We have witnessed David Baldacci’s skill in thrillers but never have any one seen the true colors of the author in a historical fiction. This particular work surpasses all his previous works because there is more originality in it. Although books like The Escape and A Minute to Midnight were outclass work of their time but nothing has been given such an energy and life as this one. Archer the former soldier and prisoner of war finally get the opportunity to see the blue sky as he gets out of prison on parole.
Though he is out of prison but still under the strict watch of the department and is thus not allowed to mix with women or drink alcohol. He is advised to get a decent job for earning his livelihood; he gets an easy job as he is hired by a business man named Hank. The job takes him to the dungeons of hell as Hank’s rival too is not an ordinary man; moreover Hank’s lusty wife has other plans for Archer’s disposal.
The causal style of Edoardo Ballerini suits the novel because there are fights and arresting but harsh and corrosive style is not adopted by the people present in the whole drama. Yelling and corrosiveness thus was never required for the depiction of this specific novel.
Another task that was tough for David was the depiction of scene and condition of the city in the year 1949. The streets along with the setting of the whole stage are still done almost accurately by the one who has never seen such a town before in his life.
