Shantal G. - , reviewed One of the worst books I've read in the last 10 years-- or maybe ever. on 1/20/2009

What IS it about some of these NYT-best-seller-guys?? The number of times the reader is required to suspend disbelief, and the degree of suspension required, is mind-boggling. I read this kind of pulp tripe because I'm looking for a temporary and entertaining diversion-- not because I have a burning desire to feel like a credulous idiot (which is the way I'm feeling for expending time on this book. Hey, I'm not blaming anyone-- mea culpa, mea maximum freaking culpa). I am not measuring the quality of this book against War and Peace, either. I read ALL KINDS of garbage-- sci fi, post-apocalyptic, fantasy, romance, vampire, mystery, et cetera. I'm pretty good about taking things for what they are supposed to be-- I'm just not that picky. Which brings me back from my ravings to Baldacci's un-entertaining and completely un-believable book.

Here is one example of what I'm talking about. This won't spoil any plot devices (in my opinion that would be difficult to do, anyhow.

One of the main characters hacks into a US Senator's private computer. The computer is password protected. After only a few minutes, and a half-dozen attempts, the character is easily able to figure out the password. WHAT? I mean, really? I can't even remember my OWN password most of the time. How in the world could I figure out a person's password whom I haven't even met?? I'm not being petty, this kind of stuff happens frequently in the book. Another example: you've just been told the EX-HEAD OF THE CIA, (who is, inexplicably, still actually in charge of the entire asset base and man-power of the CIA) is after you and your family. You make all the effort of hiding out under another name, paying with cash, in a cruddy motel. But then, you let your 15 year-old son pop down to the convenience store. Where he then uses his debit card to alert the entire western world to your whereabouts. Yes, I know that was probably a plot-spoiler-- I just did you a favor if you were about to waste one of your precious credits on this book.

Baldacci must think the reading public is populated by people stupid enough to buy these stunts without question.

Which brings me to the characters in the book. Just for once I would like to read about somebody who WASN'T the baddest, smartest, tallest, best-coiffured, fastest, most-hansom, toughest, best-endowed, et cetera, et cetera, et-relentless-cetera. In this book EVERY character is that way. Every character is the best there ever was at whatever it is they are currently doing.

Okay, I'll stop foaming about this book. The only thing I can say that is positive about the entire Baldacci experience is that I didn't actually pay for the book-- somebody gave it to me for free, and without any warning....

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