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    The Innocent
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    The Innocent
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    The Innocent
    Audiobook (abridged)7 hours

    The Innocent

    Written by David Baldacci

    Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy and Ron McLarty

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    America has enemies--ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can't stop. That's when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone cold hitman who never questions orders and always nails his target.
    But Will Robie may have just made the first--and last--mistake of his career . . .
    THE INNOCENT
    It begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn't seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable. He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people.
    Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn't an ordinary runaway-her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can't walk away. He needs to help her.
    Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he's convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents' deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power.
    Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl's life . . . and perhaps his own.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateApr 17, 2012
    ISBN9781611133967
    Unavailable
    The Innocent
    Author

    David Baldacci

    David Baldacci is one of the world’s bestselling and favourite thriller writers. A former trial lawyer with a keen interest in world politics, he has specialist knowledge in the US political system and intelligence services, and his first book, Absolute Power, became an instant international bestseller, with the movie starring Clint Eastwood a major box office hit. He has since written more than forty bestsellers featuring Amos Decker, Aloysius Archer, Atlee Pine and John Puller. David is also the co-founder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across the US. Trust him to take you to the action.

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    Reviews for The Innocent

    4.5/5

    312 ratings61 reviews

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    • 2/5
      I felt that this was not Baldacci's best.For me, it was too predictable and the ending was just a jumble.
    • 4/5
      I've always been a fan of spy/assassin stories. This is actually the first Baldacci novel I've ever read - I found the sequel, The Hit, at my local book trader and decided to get my hands on a copy of the first book before I read it. And I'm definitely glad I did.Baldacci has a very simple writing style - the descriptions are there, the background info is there, but it's all done very quickly and efficiently. I've found that some novels of this genre become a little hard to follow, but because of the simplicity of the writing style, this book was very easy to follow and comprehend. I also like the fact that the chapters are short so it's easy to find a stopping point.I loved the characters, and the continuous plot twists and suspense kept me hooked until the very end.
    • 4/5
      Baldacci does a wonderful job once again of creating an action-packed novel full of intrigue and suspense. This is the first book in the Will Robie series and he leaves off in a way that makes the reader want more. We get caught up in Robie's quest to keep himself, and a young girl that crosses his path, alive. At the start of the book Robie decides not to finish a job, allowing people to live. While people are spying on him to verify completion of the job, they realize Robie's hesitance, and decide to finish the kill job for him. Unfortunately, this also puts Robie's life on the line as he finds himself a new target for the agency he has been employed by for years.He comes across a young girl who seems to be in quite the predicament of her own. As the duo flee for safety they find they have something in common, as they are both running from the same assassins. As they fight to stay alive they learn to work together, solving the clues that could possibly end the madness.Cassidy did a great job of narrating and there were even some sound effects to keep you on the edge of your seat. With themes of murder, mystery, and survival, you may enjoy this book as much as I did, especially if you are a Baldacci fan. I don't hesitate in recommending this book for either personal leisure or as a book club discussion.
    • 4/5
      Another fast paced thriller from David Baldacci! This book was really exciting, with lots of danger and plot twists and turns. Just when I thought Robie was getting some answers, he would discover another layer of deception that interpreted into an even bigger problem. I really enjoyed this and will definitely move on to the next book.
    • 3/5
      We are supposed to meet Will Robe for the first time in this book but it's my fourth book, having read the later ones first. I'd have to say that like a good bottle of wine, Robie improves with age; or maybe I've just read one too many of his books in too short a time. Be that as it may, I felt that Baldacci belabored the point and it was a relief when the book was over. Julie was the only refreshing character in the book. Good book to read on a rainy day when there's nothing better to do.
    • 4/5
      Meet Will Robie - his job is to kill people. But he is not a criminal - he is an assassin for the government of the United States. And he never asks questions - an order is to be followed. Until he is sent to kill a woman and he finds her with children and an apartment that does not match anything that he expects. He decides not to take the shot until he does some checks and someone takes it for him. And he becomes a fugitive from his own people. And while he is trying to escape from them, he starts uncovering the truth. If you are reading the book you expect the high level corruption that will be uncovered. The assassin with the golden hard is an old story and there is not much to make it different from similar stories. And yes, Baldacci manages to find a way - partially by building both the character of Will Robie (who goes by Robie) as a real person, partially by adding a diverse supporting cast - Julie starts as a victim and proves to be anything but, the special agent assigned to the cases manages to see what Robie sees in the world and the Blue Man ends up being an unexpected ally (despite the name). And of course, it is Baldacci - he manages to add a plot after a plot without making it too complex; he puts inside of a single novel more stories than some other authors use to write a whole series. It is not a perfect novel. It is not a literary novel. But when you need a thriller, there are worse books to find. And there aren't too many authors working today that has the storytelling talent of Baldacci. Time to read more of the books about Will Robie.
    • 4/5
      Another great character in Will Robie for Baldacci.
    • 5/5
      Assassin Will Robie is back from two assignments to eliminate the enemies of America abroad. He doesn't need to know the sins of the person, great or small. Robie leaves passing judgment to his superiors. He is only the cold blooded and unemotional executioner. Until now. Perhaps it is the unlikely location of the enemy in a quiet Washington D.C. suburb or perhaps it is the child, obviously the woman's son, in bed with the target. For the first time ever, Robie hesitates. His handler frantically calling for him to complete the assignment, urges him on in a near-panicked voice, but still Robie hesitates and then the child awakens and the intended victim stirs. What happens next sets an intricate story into motion.

