The Escape

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Ron McLarty, Orlagh Cassidy

Length: 14 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

David Baldacci is one of the world's most popular storytellers. In his blockbuster thrillers Zero Day and The Forgotten, listeners met John Puller. A combat veteran and special agent with the U.S. Army, Puller is the man they call to investigate the toughest crimes facing the nation. But all his training, all his experience, all his skills will not prepare him for his newest case, one that will force him to hunt down the most formidable and brilliant prey he has ever tracked: his own brother.

The Escape

It's a prison unlike any other. Military discipline rules. Its security systems are unmatched. None of its prisoners dream of escaping. They know it's impossible.

Until now.

John Puller's older brother, Robert, was convicted of treason and national security crimes. His inexplicable escape from prison makes him the most-wanted criminal in the country. Some in the government believe that John Puller represents their best chance at capturing Robert alive, and so Puller takes on the burden of bringing his brother in to face justice.

But Puller quickly discovers that there are others pursuing his brother, who only see Robert as a traitor and are unconcerned if he survives. Puller is in turn pushed into an uneasy, fraught partnership with another agent, who may have an agenda of her own.

They dig more deeply into the case together, and Puller finds that not only are her allegiances unclear, but that there are troubling details about his brother's conviction....and that someone is out there who doesn't want the truth to ever come to light. As the nationwide manhunt for Robert grows more urgent, Puller's masterful skills as an investigator and strength as a fighter may not be enough to save his brother - or himself.

©2014 David Baldacci (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Agonizing

I had to force myself to finish this one. The story was hard to follow and in general just not very interesting. I'm not one to criticize but this may have been the worst narration of the hundreds of audiobooks I've listened to.

22 of 24 people found this review helpful

Written for a movie script

First, let me say I detest the sound effects being used in audio books these days and the ones in this book are some of the cheesiest ever. Let us use our imaginations which is what novels are meant to do. We don't need cheap sound effects to "see" what is happening in the story.
Now, the writing in this particular story seemed to be aimed at the possibility of a movie and it would likely be a successful one. But as a book, not as much. It was simplified and "scripted".
The narrators....well, McLarty always reads in a halting, new reader, manner with odd pauses at the end of a line even tho it's not the end of the sentence. His pauses within a sentence are often in the wrong place. And his voice always feels as tho he's yelling at me or that he's deaf and speaking loudly like an older person who is hard of hearing, even when I have the volume down very low. And it's very monotone. Just not a pleasant voice to listen to for me.
Ms Cassidy is ok. She doesn't have that much to read so hard to get a feeling for her but she didn't turn me off to the book.
Overall, it's worth listening to as long as you don't expect the best mystery ever written.

25 of 28 people found this review helpful

Shades of Jack Reacher!

David Baldacci's John Puller three novel, 5 star series is as good as any thriller series. The Escape is Book 3. John Puller is a US Army Special Agent who has the size of Jack Reacher and uses some of the same tactics. Puller's older brother Robert is in prison for life for treason. The Escape is includes both of the Puller brothers as John helps Robert escape prison.

Narration of all three books is by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy. McLardy is one of the best and Cassidy is without peer. The two together are simply perfect.

The three John Puller books do not need to be read in order.

17 of 19 people found this review helpful

Baldacci Super Heros are back in action

It is an OK story with a teen age level action/plot. Here's the thing that gets annoying. Every character is some kind of super person. If the guy is a IT software guy, he got photo memory, is the best in the world. If he's an investigator he the best in the army with genius investigative capabilities. Of course the dad is a legend, a solder's solder. The other main characters are the fastest, most decorated, over achievers there are. Now, I don't want boring, just realistic. People I can relate to.

