Hope Rises - by David Baldacci (Hardcover)

This was awesome! The tension grabbed me early and never really let up. There was real danger threaded through the story, not just high stakes on paper but that constant feeling that something could tip over at any second. And the surprises? So good. It had that addictive momentum where I kept thinking I had it figured out and then nope. Completely wrong. I love when a story can keep me on my toes, and this one absolutely did. This one delivered all the suspense, twists, and that edge-of-your-seat energy I’ve come to expect from a Baldacci thriller.

The second book of the Walter Nash series is a must read for those who read and enjoyed the first book as it ties all of the loose ends together and gave me information about Victoria Steers and other characters that were essential for the threads of the complex story to be totally understood. Walter is in the persona of Dillon Hope in this book and as such, he acts as a bodyguard for Rhett Temple as well as for Victoria Steers. He is still set on revenge for the death of his daughter and willing to die for his cause if necessary. The twists in this book just kept coming and after multiple revelations about Victoria and her past, she became more of a likable character instead of the despicable one that I thought previously. Rhett continues to be self-centered and self-absorbed, so I never really related to him but I did enjoy reading about his resolve to free himself from Victoria’s forced employment. I think my favorite character was Thura, a man whom Nash meets in his assigned task for Steers and who is heroic, focused and trustworthy, all characteristics that made him a good friend for Nash. I also liked Hiroko, the nanny who took care of the child Victoria and who wisely gave Nash good advice and insight into what made Victoria the way she was. The story is centered around Victoria and her mom as well as a ring of criminals with whom she is involved. The interactions between Victoria, Nash and the man who leads the crime empire was mesmerizing and captivated me each time there was a scene with them. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author did a magnificent job of tying all of the tapestry of the story together and ended with a satisfying conclusion with all questions answered and no loose ends. This book could conceivably be read as a standalone but I think it would be much more enjoyable to read both books in order, thus getting Nash’s backstory with Victoria, his deal with the FBI and who he was before he became the fearsome warrior known as Dillon Hope. This is a thriller with some romance and a lot of suspense thrown into the mixture, a totally different genre than I am accustomed to with books from Baldacci, but it is definitely one of the best books out there dealing with relevant and timely topics ripped from the headlines. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I also ordered my own personal copy since I collect this author’s books. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.