Absolute Power Abridged

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Summary: Super tale of the potential misuse of power in Washington
Review: A tale that will both surprise and scare you. The President of this country has a lot of people, power and resources at his/her disposal; read this book and find out how far it can go! Also - Jack Graham is a great fantasy for any woman reader!

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Summary: It keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end.
Review: Although it doesn't ring true like "Primary Colors" this book is a great read. I thought I would read it for about an hour the second time I picked it up. I kept reading and reading and reading. I came to work two hours late, but it was well worth it. You know it's going to be a movie. But they rarely seem to be as good as the book

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Summary: Gives new meaning to the term political thriller.
Review: Here is a novel that lives up to the "can't put it down" description we hear so often. I can't remember when I last read a book that I enjoyed this much. First time author David Baldacci delivers a thriller with punch! Just when you think you know what's coming, he blind sides you with a plot twist that sends you reeling. He doesn't cheat you with implausibility. His characters are colorful and well defined. This is the most original novel I've read in years! Move over John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Joy Fielding, and Nelson DeMille. The suspense thriller has a new name, Baldacci!! How will he ever top this?

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Summary: Absolutely Fabulous
Review: Baldacci brings to life an amazing group of characters that you could only find in Washington DC. The stage is set from the beginning and the reader gets to ride the roller coaster with the young attorney struggling to figure out if he belongs in the world of millionaires and office politics or fighting for the underdog. Once you read this, you won't be able to think of the Secret Service in the same way, or the presidential cabinet for that matter. A must read.

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Summary: Murder and the President--unbelievable?
Review: A completely different look at the power behind the White House. The author shows you the "behind the scenes" drama of the Oval Office you never dreamed of before. The Secret Service will never be the same in anyone's mind. A real page-turning, midnight oil-burning book

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Summary: What a page turner!!!
Review: Although the storyline may seem a bit far fetched, when you take a step back, it could happen!!! The President of the United States directly involved in the murder of a highly respected and most wealthy man. This book kept me reading all night. One I would definately recommend to someone who likes "on the edge of their seat" reading. Very enjoyable

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Summary: A great book for a summer vacation
Review: A David Baldacci novel is a great companion for a summer vacation, and Absolute Power is no exception. At the end of each chapter, I would convince myself that I could read "just one more chapter." It cost me some sleep but I was able to go through large chunks of the book in a sitting. Although not as good as Total Control, which I think was Baldacci's best effort, Absolute Power was still a page turner. Having seen the movie years ago, I was a bit skeptical to pick up the book but I am glad that I did. Although Baldacci has obviously tightened up his writing skills with his subsequent novels, Absolute Power is still packed with action, suspense, plot twists and good character development. I quickly found myself rooting for Luther Whitney, who although a career thief also has an abundance of courage, integrity and personal fortitude. If you are a Baldacci fan but have not yet read his first work, I strongly recommend picking up Absolute Power.

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Summary: Story is engaging
Review: But the writing leaves a lot to be desired. The opening line tells you what you're in for: "He gripped the steering wheel loosely..." According to Webster's, grip means to seize or hold firmly, so by definition, gripping cannot be done loosely. This is the sort of annoying, unprofessional writing you have to look forward to throughout the novel. If you're just looking for an engaging story, you will have to suspend quite a lot of disbelief, but you may find the idea of this novel intriguing. If you consider quality of writing to be important, don't get this one. It was bad enough that I have not been willing to spend my money on another Baldacci novel.

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Summary: Good plot, okay characters....weak verbs
Review: This has potential to be an incredible book. As it's written, it's good, but not great. The plot carries the novel and drives it, although I found myself skipping through at times. Not because Mr. Baldacci didn't have a good story, not because the characters lacked illustration. But, because he writes in such a passive manner that I found myself rushing through.

The characters in this book are a bit cliche, but I enjoyed them. The continued reference to "the President of the United States of America" grated on my nerves at times. Shortening the title once we got the idea, would have been nice.

The suspense is good. It carries the book. It's unbelievable at times, but it moves along. I enjoyed Mr. Baldacci's scenery and dialogue enough that I kept with the book.

Overall, I feel Mr. Baldacci has potential to write a great book with some experience. I'd love to see him quicken the pace by eliminating all the passive verbs and replacing them with active vocabulary. Especially in a suspense novel. I would recommend this book for a quick fiction read, in spite of my comments.

I will read another one of this author's books, because it entertained me and that's what it's all about anyway. I also wish him luck with his career.

