4.5⭐️

To Die For, the third installment in David Baldacci’s The 6.20 Man series follows former U.S. Army Ranger Travis Devine, who is now employed by the Office of Special Projects (a stealth operation under the DHS), on his new mission, which takes him to the US West Coast. Danny Glass, a decorated former military man presently under investigation for RICO charges, is applying for guardianship of his recently; orphaned twelve-year-old niece Betsy Odom, and Travis is tasked with Betsy’s safety in collaboration with the FBI and supervising her visits with her uncle. Travis soon realizes that there is more to Betsy’s parents’ death than meets the eye and Danny’s enemies might be targeting her next. What follows is a complex web of murder, cover-ups, corruption, government secrets and much more! Complicating matters further is “The Girl on the Train,” who, after two failed attempts, is only more determined to complete her mission to kill Travis.

Complex plotting, compelling characters, action-packed drama ( I don’t mind suspension of disbelief!) and intrigue that keeps the reader frantically turning pages – David Baldacci thrillers seldom disappoint and the author’s latest offering is no exception. A lot is going on in this novel and initially, I was a bit confused with how the different threads of the story were related, but the author deftly ties it all together as the mystery is unraveled. Travis Devine is an interesting protagonist – a former military man with a heart of gold who would do everything in his power to see that justice is served. As in the author’s other series, facets of the protagonist’s backstory are woven into the present timeline, making for strong character development throughout the series. Betsy, the precocious twelve-year-old, was a handful (I could sympathize with her plight), and I enjoyed seeing her opening up as the plot progressed. I should mention that the direction of the “The Girl on the Train” track did surprise me and I do feel that some aspects of her story remain a mystery and I would have liked to get to know more about her. Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I would not hesitate to recommend to fans of this genre.

Needless to say, I’ll eagerly await the next book in this series ( and/or the next book in any other of the author’s other series).

Please note that though this installment would work well as a standalone, I would recommend reading the books in series order for a better understanding of past events mentioned in the course of this novel.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

For readers of Baldacci this book is delicious. Devine is in real trouble. He has been ordered to help with the oversight of a twelve-year-old Betsy Odum. She is in FBI custody, awaiting the hearing she is to have with an old military comrade of Devine's. There are some great characters that show back up from the past. The girl on the train and Devine's boss Campbell. There are also new friends. A detective or two from the Seattle police department and some from a mysterious small town miles away. The bad guys are not who they seem to be, nor are the good guys in this thriller from Baldacci. All these people intersect in one of the best twisty thrillers from the author. Enjoyed this book, its characters, including young Betsy. and the surprising plot and twists and turns. Thanks to #NetGalley#ToDieFor for the opportunity to read and provide a unbiased review of this book.

In a tense, action packed third book in the 6:20 Man series, David Baldacci takes Travis Devine to Seattle to deliver a twelve year old girl to court for a custody hearing. It is not a typical assignment for Travis, but he has recently been tracked by a woman who wants him dead and this may keep him safe. The girl, Becky Odom, witnessed the death of her parents and her uncle, Danny Glass, wants guardianship. He is currently facing RICO charges by the FBI, but a number of witnesses against him have recently died. The FBI has offered him a deal to testify about his business associates, putting Betsy in danger. The police report regarding her parents’ death blames drug overdoses. Betsy swears that drugs were not involved and friends of the family back her up. At her request, Travis travels to the town where they died and his inquiries lead to an attack on his life. He is saved by Pru Jackson, the very woman who has been trying to kill him. She was a former CIA agent who was betrayed by her mentor and believes that they are involved. Her best path to revenge is to help Travis. Travis has been kept in the dark and lied to by the FBI agent guarding Becky so Pru’s offer may help him discover who is responsible. As they work together they find that the threat is bigger than they imagined and could topple the government.

