#1 NYT and global bestselling author David Baldacci (long-time favorite) returns with my 'number one' popular knock-out series—The 6:20 Man!

We met the witty, brilliant, and to-die-for hero Travis Devine (swoon), whom we fell hard for (madly) with (#1) The 6:20 Man, (#2) The Edge, and here we are with (#3) TO DIE FOR.

Devine is back better than ever with his most explosive and emotional case yet! When faced with complex challenges, he excels in any environment, no matter the danger.

In TO DIE TO, he comes full circle when he meets the girl on the train again with another note; there is a little girl he has to save, complex characters from his past, and corrupt enemies, of course — in this fast-paced, complex, high adrenaline, and riveting crime thriller with heart —you do not want to miss!

Please do not let this series end!

About...

Wrapping up from the last book, Travis Devine is accustomed to death threats and often wonders why he is still in combat when he no longer wears the uniform. He has no desire to make himself an easy target.

He receives another note from The Girl on the Train. She missed him again. This mysterious character has been a recurring figure in Travis's life, from the first train (Swiss Alps) to the dark roads of (Maine), and now near America's capital. Is she becoming obsessed, he wonders.

Devine is a closer, snooper, fixer, and investigator. Sometimes, he must kill to keep breathing or complete a mission, but he tries not to think about it too much.

His boss, Emerson Campbell (retired Army), has a new assignment for Travis on the West Coast. It involves Danny Glass (they were together in Iraq). However, the government is after Glass in a criminal lawsuit in Seattle.

Glass has a niece, Betsy Odom, age 12. Her parents recently died, and Glass is her only living relative. He wants to become her guardian and eventually adopt her. He is rich and powerful but connected to the same bad crimes. Is she just a pawn in a bigger game?

Travis wonders why the DOJ would be interested in this case. They do not have all the answers, but they will soon find out.

Now in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle, he meets FBI Special Agent Ellen Saxby and the adorable sassy Betsy (12 going on 28). She is an old soul and wise for her age.

Glass (alleged criminal) is currently the defendant in a federal RICO prosecution that will begin soon in Seattle and is out on bail with the best lawyers. He is wearing an ankle bracelet, and they have his passport. He has been charged with a range of offenses, from racketeering and human trafficking to drug smuggling.

He has filed a petition for emergency minor guardianship. Currently, The Bureau is a custodian of Betsy. He has legitimate businesses, but is he using the illicit proceeds from misdeeds and laundering them?

The Odoms (Glass' sister and brother-in-law) came into money recently under suspicious circumstances. So the FBI is unsure if the money came from Glass or a bribe—a new home and car. The FBI wants to find out if the girl overheard or saw something. She could be in danger as to why they stepped in. Now, the FBI, DHS, and (Homeland Security) Travis Devine! Each character is intricately woven into the plot, adding layers of complexity and mystery.

But as Devine gets to know Betsy, questions begin to arise about the death of her parents. They say Dwayne and Alice Odom died of a drug overdose in their car.

Betsy is adamant they had never used drugs. Danny was very close to his sister (he was older). This leads Devine to search for answers, and what he finds points to a conspiracy more extensive than he could've ever imagined, involving powerful figures and a web of deceit.

On top of this, more fuel to the fire in the small town of Ricketts. A woman mayor who seems pleasant outwardly but profoundly corrupt and possibly linked to a group called 12/24/65. There is the threat of an assassin determined to kill Devine, but his job is to stay alive and keep Betsy safe.

Travis has plenty of work on his plate— from Glass, Betsy, the corrupt evil players, and staying one step ahead of the girl on the train, always lurking.

The question is, how do Betsy, her uncle, and various government agencies all fit into the plan?

My thoughts...

A powerhouse novel, series, and author! What a twisty, satisfying whodunit! Baldacci is a master storyteller, and this series has star-quality characters. The twists and turns will keep you on the edge, while the thrill of the plot will keep you engaged and excited throughout.

I loved TO DIE FOR (and the previous two books in the series. All 5-stars!) If possible, I adore Devine more with each book —he is unstoppable. Travis Devine is a pro, has observant, keen skills, and can adapt to any situation from corporate high power, Wall Street, rural, small town, or big city slick. And any age. He is witty, sharp, and has a heart of gold, making him a character you can't help but root for!

I loved Travis with Betsy! She added a lot of laughs. Baldacci, as always, does a superior job balancing the bad, evil, enemies, fear, and corruption with wit, suspense, mystery, tension, and heart in this stellar detective series.

Conspiracies, corruption, and murder! The cat-and-mouse game with the girl on the train is a nice touch that keeps readers guessing, and we can only hope there will be more books in this fantastic series!

TV Series...

