The Winner

Rating:
Summary: Grips you at the start, slows the pace, keeps you guessing
Review: It grabs you and keeps you guessing. As the various characters' motivations are revealed, the puzzle pieces gradually fit together. While not as compelling as his first two novels, The Winner is definitely worth the ride.

Rating:
Summary: bubble gum for the brain
Review: Starts great, rapidly goes downhill, predictable, boring, no depth to the characters. Very disappointing, so glad I didn't buy it, don't waste your time!!

Rating:
Summary: A story that keeps on giving!
Review: I found myself initially having mixed feelings about this rather unusual story of deceit, murder, love, and survival. But once getting into the story, I couldn't stop listening! In fact, I have listened to it twice and will listen many times more. What a great story of a seemingly pathetic young woman who grows into a strong, determined, and much wiser person while along the way finding a great man to share her life with. I loved the audio book so much, I now HAVE to get the book and read it all!

Rating:
Summary: Best thriller novel since Craig Furnas's THE SHAPE
Review: This is one of the best thriller novels I've read since Craig Furnas's THE SHAPE. (THE SHAPE is also available on Amazon.com)

Rating:
Summary: The title is "The Winner," but the book is A Looser.
Review: I bought the book after reading "Total Control" which I though was pretty good reading. Was I ever disappointed in this. Cliche piled upon cliche. I struggled through about 2/3 of the text before I finally gave up.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't Want to Put It Down!!
Review: I read this in a weekend and hated to see it end. Suspenseful! I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Will be reading more by this Author.

Rating:
Summary: The book was like a chase scene in the movies; great read.
Review: This is the third Baldacci novel I have read in the past few months. Each has been unique and I have been disappointed to finish. I want more.

Rating:
Summary: terrible plot, shallow characters, horrible writing
Review: The plot is completely unbelievable. The characters have no character and the writing contains every flowery cliche that every bad writer has used since the invention of the printing press. How did this trash ever get published? There are too many good writers out there to bother with something like this.

Rating:
Summary: A let down from his first two novels.
Review: I would rate his first two novels "Absolute Power" and "Total Control" as solid 9's. Good entertainment, with well drafted plots, consistent writing and good solid endings. "The Winner" is entertaining much of the time, but there are too many gaps where the writing and the plot are like a B movie - there is no mystery after the half way point. It is too bad as the book starts well and the first section is entertaining, starts with the beginings of a good plot with a lot of directions to take it before finishing. Unfortunately the story becomes bland after LuAnn wins the Lottery, and losses the pace and any sense of mystery. The story becomes too predictable and the characters appear like Barby and Ken - plastic. Unfortunately I think I have lost one of my new favorite writers. I will be more critical before I buy one of his books again.

Rating:
Summary: IT WAS GREAT
Review: IT WAS FAST PACED, INTRESTING, WELL WRIITEN, SCAREY, FROM YOU MOMENT YOU PICK IT UP YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN. GRIPS YOU