Travis has pledged to keep Betsy safe. However, he has no experience with children and a pre-teen girl seems more of a challenge than his previous missions. Betsy’s life has been turned upside down. While Glass is her only relative, she knows that her father never trusted him. She is dreading the court appearance and finds her own way to throw the procedure into chaos. Baldacci throws some surprising twists at the reader along with non-stop action. To Die For is another great appearance for the 6:20 Man. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this book.

To Die For by David Baldacci

Travis Devine is a secret agent, or a former Army Ranger or perhaps both. He is assigned bodyguard duty which seems counterintuitive to what he things his rule might be. His boss and handler, purportedly from DHS, General Campbell, differs with him as to his job description. The body he is to guard is a feisty 12-year-old girl.
Devine is left in the dark regarding why Betsey needs protection. Adding to the mix is the “girl on the train” who tried to kill him in the previous book. Stir, don’t shake, some domestic terrorists, some garden variety thugs, a couple of recovering drug addicts, the FBI and the CIA and you have mayhem and confusion blossom.
The plot was just shy of Machiavellian and there was plenty of action, treachery, and intrigue.
I enjoyed it, recommend it, and look forward to the next Baldacci book regardless of the protagonist's identity.

I’ve been a fan of David Baldacci for years, and once again, he’s delivered a thrilling read! This time, Travis Devine is sent to Seattle for what seems like a straightforward job—helping the FBI escort a young girl, Betsy Odom, to a meeting with her uncle. But what starts as a routine mission quickly escalates into something much darker and more dangerous. As Devine gets to know Betsy, he starts to uncover a web of secrets that might change everything he thought he knew.

I couldn’t put this book down! The pacing was spot-on, with just the right balance of action, suspense, and character development. Baldacci’s skill at weaving in twists kept me guessing at every turn, and I loved how he built the tension throughout. Travis Devine is a great protagonist—he’s tough, but there’s a vulnerability to him that makes him easy to root for. I really enjoyed his relationship with Betsy, and it added a nice emotional layer to the story.

The supporting cast was strong, though I’ll admit there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and at times it felt like I had to flip back to remember who was who. But that’s really a small quibble in an otherwise fantastic book. The story is fast-paced but doesn’t feel rushed, and while it’s not the most weighty or thought-provoking novel out there, it was the perfect kind of fun, page-turning thriller that I love.

If you’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up. It was a blast to read, and I’m already looking forward to seeing where Baldacci takes Travis Devine next. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

To Die For is the third book in The 6:20 Man series by David Baldacci. Travis Devine is back to aid the FBI and Homeland Security in a case that gets more convoluted by the hour, especially when he comes face-to-face with the girl on the train.

Travis Devine has already proven he can accomplish any mission he is tasked with. His current assignment seems easy: escort a 12-year-old orphaned girl to a meeting with her uncle, who is under investigation for RICO charges. A perfect lowkey job that should keep him off the radar. But Devine gets to know Betsy and questions how her parents really died. Once he starts digging, the answers point to a conspiracy much bigger than a small rural town. It just may involve several government agencies, allies, enemies, Betsy and her uncle too.

To Die For gave me Jack Reacher meets Myron Bolitar vibes. The main character, Travis Devine, is already a classic character and has become one of my favorites. He is smart-assed, witty, a quick thinker, dangerous, beyond intelligent, resourceful and I could go on and on and on. He has one-liners that make me smirk. His inner dialogue is brilliant. His conversations are heavy on logic but not boring or full of jargon. And best believe he will protect and fight with all of his might. Devine is simply a divine man.

It just so happens that To Die For is to be published within days of a presidential election. I see what you did here, Baldacci. I picked up on the not-so-subtle references to power, democracy, dictatorship, attempts to overthrow the government and supporters of a country that looks very KKK-ish. Normally this will turn me off in a book. I read fiction to escape the real troubles of the world, especially with the 2024 election results. But the way Baldacci weaved this narrative into a thriller that made sense was very well done. Combined with the exciting fast-paced plot, signature stellar writing and unforgettable characters, To Die For is one of the best thrillers I've read this year.

