Customer Reviews

Absolute Power

5 star:		(108)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

A David Baldacci novel is a great companion for a summer vacation, and Absolute Power is no exception. At the end of each chapter, I would convince myself that I could read "just one more chapter." It cost me some sleep but I was able to go through large chunks of the book in a sitting. Although not as good as Total Control, which I think was Baldacci's best effort, Absolute Power was still a page turner. Having seen the movie years ago, I was a bit skeptical to pick up the book but I am glad that I did. Although Baldacci has obviously tightened up his writing skills with his subsequent novels, Absolute Power is still packed with action, suspense, plot twists and good character development. I quickly found myself rooting for Luther Whitney, who although a career thief also has an abundance of courage, integrity and personal fortitude. If you are a Baldacci fan but have not yet read his first work, I strongly recommend picking up Absolute Power.

I bought this book primarily on the basis of reviews that I read here. Every year I try to stock up on mindless fiction that can keep me occupied on a flight or my commute and the reviews of David Baldacci's first novel seemed to fit that bill.

Baldacci has definitely crafted a page-turner here. I plowed through this book and was gripped by the plot and an interest in finding how the author would bring it all to a conclusion. The novel centres around Luther Whitney, a sophisticated but aging burglar who stumbles across an incident involving the President of the United States. Whitney is torn between fearing for the influence and power which the President can use against those he loves versus trying to do good.

Nevertheless, the plot almost goes too far at times and borders on the verge of incredulity. Baldacci has a very good knack of making a plot more complicated - finding a way to dispose of evidence or making life difficult for one of the book's numerous protagonists and yet still letting the good guys win in the end by some stroke of luck. This turns the book from a fairly taut political thriller into something a little too fantastical for my tastes (i.e. a Secret Service Agent turning into some crazed homicidal maniac).

Nevertheless, Baldacci's first novel shows a potential to weave a good, complex tale and I fully intend to read some of his later books to see if he can tone down the plots while maintaining the suspense.

If I had the choice, I would give the book 3 1/2 stars but for the time being, have to make do with a middle-of-the-road 3.

We enjoyed the author's later work, "Simple Truth", so decided to catch up on this his first novel based on his lawyer-turned-writer's ability to craft a good plot and keep us in suspense. We were not to be disappointed! Baldacci has spun another fine tale, starting off hot with a rich man's trophy wife murdered by the Secret Service as her bedmate, U.S. President(!) Alan Richmond, was in danger of being stabbed to death during a kinky sex scene gone bad. Amazingly, a cat burglar is watching all this from a closet through a one-way mirror; and he escapes with a bloody letter opener as well as the money and other prizes for which he came originally! From there, it's a suspenseful cover-up as the thief's lawyer, Jack Graham (a young stud super-star attorney reminiscent of the hero in Grisham's "The Firm") and the G-agents race to find or eliminate the clues which will bring the truth to light.

Many rightly complain that the Clint Eastwood movie, not all that bad itself, made too many changes by eliminating the lawyer and having the burglar do all the detective work. We agree the book is better, and if you're in the mood for a legal/crime thriller, then we feel confident you'll find "Absolute Power" an entertaining page turner, with some ruthless politics thrown in for good measure!

This was the only book by baldacci I had not read. I waited for some time after seeing the movie as I wanted to be ready to absorb and enjoy. We know the book is usually better than the movie. Well, for me it did turn out that way. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys politics, law and above all action. I will look forward as many others to his next book published.

Here we have a book where the President of the United States is the bad guy.....and the criminal is the man of honor. This book is a thriller with political intrigue and takes place mostly around the Metro D.C. area.

The book starts with an aging burglar, Luther, breaking into a billionaire's well protected mansion. He is suprised, but not caught by none other than the President of the good ol'USA. Who happens to be with the billionaire's young wife. Luther who is hidden in a safe with a two-way mirror, watches as the President starts to beat on the young woman. The woman in an act of self preservation, grabs a letter opener and stabs the President. The ensuing struggle and yell from the President, brings the very effective Secret Service Agents into the room. Where they shoot and kill her.

The scheming Chief of Staff hatches a quick course of action to start a cover up. But no one is aware of Luther who has watched the whole horrid affair. The story begins to pick up speed when Luther decides he has do what is right and set things straight.

You can tell this is Mr. Baldacci's first book. But worth the read. I read Total Control first, and find that book of a much higher quality. I think he will only improve with each book he writes. There were parts in this book where I just had to read one more section before I put it down.

I am an avid reader, and I have several favorite authors-of which
David Balducci is now on the top of the list. This was the first
of his books that I have read, and I loved it. I read it in 2 days, as I could not put it down. The story is engrossing, and leaves the reader with that "one more chapter" feeling. I am definately going to read more of his books!!

My first Baldacci novel, I was pleasantly surprised. Interesting story, and a real page-turner. I would highly recommend this book. I will definitely read some of his other books.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. This is a story that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. I read it in 2 days, and I recommend it to everyone I know. This book has got it all - an unbelievably clever plot, characters you root for, bad guys, good guys, and just a tiny touch of romance. I LOVED THIS BOOK. Don't see the movie, it doesn't even BEGIN to do the book justice, and they eliminate one of the main characters, Jack, completely from the movie in order to make Clint Eastwood the hero. After reading this, I immediately delved into "Total Control" and "The Winner". David Baldacci does not disappoint. I have just this to say to him - PLEASE, PLEASE write another novel! I am a huge fan of John Grisham, Michael Crichton, John Sandford, and Richard North Patterson, but I have to say, David Baldacci blows them out of the water. I didn't want the book to end. This is one you CANNOT miss.

I read this book when it was first published, and fell in love with David Baldacci. Unfortunately, Clint Eastwood butchered the movie and cheated movie-goers out of the true flavor of the book. Just last week, my husband and I listened to the book on tape and it was just as good--if not better, the second time around. How good was it? Well, our trip took us 14 hours in the car and we were tempted to sit in the car when we arrived home so that we could hear the end of the book! It was that riveting. Baldacci is definitely the best of the lawyer-turned-writers. His stories are action-packed, his characters are well fleshed out and believable, and his plots of full of suspense. For my money, give me Baldacci over that "other" lawyer anyday.

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" --Lord Acton. That truer words have never been spoken is proven by David Baldacci's thriller "Absolute Power".

Alan Richmond is the President of the United States, he is also an adulterer who finds himself in a lethal situation, when the woman he is beating up grabs a letter opener and tries to kill him. Poised outsided the door, Secret Service agents Burton and Collins hear him cry out for help and rush to his aid. They simultaneously shoot his attacker, the much younger wife of billionaire Walter Sullivan.

Quick thinking by Chief of Staff Gloria Russell, begins a coverup that would have been effective if only aging burgler Luther Whitney hadn't been trapped in the one-way mirrored vault by the President's lustful intentions. Luther sees the whole thing, and is horrified. He fully intends to just keep his haul and fade into the background until circumstances dictate that he needs to step in.

And so begins a page-turning thriller whose plot twists and turns in the established bestseller format. Absolute Power is a quick read and very hard to put down. It gives a view of what could happen if a corrupt President puts his loyal to the death Secret Service into an impossible situation.

Very impressive for a first novel, I can't wait for the next one!