Last Man Standing

 - By David Baldacci

“I defy you to begin this book and leave it unfinished” – Sunday Express…

Well, I got to say, that suits the book perfectly. I just could not keep the book down and believe me when I say that I have read enough action thrillers to not be surprised by the tone or the story or the action sequence. But this is my first Baldacci’s novel, an impulse buy and I was glued from the word GO. Amazingly written, giving enough rope to the details and practically painting the picture for the reader, both about the surroundings and from the perspective of the characters in that environment and to do it with such finesse is brilliant. And Baldacci has done an outstanding job with this one.

The story is about the FBI super-elite Hostage Rescue Team member, Web London. When he lost his entire team on what was supposed to be a bust operation of a drug dealer’s nest, in an alley, in what turns out to be an ambush, he just about lost everything he cared for and if there was something that he needed at that moment, was perhaps the retribution for his team, but he finds his reputation tainted and suspicions thrown at him from his own colleagues. And despite the deep loss he felt and apparently no time to regroup his thoughts, he needed to find answers. Answers to why he was the “last man standing” among his team and why he was not dead as he was supposed to be. And so begins his journey, in the due process sifting through the complex fabric of his life as a child and into a lethal world of his career and into finding the only other survivor, a ten year old boy named Kevin, who has gone missing.

The story inevitably grips the reader all the way to the last word. And more importantly, it evokes strong emotions towards all the people who do thankless jobs and never have a prayer said in their name (perhaps!) or have their memory confined to a wooden frame. And the author’s writing just about makes you wish that there would probably be a bit more to the story so that you could flip through the pages and get into the life of Web London, the protagonist of the novel and perhaps know him better, though what all was to be known about him was succinctly pointed out. He is just that sort of a character, with a little mystery associated with him and slips like a sand through fingers, never letting you get a grip! I, for one, could have used more about him!! On the other hand, there are other characters, each as strong as Web London, but well, the hype had to build around the main protagonist to cultivate the empathy!!! And I have no complaints!

Not the sort of a book you might want to pick when you are about to go to a party or on a date ;), but yeah, certainly something you want to pick, if you seem to be in a mood for some thrill and have time! Baldacci does not cut down on details and I got an impression that he likes to paint a vivid picture to the reader and build up the adrenaline, pretty much how the characters see it. You are as involved as the character and that is a significant achievement for any author. So, I got to say, hands down to David Baldacci, he has my attention and just about spiked my ante for another one of his writing.