First Family
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First Family Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Baldacci (Author), Ron McLarty (Narrator), Hachette Audio (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 19,644 ratings
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When she turned the page and her gaze flickered over the date on top, it was as though the lightning outside had somehow grounded right into her. A billion volts of pain, a shriek of anguish you could actually see and feel as it pierced her.

Camp David, USA. A birthday party turns into a nightmare when a child is snatched after the celebrations. The first lady enlists the services of Sean King and Michelle Maxwell to bring the child home safely. But she and King share a past. Years ago he saved her then-senator husband from political disaster. And this may not be all that passed between them. With Michelle still battling her own demons, the two are pushed to the limit, with forces aligned on all sides against them - and the line between friend and foe impossible to define...or defend.

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  1. Listening Length
    14 hours and 31 minutes
  2. Author
    David Baldacci
  3. Narrator
    Ron McLarty
  4. Audible release date
    April 21, 2009
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Hachette Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0027A3FPS
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 14 hours and 31 minutes
Author David Baldacci
Narrator Ron McLarty
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 21, 2009
Publisher Hachette Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0027A3FPS
Best Sellers Rank #9,826 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#77 in International Mystery & Crime (Audible Books & Originals)
#132 in Action Thriller & Suspense Fiction
#562 in Political Thrillers (Books)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
19,644 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

david luther burchette, III
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Plot!
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
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Another fabulous book by Baldacci! Such a brilliant plot made it pretty much impossible to put this book down. I was particularly pleased with the ending!
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Wayne C. Rogers
4.0 out of 5 stars Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are back in action!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2009
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I'm not a big fan of David Baldacci's writing. I've read Absolute Power and the Hour Game and liked them; yet, I seldom pick up a book by him. Go figure. Anyway, Baldacci's newest hardcover is First Family, which brings back Sean King and Michelle Maxwell (Split Second, Hour Game and Simple Genius), who are ex-Secret Service agents now working as private investigators.

In First Family, Sean is a friend of the President's wife, Jane Cox, having helped her and her husband out of an embarrassing situation years before, when Dan Cox was a new and upcoming senator. Now, Jan's sister-in-law (Pam Dutton) is asking for Sean's help. When he and his partner, Michelle Maxwell, arrive at the Dutton house one evening, they discover a kidnapping in play as two masked men knock out the husband, Tuck, kill Pam, and kidnap one of their three children, Willa. Michelle is almost killed while trying to stop the kidnappers from getting away. Later, once the gun smoke has settled and everyone can think straight, the President's wife hires Sean and Michelle to find Willa, thinking that the two investigators will be easier to control than the FBI. You see, the First Family has a closely guarded secret from the past and the kidnapping is just a ploy to get their attention as a wronged father puts his plan for revenge into motion. If that isn't enough, Michelle's mother is murdered in Tennessee. She and Sean have to take time out from the Willa kidnapping to go there and find out what happened. It doesn't take Michelle long to discover that her mom was cheating on her father and that he may have been the one who killed her in a fit of jealousy. The two private investigators are going to have their hands full trying to solve both cases while keeping the First Family happy, the FBI and Secret Service off of their backs, and the life of a little girl in the forefront of their mind.

If it seems like I've given away some of the plot points here, don't worry about it because this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many things going on from daughters on life support, to spousal betrayal, to outward lying to hide the truth, to cold-blooded murder on both sides of the fence, to a father's quest for revenge for what was done to his child by those who are now in power, while another father searches for the killer of his wife, that the reader almost needs a program to keep track of all the subplots. Still, I found the first 173 pages to be slow in action and nearly closed he book down to read something else. Fortunately for me, I stayed with the novel and soon found myself totally engrossed and unable to put the blasted thing down. Let me reiterate that--you have to stay with the story in order to get to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If you can do that, then you're in for a treat.

