Helpful Score: 6
"Absolute Power" is a well-written suspense story. Having seen the movie prior to reading the book, I was a little worried about being a step ahead on every page. That didn't happen. As usual, the book is better than the movie. The main premise of the book and movie is the same, but some of the storyline and characters are a quite different. If you liked the movie, you'll love the book!
Helpful Score: 5
This book has a fast-paced story line. Lots of suspense and surprises. The main character is great. Definitely gets into the political scene in D.C., power and abuse thereof. But the good guyd win. Nice ending.
Helpful Score: 3
Can the President of the United States get away with murder? The fictional answer to this question has set the literary world on fire and transformed David Baldacci into a household name and overnight success. Going beyond the classic works of John Grisham and Robert Ludlum, Absolute Power combines the highest levels of political intrigue with big-money law, cutting-edge forensics, and the riveting search for a truth hidden within the power of the Oval Office.
Helpful Score: 2
Casting the president of the United States as a crazed villain isn't a new idea?Fletcher Knebel worked it 30 years ago, in Night of Camp David?but in this sizzler of a first novel, Baldacci, a D.C. attorney, proves that the premise still has long legs. The action begins when a grizzled professional cat burglar gets trapped inside the bedroom closet of one of the world's richest men, only to witness, through a one-way mirror, two Secret Service agents kill the billionaire's trampy young wife as she tries to fight off the drunken sexual advances of the nation's chief executive. Running for his life, but not before he picks up a bloodstained letter opener that puts the president at the scene of the crime, the burglar becomes the target of a clandestine manhunt orchestrated by leading members of the executive branch. Meanwhile, Jack Graham, once a public defender and now a high-powered corporate attorney, gets drawn into the case because the on-the-lam burglar just happens to be the father of his former financee, a crusading Virginia prosecutor. Embroidering the narrative through assorted plot whorls are the hero's broken romance; his conflict over selling out for financial success; the prosecutor's confused love-hate for her burglar father; the relentless investigation by a northern Virginia career cop; the dilemma of government agents trapped in a moral catch-22; the amoral ambitions of a sexy White House Chief of Staff; and the old burglar's determination to bring down the ruthless president. Meanwhile, lurking at the novel's center like a venomous spider is the sociopathic president. Baldacci doesn't peer too deeply into his characters' souls, and his prose is merely functional?in both respects, he's much closer to Grisham than to, say, Forsyth; but he's also a first-rate storyteller who grabs readers by their lapels right away and won't let go until they've finished his enthralling yarn.
Helpful Score: 2
Spellbinding as only Baldacci can give us. This book will not disappoint anyone who loves mysteries.
Helpful Score: 1
Like all Baldacci's book this is deeply researched and moves at break-neck speed with all the ingredients of sex, greed, murder and human passion.
Helpful Score: 1
A tale of greed, sex, ambition, and murder. A suspenseful thriller that will change the way you think about Washington.
Helpful Score: 1
Baldacci is fast becoming one of my favorites. It is difficult to put this book down because you just "need" to "know" the entire plot. What I like about Baldacci is he holds my attention throughout the book. He develops is characters well so they are captivating and compelling.
I enjoyed it very much!
This book caught me right fromthe beginning. You wont be disappointed.
This was a great book. Even if you have seen the movie, the book is still great!!
A great read and a mew twist on what the power of the executive branch could do. It makes you think and gives you a thrill as you read it. I know movies aren't ever as good, but I would love to see this one!
Another absolute winner from Baldacci!
good book. better then movie
ABSOLUTE CORRUPTION: In a heavily guarded mansion in a posh Virginia suburb, a man and a woman start to make love, trapping a burglar behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and the witness is running into the night. Because what he has just seen is a brutal slaying involving the President of the United States.
ABSOLUTE DANGER: Luther Whitney is the career break-in artist who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alan Richmond is the charming U.S. President with the power to commit any crime. And Jack Graham is the young attorney, caught in a vortex between the absolut truth-and...
ABSOLUTE POWER: A tale of greed, sex, ambition, and murder, this is the novel everyone has been talking about...the shattering, relentlessly suspenseful thriller that will change the way you think about Washington-and power-forever.
ABSOLUTE DANGER: Luther Whitney is the career break-in artist who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alan Richmond is the charming U.S. President with the power to commit any crime. And Jack Graham is the young attorney, caught in a vortex between the absolut truth-and...
