The Simple Truth

Rating:
Summary: No flaws in this one
Review: The story is about a black military con who is seeking justice after serving 25 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. After receiving a letter he discovers that he is innocent and files and appeal with the US Supreme Court because he is well aware that he was a victim of a conspiracy of a group that will do the impossible to cover it up, this appeal is found by a clerk who gets so astounded that begins an investigation on his own bending the standard procedures of the US Supreme Court and so putting his brilliant life and career at risk

Regardless of the mystery (who is behind the cover up and why), the best feature of the plot, is the trickery subtly outlined behind the scenes, how Mr Baldacci deceives the reader in terms of characters' behavior and attitudes throughout the whole book from beginning to end and how he also flawlessly solve the puzzle without to rely on the last of the minute non sense sudden turn of the events, a subterfuge very usually employed by many well known mystery writers. For this reason this book stands out from the pack.

Rating:
Summary: A Cracking Good Case For Conspiracy Buffs
Review: "He felt numb. He had gotten Sara fired, was being set up for murdering his brother and had just told off the Chief Justice of the United States. All in less than an hour."

For ex-cop-turned-public-defender John Fiske, the hero of this thriller from David Baldacci (Absolute Power, The Winner), the predicaments pile up quickly, especially when Fiske runs into a cover-up in Washington's highest echelons.

Fiske's brother Michael, a Supreme Court clerk, had come across the petition of inmate Rufus Harms, who claimed he was wrongly convicted of murder on an Army base 25 years earlier. Soon the body count rises -- Michael, a second clerk, Harms's lawyer -- and Rufus busts out of the joint.

With the help of his romantic interest, court clerk Sara Evans, Fiske tries to unravel the conspiracy. Baldacci ratchets up the suspense, but he lays on the stereotypes pretty thick (the good guys are tough but tormented, the women pretty and smart, and Rufus is the noblest of causes). The simple truth, in the end, proves anything but.

Another lively legal thriller by Baldacci.

Rating:
Summary: Funny -- But not meant to be
Review: This is probably the worst book I've ever read.

A patent plot (when not obvious, merely outrageous) and so over-written I often had to stop and laugh. The characters are unbelievable, their actions incredible, and the dialogue often ridiculous. Then Baldacci must have run the manuscript through some runaway Thesaurus program to find some of the descriptive phrases: "water" for "tears" is one example that comes to my mind, but there were hundreds of them.

If I had been reading the book instead of listening to an unabridged tape version that I had rented I wouldn't have gotten half-way through. On the other hand I would have missed a lot. None if it good, but a lot of it.

What ever happened to editors? If Baldacci thinks he's so good that he doesn't need one, he's wrong.

Rating:
Summary: A Novel of Suspense
Review: Baldacci's suspensful story revolves around the Supreme Court, a Virginia military prison and John Fiske, an ex-cop turned lawyer, who is desperately trying to solve the murder of his brother. The author breathes life into the his characters, as the suspense builds until the final pages and a surprising ending.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Great
Review: I read 'Total Control' first, which I feel is a lot better than 'The Simple Truth' but that's only because 'Total Control' was one of the best books I ever read. Simple Truth is a very good book. It deals with relationships between brothers, family and lovers. TST involves action, suspense and a couple plot twists along the way. Balacci is great.

Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced, complex mystery
Review: My father in-law loaned me this book to read. It has been my favorite book that I have read all summer long. The book is fast-pace with exciting twists and turns at each page. I thought the story-line and characters were well-developed. If you enjoy mysteries and books that aren't predictable you will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: My first Baldacci novel but not the last. I am dropping John Grisham for good. What a great book. Entertaining from the first page on. I found it very easy to read and I think that every reader should keep in mind that they are reading "fiction". So what if every word is not as accurate as some people would like it to be. I still could not put it down. Go for it!

Rating:
Summary: insulting steriotypes
Review: This book was suggested to my book club as an interesting behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court. While the book has an interesting story line, the characters have no depth. But simply this did not cause the rating I gave it. The ignorance of the author of the learning difference Dyslexia really insulted me.

Character Rufus Harms is in prison because of a military experiment. Harms is a subject because he infuriates the officers by apparently blatantly disobeying them. According to Baldacci, Harms is dyslexic, as a result Harms doesn't understand the orders. Baldacci is blaming a murder on a genetic trait as well as giving the reader the idea dyslexics are incredibly stupid. While in reality, dyslexics have average to above average intelligence as well as many other traits that with out help can cause problems in school. With stereotypes such as those written about in this book, people with this learning difference will not be helped as much as they need because educators and legislators believes they are an incredibly unintelligent population who are prone to violence.

As a plea to writers, please research all subjects so that uninformed reader will not be given the wrong idea.

Rating:
Summary: What a story!
Review: Baldacci has outdone himself with this tale of a man falsely accused of murder! I was a little bogged down with all the characters that were seemingly thrown at me during the first few chapters....and nearly set this book aside. But, I perservered and am so glad I did! Once I relaxed and just let the story "happen" everything flowed together in one of the best mystery/suspense novels I have ever written. These characters have followed me around for days! Compelling read.....

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: The only way I could stop reading this book to go to sleep was to have someone else turn the light off. Read it.