      Robie decides to get away by taking a nearby bus. Along comes a 14-year-old girl, followed by a man whom Robie recognizes as someone just like himself, a stone killer. Naturally, having made one major mistake, Robie again goes against all his training and helps the teenager. Past actions are catching up with Robie, and lots of strange coincidences are placing him and the girl in deadly danger.

      I really enjoy political intrigue and The Innocent has plenty of it to go around. If you pay attention to the details, the author gives you lots of clues along the way to figure who the bad guys are, but the way the final reveal comes about is surprising and keeps things interesting. This is the first book in a three book series (as of 2015) and I will definitely plan to read the others. I really liked the character and would like to see what happens to him in the future.
    • 4/5
      Second time listening too and as good as the first. Going through the entire Will Robe series and now onto The Hit. Always plausible and thrilling.
    • 5/5
      When I realized that other books, that shall remain unnamed here, are being gleefully accepted, hugged and devoured in mere hours, I said screw the hype. I have my own quiet, and genuinely good favorites. The book is about Will Robie and his priorities in ending and protecting life. Other characters are Julie Getty and Vance. There's a nifty trick that Baldacci has used a couple of times. It consist of showing a major coincidence, an unlikely event, and then show that it was all part of a plan. Baldacci is not a universally revered author. If he was, he would be a household name. I suspect, no, I admit that his style is not universally renown, but it's terrifically compatible with me and other fans. The Camel Club was a stroke of brilliance, but for lightning to strike twice? It just means that while I was a fan, now I'm a fanboy. This type of authorship is what I've been looking for my whole life. I await the rest of Baldacci's work with perhaps the highest expectations I've had ever.
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite books of David Baldacci thus far! Very intense- Loved the addition of the 14 yr. old girl, Julie with her attitude, tenacity, and survival skills! I listened to book on iPod via audio and loved the sound effects as well as the narrators did an exceptional job (Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy)!

