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Will Robie #4
The Guilty
Going home can kill you.
When Special Agent Will Robie gets the call to make his first visit home since he was a teenager, it's because his father, the local judge, has been arrested for murdering a man who came before him in court.
The small, remote Mississippi town hasn't changed and its residents remember Robie as a wild sports star and girl magnet. He left a lot of hearts broken, and a lot of people angry.
Will and his father, Dan, are estranged, and his mother left years ago. When he visits Dan in jail, he finds that time hasn't healed old wounds. There's too much bad blood between the men, and although Will feels no good will come of staying around, he is persuaded to confront his demons by fellow agent Jessica Reel.
But then another murder changes everything, and stone-cold killer Robie will finally have to come to grips with his toughest assignment of all. His family.
When Special Agent Will Robie gets the call to make his first visit home since he was a teenager, it's because his father, the local judge, has been arrested for murdering a man who came before him in court.
The small, remote Mississippi town hasn't changed and its residents remember Robie as a wild sports star and girl magnet. He left a lot of hearts broken, and a lot of people angry.
Will and his father, Dan, are estranged, and his mother left years ago. When he visits Dan in jail, he finds that time hasn't healed old wounds. There's too much bad blood between the men, and although Will feels no good will come of staying around, he is persuaded to confront his demons by fellow agent Jessica Reel.
But then another murder changes everything, and stone-cold killer Robie will finally have to come to grips with his toughest assignment of all. His family.
672 pages, Hardcover
Published November 17, 2015
6491 people are currently reading
14282 people want to read
About the author
David Baldacci
245 books123k followersDavid Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.”)
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,469 reviews
February 26, 2018
Had I not read this book, I would never have believed Baldacci capable of supplanting Wish You Well as the most uninteresting-not to mention trite and arduous-book of his career. This was painful. Pace yourself by taking multiple breaks.
July 16, 2018
David Baldacci's "The Guilty" is the fourth in the exciting Will Robie series and even though I've read and loved the second and third, this is by far my favourite to date!
This story is unlike any other in the series due to the fact there is no government mission for Will and Jessica to undertake and no international conspiracy at work. Will learns that his estranged father has been arrested and charged with the murder of a man back in his home state of Mississippi. Knowing that Will needs to put some issues to bed with his father, he goes back home to Cantrell after severing ties with the place over twenty years ago. Unable to work in the field after a mission that saw the accidental death of a young girl, Will hopes he will mentally be able to come to terms with the incident and return to the expert shooter he is. Knowing that his father and his inability to clear his mind during his missions are connected, he hopes to sort out matters with his estranged dad and understand why his girlfriend at the time ditched him at the last minute.
Drawn into the hidden underside of Cantrell, learning the effects of his choices he made just before he left twenty years ago and trying to help uncover the real killer leads him to near death and a much more dangerous mission he may ever have been on before.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Will's early home life and although Jessica didn't play a major part in the story I liked how their relationship continued to grow. This story was much more of a conventional crime thriller than the usual Baldacci political thrillers and a made a nice change delving into Will's personal life, learning his deep rooted thoughts and emotions from when he was young.
I have the fifth in the series "End Game" and can't wait to read that too, David Baldacci is a absolute star at writing thrillers that captivate the reader and I for one am a huge fan. I can't praise this series enough and although this book can be read as a standalone I would recommend reading some previous books as the relationship between Will and Jessica is one that has been tested to the highest limits and well worth following.
Another 5 stars for a brilliant book!
This story is unlike any other in the series due to the fact there is no government mission for Will and Jessica to undertake and no international conspiracy at work. Will learns that his estranged father has been arrested and charged with the murder of a man back in his home state of Mississippi. Knowing that Will needs to put some issues to bed with his father, he goes back home to Cantrell after severing ties with the place over twenty years ago. Unable to work in the field after a mission that saw the accidental death of a young girl, Will hopes he will mentally be able to come to terms with the incident and return to the expert shooter he is. Knowing that his father and his inability to clear his mind during his missions are connected, he hopes to sort out matters with his estranged dad and understand why his girlfriend at the time ditched him at the last minute.
Drawn into the hidden underside of Cantrell, learning the effects of his choices he made just before he left twenty years ago and trying to help uncover the real killer leads him to near death and a much more dangerous mission he may ever have been on before.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Will's early home life and although Jessica didn't play a major part in the story I liked how their relationship continued to grow. This story was much more of a conventional crime thriller than the usual Baldacci political thrillers and a made a nice change delving into Will's personal life, learning his deep rooted thoughts and emotions from when he was young.
I have the fifth in the series "End Game" and can't wait to read that too, David Baldacci is a absolute star at writing thrillers that captivate the reader and I for one am a huge fan. I can't praise this series enough and although this book can be read as a standalone I would recommend reading some previous books as the relationship between Will and Jessica is one that has been tested to the highest limits and well worth following.
Another 5 stars for a brilliant book!
November 23, 2015
The Guilty, 4th book in David Baldacci’s Will Robie Series, continues with the life of a government assassin that finds himself at a crossroad in his life. Will Robie’s past is having an emotional effect on his job and he will have to face it head-on before he can move forward with his life.
His last assignment, where he killed an innocent bystander has resulted in him questioning his capabilities and adding to his problems is that he’s been informed that his father, a former marine, who he hasn’t seen since leaving home at 18, has been arrested for murder in his hometown.
Deciding to confront his demons from his past, he thinks back about his parent’s marriage, the love he left behind as he travels to his hometown, the small town of Cantrell, Mississippi. He’s amazed to discover that his father was the town’s judge and had become very wealthy since he had last seen him. He also finds that his father had remarried and fathered a son and his half-brother.
His father’s attitude towards Will’s offering to help him is just as he expected. Rejection and coldness but Will is not going to give up. He needs to do this for his father if he’s ever able to overcome the past in his life.
