The Camel Club (Camel Club Series) Mass Market Paperback – September 1, 2006

This is the first book in the Camel Club series. I enjoyed it very much and decided to order the others in the series. If you are a fan of books by David Baldacci, then you will like this one.

As the opening chapter of a series, David Baldacci's The Camel Club did exactly what a good first chapter should do while still surpassing my expectations. It introduces a myriad of characters and a compelling concept that will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end while also providing an authentic real-world scenario that makes the reader contemplate issues that plague humanity to this day. It's so effective in its execution that it may actually rival science-fiction novels in its ability to make the reader question our world and those who run it.The central issue of scrutiny which Baldacci comments upon focuses on the mutual hypocrisies involving the United States government's War on Terror, and the holy war jihad used to justify the violent actions of Islamic terrorists. As a disclaimer, please take note that Baldacci does not pull any punches here. While the story and characters are fictional, the events that he references from the past and present are real and add a great deal of motivation for the characters, as well as personal moral contemplation for the reader. I'll admit, as a reader I often found it difficult to read The Camel Club at times, not due to any form of literary difficulty, but due to the book forcing me to open my eyes to a far greater picture with no black and white lines. Baldacci isn't taking sides in the matter, after all he has written some very patriotic books in the past. Rather, he's merely demonstrating just how twisted our world truly is and how superficial barriers created through differences on race, language, ideologies and religion can create these significant rifts between different nations and people. It's one thing to craft a compelling thriller set in modern day reality, considering the fact that most readers (myself included) are often seeking escapism from the bore which is every-day life. Yet it's another achievement entirely too deeply galvanize the reader while providing such effective social commentary that truly moves them into deep contemplation. It's a dichotomy that I haven't seen realized so effectively since reading Orson Scott Card's magnum opus Ender's Game, which is an acknowledgement I don't say lightly.A stark difference from the Baldacci books I've read in the past is that The Camel Club places emphasis on a larger cast of characters as opposed to Baldacci's usual format featuring a single protagonist paired with a smaller cast of supporting characters. I initially had some skepticism to this change in direction, yet Baldacci pulled through by illustrating an excellent cast of characters that included several memorable standouts. The leader of the Camel Club, Oliver Stone is a character wrapped in such a great deal of mystery that you can't help but obsess over his true identity. His unkempt exterior and primitive living arrangement serve as a mask for his astute intellect and set of skills that come as a surprise to even his closest colleagues. The secret service agent Alex Ford demonstrates how doing one's duty to one's country isn't always as simply as it sounds when government bureaucrats and convoluted jurisdiction are constantly interfering with the greater good. I also enjoyed the romance that sparked between him and another character that I won't spoil; it gave the book some extra emotional investment, which is something authors of other technothrillers often struggle with effectively illustrating. The final character I'd like to highlight is one of the antagonists of the book Carter Gray, who to my surprise rose above the stereotypical government bureaucrat/politician archetype of looking to make a career for himself through less than honorable means. He's an impressive morally grey character that helps build upon the aforementioned moral center of the book's social-political commentary. His character essentially carries two burdening questions: how far would you go to protect what you love and when does it cross the ethical line and become something far more sinister? Which leads to an even direr question: can this line even be identified if you're put into this position of responsibility and power? He's a great antagonist to the book who never believes he's anything other than a hero doing what is necessary for the safety of his country and his fellow countrymen. The moral dilemmas that surround his character are extremely thought-provoking and a poignant reminder that doing the right thing isn't always a simple choice between right and wrong. I definitely hope to see Gray return in a sequel.The last third of the book also needs special attention because of just how enthralling it is. Without spoiling anything, I'll say that what the book is building up as the climax actually serves as the catalyst for cataclysmic events that give the book a far greater sense of scale than you'd initially believe. It's common practice for a book or movie's synopsis to glorify the plot and make it seem far more epic than it can possibly hope to become. Yet in the case of The Camel Club, it actually succeeds and lives up to what it advertises. It concludes with an absolutely phenomenal climax that is equal parts emotional as it is action-packed. Needless to say I was hooked for the finale as the characters seemingly went through hell and the cryptic plot came full circle.However, the book does have a few minor detriments. The first being that there are moments where the narrative begins to drag, due largely to extended periods of time where emphasis is being placed on minor characters instead of the protagonists. Fortunately, the book is able to overcome this demerit mostly unscathed since the plot is so enthralling. The other issue is that some of the characters feel a tad underdeveloped, particularly Milton and Caleb. They're both likable characters with interesting personalities, yet they don't have the same level of depth or purpose within the story as Oliver and Alex. I hope to see Baldacci develop them more in later installments.The Camel Club is easily one of my favorite Baldacci novels and the start of a promising series that I plan on revisiting. The majority of characters are very memorable, the plot is exciting and emotional, and the manner in which it portrays its social-political commentary by showcasing the sins of both sides is worthy of envy. It's a book that gives the reader exactly what it advertises and then gives even more. Baldacci has once again proven himself to be the king among the modern technothriller novelists.

