Stone Cold

By David Baldacci

For the third book of the Camel Club series, we rejoin Annabelle and the Camel Club as they face their newest adversary.  While Annabelle is confronted with demons from her past, similarly Oliver finds that key men from his past are being systematically assassinated.  Enter Harry Finn, a man with a vendetta and one objective: eliminate Oliver Stone.

The action begins with a violent gas explosion at the home of Carter Gray, former Chief of Intelligence.  Due to their contentious history, Oliver Stone is at the top of the list of suspects.  We soon learn that Carter Gray is not dead, but he is happy to let his would-be assassin think that he is.  Slowly, more and more is revealed about the assassin, and we learn why Oliver is being so aggressively targeted.  Will Harry prove to be the better assassin and eliminate Oliver, or can they work together and prove that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

In addition to Oliver’s never ending problems, Annabelle is being hunted by Jerry Bagger.  Bagger has started tracking down the other members from her con, and is getting close to getting Annabelle.  To help out their new honorary member, half of the Camel Club is tracking Bagger’s investigation.  Soon a key member from Annabelle’s past reveals themselves and becomes an unlikely ally to Annabelle.  But can the Camel Club protect her from the powerful clutches of Bagger as he seeks to get revenge.

This book was another great example of what Baldacci does best.  Once again, he drives the story by slowly revealing key aspects and relations between the characters.  Baldacci typically baits his readers with the action and an introduction to the antagonist of the story.  We can assume that Oliver Stone will ultimately become involved, but don’t quite know how.  By the end of the book , he has once again established a very convincing relationship and motive for the characters in the book.  Coupled with a sufficient amount of action, this was another great Baldacci book.  However, I find myself continuing to wait for some ancillary character development, and a reason to care about them.  Perhaps in the next book.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Divine Justice by David Baldacci