23 of 26 people found this review helpful

surprisingly bland

a robotic performance of a story line that lost momentum to the end, anti climactic.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Worth the listen

I have read or listened to just about every Baldacci story. I actually think some of his earlier work is some of his best. This novel hearkens back to some of the earlier work with strong characters who have emotions and some baggage but aren't paralyzed or relationship-dysfunctional (latest Kind-Maxwell for example or Robie-Real), it includes conspiracies, twists, and a satisfying ending. The week point in this whole novel is the scene around the cabin. Since I don't want to spoil the novel or the scene lets just say the characters behave so out of character that it jolted the story and well felt odd like the reader/listener is in a different novel. Two intelligent, deliberate characters with supposedly lots of experience behave like armatures .. it is such a shock that it takes a while for the reader/listener to recover. I checked with a friend of mine who also listened to the novel and who is actually the one who introduced me to Baldacci and he too found the behavior of the characters in the scene disruptive to the flow. The reader mental jerk in the story line is very disruptive but a few scenes later I recovered and went on to enjoy the remainder of the story. Would I recommend this, yes. If you like Baldacci you will enjoy this story.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Time to Give Baldacci a Break

I can't say this is not a decent listen. It has good characters, a tight plot and good twists and turns. But Baldacci seems to be taking the route of James Patterson and others who just seem to pump out books. It's as if they use a central theme, change the characters and go for it. There are so many many many details in this book and they just go on an on and of course, they all come to a 'logical' perfect conclusion. Again, not saying this isn't a good story - I just feel like I knew the ending having read all of Baldacci's other books. Only 3 stars and truly, I think I'll give the next Baldacci a pass.

33 of 40 people found this review helpful

The Escape

Any additional comments?

Approximately fifteen hours of listening, read by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy, The Escape is book number three in the John Puller - Victoria Knox thrillers. As in the other books, McLarty and Cassidy do a great job, smooth transitions. Production is very typical of Baldacci, lots of attention to music and special sound effects. There are three male Pullers in this story. John, the main character, Robert, his older brother, who’s escape from prison is the subject matter, and John, Sr., daddy in a retirement facility. Words for the listener that took me some time to figure out: When the author simply says ‘Puller’, think John, Jr., the main character, and you’ll usually be right.

The story surrounds The Escape of Robert Puller from prison and John Puller’s pursuit of his brother’s freedom and justice for the evil doers. Not giving any secrets away here, because you can easily guess Robert has been framed. He’s a Puller, they’re always good-guys. Not quite up to Baldacci standards, in my opinion. There are many characters to keep mental track of, some who’s omission wouldn’t have done the story any harm. If you’re a fan of the Puller-Knox thrillers, it’s gonna be your kinda book. Some interesting twists, enjoy!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

David Baldacci doesn't disappoint with THE ESCAPE

What made the experience of listening to The Escape the most enjoyable?

The ESCAPE is on par or better then the previous John Pullen novels. Fast paced with a really well thought out plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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

Yes it certainly did. The entire book I wondered if Robert Pullen would be caught, would he make it to the end in one piece? Alive? Innocent or guilty? Would the woman partnered with John really be on his side or would she turn out to be a traitor? Who's good? Who's not? Sometimes it's not clear but will be.

What does Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy do a really good job. I'm impressed!

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

Would have liked to but didn't have 15 hours to devote! Ok ok it took me 2 days.

Any additional comments?

I really like this and the Will Robie series. I think David Baldacci has written some winners here. This series is action packed, this book in particular has some real twists. I don't like spoilers but I will say there is some good dialogue dealing with Pullen's father who hasn't spoken to Robert since his indictment, great "coercion" scene at the end that turns the tables on the person ultimately responsible for Robert being imprissoned. Highly Recommend by Me!!

23 of 28 people found this review helpful

Could hardly wait to escape from this book

What disappointed you about The Escape?

What didn't disappoint me? The action was cliche, the characters were two dimensional (and OMG, everyone in that book except John Puller was exceptionally stupid so that he'd have the opportunity to explain everything to them in excruciating detail), the writing was stilted, and the narration was monotone and carried the faint hint of a Brooklyn accent. Veronica Knox was particularly unbelievable both as a character and as a romantic interest. And the end?! I won't give it away, but the person who is accused at the end couldn't possibly have so little imagination that they would not anticipate the leverage against them.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Nevada Barr's Destroyer Angel

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The premise was promising but it did not deliver.

Any additional comments?

It is baffling to me how this book got so many good reviews on Amazon.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful