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 Sometimes the Whole Truth isn't the Truth August 27, 2008
Welcome to the world of Perception Management an art that takes spin to a whole 'nother level. Spinning is spinning the truth. Perception Management is spinning lies and turning them into the truth or rather, what people believe is the truth. It took a guy like Hitler awhile to spread the Big Lie, in the online world, if done right, the lie moves like wildfire.
Nicholas Creel wants a war, or at least, the threat of one, because he wants to sell arms. He'd love for Russia and China to be at each other's throats, for America to be afraid of the Red Menace once again, love for them all to be lining up and lining his pockets. World War III, is that a problem? Well, maybe not for Creel.
There's a clip going around on the internet of a Russian telling of how he had been tortured, about how his family had been killed. He says it's time the world knew, "The Whole Truth." Soon the mainstream media picks up the story, the whole world believes it, only problem is, it's not the whole truth and the super secret government agency Shaw (a super spy of the first order who only has the one name) works for wants him to investigate and Shaw, tough as he is, does what he's told, because his super secret government agency bosses have him on a short leash as Shaw has a bomb embedded in his arm.
Anna Fischer, the girl Shaw wants to chuck it all for and go off and live happily ever after with, works for a London think tank and when she's killed, because she doesn't believe the lie, Shaw wants to get even. Now throw in a disgraced female reporter named Katie James, who'd love to make her bones all over again and team her up with super tough guy Shaw and give them larger than life enemies and you have a David Baldacci story that would make Robert Ludlum proud.
Reviewed by Vesta Irene
 Ah, Nicholas can dream. August 26, 2008
Not quite up to par with his first book, but David Baldacci has mastered the art form known as political intrigue. Nicholas Creel is the protagonist of Baldacci's latest suspense novel and with the war in Iraq coming to an end, this Defensive system mogul seeks to create a new cold war. Ah, reminisce in the good old days of Ronnie Reagan. So Nicholas out sources the job to management guru Mr. Pender who begins to flood the Internet, newspapers, and television with bogus stories and misinformation to create a media frenzy. But when the Phoenix Group is slaughtered by Russians, Pender tries to connect it to China. Just think of the money to be made by a defense specialist if China and Russia went to war. Ah, Nicholas can dream. Like I said earlier, this isn't Baldacci's best work, but I guess when Baldacci set the standard so high with his earlier works, what is?
Editor of the highly recommended novel: Fates by Georgiou, Tino Fates (2nd Edition)
Pulse-pounding thriller with great characters, plot, etc. August 20, 2008
The Whole Truth is my second Baldacci book, the first being The Collectors. Although the two are stylistically similar, if I did not know beforehand, I would have never suspected they were written by the same author -- The Whole Truth is much, MUCH better.
The Collectors was good "fluff." Well this is EXCELLENT fluff! Where The Collectors was corny, tongue-in-cheek, and unbelievable, this book was much more realistic (though still enjoyably cinematic). The protagonist, Shaw, is so hard-boiled, he reminds me of Micky Rourke's character in the Sin City movie, but he's an entirely likable figure, and you can't help but root for him.
This book is also quite timely. Although the device used to stir up anti-Russian sentiment in the book was not at all believable, in real life, the neocons have put into action a much better plan. My only beef with the novel's version of of events is that the U.S. government was blissfully ignorant, and it was all defense-contractor doing. Like The Collectors, and, I presume, Baldacci's other books, The Whole Truth is very skeptical of Big Government and the military-industrial complex. Baldacci is not a hardcore libertarian, but he's a thriller author that hardcore libertarians can more than stomach -- they can enjoy.
This is not great literature, of course, but it was a thoroughly entertaining read. I literally could not put the book down, and for that, it more than merits five stars. Hooray for Baldacci! I hope he keeps this up and lets the corny Camel Club recede into oblivion.
Baldacci comes up with the perfect motto for the New York Times August 19, 2008
David Baldacci truly understands the dark side of human nature and the Eastern establishment press. In Chapter 19 he cynically refers to Dick Pender as a master of perception management. In one sentence Baldacci states with resounding clarity what the motto of the New York Times should really be.
That is "Why waste time trying to discover the truth, when you can so easily create it?" The Gray Lady should discard its current motto "All the News that is fit to print" and replace it with the Baldacci aphorism that so accurately depicts the New York Times.
Very timely August 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a very thought=provoking book, given the current events in Asia and the latest Russian agression. Also makes one think about the awesome power of the Internet. I love Baldacci's books. A great read. Highly recommended!
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