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Total Control
Sidney Archer thought she had the perfect life: a loving husband, an adorable baby daughter, and a great career as a senior partner in a major Washington law firm. But when her husband is killed in a plane crash, her whole world begins to disintegrate. The FBI believes her husband is responsible for the bombing -- and that he may still be alive!
ebook, 0 pages
Published
August 1st 2002
by Grand Central Publishing
(first published 1997)
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Jul 10, 2008
Mister Jones
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
well, I wouldn't.
Recommended to Mister Jones by:
Another one from Mom's trash bag
This is my one and only review of a recently behind the curtain reading of this WAY overrated pop suspense writer. I thought the characters were incredibly shallow; one dimensional, and not one elicited any empathy and/or sympathy on my part. Fine, it's a successful lawyer mom and a successful company executive dad who finds himself involved is some nefarious secretive hush hush fiasco in a corporation, a cover up, and a phony death. Okay you're not holding my interest; in fact, you're boring me...more
2 likes · like · see review
view all 7 comments
The book is a typical David Baldacci thriller with just the right amount of suspense and emotions. I won't explain the plot here, it would be too complicated and long. I won't tell you that this novel enabled me to see shades of Ludlum, Mary Higgins Clark and Patterson - all at the same time.
What I will tell you is that I'm writing the review of this 720 page paperback as the timer on my computer screen says 04:41 hours and that I'd started reading it from my bookmarked page 325 at 00:35 hours....more
What I will tell you is that I'm writing the review of this 720 page paperback as the timer on my computer screen says 04:41 hours and that I'd started reading it from my bookmarked page 325 at 00:35 hours....more
3 likes · like · see review
I liked Baldacci's first book but I loved this one. It sucked me right in from word one. Plus it's a fat book that just was wonderful all the way through. Sidney Archer is a partner is a high powered law firm representing a successful high tech company in their purchase of another high tech company. Her husband, Jason, is a technical expert at one of the companies. He boards a plane for the West Coast and it's blown to bits by a bomb. Sidney's life blows out of control as the following events un...more
I listened to this on CD, read by George Gwidell. The narrator did an excellent job of portraying the characters. I had read this several years ago. Jason Archer is a hotshot computer whiz in a major high tech firm. One day, he goes off for a secret rendezvous on a hush-hush mission. He gets on a plane in Washington DC and flies to Seattle. He was supposed to go to LA, but at the last minute switched with someone who looked like him who went to LA in his place. The plane to LA is sabotaged and c...more
I liked the book very much; an interesting plot with twists and turns, interesting characters.
The only problem is that Special Agent Lee Sawyer defies the typical description of an FBI agent.
Jason Archer is a rising young executive with Triton Global, a privately held conglomerate. The president, Quentin Rowe, is hot to acquire a company named CyberCom, which will give Triton a massive advantange in AI technology. The chairman of Triton Global, Nathan Gamble, appears to be a single minded sociop...more
The only problem is that Special Agent Lee Sawyer defies the typical description of an FBI agent.
Jason Archer is a rising young executive with Triton Global, a privately held conglomerate. The president, Quentin Rowe, is hot to acquire a company named CyberCom, which will give Triton a massive advantange in AI technology. The chairman of Triton Global, Nathan Gamble, appears to be a single minded sociop...more
This is a really long book at over 700 pages in paperback. I really liked the pace of the story, and the multiple twists that were taken. Infact, I thought I might know who the "bad guy" was, but kept changing my mind, and in the end, I was not totally correct anyway. I like books that surprise like this.
The FBI agent investigating a plane crash has to decide why the plane really went down, who was at fault, why, and who the target was. Also, the reader gets to know a bit more than the agent for...more
The FBI agent investigating a plane crash has to decide why the plane really went down, who was at fault, why, and who the target was. Also, the reader gets to know a bit more than the agent for...more
Long wait til suspenseful ending, rather preposterous plot...
