“People who read are a lot more tolerant than people who don’t.”
David Baldacci is a prolific and highly skilled thriller novelist, with 46 bestsellers under his belt. His background as a practising attorney has helped him breathe new life into the law-thriller genre in the literary world.
The 6:20 Man, published in 2022, is a heart-racing thriller that centres around a high-stakes conspiracy involving the world’s most powerful lawmakers. As the story unfolds, readers are taken on a thrilling journey that keeps them on the edge of their seats. And we here at What We Reading absolutely loved it.
For those who also loved the novel, here are 7 books like The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci.
The Boys From Biloxi – John Grisham
John Grisham’s The Boys From Biloxi, a pulsating law thriller and number one New York Times bestseller takes readers on a thrilling journey through the seedy underbelly of Biloxi. Known for its beaches, seafood, and resorts, the town is also home to a dark criminal world rife with drugs, prostitution, and contract killings.
The story revolves around Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, two childhood friends from Biloxi who have grown up in vastly different environments. While Keith’s father is devoted to tidying up the coast, Hugh’s father reigns as the leader of the criminal underworld. As the paths of the boys intersect once more, their families find themselves headed towards an intense courtroom confrontation.
Blowback – James Patterson And Brendan DuBois
An enthralling conspiracy wrapped in political intrigue, it’s clear why so many consider James Patterson and Brendan DuBois’ Blowback one of the best books like The 6:20 Man.
Blowback, co-authored by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois, is a thrilling political conspiracy that centres around two special CIA agents, Liam Grey and Noa Himel. The book delves into the dangerous world of US politics, where the ambitious and unstable President Keegan Barrett rises to power. Despite his brilliance, Barrett’s mind is plagued by insanity, and he reveals a hidden plan to seize more power. He demands the two agents’ assistance in enforcing it, leaving them with an impossible choice.
As readers grapple with the agents’ divided allegiance between the President and the Constitution, they are left contemplating the impending perils that await the agents.
Armored – Mark Greaney
Mark Greaney, the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Gray Man series, takes readers on a thrilling ride with his latest novel, Armored. The story centres around Joshua Duffy, an elite close protection agent who loses his leg during a perilous mission in Lebanon.
Upon returning home, Duffy discovers that there isn’t much demand for bodyguards missing a limb. However, an encounter with an old colleague leads him to a final mission – protecting diplomats negotiating with homicidal cartels. As the story develops, readers are effortlessly taken to the dangerous Espinazo del Diablo, where they embark on an exciting and daring adventure.
Armored is a debut action thriller that showcases Greaney’s talent for crafting gripping and intense stories.
Love thrillers? Check out the best books like Harlan Coben’s The Stranger here!
Overkill – Sandra Brown
Overkill, written by Sandra Brown in 2022, is a thrilling novel that seamlessly blends courtroom drama, pulsating thriller, and romantic suspense.
Rebecca is the main character in this story. She becomes a victim of an attack by a man named Eban, which leads to her being put on life support. Eban, who comes from a wealthy family, receives an early release from prison. This event prompts prosecutor Kate Lennon to gather evidence and construct a case against him. However, in order to build a strong case, it becomes necessary for Rebecca’s condition to worsen. This puts her ex-husband, Zach Bridger, a former baseball professional, in a difficult position where he must make the tough decision of terminating her life support.
As the two grapple with the moral and legal complexities of the situation, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Meanwhile, Eban is busy hatching a plan to eliminate both of them before they can make any decisions that could jeopardize his freedom. With its gripping plot and complex characters, Overkill is a must-read for fans of the Baldacci formula.
No Plan B – Lee Child And Andrew Child
The book No Plan B by Lee and Andrew Child starts with a tragic incident where a woman loses her life after being hit by a bus. The authorities rule it out as a suicide, but Jack Reacher knows the truth. Having seen a man in a grey tracksuit push the woman to her death, he kickstarts an investigation to uncover the truth behind this murder.
What he doesn’t bargain for, however, is quite how far this one crime will take him. From a foster kid on the run to a serial arsonist on a personal quest for revenge, No Plan B is a pulsating crime thriller that will push the veteran Jack Reacher to his absolute limits.
Absolute Power – David Baldacci
Absolute Power, a crime thriller published in 1995, is one of the books that launched David Baldacci’s remarkable career.
The novel tells the story of a professional cat burglar who, after becoming trapped in the wardrobe of one of the wealthiest men in the world, witnesses two Secret Service agents assault and murder the man’s young wife. When he picks up a bloodstained note that places the President at the scene of the crime, the burglar finds himself on the run.
Absolute Power is a complex and ambitious work of crime fiction that delves into a clandestine manhunt orchestrated by the nation’s chief executives, and one man’s quest to take down a sociopathic President. With its intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and gripping suspense, it is as timeless today as it was back in ’95.
The House of Wolves – James Patterson And Mike Lupica
In The House of Wolves, bestselling authors James Patterson and Mike Lupica tell a thrilling story of a billionaire patriarch, Joe Wolf, whose murder sparks a bloody fight for control among his three sons and one daughter.
Detective Ben Cantor is given the responsibility of uncovering the enigma surrounding Joe’s death and the reasons behind his heirs’ actions. All of his heirs possess both the capability and the reason to harm their father. As money, power, family issues, and football become intertwined in the investigation, The House of Wolves offers readers a fast-paced and gripping thriller similar to Baldacci’s The 6:20 Man.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
