Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Nash Falls by David Baldacci Narrator: MacLeod Andrews, Christine Lakin, Larry Herron, Will Collyer, Shiromi Arserio
Series: Nash Falls #1
Published by Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio on November 11, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 448
Length: 12 hours, 54 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Walter Nash is a sensitive, intelligent and kindhearted man. He has a wife and a daughter and a very high-level position at Sybaritic Investments, where his innate skills and dogged tenacity have carried him to the top of the pyramid in his business career. Despite never going on grand adventures, and always working too many hours, he has a happy and upscale life with his family.
However, following his estranged Vietnam-veteran fatherās funeral, Nash is unexpectedly approached by the FBI in the middle of the night. They have an important request: become their inside man to expose an enterprise that is laundering large sums of money through Sybaritic. At the top of this illegal operation is Victoria Steers, an international criminal mastermind that the FBI has been trying to bring down for years.
Nash has little choice but to accept the FBIās demands and try to bring Steers and her partners to justice. But when Steers discovers that Nash is working with the FBI, she turns the tables on him in a way he never could have contemplated. And that forces Nash to take the ultimate step both to survive and to take his revenge: He must become the exact opposite of who he has always been.
The beginning of Nash Falls is sort of straightforward, almost boring description of Walter Nash. He’s a hard-working, talented business person.Ā He loves his wife and daughter.Ā Walter has made his own way.Ā His mother died of cancer when he was young and he’s estranged from his father.Ā Then things start to go awry, so the pacing and intrigue increase.
His father dies and he’s berated at the funeral by his father’s best friend.Ā An FBI agent contacts him about criminality in the firm where he is an officer.Ā He doesn’t want to get involved since all the previous “moles” are dead.Ā Then his daughter is kidnapped.Ā He has no doubt the international crime syndicate is behind it and they will be trying worse with him, so he leaves.
Nash starts a new way of life to be able to fight these criminals. It’s a hard road for him.Ā Back at home, his wife is a mess and believes Nash is responsible.Ā His boss and former company increase the pace and criminality of their actions.
Nash is a very likable character.Ā He is also smart and determined.Ā He’s kind and honest.Ā I felt badly for all that happened to him.Ā It was very suspenseful seeing what both sides are willing to do to achieve their goals.Ā The government has to play by the rules and the criminals don’t.Ā The pacing had some downs and ups but overall it’s exciting.Ā The ending is somewhat incomplete and the next book Hope Rises in April 2026.Ā I’ll definitely be reading!
Narration:
The narration enhanced the story for me with its support of the characters and their emotions.Ā I’m familiar with Macleod Andrews and Christine Lakin but the other three narrators are new to me.Ā Their skills allowed me to focus on the story rather than the narration.Ā I listened at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About MacLeod Andrews
MacLeod Andrews is an actor and voice actor in Los Angeles He is a Company Member of Rising Phoenix Rep theater company in NYC
About David Baldacci
David Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that sheād given him the notebook to keep him quiet, “because every mom needs a break now and then.ā) He published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; it was subsequently adapted for film, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 36 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. His novels have been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. David has also published six novels for younger readers.
A lifelong Virginian, David graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law, after which he practiced law in Washington, D.C.
David and his wife, Michelle, are the co-founders of the Wish You Well FoundationĀ®, which supports family and adult literacy in the United States. In 2008 the Foundation partnered with Feeding America to launch Feeding Body & Mind, a program to address the connection between literacy, poverty and hunger. Through Feeding Body & Mind, more than 1 million new and used books have been collected and distributed through food banks to families in need.
David and his family live in Virginia.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-COYER
Iām listening to this now so I only skimmed your review and paid attention to your great rating, Anneš Iām enjoying!
I hope you love it too!
I haven’t read this author in forever, but love the narrator. This is one I would enjoy.
I do think you would love it. I have enjoyed pretty much everything I have read from this author. I will warn you this is rather a cliffhanger, with the next book planned for April I think.
I’ve never read this author before, but the story sounds exciting with lots of tension and drama!
oh Tammy, this author has written many great books. This is the start of a new series which ends in a bit of a cliffhanger though.
I could use a nice mystery…mmmmmm….
This one has a good, smart guy in a horrible situation.
It is an incomplete book and I felt cheated and very disappointed. I am a great fan of the author. If he felt it would be too long then he has obviously never read a Stephen King book.
I think it is fine to have it be a duology but thought it should have ended a bit earlier to not be a cliffhanger. Luckily the next book will be out in just a few months, not even a year to wait. I don’t know how long a series it will be though.