Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Bal
Genres
Collection
Publication
Vision (1997), 720 pages
Description
When her husband mysteriously disappears in a plane crash into the Virginia countryside, a devastated wife must sort out truth from lies in this page-turning New York Times bestseller. Sidney Archer has it all: a husband she loves, a job at which she excels, and a cherished young daughter. Then, as a plane plummets into the Virginia countryside, everything changes. And suddenly there is no one whom Sidney Archer can trust. Jason Archer is a rising young executive at Triton Global, the world's leading technology conglomerate. Determined to give his family the best of everything, Archer has secretly entered into a deadly game. He is about to disappear--leaving behind a wife who must sort out his lies from his truths, an accident team that wants to know why the plane he was ticketed on crashed, and a veteran FBI agent who wants to know it all… (more)
Subjects
Original publication date
1996
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member johncstark
Pretty easy read. The plot develops nicely and resolves really quick.
LibraryThing member nakmeister
Jason Archer is upto something, but you don't know what. The plane he is supposed to be on mysteriously falls from the sky killing everyone on board. The authorities and his employers soon start to blame Jason for sabotaging the aeroplane. His wife Sydney is left to try and pick up the pieces and
Overall, I loved this book. It was a first rate thriller that pushes the right buttons, the pace is fast but not too fast that you get whiplash, and you actually care about what happens to the characters. Combine the realistic American setting and the power plays between the rich and powerful, and you have all the makings of a first rate thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good thriller.
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figure out what's going on.Overall, I loved this book. It was a first rate thriller that pushes the right buttons, the pace is fast but not too fast that you get whiplash, and you actually care about what happens to the characters. Combine the realistic American setting and the power plays between the rich and powerful, and you have all the makings of a first rate thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good thriller.
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LibraryThing member unrequitedlibrarian
Tone of language: Ominous dramatic flourishes
Plot twists: Lots of inconclusive evidence
Characters: Powerful survival instincts abound
Values: Upper middle-class aspirations
Pace: Events spin out of control
Background research: Plane crashes
Sexuality: Arms-length admiration
Ending: Complex
Offensive to any group: Possibly gays; CEOs
Target audience: Everybody
Flaws: villains are unimportant characters and are not fully drawn
Plot twists: Lots of inconclusive evidence
Characters: Powerful survival instincts abound
Values: Upper middle-class aspirations
Pace: Events spin out of control
Background research: Plane crashes
Sexuality: Arms-length admiration
Ending: Complex
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wrap-upOffensive to any group: Possibly gays; CEOs
Target audience: Everybody
Flaws: villains are unimportant characters and are not fully drawn
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LibraryThing member name99
On the strength of Malcolm Gladwell saying that David Baldacci was a superior thriller writer, I though I'd give him a shot.
I was not disappointed, but not wild about this either.
To be fair, this was an abridgement (all the library had) and the feeling I felt of things happening too fast and too
I'll try another (full length) book, but I'm not sure I'll be convinced that this is an author for me.
I was not disappointed, but not wild about this either.
To be fair, this was an abridgement (all the library had) and the feeling I felt of things happening too fast and too
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pat may well have been a consquence of that. But other aspects of the story (the illiterate computer references, the casual violence) surely cannot be blamed on abridgement. I'll try another (full length) book, but I'm not sure I'll be convinced that this is an author for me.
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LibraryThing member mramos
This book was lent to me by a person who knew I loved reading Grisham. Well they were right. This is another book which is a page turner. If this is Baldacci's style, I will be reading all of his works.
In this book we watch as a typical American family is faced with the greed of a powerful
This book has all the excitment you would expect in a thriller. And you will turn the pages fast, looking to see what happens next. And even though you know there is no way she could posibbly beat the odds she is up against in real life, you will stay engrossed in this story.
