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)

My Very First Baldacci

Great narration, excellent character build up and a very satisfying plot and ending. Fast paced and edgy, my kind of formula.

Good, but...

Unlike the first reviewer, I spotted the villan early. Although the story was interesting, I found the reason for the crimes a bit absurd in the end, disappointing in that aspect.

Love Maxwell and King

I cannot get enough of this detective team. Baldacci weaves a fast-paced mystery into a budding buddy team with unpredictable and satisfying results. I eagerly awaiting the fourth installment in the Sean King/Michelle Maxwell series.

Run of the Mill

I have never read Baldacci, but listening to his audiobook was somewhat underwhelming and frustrating. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book. If you like the genre, it's worth a credit. There are many books I would listen to over this, in hindsight, but I did enjoy the experience.

That said, let me point out some faults from my own opinion:

1) The Narration didn't seem to always match what the character should be feeling. Brick's tonalities were downright annoying, and I didn't really get the accents. He didn't help this book along by any means. I've heard good things about his narration but was not impressed.

2) The actual writing in the book is only okay. Baldacci has creativity and imagination, but his delivery wasn't anything that blew me away.

3) The plot itself was intriguing, the world and character grew larger and really captivated you. But towards the end of the book that sphere shrank and you were left with a convoluted "let's tie every character together" series of twists. I also guessed the main villian behind the events about halfway through the book, which is always annoying to me. Baldacci didn't give you enough to go on to be able to put even 1/4 of the intricately linked storyline together, but the main guy was easy to spot for me.

Another great book ruined by Scott Brick

Who ever thought Scott Brick was a good narrator and should be hired and paid needs to be fired along with Scott Brick. Breathy, whiney, and total lack of character separation. I wouldn't let this guy read legal documents aloud for fear he would put the entire court to sleep. But the story was superb 👌

Grabber

This book grabbed my attention and held it throughout the entire story. Very nice twist in the plot. Would love to see what happens as the main characters take on new adventures.

Second guessing is difficult

I thought the start was pretty confusing and couldn't figure out how all of it would be tied together. Good pace to the action.

Great read !!

I have recommended to my friends. I have the audio but enjoyed so much I will purchase the Hard Back for my Library.

Rivoting as usual

I had never heard of the author David Baldacci until a friend of mine sent me one of his books. She just said ALL of his books were great. Having bought a new kindle I began buying audible books of his & I have to agree she is right. All I can say is he better keep writing fast in order to keep up with my reading them.
This book was filled with veiled twists & turns that had me guessing all the way through. The plot of two ex security agents fighting to clear their names & reputations made me want to cheer them on. I even liked how the book ended with a mutual collaboration of working together. Catherine

Scott Brick

Scott Brick makes this story come alive! Maxwell & King books are great but it's the narrator that keeps me purchasing them.