      Baldacci was definitely at the top of his game as his plot and characters were outstanding in this conspiracy with Will Robie (main character) who at first seemed very hard and cold until he met the teenager which softened him a bit. (loved this dynamic duo). His job was to eliminate however his sharp instincts tell him his handler is not part of the plan and the killings are stacking against him one by one. He did not plan on taking care of a teen; however, she becomes a part of the responsibility he is willing to take on. Mixed with a FBI Agent and another woman who entices him along with people dropping dead around him, it appears no safe house is really safe!
    • 5/5
      Own. Robie, an assassin for the US govt, teams up unwillingly with Julie, age 14, as they both run from different attackers. Or are they linked somehow? This is a nonstop thriller!
    • 5/5
      Excellent read, as usual with Baldacci's books. It took about 40-50 pages to really get into it, but from there on, the book was a "page-turner".
    • 4/5
      Baldacci is the perfect beachside read! Short, staccato chapters filled with action that moves quickly and holds your attention! This was the perfect book to kick off my oceanside reading!! If you look between the pages - you might even find a bit of sand! :)Will Robie is an assassin and a very good one! He works for the secret side of the CIA and does his job completely and carefully! And then he stops. He is in the midst of a hit - and things don't feel right - for the first time he asks questions of himself before he pulls the trigger (flash to Jason Bourne on the boat in the dark!!) That hesitation puts in action a series of events that takes Robie out of automatic and into actually feeling! A place he has not visited for a long time.Robie, being a thorough hitman, always has a backup plan and even a backup for the backup. This night he escapes to a bus that travels between Washington DC and NYC every night - the Outa There bus. While waiting for the bus to take him away to a safe spot he sees a young girl get on followed by an older man - someone clearly following her. In an attempt to save this girl from her attacker - Robie is surprised to see Julie (the girl) able to fight him off for a bit, and then they flee off the bus together - moments before the bus explodes into thousands of pieces. So, against all of his training and preferences, Robie attempts to take care of Julie - yes this hardened, loner assassin begins to allow a tiny piece of his heart to feel again. It isn't a sweet sappy moment - but rather a shock to both Robie and the reader's system. But, it feels right!This is a story of cold-blooded, ruthless people and the incredible lengths they will take to get what they want. It is also an intertwined mystery of conspiracy on an unbelievable level. I greatly enjoyed the twists and turns and unexpected kindness of human beings!!Read it!!
    • 4/5
      Whoo, what a ride. Could not put it down.
    • 5/5
      Interesting story about a government assassin who's forced to play a game of wits. Absolutely enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      This is a typical--meaning highly enjoyable--outing from Baldacci that introduces a worthy new series character. There is some telegraphed stuff in there where the plot is concerned, but Baldacci is terrific at creating characters and this one is not lacking in that department in any way, shape or form.
    • 5/5
      America has enemies--ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can't stop. That's when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone cold hitman who never questions orders and always nails his target. But Will Robie may have just made the first--and last--mistake of his career . . . THE INNOCENTIt begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn't seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable. He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people.Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn't an ordinary runaway-her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can't walk away. He needs to help her.Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he's convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents' deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power. Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl's life . . . and perhaps his own.My ReviewI loved the character of Robie and Vance and can see them turning into a King and Maxwell. The plot was intriguing but a little confusing until you find out what is going on. I also liked Baldacci's writing and the short chapters. The ending was tied up nicely with a few surprises. I will definitely read the rest of the series and I would recommend Baldacci's books to those who love mystery thrillers with great characterization.
    • 5/5
      What an excellent start to a series!! Will Robie is a government assassin, and he's very good at his job. Suddenly he's the target and is caught up in a very dangerous cat and mouse game. No one is safe after talking to him and the answers are few and far between. Enter a 14 year old girl who seems to also be a target in the same game and the questions multiply. This book kept me guessing with every page, I literally couldn't put it down! Very fast paced, excellently tight writing, great descriptions without being overly verbose, all in all, excellent work. Continuing the series is not even a question, Baldacci is now on my list of must read authors.
    • 4/5
