A Minute to Midnight (Atlee Pine, #2) (2024)

This is the second in the FBI agent Atlee Pine series by David Baldacci, and it's a cracker of a sequel that opens with Pine in the Valley of Death in Colorado at ADX Florence, the only American federal super max prison visiting the narcissistic, sociopath serial killer, Daniel James Tor. She is putting herself through the torture of seeing this monstrous man because she is convinced that he was responsible for the abduction of her twin sister, Mercy, when she was six years old. He plays mind games with her whilst revealing nothing of value, leaving her frustrated. On her way home to Shattered Rock, Arizona, where she is the sole FBI agent with her assistant, Carol Blum, she ends up intervening in a child abduction case that involves a car chase. She saves the child, Holly, from a terrible fate, but her actions in apprehending the perpetrator sees her losing control.

The consequences of this result in Pine and Blum leaving for Andersonville, Georgia, as Pine returns for the first time to the scene of Mercy's abduction, hoping to find out what happened all those years ago. Pine's memories are hazy, she remembers how the abductor chose to take her sister, whilst leaving Pine with life threatening injuries. She reflects on how these traumatic events led to her parents, Tim and Julia, leaving Georgia and how it tore their marriage apart, with Pine living with her mother, until Julia left her. Cyrus Tanner and his dog, Roscoe, now live in her dilapidated childhood home, as Pine interviews various town residents about what happened that night, including Lauren Graham, Jackson Lineberry, and Myron and Britta Pringle. As she probes into the past, she uncovers shocking surprises and secrets that have her questioning everything she ever knew about her family. At the same time, a string of murders occur which have Pine wondering whether they are coincidental or if they have been triggered because she has returned determined to get to the truth.

Baldacci can be relied on to provide a twisted thriller, packed with suspense and tension, giving us the latest thrilling installment in Atlee Pine's life, a woman who has never gotten over her twin sister's disappearance as a young child. Since then she has never been able to let anyone get close to her, or trust anyone easily. As an FBI agent, she has never been comfortable in an urban environment or working in a team, she is a loner, which is why being the sole agent at Shattered Rock suits her so well. In this hugely entertaining and compulsive read, we learn more about what has made Pine the woman she is today, as she investigates present day murders whilst becoming aware just how little she knows about her own past. This was a great read, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next in the series. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

Atlee Pine, book 2: As a child Atlee Pine was viciously attacked and left for dead, whilst her twin was taken (and killed?) by a yet-to-be-determined person/serial killer; an experience that has impacted on most of her life; after a troublesome adolescence, confirmed loner Atlee, went on to be a hard-working super focused weightlifting champion and MMA black-belt holder; and today she's a highly efficient FBI agent whose patch includes the Grand Canyon. In this, the second Atlee Pine adventure as a 'reward' she is allowed to re-investigate what happened to her as a child and unwittingly opens up a whole new can of worms!

So much to like about this series with its leading protagonist being a female MMA fighter and weightlifter able to physically fight men when needing too; her having a middle-aged, and highly efficient woman assistant; and the men she's partnered with rarely 'saving' her, as she mostly saves herself from predicaments. This second book in the series expands on her story, but the actual case is interesting but descends into too farfetched areas as it proceeds. Overall an enjoyable read that gave me something to do on my long public transport journeys to work. 6 out of 12, Three Stars.

2022 read

Continuing some of his masterful writing, David Baldacci returns with a second novel in his Atlee Pine series, which delves even deeper into a mystery three decades in the making. After a dust-up while on duty in Arizona, FBI Agent Atlee Pine agrees to take a vacation of sorts. As she is still trying to piece together clues about her twin sister’s disappearance thirty years before, Atlee heads to rural Georgia with her Bureau assistant. When they arrive in Andersonville, Atlee sees that things are mostly as she remembers them, though her presence has brought people out of the woodwork. Filling in some gaps in a narrative that Atlee had created, the disappearance of Mercy Pine remains a massive mystery. Remembering that she and Mercy were excitable six year-olds at the time, Atlee wonders if her mind was slightly foggy about how the mystery man got into their room. Discussing the matter with some who knew her parents at the time, Atlee begins to see that much of the story she knew hinges on misconceptions, though she is not yet ready to give up. While there, the body of a woman turns up, someone that none of the locals can identify. Could this be a coincidence, or is someone trying to send a message? Atlee begins working the case, though must follow the lead of an investigator with whom she has a poor history, as she is visiting in an unofficial capacity. When more bodies turn up, Atlee must wonder if there is some symbolism to the entire experience and whether someone in Andersonville might have played a part in Mercy’s disappearance while her parents were clueless and incapacitated. Atlee has no intention of leaving the Deep South without answers, but the one who is most forthcoming might be locked away on the other side of the country. A strong story that keeps the reader engaged until the final reveal, with a wonderful cliffhanger, Baldacci has found new and exiting ways to mix story and character development in this piece. Recommended to those who love a good police procedural with a great deal of investigating, as well as the reader who has long been a Baldacci fan.

