Hope Rises

 

Hope Rises (Walter Nash #2 of 2 ) by David Baldacci. Grand Central Publishing, 432 pages. ****

Walter Nash has reinvented himself with fine-tuning his body, the addition of tattoos and a new name, Dillon Hope. Bent on revenge, he will do anything to bring down the people responsible for his daughter's death. Traveling into the devil's lair as a security guard to his boss, Rhett Temple, he has one mission, keeping his enemies alive so that he can kill them. He becomes an informant for the FBI to report on Victoria Steers, the head of a global criminal drug operation. Acting as his exboss's security guard, he agrees to protect Steer's mother once she is sprung from a highly secret jail. Things don't go as planned and Hope soon learns who he can trust and who will keep his new identity a secret. Feeling an attraction for his enemy has Hope questioning his own mission and the veracity of what he's been told. Will he fail and be killed before he can complete his mission or will he discover who the villain is behind the far reaching drug operation? 

I thoroughly enjoyed the second book, Hope Rises, Baldacci managed to bring the story together in a fast-paced, action packed ending. I felt that the first book (Nash Falls) lagged somewhat and was stretched out to pave the way for the second book. Hope Rises didn't disappoint and perhaps some readers may like two books to tell the story. Psychological thrillers are my genre of choice and Baldacci delivers! I am in awe of his character development and plot complexity. Highly Recommend!

For more info on David Baldacci  and to stay updated on future books. 

Review of Nash Falls - Book 1 of 2

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The Last Mandarin

 

Credit : Angela Tung; Minotaur Books

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung. Minotaur Books, 2025. 400 pages. *****

This fast-paced, all-too-real thriller will keep you guessing until the very end. "Set in China and the United States, it is a study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down."

I received a netgalley copy to review. 

The premise of this story is so diabolical, fascinating, and frightening, all at the same time. What if all the alarms across the world went off at the same time? The planning and coordination to pull something like that off boggles the mind. What's next to get our attention and who has the resources and manpower to execute a catastrophe of epic proportions? The Last Mandarin is a standalone novel and the latest in her political thrillers. The research and planning that went into this novel is amazing. On a more personal note, it is also the story of the complicated relationship of a mother and her daughter racing against time to  stop the next attack. Highly recommend. 

From Louise - "Over countless lunches in noodle joints, Mellissa and I sketched out the plot, the characters, the themes. Then we got to work.  THE LAST MANDARIN will be in your hands on May 12th. As well, as a show of our love of independent bookstores, there is a limited edition we created just for independents in North America. It has a special chapter and a message from Mellissa and me. You can pre-order it from your favourite shop, or go online." 

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Nash Falls

 

Nash Falls (Walter Nash #1) by David Baldacci. Grand Central Publishing, 2025. 448 pages. ***

Walter Nash has it all. A highly successful position at Sybaritic Investments, a cheating wife and loving daughter. Estranged from his Vietnam- veteran father, he meets his father's friend and learns how he was viewed by his father and it unsettles his predictable, complacent life.

Approached by the FBI to provide evidence of a money laundering and drug selling enterprise, Nash becomes involved in international espionage. When his daughter is kidnapped and he is blamed, Nash agrees to be a man on the inside to bring down Victoria Speers, an international mastermind, and his boss, Rhett Temple. 

I am a fan of Baldacci books; however, this one dragged for me. The story line is continued in the second book, Hope Rises. Condensing the story into one book may not have provided the ability to introduce the many characters and the back stories, however, I am always impatient waiting for a story to be continued. Thankfully, I received Hope Rises to review, and it is excellent. As always, fantastic character development and still he incorporates his usual twists and turns to keep you guessing. 

 I had the pleasure of seeing David Baldacci interviewed by Lisa Scottoline in Lancaster, PA. What a fun evening! As an author and friend Lisa was able to ask probing and entertaining questions. 

David and Michelle Baldacci have created "Wishing You Well Foundation" to combat illiteracy in America. He spoke passionately about man's humanity and promoting civil discourse. 

For more info on Baldacci, click here

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