The author creates a small town with believable characters and all their daily life intrigues. Where everyone knows everyone’s business and how Will’s sudden appearance gets everyone involved in what is happening in the small place.
Jessica Reel makes an appearance again….so happy about that!!! Love this character. Not only because of that…but she actually “pops” up and saves Will’s life once again!!!
This is a very complex plot filled with the most unexpected revelations. Nothing that I was expecting. And even when everything is revealed and when it feels a bit unbelievable….the actual villain ….wow, I never expected that….it somehow seems real….is that a bit weird or not!!!
David Baldacci is such a great storyteller. I just kept turning the pages and wanting to find out more.
A great series and looking forward to the next Will Robie book!
His last assignment, where he killed an innocent bystander has resulted in him questioning his capabilities and adding to his problems is that he’s been informed that his father, a former marine, who he hasn’t seen since leaving home at 18, has been arrested for murder in his hometown.
Deciding to confront his demons from his past, he thinks back about his parent’s marriage, the love he left behind as he travels to his hometown, the small town of Cantrell, Mississippi. He’s amazed to discover that his father was the town’s judge and had become very wealthy since he had last seen him. He also finds that his father had remarried and fathered a son and his half-brother.
His father’s attitude towards Will’s offering to help him is just as he expected. Rejection and coldness but Will is not going to give up. He needs to do this for his father if he’s ever able to overcome the past in his life.
The author creates a small town with believable characters and all their daily life intrigues. Where everyone knows everyone’s business and how Will’s sudden appearance gets everyone involved in what is happening in the small place.
Jessica Reel makes an appearance again….so happy about that!!! Love this character. Not only because of that…but she actually “pops” up and saves Will’s life once again!!!
The character development is absolutely amazing including secondary characters.
This is a very complex plot filled with the most unexpected revelations. Nothing that I was expecting. And even when everything is revealed and when it feels a bit unbelievable….the actual villain ….wow, I never expected that….it somehow seems real….is that a bit weird or not!!!
David Baldacci is such a great storyteller. I just kept turning the pages and wanting to find out more.
A great series and looking forward to the next Will Robie book!
November 28, 2015
The Guilty
I love all of David Baldacci's series but this one is by far my favorite. The stories are always fast paced and enjoyable. I'm always waiting for the next book to be published.
I love all of David Baldacci's series but this one is by far my favorite. The stories are always fast paced and enjoyable. I'm always waiting for the next book to be published.
November 26, 2015
This is a review I never imagine posting. It actually pains me to write this about someone who had once been one of my favorite authors.
There was a time when David Baldacci was my second favorite author. He slowly dropped from #2 but remained in my top 5. Then he dropped somewhere between 6 and 10.
Now?
Now I sadly can state I’m close to giving up on him completely. His novels have become formulaic. Characters interchangeable. It almost feels like he uses the same template—and then just inserts whichever character. (Am I the only one who feels there no difference between King and Sean Maxwell and Will Robie?)
I will say that, for some reason, I never got into ‘The Camel Club’ series. That was okay, though because I loved John Puller as well as King and Maxwell and Robie and Reel. His standalones were…good. But even those always felt like it could have been one in a series.
Lately, the only novels of his I’ve enjoyed are the John Puller books. “The Forgotten,” which was the first Baldacci book I ever read, as well as ‘Zero Day’ and ‘The Escape’ were great novels.
However, the last several non-Puller books I came across were really struggles to get through.
First Family (K & M) was a big disappointment. The president’s family was so unbelievable the book was almost laughable. But I suffered through it cause…well, it’s Baldacci.
I read ‘Split Second,’ the first K & M book. I finished it mostly due to the fact it was interesting to see how K&M started out. The story, the plot and the writing was a bit of a struggle. But I read it cause…well, it’s Baldacci.
“The Innocent” was the first Will Robie novel. I found it awful, especially Robie’s sidekick who was 13 going on 35. It was not believable and read like a comic book…but I struggled through it because…well, it’s Baldacci.
This evening I started reading ‘The Guilty.’ I was very excited to delve into his brand new novel. Well, I cant believe I’m writing this about a Baldacci novel but for the first time in my life, I simply could NOT finish it. Just an awful terrible book.
The book started out great. The first 25 pages had me pulled in. Then—it turned to cr*p.
I wont reveal a spoiler but I will say Will goes down to the sticks on Mississippi to investigate a murder. Now, I understand authors need to write dialogue to reflect the way people speak. The book needs to ‘ring true.’ But this was too much, too over the top. I’ve never been a fan of or have enjoyed southern writers such as Faulkner or Tennessee Williams. And that’s what this book became.
After only 60 pages I gave up.
Mayb’ it’s me, y’all but this here done book? Nosirree, it jus’ didn’ do nuthin’ fors me and I’ze jus’ foun’ it too har’ to read. I reckon I hadta read ev’ry sentence a coupla times to understan’ what they was talkin’ ‘bout there.
See what I did there? That’s how this book read. I even flipped ahead to page 125, 150, 200 just to see if Robie would ever be conversing with people who don’t have thick southern accents.
But even as I flipped forwards, I done seen more and mores words done there cut off and that’s when, by God, I reckon’ it was time fors me to given up on this here book.
I’ve come to the sad realization that if you’ve read one Baldacci book, you’ve read them all.
Why do so many characters have ‘daddy issues’, be it Michelle Maxwell, John Puller and now Will Robie?
Why does every protagonist have deep-seeded self-doubt and always ALWAYS have mixed emotions about what they do?
Will Robie comes from a small town in the swamps of Mississippi. Michelle Maxwell comes from a small town in Tennessee.
Will Robie has issues with his father. Michelle Maxwell has issues with her father. John Puller has issues with father.
Be it King or now Robie, they work for the government but always want to get out. They spend the novel believing this will be their last case. And sure enough, at the end, they agree to come back for one more.
Why does every male lead (Maxwell, Robie, Oliver Stone) always appear as the principled straight man while all around him are sneaky.
