Last Man Standing
by David Baldacci
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The sole survivor of a devastating ambush, FBI Hostage Rescue Team agent Web London would do anything to find out what really happened that night—and a ten year old boy may be the unexpected key in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller.Web London was trained to penetrate hostile ground and come out alive. Then ten seconds in a dark alley cost him everything: his friends, his fellow agents, his reputation. Among his super-elite FBI Hostage Rescue Team, Web was the sole survivor of a show more high-tech, devastating ambush.
Now Web is trying to put his life back together and understand what really happened. To get answers, he'll need the help of psychiatrist Claire Daniels and the one other human being who lived through the attack—a ten-year-old boy. But when his search leads him back to that bloodstained alley, Web suddenly realizes he is about to face his assassin again. And this time, one of them will become the Last Man Standing.
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This one hooked me fast. The opening ambush is genuinely tense, and Baldacci builds the fallout well as Web London goes from elite FBI Hostage Rescue Team operator to the lone survivor under suspicion.
What worked best for me was that the book is not just action for action’s sake. There is plenty of danger and momentum, but the story also leans into guilt, paranoia, and the question of what happened to Web in that alley, which gave it more weight than a standard thriller.
I also liked that the book gives him help from Claire Daniels, because that thread adds some emotional depth without slowing everything to a crawl.
It is on the longer side, and there were a few stretches where I wanted things to move a little faster, but the show more suspense kept pulling me back in. Overall, a gripping, polished thriller with a strong central character and enough heart to keep it from feeling cold. show less
What worked best for me was that the book is not just action for action’s sake. There is plenty of danger and momentum, but the story also leans into guilt, paranoia, and the question of what happened to Web in that alley, which gave it more weight than a standard thriller.
I also liked that the book gives him help from Claire Daniels, because that thread adds some emotional depth without slowing everything to a crawl.
It is on the longer side, and there were a few stretches where I wanted things to move a little faster, but the show more suspense kept pulling me back in. Overall, a gripping, polished thriller with a strong central character and enough heart to keep it from feeling cold. show less
A Birthday Present that turned into a Sour Read!
I received this book as a birthday present and the gift brought a grateful smile to my face since I have enjoyed many of David Baldacci's novels, i.e., Absolute Power, A Simple Truth and others and within a few days I was reading Last Man Standing. Overall, I thought the Web London character was boring and shallow. As an FBI hostage team assaulter he seemed more like a loose cannon rather than a team player which I suspect is the SOP for the FBI. The story is plastered with police that have nothing to fill their time with except to shoot bazookas like guns and love every minute of their destruction. Sometimes I had to laugh because some of the author's scenarios were so bizarre and show more far-fetched. I won't go into the constant splattering of foul, almost detestable language, which I didn't feel added much to the plot. There were few surprises and I felt I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what would happen next.
Anyway, in my opinion Last Man Standing doesn't seem to fit Mr. Baldacci's style of a thrilling mystery novel that is at least realistic to a degree and his intensive research into the subject matter that he noted for. One last thought I think the book could have been shorten by at least 50 or 60 pages. It's not a terrible novel, it's a good read and I wouldn't recommend purchasing it. show less
I received this book as a birthday present and the gift brought a grateful smile to my face since I have enjoyed many of David Baldacci's novels, i.e., Absolute Power, A Simple Truth and others and within a few days I was reading Last Man Standing. Overall, I thought the Web London character was boring and shallow. As an FBI hostage team assaulter he seemed more like a loose cannon rather than a team player which I suspect is the SOP for the FBI. The story is plastered with police that have nothing to fill their time with except to shoot bazookas like guns and love every minute of their destruction. Sometimes I had to laugh because some of the author's scenarios were so bizarre and show more far-fetched. I won't go into the constant splattering of foul, almost detestable language, which I didn't feel added much to the plot. There were few surprises and I felt I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what would happen next.
Anyway, in my opinion Last Man Standing doesn't seem to fit Mr. Baldacci's style of a thrilling mystery novel that is at least realistic to a degree and his intensive research into the subject matter that he noted for. One last thought I think the book could have been shorten by at least 50 or 60 pages. It's not a terrible novel, it's a good read and I wouldn't recommend purchasing it. show less
I was looking for a real thriller, and thought I would try one by David Baldacci. I had read a very favourable review a while back, and I have also seen and enjoyed the movie version of Absolute Power.
