HELL'S CORNER

HELL'S CORNER  by David Baldacci

From the book jacket:

John Carr, aka Oliver Stone - once the most skilled assassin his country ever had - stands in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, perhaps for the last time.  The president has personally requested that Stone serve his country again on a high-risk, covert mission.  Though he's fought for decades to leave his past career behind, Stone has no choice but to say yes.

Then Stone's mission changes drastically before it even begins.  It's the night of a state dinner honoring the British prime minister.  As he watches the prime minister's motorcade leave the White House that evening, a bomb is detonated in Lafayette Park, an apparent terrorist attack against both leaders.  It's in the chaotic aftermath that Stone takes on a new, more urgent assignment:  find those responsible for the bombing.

British MI-6 agent Mary Chapman becomes Stone's partner in the search for the unknown attackers.  But their opponents are elusive, capable, and increasingly lethal; worst of all, it seems that the park bombing may just have been the opening salvo in their plan.  With nowhere else to turn, Stone enlists the help of the only people he knows he can trust:  the Camel Club.  Yet that may be a big mistake.

In the shadowy worlds of politics and intelligence, there is no one you can really trust.  Nothing is really what it seems to be.  And Hell's Corner truly lives up to its name.  This may be Oliver Stone's and the Camel Club's last stand.


Mr.Baldacci, you have done it again!  This book kept me up reading till all hours - I had to force myself to put it down to get some sleep.  Full of twists and turns and red herrings, everyone looked like a suspect.  Just when you thought you knew who the good guys were, their hats suddenly turned to black - and then back to white again...maybe.

I only wish Mr. Baldacci could write as quickly as I can read.  I really don't want to wait another year for the next book.