topic Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS in Book Club

DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Oznell — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:37:40 GMT

When I'm in a reading rut, going back to Baldacci can be a good start.

It's hard to find mystery writers to stick with. Almost none come up to my all-time fave Sue Grafton, with her stellar Kinsey Millhone series, outstanding in every way.

Good Baldacci novels I read recently--

"Simply Lies" Former detective, a suburban mom, who works for a global investigative firm, tangles with a con woman who leads her into a widening murder case that could result in her being framed and/or killed.

"Simply Lies" is a stand-alone book.

The series of Baldacci that I like is the "Amos Decker" series. He's a former Ohio police detective who sustains an injury that gives him a photographic memory-- for everything. He ends up working for the FBI, natch.

"The Fallen". Amos and his partner Alex visit her family in a declining Pennsylvania town, where eerie murders take place right next door to their house-- an irresistable invitation for Amos to nose around.

Latest one I'm reading:

"Long Shadows". Currently reading, and it's good so far. Amos and new partner, special agent Fredericka White, are summoned to tony Florida enclave to investigate the murder of a Federal judge and her elite bodyguard in her own home...

Have also read a bit of Baldacci's "Atlee Pine" series, which to me was not especially compelling.

If anyone has any other Baldacci thrillers to recommend (there are so many!) would love to hear.

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

peacepoet — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:00:49 GMT

I love the Amos Decker series, too. I also would recommend the John Puller series by David Baldacci. They are excellent. I think you would like this series. Thank you so much for your post about one of my favorite authors of this genre.

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

D Kay — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:05:52 GMT

I am also a Sue Grafton and Baldacci fan.

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

jlkz — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 17:45:18 GMT

@Oznell

It's easier to list the 3 Baldacci books I didn't enjoy from the 45 I have read: Calamity Souls, Long Road to Mercy, and No Man's Land.

Hope that helps !

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Scooby Doo — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:45:23 GMT

How about the Billy Harney series by James Patterson/David Ellis.

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

icezeus — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 20:32:22 GMT

@jlkz wrote:
@Oznell

It's easier to list the 3 Baldacci books I didn't enjoy from the 45 I have read: Calamity Souls, Long Road to Mercy, and No Man's Land.

Hope that helps !

@Oznell

Perhaps that was my problem. Readers rave about Baldacci, but I tried to read "The Mercy" series and gave up in the middle of book 3. The story dragged, and after the first book, it became boring IMO.

I have not tried to read any of his books since.

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Oznell — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:13:23 GMT

Noting your recommendations, @peacepoet and @Scooby Doo , thank you!

@D Kay , cool. While very different, I think they even share certain characteristics.

@jlkz and @icezeus , it's interesting that the books you didn't care for included ones from the "Atlee Pine/ Mercy" series, which I wasn't crazy about either. In which FBI agent Atlee Pine is on the search for her sister Mercy who was abducted as a child.

"Long Road to Mercy" was a slog for me too.

It's funny how authors may have more heart for certain series of theirs than others. I get the feeling he's more invested in the Amos Decker saga..

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

beckyb1012 — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:02:03 GMT

I love all his books but my favorite is The Mercy series.

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Oznell — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:09:23 GMT

Ha, ha, @beckyb1012 -- there you go-- there's something for all of us in David Baldacci!

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

smoochy — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 19:02:12 GMT

I've never read his books. Two of them are in my little free library-The Edge and Calamity of Souls. Should I try one?

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Judaline — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 11:43:26 GMT

I've been reading some really bummer books lately. Pulled 3 bookmarks. There's nothing out there that tempts me so (don't faint) I've decided to try Sue Grafton. No, I've never read one. What I want to know is, can I just choose one or do I have to start at the beginning?

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Oznell — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 16:58:20 GMT

@Judaline , good! Sure, you could just choose one at random, but ideally, I'd start at her first "A is for Alibi".