After reading reviews at Amazon, I picked Last Man Standing. However, I was really disappointed. For me it wasn't thrilling at all. Several times I had to force myself to pick it up again to continue reading. For me, a good thriller is a book you can't stop reading, even if it's getting late and you really, really should try to get some sleep instead of continue reading.
Examples of great thrillers I have read are: The Firm by John Grisham, The Day After Tomorrow by Allan Folsom (nothing to do with the weather-related movie of the same show more name) and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.
But Last Man Standing was quite the opposite. Sure it had its moments where it got exciting for a while (the final shoot-out for example), but those times were quite rare.
I've been trying to figure out why I didn't like it, but I can't say I know why. I do think that a lot of what happens in the book is quite far-fetched (especially the reason the hero Web London froze during the ambush) and that the characters are pretty one-dimensional, but that's not enough of a reason. Both The Day After Tomorrow and Angels and Demons have plenty of far-fetch twists and one-dimensional characters, but they were still exciting reads. I can't come up with a definite answer as to why I didn't like Last Man Standing - I simply just didn't care for it.
Writing a negative review like this will probably earn me a few unhelpful votes, but I think it is important to also review books you didn't like. Otherwise you risk getting an unbalanced view. However, I do admit that it is much more fun to review books you really liked.
But to finish, if you are looking for a good thriller, skip this one and try one of the other three I mentioned above. show less
After reading reviews at Amazon, I picked Last Man Standing. However, I was really disappointed. For me it wasn't thrilling at all. Several times I had to force myself to pick it up again to continue reading. For me, a good thriller is a book you can't stop reading, even if it's getting late and you really, really should try to get some sleep instead of continue reading.
Examples of great thrillers I have read are: The Firm by John Grisham, The Day After Tomorrow by Allan Folsom (nothing to do with the weather-related movie of the same show more name) and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.
But Last Man Standing was quite the opposite. Sure it had its moments where it got exciting for a while (the final shoot-out for example), but those times were quite rare.
I've been trying to figure out why I didn't like it, but I can't say I know why. I do think that a lot of what happens in the book is quite far-fetched (especially the reason the hero Web London froze during the ambush) and that the characters are pretty one-dimensional, but that's not enough of a reason. Both The Day After Tomorrow and Angels and Demons have plenty of far-fetch twists and one-dimensional characters, but they were still exciting reads. I can't come up with a definite answer as to why I didn't like Last Man Standing - I simply just didn't care for it.
Writing a negative review like this will probably earn me a few unhelpful votes, but I think it is important to also review books you didn't like. Otherwise you risk getting an unbalanced view. However, I do admit that it is much more fun to review books you really liked.
But to finish, if you are looking for a good thriller, skip this one and try one of the other three I mentioned above. show less
I thought this book would be a war story, but it wasn't. It's an intricately crafted story about the FBI's finest—the HRT, Hostage Rescue Team—and the extraordinary men that rise above the fittest of the fit to hold back the forces of evil that threaten society around the world. Web London is one of these men. Web survived a horrific childhood to become an elite fighter for the good guys. Then, when his entire team is ambushed during a mission, Web mysteriously survives only to find himself now fighting for his reputation. Expertly crafted, this story of drug dealers, murderers, and worse, weaves a picture of devastating treachery, profound bravery, and fulfilling commitment. Fast action, great characters, and plot twists made this show more book entertaining and worthwhile. show less
Web London heads up the FBI's super-elite Hostage Rescue Team, he is a master at what he does, but on their latest assignment he is not able to predict, or save them from the bloodshed that is about to erupt. Having his men assemble in an alley, Web feels confident that they will bring down the drug dealer they have set out to destroy, but within seconds they are ambushed...everyone killed, leaving Web "The Last Man Standing".
Trying to cope with the blame that has been placed on him by grieving widows, Web must try to put the pieces of that fateful night together. What went wrong? How were they ambushed? And who was the young boy Web saved in that alley, and why was he there? As these questions plague Web he seeks the help of show more psychiatrist Claire Daniels, and with her help he will be able to confront his own tainted past, as well as answer the question, why was he chosen to be the sole survivor?
David Baldacci packs the book with a brilliant plot and more than a few surprises that will knock your socks off, and includes a wealth of detail that highlights his meticulous research skills. I can only hope that we'll see Web and company again in a future Baldacci thriller. show less
Trying to cope with the blame that has been placed on him by grieving widows, Web must try to put the pieces of that fateful night together. What went wrong? How were they ambushed? And who was the young boy Web saved in that alley, and why was he there? As these questions plague Web he seeks the help of show more psychiatrist Claire Daniels, and with her help he will be able to confront his own tainted past, as well as answer the question, why was he chosen to be the sole survivor?
