The Guilty (Will Robie Series #4)

by David Baldacci

Overview

After failing a critical assignment overseas, Will Robie must investigate a murder accusation against his father—but to save him, he'll have to face a violent and deadly fallout in this New York Times bestselling thriller.

Will Robie escaped his small Gulf Coast hometown of Cantrell, Mississippi after high school, severing all personal ties, and never looked back. Not until the unimaginable occurs. His father, Dan Robie, has been arrested and charged with murder.

Father and son haven't spoken or seen each other since the day Robie left town. In that time, Dan Robie—a local attorney and pillar of the community—has been elected town judge. Despite this, most of Cantrell is aligned against Dan. His guilt is assumed.

To make matters worse, Dan has refused to do anything to defend himself. When Robie tries to help, his father responds only with anger and defiance. Could Dan really be guilty?

With the equally formidable Jessica Reel at his side, Robie ignores his father's wishes and begins his own desperate investigation into the case. But Robie is now a stranger to his hometown, an outsider, a man who has forsaken his past and his family. His attempts to save his father are met with distrust and skepticism...and violence.

Unlike the missions Robie undertook in the service of his country, where his target was clearly defined, digging into his father's case only reveals more questions. Robie is drawn into the hidden underside of Cantrell, where he must face the unexpected and possibly deadly consequences of the long-ago choices made by father and son. And this time, there may be no escape for either of them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455586431
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	03/22/2016
Series:	Will Robie Series , #4
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	32,269
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.12(d)

About the Author

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world's favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Hometown:

Northern Virginia

Date of Birth:

August 5, 1960

Place of Birth:

Richmond, VIrginia

Education:

B.A. in Political Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1982; J.D., University of Virginia, 1986

Website:

http://www.david-baldacci.com/

Interviews

Greetings from Baldacci Land!

Memory Man, my thirtieth adult novel, published in April 2015 and went straight to number one. Thanks to all you readers who made that possible. Readers really connected with Amos Decker, the man with an infallible memory, though nothing else is perfect in his life. I plan to bring Amos back in another thriller in April 2016. Where do the years go? Next year will also mark my twentieth as a published author. Not bad, considering that for many years the idea of publishing even one novel seemed a fantasy.

Next up is The Keeper, the second installment in the Vega Janes series, my adventure books for ages ten to hundred and ten. (In publishing we call that a diverse reader demographic.) The first draft of the script has been turned in to the studio and the wonderful Emma Frost will be hard at work on the next draft. It's all very exciting, considering most books optioned for film don't even get a screenwriter attached much less a script done. We'll keep you updated on that. If The Finisher was a tornado, then The Keeper is a hurricane. Truly, I don't think I've ever thrown this many challenges at a protagonist before.

After that it's The Guilty in November 2015. Will Robie and Jessica Reel come back for a fourth ride. And in this adventure Robie's got some baggage that requires him to go back to his roots in the Deep South. While his previous missions have all been extremely dangerous, his most deadly one might be right here on American soil. I love how the characters of Robie and Reel are evolving, but in this one I take you into Robie's past. I've been waiting a long time to do this. I want readers to understand where this guy came from.

Right now, I'm finishing up The Guilty and plunging into working on the next Amos Decker book and the third installment of the Vega Jane series.

In the meantime, hope your summer is fun, safe, and peaceful, with plenty of time for reading great books!

Editorial Reviews

The story sings…Baldacci is a gifted storyteller, and he knows how to keep the pages turning.”

Associated Press

Baldacci fans will not be disappointed. The action is slam-bang with his trademarked twist. Once past the climax, you’ll find yourself flipping back and rereading to find the clues the author has sprinkled throughout.”

Florida Times-Union

Two narrators enhance this mystery, the fourth in the Will Robie series, adding clarity to the detailed conversations between the characters. Keith Brewer handles the narrative and male dialogue, capably portraying assassin Robie…[and] gently projects Robie’s hidden Southern accent. Voicing the female dialogue, Orlagh Cassidy provides just enough characterization to differentiate Robie’s steely sidekick, Jessica Reel, the tough-as-nails local policewoman, and his father’s new wife.”