His books, sadly, have become so clichéd and so predictable and the writing almost so simplistic, they are preposterous.
Sure enough, in one scene in ‘The Guilty’ Robie, distraught and mulling over getting out (as all Baldacci characters always do), is walking through the streets of Washington DC in the rain. Just him and his thoughts. Alone. All alone. Then, wouldn’t you know it but who comes out of the bushes all quiet and sneaky as if in a Hollywood spoof, but Robie’s boss—the msysterious shadow “Blue Man.” In a clichéd conversation, Robie asks, “How did you know I’d be here?” to which Blue Man replies, something like “I know the way you think.’
With that, Blue Man hands Robie the stereotypical manila folder, then retreats stealthily into the dense shrubbery seemingly swallowed by the darkness of Washington.
Sheeesh!
Just an awful book. This year Mr. Baldacci wrote 3 novels. 3 novels in 11 months. I really wish he’d writer slower but better. His books have become boringly predictable, his characters are all carbon copies of one another and his storylines have become mundane and uninteresting.
There was a time when David Baldacci was my second favorite author. He slowly dropped from #2 but remained in my top 5. Then he dropped somewhere between 6 and 10.
Now?
Now I sadly can state I’m close to giving up on him completely. His novels have become formulaic. Characters interchangeable. It almost feels like he uses the same template—and then just inserts whichever character. (Am I the only one who feels there no difference between King and Sean Maxwell and Will Robie?)
I will say that, for some reason, I never got into ‘The Camel Club’ series. That was okay, though because I loved John Puller as well as King and Maxwell and Robie and Reel. His standalones were…good. But even those always felt like it could have been one in a series.
Lately, the only novels of his I’ve enjoyed are the John Puller books. “The Forgotten,” which was the first Baldacci book I ever read, as well as ‘Zero Day’ and ‘The Escape’ were great novels.
However, the last several non-Puller books I came across were really struggles to get through.
First Family (K & M) was a big disappointment. The president’s family was so unbelievable the book was almost laughable. But I suffered through it cause…well, it’s Baldacci.
I read ‘Split Second,’ the first K & M book. I finished it mostly due to the fact it was interesting to see how K&M started out. The story, the plot and the writing was a bit of a struggle. But I read it cause…well, it’s Baldacci.
“The Innocent” was the first Will Robie novel. I found it awful, especially Robie’s sidekick who was 13 going on 35. It was not believable and read like a comic book…but I struggled through it because…well, it’s Baldacci.
This evening I started reading ‘The Guilty.’ I was very excited to delve into his brand new novel. Well, I cant believe I’m writing this about a Baldacci novel but for the first time in my life, I simply could NOT finish it. Just an awful terrible book.
The book started out great. The first 25 pages had me pulled in. Then—it turned to cr*p.
I wont reveal a spoiler but I will say Will goes down to the sticks on Mississippi to investigate a murder. Now, I understand authors need to write dialogue to reflect the way people speak. The book needs to ‘ring true.’ But this was too much, too over the top. I’ve never been a fan of or have enjoyed southern writers such as Faulkner or Tennessee Williams. And that’s what this book became.
After only 60 pages I gave up.
Mayb’ it’s me, y’all but this here done book? Nosirree, it jus’ didn’ do nuthin’ fors me and I’ze jus’ foun’ it too har’ to read. I reckon I hadta read ev’ry sentence a coupla times to understan’ what they was talkin’ ‘bout there.
See what I did there? That’s how this book read. I even flipped ahead to page 125, 150, 200 just to see if Robie would ever be conversing with people who don’t have thick southern accents.
But even as I flipped forwards, I done seen more and mores words done there cut off and that’s when, by God, I reckon’ it was time fors me to given up on this here book.
I’ve come to the sad realization that if you’ve read one Baldacci book, you’ve read them all.
Why do so many characters have ‘daddy issues’, be it Michelle Maxwell, John Puller and now Will Robie?
Why does every protagonist have deep-seeded self-doubt and always ALWAYS have mixed emotions about what they do?
Will Robie comes from a small town in the swamps of Mississippi. Michelle Maxwell comes from a small town in Tennessee.
Will Robie has issues with his father. Michelle Maxwell has issues with her father. John Puller has issues with father.
Be it King or now Robie, they work for the government but always want to get out. They spend the novel believing this will be their last case. And sure enough, at the end, they agree to come back for one more.
Why does every male lead (Maxwell, Robie, Oliver Stone) always appear as the principled straight man while all around him are sneaky.
His books, sadly, have become so clichéd and so predictable and the writing almost so simplistic, they are preposterous.
Sure enough, in one scene in ‘The Guilty’ Robie, distraught and mulling over getting out (as all Baldacci characters always do), is walking through the streets of Washington DC in the rain. Just him and his thoughts. Alone. All alone. Then, wouldn’t you know it but who comes out of the bushes all quiet and sneaky as if in a Hollywood spoof, but Robie’s boss—the msysterious shadow “Blue Man.” In a clichéd conversation, Robie asks, “How did you know I’d be here?” to which Blue Man replies, something like “I know the way you think.’
With that, Blue Man hands Robie the stereotypical manila folder, then retreats stealthily into the dense shrubbery seemingly swallowed by the darkness of Washington.
Sheeesh!
Just an awful book. This year Mr. Baldacci wrote 3 novels. 3 novels in 11 months. I really wish he’d writer slower but better. His books have become boringly predictable, his characters are all carbon copies of one another and his storylines have become mundane and uninteresting.
August 17, 2016
You know I recently finished 2 "thrillers" that I rated fairly low mainly because they devolved from their "thriller roots" into stories about the personal lives of the protagonists.
Here Mr. Baldacci did the same thing...and drew me in so thoroughly that it kept me awake nights following the book and not wanting to put it down.
