First Family

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, a child is kidnapped at a presidential retreat and two former Secret Service agents must become private investigators in a desperate search that might destroy them both.

A daring kidnapping turns a children's birthday party at Camp David, the presidential retreat, into a national security nightmare.

Former Secret Service agents turned private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell don't want to get involved. But years ago Sean saved the First Lady's husband, then a senator, from political disaster. Now the president's wife presses Sean and Michelle into a desperate search to rescue a kidnapped child. With Michelle still battling her own demons, the two are pushed to the limit, with forces aligned on all sides against them-and the line between friend and foe impossible to define...or defend.

Critic reviews

"Plenty of action drives Baldacci's stellar fourth novel to feature Maxwell and King."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Fightening...shocking...Sean and Michelle [are] surely one of the more interesting teams of private investigators...Baldacci is a more subtle writer now, able to tell stories of deep moral ambiguity and to create characters who balance on the line between hero and villain...It will be fascinating to watch where he takes these two heroes from here."
—Booklist

"It's always a good thing when David Baldacci brings back former FBI agents King and Maxwell."
—New York Daily News

"Mr. Baldacci's books are jigsaw puzzles of intersecting events, not simple whodunits. FIRST FAMILY is no exception."—Washington Times

"What Baldacci does best is provide thrills, chills, and suspense. This novel is a total surprise from beginning to end."—Columbus Telegram

"The story unfolds wonderfully. It's another top-flight thriller from this bestselling author, and it's good to see King and Maxwell again."—Oklahoman

Must-listen for King/Maxwell fans

After a disappointing previous effort that I thought got bogged down in psychobabble and torture politics, Baldacci really delivers with an exciting main plot, a shocking sub-plot, powerful reverses and rewarding resolutions. Sam Quarry is an intensely memorable character, made even more so by Ron McLarty, whose talented voice also adds soul to the laconic Sean King.

Twists and Turns

Lots of action ... hard to guess in what is behind Mr. Sam's kidnapping. Very suspenseful.

Not Baldacci's best work

David Baldacci is one of the best authors out there today. But I think squeezing two books out a year is taking it's toll on him. While the Whole Truth was fantastic (as was almost everything he put out prior to that), his last few novels have been okay. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book, still kept you going and really got good there for a while. But when you would start to care about a character and their story, he would go back to Washington, or Nashville, or Alabama. It just took a long time to care about anything. I found myself caring more about Michelle's personal investigation than the main story.

Good story, narrator voice of Amos Decker

This is a good King and Maxwell story but I have a problem with their choice of narrator. He's good, but he also narrated some of the Amos Decker series and I find myself confused about which series I'm listening to. A different narrator's voice changes the tone and tenor of the characters in a series. Plus Scott Brick is hard to beat; he's the best narrator of all in my opinion.

Love Maxwell and King!

Excellent book, awesome story line, incredible narrator!
I would recommend reading the series from the start.