Call number
MYST BAL
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Grand Central Publishing (2017), 417 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:Two of the government's most lethal assassins scour rural Colorado to find their missing handlerâ??and discover an insidious and lethal threat along the way in this New York Times bestselling thriller. Will Robie and Jessica Reel are two of the most lethal people alive. They're the ones the government calls in when the utmost secrecy is required to take out those who plot violence and mass destruction against the United States. And through every mission, one man has always had their backs: their handler, code-named Blue Man. But now, Blue Man is missing. Last seen in rural Colorado, Blue Man had taken a rare vacation to go fly fishing in his hometown when he disappeared off the grid. With no communications since, the team can't help but fear the worst. Sent to investigate, Robie and Reel arrive in the small town of Grand to discover that it has its own share of problems. A stagnant local economy and a woefully understaffed police force have made this small community a magnet for crime, drugs, and a growing number of militant fringe groups. But lying in wait in Grand is an even more insidious and sweeping threat, one that may shake the very core of America. And when Robie and Reel find themselves up against an adversary with superior firepower and a home-court advantage, they'll be lucky if they make it out alive, with or without Blue Man… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member lincroft
Didn't love it. The Will Robbie series is my favorite normally. This book was not up to par. It was so unrealistic. It was almost as though Baldacci started writing the book without knowing who he wanted the "bad guy" to be and decided it in the last couple chapters.
LibraryThing member gmmartz
David Baldacci's 'End Game' is probably the 'end game' for me with Baldacci novels. Totally pedestrian writing, wooden dialogue, unrealistic action, and a bunch of situations that should cause readers to say 'huh?', combine with a fairly silly plot to create a book I couldn't wait to finish. I
In this installment of the Will Robie series, Robie and Reel, two kick-ass CIA types, are called in to locate their 'boss', a.k.a. 'Blue Man', who's disappeared somewhere in eastern Colorado while on a solo vacation. He has tons of government secrets that must be protected at all costs (which would lead to my first major question: why send only 2 agents?). In short order, the agents arrive at the small town that was Blue Man's vacation base as well as his original home town, seemingly without possessing any real advance intelligence about the area and its inhabitants (again, they work for one of the most sophisticated and capable areas of US law enforcement and they venture to a remote area blind?) and manage to piss off virtually the entire population. Since that population seems to be largely comprised of skinheads, 'sovereign citizens', and various other nutcases, fully armed, that might be problematic for most people, but not Robie and Reel. They're apparently never outnumbered and they never miss when they shoot!
Is 'Blue Man' found? Does he survive? Is the sexual tension between Robie and Reel ever resolved? How about between Robie and the local female sheriff? Unfortunately, if you really care you need to slog through about 400 pages of mediocre writing to find out. Don't say you weren't warned.
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thought about bailing several times, but thought it might improve.....not.In this installment of the Will Robie series, Robie and Reel, two kick-ass CIA types, are called in to locate their 'boss', a.k.a. 'Blue Man', who's disappeared somewhere in eastern Colorado while on a solo vacation. He has tons of government secrets that must be protected at all costs (which would lead to my first major question: why send only 2 agents?). In short order, the agents arrive at the small town that was Blue Man's vacation base as well as his original home town, seemingly without possessing any real advance intelligence about the area and its inhabitants (again, they work for one of the most sophisticated and capable areas of US law enforcement and they venture to a remote area blind?) and manage to piss off virtually the entire population. Since that population seems to be largely comprised of skinheads, 'sovereign citizens', and various other nutcases, fully armed, that might be problematic for most people, but not Robie and Reel. They're apparently never outnumbered and they never miss when they shoot!
Is 'Blue Man' found? Does he survive? Is the sexual tension between Robie and Reel ever resolved? How about between Robie and the local female sheriff? Unfortunately, if you really care you need to slog through about 400 pages of mediocre writing to find out. Don't say you weren't warned.
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LibraryThing member Judiex
David Balacci is one of my preferred authors. Luckily for me, END GAME is not the first thriller of his I've read. If it were, it would be the last. It certainly is the last of the Will Robie series.
Target killers Will Robie and Jessica Reed were paid by the US government to kill people who plotted
Reed was on a similar mission in Iraq. She killed 35 terrorists but her entire crew was also killed which makes her feel like a loser..
