First Family
by David Baldacci
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.45 You Save: $26.54 (95%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of First Family
Book Review: First Family by David Baldacci
Summary: 4 Stars
Former Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, now private investigators, are called on by Pam Dutton, the First Lady of the U. S., to find out who has kidnapped her l2-year-old niece Willa and left Willa's mother dead. Because of the explosive nature of the case the F.B.I. does't want Sean and Michelle mixing in on what they consider their turf, but years ago Sean had saved the political career of Pam's husband, now the President of the U. S., from a sex scandal and Pam feels Sean is the only one she can depend on.
So Sean and Michelle, who have problems of their own, especially Michelle, take the case against their better judgement and soon find themselves on a roller-coaster ride of twists and turns. It becomes almost impossible to distinguish between the good guys and the baddies as they embark on a desperate race to save an innocent victim. Happily the reader is swept right along with them in this latest David Baldacci thriller. I found it a real page-turner from start to finish.
Book Review: Captivating and satisfying
Summary: 5 Stars
First Family is David Baldacci's follow-up to Simple Genius. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are summoned by Pam Dutton to instruct them on their next case. Before they can meet with her, however, they notice two men running from the scene firing their guns. As they investigate the house they notice Pam is dead, but, Willa, her eldest daughter, is missing. Subplots are plenty as Michelle, who is still struggling to come to terms about her mother's death, returns home to be with her father. First Family is a beefy book with twists and turns reminiscent of a roller coaster. Its politics and scandals are so complex that the reader stays in tune with the book from page one, and doesn't blink until the book ends. David Baldacci has once again delivered a novel that will captivate its readers....
I would also highly recommend: S is for Sirens a novel that ranked one of the best this year.
Book Review: Two stories, one good one, one unnecessary one.
Summary: 3 Stars
David Baldacci can certainly write involving novels and he nearly has one here. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are two intriguing characters that have populated previous Baldacci novels. Here they are private investigators pursuing a missing child case who is related to the First Lady of the US. Unfortunately, there is a side story involving Maxwell's family which is both unrelated to the main focus of the book and takes up way too many pages of the novel. The story of the kidnapped girl is fascinating and has many surprise moments (murder, kidnapping, military intrigue and adventure). There is one totally stupid scene towards the end of the book concerning the President and his wife (you'll spot it and want to scream out loud with agony) but I forgive the author because the rest of the main story is great. The secondary story should be skimmed and it's only a shame that the book could have been 75 pages shorter and probably better. All in all, not a bad read but shy of great.Book Review: Keeps you guessing!
Summary: 4 Stars
Even though this is part of a series, it works pretty well as a stand-alone novel. In fact, I didn't even realize until I started preparing for this review that I haven't yet read the book before it, Simple Genius. I like Sean and Michelle, friends and partners who are still trying to figure out their boundaries and what exactly they are to each other. The storyline here is one that isn't easy to figure out on your own. I had a couple of things figured out, but the whole picture was elusive until the end. I think Baldacci does a good job of playing with the reader's emotions... At first, I felt for the First Lady, who appears to be the long suffering wife of a Clinton-esque husband, forever cleaning up his messes. At the end, my feelings about her did a 180. In many ways, she was worse than the kidnapper. Also, Michelle comes to terms with some of her own demons, and now maybe it's time for her to really heal. All in all, another winner from Baldacci!Book Review: Good Book
Summary: 5 Stars
When I bought this book I was unsure if it was something I would enjoy because Baldacci is not an author that I regularly read. From the first chapter I could not put it down, and I found myself up reading late, and then hurrying to get home to finish it. It has been a long time since I enjoyed reading a book this much. I would sit down, and before I realized it I had read a hundred pages.
It is organized well, and uses language that the average person can understand. It is fast paced, and contains sub-plots that are as interesting as the main plot.
I found the characters to be sympathetic, and mutifaceted. I think they were developed very well, and the ordinary person can identify with them.
It was a great read, and I went and bought another Baldacci book because I enjoyed this one so much. If you enjoy books about government, or law, or topics of this nature, you will probably enjoy this book.