I have long been a fan of David Baldacci’s work and enjoy his constant new ideas for series that seem to come out of his publications as fast as I can read them. I remember enjoying the debut novel in the Atlee Pine series and found this one to be just as enjoyable, as the tensions mount surrounding Mercy Pine’s disappearance in 1989. The story uses Atlee’s ongoing curiosity about her sister’s disappearance to permit the reader to see some of the backstory that she brings to the novel. What Baldacci has done by sending Atlee to Georgia is offer up more backstory and fill in gaps to create a fuller and more complex Atlee Pine for the reader to enjoy. There are numerous moments of revelation that even Atlee could not have predicted, which thickens the plot. Her development in the present is tested as well, as she tries to define herself as an FBI agent while seeking answers for a past that remains so shrouded. Others who make appearances in the novel prove to be just as exciting and allow the reader to better understand the larger picture. Be they friends of the parental Pines or those who have crossed paths with Atlee in her adult life, Baldacci leaves no path untraveled and this enriched the story for me. I loved the concept of the return to Georgia. While a friend of mine on Goodreads ‘pined’ (pardon the pun) for a full-on investigation into the Mercy disappearance, the fact that another case takes centre stage pleased me. While I want to know everything about Mercy Pine and her kidnapping, I think it is too soon in the series to solve this electrifying mystery. Readers need more Atlee Pine chipping away, as she is greatly defined in the novel as “the sister who was not taken”. I feel Baldacci is doing well by stringing the reader along for a while longer. The dialogue and characters are both believable and worth investing the reading time to discover, as Baldacci never lets things go flat. The dedicated reader will likely come out of this reading experience happy they took the time to read this book, if only to learn more about Atlee Pine and the struggles with which she wrestles daily.

Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for another winner. I could not read this one fast enough and am eager to see
what’s coming next.

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http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci is a 2019 Grand Central publication.

Atlee Pine returns to her childhood home searching for answers about her twin sister’s disappearance when they were children. The small town seems both welcoming and wary of Atlee and her questions.

Things get dicey when she discovers the body of woman wearing a wedding veil. In short order, another murder takes place. Is there a serial killer on the loose? Is there a connection to Atlee or her sister?

The first book in this series was a bit flat, in my opinion. Baldacci can write much better than that- but I had received an ARC of the third book in the Pine series, so I felt obligated to continue. I’m happy to say the series was definitely worth a second glance!!

This second book more than makes up for the lackluster series starter. Great pacing, plenty of action, and suspense, plus some surprise developments that has me eagerly anticipating book three!!

4 stars

After Atlee Pine #1, I expected more, but got less. Why the disconnect Mr. Baldacci after the solid build up? No need to retrieve scrap from your trash. You're a better writer than this throw away version of, "A Minute to Midnight." 4 of 10 stars

I enjoyed the first Atlee Pine novel very much, but I think I liked this second one even more.

Atlee is still obsessed with discovering what happened all those years ago, when she was six years old and her twin sister was taken from their bedroom never to be seen again. She is still visiting convicted serial killer Daniel Tor in prison, in the hope of finding out if he might be the person responsible. After she takes some of her own inner feelings out on a criminal she is arresting, she is sent on leave of absence and she uses this time to return to her home town to search for some truths.

The small town of Andersonville turns out to be the town from hell and Atlee becomes involved in the search for a new murderer as well as looking for clues about her own situation. There are numerous killings, people turn out to be not quite how they seem at first, the FBI are called and it is all action. Baldacci writes this stuff so expertly.

The ending holds a major surprise for Atlee and inspires a need for the next book to be written sooner rather than later. Luckily Baldacci is one of those authors who treats his readers well, and we should not be waiting very long.