Maybe our expectations were set a little high after reading the author's great thriller "Absolute Power" and his almost as good "Simple Truth". Unlike those stories where at least we cared about the protagonists and the plot had some cohesion, "Control" takes a awful long time to plod toward a thrilling finale. Unfortunately the events that unfold to get us there are extremely far-fetched, with the allegedly intelligent leading lady su...more
Maybe our expectations were set a little high after reading the author's great thriller "Absolute Power" and his almost as good "Simple Truth". Unlike those stories where at least we cared about the protagonists and the plot had some cohesion, "Control" takes a awful long time to plod toward a thrilling finale. Unfortunately the events that unfold to get us there are extremely far-fetched, with the allegedly intelligent leading lady su...more
This is a timely story with the number of major corporations going public to accumulate wealth. "Total Control" discusses the corporate world of mergers and considers espionage and greed.
Jeffrey Archer is a respected employee of Triton Global where his wife, Sidney, is a legal counsel. He's secretly looking for another job and books a flight to California.
While at the airport, he meets another man and changes his destination with a flight to Seattle.
The plane he was going to take crashes, killin...more
Jeffrey Archer is a respected employee of Triton Global where his wife, Sidney, is a legal counsel. He's secretly looking for another job and books a flight to California.
While at the airport, he meets another man and changes his destination with a flight to Seattle.
The plane he was going to take crashes, killin...more
After the disappointing "True Blue," it was nice to read another Baldacci thriller that fills the bill again. Sidney and Jeffrey Archer are your typical upwardly mobile couple, raising their little daughter Amy. Jason works for a technology company, Sidney (yes, she's a girl) is a corporate attorney. Jeffrey has been doing some mysterious stuff after hours but the plane in which he is flying to LA mysteriously crashes, killing nearly 200 people. On the day of Jeffrey's memorial service, Sydney r...more
Jason Archer is upto something, but you don't know what. The plane he is supposed to be on mysteriously falls from the sky killing everyone on board. The authorities and his employers soon start to blame Jason for sabotaging the aeroplane. His wife Sydney is left to try and pick up the pieces and figure out what's going on.[return][return]Overall, I loved this book. It was a first rate thriller that pushes the right buttons, the pace is fast but not too fast that you get whiplash, and you actual...more
Not a great literary work, but still a nice read for an evening off when you don't feel like taking on anything too serious. The story is built up quite nicely and draws you in from the start; the ending is quite surprising.
One of the things which my dad always says he dislikes about Baldacci is the fact that there usually isn't a single normal person walking around in his books. I have to admit this is quite true; all people are quite extraordinary (Sidney and her dad just happen to be weapons...more
One of the things which my dad always says he dislikes about Baldacci is the fact that there usually isn't a single normal person walking around in his books. I have to admit this is quite true; all people are quite extraordinary (Sidney and her dad just happen to be weapons...more
So, I must confess to loving David Baldacci... but only in audiobook form.
Perfect, mindless entertainment for my daily commute to/from work. One can only take so much NPR, especially during pledge season.
Perfect, mindless entertainment for my daily commute to/from work. One can only take so much NPR, especially during pledge season.
