Cover of FIRST FAMILY
courtesy of Grand Central Publishing
FIRST FAMILY by David Baldacci

David Baldacci focuses his sights on a fictional “first family” in his new novel which is aptly titled FIRST FAMILY. This book offers a chance for some rare insight into the first family’s personal life while all the time being wrapped up in a mystery that keeps readers racing through the pages. Baldacci excels at plot structures such as this and delivers a wild ride of a read this time out.

Dan and Jane Cox are the President and First Lady in this story. As the story opens they are at Camp David for a birthday party being held for Willa Dutton, the first lady’s twelve year old niece. Later that day, when Willa has gone back to her home, she is abducted and a member of her family is killed.

The FBI is immediately all over the case but this does not satisfy Jane Cox. She calls upon her good friends, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, to investigate the case privately. Sean and Michelle are former Secret Service Agents so they know the landscape. They have good contacts they can call upon and they are tenacious in their quest for information.

The main problem they encounter is the First Lady herself. She seems to be withholding information from them while all the time professing to be completely open and above board. It appears that in Washington politics comes first, even before the safety of family members.

Baldacci is great at spinning his story but he branches off into a side tale about Michelle and her family. It is an interesting story but it just doesn’t fit with the rest of the book. It is as though he doesn’t trust the main story to be involving enough to fill the four hundred plus pages of his book.

There are also a few occurrences in this story that just don’t flow easily. They seem contrived and just a bit too convenient. Still the overall feel of the plot is acceptable and certainly attention holding. Plus it is fun to get a glimpse into the day to day life of the Presidential family.

Baldacci has been a popular writer for many years now. With stories such as FIRST FAMILY he will likely continue to be widely read well into the future. I know I will still be eagerly awaiting his next book.

FIRST FAMILY is published by Grand Central Publishing. It contains 452 pages and sells for $27.99.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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