Rating: 
Summary: A testosterone-laden thriller that is a macho man's dream.
Review: "Last Man Standing" is a far cry from Baldacci's last novel, the gentle "Wish You Well". "Last Man Standing" will be a huge hit with the macho set. It has all the trappings that men love--tons of firepower (with the weaponry described in loving detail) and large doses of intrigue and violence. There is even a sexy seductress thrown in for good measure.Web London is the "Last Man Standing." He is a veteran of the FBI's elite HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) who survives an ambush that leaves all of his colleagues dead. Why did Web suddenly freeze and hold back when the rest of his team walked right into the ambush? Is Web a traitor, a coward or both? Both Web and his colleagues at the FBI would like an answer to that question. Web has other problems, as well. His face is permanently disfigured as a result of a gun battle years ago with a right wing group that, unfortunately, left a ten-year-old hostage dead. Web has never gotten over the guilt from that tragic event. Now that Web's buddies have almost all been wiped out, with him living under a cloud of suspicion, his life is barely worth living. Web decides to fight back and the book, all 548 pages of it, is the story of how Web and a few good men get to the bottom of an insidious plot to destroy Web and his team. The first scene of the book is very well done. Baldacci describes the ambush in gripping detail and it is a dynamite opening. He also populates his novel with some very colorful characters, including Big F, a huge drug dealer with a unique code of ethics, Perce Bates, an FBI man who is willing to give Web one last chance, and Gwen Canfield, a beautiful woman with an agenda of her own. There is a quasi-love interest in the psychiatrist, Claire Daniels, whom Web consults to deal with his many psychological "issues." I was thoroughly engrossed in the various plot lines that deal with drug dealing, revenge, and conspiracies. The book is fast-paced, but it is still a little too long, and the ending was more than a little far-fetched. However, Baldacci's "Last Man Standing" is an exciting roller-coaster ride, and I sense that there may be a sequel down the road for Baldacci's fans to anticipate with pleasure.
Rating: 
Summary: Ponderous, Slow Moving
Review: At 540+ pages this novel could easily have lost one third of its bulk. The author beats the reader to death with the hero's mental problems and ruminations about a mysterious black child who disappears from the scene of a horrendous shootout where six FBI Hostage Rescue Team members are slaughtered. Contrary to other reviews, one of the few areas of the book that kept me interested was narrative about HRT training, weapons and assorted war stories. New characters pop up every few chapters, leading to confusion and boredom. My first (and last) Baldacci book.
Rating: 
Summary: an action-packed chiller-thriller!
Review: An FBI Agent, point-man on a hostage rescue team, is desperate to find answers to why people connected with him are being silenced. Last Man Standing, is a techno-thriller minus the jargon; it is an adventure, a fantastic psychological thriller, & Baldacci has convincingly combined the elements of all these sub-genres in an action-packed book. While the action is not past paced, it is thick & furious. London is a real fallible hero, similar to the protagonists in many Frederick Forsyth novels, which makes the character & the story totally believable. Web London has many features of a series character, & I wouldn't be surprised to catch him in any future Baldacci novels. I enjoyed this punching chiller-thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!!
Review: Having taken a pass on Baldacci's departure from the action/thriller (Wish You Well), I welcomed a return to previous form with Last Man Standing. I believe the latest effort was worth the wait. Like his previous works such as Total Control and Absolute Power, Baldacci grabs you at the beginning of Last Man Standing and doesn't let go. The work is another page turner, packed with action, suspense, plot twists and surprises. In the story, the central character, Web London, is a member of FBI HRT (Hostage Rescue Team). Previously decorated for heroism on many occasions, London finds himself inexplicably frozen during a rescue assault that wipes out the entire HRT assault team and leaves him as the last man standing. As the story unfolds, London is left to deal with the aftermath of the situation and attempt to find an explanation. Baldacci effectively utilizes shifts between the present and the past, and provides a broad character set to complement London's character. All-in-all, Last Man Standing is a great read that marks a return to the genre in which Baldacci made his mark originally. Hopefully, he will continue.
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced, fascinating, but a little far-fetched
Review: You have to love Baldacci if you love suspense. As per his usual style he has created a completely gripping novel with more twists and turns than a mountain road. The characters are larger than life, but don't we all need a little escapism? And don't we all really need to belive in heros? The main character, Web London, is a tortured hero, but a hero through and through. He finds himself fighting on many fronts, even one in his own mind. And while he never knows who to trust, you know you can trust him. Even some of the not-so-good characters turn out to have a heroic streak. And there are a lot of characters to keep track of. The plot was intricate. I have to admit I wasn't sure where it was going until very near the end. The wrap up was a little coincidental for my taste and there were times where the prose was a bit forced. Bodies litter the sidelines of this story, so it is not for the faint of heart. The motion starts on page one and never stops. The ending wraps it all up nicely and lays way for more of Web London...? On the whole I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed it and lost sleep to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking!!
Review: At last a book that does what it say it will do: entertain, scare and thrill. The outline of the story can be seen in the editorial review section above. This book is without doubt the product of an above-average story-teller. The plot twists and turns hither and thither; the pace is so fast it nearly burns the page; the action makes the reader hold his breath until the last shot has been fired. Don't expect this to be a relaxing read, for it will cause your blood-pressure to rise at times, and your breathing to stop at crucial moments in the plot. I found this a rich and detailed novel, full of complexities and a little sardonic humour. The characters are engaging and well drawn; essentially plausible. A great whodunit!
Rating:
Summary: great
Review: I have only read one third of this book and am resenting the fact that I do not have time to continue at this very moment. Its very good. So many authors who do well in the beginning, run out of steam. Baldacchi is better than Grisham. And Cornwell, after just "trying to read" Isle of Dogs and finding it so shallow and boring, this is wonderful. Will write another review when I finish. Gotta go see Harry Potter today so Baldacchi must wait.
Rating:
Summary: Great Characters, Toooo Much Plot and Detail...
Review: Baldacci is a really fine story teller and has a great knack for developing his characters. Some of the characters are incredibly interesting but I kept thinking that things were just a bit overdone at times. The story would be moving along nicely, then on one page, 3 or 4 questions become resolved, all at once, and way too quickly. That seemed to happen more than a few times. Although I could not put the book down, there were times when I was disappointed with how things resolved themselves. It almost seemed to me that Web was writing the book because he seemed to solve everything so easily, too easily. Things just seemed to pop into his head and I kept thinking it was because he wrote the book. :) I would still recommend the book because he is still develops really interesting characters such as Web, Romano, Clair, Kevin, BigF, etc., but imho, he needs to reign in the excesses of the plot. I hope he gets a little more on track in his next book, which I will buy, but now i won't be as easy a sell as I was if he disappoints me next time. Unlike Tom Clancy, who has gone totally down the tubes and whose books will never again grace my bookshelves, Mr. Baldacci is a fine writer still looking to grow and improve ( i think). :)
Rating:
Summary: Once again a real Baldacci
Review: LAST MAN STANDING is once again a real Baldacci ... and thrillers he does best. This is book offers action, suspense and it has all the elements of a first-class thriller for the present ... great movie material, too. The storyline is chase, not only in physical terms, but also regarding psychological aspects and mind games. Another recent thriller that I found absolutely fascinating is THE CONSULTANT by Alec Donzi.
Rating: 
Summary: A first try
Review: The general admonition for beginning writers is to write what you know about. That should extend to successful authors who try to move into completely new territory. I was disappointed.
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