They were not back in Washington DC very long before they were sent on an assignment to locate their handler, Blue Man, who had disappeared. He was last seen in Colorado where he had returned for a vacation in his hometown, Grand. The town was very isolated, had only two members in its police department, was not doing well economically, and had become a gathering place for crimes, drugs, and militant fringe groups.
Robie and Reed tried valiantly to get some clues about what might have happened to Blue Man but faced the usual obstacles: witnesses who wouldn’t talk, people who lied, becoming targets themselves, and a boss demanding instant results.
In addition, the close relationship they had seemed to have fallen apart and Robie can’t understand why. Reed would not explain it. There are frequent references to previous activities covered in other books, primarily in Mississippi with Robie's family. If you haven't read his earlier books, you will not get much information here. Their inclusion does not seem necessary.
Some interesting commentary that relates to current time:
"Democracies are clearly the weakest form of government there is.… [People] are free. To live in chaos. Too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many people with a place at the table. Too many voices in the room. People are idiots. They don't know what they want a to get as much as they can at the expense of their neighbor.… The most efficient the longest lasting form of government is without debates, autocratic. One commands and others obey. People deride that is evil. I would say then that the world dearly needs more evil.
"People don't want freedom. People want to be safe, democracies cannot provide that. But one person with the requisite power can.
"I don't have to overthrow the United States… I just had to change the perspective of some in a few key places.… By making it simple my focus is complete and my odds of success are far greater.”
“I found the guys who inherit [from a rich parent] often have a chip on their shoulder. The man breaks too much about how successful the is. Somebody who earned it probably wouldn't feel the need.”
One character was described as someone with the classic narcissistic personality.
The characters are exaggerated stereotypes. There are lots of killings and a few somewhat graphic sex scenes. Most of the chapters are about three pages long with the story continuing the new chapter. Tremendous waste of paper and an insult to readers who do have an attention span.
Target killers Will Robie and Jessica Reed were paid by the US government to kill people who plotted
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actions against United States. END GAME opens with Robie being sent to London to destroy a group plotting to use a cobalt bomb against the US. The thermonuclear device would leave a large area contaminated for 100 or more years. In the first three chapters, he accomplishes his mission in a day, killing 16 people in the process.Reed was on a similar mission in Iraq. She killed 35 terrorists but her entire crew was also killed which makes her feel like a loser..
They were not back in Washington DC very long before they were sent on an assignment to locate their handler, Blue Man, who had disappeared. He was last seen in Colorado where he had returned for a vacation in his hometown, Grand. The town was very isolated, had only two members in its police department, was not doing well economically, and had become a gathering place for crimes, drugs, and militant fringe groups.
Robie and Reed tried valiantly to get some clues about what might have happened to Blue Man but faced the usual obstacles: witnesses who wouldn’t talk, people who lied, becoming targets themselves, and a boss demanding instant results.
In addition, the close relationship they had seemed to have fallen apart and Robie can’t understand why. Reed would not explain it. There are frequent references to previous activities covered in other books, primarily in Mississippi with Robie's family. If you haven't read his earlier books, you will not get much information here. Their inclusion does not seem necessary.
Some interesting commentary that relates to current time:
"Democracies are clearly the weakest form of government there is.… [People] are free. To live in chaos. Too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many people with a place at the table. Too many voices in the room. People are idiots. They don't know what they want a to get as much as they can at the expense of their neighbor.… The most efficient the longest lasting form of government is without debates, autocratic. One commands and others obey. People deride that is evil. I would say then that the world dearly needs more evil.
"People don't want freedom. People want to be safe, democracies cannot provide that. But one person with the requisite power can.
"I don't have to overthrow the United States… I just had to change the perspective of some in a few key places.… By making it simple my focus is complete and my odds of success are far greater.”
“I found the guys who inherit [from a rich parent] often have a chip on their shoulder. The man breaks too much about how successful the is. Somebody who earned it probably wouldn't feel the need.”
One character was described as someone with the classic narcissistic personality.
The characters are exaggerated stereotypes. There are lots of killings and a few somewhat graphic sex scenes. Most of the chapters are about three pages long with the story continuing the new chapter. Tremendous waste of paper and an insult to readers who do have an attention span.