We've gotten to know Robie (along with his co-protagonist Jessica) by now and I guess that may make the difference. I mean if a TV series starts out and establishes itself and it's characters (ala N.C.I.S, C.S.I. etc) before we get our first "very special episode" (you know where they kill a main character or the love interest of a main character or whatever) then it usually works. That is opposed to on the second episode bring events from the main character's background up to dominate things (ala Shark [do you remember Shark? If you don't it's probably because they killed it by dragging the personal stuff in too soon]).
BUT, whatever the reason here it worked. Will goes on a standard job (and this isn't a spoiler as it's how the book opens) where he does a necessary "touch" or "hit" on an enemy of the U.S. It's a standard hit escept they didn't tell Will that there was a child present and the child would jump into the arms of the target just as Will fired...
After that Will has trouble...well trouble being Will. Add to that the fact his estranged father's being charged with murder back in the "old home town" from which he "escaped" when he was 18 and you have the set up.
This book in spite of the fact it could have gone the other way with angst and long drawn out info dumps as Will (and later Jessica) set out to solve the mystery, it doesn't go that way and I'm going the full 5 stars. I like it, it drew me in, it held my interest...
And I recommend it.
Here Mr. Baldacci did the same thing...and drew me in so thoroughly that it kept me awake nights following the book and not wanting to put it down.
We've gotten to know Robie (along with his co-protagonist Jessica) by now and I guess that may make the difference. I mean if a TV series starts out and establishes itself and it's characters (ala N.C.I.S, C.S.I. etc) before we get our first "very special episode" (you know where they kill a main character or the love interest of a main character or whatever) then it usually works. That is opposed to on the second episode bring events from the main character's background up to dominate things (ala Shark [do you remember Shark? If you don't it's probably because they killed it by dragging the personal stuff in too soon]).
BUT, whatever the reason here it worked. Will goes on a standard job (and this isn't a spoiler as it's how the book opens) where he does a necessary "touch" or "hit" on an enemy of the U.S. It's a standard hit escept they didn't tell Will that there was a child present and the child would jump into the arms of the target just as Will fired...
After that Will has trouble...well trouble being Will. Add to that the fact his estranged father's being charged with murder back in the "old home town" from which he "escaped" when he was 18 and you have the set up.
This book in spite of the fact it could have gone the other way with angst and long drawn out info dumps as Will (and later Jessica) set out to solve the mystery, it doesn't go that way and I'm going the full 5 stars. I like it, it drew me in, it held my interest...
And I recommend it.
November 19, 2019
4.5 really. Another wonderful book from the Will Robie and Jessica Reel series. This time the setting is in small town USA. Being Robie's first home town visit in 22 years.
The book centre's on his going home because his boss advised him that his father (the local judge) was in jail. On a possible murder charge
Excellent main plot and sub plots.
Unputdownable.
The book centre's on his going home because his boss advised him that his father (the local judge) was in jail. On a possible murder charge
Excellent main plot and sub plots.
Unputdownable.
January 28, 2025
3 stars
short review for busy readers:
Typical thriller fodder about endangered family members, but with some quite well done Deep South atmosphere and hired killer vibes. Engaging enough and with enough action scenes to keep you reading through the cliche bits.
Utterly OTT "solution" to the mystery, though, that had me rolling my eyes at the patent absurdity of it. Like, you're kidding, aren't you? THAT'S the solution? Oh, please. The ending long overstays its welcome, too.
At least now I can strike Baldacci off the "popular authors I've never read" list.
Listened to the German language abridged version, which at points was perhaps too abridged and left some important stuff out. The reader was fine.
short review for busy readers:
Typical thriller fodder about endangered family members, but with some quite well done Deep South atmosphere and hired killer vibes. Engaging enough and with enough action scenes to keep you reading through the cliche bits.
Utterly OTT "solution" to the mystery, though, that had me rolling my eyes at the patent absurdity of it. Like, you're kidding, aren't you? THAT'S the solution? Oh, please. The ending long overstays its welcome, too.
At least now I can strike Baldacci off the "popular authors I've never read" list.
Listened to the German language abridged version, which at points was perhaps too abridged and left some important stuff out. The reader was fine.
June 30, 2019
As I first started reading the third book in the Will Robie series I was thinking 3 stars. I was enjoying it for the most part but it wasn't great. No wow moments. Basically this is the story of the past and present catching up. You can run away but you can never really escape.
Readers of other books in the series know that Robie is a government assassin. It should be mentioned at this point that another government assassin is Jessica Reel and that Robie and Reel often work together. They make a formidable team. When the story opens Robie is on a mission. He successfully takes out his target but an innocent person is killed too. Collateral damage. No one blames Robie except himself. On the next mission the unthinkable happens ... he freezes and can't complete it. To regain what he has lost he realizes that he must deal with his past and his relationship with his father.
Twenty-two years ago Will left his hometown of Cantrell, Mississippi and never looked back. He severed all ties. Father and son haven't spoken since that day. His father, Dan Robie, is an attorney, one of the town's leading citizens, and is now a judge. Now he has been arrested and charged with murder. Almost everyone believes he is guilty. His guilt is assumed before the trial has even started. When Will returns to Cantrell his father refuses to see him reacting with anger and defiance. Despite this Will begins investigating on his own but he is a stranger in Cantrell now. An outsider.
Of course it isn't long before Jessica Reel shows up to help Robie and the dead start adding up. Some at the hands of Robie and Reel. Others by an unknown killer. If there is an unknown killer out there then it would appear that Dan Robie is innocent but proving it is another thing. Little by little, layer by layer Robie and Reel start uncovering the truth and learning long buried secrets.
David Baldacci does a pretty good job of leading the reader along in one direction. I found myself thinking I had a good idea of what was happening. I thought I knew the identity of the killer. Then the author throws a curve ball and there was my wow moment. Lots of guilt here on the part of many but it is never to late to reconcile. For the good guys anyway.
