THE GUILTY by David Baldacci is a fast-moving thriller that will force readers into that "zone," where you don't want to put the book down. At the heart of the story is Will Robie, America's most professional and accurate assassin who has honed his skills to perfection. Sadly, a tragic accident occurs during one of his assignments because the intel he received was wrong. The target's daughter was supposed to be away with her mother. Evidently their plans changed, and the child was caught in the one shot that killed both her and her father.

Robie can't get the incident out of his mind. But in the middle of his guilt, as he tries to determine if he can continue in his present role, he gets a call from "The Blue Man," his handler. Robie learns that his father has been arrested for murder and is in jail. Although he left town without a word after graduating from high school and promised never to look back, he decides to return to Cantrell, Mississippi to help his father, who he hasn’t seen in 20 years.

"...a fast-moving thriller that will force readers into that "zone," where you don't want to put the book down.... Whether you are a diehard fan or a newcomer to his work, you will not be disappointed in THE GUILTY."

Upon his arrival, Robie is treated like the outsider he is. His father, a judge elected by the townspeople, greets him with anger and contempt, and wants him to get out of town and never come back. But Robie is determined to begin his own investigation. The first piece of information he comes across is that his father is now married to a very young woman. They have a son together and live in a mansion that belonged to a distinguished family years ago. Robie is suspicious about the fact that the Barksdales moved out one night and was never seen or heard from again. But right now that mystery is not his main challenge.

The elder Judge Robie is in jail for shooting a man named Clancy, which allegedly came about when a jury did not find Clancy guilty of killing a young girl. The story surrounding her murder and the entrance of her two sisters add to a series of mysterious deaths. Officials wonder if a serial killer is on the loose.

Robie has a female partner, Jessica Reel. They know each other’s idiosyncrasies and trust each other without any doubts about being crossed or intentionally hurt. The story unfolds mainly in Cantrell and is a very incident-projected plot. The speed at which events happen add to the suspense. The characters are finely honed, and the narrative is written without an extra word anywhere.

David Baldacci has penned countless novels, both series titles and stand-alones. Whether you are a diehard fan or a newcomer to his work, you will not be disappointed in THE GUILTY.