- Hardcover: 400 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan; First Edition edition (6 Jan 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1405054751
- ISBN-13: 978-1405054751
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 15.8 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 290,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Camel Club
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Few crime novelists have been as successful as David Baldacci, and The Camel Club joins an illustrious collection. In such books as Absolute Power and Saving Faith, he forged a reputation as an adroit and imaginative writer, while with Wish You Well, he enriched his already accomplished characterisation. Baldacci is particularly good at the dynamics of conflict within a family as much as external threat, and without ever trying to manipulate the reader’s emotions, he had us involved in a dramatic and affecting narrative that dealt with issues of personal choice quite as cogently as with the large-scale emotions of the plot.
Subsequently, Hour Game was an innovative spin on a familiar theme, featuring Baldacci's series characters: the tall, athletic Michelle Maxwell and the brilliant aesthete Sean King, both ex-Secret Service personnel who were obliged to leave their jobs under a cloud. The duo encountered some pretty nasty things in Hour Game, which added new levels of gruesomeness, with the decomposed body of a young woman found arranged in a bizarre position, while two teenagers are bloodily slaughtered having sex in a car.
The Camel Club, however, is both similar to and different from Baldacci’s other books. We meet an enigmatic figure, Oliver Stone (one wonders why Baldacci chose the name of a well-known film director for this character), a man with no past. His occupation appears to be permanent protestor outside the White House, member of a cabal of believers in all available conspiracy theories, who are, collectively, The Camel Club. But (as in the author's signature book, Absolute Power) the group stumbles across a murder that they're not supposed to see--a murder rigged to appear as suicide. And, as in the earlier book, Stone and his friends find themselves involved in a very dangerous plot, reaching to the upper echelons of Washington society.
While Baldacci may be ploughing a field he’s worked before, he remains a master of the complex, character-driven thriller.
--Barry Forshaw
Dorset Echo
'another gripping thriller'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Washington gets the Da Vinci code treatment as the author of the fabulous Absolute Power, Last Man Standing and Split Second tackles Islamic terrorism and government conspiracies.
Following the exploits of a band of social misfits, an ageing Secret Service agent and arguably the most powerful man in the US after the President, the Camel Club charts a plot against the President of the United States from inception through to execution and it's aftermath (can't really tell you too much, obviously...) in a fluid and well written manner, keeping you interested and, honestly managing to shock you as the plot begins to unfold.
The characters are well realised and believable though, as with all Baldacci's books, there's a feeling you've met them before in previous novels.
My only real criticism is the fact that Baldacci feels the need to demonstrate the extent of his background reading on his subject - most notably the long winded explanations of Islamic beliefs and practices. This probably stems from writing about Islamic terrorism in a time when writers and journalists are often targeted for failing to understand the Islamic point of view when addressing this issue, and Baldacci feels that he must show that he has done everything he can to present a fair and balanced representation of all parties to the plot.
That said, a lot of the information presented is interesting in it's own right, and - much like after reading a Dan Brown novel - you feel you have taken a crash course in the basics of a number of subjects all at once.
A good, solid, enjoyable read, but nothing there to really distinguish it from the rest of the political thriller genre.
Following the exploits of a band of social misfits, an ageing Secret Service agent and arguably the most powerful man in the US after the President, the Camel Club charts a plot against the President of the United States from inception through to execution and it's aftermath (can't really tell you too much, obviously...) in a fluid and well written manner, keeping you interested and, honestly managing to shock you as the plot begins to unfold.
The characters are well realised and believable though, as with all Baldacci's books, there's a feeling you've met them before in previous novels.
My only real criticism is the fact that Baldacci feels the need to demonstrate the extent of his background reading on his subject - most notably the long winded explanations of Islamic beliefs and practices. This probably stems from writing about Islamic terrorism in a time when writers and journalists are often targeted for failing to understand the Islamic point of view when addressing this issue, and Baldacci feels that he must show that he has done everything he can to present a fair and balanced representation of all parties to the plot.
