He heard a noise somewhere. Then he heard it again. And another time. Repeats of the same sound over and over. It was two distinct sounds actually, one a solid thud and the other like something scraping against something. As usual Baldacci offers up a complex plot which takes a while to make sense and though there are a lot of players, they’re there for a reason and all bring something to the story. I must admit I was probably less engaged in the plot as I went along – as it seemed a bit convoluted, and kinda prosaic, at the same time. And I don’t mean simple or boring, more I guess that it’s like they say – most crimes or murders come down to just a few motivations. (And I’ll not suggest which this is to avoid any spoilers!)

Kudos, Mr. Baldacci for keeping the series strong and the stories sharp. I look forward to each new book you have and can assure you that I remain a fervent fan of all your work. This book is fast paced and highly unpredictable. With in the first five minutes of starting this book the story takes off and there is a head long rush until it comes to the end. FBI consultant Alex Jamison decides to use her vacation time to visit her sister Amber, brother-in-law Frank Mitchell, and 6-year-old niece Zoe in the rural town of Baronville, Pennsylvania. On top of that, Berkshire's searchable past ends ten years ago, beyond which there is no record of her.

David Baldacci

He didn't die, obviously, but he did end up with some rather unusual after-effects - most notably being hyperthymesia, or the ability to remember every single moment of every single day and call any one of them up at will. He also acquired synesthia, or the association of colors with people and objects. Particularly in his career as a detective, those rare abilities usually are extremely helpful, but in his personal life, not so much. There's no escaping, for instance, the years-ago horror of the brutal murder of his beloved wife and young daughter. He's also a bit emotionally challenged, in that for the most part he's unable to express his feelings. Those qualities make him a unique character - the biggest reason I'm a big fan.

What I loved most about The Fallen was not just the richly layered narrative, which contained plenty of tangents to keep the reader on their toes. Rather, I found The Fallen to be a fine ode to small town America. Baldacci uses The Fallen as a vehicle to highlight the issues at stake in small towns such as Baronville, which are dotted all across the US. With a downturn in manufacturing and production, resulting in significant job losses across these towns, the future is bleak. Many of these so-called ghost towns, provide the breeding grounds for unsavoury activities to spark. In Baronville’s case, the employment deficit has resulted in a huge rise in the drug trade. With the increase of the drug trade, the conditions prove fertile for other negative activities, such as murder and violence. Baldacci ties this in expertly within his novel and illuminates a country-wide problem very well within The Fallen. Along with his brain change, his personality had changed as well. The gregarious fun-loving prankster had forever vanished and in its place - It turns out that Baronville is suffering from massive unemployment because coal mining and related industries have dried up. Moreover, the opioid epidemic has hit the town hard. Many Baronville citizens are addicts, and overdoses are common. Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for another wonderful book. I know you have plans for new and exciting series in the fall, but I hope you will not forget this series, which has been gaining momentum since its inception.Something sinister is going on in Baronville. The rust belt town has seen four bizarre murders in the space of two weeks. Cryptic clues left at the scenes - obscure Bible verses, odd symbols - have the police stumped.

I liked the character of John Barron, the last living survivor of the family that literally created that town (hence the town’s name as well). He was really like a real gem compared to the rest of the angry and vengeful population. I wouldn’t mind seeing him make an appearance in some later book. His wit and charm captivated my attention. Baldacci is a regular supporter of independent bookstores and has often participated in events and signings at local shops.

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Actually there are a lot of different things going on that will keep the reader guessing at the truth. There are the drugs but there also appears to be an insurance scam. Toss in a rumor of hidden treasure to keep things interesting. As other reviewers have pointed out there are a lot of bad guys and gals. You really don't know who you can trust or believe. Perhaps too many bad guys for a small town but with the drug addicts and dealers this isn't Mayberry. The harshest legal consequences of all were reserved for acts of murder, because what was more precious than human life?