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True Blue

Review

True Blue

Bestselling author David Baldacci introduces a slew of new
characters in his latest thriller, TRUE BLUE. This stand-alone
effort is based in Washington, D.C. and intertwines its plot around
local law enforcement, corporate and criminal attorneys, and
various government agencies.

Mason “Mace” Perry is an ex-cop and now ex-con ---
just released from prison at the onset of TRUE BLUE --- who was
incarcerated as a result of various allegations made against her
when she was on the job. As Mace begins the fight to clear her name
against the unfounded charges that landed her in prison, she must a
toe a fine line with her older sister, Beth, who happens to be the
local Chief of Police. Almost immediately, she is thrust into a
high-profile murder mystery when an attorney at the D.C. corporate
law firm of Shilling and Murdoch is found raped and stuffed in a
refrigerator inside the office building where she worked.

The victim, Diane Tolliver, was discovered by fellow attorney
Roy Kingman, who meets up with Mace to investigate all aspects of
the murder. As their investigation proceeds, they learn several
startling secrets that point to both the private and public world
of the nation’s capital. At the same time, Mace takes a job
working for a wealthy philanthropist named Abe Altman in an effort
to regain credibility with the police force. She is paid a handsome
salary, receives lodging in the expansive guest house on
Altman’s property, and is tasked with supporting and driving
various efforts with the under-privileged communities in the D.C.
area that Altman’s charities provide for. Roy, who is quickly
developing feelings for Mace beyond professional ones, assists her
in both the criminal investigation and her work with Altman.

Roy and Mace are focused on a cryptic clue in the form of an
email Tolliver sent to Roy the night she died. The half-sentence,
“Need to focus in on A-,” poses more questions than
answers for them. All Mace wants is for a shot to be “true
blue” again --- and this strong desire leads her into some
situations that could threaten to put her back behind bars. Leading
the charge to prosecute the murderer of Tolliver is State Attorney
Mona Danforth --- the same prosecutor who helped railroad Mace and
put her behind bars for two years. There is no love lost between
Danforth and either Mace or Beth, and she will stop at nothing to
make a name for herself at their expense as she continues her rise
up the ladder towards a seat in the White House. As the bodies
start piling up, the characters begin to ask: “What is the
connection between the victims? And what does it have to do with
the U.S. government?”

TRUE BLUE is a non-stop thriller that presents one cliffhanging
situation after another --- particularly for Roy Kingman and Mace
Perry, who have no idea how much danger their actions are placing
them in. At times, the novel enters into George Pelecanos territory
when the story of Mace and Roy’s side charity work for Abe
Altman put them in various perilous situations in some of
Washington, D.C.’s most dangerous neighborhoods. Baldacci
deftly ties these and all other storylines together with a
well-written and complex plot that will keep readers guessing at
every turn. Hopefully, Mace and Roy will have an opportunity to
turn up in a future Baldacci novel, as he has truly created some
thoroughly engaging characters his fans will want to see more
of.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on January 23, 2011

True Blue
by David Baldacci

  • Publication Date: October 27, 2009
  • Genres: Fiction, Thriller
  • Hardcover: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
  • ISBN-10: 0446195510
  • ISBN-13: 9780446195515