Rating:  Summary: LAST MAN SNORING Review: THIS HAS TO BE THE DULLEST BOOK OF 2001. I EAGERLY ANTICIPATED MY PRE-ORDERED COPY WITH BATED BREATH, ONLY TO BE SORELY DISAPPOINTED. THE PLOT IS DULL AND DIES AFTER THE FIRST 150 PAGES. THE DENOUMENT OF THIS SIMPLISTIC REVENGE PLOT IS SO PREDICTABLE AND DISAPPOINTING IT MADE ME WONDER WHO EVER EDITED THIS? THERE ARE MANY MISSPELLED WORDS AND THE CHARACTERS ARE SO 2 DIMENSIONAL IT MADE ME WANT TO SCREAM. THE PLOT IS SIDETRACKED MORE TIMES THAN I COULD COUNT. SKIP THIS ONE AND READ THE WINNER AGAIN.
Rating:  Summary: last man standing Review: my 10 year old could have written a novel that was less simplistic, unrepetetive, and more interesting than this. I wish i could send this hardback copy i have back to the author for a refund. terrible novel.
Rating:  Summary: Last Man Was Last Chance Review: David Balducci here proves the old saying that some writers only have one good book in them. Absolute Power was a knockout, I recommended it to everyone I knew. Following that, he published several disappointments but I kept hoping he'd find the old formula again.I put this book away with the marker on page 87. Enough is enough. The charactrs are wooden, the set ups preposterous and the action comicical. Balducci expects us to take everything about his character on faith, but gives no plausible reason why we should. I would love to see him try to diagram some of his tortured run on sentences. Where is the editing? Where is the restraint? Where is Stephen Hunter when you need him?
Rating:  Summary: Baldacci Knocks it Outta the Park! Review: Last Man Standing was only my second Baldacci novel and I was not dissappointed. If you thought he did an excellent job with "The Winner," then you will be doubly thrilled reading this one. The story begins rather slowly and for just a quick second there you're tempted to put it down, but just when you think the story isn't going to take off, ZOOM begins the action. Web London is the center of attention from beginning to very, very end. I love the way Mr. Baldacci handled the ending of this book because you can just feel a sequel coming -- one can hardly wait. And I have to say that Mr. Baldacci did his homework/research on this novel as well. The details found in his descriptions of HRT operations was outstanding. Not to take anything away from Baldacci, however, if you're not yet up on your "Hostage Rescue Team," (HRT) operations, you might want to first read Christopher Whitcomb's book "Cold Zero." Just a tip. Nonetheless, you will absolutely NOT regret reading this book, and you will find yourself tensing up just as if you were watching it on the big screen. You'll root for the good guy(s) and hope that the bad guys get what's coming to them (and they do). Excellent job, GREAT read, worth every minute! Home Run AGAIN for Baldacci!
Rating:  Summary: a real plodder Review: Having read only "Absolute Power" by Baldacci, I wasn't sure what to expect with this latest. Maybe I've read too many Clancy plots, but this one certainly was disappointing. I wasn't even sure I would finish it, finding it so full of cliches and stereotyping that I was aggravated. Seems like the author simply took several "in" subjects and meshed (or is that messed) them together for a plot that was too complicated. Many characters were shallow, and the two locales of the storyline were also unbelievable. Most irritating of all, however, was that London was so invincible. I will think twice before opening another by Baldacci. Besides that, I again spotted several typos, i.e., words not caught by spellcheck, that should not have been there. At the end, Baldacci thanks a couple of excellent editors for their "eagle eye" and "superb" editing. Ha. One more instance of consumers paying for flawed merchandise; glad my copy was from the library.
Rating:  Summary: good book Review: Baldacci is back to his older style and it suits him well. This book was interesting and a page turner. I am surprised that no customer has given a review but see that it is rated well. This is a book that you will enjoy.
Rating:  Summary: HRT to the Rescue! Review: Web London, Hostage Rescue Team member Extraordinaire, is introduced via interior dialogue enroute to an assignment. The mission is unusual in that there are no "hostages" involved, only employees of a drug ring whom the FBI want alive to testify. As the team files into a narrow alley, suddenly they are attacked with a murderous cross fire. Of the seven-member team, only Web London is left standing. He froze at the alley entrance and was unable to move forward. Did he panic? Suffer a psychotic break? We don't know nor does he. We are off on a grand adventure that takes us from the seamy side of D.C. to the beautiful horse country of Albermarle County, Virginia. The characters are interesting---my vote is for the steely warrior Romano whose only fear was of his tiny, peppery wife. The HRT background is fascinating and detailed. After reading this book, the FBI HRT will be in your ranks of super tough guys along with the Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, and Marine Special Forces. The twists and turns are many-perhaps a few too many, but Mr. Balducci has set such a good hook, he reels you into the finale. Some of the suspense is caused by certain character's incredible density at figuring out what is happening to them. The reader tenses up and is mentally shouting, "don't get in the car!" but of course, they do. The story is enjoyable, and Mr. Balducci delivers the goods. A fine addition to his list.
Rating:  Summary: Deep Fiction Review: I'm enjoying reading "Last Man Standing" as an attempt at a change of pace from Norman Thomas Remick's "West Point", the non-fiction book I'm also reading. I'm surprised at how heavy and involved Mr. Baldacci's book seems, even in comparison to the history and philosophy of "West Point". That's because Mr. Baldacci does such great background work for the tales he spins that they seem to be serious non-fiction. This one is no different, possibly the best. I won't say any more, or I would risk ruining it for you. Just know that I highly recommend it.
Rating:  Summary: Total Disappointment Review: Baldacci's previous works have been great reads. This one is nothing like the others. The plot and characters are just silly. I forced myself to finish the book and wondered if he was paid by the word as there is so much unnecessary "action". Save your money, this one is a C-.
Rating:  Summary: a slow moving thriller Review: I started this book with the expectation of reading a good action thriller and the first chapter proved to be just that. However the remainder of the book seemed bog down with narrative dealing with the central character's emotional problems. I also found too much emphasis on the "machismo" of the HRT members. The story concept was sound, but it was about 100 pages too long. The ending was too predictable and abrupt. I think the conspiracy aspect of the plot could have been better developed.
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