Divine Justice by David Baldacci

Synopsis

Oliver Stone is in deep water. The deep, cold salt water of the Chesapeake Bay, to be exact, as we begin this, the fourth installment of the Camel Club series.

After exacting his revenge on a U.S. Senator and the Chief Intelligence Officer at the end of Stone Cold, Stone is now the most wanted man in America and running for his life. His most immediate destination is New Orleans, but his plans are interrupted when he gets involved with a stranger who is attacked on the southbound train and has to make an immediate departure to avoid being identified. Mr. Stone, meet Dr. Richard Kimble.

Stone finds himself in the anonymous little town of Divine, Virginia, trying to keep a low-profile. But Divine, like most small towns where everyone knows everyone else, can't help but notice the mysterious stranger. And, like most small towns, Divine has some secrets that would be best kept from such nefarious transients. Secrets like a series of mysterious murders and a legion of coalminers who can't pass a whiz-test for the oxycodone that is in abundance. Small town - Big secrets.

As fate would have it, Stone sacrifices his personal safety to help a coal-miners widow and her son and uncover the mystery that surrounds the super max prison on the outskirts of town. It turns out that this mystery is one to die for.

My Two Cents Worth

I have never been a big fan of the "series" books to the extent that I couldn't put one down without picking up the next one in the series, but good grief! I assure you that each of the books in the Camel Club series can stand on it's own merits as far as the plot and characters are concerned, but I encourage you to read these novels in the order they are produced; it is a much richer reading experience.

The basic story has been around for forty years: American war hero blackballed by his government, tries to retire and lead a normal life in pursuit of the truth, uncovers government cover-up, threatened as a whistle blower, becomes public enemy number one, hunted to the ends of the earth, and barely surviving each confrontation; all the while trying to do the right thing.

The difference is that Baldacci can tell this modern day version of "The Fugitive" like nobody else. His version of Dr. Richard Kimble is more of a James Bond meets Rambo sort of character with a strong sense of right vs. wrong.

Do yourself a favor and see for yourself why David Baldacci is one of the most successful writers of his time.

Paperback

526 pages

6 hours