The Simple Truth

November 16, 1998
It's a truism that readers who like Grisham's novels often take to Baldacci's, but never has Baldacci's debt to the more veteran author been so evident as in this strong-boned thriller that features the Grishamesque premise of young lawyers who uncover a conspiracy reaching into the U.S. Supreme Court. Baldacci isn't as smooth a writer as Grisham: he'll hop point of view in mid-scene, and the opening sentence of this novel, at least as presented in the review galley, is a run-on. But for foxy plotting, Baldacci is easily Grisham's peer, and his characters are always captivating. Here, the principals are Rufus Harms, a slow-witted black giant who, after decades in a military prison, realizes that, for reasons revealed only at the novel's end, he is morally innocent of the murder for which he's doing time; John Fiske, a cop-turned-lawyer who's drawn into Harms's quest for justice after his younger brother, a Supreme Court clerk interested in Harms's case, is murdered; and Sara Evans, another Supreme Court clerk who joins forces and beds with Fiske. Plenty of cinema-ready action ensues as Harms, aided by his Vietnam vet brother, escapes from prison and Fiske and Sara try to get to him before the conspirators who put Harms behind bars do. The novel's resolution is predictable, however. This isn't Baldacci's most original book, but it's his most generously textured, distinguished by thoughtful delvings into family psychodramatics (of both the Fiske and Harms clans), a nicely rendered romance between two tentative lovers and, adding a welcome and strong backdrop of authenticity to the outlandish turns of events, vivid detailing of the Supreme Court behind closed doors where the truth, apparently, is anything but simple. 500,000 first printing; BOMC main selection; simultaneous TimeWarner audio.

August 1, 1998
Will Baldacci's most recent title be another Winner, like his recent New York Times best seller? Here, a man convicted of a murder he's convinced he committed suddenly realizes that he's been framed and launches an appeal that leads to more murder.

September 1, 1998
Who is killing Supreme Court law clerks? Michael Fiske is the first to drop, and police do what they do with every mystery: canvass work colleagues for clues. Clerk Sara Evans has one that she keeps to herself. She knows Fiske read something scandalous in an appeal that he filched before the justices could read it. She knows, too, that the appeal was from a Rufus Harms. The reader knows that Rufus is a lifer in an army stockade whose grievance about his murder conviction starts the action. The plot problem is to get Rufus moving. Baldacci engineers that by writing in an escape and pursuit by army officers who want Rufus and anyone who knows about his case dead. Meanwhile, Sara hooks up with the dead Fiske's brother John, an ex-cop who insinuates himself into the investigation. As Sara and John piece together Michael's interest in Rufus' appeal, it becomes obvious that everyone has to meet, sort things out, and empty a few clips of ammo. Baldacci scripts this necessity into three different scenes before revealing the cover-up that accounts for the high body count. The crime being covered up is stale beer compared to the Supreme Court setting, but as with a scenic drive, the destination of a Baldacci cliff-hanger is less important than the route taken. Baldacci's passengers, repeaters and new ones alike, will be clamoring to ride along. ((Reviewed September 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)