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LibraryThing member ajlewis2
I love Baldacci, but this book didn't even seem like his writing. I'm perplexed. For a Baldacci book it was a 1-star, but I'll give it a 2-star, because if it was some other author I'd give it that. I listened to an audiobook while exercising. I did want to see how the story played out. I doubt
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seriously I would have read more than 10% if I'd been reading print. I do hope that David Baldacci is okay, because this book seems like something is very different. Show Less
LibraryThing member decaturmamaof2
An easy fun read, but I was annoyed at the poor copy editing & proofreading. Several blatant errors slipped through.
LibraryThing member lamb521
Title: End Game (Wil Robie Series #5)
Author: David Baldacci
Pages: 416
Year: 2017
Publisher: Grand Central
My rating 1 star out of 5.
What happened? How can an author who writes well crafted stories with such detail and believable plots end a series on such a sour note? I have read some excellent books
I don’t like reading books that throw in such sexual stuff and tons of foul language in the first place, and most of the books David has written don’t include this type of stuff. So why does he add a bunch of it to the last book on top of such a weak and directionless ending?
If the author has one Achilles heel, it is not knowing how to wrap up his characters like in the other novels with an intriguing plot. I love the Memory Man series he has written! With another installment due out April 2018, I just am hoping he doesn’t try to end the series with a novel sub-par like he has in End Game and his John Puller series where the ending was horrible too.
Normally, I don’t write reviews if I don’t like a book. Authors work hard to put forth stories their followers will enjoy and share with friends. However, with two series ending below standards or hopes for readers, I write this with the hope the author will do a much better job with future endeavors when he decides the character’s time is up.
Author: David Baldacci
Pages: 416
Year: 2017
Publisher: Grand Central
My rating 1 star out of 5.
What happened? How can an author who writes well crafted stories with such detail and believable plots end a series on such a sour note? I have read some excellent books
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written by the author, but this is the second time in ending a series the author has failed to write an engaging, in-depth and plausible novel. Why is it that the other books were focused on the plot, the in-depth plethora of possibilities and then add such nonsense without having any direction or meaning of a tale?I don’t like reading books that throw in such sexual stuff and tons of foul language in the first place, and most of the books David has written don’t include this type of stuff. So why does he add a bunch of it to the last book on top of such a weak and directionless ending?
If the author has one Achilles heel, it is not knowing how to wrap up his characters like in the other novels with an intriguing plot. I love the Memory Man series he has written! With another installment due out April 2018, I just am hoping he doesn’t try to end the series with a novel sub-par like he has in End Game and his John Puller series where the ending was horrible too.
Normally, I don’t write reviews if I don’t like a book. Authors work hard to put forth stories their followers will enjoy and share with friends. However, with two series ending below standards or hopes for readers, I write this with the hope the author will do a much better job with future endeavors when he decides the character’s time is up.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
David Baldacci is a master when it comes to this kind of thriller. The story has all the excitement and twists you expect plus some issues beginning to be resolved for our two stars...Will and Jessica. Also learning more about Blue Man's backstory simply added to the intrigue. All of DAvid
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Baldacci's series are outstanding. The only problem I have with them is that he gets you into the characters...makes you love them...then cuts the series off at 4 to 5 books. Show Less
LibraryThing member labdaddy4
Of all Baldacci's books, and I have read most of them, this is my least favorite. There was little to no character development, the plot did not flow, and there is far too much violence - to no end. The action and violence really seemed there for effect and not to further the story or enrich the
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characters. The author is widely read and his books usually compel the reader to want more - not this time. It is time to put these characters to bed and focus on stories and characters that make more sense and make the reader think. Show Less
LibraryThing member alanteder
The mystery element and the red herrings were well done. The end felt like a let down as it went the cliché route of the big bads explaining their evil plot to our heroes and then of course making the mistake of giving the heroes a "fighting chance" to escape alive with the expected result. The
I listened to the audiobook and Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy do an excellent job covering all of the voices, giving each of them their own inflection or affectation. Also, somewhere along the way, whoever used to add all those annoying sound effects and music cues to the David Baldacci books has been kept away from the production.