If you have read Long Road to Mercy, Book one in the Atlee Pine series you will know what a fantastic character Atlee is. I couldn't get enough of the first book and A Minute to Midnight is just as addictive. I started this on Saturday night and by Sunday afternoon I was finished. David Baldacci has another hit series on his hands here. I am already craving book 3. While this one could be read as a stand alone I do suggest that you start from book one and get the full Atlee experience.

After a close call with a child abductor, Atlee's boss strongly suggests that she take some time out and sort her head out. In order to do this she knows that she needs to return to her childhood home of Andersonville, Georgia. She needs to find out what happened to her twin sister Mercy, 30 years ago. Her assistant Blum goes on this journey with her. It is the first time that she has returned since leaving and the town holds a lot of dark memories for her. She was only 6 when her sister was taken and she was left for dead. Now she needs to find the people that knew her family back then and try to put the pieces together. Whilst doing this there is a brutal killer on the loose in town and she joins forces with the locals to stop them.

This book for me was an addictive and very cleverly written story. We learn a lot above t Attlee as a child and what she went through after her sister disappeared. We learn of her relationships with her parents and start to understand her better. She is a loner, preferring her own company than that of other. She has massive trust issues and with good reason, and she does not like to follow the rules. I have a lot of time for this character and look forward to her personal journey after this book.

Thanks to Pan McMillian Australia for my copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own, This book is out now.

A Minute to Midnight is the second book in the Atlee Pine series.

After catching a little girl's kidnapper and beating him almost to death, Atlee Pine's boss makes her take a leave. He knows Atlee needs to step away from work and look into her past to be able to move forward.

Atlee decides to go back to Georgia. The last place she saw her twin sister, Mercy. They were six when a man came into their bedroom and took her and hit Mercy so hard that she ended up in the hospital with severe head trauma. However, during the trip down memory lane, Atlee is not alone. Her assistant Carol Plum is with her.

Coming back home brings all kinds of feeling for Atlee and when she starts asking questions to the people who used to know her parents, she realizes more than one is hiding things from her making it harder for her to follow a trail.

When a series of murders start occuring. Atlee lends a hand to the investigation. Another FBI agent is called to help out. He and Atlee have some history but they will put their feelings aside to help with the task at hand.

Quite an interesting novel this was. Trying to figure out if the murders were related to Atle's sister's disappearance and what really happened all those years ago had me on my toes.

As for the characters, Atlee was likable. She was a good agent. She was smart and logical without being the usual broken-need-fixing protagonist. I also liked Carol. She was loyal to Atlee and always gave the support she needed but also made her see her faults when Atlee was making mistakes.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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3.5 stars -- Talk about character development. I find Atlee Pine's personal mystery captivating. I can't wait for the next book, especially after that ending! I can't say the same for other messy murders. No thrill, though I like her sharp shooter partner. I miss the action ie Will Robie and John Puller.

A Minute to Midnight is a much better book starring Atlee Pine, than A Long Road to Mercy.

But that is not to say that it has too much going for it.

What I liked about AMtM is that the focus is back on Atlee's past, which is the most intriguing thing about the character. The plot has parallels to Harry Bosch, in the way the there are multiple threads/investigations happening at the same time. Ultimately, the murder of the week plot thread gets resolved and we make some progress on Atlee's past. Unfortunately, I didn't find the overall plot to be suspenseful or gripping enough. But that said, the book ends on a note which will the make the next book more exciting hopefully.

In conclusion, A Minute to Midnight is not Baldacc's best but it is still a Baldacci.

Too many implausibilities piled on top of each other as the plot careens along at a slow and dull pace until the end when it looks like the author was told that the book needed to end so it's wrapped up hastily and with a James Bond like villain complete with mustache-twirling while they give a dialogue on their actions and why and how clever they were.

Too many things going on in general. What is supposed to be the main plot/crime as advertised (and what made me pick this book up) gets pushed to the wayside for other things and I felt a little cheated. The main story keeps getting sidetracked by sub-plots that are completely unrelated and not fully solved to the point we are so far from the start of the story it's left unfinished, leaving me very dissatisfied.