Fans of thrillers should immediately begin this series. You can read To Die For as a standalone but I recommend reading the previous two books for context: The 6:20 Man and The Edge. Some of the things mentioned will not make sense otherwise. But just because To Die For is soooo good and the best in series so far, I selfishly want Bookhearts to hurry and read this one so we can discuss. I guarantee this one is going to hit different.

Happy Early Pub Day, David Baldacci! To Die For will be available Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

To Die for By David Baldacci is a thriller featuring the 6:20 man, Travis Devine, a man always on the run. This time he knew someone was after him; he had seen her. What he didn’t know was why. He was asked by his boss to accompany a twelve-year-old girl to meet her uncle, a man Travis had known for a short while in the military. Her parents had been killed and her uncle was a hard-hitting criminal. What Travis couldn’t figure out was why he wanted the girl, but apparently he wanted to adopt her. This whole thing led Travis into a rathole of questions with no answers. Betsy Odom was temporarily in the custody of the FBI, being guarded by a woman who looked liked she was on her last legs. None of it made sense. He also found a small town in the corner of the state that was like a fortress. The newest and best of everything: a well-armed city hall, a fleet of new vehicles, and armed attack vehicles. And a very odd police chief and mayor. What he found boggled his mind. It took him overseas to break the crime wide open.

Travis Devine thrives on intrigue and danger. He doesn’t do commitments. He sleeps when he can, where he can, but loves a bath. What makes this man chase danger? He doesn’t know, but he seems to be always on the side of the good guys, often the underdog. Excellent book if you love thrillers. Thrilling it was. Full of an investigation that includes guarding a twelve-year-old girl.. Corruption at the highest levels. Scary stuff, especially the week after an election.

I was invited to read To Die For by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GrandCentralPublishing #DavidBaldacci #ToDieFor

In the book To Die For, author David Baldacci continues his series 6:20 Man with Travis Devine as he becomes babysitter to twelve-year-old Betsy Odom. But maybe babysitting this kid will make Devine draw from all his skills from his Army Ranger days to keep her safe. Who is trying to kidnap her and who is the girl on the train that is trying to kill him? This is a good fast pace read. I would recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely amazing thriller! I just loved it! In this third installment of the 6:20 Man, Travis Devine's newest assignment is to protect young Betsy Odom, whose parents have died from a supposed drug overdose. As Travis spends time with Betsy, and the other agent assigned to protect her, he begins to doubt the official story. To complicate his investigation, Betsy's only remaining relative seeks to adopt her, but he is the subject of a federal criminal investigation. In the shadows, the girl on the train is once again following Travis, but to what purpose? David Baldacci has written a complex plot, with rapid fire plot twists that I don't want to reveal but kept me enthralled from beginning to end. The continued development of both Travis Devine and the Girl on the Train is excellent throughout this installment. The heart of this book, however, is the brave and memorable character of young Betsy Odom. To Die for is definitely one of David Baldacci's best! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

Happy Release Day!!!

To Die For by David Baldacci
Publication Day: 12-Nov-24
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is David Baldacci at this best! This is the third installment in the 6:20 man series about main character Travis Devine. Devine is sent on a mission to guard a recently orphaned 12 year old Betsy Odom. Her uncle that is trying to gain custody of her is being investigated for RICO charges. Devine is trying to solve what truly happened to Betsy’s parents and if her uncle was involved. In parallel, the cat and the mouse continues with the girl on the train still hunting down Devine. The storylines converge and the girl on the train may turn from foe to friend! This book was action packed with several twist and turns! Baldacci fans will not be disappointed.