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lead in was good though.I listened to the audiobook and Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy do an excellent job covering all of the voices, giving each of them their own inflection or affectation. Also, somewhere along the way, whoever used to add all those annoying sound effects and music cues to the David Baldacci books has been kept away from the production.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
Assassins Will Robie and Jessica Reel are forced to become detectives to solve a baffling disappearance. They are clearly out of their element but know that the country depends on the return of the man known as "Blue Man". The citizens of the small town of Grand, Colorado have issues with strangers
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asking questions. Both Robie and Reel have stumbled into a vast conspiracy that will probably get them killed. To make matters all the worse they are having personal issues. Robie has fallen in love with Reel. Never a good idea in their line of work. As always, an excellent book from a truly talented author. David Baldacci has been one of my very favorites from his first book on and that has certainly not changed. Another excellent series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
This is the latest installment of the tales of Will Robie and Jessica Reel. In this tale, their handler, the Blue Man, has disappeared in a remote section of Colorado. It is up to Robie and Reel to find him. Their search results in violence and mayhem, typical of their lifestyles. As usual, it was
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a great story and another winner for Baldacci! Show Less
LibraryThing member infjsarah
Ok but average - in fact a few days later I can barely remember what happened - oh yes - nutty Americans with too many guns living in the back of beyond and wanting to overthrow the government. I really liked the first of this series and I still like the 2 main characters but each new novel seems
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to have law of diminishing returns. Ok really sums it up. Show Less
LibraryThing member Alan1946
The cover blurb is misleading and it has to be said! That blurb about a threat to a great city is dealt with in the first two chapters! The rest of the book is devoted to a hunt for Blue Man (Robie and Reel's director) who has mysteriously disappeared. Most of the rest of the book is centres on
It is quite a puzzling problem for them to solve, but when they doe, and come to the "End Game" of the title, it is very taut and becomes unputdownable.
Will there be more Robie and Reel? I don't know, but the ending left me wondering.
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Colorado and the hunt to find their chief, whose disappearance is a great threat to National Security. Robie and Reel meet a variety of groups of people, a cult, a man with grand designs for saving the lives of the richest in the world come the apocalypse of nuclear war, and understanding the relationships involved is a complex problem in itself. A great deal of information has to be acquired, utilising the local police and the FBI as well as their own talents and contacts.It is quite a puzzling problem for them to solve, but when they doe, and come to the "End Game" of the title, it is very taut and becomes unputdownable.
Will there be more Robie and Reel? I don't know, but the ending left me wondering.
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LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Reel and Robie are trying to find the Blue Man who has disappeared in a tiny Colorado mountain town. They become involved with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, isolationists, and at least one undercover G-man. There is so much conflicting information that they don't know who to trust or
Review: Lots of guns, ammo, and violence. However, the story holds up and it is interesting enough to maintain interest.
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what to believe. However, it's their job to risk life and limb to keep the US safe.Review: Lots of guns, ammo, and violence. However, the story holds up and it is interesting enough to maintain interest.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
After difficult assignments in London and Iraq, Will Robie and Jessica Reel find themselves partnered in a desperate search for Blue Man, who has vanished in rural Colorado. The two head for Grand, the town where he enjoying a fly fishing vacation.
They quickly discover that the town, with its
The fifth Will Robie tale is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, pulling the reader into the story from the very first page. Unexpected twists and turns ramp up the suspense and the steadily-building tension keeps the pages turning. Readers will find it almost impossible to set this book aside until the final surprising reveal.
Highly recommended.
They quickly discover that the town, with its
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two-person sheriff’s department and a thinly-spread state troopers, is a magnet for several fringe groups. But the danger they uncover in their search for Blue Man is more insidious than anything they could have imagined. The fifth Will Robie tale is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, pulling the reader into the story from the very first page. Unexpected twists and turns ramp up the suspense and the steadily-building tension keeps the pages turning. Readers will find it almost impossible to set this book aside until the final surprising reveal.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Jen_Bartels
This last (say it ain't so!) installment of of the Will Robie series. It was very action packed with an interesting plot. The only negative I can say about it is a couple of my favorite characters were missing, but other than that it was really good. I selfishly hope we'll get to check on Robie &
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Reel again, it's never a full moment with those two. Show Less
LibraryThing member JenniferRobb
Definitely not the best book in the series--in fact, at one point, I thought I was going to have to write "everybody dies" as my summary. (Not quite, but quite a few people die.)
