Hour Game

by David Baldacci

I have read his stuff before, and liked it, good modern mystery writer. So I figured I would like this one, but ended up being surprised at how much I liked it. It’s not the normal mystery where you can figure out, halfway through, “who dun it” and just keep reading to see if you are right. There are plenty of potential villains in this apparent ‘serial killer” comes to a small town sort of story, as there are plenty of not-very-likable characters from almost the very start.


As with other books, it is set in Virginia, and has enough local color to feel fairly genuine. It features private detectives Sean King and Michelle Maxwell – both (disgraced) former Secret Service agents, but years apart in age. As well as local flavor, there are plenty of multidimensional characters, some of which are almost – but not quite caricatures and there’s plenty of sex, sexual innuendo and violence, so I’d not really let a kid read it, but for adults who like a good mystery to ponder, go for it!