No Time Left (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition]

David Baldacci (Author)

Book Description

An original short story by New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.

Frank Becker is a highly sought after, expert assassin. When Becker takes a mysterious job, he has no idea that it will force him to delve deeply into his own past. Undeterred by obstacles he is determined to complete his assignment. But he may realize too late that his success will permanently alter his future.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

I once overheard Charles Baxter say that there's no story until something goes wrong. If No Time Left is any indication, David Baldacci must have missed that memo. Throughout the first half of the story, deceptively little seems to happen. Protagonist Frank Becker is very good at his loathsome profession: he goes to work, he does the job, and he plans the next gig. Period. But Baldacci has a surprise up his sleeve, and it's not until well into this single-sitting tale that the author's cloak-and-dagger (umbrella, actually) conceit begins to reveal itself. If you like the idea of Agatha Christie and Isaac Asimov collaborating on a conspiratorial jack-in-the-box of a story, No Time Left delivers. --Jason Kirk

Product Details

• File Size: 194 KB
• Print Length: 15 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 2, 2011)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004LB4FBE
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #632 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #5 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > Fiction
  • #81 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

232 of 242 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Little Short Story May 2, 2011

By Michael Gallagher HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had pre-ordered this and forgot about it until it showed up on my Kindle this morning. It's a pretty good short story, but I do want to emphasize the short: it took me about five minutes to read it. You can usually get a pretty good gauge of how long a Kindle book is by the size (in kilobytes) on the book description page, and I thought this one would be longer at almost 200 KB - it must be the graphics at the end advertising other Baldacci books.

The story has an interesting little plot, but not much character development or interaction due to the length of the short story. However, Baldacci does a good job of getting you interested in the character - this really could have been the outline of a full-length novel, and I think it would be a good diversion for Baldacci as I really haven't liked his last two novels which appear to have been primarily written by others. You do have a pretty good idea of how the story concludes about 75% of the way through it.

To summarize, this is a pretty good short story and Baldacci fans should like it. I did!

143 of 150 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Extremely weak first outing for a short story May 4, 2011

By Scott Drebert

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Before posting this review I read through the ten or so already listed to make sure that I am not the only one with the same opinion on this short story. To my surprise, most of the other readers have the same thoughts that I do.

This is the weakest writing that I have ever read from Baldacci. As a matter of full disclosure, I am RABID fan of his novels and eagerly await each and every one of them since being turned on to his thrillers about three years ago. However, this first efort at a kindle short story is predictable, implausible, and never links the character motivation that drives the ending. I thought maybe it was me, but upon reading it a second time I was still left confused at the ending and wondering why he had even written it.

Read his novels and stay away from this weak story. His new book "The Sixth Man" is a much better and enjoyable read.

Better luck next time.

75 of 83 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Short and sweet May 3, 2011

By William D. Curnutt TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Literature has always been about concise, good writing that draws the reader in quickly. Short stories have always been good reading material for everyone. They can be put into magazines, chronicled in anthologies and also used to train new students in how to write, how to think and how to make your story concise without loosing detail.

I had no idea what a Kindle Single was but thought I would try this one since I do love David Baldacci's writing.

This very short story deals with the life of a paid assassin who does his job well. We have a quick look at his latest job and then follow him as he meets a new client for an "challenging" job. But what could be so challenging about what appears to be a very strait forward killing. He sees nothing challenging about it.

But that is where Baldacci catches us. The man does his job quickly and well, but as soon as he has dispatched the victim he realizes that he has made a grave mistake. This story will take you about ten minutes to read and will leave you with the desire to read more.

Maybe Amazon will package these Kindle Singles into an anthology so that we have a larger gathering of short stories in one volume.

Enjoy!

More About the Author

David Baldacci made a big splash on the literary scene with the publication of his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996. A major motion picture adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 26 novels, all of which have been national and international bestsellers. His novels have been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries; over 110 million copies are in print worldwide. David has also published three children's books. He has received numerous accolades for his writing; most recently, he was inducted into the 2011 International Crime Writing Hall of Fame and received the 2012 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award.

A lifelong Virginian, David was born in Richmond in 1960. He received his Bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1982 and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986, after which he practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C.

While David is involved with several philanthropic organizations, his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family's Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy in the United States by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs. In 2008 the Foundation partnered with Feeding America to launch Feeding Body & Mind, a program to address the connection between literacy, poverty and hunger. Through Feeding Body & Mind, nearly 1 million new and used books have been collected and distributed through area food banks. David explains, "With this program, people go home with food, which they need to live, as well as with books, which they need to change their lives."

David and his family live in Northern Virginia.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#6 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#3 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#4 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#6 in Books > Literature & Fiction

#7 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

#15 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#3 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#4 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#6 in Books > Literature & Fiction

#7 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

#15 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary