Saving Faith - Softcover

Baldacci, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0375727981 ISBN 13: 9780375727986

Publisher: Random House Large Print, 2000

Synopsis

When a zealous CIA chief uncovers evidence of bribery in high places, he compells Washington influence peddler Danny Buchanan to spy on his clients, but when Buchanan tells his story to the FBI, the tables are turned. (Suspense)

About this title

Review:

It sounds like a movie pitch: "The story is like Tom Clancy crossed with John Grisham set in the Washington DC political world." But David Baldacci's Saving Faith successfully fuses elements from both of these chart-busters in this political thriller spiced with techno-wizardry.

The villain is a classic spy caricature: Cold-war CIA super-patriot Robert Thornhill wants to reclaim the glory days of the Central Intelligence Agency--when money flowed like the Mississippi during a flood and the FBI watched helplessly from the sidelines. Working from his secret underground bunker, he blackmails Danny Buchanan, one of the great Washington lobbyists, to front an enormous bribery scheme that will force Congress to bend to the CIA's whims. But Thornhill's plan springs a leak: Buchanan's assistant Faith Lockhart discovers her boss's dirty dealings and she intends to expose the whole mess to Thornhill's nemesis, the FBI. Thornhill's associates attempt to assassinate Faith but their bullet kills her FBI escort instead. Faith finds herself on the run with Lee Adams, a fit-and-trim PI who had been shadowing her at the behest of Buchanan.

If all this sounds a bit confusing, it is at times. Baldacci works hard to keep the tension steadily rising but it is sometimes difficult to remember why Faith and Lee can't just stop running and go for help. Nevertheless, they are very likeable heroes and Baldacci's depiction of the world of lobbyists and the internecine warfare of the FBI and CIA (complete with state-of-the-art spy gadgets and transmission-proof chambers) elevates the novel with details that can come only from careful research. --Patrick O'Kelley

Review:

'He is able to deliver eloquently what the public wants' (GUARDIAN)

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Large Print
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0375727981
• ISBN 13: 9780375727986
• Binding: Paperback