Thursday, December 4, 2014

THE ESCAPE by David Baldacci







Thanks to the imagination of David Baldacci stern faced but handsome Chief Warrant Officer John Puller returns for a third time to face what appear to be insurmountable odds.  It’s not as if he didn’t already have enough on his plate - his dad, a lionized retired officer is suffering from Alzheimer’s and his brother, Robert, a former major in the USAF who seemed to be on a fast track up has been convicted of treason and is incarcerated in the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth for the rest of his life.

Now, Leavenworth is the end of the line - absolutely no way out.  The story opens with a shocker - Robert has escaped and left a corpse in his cell.  Next a threesome of important officials - Army, Air Force and National Security - summon John and order him to find and arrest his brother.  Having a family member involved goes against all protocol, so why did they ask John to do this?  Nonetheless, that question aside he determines to find out who the dead man was, how Robert was able to escape, and where in the world he is now.

If this were not enough an Army Intelligence agent, Veronica Knox, has been assigned to work with him.  He is by turns attracted to her and distrustful.  Unbeknownst to John Robert has completely changed his appearance, bought a car and set out to clear his name.

As with other Baldacci stories it’s exciting and pleasureful to follow along as the complex plot takes us on journey filled with action and surprises.

- Gail Cooke

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