The Innocent by David Baldacci
The Innocent
By David Baldacci
First Edition 2012
Grand Central Publishing, 422 pages
Book 1 in the 5 novel Will Robie series
Geographical Setting - Primarily the Washington D.C. area. With brief trips to foreign locals.
Time Period - Present Day
Synopsis - Will Robie kills people. It's his job and he's very good at it. As a sanctioned assassin in the employ of the United States government he kills her enemies without feeling or emotion. The agency he works for is unnamed, if he dies the government will never admit he existed. When tasked with an assignment close to home in Washington D.C. he hesitates and fails, putting his own life in jeopardy.
Fourteen-year-old Julie Getty is in foster care. While her parents love her, their drug problems and lack of stability lead to Julie being repeatedly taken from her home and placed with foster parents. When summoned home by a note from her mother she witnesses the murder of her parents.
While making their escapes Julie and Will cross paths. Will witnesses an assassin attempt to take Julie's life and intervenes. Their entanglement leads to an awkward partnership, with Will doing his best to protect an understandingly suspicious Julie who's only concern is finding her parents murderers and exacting revenge. As they try to make sense of the confusion and danger surrounding them Will becomes more convinced that their mutual betrayals are somehow linked in a vast conspiracy.
Thriller Characteristics
Pacing - This book is a compelling read that is hard to put down. Chapters are short and intense.
Frame / Setting - Focuses on a particular profession (Assassin). / Is primarily set in the base of American power. Washington D.C.
Storyline - Convoluted, interwoven, and conspiracy driven with cinematic action sequences.
Characterization - Primary protagonist is a introspective and flawed loner who operates by his own moral code.
Tone/Mood - Apprehensive with a high body count.
Style/Language - Surprisingly little technical speak for this style of book. Strong language is limited and while the body count is high it is not overly gory in description.
Sources
Novelist Plus. (2019). Read-alikes for The innocent.
Saricks, J. G. (2009) The Readers Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd Edition). Chicago, IL. American Library Association.
Thriller Characteristics
Pacing - This book is a compelling read that is hard to put down. Chapters are short and intense.
Frame / Setting - Focuses on a particular profession (Assassin). / Is primarily set in the base of American power. Washington D.C.
Storyline - Convoluted, interwoven, and conspiracy driven with cinematic action sequences.
Characterization - Primary protagonist is a introspective and flawed loner who operates by his own moral code.
Tone/Mood - Apprehensive with a high body count.
Style/Language - Surprisingly little technical speak for this style of book. Strong language is limited and while the body count is high it is not overly gory in description.
Read-alikes (Novelist Plus)
- Smooth Operator by Stuart Woods
- The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith
- Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich
- The Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy
- National Security by Marc Cameron
Novelist Plus. (2019). Read-alikes for The innocent.
Saricks, J. G. (2009) The Readers Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd Edition). Chicago, IL. American Library Association.
Excellent annotation; succinct, well written, and full of great readalikes. Full points!
ReplyDeleteI've never been tempted to pick up a book by Baldacci but this annotation makes the odd juxtapositions of life/death, betrayal/trust, legal/ethical sound interesting--with a fast pace and cinematic action it fits right in with mystery/suspense/thrillers as Saricks describes them. A good representation of the genre, it sounds like.
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