To Die For by David Baldacci is the third book in the Travis Devine series and another brilliant edition it is. Once again Baldacci we get to read a gripping thriller which grabs you by the throat and keeps hold of you until the very end. This series is developing in to a fantastic thriller series.

Baldacci is returning from Maine the scene of his last mission and trying to wind down when he finds a note in his coat pocket. The note from the ‘girl on the train’ who had recently had to fight on a train in Europe had left him a note to keep him on his toes. As he goes to meet his boss Campbell a former army general who gives him a new task over in Seattle a ‘babysitting’ job.

He has been requested by the FBI to help protect Betsy Odum a twelve-year-old whose parents were recently killed. Odum is currently under FBI protection and is awaiting a hearing over her guardianship with the FBI contesting her uncle’s attempt. It does not help that the uncle, Danny Glass, is subject to a RICO case in the Federal Court. Betsy is not a very happy young girl. Devine is the hired muscle brought in to protect her. She tells Devine that her parents were not high on drugs like everybody is saying when they were killed. She tells Devine what happened and there was no way they were drunk or high when they died. She asks for Devine’s help to get answers.

Devine decides he needs to head first to where the Odums lived and then on to Ricketts, Washington State, where they were killed, and the police ran the investigation When Devine gets to Ricketts something does not ring true about this small town especially when he looks at the government building and some of the vehicles they are in possession of. To Devine’s eye they are equipped like a small army. What Devine does not realise he has been followed down to Ricketts by the girl on the train. He would later be very grateful that she did follow him down.

The more Devine investigates the further from the truth it seems he is especially when he meets the medical examiner for Ricketts, and she is killed. When he also comes under fire, he knows he needs to act to protect Betsy. While all suspicions tend to be on Danny Glass there are surprising twists which through plenty of curve balls and bullets at Devine. He knows what he must do and take all the support he is offered even if one of them may be a scorpion in disguise.

A brilliant and twisty thriller with a brilliant character in Devine who we see develop further in this book. A fantastic read. ( )

You have to know that there is going to be violence and mayhem when the book opens with the protagonist wondering “how many more minutes he may have to live.” Travis Devine is in the sniper’s scope, he is a minute and heartbeat from losing again to “The Girl on the Train”. Remember her? Yup, she’s back and keeps popping up at the most in opportune times for Devine. I loved the continuity and the reintroduction of characters as well as many of the newcomers.

This third installment in the 6:20 Man series is equally twisted, inhabited with power hunger and evil villains, begging the real question of “how do you prove the truth…..what is it even?” If I had one complaint or negative comment about the story it would be just that - “There’s so much crap flying around, disinformation, people screaming fake news….” Sound just like all day, every day and that is the shame. Who to believe? Who to trust? Who is friend, foe and don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. Loved the ending.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy. ( )

Tough female protagonists. The principal protagonist is of course unchanged. The story moves quickly and has many unexpected twists and turns. Interesting to invoke a hate group from the past. It will be interesting to see if ‘the lady on the train’ shows up on another book. ( )

To Die For: A Must-Read Thriller! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

David Baldacci has done it again! "To Die For" is a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The plot is intricate and fast-paced, with twists and turns that I never saw coming. Baldacci's writing is, as always, top-notch. He has a knack for creating complex and compelling characters that you can't help but root for.

Travis Devine is a fantastic protagonist. He's a former Army Captain haunted by his past but determined to do the right thing. He's smart, resourceful, and tough, but also vulnerable and compassionate. I found myself completely invested in his journey to uncover the truth.

The mystery surrounding Betsy Odom's parents' deaths is captivating. The police ruled it a drug overdose, but there are too many unanswered questions. Why were they cremated so quickly? What was in the duffel bag they received before their deaths? Devine's investigation takes him to the small town of Ricketts, a place full of secrets and lies. I loved the atmospheric setting and the sense of danger that permeated every page.

The supporting characters are equally well-developed. Danny Glass, Betsy's uncle, is a complex and enigmatic figure. He's wealthy and powerful, but there's a darkness to him that makes you question his motives. The Girl on the Train, a mysterious figure who helps Devine, adds another layer of intrigue to the story.

Baldacci masterfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping you guessing until the very end. The action is intense, the suspense is palpable, and the ending is both satisfying and thought-provoking. "To Die For" is a must-read for fans of thrillers and anyone who enjoys a good mystery. I highly recommend it!

The full Deep Dive review of this book can be watched from our YouTube channel…
https://youtu.be/hF40XatUZz0 ( )

To Die For, the third installment in David Baldacci’s The 6.20 Man series follows former U.S. Army Ranger Travis Devine, who is now employed by the Office of Special Projects (a stealth operation under the DHS), on his new mission, which takes him to the US West Coast. Danny Glass, a decorated former military man presently under investigation for RICO charges, is applying for guardianship of his recently; orphaned twelve-year-old niece Betsy Odom, and Travis is tasked with Betsy’s safety in collaboration with the FBI and supervising her visits with her uncle. Travis soon realizes that there is more to Betsy’s parents’ death than meets the eye and Danny’s enemies might be _targeting her next. What follows is a complex web of murder, cover-ups, corruption, government secrets and much more! Complicating matters further is “The Girl on the Train,” who, after two failed attempts, is only more determined to complete her mission to kill Travis.

Complex plotting, compelling characters, action-packed drama ( I don’t mind suspension of disbelief!) and intrigue that keeps the reader frantically turning pages – David Baldacci thrillers seldom disappoint and the author’s latest offering is no exception. A lot is going on in this novel and initially, I was a bit confused with how the different threads of the story were related, but the author deftly ties it all together as the mystery is unraveled. Travis Devine is an interesting protagonist – a former military man with a heart of gold who would do everything in his power to see that justice is served. As in the author’s other series, facets of the protagonist’s backstory are woven into the present timeline, making for strong character development throughout the series. Betsy, the precocious twelve-year-old, was a handful (I could sympathize with her plight), and I enjoyed seeing her opening up as the plot progressed. I should mention that the direction of the “The Girl on the Train” track did surprise me and I do feel that some aspects of her story remain a mystery and I would have liked to get to know more about her. Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I would not hesitate to recommend to fans of this genre.

Needless to say, I’ll eagerly await the next book in this series ( and/or the next book in any other of the author’s other series).

Please note that though this installment would work well as a standalone, I would recommend reading the books in series order for a better understanding of past events mentioned in the course of this novel.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )