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Baldacci really does know how to produce a good read - and "The Winner" is no exception. Not part of a series (as many of his books are) this one focuses on the winner of a fixed national lottery, the beautiful LuAnn Tyler, young Mum and Southern trailer dweller. With a great baddie in Jackson and excellent peripheral characters such as Charlie, Baldacci once again produces the goods. Enjoy the ride.
Fun journey, great story line, good characters. A great read, along with The Camel Club, and First Family.
I could hardly put this book down. It is one of the best mystery books I have ever read, and now I have a ravenous appetite urging me to read more of David Baldacci's books. Just finished "Stone Cold," and now am on "Divine Justice." I will have to read many more of Baldacci's books in order to sate my desire for exceptionally well-written mystery books.
I guess the premise was just a little too unbelievable. LuAnn Tyler lives in a trailer with her baby daughter and a drunken, good for nothing boyfriend that cheats on her. She goes to a job interview one day and a man asks her "How would you like to win the lottery. I read the trade paperback and it took probably about 100 to 150 pages for me to really start getting interested. The story is very original and very interesting. What if I say I can make it happen.
Once the story got to the "ten years later" section, it really started moving. She works her butt off at a truck stop just to have to hide the money so she can buy baby formula. (This is coming from a fantasy fan). Would you accept." Although LuAnn knows it's morally wrong and illegal, not to mention there must be a catch to it, she finds herself in a situation where she has no choice but to accept the man's offer. Once she does, her life changes forever and it's not all good.I must admit I had trouble getting into this story. From that point on, I was absolutely hooked and the parts I had trouble believing early on felt more realistic due to some explanations.
I'll definitely read another book by Baldacci someday.
Baldacci often writes fiction based on politics and Washington. I found the book to be engrossing and a satisfying read. The main characters are quite engaging.
The plot has some very new twists - fixing the lottery, for example. Charlie is a less developed character who spend years with LuAnn, lives with her overseas but inexplicably has no romantic interest in her or apparently with anyone else for that matter. The Winner is different and I think it shows his skill in writing something fresh.
LuAnn, the poor girl who becomes rich, and Jackson, the diabolical genius mastermind, are quite memorable. The story has some amazing or rather incredible parts (escaping New York with a full hunt on; her boyfriend summoning the U.S. Attorney General and the FBI Director to quickly negotiate with him, etc).
But, this is escapist literature and Baldacci does an excellent job in moving the story along with great suspense. I read the Kindle version and I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
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