First Family

The niece of the First Lady is kidnapped, and the little girl's mother is killed during the crime. At the request of the First Lady, PIs Sean King and Michelle Maxwell take on the case due to King's prior involvement with the First Family and his and Maxwell's ability to work outside the system. As they dig ever deeper into the case, things aren't what they at first seemed, and the investigation starts uncovering overtones of malfeasance in high places.

Baldacci returns to his roots, and the themes he explored so successfully in novels such as "Absolute Power". King and Maxwell are compelling, multi-faceted and captivating characters, much more so - in my opinion - than the overly cutesy Camel Club.

Further, the "bad guy" in this piece is also a fully realized human being; chillingly but understandably portrayed.

The actual key plot point is actually pretty easy to figure out from about halfway through the book; one of the reasons I didn't give it the fifth star. Further, I simply don't think Baldacci has yet managed to recapture the full depth and scope of his earliest works that brought him to prominence.

But for a light and escapist book to take to the beach or pool, this would be a good choice.