Daylight by David Baldacci is my first book review of 2024. I wanted to kick the year off to a great start with an author guaranteed to deliver a fast-paced, rollercoaster action read.
David Baldacci is not touted as one of the greatest thriller writers in the world for nothing. I do love the crime thriller genre and Baldacci is one of my favourite authors. For those of you who don’t know, Mr B writes multiple series and the one I rate above all others is the Atlee Pine Series.
The Atlee Pine Series
Daylight is the third book featuring this kick-ass protagonist. A female FBI special agent defined by a childhood traumatic event. It saw her twin sister Mercy abducted aged six, and Atlee barely survived. Ever since, this kickboxing expert cannot rest until she discovers the truth.
In this instalment the thrills and spills step up a notch. Atlee has been granted a few extra days by her boss to discover the whereabouts of Mercy – alive or dead. Armed with the name of the kidnapper (but unable to trace him), Atlee heads for New Jersey to question his grandson, Anthony Vincenzo.
‘She blinked rapidly, as though hoping it would not turn out to be who she thought it was. It didn’t work.
She lowered her weapon. “Puller?”
John Puller holstered his regulation M11 pistol. He looked equally stunned and was shaking his head. “Pine?”
Tony Vincenzo was long gone.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked.
He looked past her, in the direction of where Vincenzo was headed. “I was here to make an arrest.”
She blanched and looked over his shoulder as the truth hit her. “Crap! Tony Vincenzo?”
He nodded, frowning. “Long in the works, Atlee. And you, unfortunately, walked right into the middle of it.”
And that sliding door moment plunges Atlee, John Puller (who also has his own Baldacci series) and her assistant Carol Blum into a deadly world of murder and cover ups that goes right up to the highest level of the US Government.
‘“Carol, the only reason I’m an FBI agent is because I want to see people who destroy other people’s lives brought to justice and being pay for what they did. I want the families of their victims to have closure. I want …” Pine’s voice trailed off, and she slumped over and stared at the floor.
Blum said gently. “You mean you want for others what you never got for yourself?”
Pine let out a long breath and said, “I can’t let this go. I can’t.”’
What did I think about Daylight?
Daylight is a cracking read, the action is relentless as it builds and builds to the climax. But in typical Baldacci style, he leaves you wanting more. Luckily, there’s often a considerable lag between when a book is released and when I get to read it. Just as well, because it means that the next instalment Mercy is already out. And I for one, can’t wait to read it. But just don’t tell me what happens!