The Collectors (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | October 17, 2006 |
| Founder | David Baldacci |
| Products | Suspense novel |
The Collectors is a suspense novel authored by American writer David Baldacci, released by Warner Books on October 17, 2006. This title represents the second installment in the Camel Club series, which centers on a group of civilian outcasts in Washington, D.C., led by Oliver Stone, a former Green Beret and ex-CIA operative. Upon release, the book entered The New York Times Best Seller list at position No. 2 on November 5, 2006, maintaining its presence for seven consecutive weeks.
Plot summary
The narrative begins with the deaths of two prominent figures: the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who is assassinated by a sniper during a social event, and the curator responsible for the rare books collection at the Library of Congress, whose demise occurs under suspicious conditions. Oliver Stone and his Camel Club team delve into the investigation and uncover that Seagraves has been trafficking sensitive U.S. intelligence information to Middle Eastern terrorist groups, severely undermining national security operations. After being tailed and seeking assistance from the United States Secret Service, Stone is captured and subjected to torture by Seagraves.
Parallel to this, Annabelle Conroy is introduced as a skilled con artist who recently executed a $40 million theft from Jerry Bagger, an Atlantic City casino magnate, and is now evading capture. Bagger aims to eliminate Annabelle and her associates. Alex Ford, who returns from the previous book in the series, plays a crucial role in tracking down Seagraves’s accomplices. The climax sees Stone fatally wound Seagraves by stabbing his carotid artery, while Ford’s agents apprehend the remaining conspirators.
Meanwhile, one of Annabelle’s collaborators endures torture at Bagger’s hands to disclose her whereabouts near Washington, D.C. The novel concludes by laying the groundwork for Stone Cold, the third entry in the Camel Club saga.
Critical reception
Doug Childers from the Richmond Times praised the novel's "impressive opening" but remarked that its direction might diverge from reader expectations. Lee Ann Montanaro of The Times of Malta commented that the book did not fully achieve a "masterful execution within the thriller genre," suggesting higher anticipation. A critic from San Antonio Express-News characterized the work as "well-written yet predictable and lacking depth."