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If you love thrillers, then you’re probably already familiar with #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci and his large, iconic body of work.
Baldacci—who has sold over 150 million copies of his books worldwide, has had his work translated into over 45 languages and has been published in more than 80 countries—remains one of the biggest draws in publishing today. His debut novel, Absolute Power (1996), a thriller about a thief who breaks into a mansion and accidentally witnesses Secret Service agents murder a woman linked to the President of the United States, was an instant international bestseller and was even made into a major featured film starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Ed Harris.
Since then, Baldacci has churned out numerous series (like the Camel Club books), while also creating some of the most well-known and beloved heroes in fiction today—names like Amos Decker, John Puller, Will Robiw, Atlee Pine, Vega Jane, Travis Devine ( the 6:20 Man), Aloysius Archer, and Walter Nash.
Nash, whom Baldacci introduced to readers in last year’s Nash Falls, is also the star of the author’s latest novel, Hope Rises, which just hit bookstores last month.
Thankfully, just before Hope Rises was released, I sent Book Spy correspondent Jeff Ayers to get Baldacci on record for our 5 Questions segment, and he was more than willing to dish on everything from this book to what’s next for him—including some early comments about his next 6:20 Man book, which is slated for release later this fall.
Read all about Hope Rises below, then keep scrolling to read the full Q&A with David Baldacci.
Walter Nash began a journey down a dark path of seemingly no return, and now he finds himself questioning everything that got him there in this thrilling sequel to Nash Falls from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.
Walter Nash, working under the alias of Dillon Hope, is on the road to revenge after becoming an informant for the FBI against a global criminal operation headed up by Victoria Steers. Steers has ripped everything Nash held dear away from him. He has nothing left to lose and with long, rigorous training under his belt the gentle and sensitive Nash has transformed into something he never thought he’d be: a physically imposing man with lethal skills. And now he has only goal left in life: taking down Victoria Steers.
In order to succeed, he’s going to need to cross enemy lines and work the job from the inside. But Steers is shrewd and only brings those she trusts completely into her inner circle. Nash must rely on every ounce of his hard-earned skills in order to prove himself an ally to Steers if he’s ever going to get close enough to decimate her criminal empire.
Yet, despite hating the woman for destroying his life, Nash finds himself oddly drawn to Steers in ways that he never could’ve imagined. And what he ultimately discovers will turn all he believed upside down, forcing Nash to do something truly unfathomable.
So, will the truth set Nash free?
Or end him?
The Real Book Spy’s 5 Questions with David Baldacci
TRBS: When you first began writing Nash Falls, did you already envision Hope Rises as its natural continuation, since the two books are one sweeping story?
Baldacci: I had initially considered that this would be a standalone novel. As I got more into the story, it occurred to me that what I was going to do with the relationship between Nash and Steers and the latter’s arc would require…