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

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.

Decent Story

Narrator did not transition well from one character to another and from one scene to another. Took a long time to get into book. Almost gave up.

good story performance lacking

the story was very good, up to the Baldacci standard. however I found the reader lacking, felt too contrived

This would make a great movie

This is one of those Baldacci books that seems such a prime candidate for the silver screen. While the plot is primarily a drawn-out chase at the heart of the plot, the twists taken and the way the characters tangle among the Washington power-elite keep sending the story in different directions. Like any good thriller, the reader is prompted to constantly ask themselves, how can this possibly wrap up to a satisfactory conclusion? Hang in there. They make it in the end.

Narration was a big distraction - Story Great

Michael Kramer's narration was a big big distraction for me to listen to. He constantly sounded like he was out of breath. He would expel a breath or drag out his final word of a sentence. I do not know how to best describe it, other than it was a distraction to a great story line, and his pushing his breath out at the end of almost every sentence.
Loved the characters and his development of them throughout.

Good stuff

Yet another fine effort by David Baldacci. This was the first time I've heard Michael Kramer's work and I really enjoyed it. Story is a bit shorter than the other Baldacci works I've had.

Good story Horrible narration

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I always enjoy Baldacci even his early works. I usually get "into" the stories but this one was a bit difficult to get really involved.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Saving Faith?

The ending so that I wouldn't have to hear that narrator again because of his somewhat poor skill in voicing..

How could the performance have been better?

Replacing the narrator with someone who could speak without the raspy endings of sentences would be a big improvement

Was Saving Faith worth the listening time?

Very interesting story although it did move a bit slowly. Several places are really overworked.