Saving Faith

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In the field of popular fiction David Baldacci is far ahead of the competition. Continuing his string of New York Times best sellers, Baldacci presents his most electrifying story to date-a novel of nonstop action, vividly etched characters, and an astounding vision of the inner sanctums of our government.

Not far from Washington, D.C., in a wooded area of Northern Virginia, a small house at the end of a gravel road serves a secret purpose. With its sophisticated security apparatus and hidden miniaturized cameras, it is being used by the FBI to interview one of the most important witnesses the agency has ever had, a young woman with an incredible story to tell. But a few people know about the secret meeting. And for them, a violent drama is about to begin.

One man-a local private investigator named Lee Adams-has come to the house on the orders of his client. Another man, a hired killer, stakes out the house on orders from his powerful paymasters. And the witness, Faith Lockhart, is coming to tell the FBI everything she knows about the powerful lobbyist with whom she has worked, a man who manipulates U.S. government policy and who, in the process, made some very dangerous enemies. Then, before Faith can tell her story, the hit man pulls the trigger and the wrong victim falls.

Now Faith Lockhart is on the run-from the most dangerous people in America-with Lee Adams, a man she doesn't know, yet must trust.

A relentless chase novel that unfolds as both the FBI and a killer search for Faith and Lee, this is also a searing and utterly suspenseful tale of power gone mad in Washington, and of one woman's desperate attempt to break out of a web of corruption and terror that reaches much further than even she can know. In the hands of master storyteller David Baldacci, Saving Faith elevates the thriller to a new level and poses stunning questions about the rules we live by, the rules we are governed by-and what happens when some people make rules of their own...

©1999 David Baldacci (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Another great book by David Baldacci.

Book was good all the way through. I have read or listened to most of his books. Like his style of writing keeping the reader engaged all the way through.

Early Baldacci, some good some bad

This is one of David Baldacci’s earliest books and you can tell. First off, let’s address the obvious horror in this book, being the protagonist’s sexual assault. I have no idea why Baldacci would have put that in, and why an editor didn’t object. In any case, it was ugly and I just mentally wrote it out of the book since it was completely unnecessary. Now to the rest of the book. Baldacci has a decent plot outline here and the second half of the book moves quickly and is demonstrates Baldacci’s future promise. The first half of the book dragged at times, with too much focus on Thornhill as the evil Bond villain. This book definitely had rough edges, including his characterizations of the two protagonists. Faith was supposed to be very sharp but made a doozy of a blunder and her reaction to Lee’s whiny petulance and assault was weak. Lee frequently came across like a whiny, petulant, immature jerk. Baldacci’s later characters were much more likable and better developed. I also thought that the very end of the book seemed rushed and I’ll thought out, as if Baldacci accidentally ended the book in a way he didn’t really like and so he tacked on a “forever after into the sunset” ending on that didn’t fit with his penultimate ending. All in all,this is worth the read for Baldacci fans, keeping in mind its flaws. Lastly, I didn’t care for Michael Kramer as narrator as he made the book sound rather corny. When he did the villains voice, I kept getting a mental picture of the rich business owner nasty character on the Simpsons.

Decent story

Not my favorite but still a decent story. To be fair, I don’t know a lot about politics but am used to Baldacci making me understand things I don’t know much about. That didn’t happen this time. I found myself having to rewind several times to re-listen so I could understand better. I finally just resigned myself to not understanding the finer points and powered through.

Not the best Baldacci book

Who ever thought this narrator was the best choice needs fired!!! The storyline was pretty good (does take a little initially to get into) but the narrator spoiled it! And why David Baldacci thought having the lead character commit rape was a good addition to the story confounds me!
Will never listen to another audio book read by Michael Kramer!!

Riveting Plot

Story has perfect weaving of the power of love, betrayal, and justice. As a “baby boomer” I was 16 in history class the day JFK was assassinated. His words on the dangers of covert societies & orgs in government were prescient. I pray these will end on our watch in a great awakening we are experiencing worldwide. Thanks Dave & production team. Great narrator!

Passbly entertaining

I'm writing a review only in response to some of the negative comments on Michael Kramer, the reader.

Admittedly, there is in this book a problem of Kramer's breathing. However, he is not nearly as bad as some reviewers make him out to be. Contrary to those who never want to hear him again, I am quite fond of him, and his name is among those that make me inclined to buy a book. I like his deep voice, and find that he reads well on the whole: I think of Thomas Perry's novels, for instance, which benefit from Kramer's performances.

Some reviewers observe that this is not Baldacci's best. I would say it is not his worst (e.g. True Blue). At least it contains a few elements that make it entertaining, even if, as so often, the writing make me grimace with its clichés and hackneyed images, and its strain on credibility.. Why do I listen to it then? For distraction when I'm too tired to listen to better things (of which there is plenty). I give a generous three stars because the idea of a lobbyist using his amassed fortune to bribe politicians into funnelling American aid to children in Africa or very poor countries has a quirky appeal.

Not his best

Although the story was good, there was way to much talking ( explaining ) about each character and what he/ she does or how things work in DC.

Better with another narrator.

I had to start the book over three times. I almost stopped completely. The only reason I did listen to it was because it was a Baldacci. I have all his books. I will never listen to this narrator again regardless.

INTERESTING PLOT

If you could sum up Saving Faith in three words, what would they be?

Held my interest.

What other book might you compare Saving Faith to and why?

None it is one on its own.

Did Michael Kramer do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

He was okay but seemed to have difficulty finding each characters unique voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I read it for relaxation and pleasure and am not in any hurry to speed through.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy all of the books written by David Baldacci. King and Maxwell being my favorite but they seem to have vanished.

Not Balducci's best, but some entertainment value

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, it was decent but not at the level of a recommendation.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Despite the other nergative comments on the narration, I thought the narrator did a decent job. I know it can be difficult to carry off a performance with both male and female dialogue, but I felt the narrator did a decent job.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It would need a good rewrite to make a decent screenplay, but it would have potential.

Any additional comments?

Saving Faith is the kind of book you select when you want to be entertained but not mentally challenged. Call it "summer-beach-reading" material. It's not bad, and although the story is somewhat formulaic, it does have enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and entertained. It does try to convey a few moral lessons, but the primary purpose seems to be keeping the reader guessing at the various levels of intrigue and corruption centered within the Beltway.