Hell's Corner

October 4, 2010
Baldacci's implausible fifth Camel Club novel (after Divine Justice) disappoints with cartoonish plotting and characterization. The night after the U.S. president persuades former assassin Oliver Stone (aka John Carr) to re-enter government employment to tackle the growing threat of Russian drug gangs, Stone finds himself in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, when gunfire breaks out and a bomb explodes. Apparently, the intended target was the visiting British prime minister, who was scheduled to walk across the park before an ankle injury modified his plans. Taken off his original mission, Stone seeks to identify the forces behind the assassination attempt. Stone's old Camel Club allies involve themselves in his search, which includes the de rigueur mole hunt and the McGuffin of choice these days, a lead on Osama bin Laden's whereabouts. Those who prefer intelligence in their political thrillers will have to look elsewhere.

HELL'S CORNER is an engaging, perhaps overly complicated, story of espionage, terrorism, and betrayal in the nation's capital. Oliver Stone is too self-sacrificing and heroic and way too trusting, especially when it comes to the ladies. Simplifying the plot is almost impossible, since it morphs from one thing to another, but, briefly, Stone gets involved with unearthing an assassination plot. And that's like saying the Bible is about a bunch of people from long ago. The story is complex--but worth the effort. Ron McLarty is narrator and handles the male roles, and Orlagh Cassidy handles the female parts, a combination that gives a theater-like ambiance to the production. Cassidy is particularly adept at accents and characterization. M.S. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 1, 2011

In this fifth installment--following Divine Justice (2008)--in Baldacci's (davidbaldacci.com) popular "Camel Club" series, when a bomb detonates across from the White House, the U.S. President and visiting English prime minister are the presumed targets. Following a series of surprising plot twists, former CIA assassin Oliver Stone and his Camel Club, together with British MI-5 agent Mary Chapman, thwart another assassination attempt on the two leaders and uncover the dangerous organization behind the plot. Actors Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy distinctly and believably voice the motley characters, especially mastering well the U.S. regional and British accents. Sound effects such as explosions and gunshots further add to the enjoyment of this book on audio. Highly recommended for all mystery/thriller fans. [Includes a bonus interview between Ron McLarty and the author; "an action-packed, conspiracy-laden, politically intriguing mystery," read the review of the Grand Central hc, LJ 10/15/10, an LJ and New York Times best seller; the Vision mass market pb will publish in June 2011.--Ed.]--Ilka Gordon, Siegal Coll. of Judaic Studies Lib., Cleveland

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