Also, I disliked the main character intensely, Mr. Baldacci can't write a leading women well enough to carry this storyline. He doesn't write half the women in this novel well (or the other two novels of his I have read for that matter). Also, the whole women empowerment thing sprinkled throughout felt straight out of the 60's/70's and was way over the top. Women are already doing these things and it's not a surprise anymore or shocking to see. Atlee (and for f*ck sake pick a f*cking name and stick to it! She keeps being referred to by her name, last name or nickname even by the same person within just a few pages of dialogue. She even refers to herself in the third person by her last name at times) is also superwoman. She is stronger then everyone in this story, smarter then everyone (even if she makes the stupidest self-preservation moves) her intuition is borderline supernatural, and she can scare ANY man into obedience by a glare. She has a serious attitude, impulse, anger, and behavioral issues that are not addressed at all that probably stem from her getting her skull fractured and bashed in and nearly dying as a 6-year-old How she still has her job is anyone's guess. In real life, if she acted the way she does in the book she would be fired very quickly. (I am very very tired of this trope be it a female or male character. Authors please stop doing this!)

I am annoyed that the main plot of this book got sidetrack and is left unresolved by the end. The blurb leaves you thinking you'll be reading one book but then the author gets sidetracked and you don't get what you were offered. It's a complete bait and switch. Very unsatisfying. I hate books/series that drag out a storyline that is advertised to be resolved by its own book and then don't deliver trying to get you to buy their next book that makes the same promises but probably won't hold up the bargain either. I am less likely to continue buying or reading your books for this reason.

I liked Absolute Power, the first book I read by Mr. Baldacci but this one and the first of the Puler Series (Zero Day) are just too implausible and unbelievable for me. I think I am done with anything written by Mr. Baldacci if most of his books are like this.

Wonderful read. Book 2 with Atlee Pine. Atlee is seeking to find out what happened to her twin. As 6-year olds: one night her twin Mercy was stolen/kidnapped.
Delightfully written, well plotted with a very surprising ending.
Unputdownable

David Baldacci - Atlee Pine #2 - A Minute to Midnight (Brittany Pressley, Kyf Brewer) 2019
Audiobook - 12:10 Hours14 February 2020: I am still contemplating my review for this, the second book in the "Atlee Pine" series. I have given it a provisional rating of - 4-Stars - "I Really Liked It", but I think this may be a little generous, so a proper review will be done within the next few days.28 March 2020: - "5-Stars - It Was Excellent"
After a little reflection, I have decided that this book deserves 5-Stars and I have amended my rating accordingly. Any book that pops back into my mind regularly and has me cogitating about "4 or 5 Stars", deserves the benefit of the doubt, even if I am not absolutely certain about it being "Amazing", so let's say it was "Excellent"!

Looking forward to "Atlee pine, #3"!

This is the second book in the Atlee Pine series by author David Baldacci. FBI Agent Atlee Pine is the lead character in this new series that started with 'Long Road to Mercy'. In this book we are told more of the back story regarding Agent Pine's past. Thirty years ago when her sister Mercy was abducted and neither Mercy or the person who took her were ever found. Atlee herself was brutally assaulted and left for dead but now she is seeking the truth.

This is a thriller packed with suspense and wonderful characters that come to life on the pages. Looks to be yet another successful series.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Have I mentioned that I really like this new series? Why yes - yes I did - when I read the first one last year. To that one I gave a resounding 5-star rating, and if anything, I enjoyed this one even more.

Atlee, a tall weightlifter now an FBI agent based in a relatively remote part of Arizona, has been on a 30-year quest to find out what really happened to her twin sister, Mercy. In the night back then, someone came into their bedroom, snatched Mercy and gave Atlee a whack on the head that nearly killed her. So far, her efforts to learn anything more about Mercy have led to dead ends; but now, she's got to ratchet up her search a few notches because she lost her cool on the job by unnecessarily beating up a killer she's just captured (and if she does that again, she'll lose her job as well).

Advised (make that ordered) to take some time off, Atlee and her very capable assistant Carol Blum head to Andersonville, Georgia, and the now-old house from which Mercy was taken all those years ago. Their father is dead - a declared suicide - and their mother inexplicably took off for parts unknown to Atlee. Not long after they arrive, though, a local woman is found dead - murdered, positioned and dressed in a ritualistic fashion. A Georgia FBI guy is called in for the official investigation, but shorthanded, he welcomes Atlee's help. Then, another murder happens with a similar M.O. Could it be there's a serial killer on the loose?

