Split Second

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Michelle Maxwell has just blown her future with the Secret Service. Against her instincts, she let a presidential candidate out of her sight to comfort a grieving widow. Then, behind closed doors, the politician whose safety was her responsibility vanished into thin air.

Living a new life on a quiet lake in central Virginia, Sean King knows how the younger agent feels. He's been there before. In an out-of-the-way hotel eight years earlier, the hard-charging Secret Service man allowed his attention to be diverted for a split second. And the presidential candidate Sean was protecting was gunned down before his eyes.

Now Michelle and Sean are about to see their destinies converge. She has become obsessed with Sean's case. And he needs a friend - especially since a series of macabre killings has brought him under suspicion and prompted the reappearance of a seductive woman he's tried hard to forget.

As the two discredited agents enter a maze of lies, secrets, and deadly coincidences, they uncover a shocking truth: that the separate acts of violence that shattered their lives were really a long time in the making - and are a long way from over....

©2003 Columbus Rose, Ltd. (P)2003 Time Warner AudioBooks

Critic reviews

"Baldacci's new thriller is sustained by the pulse-pounding suspense his fans have come to expect." ( Booklist)

Great Book! Excellent Narrator!!

I found the book very involving, enjoyable and couldn't wait to continue listening due especially to its excellent narration by Scott Brick.

Love getting the background

I've listened to or read some of the other King and Maxwell stories. I was glad to hear about how it all started. There were so many background/supporting characters that I started to lose track of who was who and how all the politicians were interrelated and what their motivations were.

To the narrator: it's okay to pause and take a breath at the end of a paragraph or chapter. Let the reader know you are switching gears. And every character that asked a question had the same intonation on the last word of the query. Detracted somewhat from the story.

terrific roller coaster ride.

interesting story with plenty of twists ( and twisted characters). impressively strong female characters. good read.

Main characters not Baldacci's best.

The lead character (Sean King) doesn't even come close to Amos Decker and Will Robie in substance or likeability.

it does it again David does it again

another very interesting and fun listening to book I would suggest it to anyone who like suspense and drama with a little comedy thrown in

Good story = 3.5

The story was interesting. The narrator not as annoying as usual (droning and depressing) but still there was not difference between characters - especially women. It amazes me how he gets such great reviews but women narrators are crucified if their male characters aren't perfect.
Anyway, the story was good - a little far-fetched in the belief department (how many stupid mistakes can trained professionals make?)

narration bad, no chapter separation

Did not like the narrator, condescending tone, needed female narrator also, needed chapter separation too

Great story

Kept your interest from the start.. Twists not hard to follow. Only problem was I found it hard to believe someone could carry a grudge for over right years.

Never Boring

This is one of the best novels that I have read in a long time. It had plenty of intrigue. It’s so refreshing to not really have any idea what the hell is going on until the end when it all comes together for you. It was refreshing, not being able to figure it out before it was explained. I loved it!

There were no long drawn out descriptions of things to bore you to death. It moved quickly and stayed very interesting. It kept your brain thinking and trying to figure things out. Yet it was entertaining, full of action and suspense.The characters were fun and easy to enjoy and all quite different than what you thought they were to begin with. I have a new respect for Baldacci. I very much enjoyed this book!

Law agency Stew

A new surprise or two per chapter. Thoroughly enjoyed the well developed, colorful characters.Bravo.