Book Review: Audiobook The Collectors by David Baldacci

The Camel Club team solves a series of seemingly unconnected killings.
The Collectors  by David Baldacci

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Hachette Audio; Unabridged edition (October 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1428115595
• ISBN-13: 978-1428115606
• ASIN: 1594835845

Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

People are dropping dead in Washington, D.C. First the Speaker of the House falls victim to a hit man in a carefully orchestrated murder in front of dozens of the city's power elite. Next, the director of the Library of Congress's Rare Books Room dies in a book vault, but no one knows how. Caleb Shaw, Camel Club member, nearly falls victim, too. Across the country, a gifted con woman assembles an A-list team to pull off one of the most audacious scams ever, against one of the most dangerous men in the world. When the worlds of Washington and the elite con collide head-on, the Camel Club finds itself teamed with a person they don't really trust but whose skill helps them unravel a secret that threatens to bring America to its knees.

Review: This was an enjoyable listen if not completely crisp.

I have read this series out of order since I started with the most recent book, Hell’s Corner. I enjoyed getting to know Oliver Stone in Hell’s Corner and I enjoyed that narrator.  Although I liked the mystery in The Collectors I did not really enjoy the narration as much. Also I felt the story was a bit disjointed. That was probably because the connection between the killings is not clear until closer to the end of the book.

The Collector keeps a token from each kill.  Considering who the assassin is it is surprising that he only plays games with Oliver when he gets the chance to take him out. Allowing the continuing investigation and hindrance of the Camel Club doesn't really ring true.

I felt that I got to know the other members of the Camel Club a little better in this story.  I liked how each Club personality contributed their individual talents: photographic memory, surveillance and military skills, and research details. It appears that Annabelle is introduced in this book who adds a few disguises and cons to the team efforts.

Annabelle has her own plotline of revenge and a multimillion con against the man who killed her mother. This extra plotline added interest to the story but her merger into the team seems a bit forced since she should be running to hide and lay low. This book ends with Annabelle's story up in the air so I will be interested in the next book in the series which should address how she escapes the Casino magnate who has found her.