Trouble always seems to find Travis Devine, former Army Captain and Wall Street trader, and now a member of an elite division of Homeland Security. In To Die For, the third installment of David Baldacci’s 6:20 Man series, trouble comes in a small package. Devine is assigned to supervise visitation between Betsy Odom, an orphaned 12-year-old under FBI protection, and her rich, criminal uncle Danny Glass. Glass is eager to adopt his niece, but the government, Devine, and even Betsy, are suspicious of his motives.

Glass is presently under federal investigation for RICO charges in Seattle, and the feds’ witnesses against Glass have been dropping dead, nearly foiling their case. With his vast criminal empire and connections, Glass is capable of masterminding any criminal plot imaginable, and not getting caught. Betsy, who may have knowledge about her uncle’s criminal activities, is the last person standing, and she is confused about whether she wants to be adopted by a man she barely knows.

Glass and Devine were old army buddies, so the higher-ups decide Devine is ripe for the babysitting job, just in case Betsy has a target on her back. Recently, Betsy’s parent died under mysterious circumstances. The police claim it was an overdose, but Betsy denies the allegations. She, her parents’ friends, and Devine believe her uncle may have ordered the hit, but to what end? Are the police covering up the Odom’s death and why?

When an ex-con named Perry Rollins offers to sell Devine dirt on Glass, Rollins also turns up dead. Are Glass and his thugs responsible for his death, too? What was Rollins going to reveal about Glass? And why is Glass to important to the feds? Is there a larger play at hand being hidden from Devine?

At the heart of the plot, Devine is on the hunt for how Betsy’s parents died and the reason why Glass is desperate to adopt his niece. The investigation throughout the Northwest is interrupted when bullets fly in his direction. An old nemesis from a prior book, The Girl on the Train, reappears with an unsatisfied vengeance for Devine. She wants him dead, and her mad marksmanship and surveillance skills have him on edge. Is GOTT a substitute for Glass, and how can Devine possibly protect himself while trying to safeguard Betsy at the same time?

Baldacci’s To Die For is a fast-paced thriller, which zooms along at the speed of a Japanese Bullet Train. The action is nonstop, the dialogue is crisp, and the characters are equally likeable and unlikeable. It is easy to discover who’s wearing the black hats, or is it? The deeper the reader delves into the intricate story, the more the lines are blurred between the good guys and the evil ones.

Baldacci does an excellent job in fleshing out Devine’s softer side in having a teenager in his charge. At first, he feels ill equipped to handle the grieving girl, but as their bond grows, Devine matures. He empathizes with Betsy’s fears and needs, overcomes his own discomforts, and vows, if necessary, to lay down his life for Betsy. While he swears to keep Betsy out of harm’s way, is it even possible when the government, Glass and GOTT are involved? Are Devine and Betsy sitting ducks without anyone to protect them?
To Die For is pure fun. It’s a quick read that sucks the reader in from page one, and never lets go. Let’s hope Baldacci never let’s Travis Devine hop off the 6:20 train.

Thanks to Grand Central Pub for the opportunity to read this title through NetGalley!

To Die For is good enough—well written, fairly engaging and competent. But there’s just something missing for me. I think the “big” authors—the Baldaccis, Pattersons, etc aren’t for me these days. The plot lines of these novels are starting to be too similar and I’m looking for something fresh.

Travis is on his way to his next assignment when he discovers he's being followed. Through elaborate means, he escapes. But he soon finds himself the hunted again.

There is a 12 year old girl who has recently been orphaned. The FBI currently has custody of her because her only living relative is on trial in a RICO case. Travis knew the defendant when they served together in the Middle East. But the defendant, now a very wealthy and highly connected man, very strongly wants custody of Betsy.

This case quickly becomes more and more complex. People are turning up dead. Pieces of the puzzle aren't fitting together well.

This is an exciting thriller, but be prepared for a lot of characters, and try to figure out who is a good guy and who is a bad guy.

