King and Maxwell; David Baldacci

King and Maxwell; David Baldacci

Hachette Audio - 2013

David Baldacci, returns with the private investigator team of, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. I’ve read a few, but not all of the previous novels featuring this team, and don’t feel like you need to read all of the earlier novels to enjoy this one. However, part of the magic in this series is the interaction between the duo --former  secret service agents.  Sean's expertise as a PI is strengthened by his DC connections.  Michelle is younger, and not afraid to take chances, often risky ones. She’s very energetic and there is definitely playful chemistry between the two.

The story begins on a rainy night when the couple nearly hit a teenage boy while driving in less than ideal weather conditions. The boy is Tyler Wingo, and as the couple questions him about what he is doing out in the road, they learn that he just heard that his father had been killed in Afghanistan. His father, Sam Wingo, was on a mission to drive and deliver a truck, its contents not initially disclosed, to a specific destination. When Sam arrives he is stopped by a group of men claiming to be CIA operatives who had other plans for Sam.

When King and Maxwell bring Tyler home to his step mom, his mother has died, the military who shared the news of his father’s death are still there.  Tyler is not satisfied with the little bit of information he was given and Maxwell senses something is off about the situation as well. She is anxious to help the young boy and try to find out more about his father’s death.  King doesn’t want to get involved as the death did not occur in the US, but King persists.  When an email arrives in Tyler’s inbox, from his dad, one day after the day he was to have died,  the boy begs  King and Maxwell to help him find out what is going on, and is the government trying to cover something up.King and Maxwell soon begin to unravel a situation much bigger and dangerous than they ever imagined.

King and Maxwell was an entertaining audiobook. The story held my interest and the readers, Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy, were terrific. The added sound effects heightened my sense of enjoyment.  King and Maxwell are a dynamic  team, and the flow of the story, suspense factor and resolution were very satisfying as well.

4.5/5 stars