The Innocent
By David Baldacci
First Edition 2012
Grand Central Publishing, 422 pages
Book 1 in the 5 novel Will Robie series
While making their escapes Julie and Will cross paths. Will witnesses an assassin attempt to take Julie’s life and intervenes. Their entanglement leads to an awkward partnership, with Will doing his best to protect an understandingly suspicious Julie who’s only concern is finding her parents murderers and exacting revenge. As they try to make sense of the confusion and danger surrounding them Will becomes more convinced that their mutual betrayals are somehow linked in a vast conspiracy.
Thriller Characteristics
Pacing – This book is a compelling read that is hard to put down. Chapters are short and intense.
Frame / Setting – Focuses on a particular profession (Assassin). / Is primarily set in the base of American power. Washington D.C.
Storyline – Convoluted, interwoven, and conspiracy driven with cinematic action sequences.
Characterization – Primary protagonist is a introspective and flawed loner who operates by his own moral code.
Tone/Mood – Apprehensive with a high body count.
Style/Language – Surprisingly little technical speak for this style of book. Strong language is limited and while the body count is high it is not overly gory in description.
- Smooth Operator by Stuart Woods
- The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith
- Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich
- The Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy
- National Security by Marc Cameron
Sources
Novelist Plus. (2019). Read-alikes for The innocent.
Saricks, J. G. (2009) The Readers Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd Edition). Chicago, IL. American Library Association.