Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and David Baldacci for the opportunity to read his latest novel The 6:20 man. Baldacci is one of my go to writers for a crime action thriller. What separates his work from typical novels are his protagonists. Amos Decker from his Memory Man is my favorite! We are introduced to Travis Devine is this novel, an Ex Army Ranger now working for a Wall Street Firm. He rides into work on a train each day in New York, and notices the beautiful homes and beautiful women, which we know adds up to trouble! Plenty of action, but also a very down to Earth character in Travis, and that is what makes Baldacci novels enjoyable. I definitely got Rear Window feelings from the novel set up, and really enjoyed how the story played out! Thanks again! The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci was published on July 12, 2022 and is available now! Thank you!

The 6:20 Man, by David Baldacci, is a captivating, intelligent, highly enjoyable crime thriller. It’s a super fun, action-packed mystery, full of twists and turns, red herrings that will keep you guessing, and clear, articulate writing.

We follow Travis Devine, a former distinguished Army Ranger who now works in the less than thrilling finance market as an analyst, spending his day crunching numbers. Why would he make such a drastic change? The reason may surprise you.

Every morning, he faithfully takes the 6:20 train to work, and as always, a beautiful, young, bikini-clad woman makes a showing at the pool of the mansion along the train route. Each day, male gawkers take their peek, until one day, they see something more than skin. On this life-changing morning, Travis receives an anonymous email notifying him of the death of his co-worker and one time love interest, and he finds himself drawn into the investigation in more ways than one.

This is a layered, tension-filled novel with likable characters and a riveting, if dramatic plot. These elements combine to make a compulsive reading experience that is highly entertaining and a must-read for those who enjoy complex, fast-paced thrillers.

Published by ‎ Grand Central Publishing on July 12, 2022

Travis Devine, former Army Ranger (because what thriller hero isn’t?), works in an entry-level finance job for the investment firm Cowl & Comely. Brad Cowl got a journalist fired for questioning his origin story. He claims to have built himself up from scratch after his parents squandered the family wealth, but he’s the squanderer. Yet he came into a boatload of money and became a Wall Street power player overnight. How did that happen?

Devine isn’t allowed on the 51st floor. Devine has little curiosity about the floor until Sara Ewes, a co-worker he once shagged (in violation of company shagging rules), is found dead in a company closet, having apparently hung herself. Of course, she was murdered. And of course, Devine is a suspect, in part because he stupidly evades disclosing his one-night stand with Sara. Nor does he tell the police about the mysterious, untraceable emails he receives that were sent by someone who had intimate knowledge of the crime. Why does Devine make these poor decisions? Only because the plot requires him to be kinda stupid.

In the time-honored tradition of thriller heroes, Devine decides to clear his name by finding the real killer. Not that he has much choice in the matter. A retired General recruits Devine to investigate his employer, assuring Devine’s compliance by threatening to expose a bad deed that he committed while he was still in the Army.

Devine’s investigation takes him to Sara’s parents (intolerant Christian missionaries from whom Sara was estranged); to co-worker Jenn Stamos, who seems particularly devastated by Sara’s death; and to Cowl’s live-in lover, Michelle, whose bikini-clad body he admires every morning when the 6:20 train passes Cowl’s swimming pool.

Devine lives outside of New York City in an apartment with three roommates. One is a Russian hacker. One is an entrepreneur who has started a dating site. One is a recent law school graduate. The reader will intuit that at least one of the roommates is not what he or she appears to be.

Much of the story — particularly a bizarre scheme to send messages with bikinis — is farfetched, but such is the way of the modern thriller. Still, some plot elements are clever and the story holds together. David Baldacci keeps surprises well hidden and plants enough false clues to prompt guesses whether characters are good guys or bad guys.

There is little depth to the characters, but tough guy protagonists aren’t known for their depth. Devine’s guilt about his military misconduct doesn’t suffice to make him interesting. Devine’s ability to outfight three attackers (he does that multiple times) substitutes for his absent personality, as is typical of tough guy thrillers. Yet gratuitous displays of toughness never dominate the plot. I consider that a plus; fans of gratuitous violence might disagree.

The story seems to set up Devine as the lead character in a new series, as if Baldacci isn’t juggling enough series protagonists without adding another tough guy to the mix. I recommend The 6:20 Man for the interesting story it tells, not because Devine stands out in the crowded world of thriller tough guy protagonists.

