The 6:20 Man: Trademark Baldacci

One of my preferred authors – David Baldacci. There is something very likable about his books that wants me to read. Maybe not always perfect, yet something I always keenly await and look forward to. I had read A Gambling Man last year. Being based in the old fashioned 1940s, I didn’t quite enjoy the setting. The 6:20 Man reverses just that with a fresh, contemporary setting in a bright, scorching New York summer. So, that was the first ‘yes’ for me.

The story bases around Travis Devine, a former army recruit – having left under mysterious circumstances (which later get revealed). Seeking a redemption of sorts, he takes up a job he absolutely loathes at Cowl and Comely. He soon finds himself dragged into a series of murders, beginning with a colleague he had had a relationship with. And it sets the ball rolling for a fast paced, action packed outing with thrill, adventure and suspense.

The most interesting thing about this book is the curious setting of the daily commute on the 6:20 train. It would mysteriously halt after climbing the small knoll giving a perfect view of an estate with a mysterious bikini girl, having all the men gasping. Baldacci makes one heck of an entertainer out of it as you always see it coming, trying to figure out the mystery behind it.

I also loved the efficient crafting of the characters by Baldacci which form the backbone of The 6:20 Man. Starting with Devine’s roommates, Valentine is a character you cannot help loving. A lazy, callous kinda guy but brilliant at his job. He would make you laugh with his ‘my bay-bee cousin can hack that shit’. Jill coming out as a computer wizard and Speers with some mystery about her. All make for a perfect bunch of people as the story unveils, with none escaping the radar of suspicion at some point of time.

What I enjoyed the most was how Devine and Michelle form a team. The story really set rolling for me thereof and was most amusing to read. There is a cat and mouse chase that is continuously on between Devine and the ‘other side’. And add to it some suspicious nagging cops always on the look out for Devine, a thorn in his flesh. With all the ups and downs, new situations unfolding and a lurking danger – the book manages to hold your interest throughout it’s length. The abundant use of technology playing an essential role in all the happenings gives it a very contemporary feel and raises your inquisitiveness.

And as I speak of what I enjoyed in The 6:20 Man, it is only fair to touch upon a few things that leave something to be desired. To start with, I feel the part about the money laundering bit was a tad too superficial for the layman to appreciate fully. You do get the basic picture, that illicit financial activity is going around, but you fail to comprehend the intricacy of it.

Conclusion:

There is one thing for sure that The 6:20 Man is sure to deliver – an eluding suspense factor that continues to deceive. It is like passing the buck and who ends up holding at the end. And on that factor, it is a winner. Also what works for it is it’s curious setting and some interesting mix of tech and crime. As will most David Baldacci books, this is yet again a 400+ pages. But unlike most books of it’s length, it doesn’t seem to drag at any point. There isn’t much to say of the logic or reasonings in thrillers. At a point, it felt as if it had become what we calla khichdi in the end. But that apart, it is an enjoyable, gripping and immersive book.

Get it on Amazon The 6:20 Man

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