The Collectors -- by David Baldacci (A-)
Baldacci's follow-up to The Camel Club is a much better caper, featuring richer portraits for each of the club members. Whereas the first book in the series put the sizzle in the events of the book while neglecting the development of the main characters, The Collectors gets the formula right. In this adventure, the four men in the club are well distinguished from one another and the reader has the opportunity to know them so well that he can identify them by their characteristics.
Not only do the main characters come into brilliant focus, but the story involves two separate plots (that come together of course) that are equally compelling. One of my favorite genres for book and film is the casino caper--and The Collectors has a great one, featuring a very appealing woman in the lead. Meanwhile, the Camel Club takes up a case involving the Library of Congress and the world inhabited by Caleb Shaw (one of the group). And Oliver Stone, the leader of the Club, is vividly drawn to life while maintaining the mystery he needs to keep our intrigue. I also enjoyed the fun the author has with collecting, and how this hobby plays a role in the lives of many involved in the plot.
Though many of the minor players--and a few of the major ones--are drawn from stock character models, Baldacci more than makes up for it in his storytelling. The book also ends on a decided cliffhanger, making me anxious to read yet another sequel, but concluding it this way is not nearly as impressive as if Baldacci had been able to tie up all the loose ends in one volume.
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