In this book we watch as a typical American family is faced with the greed of a powerful
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corporation. You have a husband who is an executive at an technology firm. And his wife, a mother and attorney of the firm working on an important merger of two companies. One of which is the one he works for. The husband is working on making enough money so his wife can be a stay-at-home mother. Then he disapears with a cloud of alegations over his head. and his wife is left to clear his name.This book has all the excitment you would expect in a thriller. And you will turn the pages fast, looking to see what happens next. And even though you know there is no way she could posibbly beat the odds she is up against in real life, you will stay engrossed in this story.
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LibraryThing member pat1eiu
This book was incredibly good!! I have only read a few of his book but I have become a huge David Baldacci fan. The plot is way to complex to go into in a review but it has so many twists and turns it leaves most roller coasters to shame. I didn't see how it was at all possible but it actaually did
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all come together in the end. Also it was not a completly happy ending. I like books that don't end with everything just as it should be, because that is not usually the way they work in real life. Show Less
LibraryThing member OliviainNJ
As a lover of suspense thrillers, Total Control is a book I really wanted to like. Unfortunately, by the end I was struggling to like anything at all. The book read like a bad made-for-tv movie, complete with a sappy ending you could see clear from Chapter 1.
The writing was amateurish and clumsy.
The characters are one dimensional: the beautiful, brave heroine, the tough-as-nails-but-sentimental g-man, the bad, bad, bad guys with their frozen blue eyes, the cute little tyke, the nerdy computer geek - and on and on. Most annoying was Sidney Archer, who is the archetypal male fantasy: a beautiful, clever, and successful law partner in a major Washington, DC law firm - who's yearning to give it all up to be a homemaker and mother.
By the end of the book, we're supposed to believe our slender heroine is capable of special-forces commando maneuvers, and that our FBI agent can pick out minute details on a security videotape that's described as being a lot clearer than any I've ever seen. We're not asked to suspend disbelief, we're asked to buy into a completely unrealistic turn of events.
Finally, and this is hardly the author's fault, the technology which figures so prominently in the book didn't age well, and the constant talk of floppy disks, whining modems, and AOL just seems...odd. Baldacci has a great reputation as a writer, but it must be for titles other than this.
The writing was amateurish and clumsy.
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It was also amazingly overwritten - eyes blaze, chests heave, characters are stunned, awed, astounded - the word choice seemed more fitting for a graphic novel than a thriller. There was an embarrassing excess of sentimentality on the part of all the characters, with the heroine at one point weeping with love for her husband. Maybe this was meant to appeal to the female reader, but it quickly became a distraction.The characters are one dimensional: the beautiful, brave heroine, the tough-as-nails-but-sentimental g-man, the bad, bad, bad guys with their frozen blue eyes, the cute little tyke, the nerdy computer geek - and on and on. Most annoying was Sidney Archer, who is the archetypal male fantasy: a beautiful, clever, and successful law partner in a major Washington, DC law firm - who's yearning to give it all up to be a homemaker and mother.
By the end of the book, we're supposed to believe our slender heroine is capable of special-forces commando maneuvers, and that our FBI agent can pick out minute details on a security videotape that's described as being a lot clearer than any I've ever seen. We're not asked to suspend disbelief, we're asked to buy into a completely unrealistic turn of events.
Finally, and this is hardly the author's fault, the technology which figures so prominently in the book didn't age well, and the constant talk of floppy disks, whining modems, and AOL just seems...odd. Baldacci has a great reputation as a writer, but it must be for titles other than this.