      In THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci, professional hitman Will Robie finds he cannot always follow orders without question. He then becomes a target himself. Or maybe someone else, a fourteen-year-old runaway girl, with him is the target. He knows for sure is that one of them seems to be. Since attacks seem to follow him, he suspects someone supposedly on his side, the US Government, is a mole and is after him. He has to determine why.Along the way he becomes personally interested in a woman who lives in his apartment while the FBI agent working on the case with him becomes interested in him. There are several twists and a lot of killing of innocent people who are just in the wrong place at the wrong time
    • 3/5
      In The Innocent, David Baldacci gives us a world class hitman who develops a conscience just as his employers - a subcontractor of the US military - decide to remove him. There are some lines even mercenaries are unwilling to cross and Robie refuses to kill a teenage girl who appears to be an innocent bystander. Instead, Robie takes it upon himself to protect her even when it might cost him everything that he holds dear: his life, his profession, all ties to his life.Fortunately, David Baldacci is a master of action and suspense, so this implausible story comes alive. Robie while unbelievable is an engaging hero and we find ourselves rooting for him just as he takes on an impossible burden. The young girl is a typical teenager insofar as she's moody, difficult, and not fully appreciative of the risks that Robie takes - which helps the story along and endears her to both Robie and readers. Another winner by David Baldacci.ISBN-10: 0446572993 - Hardcover $27.99Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 17, 2012), 432 pages.Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
    • 4/5
      Another excellent yarn by Baldacci. I especially like the twists and turns that keep the ending in suspense for as long as possible. Also, big kudos for introducing his readers to a new primary character.
    • 5/5
      This was one of the better books that I have read recently. It kept me wondering where the story line was headed until the last 40 pages when the plot was finally revealed. Even then, there was a twist in those 40 pages that I was not expecting. Needless to say, it was a page-turner that was hard to put down.
    • 4/5
      The United States has many enemies who plot to kill Americans and then hide behind political curtains. Robbie is an American assassin, sent to kill those who try to harm the U.S. or it's citizens.The latest target didn't make sense. She lived near Robbie's office and when he crept into her apartment, he found her sleeping and holding a child. Robbie is in communication with his handler via earphone. He refuses the hit. The woman is killed anyway by his handler who was observing the action from an apartment across the street.Robbie thinks he's been set-up and better get away from things until he sorts it out. He boards a bus to New York. He spots a young girl who he later learns is age fourteen. He notices a man following her and making a move to harm her but Robbie intercedes. Robbie and the girl, Julie Getty, leave the bus and moments later is blows up, killing everyone but Robbie and Julie.In an action packed story, Robbie learns that Julie was escaping from an intolerable foster care situation and that her parents had just been murdered.The story of Robbie's betrayal and Julie's parents' murder come together with excellent drama. While Robbie usually works alone, it isn't safe to leave Julie alone so they work together.David Baldacci has written a finely crafted and provoking book about the intelligence operation in the United States. It will leave the reader breathless.
    • 5/5
      i really enjoyed this book. i'm hoping others will follow with the characters of robie, vance and even julie. it was well done and mixed alot of varying departments (ss, dcis, fbi kind of thing).. also a variety situations. it twisted and turned and i couldn't put it down. even if you figure it out it's still a hell of a ride.
    • 2/5
      Probably my least favorite Baldacci, just seems like he was really reaching throughout this book and it wasn't entertaining enough to make me not want to notice.
    • 5/5
      Another really good one by David Baldacci. Robie tries to protect a young girl throughout believing what they are going through has nothing to do with him. While I figured out the who and the why, I really enjoyed it and was sorry when it ended. Let's hope Baldacci writes another with Robie.
    • 3/5
      As usual, a novel by David Baldacci shakes my belief in the honesty of the government. This story centers on a government-sanctioned killer who becomes the hunted. A teenage girl enters into Will Robie's quest for answers to the confusion. I felt that the actual mole was a likely choice given Will's involvement with the individual. Baldacci tells an interesting story in a format like James Patterson with the short chapters that drive a reader to reading longer. Baldacci utilizes more detail in his writing and presents more dimensional characters.
    • 4/5
      Another homerun for Davide Baldacci. I can't believe how he just keeps them coming. You won't be able to put this one down.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable, easy read thriller. I enjoyed it a lot more than "Divine Justice". Implausible but thrillers usually are. If you enjoy easy read thrillers, you will like this.