*Spoiler Alert*I read this some 15 years ago and it's a must for all lovers of thriller and sinister suspense books.It really is an adrenaline filled read, starting from the first chapter where Luther, a petty thief, witnesses the POTUS committing murder. Thereon, it's a race to ensure he does not become the next victim. Absolute Power and The Winner are, undoubtedly, some of Baldacci's best work.

David Baldacci's Absolute Power has a decent story, but it was hard for me to enjoy because I found the writing so hackneyed that it distracted me from the plot. Here's a representative descriptive passage:At the sound of the explosion, the playing stopped as three pairs of eyes turned as one toward the house. In another minute they were inside. It only took one more minute for the screams to be heard. The quiet neighborhood was no more.Forget, for a moment, the clumsy use of the passive voice i...

4 to 4.5 starsIt has been a long time since I got this into a political thriller. It has a very good plot that drew me in right away and kept me interested throughout. If I had any complaints it might be that the resolution felt sudden and a bit convenient without the same height of intensity as the rest of the book, but still better than a lot of endings I have read. The story is mid-90s so some things might feel a bit dated, but not distractingly so.I listened to this one and it is a Scott Bri...

Loved the movie, apparently the book a little less. Still entertaining read.

The story was entertaining, but to me the writing was a little weird. Perhaps I’m just not well acquainted enough with the author, but I found the writing to be both simplistic and bloated. I didn’t really think the dialogue was that great either. It was still a decent read.

IMDb - credit to Baldacci book used for movie YouTube - Official Movie trailer Movie with Clint Eastwood Ending song (5:00) - added March 1, 2019 A Virginia Burglar, Luther Whitney(66 - Clint Eastwood in the movie) made a surveillance & break into the Sullivan family's rich home. US President, Alan Richmond(40 - Gene Hackman in the movie) takes drunk Christine Sullivan to her house for sex. From a closet in her house, Luther watches them fight, Alan's slashed with letter opener & Christin

This is Baldacci's first thriller, and my printing includes a five page explanation of how the author was a highly paid but junior attorney, working long and hard on corporate drudgery while trying to be a screen writer. I should write a novel! Sure, that's gotta be easier than a screen play. The result is 'Absolute Power.' It's a good story--the President is a misogynist womanizer, and a married woman he's trying to screw is killed by the secret service when she defends herself against the Pres...

I loved this book, it grabbed me from the start and made me want to continue reading. A well-crafted story, strong characters that are believable and easy to visualise. An interesting story line that is different to the usual thrillers. Lots of twists and turns and worth the read.

Welp, I finally got around to reading the book that started it all. I remember seeing the movie back in '95 and seeing it because it had Clint Eastwood in it. After roughly 25(?) years, I read this book and it didn't disappoint.The story is a bit dull by today's standards but given its context, it came out during the Clinton era, I think it is quite courageous and interesting. Of course, this has been reused multiple times; even by Baldacci himself (First Family comes to mind). The characters ar...

"Absolute Power" illustrates what it is I like best about David Baldacci's books: the perfect balance and blend of action and storyline. Rare is the storyteller that can capture the attention of my military fiction loving - action-craving husband, and at the same time provide enough compelling plot and character development to have me turning pages long into the night.With the exception of his "Camel Club" series (if you haven't read them - run - go - find them now), "Absolute Power" is my favor...

Meh. Relatively quick-paced action, clichéd kind of mystery thriller crime guns Yank stuff. The distraction I needed but nothing more substantial. For what it is it is pretty much a 5-star thing, but in my opinion it is hardly that.

This is the author's first book and also my introduction to this author. I do know that he is popular and an accomplished author as I have seen his books thru my Goodreads feed. In this one, Luther is a career burglar and has planned rather meticulously a high stakes job. All his forethought could not have predicted what actually happens and he soon finds himself on the run from an unbelievable opponent.This book is a thriller book and the opening act opens with a bang. Immediately I was engross...

I've enjoyed books by Baldacci in the past, but this one is awful. First, the writing is garbage: it reads at a fifth-grade level, uses fifth grade vocabulary (+ cussing), is frequently grammatically incorrect, and consists of cliched, trite, unoriginal phrasings. Second, Baldacci comes off as arrogant, misogynistic, morbidly fascinated by violence, especially against women, and overall like a person I would definitely NOT want to know; yes, his characters are detestable, but his *enjoyment* in

Considering this book came out over 25 years ago, and was Baldacci's first novel, I was impressed. The originality of the plot is the key to this book's success: a cat burglar inadvertently witnesses the shooting of the president's mistress by the Secret Service, a situation ripe for a cover up, a cover up that puts the hapless burglar's life in jeopardy. I, like so many others, have seen the Clint Eastwood movie, which I enjoyed, but the book is more complicated with more twists and turns.What

This was a real page turner I couldn't put it down, as with all political thrillers they can be difficult to follow at times and this was no exception but the story was brilliant and I really enjoyed it. I'd seen the film many years before and could only remember bits of it so not sure how much it ties to the book but I know I did enjoy watching it. I would recommend this book, it is quite long but powerful and a real eye opener into the world of Americal presidential politics.

