The Sixth Man (novel)

For other uses, see The Sixth Man (disambiguation).

The Sixth Man

Hardcover edition
Author	David Baldacci
Language	English
Series	The fifth book in the King and Maxwell (book series)
Genre	Fiction
Publisher	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date	April 19, 2011
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print, e-book, audiobook
Pages	417 (Hardcover edition)
ISBN	978-0446573108
Preceded by	First Family
Followed by	King and Maxwell

The Sixth Man is a crime fiction novel by American writer David Baldacci, ^[1] initially published on April 19, 2011 by Grand Central Publishing. ^{[2] [3] [4]} This is the fifth installment in the King and Maxwell book series.

Plot summary

Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called to help Edgar Roy, an alleged serial killer awaiting trial. Roy faces almost certain conviction. Roy’s attorney, Sean’s friend and mentor Ted Bergin, is set to meet with King and Maxwell to help work the case. But their investigation is derailed when Sean and Michelle find Bergin murdered on a quiet highway in New England. King and Maxwell uncover a secret government program which uses analysts to examine the combined intelligence government channels and offer strategic advice. Roy was the top such analyst. King and Maxwell are aided by Roy's half sister, a former spy. The trio uncover a conspiracy by the Secretary of Homeland Security to shut down the program and have Roy executed. The novel ends with Michelle waking from a coma after the final battle and Sean realizing how much their relationship meant to him.

Characters

• Michelle Maxwell: An ex-Secret Service agent, featured first in Split Second and again in Hour Game and Simple Genius. She is the partner of Sean King. Dark hair, attractive, five feet ten inches tall (about 1.75m), an Olympic medalist in rowing and an expert in combat.
• Sean King: Also an ex-Secret Service agent, Sean King is in his forties, six feet two (about 1.88m), and handsome. King and Maxwell's relationship is portrayed as mostly platonic.

Reception

Jeff Ayers ^[5] called Baldacci "a master craftsman" in his review for the Associated Press while Kirkus stated that the book has "more double-crosses than a tic-tac-toe tournament." ^{[6] [4]}

References

1. Conet, David (July 3, 2011). "Book review - The Sixth Man by David Baldacci". Express.co.uk. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
2. "The Sixth Man" . Booklist . April 1, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
3. "The Sixth Man". Publishers Weekly . Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
4. "The Sixth Man". Kirkus Reviews . April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
5. "ABOUT – Jeff Ayers Books".
6. Stream, Wire. "Book Review: King and Maxwell return in 'The Sixth Man'". Alliance Review.

External links

• Official website