Grafton establishes her private eye, Kinsey Millhone, as a somewhat quirky Santa Barbara resident, former police woman, bit of a loner, blah blah. Grafton's brilliance is in her dialog-- so realistic, pointed, often wry -- and in her plotting, character studies, and ability to establish atmosphere ... the whole shebang!

Extremely talented writer. Over the 20-odd books, ( all named for an alphabet letter) she sustained a very high level, with only a couple less than great. But no terrible duds where you have to force yourself to finish!

Love her relationship with her smart and sturdy octogenarian landlord, Henry Pitts, who offers stability in her tumultuous life.

You'll like the wit in the books-- but she's never 'cutesy', which I hate in mystery writers.

Esp. recommend:

A is for Allibi

C is for Corpse

E is for Evidence

G is for Gumshoe

J is for Judgment

K is for Killer

N is for Noose

P is for Peril

X ( she didn't title it beyond X, ha.

Trivia: Grafton adored Ross Macdonald, mystery writer extraordinaire, and I believe she set the novels in Santa Barbara partly as a tribute to him.

Her memoir of growing up with her alcoholic parents is so worth the read too. Her father, C.W. Grafton, an attorney in Louisville, wrote a mystery or two himself.

Sue Grafton's fans were heart-broken that her illness didn't allow her to write the final novel, "Z", but she left a remarkable body of work, nonetheless.

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Oznell — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 17:02:26 GMT

@smoochy , "The Edge" was one of the few I did not really care for. Haven't read "Calamity of Souls". But they may have plots that appeal to you.

If you are brand new to him, I think I'd still recommend "Simply Lies".

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Judaline — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 19:29:50 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
@Judaline , good! Sure, you could just choose one at random, but ideally, I'd start at her first "A is for Alibi".

Grafton establishes her private eye, Kinsey Millhone, as a somewhat quirky Santa Barbara resident, former police woman, bit of a loner, blah blah. Grafton's brilliance is in her dialog-- so realistic, pointed, often wry -- and in her plotting, character studies, and ability to establish atmosphere ... the whole shebang!

Extremely talented writer. Over the 20-odd books, ( all named for an alphabet letter) she sustained a very high level, with only a couple less than great. But no terrible duds where you have to force yourself to finish!

Love her relationship with her smart and sturdy octogenarian landlord, Henry Pitts, who offers stability in her tumultuous life.

You'll like the wit in the books-- but she's never 'cutesy', which I hate in mystery writers.

Esp. recommend:

A is for Allibi
C is for Corpse
E is for Evidence
G is for Gumshoe
J is for Judgment
K is for Killer
N is for Noose
P is for Peril
X ( she didn't title it beyond X, ha.

Trivia: Grafton adored Ross Macdonald, mystery writer extraordinaire, and I believe she set the novels in Santa Barbara partly as a tribute to him.

Her memoir of growing up with her alcoholic parents is so worth the read too. Her father, C.W. Grafton, an attorney in Louisville, wrote a mystery or two himself.

Sue Grafton's fans were heart-broken that her illness didn't allow her to write the final novel, "Z", but she left a remarkable body of work, nonetheless.

@Oznell Thanks. I will start with A. Also, while I've got'cha, isn't there an author whose books all have a song title for their title? Like, I Only Have Eyes for You for instance? I would always laugh when I saw one and usually I'd start singing to the tune of the title. haha But for some reason I never took one home with me. Would like the author if anybody knows. Thnx

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

tansy — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 21:01:35 GMT

Bella Andre, @Judaline?

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Judaline — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 12:17:57 GMT

@tansy Nope. But I, by chance, found one of her books at the library. It's Mary Higgins Clark! Are her books good? Thanks

Re: DAVID BALDACCI COMES THROUGH WITH THRILLERS

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 07:33:50 GMT

@Oznell

I am now reading Simply Lies .... and am wondering how I could have missed this author ... what a story!