Also, it is time for a TV series based on the 6:20 man, Travis Devine. If we have Tracker, we need a little competition with Travis Devine. Who else agrees? Are you listening, Hollywood? The anticipation of a TV adaptation will make you even more excited and hopeful for the series' future.

TO DIE FOR can be read as a standalone, but why miss out on all the fun? You must read (#1) The 6:20 Man and (#2) The Edge to get the full Travis Devine. Thank me later.

Thrilling and entertaining! Top books of 2024 list and highly recommend this series!

Recs...

This is for fans of the author and those who enjoy well-written, twisty crime thrillers, plot-driven cop procedurals, detectives, fast-paced action and suspense, and a main character who will blow you away!

Audiobook:

I am also looking forward to the audiobook (pre-order; never miss one), narrated by a stellar cast of stars: Zach Villa, Mela Lee, Cassandra Morris, Rena-Marie Villano, Christine Lakin, Will Collyer, Kiff VandenHeuvel and Erin Bennett. The audiobook promises to bring a new dimension to the story, enhancing the thrill and suspense.

Special thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a gifted, advanced digital review copy via NetGalley for an honest review. Also ordered the hardcover for my home library collection.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 12, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars +
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Travis Devine is back and this time he is sent to Seattle to aid the FBI in escorting orphaned, twelve-year-old Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, who’s under federal investigation. The longer Devine spends around Betsy, the more he questions the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Betsy's parents. As Devine digs for answers, what he finds points to a conspiracy bigger than he could’ve ever imagined.

This is the third book in the 6:20 Man series. I love Travis. Even though he is ex-military, and a very formidable foe to deal with, he also seems like such a likable and ordinary person. In this book, "The Girl On the Train" also makes a reappearance, toying with Travis, leaving him notes offering to help him figure out who killed Betsy's parents and why, and she might even let him live a little longer in the process. Will he take her up on the offer? Well, I guess you will have to read the book and find out. For those not familiar with this series, this is perfect for fans of Lee Child, Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay. I highly recommend it!

Any book by this author is sure to be a treat for me, and this - the third in the series featuring ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine - certainly doesn't disappoint. This time out, he's been called to Seattle to protect 12-year-old Betsy Odom, who recently lost both her parents to drug overdoses. He's a bit reluctant to become a glorified babysitter or do anything that puts him in a spotlilght, especially since his recent encounter in Switzerland with the "girl on the train" that nearly cost him his life.

But duty calls (or more to the point, his boss, so off to Seattle he goes. Betsy's long-lost uncle, Danny Glass, wants her to come live with him. But despite having more riches than King Midas (or maybe because of it), Danny is under FBI investigation for RICO violations that could put him behind bars for a very long time. The FBI has an agent on the scene guarding Betsy, but there's reason to believe Betsy may not be safe so they're hedging their bets by having Devine run interference.

Almost from the start, though, Travis senses something's wrong. To begin with, Betsy - who was with her parents when they suddenly convulsed and died - insists they never did drugs. Further, the official record notes that Betsy herself administered Narcan to try to save them - a claim she disputes as well. The police in the tiny town in which the parents died, though, insist they investigated thoroughly and indeed, drugs were involved. But after meeting with a couple of the Odoms' friends who are hanging out in their house, Travis is even more convinced that some kind of cover-up is in place - perhaps an extensive one that reaches far beyond the local cops and might even (gasp) put him in the crosshairs of that mysterious girl on the train once again.

All told, it's quite an intriguing adventure, and now that it's over, I'm once again hoping the next installment will come sooner rather than later. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

I would like to Thank Netgalley, David Baldacci and Grand Central Publishing for a chance to read To Die For. Again another great book by one of my favorite authors. The main Character Travis Devine is great in this story. This is a must read if you like David Baldacci. It is one that captures you right from the beginning. If you want to read a book that makes you think, wonder if it is possible for it to really happen then this book is for you. It brought up lots of stuff that I felt was happening right now. It is one I couldn't put down.

To Die For is the third book in the 6:20 Man series from David Baldacci.

"Travis is sent to Seattle to help the FBI in escorting a twelve-year-old orphan, Betsy Odom, to a meeting with her uncle. Her uncle that happens to be under federal investigation for RICO violations among other crimes. Travis wants to do his job and stay off the radar of the 'girl on the train' - the one that tried to kill him.
As he gets to know Betsy, questions pop up about the death of her parents. Travis looks for answers and discovers a conspiracy bigger than he could imagine."

Baldacci gives us another great conspiracy thriller. There are clues but you're never sure what's really happening until the final third. Baldacci uses some of the fears and pressure points from current events. There's a surprising ally for Travis - I hope we see them team up in future books. Travis shows a compassionate side with Betsy, putting himself in danger to make sure she's safe and taken care of.