At that point, another FBI guy arrives to help; turns out he and Atlee have a history that wasn't all that pleasant for either of them. As they try to overcome their history and work together on the murder cases, Atlee continues to collect information on what happened to her family (with a little help from the very sympathetic FBI guys). Interviews with local folks who knew the family back then unearth new leads as well as the surprising awareness that not everything Atlee has been told was the absolute truth - some of it not even close.

It all builds to an exciting ending as well as, of course, enough loose ends to get a good start on the next book. And that, hopefully, will not be long in coming.

Attlee Pine #2

This story features two crimes. The first being FBI Agent Atlee Price's search into the disappearance of her twin sister, Mercy thirty years ago. Atlee returns to her hometown, Geogia to try and find out what happened to her sister and to find her mother who has also disappeared. Her friend and colleague, Blum goes with her. While they are there, there's a murder. Pine and Blum are asked to help find the killer.

Anyone who's read a David Baldacci book before knows that they are in for a terrific read. And this book does not disappoint. Atlee Pine and her admin assistant, Carol Blumare the only two characters from the first book I this series. It's hard to review this book without giving too much away. This is a pacy, well written, twist filled, tense and gripping read. The ending is spot on and sets things in motion for the third book in this series. This book could be read as a standalone but I always recommend, if you can, you read a series in the order that they were written.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author David Baldacci for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As with all Baldacci’s books, this was another fantastic book and am so pleased that I was able to get an early read. I loved the previous book in this series as well as characters etc, also due to the location of the Grand Canyon. This one was based in Andersonville, Georgia, but so well described you feel you are there too.

I equally enjoyed the developments of the main character, Atlee Pine, who, thirty years ago was brutally assaulted and left for dead and her twin sister Mercy was abducted from their family home. Neither her sister or the abductor have ever been found. and Atlee has gone back to her home town to seek the truth and also gets roped in to help with another string of murders.

David Baldacci is in my opinion, one of the best thriller writers on the planet. I don't think I have ever been disappointed by one of his books and have enjoyed them all, from the first once I read - The Winner (thoroughly recommended by the way) to the last

Keep up the good work and keep on writing. I cant wait for your next instalments.

Atlee Pine, introduced in Long Road to Mercy, returns. In the first novel we learn that FBI agent Atlee Pine's twin sister, Mercy, was kidnapped, and likely killed, thirty years ago. Atlee herself was severely injured. Atlee believes a convicted serial killer, Daniel Thor, may be responsible and this story opens with her visiting him in prison. Thor plays mind games with her and provides no meaningful information. As she is leaving the prison and is on her way back to Shattered Rock, Arizona and Amber Alert goes out and Atlee spots the vehicle. She catches up with the abductor, a serial pedophile, and apprehends him. But not before inflicting some serious injuries upon his person. Her anger has gotten the better of her and her career is in jeopardy. Some think she should get a medal. Instead she is told to take a vacation and deal with her issues.

Atlee and her assistant, Carol Blum, head to Andersonville, Georgia where Atlee was living at the time of the traumatic event thirty years ago. She is a trained investigator now and she intends to learn what happened that night and what happened to Mercy. The ultimate cold case.

Andersonville is the site of the notorious Civil War-era Confederate military prison. It is now a tourist mecca and by sheer coincidence Atlee's visit coincides with an event that will be taking place. In addition to this shortly after Atlee arrives a woman is murdered. Her body ritualistically laid out with a wedding veil covering her face. Atlee is asked by the GBI agent sent to investigate the case if she could assist. Unofficially. Since she just happens to be there. The first murder is soon followed by a second murder. This time a man dressed in a cheap tuxedo. It would appear that they have a serial killer on their hands and the FBI is called in. The FBI agent who shows up just happens to know Atlee. It seems they have a past. Small world. Of course Atlee stays involved in this case even though she is supposed to be on vacation and trying to find the answers to what happened to Mercy.

Andersonville in David Baldacci's story is a small town with lots of secrets and mysterious residents. Atlee believes they are holding back the truth about what happened. In this small town that is trying to survive on tourist dollars there are some fabulously wealthy people who live in mansions and drive very expensive cars. People with secrets.

