Total Control

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Summary: TOTALLY FIRST CLASS!!
Review: BALDACCI DOES IT AGAIN, HE FOLLOWED UP ABSOLUTE POWER WITH ANOTHER EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. I ONLY HOPE HE CAN KEEP IT UP AND NOT TURN INTO ANOTHER JOHN GRISHAM. TOTAL CONTROL IS FAST PACED, VERY SAD AT TIMES AND PROVIDES SOME GREAT INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF EMAIL. IF YOU LIKED ABSOLUTE POWER, THIS IS A MUST READ. THE STORY CAN GET A LITTLE UNBELIEVEABLE AND MAYBE A LITTLE PREDICTABLE, BUT WELL WORTH IT.

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Summary: The conspiracy among us...
Review: About the only thing good about this book was it helped pass the time during a roundtrip flight between Dallas-Chicago. Otherwise, it was populated by the usual suspects: 1 lawyer who works for a high powered law firm that is dependent upon one client, a poorly paid G-man, and a powerful, corrupt executive (of a firm or a nation). He's like Grisham in that now that I've tried it, I won't return.

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Summary: Superwoman lives!
Review: Our book discussion club will soon be 'doing' Baldacci's "Absolute Power". Having just completed "Total Control", now I'm wondering if all of his protagonists are anal retentive!With that said, 'Total Control' is a well paced novel, full of surprises, and greatly organized. Sidney has a lot of skills that she accrued through a combination of her intelligence and hard work, coupled with the lives of a dozen cats. If there is a weakness to the plot, it is how often she weaves into and out of hopeless situations. The FBI agent clearly has her best interests at heart, but has he compromised the investigation because of his tenderness? Can the Fed be so easily manipulated by its fearless leader, particularly in the way today's media goes about its daily feeding frenzy? Does Baldacci portray sexism in a reverse role, when he has Sidney's spouse being so easily overcome while she vaults over tall buildings, stops speeding bullets, sees through concrete, etc? Stay tuned for Baldacci's next venture.

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Summary: My high school English teacher weeps ...
Review: I wrote better prose than this when I was in tenth grade - and I'm an accountant

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Summary: A high-tech thriller that computer buffs will love!
Review: Did he die or didn't he? What's on the disk? Who has the disk? Who's the man with the blue eyes? And how is the president of the Federal Reserve linked to our very likable but insignificant hero? You'll have to read "Total Control" by David Baldacci to find out the answers to these questions and all the others that enter your mind. David Baldacci grabs your interest with the first paragraph. The characterization is terrrific. I was quite taken by the protagonist, Sidney. She is part of the plot from beginning to end and refuses to play the typically passive female victim common to so many thrillers. My only complaint was a few very blunt clues and a slight drag to the story somewhere around the middle of the book. But it's well worth the read. Now I can't wait for the movie! I wonder who'll play Sidney???

Rating:
Summary: Not near as good as Absolute Power - a disappointment
Review: After reading Baldacci's debut book "Absolute Power" I was really looking forward to "Total Control". Pace was too slow, story was "padded" with a lot of "technobable" (sp), jumped around too much and just not that interesting. I'm not finished yet, up to page 170 (approx) and still waiting for the page-turner part

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Summary: Yeah right, as if the neighbour's butler did it.
Review: This book is actually quite good, until you get to the end. The "surprise" ending is definetly that - it is like saying the bulter did it - the neighbour's butler! Feeble ending. Doesn't follow from the stor

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Summary: Total Control draws the net and wont let go!
Review: Absolute Power started the roller coaster ride that is continued by Total Control!! Through the eyes of Sydney Archer, we are taken for a thrill ride of suspense and danger that doesn't forget that we have emotions. David Baldacci did a masterful job of introducing us to characters that we can understand and sympathize with. The characters respond in ways we would expect them to if the situation were real, not like puppets to make the novel run smoothly. We learn to love and hate, and even to mourn with his characters. Baldacci has forged for himself a place with the great action and suspense authors like Dick Francis and Clive Cussler, and he will always be welcome on my bookshelf

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Summary: If you suspend belief, this book can be enjoyable.
Review: The story starts out interestingly enough, but the believability of the characters is weak as the story continues. There are some interesting bits related to the Internet, but the fact that an email through AOL is at the center of the plot is weak. No one ever got a busy signal and we all know that just doesn't happen. Finally, I figured out the mystery by page 424. After that it was all down hill. I got the feeling that Baldacci had a movie in mind when he wrote the "thrilling" ending. I wish he would spare us. I get enough of that at my local theatre

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Summary: LOTS of Characters .. PAY ATTENTION .. it's worth it!!!
Review: This is a great read .. but you must pay attention to all the characters. Mr. Baldacci does a great job of making them all come to life, but he does it at his speed, not necessarily the one that you are looking for! .. It's a great book .. and well worth any waiting you might have to endure! .. The end is gripping and makes you stop and think, long after you've put down the book