“Divine Justice” by David Baldacci

REVIEW: In this book, the latest in Baldacci's Oliver Stone and the Camel Club series, the reader is cleverly provided the full background about Stone, a distinguished soldier named John Carr from the Viet Nam era who later joined the CIA and eventually became a member of Triple Six Division, a highly classified covert group of U.S. assassins, tying together bits and pieces of information from each of the previous books in the series. A great plot with interesting characters mixed with CIA wrongdoings, drug smuggling, corrupt government officials, and unexplained murders, makes for enjoyable reading. From beginning to end you are led through a twisting and absorbing thriller that provides a surprising and fitting finish. Throughout the book you are provided with opportunities to ponder questions pertaining to loyalty, honesty, and revenge. It’s hard not to give any of his books in this series less than a [4-1/2 Star] rating.

SYNOPSIS: The story starts out with Stone on the run as he just killed on the same day, two of the most prominent men in the United States, Carter Gray, Chief of Intelligence and Roger Simpson, a senator from Alabama. After the assassinations, Stone is on a train headed New Orleans hoping to find a construction job. While on the train, Stone comes to the aid of a young passenger, Danny Riker, who had been attacked by a couple of goons. They quickly become friends and Riker invites Stone to return with him to his hometown of Divine, Virginia. Little did he know that this decision would lead to some very ominous consequences. Though Divine seems to be a sleepy mining town, there is a history of murder, an accidental hunting death, an apparent suicide, narcotic smuggling, and people getting blown up. Joe Knox, assigned by master spy Macklin Hayes, is tasked with tracking down Stone, who was considered the most wanted man in the USA. We soon discover that Hayes is not exactly a nice fellow and has personal motives for catching Stone. However, Stone, aware of Hayes' seedy history which could embarrass the CIA and U.S. government, also had a few scores to settle with Hayes from his days as a Vietnam hero. As is predictable, his loyal friends, the Camel Club, dangerously involve themselves in trying to make sure that he keeps out of harm’s way, particularly from the arms of Knox and Hayes.