An explosive ending and another great story from DB.

Really enjoyed this third book in the 6,20 Man series by David Baldacci. As usual it has the same electrifying pace as other books by this author and great to see the series progress with new characters and some of the old. Probably my favourite book of the series so far. Easy to pick up as a one off, but more enjoyable to get the whole backstory of Travis Devine, the main character if you read from the beginning.

A big thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I know it will be a best seller and look forward to reading many more by this great author

Travis Devine, the agent with a heart, is one trouble magnet. He's sent to Seattle by his boss in Homeland Security to assist the FBI agent in protecting Betsy Odom, a 12-year-old girl whose parents died from drug overdoses and whose wealthy uncle is under RICO charges. It should be an easy assignment but when Betsy insists her parents weren't drug users, Travis investigates their deaths and realizes they were pawns in something much more world-shattering.

What a convoluted, exciting plot with a timely topic that touches on the current world political scene. Too bad the publishing date wasn't before the November 5th US election.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

To Die For by David Baldacci is a very highly recommended action thriller and the third book in the Travis Devine series. Don't miss this one!

Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine, the 6:20 Man, is sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid the FBI in protecting/escorting twelve-year-old orphan Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, wealthy businessman Danny Glass. Right now the FBI has temporary guardianship of Betsy, but Glass has applied to become the girl’s legal guardian after the death of her parents. Currently Glass is under investigation for RICO charges. Devine just happened to know Glass from years ago when they were both serving in the military.

After meeting Betsy, questions begin to arise about what really happened to her parents. Their death is being called an overdose but Betsy insists her parents never did drugs. She begs Devine to look into what really happened to her parents, which requires a trip to Ricketts. The small town exudes an suspicious, corrupt vibe right from the start and becomes a very dangerous place for Devine, who calls himself "a closer, snooper, fixer, investigator,” and, when necessary, a killer." Oh, and "the girl on the train" is still after Devine.

To Die For is a compelling, well-written, fast-paced, well-plotted, riveting, action packed thriller that will hold your complete attention throughout. Even though it is part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone novel, at which point you will likely want to read the previous two books, The 6:20 Man and The Edge. There is so much going on in the novel but it is so well written that the complications are easy to follow as you race through the pages to see what happens next.

Betsy is hands down a wonderful, memorable character. She's twelve-years-old, but as Devine says, she's going on forty-two and mature beyond her years. The rest of the supporting cast is equally interesting. All the characters are portrayed as fully realized individuals.

Non-stop action, an engrossing, complicated plot, interesting characters, and a great ending equal a superb action thriller. I certainly hope there is a fourth book in the series. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Travis Devine is an ex-Army Ranger who is now working for the Department of Homeland Security. He is sent to Washington (state) to assist with the case of Betsy Odom, a precocious 12-year old whose parents recently died. The official cause of death has been determined to be a drug overdose, but there are too many holes in the story for Travis not to pursue what is really going. One huge hole is that Betsy’s uncle, Danny Glass, a known criminal, wants to become her guardian. Glass is supposed to testify against a nefarious cabal that may be intent on taking over the country. Teaming up with agents from the FBI and state law officials, and joined by an old friend and fellow ranger, Devine uses his military skills and intellect to get to the bottom of the conspiracy and its propagators. This is the 3rd book in Baldacci’s 6:20 Man series (somehow I missed the second one!). While it could be read as a standalone, I really felt like I had missed something that happened earlier (the girl on the train in particular). That being said, Baldacci has once again created a complex story, good character development (there are a lot of them), and plenty of false leads to keep you guessing. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of this novel.

This has become one of my favorite series! If you love fast paced, edge of your seat, hang on to your hat stories you are in luck! Baldacci has really made a fan out of me with the 6:20 Man Series. I look forward to reading more!

Baldacci delivers another suspenseful thriller with compelling characters. To Die For is fast-paced, there are unexpected twists and the story explodes of the page. While part of series, reading the previous books is not necessary, Baldacci provides sufficient context for those who have not yet read the previous books in the 6:20 Man series.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, did I ever get lucky with this book! It was the most excitement I've had in ages. This was a fun read, and it may be the last in this series of books. I'm not sure, but the reason I say so is becuase things may be finished with the storyline of Travis Devine and The Girl On The Train! I hope Mr. Baldacci will give us a book with Travis and Pru working together throughout the entire book. Or even make it a tiny little romance.

The only issue I had with this book, which may only be an issue with the ARC, is that we didn't have 50 states in the 1920s. That happened in the '50s. What can I say? I'm a stickler for details!

Other than that little thing-this was an excellent action-packed novel with a fabulous and intricate mystery, wonderful characters, and excellent dialogue.

