Sunday, November 04, 2007

Pg. 69: David Baldacci's "Stone Cold"

The current feature at the Page 69 Test: David Baldacci's Stone Cold.

About the book, from the author's website:
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club are back in their most dangerous adventure yet, a war on two fronts. Casino king Jerry Bagger from The Collectors is hunting Annabelle Conroy who conned him out of millions. Stone and his colleagues Reuben, Milton, and Caleb marshal all their resources to protect Annabelle.

Yet all their skills may not be enough when a deadly new opponent rips off the veneer of Stone’s own mysterious past: Bagger’s menace pales next to newcomer Harry Finn’s lethality. Passing as a normal family man, Finn has already killed three men, with more targets to come. When Finn sets his bull’s-eye on Stone, his reason will be the greatest shock of all, causing readers to reconsider their views of good and evil. As bodies and institutions topple, the story rockets toward a shattering finale that will leave the survivors of this explosive tale changed forever.

Among the early praise for Stone Cold:
"The modern-day paladins of the Camel Club are back in their third exciting adventure... Gripping, chilling and full of surprises, Baldacci’s latest reveals the anarchy that lurks under the slick façade of corrupted governments."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"When Baldacci is on fire, nobody can touch him, and this is an exhilarating thriller: fast paced, with a cast of engaging characters, a couple of mind-wrenching plot twists, and a general air of derring-do that keeps the proceedings from getting too heavy. Let’s hope this isn't Oliver Stone’s last appearance."
--Booklist (starred review)

"Baldacci's intricately woven plotlines, well-developed characters, fast-paced action and surprise ending will leave readers satisfied and wanting more."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"Red, white, and blue -- a classic American flag for Stone Cold. No white flags or white feathers for this one. The action is too hot, the story and characters far too vivid, the battleground all too close, to be flagged with anything else."
--Fireside Reader
Read an excerpt from Stone Cold, and learn more about David Baldacci and his books at his website.

Baldacci is the author of over one dozen New York Times best-sellers: Absolute Power, Total Control, The Winner, The Simple Truth, Saving Faith, Wish You Well, Last Man Standing, The Christmas Train, Split Second, Hour Game, The Camel Club, The Collectors and Simple Genius as well as his Freddy and the French Fries children's series.

The Page 69 Test: Stone Cold.

--Marshal Zeringue