Hörbuch-Rezension:
David Baldacci schreibt erfolgreiche Krimis. Am erfolgreichsten darunter wohl Der Präsident (1996). Auch Das Labyrinth erhält u.a. bei krimi-couch.de gute Kritiken. Das Hörspiel des WDR bricht den Roman von über 600 Seiten herunter auf weniger als zwei Stunden Erzählzeit in zwei Teilen. Die Handlung ist komplex, viele Personen, drei Erzählperspektiven und eine Menge Verwirrspiel. Um die Stränge überhaupt verständlich zu machen, hilft sich das Hörspiel mit Zusammenfassungen, so...more
David Baldacci schreibt erfolgreiche Krimis. Am erfolgreichsten darunter wohl Der Präsident (1996). Auch Das Labyrinth erhält u.a. bei krimi-couch.de gute Kritiken. Das Hörspiel des WDR bricht den Roman von über 600 Seiten herunter auf weniger als zwei Stunden Erzählzeit in zwei Teilen. Die Handlung ist komplex, viele Personen, drei Erzählperspektiven und eine Menge Verwirrspiel. Um die Stränge überhaupt verständlich zu machen, hilft sich das Hörspiel mit Zusammenfassungen, so...more
Nov 12, 2012
Delicious Strawberry
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
david-baldacci
This is the second Baldacci book I read (after Absolute Power) and while I enjoyed Absolute Power more, this is still a solid book. For people who like thrillers with fast-paced action, this should be a satisfying read for anyone who is already a fan of Baldacci or just a newbie looking for a good read. If you've never read David Baldacci, I recommend you try Absolute Power first. The tale of the Archers here and their trials and tribulations are a interesting read, and there were quite a few pa...more
Oct 13, 2011
Joyce McKune
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-fiction,
suspense
Action packed. Corporate lawyer, Sydney Archer is in an important meeting with her client when she gets the phone call that her husband has been killed in an airplane crash. Lee Sawyer (FBI) is called to the scene when a part of a bomb is found in the wing that was blown from the plane. He thought at first the plane was downed to kill the head of the Federal Reserve who took that same flight monthly, or to kill Jason Archer who was on the manifest, but head of security for "the client" had a vid...more
It took me a while to get into this book but I hung in there because I know Baldacci will get it moving. It's a far fetched premise but it's full of action and adventure. The characters were well developed and it's easy to tell who is good and who is evil. I enjoyed the story (lots of twists and turns) and I didn't figure out the mystery till the end. If you like to read about government and big business, you'll like this book. The only big drawback is that it is very wordy - he probably could h...more
I read this on a recommendation from someone on twitter as a starting point for baldacci. It was the longest of his in the library, as it turns out, which is no bad thing for me given my liking for length.
In tone I was reminded some of a Jack Reacher novel, though there were more characters, corporate entities, banks and technology.
There were a few good twists and turns, but in the main things were a little dry because of a death midway in, which sort of dried things up a bit. Still, it was wort...more
In tone I was reminded some of a Jack Reacher novel, though there were more characters, corporate entities, banks and technology.
There were a few good twists and turns, but in the main things were a little dry because of a death midway in, which sort of dried things up a bit. Still, it was wort...more
Wow. Baldacci grabs hold and doesn't let go. Some of the plot is fairly simplistic and the story is everything ( I mean forget flowery prose or long winded descriptions - just get on with the plot!!) but it's one hell of a roller coaster ride with a bitter sweet ending that's one of his best. My one criticism is with the proof reader - you weren't very good....I hate it when you get a the instead of a than or a thought instead of a though....hopefully the publisher spotted this lazy individual a...more
I could not put this book down. Awesome writer and enough suspense and almost romans peeking through. The main character could stop running earlier and go for help. There is a stubbornness in her that does not align with her otherwise assertive self. Similarly, the female lawyer main character could pick up FBI agents following her on foot through New York but missed a white van of villains following her through a small town. Slightly less credible but otherwise a gripping novel. Worth reading m...more
Total Control expands Baldacci's setting from the United States to the global arena. The good guys really aren't all that good and the bad guy tries to justify his actions as "For the good of all". Baldacci successfully blur the lines leaving the reader with choices. The characters of Shaw and James could become his next "couple series". In the beginning neither one was an easy character to like. Baldacci has a way of developing the characters to the point of reader admiration at the end of the...more
Apr 29, 2010
Joanna
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People seaking a good murder mystery
Recommended to Joanna by:
Nadine Maddis
Wow! This book was in high gear from the beginning, all the way to the very end. This book compares to the movies "the net", and the borne series in that it is an unpredictable, fast paced story with a whole lot of murders. With that having said, it was a well written and captivating story, but quite desturbing. I give it 3 stars for the pure fact that it's only value as a book is for sheer entertainment in a freaky sort of way. Definatly not my taste in genre of good books to read.