Read it when it came out and liked it well enough but was put off with the structure, didn't like the protagonist getting killed off and another character picking up the narrative.

Somehow I missed this book when I started reading Baldacci. I am glad I saw it on Goodreads! It was a page turner from the start to the end. If you haven't read it,put it on top of your "to read" list!

The pure power of a well-executed idea.

REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; DECEMBER 4, 2015Narrator: Scott BrickI was thrilled by this book right up to 70%. Then I began to tire, then wilt, then couldn't wait for it to end. The problem I have with Baldacci's first book is that it didn't have enough - or any! "hero" moments - those scenes where the hero comes to the rescue and the audience claps (at least, in Asia back in the 60s) or the US cavalry finally came. There was none of that here. The evil POTUS had the upper hand all the way and the good

I haven't read anything by Mr Balducci for quite some time and I must say that I selected the right novel to get back to this author's style. It was exciting, thrilling, and had more than a touch of believability. A real page turner as the author kept the reader engrossed in the lives of each and every character from the power seekers in DC, including the president, to the the common man. It does make one think of what power lies in the office of the president and Mr Balducci makes you think a l...

This is the book that got David Baldacci started in his writing career and for a first book I thought it was his best. I'd seen the movie Absolute Power with Clint Eastwood then I'd decided to read the book and I thought the book was a lot better. It follows the same plot line as the movie but it has many differences in it. It's about a long time thief named Luther Whitney who is in the middle of robbing a rich couple's home and he witnesses a murder and the man involved with it is the President...

I like this book a lot. I read this over two plane trips separated by about two months. It was an interesting and suspenseful thriller. It got to the point that I couldn't put it down. I am looking forward to watching (and being disappointed by) the movie. Isn't it always true what people say... "the book was better than the movie".

Not sure how I missed David Baldacci's first book, ABSOLUTE POWER! However, have seen the movie several times over the years with, Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood, and Ed Harris (1997). A career thief witnesses a horrific crime involving the U.S. President.From the mansion in Virginia, the sexual scandal, passion turned violent, a burglar behind a wall. Passion turns deadly involving the President of US. A witness. New meaning to the wrong place, at the wrong time. Corruption, conspiracy, scandal....

An excellent story that has more than it's share of realism. This is one of my favorites of David's works for more reasons than I can list here.The story moves quickly from start to finish, from thrill to thrill, never losing pace and always keeping the reader intrigued. David's vision of what could or has been be a real event comes across smoothly with no confusion or fillers.The characters are well written giving them more than just a touch of realism.Did I say this is one of my favorite Balda...

While this is interesting throughout, I wish Baldacci would have moved in different directions as it pertains to the victims. If he had, my rating would have been higher and his story would have been better. 6 of 10 stars

Reread

I did not enjoy the hopeless, helpless, anxious, unlucky, victim feel for most of the book. I also had problems with the narrator.REVIEWER’S OPINION:Bad things keep happening to good guys. I didn’t have anybody to root for or to be excited for. No good guy was smart enough. The bad guys kept outsmarting the good guys. And luck was on the side of the bad guys. I never smiled while reading this book. My feelings were unpleasant. One night I had trouble sleeping because I was anxious and worried ab...

This book had a great premise and overall was good. I felt like there were too many subplots and it didn't get all wrapped and tied together neatly like in some other authors' books. I also didn't care of all of the bad language in it. I know that is lame to some and that sometimes that type of language is used to define a character, but it shouldn't be every character.Spoiler alert:The part of this book I disliked the most is the lack of Luther being in it. He had next to no dialogue, other tha...

A chilling plot with many twists and turns. David Baldacci is an engaging storyteller. Definitely want to read some more of his books.

5 Stars. Most enjoyable. More complicated, but a bit like a Columbo TV movie in that the reader soon knows the premise and who's ultimately responsible for the horrible crime. Which is? The murder of Christine Sullivan, the young and attractive wife of an elderly billionaire, in the bedroom of their Virginia mansion. She had remained behind as her husband and staff went to Barbados for a relaxing week of sun and rum punch. Her reason? Ostensibly she felt ill; in reality she planned an assignatio...