First Family (King & Maxwell Series Book 4)

I'm not a big fan of David Baldacci's writing. I've read Absolute Power and the Hour Game and liked them; yet, I seldom pick up a book by him. Go figure. Anyway, Baldacci's newest hardcover is First Family, which brings back Sean King and Michelle Maxwell (Split Second, Hour Game and Simple Genius), who are ex-Secret Service agents now working as private investigators.In First Family, Sean is a friend of the President's wife, Jane Cox, having helped her and her husband out of an embarrassing situation years before, when Dan Cox was a new and upcoming senator. Now, Jan's sister-in-law (Pam Dutton) is asking for Sean's help. When he and his partner, Michelle Maxwell, arrive at the Dutton house one evening, they discover a kidnapping in play as two masked men knock out the husband, Tuck, kill Pam, and kidnap one of their three children, Willa. Michelle is almost killed while trying to stop the kidnappers from getting away. Later, once the gun smoke has settled and everyone can think straight, the President's wife hires Sean and Michelle to find Willa, thinking that the two investigators will be easier to control than the FBI. You see, the First Family has a closely guarded secret from the past and the kidnapping is just a ploy to get their attention as a wronged father puts his plan for revenge into motion. If that isn't enough, Michelle's mother is murdered in Tennessee. She and Sean have to take time out from the Willa kidnapping to go there and find out what happened. It doesn't take Michelle long to discover that her mom was cheating on her father and that he may have been the one who killed her in a fit of jealousy. The two private investigators are going to have their hands full trying to solve both cases while keeping the First Family happy, the FBI and Secret Service off of their backs, and the life of a little girl in the forefront of their mind.If it seems like I've given away some of the plot points here, don't worry about it because this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many things going on from daughters on life support, to spousal betrayal, to outward lying to hide the truth, to cold-blooded murder on both sides of the fence, to a father's quest for revenge for what was done to his child by those who are now in power, while another father searches for the killer of his wife, that the reader almost needs a program to keep track of all the subplots. Still, I found the first 173 pages to be slow in action and nearly closed he book down to read something else. Fortunately for me, I stayed with the novel and soon found myself totally engrossed and unable to put the blasted thing down. Let me reiterate that--you have to stay with the story in order to get to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If you can do that, then you're in for a treat.Also, Mr. Baldacci has created two intriguing characters in Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. In many ways they reminded of Dennis Lehane's famous characters from the Patirck Kenzie and Angie Gennaro series with the female character being the more explosive and dangerous of the two. While Sean King is suave, debonair, and utterly professional (at least most of the time), Michelle is a woman tormented by her inner demons due to something that occurred in her childhood with her parents covering it up. This life-changing experience is driving her at a break-neck speed, keeping her barely balanced on the edge of the abyss, and the answers are finally revealed as she searches for the person who murdered her mother. Other great characters abound within the pages of this novel, too. There's Sam Quarry, a man who's tough and a near-genius with his hands at creating things; yet, a person who has a code honor that he tries to follow as his wayward journey propels him to his final confrontation with those who destroyed his child's life. Then, there's Willa, the star of the show, who's young of age, yet wise beyond her years in her capacity to size up a given situation and then attempt to change the outcome. Last, and more importantly, is the First Family, a married couple who have struggled to reach the pinnacle of power within the United States and refuses to allow anyone to take it away from them. They are the true villains of the novel!The First Family by David Baldacci is a good summer read for those seeking a few hours of popcorn entertainment to escape the drudgery of day-to-day living. As a reader, you'll also hope that the author will bring back Sean King and Michelle Maxwell in the near future for more exciting cases to work on. These are characters you want to learn more about.

Love adventure and suspense - this author always provides both - terrific

I love David Baldacci's storyline. I'm unable to put the book down. The story is easy to follow and to keep track of the characters. I recommend it.

I wish that Amazon would go back to old way of rating where you could give ¼ or ½ stars I would have given it 4 ½, but since I can't I'll rate on the low side.I was ready for this novel, which reunites Sean King and Michelle Maxwell for the third time. In the last novel, Michelle was working with a wonderful psychiatrist, Horatio Barnes to deal with many issues. In the first chapter, Michelle breaks into his office to steal her file so she can see what she has said under hypnosis. I'm not going to give anything away, but if you are hoping to see more of "mid guru, Horatio Barnes you will be disappointed.Although this novel has been given bad reviews, I really like it because it tells many stories. In this novel, you find a father haunted by his daughter's vegetative state due to a botched back-alley abortion. He lives in an ate-bellum house in rural Alabama, with his housekeeper Ruth and her son, Gabriel. Gabriel is a very smart 12-year-old African-American boy who he loves like a son and in many ways, Gabriel is his best friend; in my opinion, this is as much Mr.' Sam and Gabriel's story, as it is the titled characters.When the president's niece his kidnapped the First Lady asks her friend, Sean King to find her niece, which infuriates the FBI agents handling the case. The author tells his partner and friend Michelle Maxwell how he came to meet the First Lady and why she trusts him so much. He comes to realize that the First Lady is using their trust and friendship to suit her own desires.During the case, Michelle's mother dies and when she comes home from the funeral it soon becomes clear that the story her father his telling about how his wife died is not corroborated by the evidence. She knows that her father is hiding something and is afraid he may have killed his wife. Sean comes to Nashville to support Michelle and she shares her suspicions. They end up investigating two cases, hundred of miles apart at the same time.In reality, many politicians or anyone with enough money and power are never held accountable (Chappaquiddick is called to mind), for their past and present actions. Here the author tells of an uneducated father who pieces together events decades old over time and seeks revenge on the people who harmed his beloved daughter. He aims to make them pay and he does not care how powerful they are.While Horatio Barnes is not in the story, Michelle is forced to work on her issues with the death of her mother. In dong so she becomes a softer more caring woman who is finally able to open her heart to love on many different levels. I am forward to the continuation of the three characters in another novel.

Great book!! Author is fantastic!

Passionnant et plein de rebondissements jusqu'à la fin ! Daniel Baldacci nous tient en haleine, je l'ai lu d'une traite.

Another good entry in the King and Maxwell series. The main plot centres on the kidnapping of the President’s niece and murder of her mother. It has a good parallel story that follows on from book 3 in terms of Maxwell’s childhood and current day family issues. Some aspects of the plot were a little obvious but that didn’t detract from the overall pace and feel of the novel.

I love Baldacci books and this one doesn’t disappoint.

Four king and maxwells on the trot. Now back to No. 5 which started it all. Part of No. 4 was referenced in No.5 , cunning.

Love David baldacci