Feb 23, 2012
Melissa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-before-recording,
donated-gaveaway
I am embarrassed to say how long this book has been on my TBR pile. And after I read it, I wondered what took me so long. Could it be that it was 694 pages? I don't know, but I was crazy to wait. This was so great! I loved the characters and I was trying to solve the crime(s) along with the FBI agents. I thought I had it figured out, but a little twist at the end threw me. I would definitely recommend this book!
Released into the wild
Released into the wild
Baldacci writes a thick "who done it" and "why did they do it" that takes a while to plow through. It's about 700 pages. I liked it o.k., but I didn't love it. I liked Sidney's desire to figure out what happened to her husband, and I felt her grief and pain when she learns of a plane crash. It was hard to know who were the "good guys" in this book and there was plenty to try to figure out. I marked out a few swear words in my copy.
Although I generally like his books, I can't say the same for this one. It was too long and dragged too much. I put it down for a while and started another book. Also, the resolution at the end, while intriguing, seemed implausible. I just didn't buy that they suddenly started putting all the pieces together without any credible hints or evidence. It was as if the inspiration suddenly hit and then the evidence was put together afterward.
I found this kind of tedious. 700 pages long. Characters did stupid things I knew were dangerous. A very twisted plot, kept me guessing 'till the end. Sidney Archer is a deal lawyer, her husband, Jason works at one of the companies that is involved in a deal. A plane is sabotaged and falls out of the sky with the chair off the federal reserve in it. Jason should of been on the plane.
One of the better Baldacci books. It was a real page turner from about half way through. It's funny, when he was writing that book, I was just learning to make web pages and to use a computer, in general. And like he says in the Afterward, basically EVERY thing mentioned in the book is obsolete now, 13 years later. 13 amazingly intense technological years. This book is well worth the read.
Classic corporate espionage tale with really good twists. You don't know who is going to be in the "final confrontation - they have guns on each other - the bad guy explains why he did what he did" scene until very close to the end.
Funny though - it was written in 1997, and part of the plot is a company who has developed a technology that is going to rule the internet for years to come. Basically what the writer describes is a basic search engine.
Funny though - it was written in 1997, and part of the plot is a company who has developed a technology that is going to rule the internet for years to come. Basically what the writer describes is a basic search engine.
Baldacci's 2nd book, following "Absolute Power." Written in 1997, it centers on cutting-edge computer stuff. Add in a pre-9/11 plane bombing and you have a seriously dated book, in just a decade. Still reading though...
I'm sure this was described as a sophomore slump. After "Absolute Power," I also get the feeling that Baldacci believes Federal agents are some of the stupidist people on earth.
Not, awful, this book just failed on too many levels to be recommended.
I'm sure this was described as a sophomore slump. After "Absolute Power," I also get the feeling that Baldacci believes Federal agents are some of the stupidist people on earth.
Not, awful, this book just failed on too many levels to be recommended.
Another great book by this author. The twists and turns kept you on your toes wondering what was going to happen next. The ending was a total surprise - I thought I had it all figured out but I didn't have it halfway figured out.
There were a few too many characters and it was difficult remembering at times who was who.
If you are a Baldacchi fan this is a must read.
There were a few too many characters and it was difficult remembering at times who was who.
If you are a Baldacchi fan this is a must read.
Fast paced thriller; twists and turns that were unexpected. I just couldn't put this book down. It ended much differently than I imagined. Definitely one of my favorites! I love David Baldacci!
It did get a bit confusing at times with so many different characters; a few of them may not have been necessary to tell the story. But don't let that stop you from reading this book; it is well worth it!
It did get a bit confusing at times with so many different characters; a few of them may not have been necessary to tell the story. But don't let that stop you from reading this book; it is well worth it!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: Thriller, airplane crush to kill one man, MC a woman [s] | 6 | 30 | Mar 19, 2013 04:36pm |
David Baldacci was born in Virginia, in 1960, where he currently resides. He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. Mr. Baldacci practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C., as both a trial and corporate attorney.
David Baldacci has published sixteen novels: Absolute Power, Total Control, The Win...more
More about David Baldacci...
David Baldacci has published sixteen novels: Absolute Power, Total Control, The Win...more
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