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The Simple Truth  By  cover art

The Simple Truth

By: David Baldacci
Narrated by: Jonathan Marosz
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Publisher's summary

David Baldacci's novels have been called "sizzling" (USA Today) and "superior" (Houston Chronicle). Now Baldacci is back, with the story of a death row inmate, a Supreme Court clerk, and a crime that is costing people their lives.

Michael Fiske broke the law when he took Rufus Harms's prison letter from the Supreme Court. But he also sealed his own fate. Now Michael's brother, a cop turned attorney, is coming to Washington to find out why his brother was murdered - and what it had to do with a crime that Rufus Harms committed 25 years before.

In his new novel of corruption, romance, family, and justice at the heart of the American republic, David Baldacci takes us on a journey of harrowing conspiracy - and proves once again that in the realm of suspense, he is in a league of his own. The simple truth... it's never what it seems.

©2001 David Baldacci (P)2011 Hachette

What listeners say about The Simple Truth

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Can't finish because of narrator.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I couldn't get past the first few chapters because the narration was so monotone and dull. Love this author, I guess I'll read the book.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

narration

outstanding author...love to read him...terrible terrible narration stopped after 3 chapters.

should get my money back

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Disappoint? Balcacci? Not Likely!

As a plotter, Baldacci seems to be among the most playful thriller writers. And in the Simple Truth we all get to play his game. The point is that the book goes from point A to point END as if it's supposed to go that way. Too many authors in this genre seem to turn their endings into the last two minutes of an NBA game. You know, where all heel explodes and the preceding stuff was just there to get the fans through their beers and back-slapping. In the Simple Truth the entire story arc's got game. And you aren't left wanting another stopping place or wondering why there were so many parts left over as you pull the plot apart in backward glances. The simple truth is that the characters, feelings, and plot all work. Cool!

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Bad bad narrator.

The narrator greatly detracts from the book.  His cadence and rhythm never changes and it is maddening. 

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Please help this narrator

A good narrator enhances a good book. A great narrator can even make so-so book better.
Jonathan Marosz has wonderful diction and a pleasant voice but, he has a fault that if corrected would make him a much better narrator. At the beginning of each sentence he vocally sits on the first and sometimes second word which becomes very annoying. I feel certain that he is unaware of this habit and, if advised, it could easily be rectified. While distracting it does not detract from a very interesting story.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

I got lost in this one

David Baldacci wrote what could have been a very good book but there were so many characters with similar -- or not different enough -- names that I kept forgetting who was who. Jonathan Marosz did not help breaking up the characters so they could be told apart.

There were some very interesting characters and some really interesting information on the Supreme Court but I felt lost in this book.

There are too many moments where things just were not plausible. I am not giving anything away of great importance here so stick with me.

There are people with motives that are completely unclear, people that acted completely off base, and the end. I will not give away the end but let's just say as all becomes more clear it will feel less and less like high drama and intrgue and more and more like a very operatic soap opera.

If you like David Baldacci, I doubt you will miss this book. If you want to learn a thing or two about the Supreme Court, I'm sure there are better sources. Overall, I would give this book a miss. I am giving it two stars because it at least kept me through to the end.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Baldacci's best stand alone novel?

David Baldacci writes several series as well as stand alone novels. This action thriller has vivid characters and intense expense. Some have complained about the narrator; I disagree.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love Baldacci, Not a fan of the Narrator

I very rarely write reviews but it took me about half the book to get past the narration and actually start to enjoy the story. Great story in the typical Baldacci fashion but they have had much better narrators.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Complicated characters

I found the beginning quite complicated with the over whelming introduction of characters and story line.
Once it got going the story flowed quite well.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Worst narration ever. Fingernails and Chalkboards!

What would have made The Simple Truth better?

I could not get through 5 chapters before shutting the book off. Absolute worst narration I have ever heard.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jonathan Marosz?

Scott Brick

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7 people found this helpful