Rating: 
Summary: Total Absurdity
Review: A Fed Chairman who can manipulate fed funds rates and discount rates five times durng his tenure and raise no hue and cry in Congress, the media, and the White House? Wild swings of interest rates with no explanation, no justification? This is truly fiction at its most fictitious. And how, pray tell (since Baldacci doesn't) does the chairman get away with such shennanigans without the other Federal Reserve Board governors raising any objection? Baldacci's plot hinges on these manipulations that occurred in the five years preceding the time period of the story, and yet, is it plausible that no one in the USA (or overseas) realized up to that point that something was seriously awry in the Federal Reserve? In his afterword, Baldacci remarks on the "total control" the fed seemingly has over our daily lives. If he refers to the awesome powers of the Fed, he is right, but that point undercuts the premise of the novel, i.e. that the Fed's moves were noticed only by one bright techno whiz kid. We all know that when Allan Greenspan, the current Fed Chairman, makes any public reference to the economy, his words are dissected for meanings and submeanings. He sneezes, and Wall Street catches a cold. He must testify before Congressional committees. Fed chairmen do have enormous power, but they their actions are subject to intense public scrutiny. An Arthur Lieberman (Baldacci's Fed Chairman) could never have gotten away with what he did. As for the heroine, enough said by other reviewers -- a bawling babe wonderwoman, though makes for an interesting character. The book had at least one virtue: it was a fast read.
Rating: 
Summary: 9 Lives
Review: Haven't the Bad Guys learned yet, that you can't pick on Superwoman???? Maybe I'll send them an email an explain it to them.
Rating: 
Summary: outstanding & totally entertaining
Review: The book was very entertaining - picked up the book and could not put it down until I finished. I will buy his next book without even looking!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother
Review: Agree with most of the negative reviews. Baldacci's context is unbelievable and his word choices as contrived as they come. I can't believe this is the same guy who wrote Absolute Power. Moreover, I can't believe his editor still has a job. My recommendation is: don't bother.
Rating: 
Summary: A little implausible, but enjoyable
Review: Baldacci has a good imagination, and one that draws upon current trends, politics and economics. I liked the questions he raises about the potential excesses of technology, and the underlying greed that motivates many (but not all). I got a little tired of all the gunfights, but I liked the pace, and I was surprised by the ending. The protaganist is appealing, though I really didn't believe she would want to spend all her time at home with Amy. Was that a subtle message to us working women?
Rating:
Summary: Total Control had control over this reader!
Review: I found it very difficult to put down. The characters were realistic and the subject matter believable, almost too believable. I can't wait to read Baldacci's next, The Winner.
Rating:
Summary: Again a great Baldacci!!!!!
Review: Total Contral is greaaaaattttt!!! Absolute exiting!!!!! More can I not say!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: TOTALly Awesome
Review: Baldacci's second book, Total Control was almost as good as Absolute Power. A friend loaned it to me and I couldn't put it down. I devoted an entire day to this thrilling mystery that leaves you at the edge of your seat for most of the 700 pages. Baldacci uses Poe's idea of having everything lead and relate to the ending. I had no idea that this book was going to end the way it did and I commend Baldacci for making such an intricate plot. Two thumbs Up!!
Rating:
Summary: Who would believe this tripe?
Review: Ok. I'm not a writer. Don't pretend to be. But, I AM a fairly intelligent reader. From the very beginning to the bitter end, this book was nothing but boilerplate fiction at its very worst. A "plumper than she used to be" corporate lawyer loses her husband in an airplane crash that also just happens to kill the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Then, in a plot with more twists and turns than a bad country road, she begins her fight to save his shaky reputation. The operative word is "fight." Who can believe that this middle-aged woman can "kung fu" with hired guns? The only other formula fiction that was this bad was the author's other incredible story, "Absolute Power." Oh, for an intelligent story, well-told. You won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: A light meal
Review: I sat down on a transatlantic flight recently and pulled out his book. And so did the woman sitting next to me. We both proceeded to plow through the thing. But the whole time, I kept asking why? Contrived and ridiculously implausible plot. Characters so thin they seem to lack substance entirely. I mean, a corporate lawyer-mom who can outmanouver an entire swat-team of bad guys? Come on! But, hey, it did the job. Before I knew it, we were home, and we'd both finished the damn thing.
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