RECOMMENDED

David Baldacci gives us another hero who never wanted to be one. As with his other varied characters, Travis Devine is a man with a past that he's trying to forget while he makes his mark as an everyman just trying to get by. THE 6:20 MAN refers to Travis' commute to work every morning on the 6:20 train. Every morning, he uses his commute to prepare himself for the high pressure world of finance where he works as an analyst. This is life, such as it is.
Baldacci is well known for his thrillers. His characters are so well developed, you'd recognize them on the street. They aren't super heroes, nor do they want to be. Their back stories are complete, you know their neighborhood as well as you know yours. His books are written to be familiar and comfortable, they most definitely pull you into the story as he builds the suspense and pushs the characters to solve some pretty puzzling crimes. While I love Baldacci's books, a lot of it is the feel of the stories. Suspenseful, yes. Totally satisfying, you bet. This is a stand alone book but it's hard to believe we won't see Travis Devine in another book.

Former Soldier turned Wall Street Financial Analyst gets pulled into a high stakes murder mystery. A thrilling page turner that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Entertaining read

I enjoyed Baldacci’s newest stand alone (which I hope will be a series). The protagonist, an ex Army Ranger, working ion Wall Street was unique and I liked his personality. The plot was good and the other characters engaging. A good read for the lake or beach. Will recommend to my customers.

Wow, I loved the 6:20 Man, the newest thriller from David Baldacci. One my my most favourite authors is back with a bang. I really hope this isn't just a one off and is the start of a brand new series. I can see this book and the main character Travis Devine going far.

Travis Devine, a former Army Ranger, catches his usual 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an analyst at Cowl & Comely, a large investment firm. Then one morning he receives an e-mail saying "She is dead". Sara Ewes his former girlfriend and co-worker has been found dead in a storage room in his office building, Obviously the NYPD need to investigate him. he then receives an ominous visit, which unless he co-operates will reveal secrets about a chequered past, unless he investigates what's going on at Cowl & Comely.

We meet his colourful housemates and the very rich owner of Cowl & Comely through dangerous and exciting times. There are lots of clever plot twists which will keep you guessing until the very last second.

The super plot, detail and diverse characters and technology mean this book is right up to the minute. It would make a terrific movie or short tv series and I, for one, would want to be the first to watch it. Another winner for me. Well done Baldacci. Hope you're already on to Travis Devine book 2!!

Also a big thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy for an honest review.

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci is being sold as a standalone, however, with the way this book ends, there are more than a few more new avenues to explore. I would not be shocked or surprised if the author wrote a sequel. Every day without fail, 32-year-old Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm, Cowl and Comely. It's a cutthroat job where everyone is out for themselves.

In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance. Travis only got his MBA after leaving the military, and then only to punish himself for his own actions overseas. He choose to become an analyst because his father always wanted him to be ‘as successful’ as his older brother and sister. If he can make his father happy, it doesn't matter if he's happy.

Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead. Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker, was found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, at least for now—prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. Rumor has it that Brad Cowl himself might have been involved romantically with Sara. If that wasn’t enough, before the day is out, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm.

Travis Devine is a curious character. He decided to go against his own fathers wishes by entering West Point. He later went on to Ranger School and was attached to the 75th Ranger Regiment. Devine is a highly decorated soldier who saw plenty of action in America's never ending wars. Until he was involved in something that forced him to abruptly leave the military. With cops hot on his heals, Devine is approached by retired General Emerson Campbell who now works for the Office of Special Projects for Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.

Devine has a choice. Work for Campbell and uncover the curious nature of Cowl and Comely secretive Area 51, or spend the rest of his life at a maximum security prison for what he did to a fellow officer. The choice is pretty easy. This treacherous role will take him from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power . . . where something rotten lurks. Then another woman at his firm is murdered.

Then the parents of Sara are violently killed, and things seem to be pointing to an international conglomerate with trillions in wealth to spread around. Apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, as well Travis always looking over his shoulder, he has to deal with his fellow roommates Will Valentine (hacker), Helen Spears (lawyer) and Jill Tapshaw (Dating Company). There's a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine may be the next victim if he doesn't watch his back.

