The Escape

by David Baldacci Narrated by Ron McLarty, Orlagh Cassidy

Overview

Special Agent Puller's brother is the country's most wanted criminal, but his conviction points to a cover-up--and a dangerous enemy bent on burying the truth in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller.

It's a prison unlike any other. Military discipline rules. Its security systems are unmatched. None of its prisoners dream of escaping. They know it's impossible...until now.

John Puller's older brother, Robert, was convicted of treason. His inexplicable escape from prison makes him the most wanted criminal in the country. Some in the government believe that John Puller represents their best chance at capturing Robert alive, and so Puller must bring in his brother to face justice.

But Puller quickly discovers that his brother is pursued by others who don't want him to survive. Puller is in turn pushed into an uneasy, fraught partnership with another agent, who may have an agenda of her own.

They dig more deeply into the case together, and Puller finds that not only are her allegiances unclear, but there are troubling details about his brother's conviction...and someone out there doesn't want the truth to ever come to light. As the nationwide manhunt for Robert grows more urgent, Puller's masterful skills as an investigator and strengths as a fighter may not be enough to save his brother--or himself.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"One of the most compelling characters in David Baldacci's thrillers is John Puller, a crackerjack investigator of military crimes...Twists and turns come fast and furious in the best Baldacci tradition. The Escape is much more than a thriller. It's a moving tale of two military brothers and their father, a retired Army general and fighting legend now suffering from dementia. Emotionally intense, The Escape is Baldacci's best to date."—Associated Press

"[In his] clever third John Puller thriller...Baldacci handles the complex plot with consummate ease as the Pullers navigate nearly endless surprises."—Publisher's Weekly

"A heck of an opening chapter, guaranteed to jettison readers into hours of addictive reading...Baldacci's last few books have been among the best in his long, busy career, and The Escape stands near the top for sheer adrenalin-fueled entertainment. It's alarmingly topical, too, taking us into the intelligence community and raising questions about privacy rights in the age of government surveillance and other buzz-worthy issues (no spoilers here). Indeed, the crime at the center of The Escape could have been pulled from recent newspaper headlines. Who says thrillers have to be the stuff of escapist fantasies?"—Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Highly entertaining...The Escape is a terrific read."—CT News

"A phenomenal read, as usual, from David Baldacci—don't miss it!"—BookLoons.com

"David Baldacci has never been better than in 'The Escape.'"—Providence Journal

Kirkus Reviews

2014-10-05
Steel-jawed John Puller is back for another round with the bad guys in Baldacci's latest action thriller.Puller's equally virile and handsome brother, Robert, an Air Force major, is serving time in the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, following his conviction on charges of treason. As the book opens, he performs a seemingly impossible escape from his cell. John, an investigator with the CID, the Army's investigative arm, is charged by an odd coalition of three powerful men—a one-star Air Force general, a three-star Army general and a representative of the National Security Council—with the improbable task of finding his brother. Robert, though, isn't waiting to be caught. He's changed his appearance, hacked into a national database, bought a car and headed out to clear himself. Standing in his way is the mysterious fact that an unidentified dead body has been found in his recently vacated cell. While John and his disgraced brother go at the case from different angles, another investigator also comes into play. Capt. Veronica Knox teams up with a reluctant John, looking for his brother and piecing together the method behind his escape, even though it's soon apparent that many others are also on his trail. Not surprisingly, John and Knox engage in a lot of pre-romantic verbal fencing and meaningful looks. But though the action is fast and furious, the characters never rise beyond the stereotypical. The good guys are predictably skilled, noble and racing against time, while their opposites exude evil. Baldacci punches up the action but often drifts into painfully stilted dialogue and pointless wardrobe descriptions. A book that will entertain some readers but won't linger after the final page.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170176748
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	11/18/2014
Series:	John Puller Series , #3
Edition description:	Unabridged

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