I guess having tackled the family issues of Jessica Reel and Will Robie in previous installments, they decided it was now
If I were ever to disappear, I could only wish to have friends as skilled and as loyal as Will Robie and Jessica Reel to come find me.
Other than that, the plot was pretty odd. Robie and Reel wander around for much of the book with no real idea what is going on or where to look for their boss.
I guess having tackled the family issues of Jessica Reel and Will Robie in previous installments, they decided it was now
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time to reveal some of the history of Robie's and Reel's handler "Blue Man" (AKA Roger Walton). If I were ever to disappear, I could only wish to have friends as skilled and as loyal as Will Robie and Jessica Reel to come find me.
Other than that, the plot was pretty odd. Robie and Reel wander around for much of the book with no real idea what is going on or where to look for their boss.
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LibraryThing member sunnydrk
Excellent. Love the characters and the plot. Will and Jessica have the right amount of intrigue, ruthlessness and humanity.
The book keeps things going at a quick pace and I can see how we got to the resolution; unlike many books where it just "appeared".
The book keeps things going at a quick pace and I can see how we got to the resolution; unlike many books where it just "appeared".
LibraryThing member OscarWilde87
The fifth novel in Baldacci's Will Robie series takes government-employed assassins Will Robie and Jessica Reel on a different mission. They have to find their handler, Blue Man, who has gone missing in Colorado, a place he once called home. Both Reel and Robie have just returned from missions in
While I really enjoyed reading End Game I found it to be slower-paced than the other novels in the series. What kept me going was following the characters and their development and finding out what really happened in the middle of nowhere in Colorado and who was behind Blue Man's disappearance. A somewhat generous 4 stars.
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Iraq and London, respectively, that put a strain on their bodies and minds. Plus, their relationship is more than tense as they have not talked to each other since their last mission. Doing detective work might not be their original field of work, but they give their all in order to rescue Blue Man.While I really enjoyed reading End Game I found it to be slower-paced than the other novels in the series. What kept me going was following the characters and their development and finding out what really happened in the middle of nowhere in Colorado and who was behind Blue Man's disappearance. A somewhat generous 4 stars.
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LibraryThing member amandanan
The cover and tag line of this book is played out in the very first chapter. Has NOTHING to do with the rest of it. Poor choice, jacket designer.
That said, I read this in one sitting. I did figure out one of the big baddies pretty early on, but still impressed with all the surprises.
Also, who
That said, I read this in one sitting. I did figure out one of the big baddies pretty early on, but still impressed with all the surprises.
Also, who
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knew Baldacci was such a sucker for “love wins in the end?” Show Less
LibraryThing member lbswiener
End Game is a story that is set in a desolate part of Colorado where gangs of young men are setting up camps preparing for the destruction of the earth. It is a deadly place to search for a lost person. There is a beginning middle and an end. The characters get into terrible deadly situations that
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require special training to get out of and of course the hero Will Robie is the best in his business. The story is suspenseful. Show Less
LibraryThing member ZachMontana
Another master thriller by Baldacci! Lots of violence, but good plot and surprising interwoven relationships and people.
LibraryThing member RobertaLea
I have really enjoyed this series. "The Innocent" and the "The Guilty" being my two favorites. This one was just okay. Too much technical aspects of guns and ammunition. I thought that too many of the good people were killed off.... I'd recommend the book because it is part of a series, and
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currently the last book in series, but the ending left the door wide open for more of Will Robie and Jessica Reel. I hope so. Show Less
LibraryThing member JudyGibson
Y'know what I love most about Baldacci books? His first acknowledgment always to his wife Michelle.
LibraryThing member creighley
Will Robi and Jessica Reel are two of the most lethal people alive. They’re the ones people call in when the utmost secrecy is required to take out those who plot against the U.S. and through every mission the one man who has their backs is code-named Blie Man.
Now, Blue Man is missing. Sent to
Now, Blue Man is missing. Sent to
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I’m estimate, Robbie and Reel arrive in rural Colorado in the small town of Gran, to discover that it has its own share of problems. A stagnant economy and a woefully u dear staffed police force have made this small community a magnet for crime, drugs, and a growing number of militant fringe groups. Show Less