David Baldacci is a great storyteller and this book is no exception. It just isn't one of his better stories. In my opinion it would have been enough to just deal with Atlee's search for what happened thirty years ago and maybe provide the answer as to what happened to Mercy. Instead he veers off and adds in more murders, a small town with secrets, mysterious residents, and New York City mobsters from the 1980's. Entertaining but not Baldacci's best.

non-stop action, emotion and surprises from beginning to end ... exactly what you expect from Baldacci

I found A Minute to Midnight by author David Baldacci an absolutely gripping page-turner and loved the female protagonist Atlee Pine’s kickass character.

Atlee is a proficient FBI Special Agent with a tumultuous past, she was attacked and left for dead when she was six years old and her twin sister Mercy was abducted, never to be seen again!

In this story we see her return to her homeland some thirty years later with her sidekick Carol Blum to look for answers but her return appears to have unleashed a serial killer. Carol her assistant is in her sixties and I thought she was an awesome and entertaining character.

A fast paced crime thriller that will have you hooked from the start.

I wish to thank Pan Macmillan Australia & David Baldacci, for generously providing me with a signed copy of the book to read

This is literally the worst book I have ever read and if I could give it 0 stars, I definitely would.

In the beginning of the book we are hit with dumb collocations such as "twin guns, twin braids, twin indentations, twin trails of smoke" - as you can see totally unnecessary, yet ever presenting to the fact the reader is some kind of moron who might for a split second forget it is a twin sisters mystery.

Then we are thrown all the time some 1960s shockers like "girls can do everything" , not making coffee for your boss, wounded male pride over tall woman in heels, which would be quite an OhMyGod moment if we were, well, in the 1960s.
Also, the main character rather often than not drows Horacio-style idiotically obvious conclusions like "He was never in trouble" and she responds "Not anymore, I guess" for a dead person... Oh, really?

It is suggested by the main character that workplaces, even such as FBI should accommodate to women, who want to be mothers. As a woman, I find this obnoxious and I 100 % do not expect someone to bend 12-hour job for my needs - I either do the job or find one according to my needs.

Another agenda pushed was LGBTQ. I don't need to be informed as personal life is personal for a reason - I mind mine, please, mind yours, it's none of my business.

The plot is boring cover to cover not to mention entirely disappointing to its advertisment. What was supposed to be a side investigation turned out to be a center piece and main (TWIN!) mystery drags painfully slow, almost not at all, so it can remain unsolved. This whole abomination ends up in a tearful telenovella-style end.

Last but not least, the book is full of abbreviations - some of them explained, some not. In the end of the day, what value exactly did it bring to the book, except for showing off?

In conclusion, this was my first and, more than sure, last novel by Baldacci and would not recommend it to no one, ever.

A Minute to Midnight is the second book in the FBI Agent Atlee Pine series, and this time the crime she's investigating hits a little too close to home. Although it's certainly preferable to have read the preceding book before delving into this one it isn't essential as Atlee's history and plenty of background is given. Atlee returns to the town of Andersonville, Georgia, which holds traumatic memories for her as it is where, when she was only six years old, she was brutally attacked and left for dead by a ruthless criminal who abducted her twin sister Mercy who has never been seen again. In the hope of finding something that was missed at the crime scene three decades earlier, she returns to it but she isn't alone as there is a killer prowling the area. I always look forward to Baldacci's thrillers because he never fails to deliver a heart-pounding, high-octane story with all the thrills and twisty reveals to keep you feverishly turning those pages, and this book is no exception.

This is a masterclass in how to keep a reader enthralled and captivated throughout and our heroine/protagonist is a very likeable person. She gets things done and there's no messing around. She is definitely one of my favourite characters in the crime genre with her no-bull attitude and her untrusting nature reminded me of myself a little. Both investigations run concurrently and where a lesser author could make this rather befuddling there is no confusion of any kind and it is so easy to follow. It is one of those books that you race through eager to find out what will happen and reading it in anything but a single nail-biting sitting is nigh on impossible. Once again Baldacci has surpassed himself, and this series will no doubt appeal to ardent, long-term fans and those new to his novels too. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Beauty and lace for my copy of A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci
.Although this was the second in a series, I have not read the first one and still found it incredibly easy to follow. Right from the beginning I was hooked. It was a real page turner and I couldn"t put it down.
Agent Pine returns to her hometown to try and solve the mystery of the disappearance of her twin sister 30 years prior. She discovered many untruths she had been told throughout her life and while in town more murders are committed which she joins in the hunt with local police for the killers.

The characters in this book are easy to understand. The book flows nicely and has you on the edge of your seat. I loved it and strongly recommend to crime lovers and the like.
I will be looking for more of David's work in the future.

