Pine is a kick butt female FBI agent - the sole operative in the remote Shattered Rock office near the Grand Canyon. The past is what has driven Atlee to the career she has today. Pine had a twin sister. When they were six years old, Mercy was kidnapped from their bedroom. She's never been found and no one has been arrested. Atlee is determined to find answers. But, right now she has a crime at the Canyon to attend to. A slaughtered mule and a missing rider. But what seems to be one thing is quite different from what Atlee finds as she investigates.
I like this new character a lot! Baldacci has crafted strong female characters in other series, but I like that this time she's the lead. The sidekick in this series is also female, but older. She too is appealing.
Baldacci is an inventive plotter. I did find some of the developments to be a bit over the top. But, hey, whose to say this isn't or couldn't happen. I'm being a bit obtuse so as not to provide spoilers, but national security often figures into the series that he writes. The other thing that you can count on is that justice will prevail. Good and evil are clearly defined and you'll find yourself rooting for Atlee Pine. This and more are wrapped up in a healthy dose of action making for an entertaining read. The search for Mercy is going to be an ongoing thread in this series, woven through the main plot. I am quite intrigued by this plot line.
Baldacci has found a formula that works for him and he's good at it. Read an excerpt of Long Road to Mercy.
I used to read a lot of Baldacci and kind of grew tired of his formula. I should try one of his books again.
ReplyDeleteBermudaonion - they are a bit of a formula, but I was happy to see a female lead.
ReplyDelete