David Baldacci

If the goal of Suspense Stories is to raise our blood pressure with fast pacing, intricate plots, twists and double crosses, David Baldacci's novels, except for atypical coming-of age story Wish You Well, help set the standard for readers. Suspense builds in his edge-of-the chair accounts of sympathetic heroes and heroines in jeopardy, threatened on all sides, and struggling to survive. Dirty dealings, often featuring the Mafia or government bad guys, abound, and while political intrigue and corruption are usually elements, the novels may also feature financial manipulation, abuse of power, and corporate corruption.

The typical Baldacci hero is honorable, even if the outside world does not always think so. The villains are always bad, even though they may be originally perceived by characters and readers as good; their evil natures and methods emerge as the story progresses.

Last Man Standing makes a good introduction to Baldacci's writing. Web London, member of an elite FBI rescue squad, freezes up during an assignment and thus is the only survivor of an attempt to wipe out his team. He looks to the drug dealers to discover who is responsible for this setup, but soon, he uncovers a conspiracy very close to home in this intricately plotted, fast-paced tale of deceit and corruption

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