That said, a lot of the information presented is interesting in it's own right, and - much like after reading a Dan Brown novel - you feel you have taken a crash course in the basics of a number of subjects all at once.
A good, solid, enjoyable read, but nothing there to really distinguish it from the rest of the political thriller genre.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While this is not the world's most plausible thriller, I think the reviewer below is a little harsh. Baldacci has an easy style, and if the idea of a bunch of misfits working out the big conspiracy ahead of the combined intelligence services of the US and saving the world in the process makes you smile, you may well enjoy this book.
Yes you do have to suspend your disbelief from the outset, and believe that Washington is peopled with ex-intelligence agents whose families were murdered by the state, and acting intelligent agents who can punch so hard that the door of the car their victim is leaning against buckles. Hey - it's popular fiction.
That aside, as always with Baldacci, the story has plenty of action, the dialogue is unforced and the plot is sufficiently complex to require some concentration. An entertaining if not intellectually taxing read.
Yes you do have to suspend your disbelief from the outset, and believe that Washington is peopled with ex-intelligence agents whose families were murdered by the state, and acting intelligent agents who can punch so hard that the door of the car their victim is leaning against buckles. Hey - it's popular fiction.
That aside, as always with Baldacci, the story has plenty of action, the dialogue is unforced and the plot is sufficiently complex to require some concentration. An entertaining if not intellectually taxing read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was my 4th book by David Baldacci and I was disappointed. The previous 2 books I absolutely loved reading, but I just could not get into this one. After reaching page 228 I gave up. I felt that he dedicated pages to particular characters that were unnecessary. I wasn't interested in gun descriptions, vehicle descriptions or reading 2 whole pages about a wall chart. I only tried to continue because all the reviews were 4 or 5 star rating. I would have liked to know what the 'twist' was at the end but after not reading the middle of the book I could not see the point in reading the last few pages. Although I was disappointed with this book, I will still continue to read other books by this author having been pleased in the past.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Camel club book review
This is the first novel that I've read by David Baldacci. I found the story line to be good and the characters interesting. I would certainly consider reading more of his work.
Published 16 days ago by Gordon Heskett
Great plot, good book
This is my first David Baldacci book, and I did enjoy notwithstanding some unnecessary moments of hyperbole. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dangerscouse
David Baldacci
I bought this book as a present for a friend who tells me this has made him a complete set from the Author, he was haveing difficulty finding it locally. Well done Amazon!
Published 6 months ago by Mr. Thomas Philip Berry
Back before Baldacci became sloppier
The Camel Club is the first instalment of an entertaining series of books about a former black operative and his group of mis-fit conspiracy theorist friends. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Leaveitwithya
My introduction to baldacci
I was looking for my next author that has written a series as yet unread by me.
I have found my 1st Baldacci Book - The Camel club- ticks all my boxes. Read more
I have found my 1st Baldacci Book - The Camel club- ticks all my boxes. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Aidan O'Kelly
Excellent Read
As with most Baldacci books, this one did not disappoint, in fact I couldn't put it down! the plot just got better and better.
Published 8 months ago by L. Gaskin
Good story
This is the first David Baldacci book I have read. I can't say it's the best book I've ever read but it was good. Read more
Published 9 months ago by sue120502
Join The Club
Wow. How many fuses can one man light in the first half of a book. Plenty it would seem, and like the winding twisting fuse wire leading to ACME TNT in a road runner cartoon, each... Read more
Published 9 months ago by M. Ling
Brought as a gift
Brought as a gift for my father so unfortunately I cant review the book.
Delivered quickly and in perfect condition.
Delivered quickly and in perfect condition.
Published 9 months ago by Jennifer
So dull - so middle America
Avoided one star by having some quirky main characters; and unlike other reviewers I did enjoy the challenging of our prejudices about the different Muslims in the book. Read more
Published 11 months ago by thegoodbook
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