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LibraryThing member HankIII
This is my one and only review of a recently behind the curtain reading of this WAY overrated pop suspense writer. I thought the characters were incredibly shallow; one dimensional, and not one elicited any empathy and/or sympathy on my part. Fine, it's a successful lawyer mom and a successful
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company executive dad who finds himself involved is some nefarious secretive hush hush fiasco in a corporation, a cover up, and a phony death. Okay you're not holding my interest; in fact, you're boring me to death. A great writing faux pas: DO NOT TELL ME; SHOW ME! And that's another problem with this, uh, book? Baldacci tells because he seems unable to show through the characters themselves. This isn't third rate or a fourth rate book; it just isn't entitled to be rated. It make a temporary leg support to your coffee table perhaps; however, paperbacks can only hold up under the worst circumstances--this one doesn't!YUCK! Show Less
LibraryThing member whiteknight50
This is a re-read for me, its actually one that I had forgotten I read. It is a great book, but there is nothing that is particularly memorable about it. Its a fun read, one that keeps you on your toes, wondering what is coming next. The plot is complex enough to keep you guessing throughout, the
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finish is suspenseful, overall a great book for a weekend read. Show Less
LibraryThing member gruenchen
The topic (computer firms, development of the internet etc) wasnt my thing, but it was still interesting enough
LibraryThing member dekan
i've lost my internet so im not on here the second i finish like i usually am. i know i liked it was well written and one of his better books. He has really gotten the spy genre down. good reading if you're a baldacci or espionage fan.
this is my worst done review ever. sorry.
this is my worst done review ever. sorry.
LibraryThing member Britt84
Not a great literary work, but still a nice read for an evening off when you don't feel like taking on anything too serious. The story is built up quite nicely and draws you in from the start; the ending is quite surprising.
One of the things which my dad always says he dislikes about Baldacci is
Highly unlikely, but still entertaining...
One of the things which my dad always says he dislikes about Baldacci is
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the fact that there usually isn't a single normal person walking around in his books. I have to admit this is quite true; all people are quite extraordinary (Sidney and her dad just happen to be weapons experts who have a large arsenal of guns at hand to fight evil with), and often cliche in an exaggerated way: all FBI agents are workaholics with bad marriages, business men are moneygrabbing jerks, etc. Highly unlikely, but still entertaining...
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LibraryThing member christinejoseph
mystery — murder, conspiracy total jumble good read.
Sidney Archer has the world. A husband she loves. A job at which she excels, and a cherished young daughter. Then, as a plane plummets into the Virginia countryside, everything changes. And suddenly there is no one whom Sidney Archer can trust.
Sidney Archer has the world. A husband she loves. A job at which she excels, and a cherished young daughter. Then, as a plane plummets into the Virginia countryside, everything changes. And suddenly there is no one whom Sidney Archer can trust.
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Jason Archer is a rising young executive at Triton Global, the world's leading technology conglomerate. Determined to give his family the best of everything, Archer has secretly entered into a deadly game of cat and mouse. He is about to disappear - leaving behind a wife who must sort out his lies from his truths, an aircrash investigation team that wants to know why the plane he was ticketed on suddenly fell from the sky, and a veteran FBI agent who wants to know it all. From Seattle to Washington, D.C., from New Orleans to Maine, the hunt for Jason Archer follows a trail as complex as the world he lived and worked in - a world of enormously powerful computers, a multimillion-dollar takeover deal, titanic financial standoffs, artificial intelligence, and the Internet. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookWallah
So many questions arise from this thriller that was too thick by half. What do you do when a favorite author disappoints? Try to slog through. Will it get better? It didn't. What happens when authors that are not technologically-literate decide to try their hand at a technothriller? Prepare to
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cringe a lot. How many plots are based on only one copy of a digital file? Too many. Not recommended, even the Baldacci faithful should take a "bye" on this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member johnwbeha
A reasonable Baldacci thriller, lots of twists and turns, but I think it is a bit too long, possibly because of the fixation that the lead FBI agent gets for one of the suspects, which slows the pace down. Good on the technology which is at the core of the crime and the solution.
LibraryThing member Carol420
"Total Control" begins with two high-tech companies, both in need of technological infusion, pursuing a smaller firm whose advanced technology will guarantee future success. The potential for conflict is immediately evident as the same high-powered law firm is representing both companies in their
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bids. Attractive corporate attorney Sidney Archer is handling the affairs for one company, but it just so happens that her husband Jason is the main person collecting records pertinent to the sale for the same company. I will admit the tech language got a bit much sometimes but this is pure David Baldacci. If you want to read an exciting novel that holds your interest with each page this is it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolee888
This was not David Baldacci's best. There was suspense but it still dragged in some places. The technology was so dated that I had to laugh but helped me enjoy it some. It referred to floopy discs and there was a monologue about how that Internet is going to change the world which was interesting.