I once called David Baldacci a conspiracy theorist who seems to lean one way politically. In this book, Baldacci actually sets up a real world scenario that absolutely could happen thanks to our crooked political system where everyone has to make cash fast. Don't believe me? Check out the current news about politicians using insider trading to get rich while the rest of us suffer to pay our bills. Even with the stock act, politicians are still getting rich off the stock market.

So here's the idea: Imagine if the Taliban or Iran or North Korea or Russia were getting cash flow from investments in this country to fund their terrorist activities thanks to politicians looking the other way and lining their own pockets? Think about Kim Jong-un as a landlord in New York? How about an Iranian ayatollah owning thousands of acres of land in Kansas? Or Putin owning massive oil fields in Texas? Or, China owning streets, and villages, and shopping centers, and mobile parks, and businesses all across this country, and likely certain members of the House?

So, who is the crazy person? The author who actually real life scenarios at your fingertips, or the person who walks around saying Not My Monkey, Not My Circus! There is a slight romantic avenue that appeared in this book. That is why I said it would not be a surprise if the Devine and this other character managed to work together again in the future.

Bestselling author David Baldacci says that he has "always been intrigued by the financial world," about which he has extensive knowledge and in which he has long wanted to set a book. The 6:20 Man is, he explains, "my theory of what dark money is doing." The extensive, hands-on research he conducts for all of his novels is on full display in the story as he explains salient details about the inner workings of the financial world in a plainspoken, readily understandable way.

Baldacci introduces readers to Travis Devine, a former U.S. Army Ranger whose parents were completely indifferent to him. The youngest of three children, his parents instilled in him that he would never match his older siblings' achievements (one is a neurosurgeon at the Mayo Clinic, the other a CFO of a Fortune 100 company). More specifically, his father was furious when Travis was accepted into West Point, and unimpressed when he graduated from Ranger School and qualified to join the Seventy-Fifth Ranger Regiment, sarcastically signing his congratulatory email, "Proud father of Smokey the Bear." For his service, Travis earned two Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, and numerous other accolades while rising to the rank of Captain.

Yet he left the Army riddled with guilt about his actions on a particular night, and used the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to earn both his undergraduate degree and MBA. Now he shares a townhouse in Mount Kisco with three roommates, and boards the 6:20 a.m. commuter train into Manhattan. At thirty-two, he is the oldest person in his incoming class at Cowl and Comely, a powerhouse investment firm where he is employed as an entry-level analyst. It is his penance for a decision that compelled him to trade his military career and start over on Wall Street. Now "[h]is primary weapons, instead of the Army-issued M4 carbine and M9 sidearm of yesteryear" are "twin Apple Mac twenty-seven-inch screens, connected by digital tethers to might, encrypted clouds seeded with all the data he would ever need." Readers will find the drudgery, monotony, and competitiveness of Travis's work life relatable.

Each morning the train stops in the same spot -- a signal-switching hitch, Travis presumes. There is a break in the privacy wall surrounding the mansion owned by Bradley Cowl, co-founder of Cowl and Comely, which is visible from the train. And each morning, Travis and the other men on the train ogle the beautiful young blonde woman who never fails to be by the pool wearing bikinis of various styles and colors. On the particular morning on which the story opens, she strips completely, giving the commuters quite a show. But that's far from the only unusual thing that happens on that day.

When Travis gets to the office, he receives an email that begins, "She is dead." Travis's coworker, Sara Ewes, has been found dead in a storage room on the fifty-second floor of the Cowl Building. She apparently committed suicide at the age of just twenty-eight. As Travis looks around the room, it appears he is the only person who has received the email -- from a most unusual email address lacking a domain name or suffix. Despite the firm's prohibition on fraternization, Travis and Sara dated briefly, and Travis would have liked to take the relationship much further. He was drawn to and felt he could care deeply for Sara, who make it clear that she was not interested in pursuing a relationship. Despite their high-stress jobs in a cutthroat industry, Travis never observed anything hinting that Sara might be so troubled she would take her own life. Travis soon learns that the police find Sara's death highly suspicious, as well, and he is a suspect in their murder investigation. Not only does Travis lack an alibi, but he is surrounded by people capable of convincingly altering evidence.