Also, Mr. Baldacci has created two intriguing characters in Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. In many ways they reminded of Dennis Lehane's famous characters from the Patirck Kenzie and Angie Gennaro series with the female character being the more explosive and dangerous of the two. While Sean King is suave, debonair, and utterly professional (at least most of the time), Michelle is a woman tormented by her inner demons due to something that occurred in her childhood with her parents covering it up. This life-changing experience is driving her at a break-neck speed, keeping her barely balanced on the edge of the abyss, and the answers are finally revealed as she searches for the person who murdered her mother. Other great characters abound within the pages of this novel, too. There's Sam Quarry, a man who's tough and a near-genius with his hands at creating things; yet, a person who has a code honor that he tries to follow as his wayward journey propels him to his final confrontation with those who destroyed his child's life. Then, there's Willa, the star of the show, who's young of age, yet wise beyond her years in her capacity to size up a given situation and then attempt to change the outcome. Last, and more importantly, is the First Family, a married couple who have struggled to reach the pinnacle of power within the United States and refuses to allow anyone to take it away from them. They are the true villains of the novel!

The First Family by David Baldacci is a good summer read for those seeking a few hours of popcorn entertainment to escape the drudgery of day-to-day living. As a reader, you'll also hope that the author will bring back Sean King and Michelle Maxwell in the near future for more exciting cases to work on. These are characters you want to learn more about.
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5.0 out of 5 stars great heroes
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
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How you treat everyone that you come in contact with is the theme of this story. Sean and Michelle are the real deal. Their adventures are top notch, with good hearts behind them. Popularity is not a moral compass, in fact it frequently turns people into monsters.
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Tom Goodrick
5.0 out of 5 stars Giving the President His Due
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2013
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First, I am surprised to see some controversy regarding the Kindle form. I think it is great. I have been spending time in and out of the hospital. It goes along with me, providing very satisfactory entertainment. I now carry an extensive library (in the Kindle everywhere I go).

You might say I give too much away in this review. But in an early King & Maxwell book, King's relation with the President and First Lady is described clearly. He pulled a girl off the President and turned the drunken President over to the First Lady! Now in this book we see the significance of that situation.

I have just started the King & Maxwell series but I jumped out of sequence for this book because the book sounded very interesting. I was also getting tired of the small town life where every third person is part of the plot! I think this is one of Baldacci's best. One thing I didn't like at first was the second plot that relates to Maxwell and her family. I don't like having my attention needlessly diverted from the main plot (to which the second plot bears no relation). But I still gave the book 5 stars because the second plot moves well and provides info about Maxwell and about the relation between King and Maxwell. Her Daddy can still save her butt in a night gunfight!

The main plot here involves the intended retribution of a Viet Nam Vet against the President of the United States. The President got drummed out of office for his sex crimes. It may be true that the Vet gets a little extreme in his manner of retribution, it is still justified, at least to some extent. You can expect some trouble when you tick off a combat pilot by raping his daughter and turning her into a vegetable with a botched abortion.

We should almost take off half a star for the name Baldacci gives to his villain - Sam Quarry, who digs lots of deep holes in a mountain. Really!

King and Maxwell end up being co-guardians of 10-11 year-old boy whose mother was killed in a flash fire started by the First Lady. This make Maxwell start thinking of motherhood (having lost her own mother earlier in the second plot - OK! that's the connection between the plots).
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john pinkerton
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy reading
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024
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Thoroughly enjoyed this book
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Top reviews from other countries

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Lynda Roginson
5.0 out of 5 stars David Baldacci books
Reviewed in Canada on August 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
The king and Maxwell series have become a favourite of mine. This "First Family" book was great, my favourite
'episode' so to speak. Full of action, great story line and a promising hint of romance.
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Lynda Roginson
5.0 out of 5 stars David Baldacci books
Reviewed in Canada on August 18, 2023
The king and Maxwell series have become a favourite of mine. This "First Family" book was great, my favourite
'episode' so to speak. Full of action, great story line and a promising hint of romance.
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Shuklendu.Katdare
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in India on January 18, 2024
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Slightly slow in the beginning but later was very good. Great writing * * * * * * * *
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Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2023
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The author is on fire x great read
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Top
Reviewed in France on July 2, 2023
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Passionnant et plein de rebondissements jusqu'à la fin ! Daniel Baldacci nous tient en haleine, je l'ai lu d'une traite.
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DS Barßel
5.0 out of 5 stars Lesenswert
Reviewed in Germany on March 8, 2019
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Spannung von der ersten Seite. Eine unglaublich komplexe und faszinierende Storyline mit einem perfekten Ende. Taschentücher in Reichweite nicht vergessen.
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