Readers of other books in the series know that Robie is a government assassin. It should be mentioned at this point that another government assassin is Jessica Reel and that Robie and Reel often work together. They make a formidable team. When the story opens Robie is on a mission. He successfully takes out his target but an innocent person is killed too. Collateral damage. No one blames Robie except himself. On the next mission the unthinkable happens ... he freezes and can't complete it. To regain what he has lost he realizes that he must deal with his past and his relationship with his father.
Twenty-two years ago Will left his hometown of Cantrell, Mississippi and never looked back. He severed all ties. Father and son haven't spoken since that day. His father, Dan Robie, is an attorney, one of the town's leading citizens, and is now a judge. Now he has been arrested and charged with murder. Almost everyone believes he is guilty. His guilt is assumed before the trial has even started. When Will returns to Cantrell his father refuses to see him reacting with anger and defiance. Despite this Will begins investigating on his own but he is a stranger in Cantrell now. An outsider.
Of course it isn't long before Jessica Reel shows up to help Robie and the dead start adding up. Some at the hands of Robie and Reel. Others by an unknown killer. If there is an unknown killer out there then it would appear that Dan Robie is innocent but proving it is another thing. Little by little, layer by layer Robie and Reel start uncovering the truth and learning long buried secrets.
David Baldacci does a pretty good job of leading the reader along in one direction. I found myself thinking I had a good idea of what was happening. I thought I knew the identity of the killer. Then the author throws a curve ball and there was my wow moment. Lots of guilt here on the part of many but it is never to late to reconcile. For the good guys anyway.
January 25, 2016
The newest Will Robie novel was a little disappointing, at least for me. In killing a target, the bullet accidentally kills the target's daughter that was not supposed to be there, and he loses his edge. While home on rest leave, the Blue Man tells Will that his estranged father has been arrested for murder. Will returns to his Gulf Coast hometown of Cantrell, Mississippi where he is mostly unwelcome despite his leading his high school football team to a state championship. He then works to solve a murder, in the context of accumulating dead bodies. Will is not really a detective, and there are much better authors for Southern pulp mysteries, like Greg Iles and John Hart. I did like the ending though, which I did not see coming.
October 21, 2017
The Guilty is another tremendous entry in the best-selling thrillermaster’s increasingly impressive resume and the fourth instalment in the David Baldacci's Will Robie and with the added great character Reel.
Robie, a black ops CIA sniper, accidentally shoots a child while assassinating a corrupt foreign leader overseas. When he freezes on his next op, unable to pull the trigger, Robie’s handler pulls him out of the field and gives him an opportunity to get his head right. Meanwhile, Robie’s father has been arrested for murder in the small Gulf Coast town of Cantrell, Mississippi, a place Will left immediately after high school and never looked back.
Now forced to confront his painful past – much of which stems from his strained relationship with his father – Robie's returns to Cantrell in an effort to resolve the wounds of his past and get his professional mojo back. But the Cantrell he returns to is vastly different than the one he’d left. His father, once a second-rate lawyer, is now the county judge and living in a massive mansion with his new wife and child, a shift that drew the elder Robie more than his share of enemies in the town. The man he is accused of killing, a shifty lowlife character named Sherman Clancy, saw his once-dismal financial fortunes skyrocket and then plummet back to earth for mysterious reasons in the years between Will’s departure and Clancy’s murder. A new preacher has also arrived in town, with his three rebellious and savvy daughters seemingly neck-deep in the mystery that entangles Robie’s father.
While most of the characters are well-balanced, the relationship that truly stand out among the most noteworthy is the rapport between Robie and Reel, with the professional and personal trust and respect that the two share for one another – having risked it all for each other several times before – feeling believable and compelling, not to mention being the source of a fair amount of witty banter/humour. The tense dynamic between Robie and his father is palpable as well, and their shifting relationship – and how they both deal with the wounds of the past – To me the highlights being the relationship between Robie and his father very touching moments.
The mystery itself is a massive adventure and journey full of dead ends and surprising turns, with new reveals doled out at regular intervals as the story builds to its shocking conclusion, a spectacular double-twist climax that will leave even the most jaded thriller readers impressed. A thoroughly satisfying thriller but for Baldacci also a strong mystery that I have not quite read from this author, this adds to Robie and how his characters unfolds in this book.
A clear four star for me... A match against his John Puller books, just love both characters.
Robie, a black ops CIA sniper, accidentally shoots a child while assassinating a corrupt foreign leader overseas. When he freezes on his next op, unable to pull the trigger, Robie’s handler pulls him out of the field and gives him an opportunity to get his head right. Meanwhile, Robie’s father has been arrested for murder in the small Gulf Coast town of Cantrell, Mississippi, a place Will left immediately after high school and never looked back.
Now forced to confront his painful past – much of which stems from his strained relationship with his father – Robie's returns to Cantrell in an effort to resolve the wounds of his past and get his professional mojo back. But the Cantrell he returns to is vastly different than the one he’d left. His father, once a second-rate lawyer, is now the county judge and living in a massive mansion with his new wife and child, a shift that drew the elder Robie more than his share of enemies in the town. The man he is accused of killing, a shifty lowlife character named Sherman Clancy, saw his once-dismal financial fortunes skyrocket and then plummet back to earth for mysterious reasons in the years between Will’s departure and Clancy’s murder. A new preacher has also arrived in town, with his three rebellious and savvy daughters seemingly neck-deep in the mystery that entangles Robie’s father.
While most of the characters are well-balanced, the relationship that truly stand out among the most noteworthy is the rapport between Robie and Reel, with the professional and personal trust and respect that the two share for one another – having risked it all for each other several times before – feeling believable and compelling, not to mention being the source of a fair amount of witty banter/humour. The tense dynamic between Robie and his father is palpable as well, and their shifting relationship – and how they both deal with the wounds of the past – To me the highlights being the relationship between Robie and his father very touching moments.
