Lady no less to help find her kidnapped niece. This is a story of revenge and at the heart is a dark secret that the First Family would not like to get out. And part way through the investigation Maxwell is diverted by a personal tragedy....
Well, it's okay but not a lot more. The two leads, King and Maxwell still lack sufficient depth (as per their previous outings) and the most interesting character is probably the bad guy because you understand (eventually) his motives. Having said that, his actions are occasionally at odds with the way the author presents him to us.
So it's not a poor book by any means, just a little average and it needed a little tweaking and polishing that didn't happen, maybe because the next book on the production line (True Blue) was already lined up....
Book Review: Did not like the characters
Summary: 3 Stars
This novel is about the abuse of power, marital infidelity and revenge and family loyalty. After a young girl is kidnapped after a home invasion, her aunt, the first lady hires a private investigator to locate her. Thus sets into motion a harrowing series of events which culminate in exposure of the ultimate cover up.
While I was entertained by this story, I found the subject matter a wee bit distasteful and I didn't connect with many of the characters. The private investigator team, and who killed the female investigator's mom, just seemed sort of tacked on. The discussion of the villains motivations and the feelings of the kidnapped victims really took this in a maudlin direction.
Plus, the lack of punishment for any of the adulturers left me feeling unsatisfied. There were three murders in this novel, and all three were pretty innocent. Why couldn't they have wasted some of the really stinky characters such as Tuck or the president?
The end was really the best part of the book and was a long time in coming, but was actually pretty good. I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't a better explanation of the events of Michelle's childhood... And who the man was with her mother.
Book Review: Decent story of secrets and intrigue
Summary: 3 Stars
You never know when a mistake in your past will catch up with you. This time, it is the past of the First Family, specifically the President, that is threatening to be exposed and ruin his career and the family reputation. The First Lady hires Sean and Michelle, partners in a private PI firm, to look into the kidnapping of her niece. But they soon realize that they have not been told the whole truth and that the First Lady herself may be keeping the most secrets. They must navigate their way through lies, personal conflicts, and jurisdictional infighting between the FBI and the Secret Service. All the while, they are racing against a clock to find the little girl before it is too late.
David Baldacci's books really are not that great anymore. His early days brought good writing to good fast-paced stories. Now both are mediocre at best. But when looking for an easy page turner for the beach or a rainy weekend, Baldacci still entertains. It is an easy read with enough suspense to keep the reader interested. But the story is outlandish and somewhat formulaic. Nonetheless, its worth a read, but wait for paperback or grab it from the library.