If anyone can make terrorism entertaining and ironically exciting, it's thriller vet Baldacci. New York stage actor Davis helps to brighten up a bleak subject with almost perfect pitch (his female characters' voices are often disconcertingly lodged in the baritone range), as he brings to audio life the adventures of a gang of four Muslim men who live in the Washington, D.C., area and meet regularly in isolated places to discuss and argue about international politics. Led by a likable chap who calls himself "Oliver Stone" because he and the film director share a supersized fascination with conspiracies, the Camel Club is basically an excuse for its members to feel involved and important. But when they accidentally witness a real high-level conspiracy in action, the four are suddenly at the center of a world class disaster which could lead to an American nuclear attack on Damascus. Baldacci works hard to balance all his many characters and their connecting stories, and Davis holds up his end with clever, sharp-edged subtlety that helps listeners stay in the picture. Simultaneous release with the Warner hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 22). (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Baldacci returns to Washington D.C., the setting of his first hit, Absolute Power (1996). The Camel Club is made up of four middle-aged men: Stone (in homage to the director Oliver Stone), Milton, Reuben, and Caleb, whose lives have led them to be suspicious of the government and politicians in general. Their late-night excursions mainly consist of White House stakeouts, until the night they discover two men carrying another man while on Roosevelt Island and killing him while making it look like a suicide. The men believe a conspiracy is afoot, and this time, they're right on the money. Secret Service agent Alex Ford, who has a passing acquaintance with Stone, is called into to investigate the death of the man, who happens to be a Secret Service agent, Patrick Johnson. Johnson was supposedly living far above his means and may have had drug connections, but Ford isn't convinced Johnson took his own life. The Camel Club is conducting their own investigation, and before long they realize they've got a massive conspiracy on their hands, one that could affect the global political arena. Baldacci is a master at building suspense, and the conclusion of his latest novel will leave readers breathless. --Kristine Huntley Copyright 2005 Booklist

Just outside the White House gates, a ragtag group of conspiracy theorists gathers to find the hidden truth behind the actions of the power elite in Washington, DC. Led by the mysterious and aptly aliased Oliver Stone, the Camel Club develops wild conspiracy theories about the inner workings of the U.S. government-theories that, on rare occasions, turn out to be accurate. While the club is generally considered a nuisance, this time its members have witnessed a murder, and their subsequent investigation may uncover clues that could prevent a nuclear war. In his latest political thriller, Baldacci (Absolute Power) takes a page-turning look at the repercussions of cultural and religious differences between ethnic groups-and at unlikely saviors in the thick of the battle. The terrifyingly vivid plot has more twists and turns than any conspiracy theorist could ever conceive. Strongly recommended for most popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/05.]-Ken Bolton, Cornell Univ. Lib., Ithaca, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.