Jason Archer lies to his wife, Sidney. He told her that he is going on a job interview when he was actually carrying out a secret plan by competitor company. He told his wife which flight he woud be taking and it was sabotaged. But he had traded clothes with another man on the lay over and later found out later that the plane had crashed.
So Sidney thought he was dead when she heard the news about the plane. So Sidney leaves her daughter with her parents and starts out to find the truth. Was the husband she loved so much on the side of evil or good? She does things I never would have done and she starts a friendship with an FBI agent, Lee Sawyer. I liked Lee Sawyer more than her. He was very empathetic and it was easy to understand him. He had faith that Sidney was on the good side and took chances for her.
The story was OK but it was unintentionally improved by being very outdated when it comes to different references to computer technology.
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Jason Archer lies to his wife, Sidney. He told her that he is going on a job interview when he was actually carrying out a secret plan by competitor company. He told his wife which flight he woud be taking and it was sabotaged. But he had traded clothes with another man on the lay over and later found out later that the plane had crashed.
So Sidney thought he was dead when she heard the news about the plane. So Sidney leaves her daughter with her parents and starts out to find the truth. Was the husband she loved so much on the side of evil or good? She does things I never would have done and she starts a friendship with an FBI agent, Lee Sawyer. I liked Lee Sawyer more than her. He was very empathetic and it was easy to understand him. He had faith that Sidney was on the good side and took chances for her.
The story was OK but it was unintentionally improved by being very outdated when it comes to different references to computer technology.
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LibraryThing member gac53
Very enjoyable book. This is the first book I've read in a while that really surprised me at the end. Multiple re-directs kept my interest up.
LibraryThing member JenniferRobb
I didn't realize how old this book was until I started reading it and technology like computer discs had me wondering. I did guess some of the plot points ahead of time (the pregnancy in particular). I also guessed the suspect before it was revealed--well, at least in part. The actual suspects were
Jason and Sidney Archer are a happily married couple with a 4 year old daughter. Jason works in IT, and Sidney is a lawyer. During a work project, Jason accidentally uncovers evidence of some financial wrongdoing. He tries to pass the information to the FBI only to be tricked. His actions lead to Sidney being suspected of undermining a business deal she's negotiating for his company.
Arthur Lieberman is head of the Federal Reserve until his untimely death in a plane crash--on the very plane that Jason Archer was meant to take as well.
Lee Sawyer and Ray Jackson are FBI agents tasked with figuring out who sabotaged the plane. Their investigation begins with Lieberman, moves to Archer, and then circles back to Lieberman.
I didn't quite understand why Sidney didn't call Sawyer when she realized she was going to be framed and at least try to feel him out on her explanation or give him a heads up that someone else had been there.
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more widespread than what I guessed but the person I suspected was one of the ones involved.Jason and Sidney Archer are a happily married couple with a 4 year old daughter. Jason works in IT, and Sidney is a lawyer. During a work project, Jason accidentally uncovers evidence of some financial wrongdoing. He tries to pass the information to the FBI only to be tricked. His actions lead to Sidney being suspected of undermining a business deal she's negotiating for his company.
Arthur Lieberman is head of the Federal Reserve until his untimely death in a plane crash--on the very plane that Jason Archer was meant to take as well.
Lee Sawyer and Ray Jackson are FBI agents tasked with figuring out who sabotaged the plane. Their investigation begins with Lieberman, moves to Archer, and then circles back to Lieberman.
I didn't quite understand why Sidney didn't call Sawyer when she realized she was going to be framed and at least try to feel him out on her explanation or give him a heads up that someone else had been there.
