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 First Family Nov 05, 2009
First Family was a very fast moving interesting CD. I would highly recommend this book to all to read and listen to.
 Weak protagonists, but a highly sympathetic villain and a few real surprises Oct 19, 2009
During a birthday party at Camp David, President Dan Cox's niece Willa Dutton is kidnapped and the girl's mother killed. Suspicious eyes turn toward Tuck Dutton, father of the girl and brother to First Lady Jane Cox. Almost immediately, Jane calls private investigator Sean King.
Years ago, when Dan Cox was a senator and Sean was in the Secret Service, he saved the young senator from a potentially career-ruining situation, and now Jane trusts Sean completely. So, he and partner Michelle Maxwell begin investigating the mysterious murder/kidnapping, until she is pulled away by the death of her mother, and she notices that all the evidence points to her father.
Elsewhere, Sam Quarry is angry. His daughter Tippi has been in a coma since a tragic occurrence years ago, and all he can do is wait -- and read to her from her favorite book, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Or is that all he can do? Could it be that revenge is the answer?
First Family takes its time getting started; there's a lot of character history to impart before the book can really get moving. After disc 3, I was close to putting it down for good, but two discs later I didn't want to turn it off. This is a testament to author David Baldacci's skillful plotting.
He has three different main plots going simultaneously (only one of which feels redundant), and yet things never get confusing or out of control. And he really knows just the right spot to spring a surprise bit of information. Although I had low expectations for First Family, I ended up being very impressed. Which is especially surprising since I generally don't care for this brand of mainstream mystery-thriller.
Baldacci offers a highly sympathetic villain. In fact, by the end of First Family, you'll be asking yourself just who the villain really is. Protagonists King and Maxwell (Simple Genius) are comparatively weak. Their developing relationship is such a minor part of the story, since they're so busy, that scenes that bring them alone together feel forced.
However, audiobook narrator Ron McLarty gives one of his best readings yet (assisted by the occasional melody and sound effect). He is equally proficient at all types, but it is his portrayal of Sam Quarry that really shines. Sam is a full-bodied individual. He is really the only character in First Family that feels that way. It almost seems as if McLarty were not involved at all, and that Sam himself were simply caught on record. This is one case where the narrator is able to bring more to the experience than just words on a page.
 Another victim of his own popularity Oct 15, 2009
It seems that far too many talented authors begin to believe their own PR people and write well below their ability just to have a book in print. When I read Wish You Were Here, I thought I'd found another wonderful story teller with a gift for language. First Family was such a disappointment that I will be reluctant to pick up another Baldacci book. Move over Ludlum, Patterson, and Grisham, you have company on the churn 'em out bench! That's the one at the back of the room, where the plots are stale, the characters flat and the imagination fried. Too many good authors out there to waste time with Mr. Baldacci in the future....sadly.
 Fun but inconsequent entertainment... Oct 12, 2009
Admittedly, I'm a sucker for this sort of stuff, and devour it with the same gusto with which I attack a bag of cheese puffs. I've read every one of Baldacci's novels, and while I liked "First Family" better than several of his recent outings, it still doesn't hold a candle to "Absolute Power". (None of his novels do, actually.) There's a sort of industrial competence to the whole thing which makes it generically enjoyable (like the cheese puffs) but not something you'll remember for more than a day or so.
In the service of this tale we have:
A steely-eyed ex-Secret Service alpha male private investigator
His perpetually angry kick-butt ex-Secret Service gorgeous neurotic partner (who'd rather be an alpha male)
A wildly popular JFK/Reagan-mix President who's an amoral tailhound-rapist
His cold and calculating evil amoral First Lady who covers everything up
Two saintly brilliant children, one white, one black
A not-so-saintly brilliant redneck southern kidnapper with the engineering savvy of MIT's faculty
His dimwit son
A sourpuss FBI guy who really loves kids
A cheap slut
Various background scoundrels, Indians, adulterers, and cops
Predictable, perhaps, but engaging, and I read it in two sittings. I was surprised, however, to trip over a couple of third-grade grammatical typos. (You'd think an author of Baldacci's stature would rate a competent copy editor.)
Three stars, and I'll read his next novel for sure, although I really hope it's not Michelle and Sean again. Enough already.
First Family Oct 08, 2009
It started out quickly with a wow. Loved the characters of Michelle and Sean and are thrilled they are back.
Excellent!!!!
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