If this is not a trilogy but a series, you can better believe that I will be the first in line eagerly awaiting its release!

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Grand Central Publishing, the author, and NetGalley

"To Die For" by David Baldacci is another exciting addition to the 6:20 Man series, featuring the ever-resourceful Travis Devine. This time, Devine is called to Seattle to escort a 12-year-old girl named Betsy to meet her uncle, who’s under federal investigation. As Devine digs deeper into the mysterious death of Betsy's parents, he uncovers a much larger conspiracy. The action is fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked. Baldacci does a fantastic job of building suspense, and Travis continues to be a strong, well-rounded character. The story blends personal stakes with a larger, high-stakes investigation, and I loved how the tension kept building, especially with the looming presence of Devine’s nemesis, "the girl on the train." This book is a must-read for Baldacci fans and anyone who loves a good thriller filled with intrigue and action!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

This is the 3rd book in the 6 :20 man series by David Baldacci; however, it is the first book in the series that I have read. I do not feel that it was necessary to read the previous books although I do not understand what the 6:20 man means. The book was an engaging fast-paced thriller.

Baldacci is back and so is Travis Devine in this third book of The 6:20 Man series. Travis arrives back from his previous mission when he gets a call from his boss Emerson Campbell. Travis has been requested by the FBI to take a 12 year old girl, whose parents have died, to meet with her uncle. Most likely due to the fact that Devine worked closely with him while in the Army over in the Middle East. The uncle is a known criminal and the FBI is hoping to turn him. Devine begins to investigate what really happened to the girls parents, while also being watched by someone who has been wanting to take him down for some time. This book is Baldacci at his best! It is fast paced, there are constant twists and turns, and action packed! The story also contains a plot there is very believable in this present day and political environment. I've been a huge Baldacci fan for years now and this one was definitely up there and no where close to being disappointing. I sure hope there are still more story to tell of Travis Devine. Hoping he eventually teams up with a certain character moving forward as that character becomes more developed.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

#NetGalley #GrandCentralPublishing #DavidBaldacci #6:20Man

I have read every David Baldacci book and will continue to do so as he delivers a fast paced, exciting story every time.

Another fantastic book by David Baldacci. His books get better by the years. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. Looking foward to recommending this one!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

David Baldacci’s To Die For is a masterclass in the thriller genre, seamlessly blending high-stakes action with intricate plotting and compelling characters. As the third installment in the 6:20 Man series, this novel takes readers on a gripping journey through the Pacific Northwest, where former Army Ranger Travis Devine faces his most formidable adversary yet.

Travis Devine, now working with the FBI, is thrust into a complex case that unravels with each question he asks. The narrative is driven by a relentless pace, with Baldacci expertly weaving together past and present threats. The story’s tension is palpable, especially as Devine confronts the enigmatic “Girl on the Train,” a nemesis who has haunted him.

Baldacci excels in creating multi-dimensional characters. Devine is a protagonist who embodies resilience and intelligence, making him both relatable and admirable. The supporting cast, including the mysterious girl who leaves cryptic notes, adds depth and intrigue to the story. Each character’s motivations are well-explored, contributing to the novel’s rich tapestry.

To Die For delves into themes of vengeance, survival, and the moral complexities of justice. Baldacci’s writing is sharp and evocative, with vivid descriptions that bring the settings to life. The dialogue is crisp, enhancing the authenticity of the characters’ interactions. The novel’s structure, with its alternating timelines and perspectives, keeps readers engaged and guessing.

To Die For is a testament to Baldacci’s prowess as a storyteller. It’s a thrilling ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with twists and turns that are unexpected and satisfying.

Whether you’re a fan of the 6:20 Man series or new to Baldacci’s work, this book is a must-read.

In this latest installment, The 6:20 Man is back, and author David Baldacci doesn’t disappoint. Travis Devine’s mission in the Pacific Northwest takes unexpected turns as he becomes entangled in a complex FBI case and faces his old nemesis, the girl on the train. The plot is engaging, with plenty of suspense and well-crafted twists, especially as Devine uncovers a deeper conspiracy.

The tension between Devine and the girl on the train adds a gripping layer to the story, though some parts feel a bit predictable. Overall, it’s a fast-paced, enjoyable read with solid character development and exciting action. Fans of Baldacci will love it!

This is the third installment of The 6:20 Man and I just love Travis Devine. You do not have to read the other two books prior to reading this one, but you should read them too! They’re all different stories with the exception of Travis and there are lots of twists and turns that you will not see coming. I’ve been a fan of Baldacci for several years and haven’t read a bad one yet, but I obviously have my favorites and Devine is among them! Thank you to NetGalley, David Baldacci, and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review.