The mystery itself is a massive adventure and journey full of dead ends and surprising turns, with new reveals doled out at regular intervals as the story builds to its shocking conclusion, a spectacular double-twist climax that will leave even the most jaded thriller readers impressed. A thoroughly satisfying thriller but for Baldacci also a strong mystery that I have not quite read from this author, this adds to Robie and how his characters unfolds in this book.
A clear four star for me... A match against his John Puller books, just love both characters.
May 12, 2018
This was by far my favorite Will Robie book in the series! I absolutely loved reading about Will’s family, hometown, and past. And the last few chapters were ridiculously crazy! It is great seeing how deep Jessica and his partnership gets from book to book. I actually really find them entertaining together and I’m glad it is continuing in the series. With Blue Man showing up at the end, it really just brings the whole working dynamic they all have together. I am thoroughly looking forward to reading End Game right after I read the Fallen (Amos Decker recent book).
My quick and simple overall: By far my favorite in the Will Robie series. The personal aspect to Will’s character just added so much to this story, along with a hell of an intriguing plot and crimes.
My quick and simple overall: By far my favorite in the Will Robie series. The personal aspect to Will’s character just added so much to this story, along with a hell of an intriguing plot and crimes.
December 12, 2015
Pretty awful as it turns out. The story kept me going even while being all over the place so it gets 1 added star for that. Strings of stories that made no sense that he pulls together at the very end into a simply horrific overdone ending. To make a thriller you have to highlight some of the world's proclivities but he felt compelled to use multiple awful things and I think it was unnecessary (such as the serial killer angle--this served NO purpose whatsoever). And he doesn't introduce them for 300 pages so what was the point? It was also terribly obvious who the bad guy was. I think Baldacci has officially jumped the shark for me like Patricia Cornwell did years ago; I wasn't sure about it after Memory Man which was positively awful but this comes close. Makes me sad--I really enjoyed so many of his other books. Finally, I was kind of bummed that the person that voices the males/Robie has changed for this one. I hate when that happens!
March 30, 2016
Another 5 star novel in the Will Robbie series. Best to start at #1 if you have read any yet!
November 29, 2015
Will Robie is a paid assassin, working for the U.S. government in extreme secrecy throughout the darkest and most dangerous places in the world. He is highly successful, disciplined and never misses his target. That is, until one fateful day when he chokes.
His secretive boss, Blue Man, puts him on leave; and because there's some evidence that his sudden change is rooted to unreserved issues from his childhood, he heads back to his old home in rural Cantrell, Mississippi to confront the people and places he left 20 years earlier.
After he left home - and his lawyer father, Dan Robie - Will never went back and never had further contact with his father, who abused his son both physically and mentally. He soon learns that his father - who's since been elected the town judge - is in jail after being charged with murder. Is he guilty? Will doesn't want to believe it, but his contrarian father isn't talking and refuses any help from his son.
Even though he's not even remotely close to his father, Will refuses to turn his back and leave (especially since his father now has a wife about Will's age and a young son - Will's much younger brother). As he begins to investigate, as he meets characters ranging fron seedy and dangerous, and a very different side of his old stomping grounds begins to emerge. Murders just keep piling up, and trying to track down the killers puts Will's own life - and that of his good friend and fellow assassin, Jessica Reel, who's sent to help him - in great danger.
Reading about the usually unemotional Will as he tries to sort out his feelings in what is for him a very different setting makes for an interesting story. Beyond that, though, the rest of the plot stretches the imagination almost to the breaking point (and almost to the point of my assigning the book 3 stars rather than 4). The ending, too, was somewhat disappointing; some loose ends were left hanging - as might be expected - while others were tied up much too easily given the complexity of the situations. I enjoyed this book, but honestly, I'm hoping Will gets his mojo back in time for the next installment.
His secretive boss, Blue Man, puts him on leave; and because there's some evidence that his sudden change is rooted to unreserved issues from his childhood, he heads back to his old home in rural Cantrell, Mississippi to confront the people and places he left 20 years earlier.
After he left home - and his lawyer father, Dan Robie - Will never went back and never had further contact with his father, who abused his son both physically and mentally. He soon learns that his father - who's since been elected the town judge - is in jail after being charged with murder. Is he guilty? Will doesn't want to believe it, but his contrarian father isn't talking and refuses any help from his son.
Even though he's not even remotely close to his father, Will refuses to turn his back and leave (especially since his father now has a wife about Will's age and a young son - Will's much younger brother). As he begins to investigate, as he meets characters ranging fron seedy and dangerous, and a very different side of his old stomping grounds begins to emerge. Murders just keep piling up, and trying to track down the killers puts Will's own life - and that of his good friend and fellow assassin, Jessica Reel, who's sent to help him - in great danger.
Reading about the usually unemotional Will as he tries to sort out his feelings in what is for him a very different setting makes for an interesting story. Beyond that, though, the rest of the plot stretches the imagination almost to the breaking point (and almost to the point of my assigning the book 3 stars rather than 4). The ending, too, was somewhat disappointing; some loose ends were left hanging - as might be expected - while others were tied up much too easily given the complexity of the situations. I enjoyed this book, but honestly, I'm hoping Will gets his mojo back in time for the next installment.
May 6, 2018
When I got this book, I thought it was a murder mystery novel. When I started reading it I was reading about a CIA sniper. My curiosity kept me reading and it did turn into a murder mystery.
The book is well written. The plot and subplots twisted about. The story is primarily dialogue driven. The characters are interesting and continue to develop during the story. I must say the ending was a complete surprise to me. If you enjoy a good mystery this book is for you.
I read this as a hard-back book. It is 420 pages. Published Grand Central Publishing in 2015.
The book is well written. The plot and subplots twisted about. The story is primarily dialogue driven. The characters are interesting and continue to develop during the story. I must say the ending was a complete surprise to me. If you enjoy a good mystery this book is for you.
I read this as a hard-back book. It is 420 pages. Published Grand Central Publishing in 2015.
