Best David Baldacci Books

The best books by David Baldacci — 24 titles spanning Thriller, Mystery, averaging 4.38 BLT stars.

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David Baldacci built his reputation on one irresistible hook: the hero who can't forget. Amos Decker, the ex-NFL player turned detective with a perfect autobiographical memory, is one of thriller fiction's most original protagonists — Memory Man announced him with the kind of high-concept premise that sounds gimmicky until Baldacci makes it devastating. His writing is relentless and efficiently plotted, built around short chapters that pull you forward like a ratchet. The Camel Club introduced a scrappier, more conspiratorial side of his work — a ragtag crew of outsiders exposing Washington's darkest secrets — and it remains some of his most fun fiction. Baldacci is comfort food for thriller readers who want competent heroes, institutional corruption, and plots that snap shut cleanly. If you want propulsive, no-nonsense American thriller writing, he rarely disappoints.

David Baldacci's highest-rated book in our collection is The Last Mile (4.59 BLT stars). Browse the full list below.

David Baldacci built his reputation on one irresistible hook: the hero who can't forget. Amos Decker, the ex-NFL player turned detective with a perfect autobiographical memory, is one of thriller fiction's most original protagonists — Memory Man announced him with the kind of high-concept premise that sounds gimmicky until Baldacci makes it devastating. His writing is relentless and efficiently plotted, built around short chapters that pull you forward like a ratchet. The Camel Club introduced a scrappier, more conspiratorial side of his work — a ragtag crew of outsiders exposing Washington's darkest secrets — and it remains some of his most fun fiction. Baldacci is comfort food for thriller readers who want competent heroes, institutional corruption, and plots that snap shut cleanly. If you want propulsive, no-nonsense American thriller writing, he rarely disappoints.

David Baldacci's highest-rated book in our collection is The Last Mile (4.59 BLT stars). Browse the full list below.

Where to Start with David Baldacci

Best entry point → The Innocent
Best standalone → The Winner
Start the Amos Decker series → Memory Man
What readers keep coming back to → The Last Mile
Highest rated by readers → A Minute to Midnight (Atlee Pine #2)

1

The Last Mile

Amos Decker • Book 2

by David Baldacci

★ 4.59 BLT Score (105.8K ratings)

★ 4.24 Goodreads (105.8K)

644 pages • 2016

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2

A Minute to Midnight

Atlee Pine • Book 2

by David Baldacci

★ 4.56 BLT Score (56.9K ratings)

★ 4.22 Goodreads (56.9K)

432 pages • 2019

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3

The Innocent

Will Robie • Book 1

by David Baldacci

★ 4.53 BLT Score (0 ratings)

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4

The Guilty

Will Robie • Book 4

by David Baldacci

★ 4.52 BLT Score (64.2K ratings)

★ 4.22 Goodreads (64.2K)

433 pages • 2015

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5

The Escape

John Puller • Book 3

by David Baldacci

★ 4.51 BLT Score (62.9K ratings)

★ 4.22 Goodreads (62.9K)

470 pages • 2014

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6

The Hit

Will Robie • Book 2

by David Baldacci

★ 4.51 BLT Score (79.7K ratings)

★ 4.18 Goodreads (79.7K)

392 pages • 2013

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7

The Forgotten

John Puller • Book 2

by David Baldacci

★ 4.50 BLT Score (70.2K ratings)

★ 4.16 Goodreads (70.2K)

422 pages • 2012

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8

The Target

Will Robie • Book 3

by David Baldacci

★ 4.50 BLT Score (66.0K ratings)

★ 4.18 Goodreads (66.0K)

420 pages • 2014

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9

One Good Deed

Archer • Book 1

by David Baldacci

★ 4.48 BLT Score (54.5K ratings)

★ 4.12 Goodreads (54.5K)

416 pages • 2019

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10

Memory Man

Amos Decker • Book 1

by David Baldacci

★ 4.47 BLT Score (160.2K ratings)

★ 4.13 Goodreads (160.2K)

416 pages • 2015

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11

The Winner

by David Baldacci

★ 4.44 BLT Score (55.9K ratings)

★ 4.15 Goodreads (55.9K)

513 pages • 1997

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12

The Whole Truth

A. Shaw • Book 1

by David Baldacci

★ 4.39 BLT Score (43.4K ratings)

★ 4.09 Goodreads (43.4K)

406 pages • 2008

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13

Total Control

by David Baldacci

★ 4.39 BLT Score (50.0K ratings)

★ 4.15 Goodreads (50.0K)

720 pages • 1996

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14

Hell's Corner

The Camel Club • Book 5

by David Baldacci

★ 4.38 BLT Score (44.8K ratings)

★ 4.19 Goodreads (44.8K)

448 pages • 2010

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15

Hour Game

Sean King & Michelle Maxwell • Book 2

by David Baldacci

★ 4.35 BLT Score (56.1K ratings)

★ 4.05 Goodreads (56.1K)

611 pages • 2004

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16

The Simple Truth

by David Baldacci

★ 4.35 BLT Score (42.4K ratings)

★ 4.11 Goodreads (42.4K)

544 pages • 1998

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17

The Camel Club

The Camel Club • Book 1

by David Baldacci

★ 4.34 BLT Score (98.8K ratings)

★ 4.07 Goodreads (98.8K)

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18

Dream Town

Archer • Book 3

by David Baldacci

★ 4.31 BLT Score (38.7K ratings)

★ 4.09 Goodreads (38.7K)

432 pages • 2022

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19

Split Second

Sean King & Michelle Maxwell • Book 1

by David Baldacci

★ 4.31 BLT Score (83.5K ratings)

★ 4.05 Goodreads (83.5K)

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20

The Whole Truth: Shaw and Katie James 1

A. Shaw • Book 1

by David Baldacci

★ 4.30 BLT Score (43.4K ratings)

★ 4.09 Goodreads (43.4K)

443 pages • 2008

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21

Simple Genius

Sean King & Michelle Maxwell • Book 3

by David Baldacci

★ 4.29 BLT Score (49.3K ratings)

★ 4.01 Goodreads (49.3K)

420 pages • 2007

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22

Simple Genius: King and Maxwell

Sean King & Michelle Maxwell • Book 3

by David Baldacci

★ 4.23 BLT Score (49.4K ratings)

★ 4.01 Goodreads (49.4K)

411 pages • 2007

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23

Saving Faith

by David Baldacci

★ 4.12 BLT Score (30.3K ratings)

★ 3.97 Goodreads (30.3K)

528 pages • 2000

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24

No Time Left (Kindle Single)

by David Baldacci

★ 3.81 BLT Score (11.9K ratings)

★ 3.72 Goodreads (11.9K)

15 pages • 2010

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Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

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