Soon Travis encounters two Army CID (Crime Investigation Division) agents who inform him his "presence is requested" and whisk him away to an unmarked, secure building. There, he meets Emerson Campbell, a retired two-star Army General. Campbell tells him, "I know exactly why you left the service," and reveals that the agency arranged for him to find the room he rents because they have been watching him for some time. Now Travis faces Army prosecution under military law for a crime committed while in uniform that could land him in Leavenworth prison if he refuses to cooperate with the Office of Special Projects, an operation within the Department of Homeland Security. Something untoward is going on at Cowl and Comely, the government is convinced Bradley Cowl is at the center of it, and Travis will be gathering and transmitting information to Campbell. He has been involuntarily recruited to service his country again.

The 6:20 Man is the sprawling, suspenseful story of Travis's quest to discover both who killed Sara and why, as well as what type of business is actually being conducted at Cowl and Comely. The tale is populated by an intriguing cast of supporting characters, including Travis's three roommates. Will Valentine is a Russian computer hacker who works from home as a white-hatter -- a computer expert hired by tech firms, banks, and other companies to try to hack through and provide advice about their security systems. Helen Spears just graduated from New York University Law School and is studying for the Bar exam, and Jill Tapshaw owns a start-up online dating service called Hummingbird who, like Valentine, works long hours in her bedroom although she also has a small office in a strip mall. Readers get to know a lot about Sara Ewes, in part through her friend and peer, Jennifer Stamos, as well as her parents, who arrive in New York after being informed of their daughter's death. They -- especially her mother -- are religious zealots who, like Travis's parents, disapproved of their daughter's choices and rejected her, a plot device Baldacci deftly uses not only to make a political and ideological statement, but also illustrate why Travis has such a visceral reaction not just to losing Sara, but also to learning about the kind of disrespect she, like him, was subjected to by her family. A low-level employee like Travis would not ordinarily interact with the owner of such a large firm, but his mission leads him to interactions with Bradley Cowl are punctuated by sharp verbal exchanges and Travis's quick thinking as the two men square off, more people around Travis end up dead, and he narrowly escapes a couple of brushes with death while inching closer to the truth about Cowl and Comely's activities.

But at the heart of tale is Travis, who is both likable and believable. The Army views what he did on a fateful night in Afghanistan as a crime, and Travis himself feels so much guilt about his choice that he has locked himself into a life he hates as a form of self-inflicted atonement. He achieved levels of competence and confidence as an Army Ranger and leader that thus far elude him in his new profession. He and his fellow analysts are referred to as "Burners" and the competition among them is fierce and debilitating. Soul-crushing, in fact. Travis is not at all convinced that he will survive in the investment world because so many others with more better-suited backgrounds and qualifications have washed out. But he is determined to succeed now that he has finally experienced approval from and a modicum of camaraderie with his father. At his core, Travis is principled, has a strong sense of right and wrong, and cares deeply for others, as well as the country he served bravely and, aside from that one exceptional moment, admirably. Baldacci places him in a doubly untenable position, fighting for his freedom on two fronts: to ensure the police find the real killer of Sara (and other victims) and that he doesn't wind up doing time in a military penitentiary. As it becomes clear that Bradley Cowl and his far-flung associates are likely involved in money laundering on an unimaginably huge and tangled international scale, the stakes become increasingly higher for Travis as the likelihood of him successfully completing his mission dims. Unless, of course, his instincts and tactical training, not to mention his physical prowess, serve him well enough to outsmart and outplay Cowl, as well as a murderer whose identity Baldacci expertly conceals through misdirection, characters' hidden agendas and motivations, and entanglements that, when finally revealed, again prove what a deviously clever storyteller Baldacci is.

Along the way, Travis forms some surprising alliances and receives invaluable assistance. But should he trust that support, even though it is offered by Valentine, who agrees to trace the origin of that mysterious email, and Speers, who may not be who she claims to be? And what about Tapshaw, who is purportedly searching for an injection of capital into her business, but reveals that Sara was actually one of her subscribers? Should he rely upon either of the two young women who are involved with Cowl to provide him with accurate information when his life might depend on it? And is that beautiful young woman who is stationed by Cowl's pool every morning there for a purpose far more sinister than starting her day with a few laps?

Presented in Baldacci's signature style with short chapters, snappy dialogue, and an unrelentingly fast pace, The 6:20 Man is full of physical action, shocking plot developments, unexpected twists, and deliciously diabolical villains. Like all Baldacci novels, it is an engrossing, highly entertaining, and timely exploration of greed, corruption, conspiracy, and the lengths to which people will go to attain unbridled power. Happily, it is only the first story from Baldacci featuring Travis Devine. Readers will be clamoring for the next volume.

