One Good Deed

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

In this fast-paced historical thriller, the number one New York Times best-selling author introduces Archer, a WWII veteran forced to investigate a small-town murder - or risk returning to prison.

It's 1949. When war veteran Aloysius Archer is released from Carderock Prison, he is sent to Poca City on parole with a short list of dos and a much longer list of don'ts: do report regularly to his parole officer, don't go to bars, certainly don't drink alcohol, do get a job - and don't ever associate with loose women.

The small town quickly proves more complicated and dangerous than Archer's years serving in the war or his time in jail. Within a single night, his search for gainful employment - and a stiff drink - leads him to a local bar, where he is hired for what seems like a simple job: to collect a debt owed to a powerful local businessman, Hank Pittleman.

Soon Archer discovers that recovering the debt won't be so easy. The indebted man has a furious grudge against Hank and refuses to pay; Hank's clever mistress has her own designs on Archer; and both Hank and Archer's stern parole officer, Miss Crabtree, are keeping a sharp eye on him.

When a murder takes place right under Archer's nose, police suspicions rise against the ex-convict, and Archer realizes that the crime could send him right back to prison...if he doesn't use every skill in his arsenal to track down the real killer.

©2019 David Baldacci (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Listeners will find Archer, as performed by Ballerini, an appealing character.... Ballerini expertly differentiates the many characters, male and female." (AudioFile Magazine)

Stick with it!

I started several times to give up on this book. Frankly, the first 90% of the book is laborious and boring. But the whole thing comes to gather beautifully in the end.Every book David Baldacci has written is in my audible library. Thisis my least favorite.

A delight

This is an excellent listen. The vocabulary and narrator really evoke the time period. The characters are believable and easy to relate to. I enjoyed the small references to feminism and the foreshadowing of where things are heading.

A blast from the past

David takes me to the time post WWII. Folks lived their lives with passion and strong feelings about right and wrong. I hope this is just the beginning for Archer and not a one and done. Please bring us more Archer!

WOW!

Book is full of twists and turns! It’s an incredible who done it!!! Highly Recommend it!!!

Amazing Narrator, fun story

Nice story line. Has a very old school, detective novel feel. Best performance by any narrator I’ve ever heard.

Not up to usual Baldacci standards

The protagonist is very likable but sometimes his actions are improbably stupid. The court room scene is filled with ludicrous improbabilities. Other than that, it’s a pretty good story that kept me entertained. The reader is excellent.

Great read

Never disappointed with a Baldacci book. Very fine read. Suspense right up till the end.

Great insight into a WE11Vet

I wasn’t sure that I was going to like this book. But it didn’t take long for me to b drawn in and then I couldn’t put it down. My father fought in WW11 & this book gave me a better insight into what he went through. The story was intriguing and the psychological study between characters I loved. Looking for another Archer book.

New Kid on the Block!

struggled with the reader's voice at first but when the story kicked in, great chemistry!

great stoet

It kept me interested the whole time. I couldn't wait to make time to listen to more. the narrator was perfect.