The enemy may be closer than he thinks

Travis Devine employs his lethal skills (on a not-completely-voluntary basis) on behalf of the Office of Special Projects, a small and innocuous sounding group under the aegis of DHS. He investigates, adapts to rapidly changing circumstances, fixes situations that need fixing, and eliminates obstacles (human or otherwise) as needed to complete his mission. He is also currently doing his best to evade a woman he knows only as The GIrl on the Train who has tried to kill him several times already and has made it perfectly clear that she will continue to do so until she is successful. When his boss, retired Army General Emerson Campbell, assigns Travis his next mission it is an ill-defined assignment involving a recently orphaned twelve year old girl in Seattle, Betsy Odom, who is the niece of a man Travis knew in his active military years. That man, Danny Glass, is currently the object of a major RICO lawsuit brought against him by the DOJ, but as the only known relative of Betsy he is seeking custody of her. It seems a bit low-level for a man of Travis’ capabilities, but it gets him a continent away from his problems on the East Coast….and orders are orders, so off he goes. Travis seems always to attract trouble, and this case is no different. Betsy is currently in the custody of fairly burnt-out FBI Special Agent Ellen Saxby, whose agency wants Glass’s efforts to get custody to fail for reasons she doesn’t care to explain. Glass and the thugs with which he surrounds himself want Travis to either help him gain custody or get lost. Nothing and no one is what or who they seem, and Travis finds himself determined to protect the lost and frightened young girl whose whole life has been one piece of bad luck after another. The small town of Ricketts may hold the key to not only the death of Betsy’s parents but also to the DOJ’s interest in Glass, but people who might be able to shed light on the goings on there keep turning up dead. Is Travis up against the criminal organization run by Glass, a homegrown terrorist movement, or maybe even an intelligence organization within the US government himself? Even with help from the most unlikely of places, Travis must battle multiple forces, figure out a way to keep Betsy safe and get justice for her parents’ death…..or die trying.
A man who has seen too many things in his career and wishes he could walk away from it, Travis Devine is in the mold of Mark Greaney’s Grey Man and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, and like them he has the training, the experience and the skill sets to go up against all manner of opponents and walk away the victor. He isn’t particularly proud of all that he has done in pursuit of successful missions, but acknowledges that sometimes someone has to do what is necessary and it’s often down to him. He is realizing that the woman who is trying to kill him may have more in common with him than either suspects, and matching wits with her while cutting through the obfuscation being thrown in his path by supposedly “friendly” agencies is keeping him on his toes. Even more challenging is gaining the confidence of a twelve year old girl who has no reason to trust any of the adults around her, and every reason to keep her thoughts and observations to herself. She is torn about agreeing to the custodianship of an uncle whom she had never met until now and about whom she has heard contradictory things from her parents….is Glass the loving and protective older brother whom her mother adored, or the unsavory criminal whom her father despised? After an uncertain and generally impoverished childhood, would having a wealthy though likely dishonest and ruthless uncle as her guardian be such a bad thing? With plenty of plot twists and a great deal of uncertainty about who are the good guys and who are the bad, To Die For was quite a good read, sure to be enjoyed by the many fans of David Baldacci as well as by readers of Greaney, Child and Harlan Coben. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me early access to this third and latest thriller in the 6:20 Man series.

In To Die For (Grand Central Publishing 2024), David Baldacci's sequel to 6:20 Man, Travis Devine thought he was done with the girl in the 6:20 train, but it appears she is not done with him. His FBI employer sends him  on what appears to be a low danger job of escorting the daughter of a RICO criminal who will help unravel serious threats against the United States. It starts simple enough, but quickly Travis is avoiding a myriad of trip wires that will explode the government plan, get him killed, and ultimately endanger the preteen he’s been entrusted to protect and has begun to like. 

This thriller is filled with unexpected twists, clever clues, and the bane of my reading existence--unreliable narrators (these are trusted people who tell Travis truths that turn out to be lies). There are so lies, I don't think anyone ever tells Travis the truth. Each step forward ends up two steps into quicksand. Luckily, nothing in Travis' reality equates to quitting and he just keeps pulling threads, determined one will lead to the solution.