Travis Devine is fighting his own personal demons - whether it's his past military experiences or his attempt not to be the square peg in the round hole when dealing with his parents. Everyday at 6:20 he boards the train to his job at Cowl and Comely where he and his fellow minions strive to grab the brass ring that will prove their worth to their employer and allow them to advance to the next level. When he learns of the death of a fellow employee whom he was briefly involved with, he refuses to believe her cause of death especially when he receives a cryptic email that cannot be traced. His interest is also peaked when he is picked up and delivered to a secret meeting and receives an assignment he cannot refuse. Travis suddenly finds himself with a target on his back and in a no win situation where he becomes the prime suspect in his coworker's death until he gathers a bit of information that keeps him safe for the moment. Bodies begin to pile up as he digs deeper into the nefarious dealings of the companies'' CEO and he finds himself not knowing who to trust. The reader is kept in the dark until the last chapters when all the pieces start falling into place. An enjoyable read with a lot of twists and turns. I have read all of David Baldacci's books and in my opinion, this is one of the best ones yet.

I've been a Baldacci fan for years and always enjoy the opportunity to read his new books. This one was a slow starter for me and didn't capture my interest as well as previous Baldacci books. It picked up about halfway through the book and overall was a reasonably satisfying story. Lots of action, intrigue, a bit of romance, and mystery are sprinkled through with some surprises along the way. I have a feeling this book might appeal to men more than women based on the fights and action scenes. Some parts of the book feel rather dated to me.

This is described as a stand-alone book but I won't be surprised if it becomes the first in a series. Travis Devine is a good character and could easily carry a series. Would I read more in the series if it happens? Probably. Though this isn't my favorite Baldacci book, it's still well-written with good characters and a compelling plot. And I can never pass up a new Baldacci book!!

David Baldacci is a family favorite author, so I was excited to get an advanced copy of The 6:20 Man.

This book follows the character Travis Devine, a former Army soldier now working up the ranks on Wall Street. Every day he takes the 6:20 train into work. This train passes the home of the owner of the firm where he works. Each day the other Wall Street guys oogle at a woman clad in various red and green swimsuits at the home.

One day Travis arrives to work to find out that a woman he was in a relationship with has hung herself. No one knew about their relationship and in poking around, Travis learns that the woman he thought he knew and the company he works for aren’t what he thought.

Baldacci did a great job building suspense and intertwining the different characters of the book. The book is action packed, humorous, and contains the right about of spice found in his books.

I had the luxury of also receiving the audio book. The narrator was perfect for this read.

David Baldacci has a baseline that means all of his novels are entertaining, originally plotted and full of characters you find interesting. The 6:20 Man checks these boxes, but is probably my least favorite Baldacci book. It felt like he tried too hard to figure out how to create a new good guy and it came out formulaic, not as compelling as other protagonists in other books. Best characters were the roommates the 6:20 man, Travis Divine lives with. And Devine's training as an Army Ranger helps with the hype of his superhuman skills. Overall, the plot was okay, but again, the bad guys felt formulaic. This is in part a financial mystery, which I liked. Also in part a murder mystery which got convoluted and was less satisfying in the plotting and twists. I didn't CARE whodunnit by the end.

So.... NO regrets spending time reading this so it gets 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I will finish a 3 star book and regret the time I spent. Anything less star-wise and I don't finish.

*4+ stars! Hopefully, the start of a new series by Baldacci.

Travis Devine resigned from the army and began working at a Wall Street investment firm. He is shocked one morning to learn a fellow employee has been found hanging in a storage closet, a young woman whom he briefly dated. He's even more shocked when it's declared a murder, not suicide, and suspicion seems to fall on him. Is he being set up?

Pretty exciting action as Travis tries to peel back the layers of secrecy that abound at this high-powered investment firm. The intrigue keeps those pages flying to reach the surprising ending. Well done!

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

The writing was a little rougher than what I usually expect from David Baldacci but it fit this new character, Travis Devine. “Ranger tabbed and Ranger scrolled. And a seasoned financial analyst to boot. Devine would probably need all of it and a little more to survive.” This was so good, so tense, so tight, so twisty. This story just gives me one more thing to lose sleep over while believing and embracing the notions of black ops, down and dirty corporate greed which condones anything and everything as long as the money is huge.