AudioFile

David Baldacci's latest thriller is not only highly relevant, it is also well timed. And the details seem so real that it's hard not to wonder if the author is an insider; the tone is that authentic. An absolute page-turner, King and Maxwell is Baldacci at the pinnacle of his game.

BookReporter.com

A first-class thriller…David Baldacci’s four bestselling novels about government assassin Will Robie have straddled that line of edgy, high-concept suspense, augmented with a bit of the political thriller, and deep character studies. In The Guilty, Baldacci takes a different tack with a more personal but just as thrilling tale about Will’s past, giving compelling insight about how he became a man so willing to kill for his country.”

Sun-Sentinel (Florida)

Another fast paced page turner that will keep you glued to the couch...by an author who continues to standout in the increasingly crowded thriller field.

Examiner.com on The Forgotten

Baldacci is a master when it comes to writing about small-town conspiracies and a lone hero who fights against all odds to clean up corruption. The narrative moves slowly, so the reader has a chance to solve the case along with Puller. It might seem straightforward, but the final reveal will surprise even hardcore thriller junkies.

The Washington Post on The Forgotten

The best Baldacci novel in years...What makes The Hit live up to its title is the payoff at the novel's end. By then, Baldacci has planted an emotional hook that remains long after readers have turned the last page of the book.

Associated Press on The Hit

Baldacci has crafted another terrific tale with two great protagonists. Just when the story line seems to veer into familiar areas, Baldacci steers it into another shocking direction. This is the best book yet in the series.

Associated Press on King and Maxwell

Baldacci has been on a hot streak for the past few years, and The Target continues the trend. This isn't a garden-variety thriller or even a garden-variety Baldacci. It's among his most exhilarating books yet.

Richmond Times-Dispatch on The Target

Its pace is relentless, and Baldacci's reworking of his perennial theme - absolute power corrupts absolutely - gives the book a sense of urgency and cultural relevance that many thrillers lack.

Richmond Times-Dispatch on The Hit

Brilliant use of language...vivid supporting characters and numerous sudden and unexpected plot twists...[Baldacci] doesn't let the action sag at any point...In [Chung-Cha], Mr. Baldacci has created one of his most memorable characters.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on The Target

Robie and Reel are complex characters, and anything they do is a pleasure to follow...Baldacci knows how to get readers to turn the pages, and he's in top form here.

Associated Press on The Target

"The story sings...Baldacci is a gifted storyteller, and he knows how to keep the pages turning." —Associated Press

"Baldacci fans will not be disappointed. The action is slam-bang with his trademarked twist. Once past the climax, you'll find yourself flipping back and rereading to find the clues the author has sprinkled throughout."
—Florida Times-Union

"A fast-moving thriller that will force readers into that "zone," where you don't want to put the book down....Whether you are a diehard fan or a newcomer to his work, you will not be disappointed in The Guilty."—BookReporter

"A first-class thriller...David Baldacci's four bestselling novels about government assassin Will Robie have straddled that line of edgy, high-concept suspense, augmented with a bit of the political thriller, and deep character studies. In The Guilty, Baldacci takes a different tack with a more personal, but just as thrilling tale about Will's past, giving compelling insight about how he became a man so willing to kill for his country."—Sun-Sentinel (FL)

"Another tremendous entry in the best-selling thrillermaster's increasingly impressive resume...it is the relationships 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. 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 - is one of the book's highlights...A labyrinthine 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." —The Strand Magazine

"It's indisputable that Baldacci's handling of action just gets better and better....the action in small-town Texas will end up rivaling anything Robie has encountered in his long years of serving his government."—NJ.com

"David Baldacci has never been better than in THE GUILTY. His latest to feature conflicted assassin extraordinaire Will Robie takes the character - and series - to new heights....A stunning success from one of America's great literary talents."—Providence Sunday Journal

From the Publisher

06/01/2015
Third in the Will Robie series, The Target was a No. 1 New York Times best seller. Now the deadly CIA assassin is back for another round of bullets, though who knows what he will be doing next. With a 600,000-copy first printing.

Library Journal