The Camel Club

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

It exists at the fringes of Washington, D.C., has no power, and consists solely of four eccentric and downtrodden members whom society has forgotten. Their simple goal is to find the "truth" behind their country's actions.

One man leads this aging, ragtag crew. He has no known past and has taken the name "Oliver Stone". Day and night, Stone and his friends study wild conspiracy theories, current events, and the machinations of government, hoping to discover some truth that will hold America's leaders accountable to its citizens. Yet never in Stone's wildest nightmares could he imagine the conspiracy the Camel Club is about to uncover.

After witnessing a shocking murder, the Club is slammed headfirst into a plot that threatens the very security of the nation, full of stunning twists, high-stakes intrigue, and global gamesmanship rocketing to the Oval Office and beyond. Soon the Club must join forces with veteran Secret Service agent Alex Ford, who becomes an unwilling participant in one of the most chilling spectacles to ever take place on American soil. It's an event that may well be the catalyst for the long-threatened Armageddon between two different worlds, and all that stands in the way of this apocalypse are five unexpected heroes.

In The Camel Club, best-selling author David Baldacci paints a frighteningly vivid portrait of a world that could be our own very soon, and the few people who have a chance to stop the chaos.

©2005 Columbus Rose, Ltd. (P)2005 Time Warner AudioBooks

Critic reviews

"As fans of this writer know, years of experience have made him an author who promises a good story and then delivers it." (Publishers Weekly)

My Favorite!

Of all the stories by Baldacci this would be my favorite. It had a touch of romance but was not tarnished with sleazy sex scenes. I also liked it because of the political themes and accurate awareness of the terrorist mindsets.

Excellent

I have read and listened to many of David Baldacci's books. This book is definitely one of my favorites. It may be my favilorite. It is an excellent story and the narrator does a wonderful job.

Not his best

Disappointed in this book. Difficult keeping track of the characters. Plot line too unrealistic. Skip this book.

In my opinion........

Ohio's Medina pronounced with long i not long e. But captivating story other than that.

Great read

Truly enjoyed this book, best one I've read so far. Look forward to his next one.

Suspense on the National Level

Engaging premise about the secrets that lay behind the nation's vapial. Unforgettable character along with a gripping plot make this a krrpert!

Search for the truth!

The Camel Club starts a five book series about an old and retired ex-government agent using the name Oliver Stone and three of Stone's friends all of whom live in society's fringes in Washington, DC. The Camel Club dedicates itself to investigating government misconduct and other strange cases. The genre is mystery/thriller. Wonderful book and wonderful series!

Starts slow but is riveting in second half

It's slow in the first half but riveting in the second half. It is apparent that the author has done a lot of research and seamlessly interweaved interesting historical facts with the story. The main characters in the book are well developed (members of the Camel Club). But the other characters were not as much, such as the Secret Service agent and the lawyer/part-time bartender/part-time piano teacher (yeah).

Restrained

Jonathan Davis does a great job at reading this novel. The plot is quite fantastic - and not necessarily in a good way. However I really like the very balanced perception this book provides about Islam. Finally a thriller that does not blindly resort to stereotypes and even holds the mirror in front of the perceptions that many of us have,

Slow starter but last third like a runaway train

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. I wasn't thrilled with the start but grew to like the characters and the last third of the book was totally engrossing.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The last third kept me on the edge of my seat. Murder Mountain - what a name and what a place!

What does Jonathan Davis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He was an excellent reader. Differentiated the characters well. I liked his voice.

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

No. Slow starter. Took a while for me to warm up to it but I persisted & was rewarded.

Any additional comments?

I'm not into the genre of suspense where it involves the war on terror. Too close to reality for me. As soon as I hear "CIA" or "Iraq" or anything like that, I'm not likely to buy a book. But I tried this one because I liked Baldacci's Maxwell & King series (the couple I've read - liked the TV show too). Overall book was better than I expected, especially when I first started it.