Split Second cover art

Split Second

The King and Maxwell, Book 1

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Split Second

By: David Baldacci
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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About this listen

'The action is explosive. Readers will barely have time to catch their breath' - People

Split Second
is the electrifying first thriller in the gripping King and Maxwell series from international no.1 bestselling author David Baldacci.

* * * * *


When something distracts Secret Agent Sean King for a split second, it costs him his career and presidential candidate, Clyde Ritter, his life. But what stole his attention? And why was Ritter shot?

Eight years later Michelle Maxwell is on the fast track through the ranks of the Secret Service when her career is stopped short: presidential candidate John Bruno is abducted from a funeral home while under her protection.

The similarity between the two cases drives Michelle to re-open investigations into the Ritter fiasco and join forces with attractive ex-agent King. The pair are determined to get to the bottom of what happened in those critical moments.

Meanwhile, high-ranking members of the legal system and key witnesses from both cases are going missing. King is losing friends, colleagues and clients fast and his ex-lover, Joan Dillinger, is playing curious games – she wants Sean back, but she also owes him for something . . .

Continue the action with Hour Game, Simple Genius, First Family, The Sixth Man and King and Maxwell.

* * * * *

KILLER TWISTS. HEROES TO BELIEVE IN. TRUST BALDACCI.

'One of the world's thriller masters' – Daily Mail

'Baldacci is still peerless' – Sunday Times

'One of the all-time best thriller authors' – Lisa Gardner

'Baldacci delivers, every time!' – Lisa Scottoline

*The 6.20 Man, the first instalment in the Travis Devine series, was an instant New York Times bestseller w/c 31/07/2024

Crime Thrillers Espionage International Mystery & Crime Mystery Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense

Critic Reviews

The action is explosive. Readers will barely have time to catch their breath
Pulse-pounding suspense
Genuinely scary scenes . . . driven by tense action
Great . . . a fast-paced thriller
Baldacci is still peerless
Baldacci is the master (Jeffrey Archer, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Clifton Chronicles and the William Warwick series)
A tour de force (S. A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of All The Sinners Bleed)
Baldacci delivers, every time! (Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of What Happened to the Bennetts)
David Baldacci has readers the world over flocking for more (Jane Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dry)
All stars
Most relevant
David Baldacci writes beautifully and I love the way he develops his stories. Pure Brilliance.

Another great Baldacci

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I read his later series Amos decker and John puller first and thought these were excellent and on the list for a reread in a couple of years. This is obviously and earlier work and while the dynamics of king and maxwell were really well crafted I just found the twists at the end a little less than the build up. Also what happened to book 2 in the series ... what’s the point of having a series of you are missing book? I’m trying the camel club now and giving this series a miss ... shame

It’s ok but not great

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Great story line, usual Baldacci excellence and well performed. Four separate locations in the recording were very glitchy, repeated lines and up to 30seconds at a time missing. Reminiscent of a sticky CD. A little disappointed but enjoyed the book all the same.

Great story

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Terrible narration! Way too fast and too smug! Not enjoyable at all!
I love David Baldacci books and have just binge read (listened too) 11 in a row. This was terrible! I'm skipping the next 2 in the series to get to the ones narrated by Ron McLarty.
So disappointing... I couldn't finish it

Terrible Narration

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There are few twists, but lots of clues .... that you notice, once pointed out to you by King & Maxwell !!!🤣🤔

Lots of twists

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