March 12, 2020
David Baldacci has become one of my favorite authors. He grabs me and holds on tight until the book is finished. This was a tough story. I really like his two readers in his books. Become quite attached to them and their most enjoyable voices. We've gotten to know Robie (along with his co-protagonist Jessica) by now and I guess that may make the difference. I mean if a TV series starts out and establishes itself and it's characters (ala N.C.I.S, C.S.I. etc) before we get our first "very special episode" Robie has been away from his hometown for more than two decades, where some things have changed, but much remains just as stagnant as when he left. When Dan Robie refuses to see his son, Robie begins poking around to piece the accusations together. The elder Robie, a respected judge in the area, is suspected of killing a man who recently was exonerated of the murder of a local girl. Retribution fuels the motive, though Robie is sure there is more to the story. The deeper he digs, the more Robie wonders about people from his past, some of whom are still in the area, while others have left only vapours of their presence. Just as Robie peels back layers of the earlier murder, he discovers that there is an undertow that is pulling the entire community in a specific direction, but that crimes in the area have been covered-up and the whispers remain faint. When his partner, Jessica Reel, arrives to assist, Robie leads them into many dark corners to reveal truths that no one wishes aired, but which could be the only way to save Dan Robie from life in prison. With an explosive storyline and wonderfully gripping banter, Baldacci delivers a wonderful novel whose action builds as the chapters progress.
I'm a big fan, and this story, though tough was an enjoyable read/listen. Recommend.
I'm a big fan, and this story, though tough was an enjoyable read/listen. Recommend.
February 1, 2016
I like the Will Robie series. This is another great installment to the series. You could probably read it as a stand alone but I think you need to start with book 1. This time Will's Dad is accused of murder and for the first time in 22 years Will is headed home to see if he can find out what is going on. He hasn't talked to his Dad since leaving after graduating from High School. Lots of things go wrong in the small Mississippi town and there is more going on than what you think. Lots of fast action and twists and turns. It's why David Baldacci is one of my favorite mystery writers.
May 14, 2016
In the latest novel in the Will Robie series, Baldacci takes an interesting approach with the cold-hearted assassin. After a mission goes awry, Robie begins to realise that he may have lost his edge. News that his father has been arrested and is awaiting trial for murder gives Robie the out he needs, sending him back to Cantrell, Mississippi. Robie has been away from his hometown for more than two decades, where some things have changed, but much remains just as stagnant as when he left. When Dan Robie refuses to see his son, Robie begins poking around to piece the accusations together. The elder Robie, a respected judge in the area, is suspected of killing a man who recently was exonerated of the murder of a local girl. Retribution fuels the motive, though Robie is sure there is more to the story. The deeper he digs, the more Robie wonders about people from his past, some of whom are still in the area, while others have left only vapours of their presence. Just as Robie peels back layers of the earlier murder, he discovers that there is an undertow that is pulling the entire community in a specific direction, but that crimes in the area have been covered-up and the whispers remain faint. When his partner, Jessica Reel, arrives to assist, Robie leads them into many dark corners to reveal truths that no one wishes aired, but which could be the only way to save Dan Robie from life in prison. With an explosive storyline and wonderfully gripping banter, Baldacci delivers a wonderful novel whose action builds as the chapters progress.
As with most of his work, Baldacci delivers another wonderful story. He pieces the plot together effectively and uses a number of interesting characters to flesh it out. Using dialogue peppered with local idiosyncrasies allows the reader to feel as though they are there in rural Mississippi alongside Will Robie, which adds to the realistic feel. With a handful of twists and curves central to the story, Baldacci keeps the reader wondering while also expecting something exciting with every chapter. Using Robie in a more investigative manner also plays out well, which gives him dimension and opens doors for future novels, should Baldacci wish to explore them. There is also much backstory delivered in this novel, as the reader is able to better understand how Robie got involved in a life as far away from Mississippi as possible, as well as the parallels his life followed when compared to his father. As is always the wonder with an author who has multiple series on the go, will Robie and some of the others join together, or create a successful crossover opportunity? Only time will tell, though nothing is out of the realm of possibility when David Baldacci is at the helm.
Kudos, Mr. Baldacci for another successful novel. I am eager to continue my appreciation of your work as I wade through my pile of books.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
As with most of his work, Baldacci delivers another wonderful story. He pieces the plot together effectively and uses a number of interesting characters to flesh it out. Using dialogue peppered with local idiosyncrasies allows the reader to feel as though they are there in rural Mississippi alongside Will Robie, which adds to the realistic feel. With a handful of twists and curves central to the story, Baldacci keeps the reader wondering while also expecting something exciting with every chapter. Using Robie in a more investigative manner also plays out well, which gives him dimension and opens doors for future novels, should Baldacci wish to explore them. There is also much backstory delivered in this novel, as the reader is able to better understand how Robie got involved in a life as far away from Mississippi as possible, as well as the parallels his life followed when compared to his father. As is always the wonder with an author who has multiple series on the go, will Robie and some of the others join together, or create a successful crossover opportunity? Only time will tell, though nothing is out of the realm of possibility when David Baldacci is at the helm.
Kudos, Mr. Baldacci for another successful novel. I am eager to continue my appreciation of your work as I wade through my pile of books.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 10, 2015
David Baldacci has again delivered a great read. I was so fortunate to receive an advance reader's copy through Goodreads giveaway.
I have read and enjoyed the other novels in the Will Robie series but felt this one gave the clearest insight into Robie's character. In many respects, it seems that finding a killer to be an honorable individual you could admire is counter intuitive. But Will Robie is indeed a admirable man.
There is action and twists galore. Baldacci always entertains and his books are not the same one rehashed. He is one of my favorite authors and I do not hesitate to recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the thriller genre.
I have read and enjoyed the other novels in the Will Robie series but felt this one gave the clearest insight into Robie's character. In many respects, it seems that finding a killer to be an honorable individual you could admire is counter intuitive. But Will Robie is indeed a admirable man.
