Walk the Wire: David Baldacci

At the heart of this novel is London, North Dakota where the primary industry and money is made from fracking which is the injection of fluid into shale beds at high pressure in order to free up petroleum resources such as oil or natural gas. Many men are coming here hoping to gain wealth, become part of the fracking community and hopefully make a decent wage. 

A second part of this plot is the murder of Irene Cramer a teacher that works for a group called The Brothers, in this small town. This town has become a site for unexpected murders and a hot bed for fracking which is getting more vital bigger with time. This small town was relatively safe, and murders are not common so why did Agents Amos Decker and Alex Jamison get called in to investigate this murder? Why are the three has yet to be determined but finding the murderer and getting the job done is their immediate concern. Added in there are other forces that lead the reader to believe that this town has secrets hidden beneath the surface of the land. A mysterious Air Force base is operational there and it might have something to do with the murders or something else. 

Added in Decker’s sister’s soon to be ex-husband shows up and things become more deadly and interesting as Stan is now dating the daughter of one of the richest men in town who owns most of the businesses and might hold the key to whatever is happening  but what exactly they need to still find out. Hal Baker is hired by Caroline Dawson’s father, who happens to be seeing Stan Baker, who is married to Decker’s sister and was hunting a wolf that was killing cattle when he found Irene Cramer’s body. 

Irene Cramer’s Murder mirrors one right out of Bones or Criminal Minds as her body was found by Hal Parker but the autopsy was done by the killer who disposed of Irene. As they investigate her murder, they learn that she has a teaching degree worked for the religious group called the Brothers by day but as an escort by night. The Anabaptists a male sect who run the school a lot is not really known about her. 

Walt Southern did the autopsy but when Decker reads his report something nags at him and when he goes to the morgue and examines the remains, he makes a startling discovery about Irene which leads him and Alex in new directions.

Questions are asked if Hal Dawson about fracking and why it is a vital industry and his relationship with the other man who oversees the fracking and his alliance with the air fort based on his land.

Dawson owns the fracking wells and builds enough support for all the people moving in to work for his operations. He aims to buy building, rehab it and rent it out rather than give the business to someone else. 

Stuart McClennan owns the wells. Stating Dawson will charge a huge premium for it when the work is done. Everyone wants to frack, and it pays a lot. 

Things get dangerous when Stan and Decker meet at a bar to learn more about what he’s doing there and the fracking business when Stan is attacked by some thugs and he and Decker take them out but someone else is lurking in the background and has a gun aimed at his head. But, Will Robbie is slick, smart and has been brought in to save the day but undercover and comes to Decker’s aide but we are not really sure as yet why he’s there but there is much more to this town and as someone said they are sitting on a bomb. 

Irene Cramer’s Murder mirrors one right out of Bones or Criminal Minds as her body was found by Hal Parker but the autopsy was done by the killer who disposed of Irene. As they investigate her murder, they learn that she has a teaching degree worked for the religious group called the Brothers by day but as an escort by night. The Anabaptists a male sect who run the school a lot is not really known about her. 

Walt Southern did the autopsy but when Decker reads his report something nags at him and when he goes to the morgue and examines the remains, he makes a startling discovery about Irene which leads him and Alex in new directions.

Questions are asked if Hal Dawson about fracking and why it is a vital industry and his relationship with the other man who oversees the fracking and his alliance with the air fort based on his land.

Dawson owns the fracking wells and builds enough support for all the people moving in to work for his operations. He aims to buy building, rehab it and rent it out rather than give the business to someone else. 

Stuart McClennan owns the wells. Stating Dawson will charge a huge premium for it when the work is done. Everyone wants to frack, and it pays a lot. 

Just as Decker is walking back to his hotel he is attacked and Will Robbie comes out of nowhere , saves his life hands him something and disappears. Will is tough and wants to take aim at the Army station and learn more about what they are up to and why there are so many ambulances there just as a chopper lands and two bodies are loaded.

Questions are asked of people part of the Brothers Colony and information comes to light about some violent action and men attacked by vicious dogs in the middle of the night. Added in they check out Irene’s office and search her Rolodex and find information that leads them to someone who worked as a navigator years before but might know what’s happening at the Douglas S. George Defense Complex where this man worked. Explaining that the Air Force sold most of the land around the radar facility to the Brothers who then in turn leased some of the land to crackers. Then they asked him about Irene/ aka Mary Rice and telling him her fate brought an odd reaction. 

Connections are formed and the truth about Irene and her aliases are revealed and Dawson and McClennan are discussing a big sale and we meet The Blue Man along with Robbie and Decker trying to piece together the murders Irene and Pammie . Walt Southern questioned about his post reports and the information missing and Decker almost figures out why when he takes his own life leaving the reasons he was forced or blackmailed into leaving information and a startling revelation that shocked Jamison that Decker later reveals at the funeral home. Lies, corruption, military secrets and power are some of what is behind these murders but what and how does it lead to the army station and to Vector who provides the security? 

The revelations are huge and the hidden truth behind the army station is shocking and the end result will take planning and coordination between Robbie and now Jessica Reel plus Decker and Jamison as they are using it for a prison that models Gitmo how and why? Where are the prisoners coming from and what exactly is behind their imprisonment? 

Blue Man reveals not all , plans must move fast, but something else and someone else is orchestrating what is happening in London and what about the murders?

Brad Daniels might be in a home and claims to be blind and his record at least part classified as Decker learns about where he was stationed and the truth behind what went on at other facilities around the country that were working on chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction. What started as a radar facility was just to keep up pretenses. Added in Daniels describes the facility and what he was asked to do and the dangerous gases that were highly toxic. Ben Purdue is one key, but he is missing, and his mother was killed. This is far from over as Stuart McClellan is the next casualty but how and why? 

Weapons of mass death, deadly gases that if emitted in the air would kill within minutes and London would be gone. Alex, Amos and Stan crested a dangerous plan to stop what some group started years before and the stockpile of weapons buried were they the bomb waiting to explode? But Dawson and McClellan were killed, Cramer and Pammie too plus Walter’s death who is behind it besides the military and some rich higher ups?

Author David Baldacci weaves many dangerous webs intertwining Decker and Jamison with Robbie, Reel and The Blue Man taking the suspense and action up many notches until the truth is revealed, who’s behind the murders and the role of those at the Air Force Station and military facilities creating an explosive ending. When all the facts come together Decker realizes who was behind the deaths of so many people and why? The stockpile and the chemical weapons would be handled one way but he, Robbie and Reel would confront a killer who would justify blackmail, murder and deaths in a mind that was sick and delusional. Will they finish this case before there is another death? London , North Dakota will it recover and who will keep it alive? An ending that brings reflections about their choices in the minds of Decker and Robbie. What is next for both and will Decker connect with his family and where will Robbie be next? A powerful story with a thought-provoking ending. Defending and fighting for what’s right for others : Robbie/ Decker walking the wire for justice!

Fran Lewis just reviews