To Die For

To Die For by David Baldacci
11/12/24; 432 pages
Grand Central Publishing
Travis Devine #3

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.