Love this author

I have read most of his books and they have been excellent!! Once you start reading you cannot stop. The books keep you engrossed and captures your complete attention. I look forward to more books.

very good good condition good delivery

The Camel Club is a ragtag bunch of misfits who help solve a complex and diabolical threat to our way of life. The characters are well developed and the story line never drags. Each member brings special skills to the table and the reader is rewarded by the way Baldacci makes his characters real. A great read.

Nobody writes a conspiracy thriller like David Baldacci, and The Camel Club will keep you turning pages at breakneck speed. Unfortunately, his latest is not without some flaws and while many of his books defy belief, this one is even more of a stretch.The Camel Club consists of four misfits (nearing senior citizen status) who form a secret conspiracy watchdog organization. The ringleader is "Oliver Stone," a man with a very secret and mysterious past. While meeting in a park during off-hours, the four witness the murder of a Secret Service agent, Patrick Johnson. Unfortunately, the two killers realize they have witnesses. Because of their checkered backgrounds, the Camel Club decides not to report this to the police. Instead, they go on the offensive, trying to discover not only the identity of the killers but also their motivation. At the same time, Secret Service agent Alex Ford is assigned to investigate the death of Johnson, but runs into trouble with the various agencies also looking into the murder (FBI, Metro Police, NIC, etc.).As if this isn't enough going on, a group of Islamic extremists is plotting a terrorist act involving the US president. But not all of the plotters are Islamic or Middle Eastern. In fact, some are working from the inside.Much of The Camel Club is very relevant to post 9/11 America. The FBI, CIA, NSA and other intelligence agencies are being forced to combine information, but infighting, jealousy and guarded secrets are still common. Government agencies are involved in illegal activities. The war is still raging in Iraq with Americans split on the issue. The issues are very similar to today.But The Camel Club has just too many flaws. When three different sets of characters were introduced in the first three chapters, it took some time keeping them all straight. Between the FBI, CIA, NSA, NIC, etc, the spy organizations caused some confusion. It was made even murkier because Baldacci would often use the same initials for different things (NSA was either National Security Agency or National Security advisor). There was way too much going on in the plot. And as mentioned previously, much of it was totally unbelievable. The romance angle with Alex Ford and a young justice lawyer was especially unconvincing. Even the small details were far-fetched. For instance, the terrorists plan a major assault, but use tranquilizer darts so as not to kill anyone. Also, not to give away the plot, but what happens to Oliver Stone's daughter is just too incredulous.So while I enjoyed The Camel Club and couldn't turn the pages quick enough, it's not the best Baldacci work. But even a mediocre Baldacci is better than the efforts of many other authors.

An excellent read with exciting twist and turns. It captures your attention from beginning to end. The characters were fascinating