After rescuing a kidnapped girl on an Amber Alert, FBI agent Atlee Pine nearly beats the perp to death, and is encouraged by her boss to take a vacation. She and her assistant head back to her hometown to investigate the disappearance of her twin sister (Mercy) when they were six years old. Someone is squatting in her family home, deserted for decades. Shortly after her arrival and meeting the GBI agent most familiar with the long ago case, a woman is found strangled and posed as a bride in an antique veil. Atlee is asked to help, and as she delves into learning who her parents were and why they left town in a hurry, a man is found dead, shot to death in a tux. Atlee, her assistant, and the GBI agent begin to link the murders and then a child is posed, with a broken neck. Credit to Baldacci as the stories come together in a surprising way. Happy to have Book #3 in hand from the library to continue the story.

A Baldacci book with FBI detective, Atlee Pine, this is #2 in the series. Daylight(2020) is #3, Long Road to Mercy(2018) was #1 (below).

Book #1 “Long Road to Mercy” shows a timeline -> where a kidnapper choose Atlee’s twin sister, Mercy, when 6. Atlee was knocked unconscious.

30 years has passed & assignments show anxiety. Ordered to take a break & vacation - what happened to her twin sister? Family review. Julia, mom, was a model & disappeared with a new name? Tim, was he really her father & committed suicide?

Atlee & her FBI assistant, Carol Blum, goes to her historical hometown - Andersonville, Georgia. FBI Special Agent Eddie Laredo comes to help. Shooting skills against the killer came to save the day.

She meets the rich Mr. Jack Lineberry, an old friends of her parents. Who constantly helps gather information. He found her father dead from suicide, saying he was in love with her mother for years.

Investigations find many killed. A married couple with foster children. Young grade student. p*rn film actress.

Mr. Jack Lineberry is unintentionally shot by the man working for him. Pine saves him from drowning in a pool.
Then a young Jenny cornered in a cemetery but the killer captured by Pine, the killing spree is over.

Tyler Straub is the criminal. He was the threat & murderer captured. He was the man working for Mr. Jack Lineberry. Trying to close his million dollar deals.

Ending - Pine meets Jack Lineberry at the hospital, she learned he is her father.
It is the right time for her to say - “you have another daughter out there somewhere. And my mother, the mother of your children, too. Maybe together we can find them.”

Her missing mom, Julia & twin sister, Mercy.....

**notes
Www.Wikipedia.Org - Atlee’s home town - Andersonville
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Atlee Pine #1 - Long Road to Mercy (2018)
Atlee Pine #2 - Minute to Midnight (2019)
Atlee Pine #3 - Daylight (2020)

This is turning into a truly suspense-laden series. Instalment #2 from Baldacci provides significant background to FBI agent Atlee Pine’s personal story.

Pine returns to Georgia to search for answers to her twin’s abduction in 1989. A masterful way of incorporating the history (in an historical setting) which leads to multiple revelations about Pine’s family, their secrets; all the while various crimes unfold around her.

Incredibly fast-paced, with edge of your seat moments that are cleverly connected. I found this read engrossing and the bombshell ending... I can’t wait for Book #3.

3.75 stars

sequel to The Long Road To Mercy follows FBI Agent Atlee Pine and her return to the place where she grew up, to continue with the investigation of the abduction of her twin sister Mercy thirty years ago. Atlee is back at Andersonville, Georgia and a string of murders happen. With the help of her charming assistant Carol Blum, Pine saves the day once again.
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i dont know if i have mentioned it before, Atlee reminds me so much of Detective Jane Rizzoli from the show Rizzoli & Isles. ( i highly recommend the series! if you havent watched it, its available on amazon prime.)
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this is the second Baldacci that i have read. to be honest, Baldacci isnt the best at writing women and its pretty clear in some places of the book. You have no idea how much i LOVE Carol Blum: a delightful elderly women with six children and many grandchildren who is equally badass and clever like Atlee. I just needed more of Blum and Pine interacting. The plot is a bit dry and slow towards the middle and the main focus of the book shifts from the murders to Pine's investigation into her sister's case. I found myself complaining at this even though I was glad to be with Atlee and Carol. If this shif in focus didnt happen, the mystery would have been easily wrapped up.
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The resolution to the mystery felt a bit unpolished and rushed because we already spend time wasting on the second storyline 😅
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I dont necessarily think the killer was predictable, but it could have been more developed. And for that, Baldacci should have given importance to the murders.