OMG Baldacci has a new character and I am hoping for a repeat performance soon, sooner, soonest. Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy.

The chance to read a new standalone thriller by one of my all time favorite authors was a no brainer. There are very few of his books I don't own or haven't read. Baldacci just keeps getting better. The plot is fresh and new, packed with action and twists.
This aptly named mystery has the main character, Devine, riding the early train into Manhattan to his strenuous financial job on Wall Street. It's a thankless, pressure-filled job for a relentless boss. He can't afford living in Manhattan, so he rents a room in a house with three very diverse roommates.
Divine exited from the army under some dark clouds and questionable circumstances. He then earned his MBA to please his father. Now he takes the 6:20 train into the city each day to a job he hates. His boss, Bradley Cowl, owns a mansion on his train route. The scenery at the pool often includes a seductive, bikini clad beauty ogled by all the male commuters.
An associate Devine works with and had gone out with, is found dead at their office building. He finds Sara's death suspicious and as he digs into it, the secrets uncovered spiral. He thought she might have been 'the one', so he is very determined to find the truth. His military training may be put to the test during his search for answers.
He will meet the mysterious bikini beauty, Michelle. The more Devine learns about his boss and the firm, the more secrets are exposed. The locked and sealed floor called Area 51 could hold answers, he just needs access.
Valentine, a Russian computer hacker, is one of his roommates. He's an interesting, smart computer wiz, a very well described character.
Speers and Tapshaw are the female roommates. Tapshaw has her own online dating start-up business. Speers is a law school graduate who spends lots of time doing yoga. One of them may want more than friendship, both have their own secrets and hidden agendas.
Having spent the majority of my career in accounting, you would think stocks, bonds and Wall Street would be easy to figure out. It's Greek to me, which made this story all the more fascinating. There is a murder to figure out all wrapped up in high finance, couldn't get much more exciting! There are layers of lies, deception, greed, non-stop action and suspense. All the characters feel like real people, some good, some sleaze bags. I found them all realistic and interesting. The twists kept me guessing and cost me sleep. The book exceeded my expectations and my pile of Baldacci book recommendation is now larger.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital copy of "The 6: 20 Man" by a favorite author, David Baldacci, and also to Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.

In “The 6:20 Man” (Grand Central Publishing) David Baldacci’s latest standalone thriller, Travis Devine hates his new job. It makes him feel like he’s a hamster on a treadmill. Every morning he hops on the 6:20 a.m. train from Mt. Kisco into Manhattan to work as an entry-level financial analyst at one of the world’s most prestigious investment firms. As a former Army Ranger with the medals and the wounds to prove his valor, he’s used to the grind, but in the Army he was serving his country. At his new grunt job in the financial sector, he’s serving billionaire Brad Cowl, and the all mighty dollar, are chipping away at his soul bit by bit.
A mysterious email disrupts Travis’ routine when it informs him that his coworker and former girlfriend, Sara Ewes, is dead on the 52nd floor of their offices. Initially believed to be a suicide by hanging, the police quickly determine that Sara’s death is a homicide. Unfortunately for Travis, he’s the only one who’s received this missive, and all evidence fingers him as being the sole suspect in her murder. And he has no alibi.
Travis’ past comes calling when he’s approached, or as he sees it—blackmailed, into secretly assisting a government investigation into his boss and the firm. The Army has cleared him of wrongdoing in the suspicious death of a fellow officer in Afghanistan, but the feds claim they have the goods on him. He either cooperates, or spends the rest of his life eating prison slop at Leavenworth.
The Army has molded Travis into a finely tuned war machine, but at his heart, he’s a good and moral man. To clear his name, he needs to find out who killed Sara. Nabbing his boss for international espionage, money laundering and SEC violations would be the icing on the cake. The bigger picture is whether Sara’s murder and Cowell’s potential crimes connected, and if so, how. Both investigations lead Travis into the labyrinth of a potential high-stakes international conspiracy, which threatens his life and anyone tangentially related to Sara and his boss.
In true Baldacci form, he has created a likable, flawed hero in Travis Devine. Wounded by an IED in Kandahar, Travis bears the weight of external and internal scars. Admittedly, he has daddy issues, having disappointed his father when he entered West Point. His honorable discharge led to him receiving an MBA and his father’s approval, but Travis could never live up to the success of his older siblings. His familial issues, the suspicious deaths of his fellow officers in the Middle East, and a lack of self-confidence in his new position haunt him. By working at a job he hates, Travis is flogging himself in self-imposed penance for those sins. He has a killer instinct, which serves him well in self-preservation—guns, throwing a punch or sensing danger, but not necessarily when judging whom to trust.
“The 6:20 Man” is filled with twists and turns and menacing characters, and similar to Travis, the reader doesn’t know whom he should trust either. Are his computer hacker, law student and tech prodigy roommates who they say they are? What about the cops who interrogate him after Sara’s death and are trying to pressure him into admitting guilt for her murder? What about the gorgeous girl in the bikini who lives at the mansion he passes everyday on the train into the city? What about his boss—is Cowl a self-made man, a fraud or a criminal? Is anyone who they say they are?