ABSOLUTE POWER: A tale of greed, sex, ambition, and murder, this is the novel everyone has been talking about...the shattering, relentlessly suspenseful thriller that will change the way you think about Washington-and power-forever.
Awesome! Couldn't put it down.
A tale of greed, sex, ambition, and murder, this is the novel everyone has been talking about.....the shattering, relentlessly suspenseful thriller that will change the way you think about Washington---and power---forever.
This book was made into a movie with Clint Eastwood, except the movie was quite different and not as good as the book. You will enjoy this book much more than the movie, even if you have seen it. I sure did.
Exciting page turner
Great story that will surprisingly have you cheering for the villain. Great plot twists, one of Baldacci's best!
This book kept me gripped to the plot...I could not put it down. Stayed up 2 nights in a row reading till 3 am. What an exciting read,whether you liked the plot or not-it was certainly well written and will take you for a ride!!!
Very intense and fast moving
Fantastic political thriller!
Trapped in what was supposed to be an empty mansion, a long-time burglar witnesses a shocking crime and vows to bring justice to the victim, no matter how high he has to reach to do it.
Awesome book. Full of suspense and intrique.
In a heavily guarded mansion, a man and woman start to make love, trapping Luther Whitney, a break in artist, behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and Luther is running for his life. Because what he has seen is a brutal murder involving the highest man in the United States of America.
In a heavily guarded mansion, a man and woman start to make love, trapping Luther Whitney, a break in artist, behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and Luther is running for his life. Because what he has seen is a brutal murder involving the highest man in the United States of America.
A good one. Flows well to the end. Story of a murder by Secret Service agents protection a crooked president that was witnessed by a man in the act of robbing the place where it all takes place.
I was both surprized and disappointed that the book and the
movie were both different and alike, I think I liked the movie better in many ways but the book was good on it's own.
the book has more 'meat' in the characters and plot.things
the movie touched on are now more understandable.
if you read the book and have seen the movie, go in with yours eyes open and enjoy a good read.
movie were both different and alike, I think I liked the movie better in many ways but the book was good on it's own.
the book has more 'meat' in the characters and plot.things
the movie touched on are now more understandable.
if you read the book and have seen the movie, go in with yours eyes open and enjoy a good read.
Luther Whitney, a man in his late 60s, is a well experienced burglar, who specializes in burglarizing the wealthy. On the night of his planned last heist ever, something went wrong. In the midst of burglarizing the house, he entered a vault that would allow him to see everything that was going on in the bedroom by way of a one-way mirror. While the lady of the house returned with a companion, the President of the United States, he was trapped inside and witnessed two Secret Service agents killing the billionaire's trampy young wife as she tried to fight off the drunken sexual advances of the nation's chief executive. That made Whitney the target of the nation's executive.
Loved it! A real page turner.
A career burgler is in the wrong place and witnesses a murder involving a world-famous man and this puts him at risk of being murdered also. A movie was made based on this book.
I really liked this book. Lots or twists, turns and action. I highly recommend if you like Baldacci. You will not be disappointed.
This book was Baldacci's debut novel and I loved it! I'm so glad I finally read it because it was so much better than the movie. In the movie they changed some of the details and leave out a big character. I did like some of the changes since Clint Eastwood played Luther and it made sense with him. It didn't have that thriller aspect like the book did though.
Jack, who was a public defender but recently got a new job in a big law firm with a chance at becoming a partner. He is engaged to the daughter of a billionaire and his life seems to be going really well. He can't stop thinking about Kate though. He and Kate were engaged to be married but she couldn't accept that he liked her dad, who was a thief. She also couldn't deal with the fact that he defended criminals when he was a public defender. Kate became a prosecutor and came down hard on people like her father. She wouldn't have anything to do with him anymore since he ruined their family and she also cancelled her engagement with Jack.
When Luther breaks into a mansion everything is going great until someone else comes in. He has to hide in the vault hidden behind a mirror and wait until they were gone. That's when he realizes the mirror is a one way mirror and he can see everything in the room. He watches as the lady of the house is brutalized and murdered and then the scene is cleaned up to remove all traces of who had been there. One thing was missed though and Luther saw it fall. As soon as they left he came out and grabbed it and escaped through a window. They soon realized what was missing and went back to find it but instead found it gone and a rope hanging out the window. Luther knew he had to run for his life. He got out of there and quickly left the country. He knew no one would believe him if he went to the police with what he knew. No one would believe who killed her. He finally decided he had to go back and try to get justice but he knew it could mean losing his life.