There is action and twists galore. Baldacci always entertains and his books are not the same one rehashed. He is one of my favorite authors and I do not hesitate to recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the thriller genre.
January 27, 2016
About on par with a Scooby Doo mystery. I figured out the killer by page 50 and am ashamed to admit I finished the book. The plot was beyond ridiculous. The first three in the series were at least fast paced, entertaining reads. This was garbage start to finish.
June 10, 2017
Another gem by David Baldacci! This one really stuck with me, even after I finished reading. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
October 7, 2016
Will Robie, the goverment's best agent, returns to Cantrell, Mississippi, after 20 years of past bad memories. After leaving Cantrell and Contacts - Dan Robie (x-judge) wants no part of Will in Cantrell. Are the victims linked - Sherman Clancey and Janet Chisums? Jessica Reel, a government agent assigned and helps Will investigate.
December 29, 2015
Wow... this just didn't seem like a David Baldacci novel. Nor did it seem like a Will Robie series. It really just missed the mark. Bummer. I hope he'll write more in the series and back to the magic of Will Robie the expert.
December 23, 2020
This wasn't as good as the first two books in the series, but I think I liked it a bit more than The Target. It was interesting to learn about Will's backstory and what drives him as a person. Will has a terrible event that occurs to him while he's on a job, and it causes some trauma that impacts his ability to do his job. Around the same time, he finds out that his father has been arrested for murder. Will has to go home to see if he can help his father, and so he does. Basically, the book is really about going back to your past and trying to make sense of it, how it has crippled you emotionally. To be honest, this book reminds me why I am not a small town person. I don't like the idea of everyone knowing me and and my business to that intimate degree. I could feel how awkward and frankly painful it was for Will to revisit his past. The resolution of Will's relationship with his father turned out to be very satisfying at the end, but it took a long time, and I wasn't feeling that connection until near the end of the book.
Baldacci went in a different direction from his other books in the series. This is a mystery more than an action story. Of course, there are some good action moments where Will demonstrates his skills. And I ain't gonna lie, like Will, I was waiting for Jessica to show up. I love Will as a character, and it was good without Jessica, but the two of them shine together. I loved that Jessica was there to support Will, and she seems a lot more open and in peace in this book.
It was interesting to see Will off his game and kind of uncertain about things. I liked the deeper character development. The novel gives the reader time to get to know Will, which wasn't necessarily the case with the first three books.
This book reminded me oddly of Agatha Christie. The idea that such evil could lurk beneath such a banal facade is pivotal to this story. I don't want to spoil it, but my goodness, the killer is truly awful. I guessed who the killer was, but I still feel that the reveal was done very well, that had some textures and layers I didn't expect, and there were some nice twists and turns getting to the end.
Baldacci went in a different direction from his other books in the series. This is a mystery more than an action story. Of course, there are some good action moments where Will demonstrates his skills. And I ain't gonna lie, like Will, I was waiting for Jessica to show up. I love Will as a character, and it was good without Jessica, but the two of them shine together. I loved that Jessica was there to support Will, and she seems a lot more open and in peace in this book.
It was interesting to see Will off his game and kind of uncertain about things. I liked the deeper character development. The novel gives the reader time to get to know Will, which wasn't necessarily the case with the first three books.
This book reminded me oddly of Agatha Christie. The idea that such evil could lurk beneath such a banal facade is pivotal to this story. I don't want to spoil it, but my goodness, the killer is truly awful. I guessed who the killer was, but I still feel that the reveal was done very well, that had some textures and layers I didn't expect, and there were some nice twists and turns getting to the end.
November 30, 2015
Starts off well; ends on a low note. Too many abusive subplots. Look forward to the return of the real Will Robie.
January 6, 2016
A tough story that deals with difficult life subjects. While interesting, I found the brutality and wasted deaths unfulfilling. As for believable, I won't even go there. 5 of 10 stars
January 21, 2019
Song for summary: Dead and Gone by T.I.
This was the fourth instalment in the Will Robie series, and it did not disappoint! The characters were deceptive, lethal, and scarred; while the plot was an action-packed thriller full of corruption, murder, and ghosts from the past. This novel seemed much more emotional than the previous ones, as the story delves into the troubled history of the main character. Highly entertaining and suspenseful, The Guilty takes us on a nostalgic journey as a government assassin must return to his roots only to discover there really is no place to hide in a small town.
This was the fourth instalment in the Will Robie series, and it did not disappoint! The characters were deceptive, lethal, and scarred; while the plot was an action-packed thriller full of corruption, murder, and ghosts from the past. This novel seemed much more emotional than the previous ones, as the story delves into the troubled history of the main character. Highly entertaining and suspenseful, The Guilty takes us on a nostalgic journey as a government assassin must return to his roots only to discover there really is no place to hide in a small town.
November 25, 2015
Actually more like a 3.5*, but Baldacci is Baldacci. So rounding up. Cause that man sure can write...
Will Robie goes back to his hometown, confronting his past and his father who has been accused of murder.
It was the twist ending, which I didn't see coming, but sort of had suspicions from the beginning, that made me squirm a little bit. A little bit of stretching my believe that the murderer had gone through so much trouble to make a point.
Oh well, on to the next book in the series.
Will Robie goes back to his hometown, confronting his past and his father who has been accused of murder.
It was the twist ending, which I didn't see coming, but sort of had suspicions from the beginning, that made me squirm a little bit. A little bit of stretching my believe that the murderer had gone through so much trouble to make a point.
Oh well, on to the next book in the series.
April 11, 2019
A much better book than "True Blue", this goes back to Will Robie's roots. His Dad, who he never got along with, has been arrested and Will goes home to help him. There Will runs into many killers he has to dispose of in many different ways, plus he gets to kick a lot of bullies behinds. Pure escapist fare, but well done. As in almost all Baldacci stories there is a twist at the end. Unhappily I saw it coming from almost the beginning of the book. Recommended, especially for Will Robie fans.
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