I am not pissed. I am just saying.

A Minute to Midnight is the second book in the Atlee Pine series about a solitary FBI agent on a mission to find out what happened to her twin sister, who was abducted when they were only six years old.
I have had a post-publication review copy of the third one, Daylight, on my shelf for some time, but decided I did want to read these in order after all, so we have listened to Long Road to Mercy and now this one as audiobooks. This was clearly the right decision, as while this could’ve worked fine as a stand-alone, the revelations here feel important for the next book. The first book was mostly important in establishing the relationship between Pine and Blum, but also in fleshing out Atlee’s personality and history, but I do think there was enough recap here to enjoy this even if you didn’t read the first one.

When Atlee lets her pent-up frustration loose on a criminal, rather than getting suspended, her boss intervenes and orders her to take time off from her role as the sole FBI agent for the Grand Canyon region, and travel back to her hometown to investigate the case that has dominated her life - Mercy’s disappearance. Travelling to Georgia with her resourceful assistant Carol Blum, she finds people she knew as a child still living there - but then dead bodies staged in unusual poses start appearing: why has a serial killer started operating so soon after her arrival and can she stop them and get to the bottom of her personal tragedy when everyone seems to be hiding secrets from the past?

This was another fast paced twisty thriller with plenty of action - Atlee’s background as a weight-lifter & MMA adept mean she’s very good at taking down bad guys, but she’s also a smart and determined investigator who teases out clues from each interview. A variety of possible suspects are introduced but I didn’t guess the perpetrator’s identity or motive and the twin investigations were well balanced. I liked the dynamic between our leading ladies, and the banter between them provided some light relief.
The audiobook narration was excellent - having one male and one female share the voices is definitely a better way to cover the range of accents and both were easy on the ear. I’m looking forward to starting the next book soon.

*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
A Minute to Midnight is the second novel in the special agent Atlee Pine series.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Atlee and finding out what makes her tick in the first novel. In this second story Atlee is still hung up over her sister’s disappearance almost thirty years ago. And rightly so! Mercy was her identical twin and not knowing what happened to her must be traumatic. However, after an incident that could have Atlee kicked out of the FBI she is told to take a holiday.

Atlee returns to her home town of Andersonville Georgia, home of the former confederate prisoner-of-war camp and now a historic site which Baldacci includes seamlessly into the story.

The story runs with two different plot lines. One being Atlee asking questions about her family and talking to people that were friends of her parents or those that lived in the town the time of her sister’s disappearance. The more she finds out the more the mystery of who her parents were and who she is deepens. The second plot line is the investigation of a string of bizarre murders that start not long after Atlee arrives in town.

Baldacci’s characterisation is brilliant and he quickly built up a cast of believable characters that lived in the small town of Andersonville.
I was much more invested in Atlee’s personal investigation than the mystery surrounding the murders although that part of the story was well wrapped up. I’m hoping Atlee receives some more concrete evidence about her sister in the next book.

Baldacci writes a fast paced and compelling read. It stands alone well, as any relevant backstory is filled in for the reader.

A Minute to Midnight is a highly recommended read for any thriller fans.
*I received a copy from the publisher.

I'm not sure if I have changed or Baldacci has changed. I loved Long Road to Mercy, other than finding the weight-lifting descriptions to be tedious. Maybe I loved it so much because I lived in AZ at one time and I felt Baldacci NAILED that part. I absolutely ADORED the Amos Decker series until Redemption. The characters did far too much hustling to places and roaring at each other. In A Minute to Midnight the characters were hustling and barking at each other. I don't know why that drives me so crazy but it's like nails on a chalkboard for me!

Then there were the believability issues. So many things happened in this book that were totally far-fetched. Just a FEW:So, Atlee beats a pedophile (who has already been subdued) breaking his nose and fracturing his skull - and her superior merely forces her to take some vacation time? Seriously? This is a minor one but it cracked me up when Atlee and Lineberry were driving down the highway in a convertible and carrying on a normal conversation! The last straw for me, though, was when Atlee used the FBI's system for a personal DNA search. Give me a break.

I think my taste has changed and I've started enjoying books that are at least a little bit believable.

On the positive side, I still love Carol Blum...