THE 6th MAN (Grand Central Publishing)
David Baldacci is a prolific writer but each and every book he writes appears to be the result of intense planning and preparation. There is nothing to indicate he just short cuts his way through his novels, and there are no co-workers listed to indicate he let someone else do the heavy work. Baldacci’s latest novel THE 6th MAN is as exciting and suspenseful as any other book he has ever written, and should continue his winning streak on the best seller lists.
In THE 6th MAN Baldacci brings back characters who have been featured in some of his other stories. They are Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, two former Secret Service Agents who have now opened their own private investigation office. Their current client is attorney Ted Bergin. He wants them to so some investigative work in order to help him prove the innocence of his client Edgar Roy.
Roy has been accused of killing six people and is being held in a high tech security prison in Maine. On the way to Maine to meet up with Bergin, King and Maxwell come upon a parked car with its “flashers” on. It is in a fairly isolated area so they figure the driver must be in distress. Upon inspection they discover the person in the car is Bergin and he is dead – murdered.
Now King and Maxwell take it upon themselves to prove Roy’s innocence. They work with one of Bergin’s assistance and are soon knee deep in a few other murders. It seems someone does not want Roy found innocent and they are willing to do anything to stop King and Maxwell. The effort to get to Roy reaches the highest powers of government.
This is a fast paced, totally enjoyable read. Baldacci knows his characters and knows how to make the readers know them too. He also is fully in control of his plot. There is a lot of weaving around but he is on a sure path to a satisfying conclusion.
He also knows how to pace his story and he does it in such a way as to keep the readers primed for every new event and twist in the plot. There are no slow spots in this story, but rather it is full of incidents that keep the readers glued to the pages.
There is also a little bit of a romance brewing between King and Maxwell but it takes second place to the action involved. Still the affection and respect they feel for each other hovers in the background as they seek to solve the case and prove Roy’s innocence.
In the past my favorite Baldacci books have been those that focused on “the camel club” but after this book the King/Maxwell series has tied them neck and neck. I want more of King/Maxwell as quickly as possible.
THE 6th MAN is a book I can recommend without hesitation. It is a fun read as well as a thrilling one. Baldacci isn’t getting old and stale; instead he is getting better and better. THE 6th MAN proves it.
THE 6th MAN is published by Grand Central Publishing Company. It contains 416 pages and sells for $27.99.