The Camel Club (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "HE WAS RUNNING HARD, BULLETS embedding in things all around him..." (more)
Key Phrases: dedication grounds, protection detail, ceremonial grounds, Captain Jack, Secret Service, Carter Gray (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Conspiracy theories--everybody has one. The difference with this conspiracy is that it's all too real. David Baldacci's The Camel Club takes readers inside the Beltway as four unlikely misfits struggle not only to survive, but to save their president and their country from a plot that will lead to nuclear disaster.

Bestselling Baldacci

Last Man Standing	The Winner	Total Control
The Simple Truth	Absolute Power	Saving Faith

From Publishers Weekly

Arab terrorists, nuclear threat and political perfidy drive bestselling Baldacci's latest. The Camel Club, a four-man group of Washington, D.C., misfits (their leader has taken the ironic pseudonym "Oliver Stone") gathers every week to discuss political conspiracies they believe exist and what actions they might take. One night, while meeting on Roosevelt Island in the middle of the Potomac River, club members witness the murder of Secret Service employee Patrick Johnson, thus thrusting the wacky crew into the middle of a bigger conspiracy than they could ever have imagined. There are scores of characters and subplots to keep track of while the story veers back and forth between venues and villains, forcing readers to remain alert yet patient while awaiting the high-concept payoff. When it finally appears, it's a doozy: kidnappers who harm no one and are reasonable people with a legitimate gripe bring the U.S. to the verge of nuking Damascus. Baldacci maintains interest during the long buildup by supplying fascinating historical facts, amusing characters, high-tech spy lore and the backstories of his super agents, both good and evil. As fans of this writer know, years of experience have made him an author who promises a good story and then delivers it. (Oct. 25)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1ST edition (October 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446577383
• ISBN-13: 978-0446577380
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (267 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,135 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Camel Club Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Definitely riveting and timely, but stretches belief..., January 19, 2006

By	Cynthia K. Robertson (beverly, new jersey USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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Nobody writes a conspiracy thriller like David Baldacci, and The Camel Club will keep you turning pages at breakneck speed. Unfortunately, his latest is not without some flaws and while many of his books defy belief, this one is even more of a stretch.

The Camel Club consists of four misfits (nearing senior citizen status) who form a secret conspiracy watchdog organization. The ringleader is "Oliver Stone," a man with a very secret and mysterious past. While meeting in a park during off-hours, the four witness the murder of a Secret Service agent, Patrick Johnson. Unfortunately, the two killers realize they have witnesses. Because of their checkered backgrounds, the Camel Club decides not to report this to the police. Instead, they go on the offensive, trying to discover not only the identity of the killers but also their motivation. At the same time, Secret Service agent Alex Ford is assigned to investigate the death of Johnson, but runs into trouble with the various agencies also looking into the murder (FBI, Metro Police, NIC, etc.).

As if this isn't enough going on, a group of Islamic extremists is plotting a terrorist act involving the US president. But not all of the plotters are Islamic or Middle Eastern. In fact, some are working from the inside.

Much of The Camel Club is very relevant to post 9/11 America. The FBI, CIA, NSA and other intelligence agencies are being forced to combine information, but infighting, jealousy and guarded secrets are still common. Government agencies are involved in illegal activities. The war is still raging in Iraq with Americans split on the issue. The issues are very similar to today.

But The Camel Club has just too many flaws. When three different sets of characters were introduced in the first three chapters, it took some time keeping them all straight. Between the FBI, CIA, NSA, NIC, etc, the spy organizations caused some confusion. It was made even murkier because Baldacci would often use the same initials for different things (NSA was either National Security Agency or National Security advisor). There was way too much going on in the plot. And as mentioned previously, much of it was totally unbelievable. The romance angle with Alex Ford and a young justice lawyer was especially unconvincing. Even the small details were far-fetched. For instance, the terrorists plan a major assault, but use tranquilizer darts so as not to kill anyone. Also, not to give away the plot, but what happens to Oliver Stone's daughter is just too incredulous.

So while I enjoyed The Camel Club and couldn't turn the pages quick enough, it's not the best Baldacci work. But even a mediocre Baldacci is better than the efforts of many other authors.

139 of 171 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't wait!, October 26, 2005

By	Carolyn Rowe Hill "author of 'The Dead Angel" (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

It's late. I should be in bed by now, but I couldn't wait to get a review started for this book. It's my first Baldacci, but it won't be my last. I was hooked on page one.

The Camel Club is a political thriller that opens in Washington, D.C. (well, not quite. The opening chapter is not in D.C.), where we meet four eccentric, once-upon-a-time effective fellows who make up a group they call The Camel Club. Each has some kind of experience and/or brilliance that makes him essential to the small assembly; and each has been successful at one time or another in his life. Now, they are only reflections of what they once were. There's Oliver Stone (his assumed name), Caleb Shaw, Reuben Rhodes, and Milton Farb, conspiracy theorists all. They meet once a month in the middle of the night to discuss recent conspiracy theories and reflect/update those they've held for years. There are other interesting characters introduced in the early pages, including Secret Service agent Alex Ford who's on the downside of his career, and Kate Adams, a Department of Justice lawyer who works as a bartender at night. Go figure that one out! We are also briefly introduced to U.S. President, James H. Brennan, and to National Intelligence Center Director, Carter Gray, among others.

Stone has a tent near the White House where he watches what goes on there. His goal is to find out the "truth" of things. He believes the American people have been denied that most desirous of tenets. On the evening of the beginning of this story, the Camel Club meets as arranged, but in the course of their meeting they unwittingly see a terrible crime committed on Theodore Roosevelt Island. Now, they must decide what to do about it...and I'm only on page 70! More later.

October 29, 2005: It's later. Life sometimes gets in the way of finishing a good book, but it's been worth three nights up too late to do it in this case.

The Camel Club members find themselves in the middle of a mess, having witnessed the murder of a Secret Service agent. Another Secret Service agent, Alex Ford, angers his superiors by deciding to investigate the death further than they had planned for this intended puppet. Stone and Ford end up working together to find out what's going on as a myriad of characters come and go, some with nefarious plans up their sleeves (there may even be a traitor in the club). It seems there are traitors everywhere and it's one of those times when one doesn't know who to trust. If you are into political intrigue, conspiracy theories, espionage, terrorism and/or assassination plots and all-around political paranoia, you will love this book. It is also very clearly and very well written. I can only say I hope there are many more Stones and Fords around than Captain Jacks and, well, others.

Give yourself plenty of time to read The Camel Club. There are several subplots and lots of interesting facts about many things included in the story. The primary plot is very intense and you won't want to find yourself forgetting pertinent details leading up to the "game." It's enough to make the reader want to bolt the door and never leave home. I'm just glad it's fiction!

Carolyn Rowe Hill

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, but complicated with great payoff!, October 28, 2005

By	Bill Pullman "Book reviewer" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Camel Club (Audio CD)

This was my first Baldacci but it wont be my last. Besides being a very sexy man he is also a wonderful thriller writer! For some his plots and characters might be a bit complicated, but I loved the political intrigue and complex plotting. The plot revolves around a group of four Washington DC men who are experts in some way but don't fit in with the DC culture. They call themselfs the Camel Club. The leader goes by the nickname "Oliver Stone". The group has weekly meetings concerning different political conspiracies they believe are taking place and what they should do about them. Then one night th Camel Club witness the execution of a CIA agent in the middle of the Potomac River. This crew of misfits is suddenly in for more than they bargained for! a real live conspiracy. The plot takes awhile to develop, but it is well worth paying attention to for the great payoff.