True Blue [NOOK Book]

Buying this is "Cash for Clunkers"

Very disappointing -- I agree with another reviewer -- I paid for the hardcover so I was invested --- I too wanted it to be over. Characters that I could not care about and a silly plot. But that was not the worse the dialogue was simply terrible -- who was David Baldacci's target audience for this terrible book? Just a waste of hard earned money. Unless you have the mind of a fourteen year old -- you will be disappointed. That's it for me Mr. Baldacci -- I'm out.

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Not as good as I thought it would be.

The story starts out slowly as Mr. Baldacci introduces new characters. It then becomes interesting and while one can believe the premise of how the agencies entrusted with the security of the United States operate, it's hard to imagine this is reality. The story ends quickly in the last two chapters with the bad guys being exposed, however what happens to them may be reality, but it is hard to accept. A fair David Baldacci book, that might be ok as a paper back purchase, but at $25 it is not a good value.

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing at best

Baldacci has been such a badas for the his last few novels, and I guess they were too good and successful that he decided to go completely away from his previous story lines. This book is about two women that with every turn of the page are set on proving they can compete in a man's world. The main character is laughable - an ex con/ex cop who rides around on a Ducati as a "rogue investigator". I have read every book that Baldacci has published, and I picked this up without even reading the plot summary. I will never do that with any of his books again. Plain and simple, for any true Baldacci fans, this book will leave you wondering what he was thinking... maybe his wife made him write it... dont waste your time.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

A Master of the Genre is Back!

Mason "Mace" Perry has been fighting for her mental and physical survival her entire life. She suffered through an emotionally stagnant mother and the devastation of her father's murder when she was 12 years old. Her older sister Beth provided a stellar role model and her star catapulted her all the way to rise through the ranks to top cop in Washington, DC. Mace followed in her sister's footsteps and became a police officer as well. Beth provided stability and it gave Mace guidance but even this was not enough when the walls came down upon her and she fell so far from grace she found herself looking through the bars in prison.

Mace had been framed for a heinous crime she did not commit and after two years in prison she is now free and seeking retribution and reinstatement to the force two things that will most likely not happen but something she will fight for. Like rats in hiding those that set Mace up are going to be difficult to find even for a woman who not only defined her existence via the uniform and losing the badge took away everything. Beth is still taking care to watch over Mace and finds her gainful employment on the outside but before she can unpack her bag and get started Mace finds herself following Beth to a crime scene and getting involved in finding the killer against Beth's protests. There are a too few suspects but one great witness in Roy Kingman and he proves to be an invaluable resource for both sisters.

Roy is a fast-tracking lawyer who five years ago had been a great college player that didn't have the tools to take his career to the professional ranks. Becoming a lawyer had somehow made sense but did not define his soul - the chase on the court did and he will never forget being that close to having it all. But when he finds a co-worker and friend murdered in the officer refrigerator the last place he thought he would be is with a crazy woman chasing down leads and interrogating suspects. But Mace has him strapped behind her on the Ducati she treasures and Roy is literally playing the game of his life with thugs and trying to figure out what he has gotten himself into and stay alive and keep the one man he knows did not commit the crime from being convicted.

With too many people working against her Mace is fighting an uphill battle and one politically motivated woman is determined to take both sisters down in one fell swoop. Mace is not going to let that happen nor is she giving up on any of her goals no matter what sets itself in the path.

David Baldacci is the master of this genre and in this book he shows why. The twists and turns are enough to make you car sick but you can't stop reading long enough to lose your lunch you might miss something. The crime is heinous, the details intricate and every one of these characters is strong and stands up to every conceivable test of strength. You are kept guessing, assuming and concluding who the bad person is and when the facts are revealed you are still scratching your head wondering - did I just read that right? Perfection! This book is recommended highly to anyone with a desire to see who really runs this country.

Mary Gramlich ("The Reading Reviewer") www.marygramlich.com

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Great book, love the new characters.

I really enjoyed this book. I love all the Baldacci books and this was just as good as the rest. Entirely new characters were the basis of this one and I hope that it becomes a series so I can follow the sisters. The story was original and kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to determine who the villain was. I thought this was a great book! The plot with the guy in the mansion needs a little more development but I hope that their will be a next book and it will possibly build on that plot line.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Surprising Characters

This book took me by surprise. I didn't expect to find a woman as the lead. The book held my interest, so much so that I finished it in two days. The plot was different, but also similar in that it involved national security issues.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

action-packed investigative thriller

Sisters Beth and Mace Perry have always had each other's back as kids and adults with both becoming cops. Temperamentally opposites they love each other, but their police careers go also in different directions. Beth has become police chief of Washington DC while Mace was kicked off the force spending two years in prison after being kidnapped and framed.

Mace wants vindication affirmed only by regaining her badge. Beth at the risk of her career will do what she can to support her younger sister because she is perhaps the only person in blue who believes Mace's story. Attorney Roy Kingman is in the middle of a gigantic case involving the murder of a US Attorney and the rape-killing of another lawyer. He is attracted to feisty Mace who sees solving the spectacular case as redemption. With her sister's support and a need to work in the shadows as another US Attorney wants to return her to jail, Mace investigates only to find roadblocks from the affluent who prefer the case go cold.

This is an action-packed fast-paced over the top of the Washington Monument investigative thriller that grips fans throughout as long as the reader ignores credibility. The sisters make the tale with their support of one another as they seek a killer and redemption for Mace. David Baldacci provides his fans with a very entertaining whodunit with hopefully more appearances from the TRUE BLUE blood siblings.

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Good Book

The female characters are alpha-females so if you don't like women who are in touch with their "male-side", then this isn't for you. The characters are strong and strong-willed. The plot is written with an old detective style flair but it really does keep you on the edge of your seat. There were times I didn't put it down until I just absolutely had to. It has mystery and intrigue so if you like that type book, I highly recommend this read. I enjoyed it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Not worth your time or money

I received True Blue in abridged audiobook format as a gift. I normally would never buy an abridged audiobook (instead preferring the unabridged version).

The abridgement provided a benefit since it allowed me to get through this horrible book more quickly. This is one of the worst books I've read (heard) in a long time. The writing is lazy, cliched, and the plot is entirely unbelievable. The dialogue is clearly written by someone who is not familiar with how people converse in real life. More than once I laughed out loud -- not at the content -- but at the silliness of the dialogue itself.

I know that pop fiction isn't literature, but this book is sub-par -- even for the genre.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Trite

Every plot cliche was in this book. Listening to it on audio books made it even worse. Don't waste your time.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

So-So

This was not one of my favorite books. I have read all of his books before this one, but this did not make it for me. The ending was not good at all. Just not a very good book. I read a lot - usually a couple books a week. But this one just did not hold my interest, it took me a while to finish it. Sorry Mr. Baldacci.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fair

Fair. Would love to see the Camel Club return.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Now I Remember Why I Love Baldacci's Books

I Think Baldacci is back! I have read his last books Stone Cold, Divine Justice, The Whole Truth, but this book made me know why I am Baldacci fan. He has created exciting new characters in Mace and Roy. These two make an interesting team. The story in this book has just enough twists and turns to keep you engaged. It certainly made me forget about the two hard days I had a work this week. Thank you Mr. Baldacci for a great read.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Disappointment!

I am a real fan of Baldacci, but this book was disappointing! I felt like I was totally left hanging in the end. The only thing that will redeem this book will be if there are other books coming with Mace and Beth.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Terrorists as bad guys again

I liked the main characters and some of the dialogue in the story, but I was disappointed at the end. So many contemporary authors are using the "bad guy behind the bad guy is really a terrorist" device that it is becoming old news. Also the theme that the U.S. government is not lily-white is an old theme. All-in-all, I was disappointed in this novel, Mr. Baldacci.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Baldachi' poorest work

The plot and writing style are almost childish. This book is a real good one to take a pass on.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

TRUE BLUE by David Baldacci

I have so enjoyed his previous books and order the next one coming because of it. HOWEVER, I found this book to be frustrating. Suspension of belief is a key when viewing and enjoying any of the arts and entertainments. But you just can't believe that the main character is that bull headed and makes such bad decisions that of course work out to her favor. It was a long book with the ending unfinished. The book could have been better with an ending that gave explanations to how Captain was tricked for his sperm, or why was Beth so concerned for her safety, or whatever happened to Chester. Not Baldacci's best.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I HAVE READ NUMEROUS BALDACI'S BOOKS THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE BEST. I JUST FINISHED READING NINE DRADONS BY MIKE CONNLEY, READ THAT WHEN YOU FINISH READING THIS, ALSO HAVE FLYNN'S LATEST PURSIUT OF HONOR, READ THEM ALL, THERE GREAT READING.

aLSO READ BY BALDACCI, THE CAMEL CLUB, FIRST FAMILY DEVINE JUSTICE ALL
GREAT READING.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Baldacci Is Back

After the last two Baldacci books, I wasn't sure that I would read him again, but I enjoyed True Blue. There were many implausible moments, but they seem to be necessary, or at least accepted, in books where one individual is going to save the day. That individual here, a former cop named Mace, is the sister of the chief of police, and they work together in some fashion with a male lawyer to do good, but Mace is clearly the main character. She wants to be a cop again, and goes to any lengths to obtain her goal. Unfortunately, she often comes across as selfish, obnoxious, and a lawbreaker herself. Beth is much more mainstream, and her main nemesis is Mona Danforth, the sinister interim US Attorney. I liked her much more than Mace, as at least she is forthright about who she is. None of these strong women seem to have any sexual interest in men, which does not necessarily speak well of Baldacci's image of strong women. Can't they go together? But, the book will probably be followed with a sequel, and surely a softening of the image will occur.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Very good

I found this book very good i enjoyed it.