The Innocent: A Novel

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Ron McLarty, Orlagh Cassidy

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

America has enemies - ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can't stop. That's when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone-cold hitman who never questions orders and always nails his target.

But Will Robie may have just made the first - and last - mistake of his career....

It begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn't seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable: He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people.

Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a 14-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn't an ordinary runaway - her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can't walk away. He needs to help her.

Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he's convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents' deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power. Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl's life... and perhaps his own.

©2012 Hachette Audio; 2012 David Baldacci

Fun thriller

I haven't checked out a thriller in a long time, and this novel did not disappoint. I enjoyed the main character a lot, along with both primary female support characters. The plot kept me interested the whole time, from one revelation to the next. I am looking forward to listening to the rest of the books in this series

This is a great first book in this series.

What did you love best about The Innocent: A Novel?

I enjoyed the character development. I listened to the third book of the series first.

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

The plot kept me engaged with a well told storyline and a few large twists that were reasonable.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were several scenes that gripped my attention... I tend to be drawn more to the action sequences for "memorable scenes". There are several in this book. Near the beginning, one of the main characters and an unknown sniper have a run in... then there is a drive-by shooting at a restaurant, then several more... an action packed book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I would keep the same title as the book.

Any additional comments?

None at this time.

Fast paced

Many twist and turns, very entertaining.
Fun listen. Reader is clear and uses great inflection. Like having a man and a woman reading.

Over engineered, lose the sound effects

What disappointed you about The Innocent?

The sound effects and the off/on music under. This is supposed to be an audio book not a dramatization movie without visuals. I haven't even gotten to the addition of the second reader. I doubt I'll make it that far. I love Baldacci. But this book is ruined from the start.

What do you think your next listen will be?

An audiobook that has reviews to warn me if it is over-engineered so I can save my money and time.

What didn’t you like about Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy ’s performance?

Can't comment on Orlagh - probably won't make it that far into the book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger and disappointment. I was expecting another riveting Baldacci story and received a dramatization that is so over-engineered as to be rendered un-listenable.

Any additional comments?

To David Baldacci - Don't let the producers do this to your audiobooks in the future. I enjoy your writing, enjoy your books, and only have time to listen to audiobooks, not to sit down and read. I would love it if you could get someone to reproduce this book with one reader and no extra sound-effects, music or other distractions.

I like this character Will Robie. A very good read

Would you listen to The Innocent: A Novel again? Why?

Here is a dangerous man who has compassion tempered with wisdom. The tension is endless and satisfying.

What other book might you compare The Innocent: A Novel to and why?

Baldacci's main character character, Will Robie, is like Brad Thor's Scot Harveth. Nevertheless, Thor has a tendency, as many action 'action thrillers' do, to glorify violance. This is not totally the case with Will Robie. He recognizes that violence is often necessary, but doesn't see his lethal skills as the only answer to all paths in life.

Which character – as performed by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy – was your favorite?

Liked both.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I would like to see more of Will Robie, and his friend in the FBI.

Expertly written.

The narrator voices were spot on! Everything was incredible. Julie's character was fantastic and the story was well tied together without leaving any loose ends.

Good enough to go to next book.

a.good listen, to eat miles on the road. I will move on to next book in series.

A wonderful read

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the Will Robbie, Special Agent Nicki Vance books. I hope Mr. Baldacci writes more books in this series.

Loved it

Thoroughly enjoyed listening as a family. Great narration. Good book. Word word word word word

Great writer

I enjoyed the stories, the presentation and the amount of suspense. I will read all of David's books, I'm already read most of them and was never disappointed.