I really don't know what to say about this novel! This was a fast read, a suspenseful one, perfect for the beach or a long plane trip, with just enough action to keep anyone happy. There is some 'romance' but not in the way of romance novels.

I have read many books by Ms. Baldacci, and this book just adds to my knowledge that he is a superb author with a very clever, twisty brain! This book seems to be the start of a new series as this book doesn't clear everything up to my satisfaction. The downside of this novel is that you do have to suspend a lot of disbelief (such as the scene in which there is a fight between three men against one).

This is a bit of a complicated novel if you are someone like me that does not have cutting-edge knowledge of finance or computers; the murders were just twisted enough that I never guessed who-dun-it, and I loved that fact! There is nothing worse than a mystery where you figure out the antagonist before you even get halfway through the book. This author can soo write a good story!

*ARC was supplied by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley.

David Baldacci is a must read author for me, and his newest novel The 6:20 Man does not disappoint! Baldacci introduces us to a new character, Travis Devine, ex-military now working in an entry-level position for one of the most prestigious financial companies in Manhattan. He is trudging along, commuting in on the 6:20 train where he passes by the grandiose homes of the Manhattan elite, including the owner of his own firm. The monotony of his routine is shattered one day, when he receives a cryptic email : "She is Dead". One of the few people Devine had connected with at the firm, Sara Ewes, is dead! Devine is suspected and knows only he can clear his name...but it gets much more complicated! Devine uncovers an underworld of the financial industry that is dangerous and deadly. As the deaths mount, Devine knows sooner or later he is either going to become another victim or take the fall for these murders.
With several twists that I did not see coming, The 6:20 Man provides the suspense, intrigue and unique characters that make up a great book. A couple of coincidences that seemed to come out of nowhere is what kept me from giving this five stars. Excited to get the feeling that this might not be the last we see of Travis Devine.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy for my review.

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci is a new stand-alone novel which may become a new character in Baldacci’s arsenal of interesting heroes in the undercover fight for justice what is his stock and trade. Travis Devine is a drone at a Wall Street company, making millions for the owner, but leaving him working 80 hours a week and making enough to pay his rent and his transportation costs. He lives an hour away and takes the train every day, which provides him with his only bright spot as they pass mansion where a beautiful woman sunbathes in bikinis or barely there one-pieces on an almost daily basis. The train stops there for some unknown reason and then moves on. One day he gets an odd email about a woman having died in his building. He knew her. In fact, they had dated for a time despite the rules against it. He had like her, thought maybe she might be the one. Then she broke it off and now she was dead. It was only then that strange things started happening: the police focused in on him; some retired two-star general blackmailed him into going undercover at his company; and his curiosity was whetted.

Travis is a good character. He is a little over thirty; had left the military, which he had loved, under a cloud and inflicted the punishment of this job on himself, possibly as penance. He had like Sara and was heartbroken to hear of her death, even more heart-broken when a couple of days later he had learned it was murder. There was no doubt that there were things going on in this building that were not right. Was the murder part of that? He got up very early every morning and was at the local high school working out by four before going to work. He was in prime physical shape and had been well-trained as an army ranger, which came in handy several times. He had three roommates, all of whom he liked and thought they were there by happenstance. He was to learn later that might not be the case. It was a complicated and compelling plot, typical of Baldacci. I enjoyed it and really had no idea of the outcome before it happened. I like that in a book. There is so much more to the book than I can cover here. I recommend you read or listen to it.

I was invited to read a free audio version of The 6:20 Man by Grand Central Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #grandcentralpublishing #davidbaldacci #the620man