Helpful Score: 3
WOW WOW WOW! This is the beginning of a really good character, I have so many to keep up with that sometimes I don't like to get started on another series but this one is a keeper!
Helpful Score: 2
Will Robie is a government assassin able to calculate, move, and execute his target without much remorse. Then he gets a case that isn't off in a remote country somewhere, but in his own. He is ordered to kill a US citizen. He's told she has ties to terrorism and stalks and prepares to kill his target. When faced with the reality of the situation, he knows something isn't right and decides to ignore his orders and spare the woman and the little boy who sleeps beside her. Unfortunately, a fail safe has been put in place and a sniper takes control out of his hands and kills the woman and then turns his long range sniper rifer on Robie himself. Thus begins a thriller where Robie comes upon a teenager also running for her life and an FBI agent who just can't leave well enough alone. No spoilers here - this is just how the story begins.
Told mostly from Will Robie's point of view the story is about an unquestioning cold-hearted killer. He never gets involved with anyone, living a solitary existence. Even his apartment has no personality, very few personal effects, just a generic space as generic as he is. However, with good story telling, the hero begins to change and grow. That proved just as interesting as the threat that he investigates while running from it.
At first I wasn't fond of Robie. The prose was as wooden as he was. As the story progressed, Baldacci was able to make me care about what happened to Will, while not making the mistake of changing a killer suddenly to a puppy dog. By the end of the story I found myself wishing for more Will Robie. I also became interested in reading more of Baldacci's work.
Told mostly from Will Robie's point of view the story is about an unquestioning cold-hearted killer. He never gets involved with anyone, living a solitary existence. Even his apartment has no personality, very few personal effects, just a generic space as generic as he is. However, with good story telling, the hero begins to change and grow. That proved just as interesting as the threat that he investigates while running from it.
At first I wasn't fond of Robie. The prose was as wooden as he was. As the story progressed, Baldacci was able to make me care about what happened to Will, while not making the mistake of changing a killer suddenly to a puppy dog. By the end of the story I found myself wishing for more Will Robie. I also became interested in reading more of Baldacci's work.
Another great book by David Baldacci -- one chapter flowed flawlessly into the next, with enough cliffhanger activity to keep me wanting to read well into the early morning hours. I love the book's hero, Will Robie; it would be wonderful if this turned into a book series!
Great plot and interesting the entire book,
Another winner from Baldacci.
Excellent read for a vacation on the beach. Good character development and good intriguing story line. Highly recommended. If you like Baldacci, you'll like The Innocent.
Excellent book, read while traveling in one day counldn't put it down, looks like it would be great for new series characters
This was slow getting into and I just didn't find this as riveting as other Baldacci books. It was a book with great characters, a change of pace plot but I think the book was too long. That takes me back to my first sentence because if I am reading a can't put down book I would never think it was too long.
A number of friends have suggested that I read a David Baldacci book and I have ignored them. I finally gave in and "The Innocent" is my fist Baldacci. This is the first book in a 3 or 4 book series. I enjoyed it tremendously. One thing I liked is most of the technical detail is accurate. He does not call a firearm sound suppressor a "silencer". He knows how lock picks work, at least to point of knowing you need two tools. He has a decent knowledge about firearms. [I hate it when a character flicks the safety off of his Glock, or for that matter a revolver.] This is a good rousing story without those jolting items of ignorance that knock you out of the story that some writers include. An engrossing mystery and a good "shoot-em-up". Definitely, worth reading. I have already ordered # 2, 3, & 4.
America has enemies--ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can't stop. That's when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone cold hitman who never questions orders and always nails his target.
But Will Robie may have just made the first--and last--mistake of his career . . .
THE INNOCENT
It begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn't seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable. He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people.
Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn't an ordinary runaway-her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can't walk away. He needs to help her.
Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he's convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents' deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power.
Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl's life . . . and perhaps his own.
My Review
I loved the character of Robie and Vance and can see them turning into a King and Maxwell. The plot was intriguing but a little confusing until you find out what is going on. I also liked Baldacci's writing and the short chapters. The ending was tied up nicely with a few surprises. I will definitely read the rest of the series and I would recommend Baldacci's books to those who love mystery thrillers with great characterization.
But Will Robie may have just made the first--and last--mistake of his career . . .
THE INNOCENT
It begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn't seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable. He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people.
Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn't an ordinary runaway-her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can't walk away. He needs to help her.
Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he's convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents' deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power.
Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl's life . . . and perhaps his own.
My Review
I loved the character of Robie and Vance and can see them turning into a King and Maxwell. The plot was intriguing but a little confusing until you find out what is going on. I also liked Baldacci's writing and the short chapters. The ending was tied up nicely with a few surprises. I will definitely read the rest of the series and I would recommend Baldacci's books to those who love mystery thrillers with great characterization.
I'll admit, I've always enjoyed David Baldacci's writing. He is fast paced with quick twists and turns, and fun characters. He allows us to see into these characters just enough.Don't be surprised if some of them are invincible, and some of them surprise you - it's all part of the game.
Don't read Baldacci if you need depth and engrossing scene and stories. I'd just come off of reading Michener's Hawaii, which was wonderful in a completely different way, then a Rock Musician's Autobiography, also most entertaining, so a lighter "Whodunnit" read was perfect
Highly recommended, again, within the context given
Ashley
Don't read Baldacci if you need depth and engrossing scene and stories. I'd just come off of reading Michener's Hawaii, which was wonderful in a completely different way, then a Rock Musician's Autobiography, also most entertaining, so a lighter "Whodunnit" read was perfect
Highly recommended, again, within the context given
Ashley
Absolutely loved this!!! One of my favorites.
Will Robie is back and its good to have him. In this installment we see Robie get thrown into in quite the conspiracy. To make matters even more interesting, he gets a a fourteen year old, sassy, yet very intelligent girl thrown into the mix.
Innocent people are being killed? How are they connected and what is the reasoning behind it? This is what keeps the pages turning. We as readers are given just enough each chapter to keep you turning the pages.
There was one portion of the story that I thought would come together, which did, but I won't mention that here, but either way, its a great ride, and a highly recommend read.
Innocent people are being killed? How are they connected and what is the reasoning behind it? This is what keeps the pages turning. We as readers are given just enough each chapter to keep you turning the pages.
There was one portion of the story that I thought would come together, which did, but I won't mention that here, but either way, its a great ride, and a highly recommend read.
excellent
Good book, easy reading. Keeps your attention!
