David Baldacci Delivers Another Tension-Filled Ride With ‘No Man’s Land’ [REVIEW]

Special Agent John Puller is back in David Baldacci’s No Man’s Land. (Photo by Jody Sticca, Flickr)

A thirty-year-old cold case. A parolee seeking revenge. The accusation that threatens to tear a family apart. An unexpected journey into the past. In David Baldacci’s No Man’s Land, all the key components are in place for one troubling, relentless thriller. 

Grand Central Publishing

Special Agent John Puller, a tenacious army investigator, is back for his fourth gripping adventure. No Man’s Land opens when Puller visits his father who suffers from dementia.

Suddenly two Criminal Investigation Command officers arrive with a letter accusing John’s father of murdering his wife more than thirty years ago. Worse yet, more than one person says Puller’s father had motive, opportunity, and means to commit the crime.

Rattled by the revelation, questions flood John’s mind. Could Puller Sr. have hidden crucial pieces of evidence for more than thirty years? And will John ever be able to overcome the seeds of suspicion that have now been planted in his mind?

These and many other questions raced through my mind too as I read this brilliant novel. I think this happened primarily because of how Baldacci crafted John Puller as the hero of this book. Since this was my first introduction to Puller, I really appreciated how Baldacci summarized John’s character in a concise way, yet allowed me to easily follow his train of thought and powers of deduction.

I also found John to be an authentic character with plenty of flaws and lines of reasoning. At the same time, he has a personal code and sense of honor which he lives by too. These conflicting traits make him both a contradiction and definitively human, qualities which bring verisimilitude to the story and make for a thoroughly engaging read.

Part mystery and part family drama, No Man’s Land is yet another feather in Baldacci’s cap. It’s a novel that is relentlessly paced yet thoughtful, fraught with complex dynamics yet heartfelt. This is a story  that will delight John Puller fans and likely earn Baldacci new followers as well. The only disappointment here is that the novel ends so soon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Baldacci
(Photo by Alexander James)

David Baldacci is the international number one bestselling author of 33 novels for adults, including The Last Mile, The Guilty, Memory Man, and The Escape. 

Several of his books have been adapted for film and television, including his 1996 debut novel, Absolute Power, which starred and was directed by Clint Eastwood.

More than 110 million copies of his books are in print worldwide, having been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries.

David is also the author of five novels for young readers, including the number one bestseller The Finisher, which is in development for a feature film, and its number one sequel, The Keeper. 

Together with his wife, Elizabeth, the Baldaccis founded the Wish You Well Foundation®, which supports family and adult literacy in the United States by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of literacy and educational programs.

David lives in Virginia with his family. Visit his home on the Web, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter.

NO MAN’S LAND
By David Baldacci
432 pgs. Grand Central Publishing. $29