David Baldacci packs the book with a brilliant plot and more than a few surprises that will knock your socks off, and includes a wealth of detail that highlights his meticulous research skills. I can only hope that we'll see Web and company again in a future Baldacci thriller. show less
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci surprised me. I liked it. I have read Absolute Power and Total Control by Baldacci and did not have the same reaction. Last Man Standing had many tangents: raising horses, psychiatry, and the main story, drug crimes, also sometimes felt like a tangent. Impressive work by the author, keeping the story readable with all the things going on.
3,614 members; 3.61 average rating; 3/14/2026
3,614 members; 3.61 average rating; 3/14/2026
Thriller with a psychological component for the girls, and things that go "boom" for the boys!
I happened on this book during an international Bookcrosser meeting in Switzerland. Picked it up from the book smorgasbord, took it to the hostel with me and started reading. And was hooked. Some parts may show a little lenght, but that is easily overshined by the brilliant introduction of the characters, namely the main character, Web London. But also his sidekick Romano and the psychologist that helps Web London to discover some secrets of his own past. Here you have a hardened special ops FBI agent, member of a hostage rescue team, that gets ambushed. All officers except London are killed. How London comes to terms with this terrible shock, show more and finds out why it has happened, provides for a few evenings of page-turning readers' joy. At the last page I shed some tears, something which rarely happens to me with books.
[Bookcrossing book: Will travel on. I have obtained my own copy.] show less
I happened on this book during an international Bookcrosser meeting in Switzerland. Picked it up from the book smorgasbord, took it to the hostel with me and started reading. And was hooked. Some parts may show a little lenght, but that is easily overshined by the brilliant introduction of the characters, namely the main character, Web London. But also his sidekick Romano and the psychologist that helps Web London to discover some secrets of his own past. Here you have a hardened special ops FBI agent, member of a hostage rescue team, that gets ambushed. All officers except London are killed. How London comes to terms with this terrible shock, show more and finds out why it has happened, provides for a few evenings of page-turning readers' joy. At the last page I shed some tears, something which rarely happens to me with books.
[Bookcrossing book: Will travel on. I have obtained my own copy.] show less
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ThingScore 79
The cast is engagingly fierce and Baldacci's brain-teasing plot leaves you wanting more. Bottom line : high-scoring shoot-'em-up.
added by keeper3014
Riveting...fascinating...a novel that will knock readers' socks off...The intricate plot moves at breakneck speed...the reader will be breathless.
added by keeper3014
Hits the mark...a solid story with realistic characterizations.
added by keeper3014
Author Information
David Baldacci was born in Richmond, Virginia on August 5, 1960. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia. He practiced law in Washington D.C. as a trial and corporate lawyer. His first novel, Absolute Power, was published in 1996. It won show more Britain's prestigious W.H. Smith's Thumping Good Read award for fiction in 1997 and was adapted as a movie starring Clint Eastwood. His other works include Total Control, The Winner, The Simple Truth, Saving Faith, True Blue, One Summer and End Game. He writes numerous series including King and Maxwell, Freddy and the French Fries, the Camel Club, Will Robie, Shaw and Katie James, John Puller, Vega Jane, and Amos Decker. He also published a novella entitled Office Hours and has authored five original screenplays. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Der Abgrund
- Original title
- Last man standing
- Original publication date
- 2001
- People/Characters
- Web London
- Important places
- Washington, D.C., USA
- Epigraph
- "A wrongly accused man is always vilified
by the ignorant masses.
Such a man such fire at will,
he is bound to hit something."
-Anonymous
"Speed, surprise and violence of action."
-Hostage Rescue Motto - Dedication
- To all the wonderful teachers and other volunteers
across the country who have helped make the
All America Reads project a reality.
This book is also dedicated to the memory of
Yossi Chaim Paley
(April 14, 1988 - March 10, 2001)
The bravest young man I ever met. - First words
- Web London held a semiautomatic SR75 rifle custom built for him by a legendary gunsmith. The SR didn't stop at merely wounding flesh and bone; it disintegrated them.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And then Web looked ahead and kept going.
- Original language*
- Englisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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