
Baldacci’s new hero, an admitted and accomplished hit man with a conscious and a sense of moral responsibility, makes for a unique character. Pairing him with a sassy, impetuous teenager leads to many entertaining scenes and conversations. Baldacci add the romantic elements of a pretty young woman who lives in Robie’s apartment building and the enticing events that occur as Robie hides his actual occupation from her. The real draw of the book, though, is the finely crafted, suspense-filled plot that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of danger and intrigue, ending with an unexpected and shocking conclusion. Sharing the narration, Ron Mclarty and Orlagh Cassidy alternatively portray the male and female characters, giving them believability. Cassidy is particularly adept at showing Julie’s toughness as well as her vulnerability.
All of Baldacci’s mystery thrillers guarantee excitement, but this book goes far beyond and offers absorbing human interest in addition to electrifying drama. This book will be hard to put aside once you meet Will Robie and get involved in his story. It is definitely one of Baldacci’s finest.
The Innocent by David Baldacci
Read by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy
Hachette Audio, unabridged: 12.5 hours on 10 CDs