Rating:
Summary: Pushing the envelope with a letter opener..
Review: Just to put put some trivialities to rest, Merriam-Webster is one of many dictionaries, and others define "grip" simply as the "act of grasping". So "gripping the steering wheel loosely" makes perfect sense. Perhpas you work for the company, and are merely endorsing your product. And to Robert, Baldacci CLEARLY writes that Luther hears Alan Richmond make a "small, involuntary gasp" during the encounter. Unconcious people don't gasp. That being said it's apparent some people refuse to let themselves enjoy a good book.

But the story is high caliber and is what I've come to expect from David Baldacci, other than his standard high body counts, sexual liaisons, politcal intrigue and protagonists who seem to always be down on their luck until the very end. But while most of Baldacci's novels have a formulaic approach, there is always a healthy dose of suspense and unexpected surprises, often culminating into a whirlwind of a climax. And this book is no exception. Reading this book was like being in a stalemate. I had a general idea of what the outcome was going to be, but no idea how it would happen. And after finishing, I came out slightly exhausted but overall feeling satisfied and almost victorious as evil was punished and good rewarded.

Very few authors have the storytelling ability to craft a situation where the most high-profile figure in American politics molds into a monster before our very eyes. The story is absolutely preposterous at most points. But that's what makes it so great. The characters are incredible. Baldacci actually has the reader rooting for a thrice-convicted burglar and shaking their heads in disgust at the President of the United States within the first 60 pages. Alan Richmond's brief smile during the deadly sexual encounter says it all: it is his realization that he is untouchable, and can get away with anything. Absolute power. But of course, he does not acknowledge that the authority comes with the position. Rather, like any egomaniac in a position of power, he credits himself, Alan Richmond, as the source of that authority. The Secret Service Agents and Chief of Staff Gloria Russell are merely there to enforce his will. And enforce it they do.

Luther Whitney is in the middle of a calculated burglary at the home of one of the richest men in the country, and the President's biggest financial contributor. Everything is going as planned until a car unexpectedly pulls in and Luther is forced to seek temporary refuge behind a mirror.

In the initial conflict, a drunk Alan Richmond turns violent during a sexual tryst with Christine Sullivan, who happens to be the wife of his biggest political supporter. In a rage brought on by the fear of her own death, she suddenly reverses the roles and attempts to end her attacker's life with a letter opener. Long story short, the Secret Service comes in, pops her, and his Chief of Staff orders a thorough cleanup of the crime scene. Yet the mirror Luther Whitney is sitting behind is a one-way, and he has seen the deadly events unfold in front of his very eyes.

Luther not only escapes, but does so with the potentially damning letter opener, which is covered in blood and prints, and the agents are unable to make visual identification of the man.

So in turn, we get a very bizzarely constructed plot much like a game of Jenga, with a bunch of loose ends and pieces sticking out at odd angles. The tension builds as the game goes on. And only when one of the original founding pieces is moved at the later stages of the game does the whole construct come tumbling down.

Gloria Russell seems to initially be the maniacal, power-hungry character, as she orchestrates the entire crime scene cleanup. Yet, as her long-dormant feminine side begans to show itself and Richmond's vile personality begins to surface do we see that she does not hold a candle to the abominable Richmond. And at his side are two deadly and obedient Secret Service Agents, a potent combination for their handler.

And caught in the middle is Jack Graham, a former PD attorney whose problems keep mounting throughout the book. Then, at the climax, we see that the harrowing experiences he has been through during the course of the novel grant him the valor to confront those problems in a firm and decisive manner. I personally saw shades of Mitch McDeere from The Firm.

The characters are solid. Luther Whitney who affects the sequence of events til the very end, even in death. Sandy Lord, who gives us a preview as to how quickly power can corrupt an individual and how quickly it can dissappear. Kate Whitney and Jennifer Richmond, each the total antithesis of the other.

I thought the Metro Station scene was great. Just like in "The Winner", the element of disguise is used to perfection to surprise the reader. But my favorite aspect of the book was the fact that in an attempt to obtain the keystone piece of evidence, it was what essentially destroyed their cover-up. Proof that no matter what you do, you can't hide the truth. Especially when its on that large of a scale.

Sure, the plot may be flimsy and hard to swallow. But it's a fiction book. And I give Baldacci credit for taking on this kind of subject material. For such a well-written novel, and the late nights I spent in suspense and anticipaiton, he deserves it. A very good read.