The Whole Truth Review

Suspense novels are among my favorites to read, and David Baldacci is also one of my favorite authors.  I was first introduced to his books when I read the "Camel Club" and on the whole  I have enjoyed most of them.  Recently I picked up "The Whole Truth" a book that keeps you turning pages and carefully following the different characters throughout the story of political and business corruption, thrills, super spies, romance, and so much more.  

I admit, "The Whole Truth" started a little slow for me, but once I got past chapter 4 it really kept my attention.  

The plot:  Rich man and government contractor with influence all over the world uses the Internet, media and spin doctors to create a fear of the "red menace" Russia rising to nuclear power again sending Europe and the United States into a full blown armament crisis. Of course some political wheeling and dealing and blame on China is thrown in for good measure. 

James Bond like A. Shaw, raised in orphanage after orphanage and pressed into service as mercenary in a international police agency is able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, kill 20 men with his bare hands and cause 2 women to fall in love with him - reporter Katie James who is on a downhill slide in her career due to her alcohol dependency (after covering the Middle East and winning two Pulitzers) and think tank genius Anne Fischer, German born and speaks 14 languages and is a specialist in world politics and economics. 

Shaw, James and his girlfriend Fisher discover the plot to create a Cold War like situation, which in the great businessmans' mind not only helps him make money but also put America again on the forefront of being a great nuclear power that walks tall and carries a big stick. 

While some of the adventures truly are a stretch of the imagination, you believe in Shaw's character as it is so well written.  

What makes this "The Whole Truth" outstanding?  The characters (you know that everything they do can't be true but for some reason you believe it); the plot (which is unfortunately far too believable) and the use of modern day events and technology leave the reading really thinking about our dependency on the Internet and media for the "whole truth."