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LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Jason Archer works with a cutting edge technology company, but he has found information he thinks, in the right hands, could lead to more stability for his family. As he makes an attempt to exchange this information, he is kidnapped and an entire plane load of people are killed. He comes
Review: This is another story with a strong woman. It is also an interesting look at cyber crime and business espionage.
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under suspicion for this crime, as does his wife.Review: This is another story with a strong woman. It is also an interesting look at cyber crime and business espionage.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
The plot was so convoluted You have trouble keeping the names straight--there must have been 50 or so characters. . It was slow and felt like it dragged on forever....a 16 hour book that would have been very good at 8 hours. The technology was dated. With all that, I don't know why I finished it?
LibraryThing member susandennis
I liked Baldacci's first book but I loved this one. It sucked me right in from word one. Plus it's a fat book that just was wonderful all the way through. Sidney Archer is a partner is a high powered law firm representing a successful high tech company in their purchase of another high tech
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company. Her husband, Jason, is a technical expert at one of the companies. He boards a plane for the West Coast and it's blown to bits by a bomb. Sidney's life blows out of control as the following events unfold. One of the readers of this page recently told me he just read Baldacci's next one "The Winner" and it was very disappointing. I'm sorry because this one was the kind that makes you want to dive right into the author's next effort. Oh well. I sure did enjoy this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member Zare
Unlike most thrillers I read this one does not start with hundred's question marks on what exactly is going on. Event that will drive the plot are given in first couple of chapters - young married couple Jason and Sydney Archer, IT engineer and successful lawyer respectively, both working for huge
Book is full of twists (main antagonists do not hesitate to bring down the entire commercial airplane to further their agenda) and concerns that ring true even 23 years after the book was published - mass surveillance, personal data collection and use of AI to control the populace. All the reasons for ruthless businessmen to do whatever it takes to gain the power and money. What I like about the book is that although high financial and technology world is constantly in the front, actual reasons for crime are as mundane as they can be.
Some would say that characters are bland and I would say they are your standard off-the-mill thriller characters, especially police officers (i.e. grizzled old veteran with problems in family). Our main protagonists are not stranded in financial issues and they all work in rather prestigious companies, they are loyal to each other and work hard to figure out what is going on. Point here is that you need to read the book to the end to figure out what is happening - trust me even if you read half the book there is great chance you are on a wrong trail. If you are prone to building views of others on incomplete data then you will find characters in the book rather difficult to root for. But when you get to the end of the book a lot of things get clear and true criminals are exposed.
Interesting book. Recommended to all fans of thrillers.
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international mega-corporation aiming to acquire the pioneer AI company in order to create the portfolio that will enable them full monopoly in the field of software and hardware development. From the very beginning it is visible that Jason is working on something secret but not to the very end is the reader aware of what is truly going on. Then we have a huge disaster where hundreds are killed and no-one knows why exactly. What seems like a reasonable premise soon is discarded when new facts come to light.Book is full of twists (main antagonists do not hesitate to bring down the entire commercial airplane to further their agenda) and concerns that ring true even 23 years after the book was published - mass surveillance, personal data collection and use of AI to control the populace. All the reasons for ruthless businessmen to do whatever it takes to gain the power and money. What I like about the book is that although high financial and technology world is constantly in the front, actual reasons for crime are as mundane as they can be.
Some would say that characters are bland and I would say they are your standard off-the-mill thriller characters, especially police officers (i.e. grizzled old veteran with problems in family). Our main protagonists are not stranded in financial issues and they all work in rather prestigious companies, they are loyal to each other and work hard to figure out what is going on. Point here is that you need to read the book to the end to figure out what is happening - trust me even if you read half the book there is great chance you are on a wrong trail. If you are prone to building views of others on incomplete data then you will find characters in the book rather difficult to root for. But when you get to the end of the book a lot of things get clear and true criminals are exposed.
Interesting book. Recommended to all fans of thrillers.
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Pages
720