This is a fascinating story, at times as frustrating as it is clever, but worth the read.

Clear your calendar for the next David Baldacci book. With non-stop action and multiple plot lines, To Die For is a propulsive thriller that is difficult to put down! Whether you are concerned or joyful about our recent election’s results, this book will leave your government conspiracy senses tingling.

Ex-Army Ranger and financial wizard Travis Devine is a shadowy government agency’s go to person for challenging cases. So he is surprised when he is sent to Seattle to be a bodyguard for a twelve-year-old girl, Betsy. The girl’s parents are dead by drug overdose, but the girl insists they didn’t use drugs. The girl’s uncle is her nearest relative and is trying to become the girl’s guardian despite barely knowing her. However, he is on trial for RICO charges. Devine hasn’t been fully briefed on why the FBI is involved but he too is concerned about the uncle’s motives. Devine is also worried about his adversary from the previous book in the series. However, Becky’s story intrigues him, especially when the bodies start piling up, so he investigates her parents’ deaths.

I have read David Baldacci for years. All of his books are good but To Die For shows he is at the top of his craft. The characters, even the minor ones, just feel so realistic. Betsy is someone rarely seen in thrillers, a young and intelligent victim. You feel for her plight and understand Devine’s need to help her. The twists just keep coming too. Nothing is as it seems but all the plot points come together logically in the end.

If you love thrillers, To Die For is a must read. Despite being part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. 5 stars and a favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy.

My bad; I didn't realize until I was partway through the book that this was THIRD in the series, and I hadn't read the second book. It isn't critical to do so, but it would have made things so much easier to understand and sort through. Even without that issue, this was a complex and intricate storyline; there was a lot to keep track of, so this isn't necessarily an easy read. I enjoyed both Devine's and Betsy's characters, but my biggest issue was the plausibility of it all. I mean, I get that's part of the whole mystery/thriller genre, but this one really went over the top for me, and had a lot of eyeroll moments.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Travis Devine has a reputation for accomplishing any mission he’s given by the DHS, but he’s surprised when he’s asked to escort a young girl to a meeting with her uncle. No one in the government trusts her uncle, who is under investigation for racketeering and other charges, so this assignment is a way to keep an eye on him while ensuring the safety of the girl, Betsy. As Travis gets to know her, he starts to question a lot of her backstory and starts to dig for facts. The more he learns – and the more people connected with the case begin to die suddenly – the more he’s convinced something isn’t quite right. What he wasn’t expecting, though, was to come face to face with the girl on the train.

This is the third book in this series, by one of my favorite authors, and I’ve learned to expect a book that draws me in right from the start and doesn’t let go until the very last page. This was no exception, and what a ride it was!

I’ve really come to like Travis and his determination to do the job, no matter how much it costs and what is involved. There were a lot of characters in this story, and a few different storylines weaving in and out of the main narrative, but it was easy to keep up with the different trains of thought. In the main story involving Betsy, I suspected a couple of characters almost from the moment they were introduced, and I was partially correct, although I didn’t figure out the motive before it was revealed. I liked how the secondary story was resolved, but have to wonder if that will continue in the next book.

I hope there are more books to come in this series, because I can’t wait to find out where Travis’s next adventure takes him and who is – or is not – along to help him.

Travis Devine on a new adventure which takes him into domestic terrorism and helping a teen girl. Interesting characters and development and lots of action to boot.

It's a page turner. This is over the top crazy with a big conspiracy and lots of bad guys but I gotta admit I enjoyed Betsy the orphan Travis Devine is sent to protect and who sets everything (well a lot of it) in motion. This is the third in a series and I think it might be most appreciated by those who have read the earlier books for context and to understand the importance of the Girl on the Train who is key to part of this as well. That said, it can also work as a standalone for those who want a fast paced read without a lot of depth-perfect for travel. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For his fans.