The Sixth Man
by David Baldacci
Hachette Book Group / Grand Central Publishing
April 2011
I expect to enjoy the King/Maxwell series by David Baldacci. I have come to appreciate the relationship between the two characters as well as the clever plots and thrilling challenges that the pair faces. Sixth Man was enjoyable, but not as strong or as cohesive a read as the earlier books in the series have been.
What's different about this book?
If you're familiar with these stories, you'll find much that is very similar. But personally I found the dialog to be less consistently strong, less witty. There are moments in the book that remind the reader what an outstanding writer Baldacci has shown himself to be, and it highlights even more the weaker words, looser plot and less skillful winding up of the loose ends. There are some unexpected twists that make this book worthwhile reading -- and I still think Baldacci is one of the better and more dependable authors around.
Evaluation: what will I do now that I have read this book?
This is a title I'll share with my fellow mystery / suspence / political thriller readers. I don't see it as making the list for either my school, church or special library collections, but I recommend it to those looking for an enjoyable summer escape read.
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