Jack, who was a public defender but recently got a new job in a big law firm with a chance at becoming a partner. He is engaged to the daughter of a billionaire and his life seems to be going really well. He can't stop thinking about Kate though. He and Kate were engaged to be married but she couldn't accept that he liked her dad, who was a thief. She also couldn't deal with the fact that he defended criminals when he was a public defender. Kate became a prosecutor and came down hard on people like her father. She wouldn't have anything to do with him anymore since he ruined their family and she also cancelled her engagement with Jack.
When Luther breaks into a mansion everything is going great until someone else comes in. He has to hide in the vault hidden behind a mirror and wait until they were gone. That's when he realizes the mirror is a one way mirror and he can see everything in the room. He watches as the lady of the house is brutalized and murdered and then the scene is cleaned up to remove all traces of who had been there. One thing was missed though and Luther saw it fall. As soon as they left he came out and grabbed it and escaped through a window. They soon realized what was missing and went back to find it but instead found it gone and a rope hanging out the window. Luther knew he had to run for his life. He got out of there and quickly left the country. He knew no one would believe him if he went to the police with what he knew. No one would believe who killed her. He finally decided he had to go back and try to get justice but he knew it could mean losing his life.
Husband read this... Loved it!!
Excellent, excellent!
First rate covering corruption, Danger and Power. Another best seller by Baldacci
I suspect this is David Baldacci's first novel, but I haven't flipped through his other stories and compared publication dates.
The story is an absolutely fascinating tale (in a horrid way) about the potential crimes that can be done and then covered up by absolute power and totally misplaced loyalty. One of the main characters is a relatively successful jewel thief who witnesses a murder and is conflicted by his own surprisingly good morals and fear of tremendous power.
There is a movie by the same name starring Clint Eastwood so if you intend to view both, read the book first.
The story is an absolutely fascinating tale (in a horrid way) about the potential crimes that can be done and then covered up by absolute power and totally misplaced loyalty. One of the main characters is a relatively successful jewel thief who witnesses a murder and is conflicted by his own surprisingly good morals and fear of tremendous power.
There is a movie by the same name starring Clint Eastwood so if you intend to view both, read the book first.
Unfortunately, having seen the movie prior to reading the book took some of the steam out of it. With that said, it is still a great read.
Great book!
A great thriller.
Typical Baldacci - great suspense...
The security system is state of the art. The carpeting costs a thousand dollars a square foot. It's the perfect place for a lover's tryst between a rich man's trophy wife and the most powerful man in the world. But someone is watching. And when the lovemaking turns deadly, someone will know the truth...
This one is a grabber. You won't want to put it down long enough to fill your beer glass!
Another fast paced winner by this author. This is a novel of corruption, and power. The President, a career break-in artist and a young attorney who is caught up between truth and absolute power!
Fast read..........will keep you on the edge!
Fast read..........will keep you on the edge!
Another great Baldacci read.
Absolute Corruption.
Absolute Danger.
Absolute Power.
Absolute Danger.
Absolute Power.
Consistent David Baldacci.
Recommended..Based on the Blockbuster Movie.
This was a great movie starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Ed Harris.
In a heavily guarded mansion in a posh Virginia suburb, a man and a woman start to make love, trapping Luther Whitney (Eastwood), a career break-in artist, behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and Luther is running into the night. Because what he has just seen is a brutal murder involving Alan Richmond (Hackman), the president of the United States.
In a heavily guarded mansion in a posh Virginia suburb, a man and a woman start to make love, trapping Luther Whitney (Eastwood), a career break-in artist, behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and Luther is running into the night. Because what he has just seen is a brutal murder involving Alan Richmond (Hackman), the president of the United States.
17 weeks on NYT Bestseller List
In a heavily guarded mansion in a posh Virginia suburb, a man and a woman start to make love, trapping a burglar behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and the witness is running into the night. Because what he has just seen is a brutal slaying involving the President of the United States.
In a heavily guarded mansion in a posh Virginia suburb, a man and a woman start to make love, trapping a burglar behind a secret wall. Then the passion turns deadly, and the witness is running into the night. Because what he has just seen is a brutal slaying involving the President of the United States.
Very good.
In a heavily guarded mansion in a posh, Virginia suburb, a man and a women start to make love, trapping Luther Whitney, na career break in artish, behind a secret wall. Then passion turns deadly, and luther is running into the night. Because what he has just seen is a brutal murder involving Alan Richmond, The president of the United States.
I forget it has been a while
Good read. Enjoyed this book.
