david baldacci a minute to midnight series

It appears I’ll have to wait for the next novel to find out about others. Part way through the novel I started to have some thoughts about this, and was right about at least one major revelation. However, the emotional core of this thriller is Atlee’s search for her sister – or at least for some answers. I couldn’t quite get on board with the motivation around one murder in particular. Unfortunately, for me at least, it was also the element that had the least credibility. This investigation gives the plot some of its momentum in fact, this element builds to a breakneck pace until the novel is almost unputdownable. This is primarily accidental she just happens to be there, and the sheriff isn’t too proud to seize on some expert help. Despite it being a cold case, the personal connection to Atlee gives it a sense of genuine urgency and has readers feeling that the stakes are high.Ītlee also becomes involved in a murder investigation in the small town from which her sister was abducted. For me, this made the investigation more compelling and Atlee more empathetic. Here, however, Atlee actively sets out to solve the case, utilising the skills she’s developed as an extremely effective FBI agent. Often, a backstory is simply a mechanism to explain the intensity of a character’s commitment to solving crimes, or their problems forming relationships. What sets Atlee apart is how central that story is to this novel. Her sister was never found, her parents’ marriage shattered ultimately Atlee’s entire life was shaped by that night. When she was six, her twin sister was abducted, and Atlee assaulted and left for dead. Like many other fictional lawmen and women, Atlee Pine is motivated in part by a traumatic event in her past.

Atlee Pine is an ongoing character, and I think most readers will want to find out what happens to her next. David Baldacci has avoided that fate for “A Minute to Midnight”, largely through the distinctive and empathetic lead character, and how she’s dealing with her past. I really enjoy a good thriller, but with so many good writers working in the field, many start to blend together.

David baldacci a minute to midnight series