Book Review: Nash Falls by David Baldacci – Small Town Secrets, Big-Time Suspense
Nash Falls by David Baldacci is an intense, fast-paced thriller that blends small-town charm with razor-sharp suspense. From page one, Baldacci pulls you into a seemingly quiet community where everyone knows your name—and your business. But beneath the surface of Nash Falls lies a web of secrets, betrayals, and danger that unravels with every twist.

The story follows a seasoned investigator sent to this picturesque town to look into a mysterious disappearance. What starts as a routine case quickly turns into something much darker. Baldacci masterfully teases out the layers, introducing a cast of complex, compelling characters—some likable, some deeply disturbing—all of them hiding something.

What I loved most about Nash Falls is its balance. There’s grit and emotional depth, but also moments of levity and warmth. Baldacci’s dialogue is sharp and natural, and his pacing is perfection. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, the rug gets pulled again.

The town itself is practically a character—moody, beautiful, and just a little bit claustrophobic. You can almost smell the pine trees and hear the gossip at the diner.

If you’re a fan of thrillers with heart, Nash Falls delivers in a big way. It’s a story about truth, trust, and the scars we carry, all wrapped up in an unputdownable mystery. Baldacci proves once again why he’s a master of the genre.

Highly recommended for fans of suspense, small-town noir, and character-driven thrillers.

I am such a Baldacci fangirl, and Nash Falls reminded me exactly why. Nobody writes high-stakes thrillers with characters you actually care about quite like he does. Walter Nash goes from buttoned-up businessman to full-on action hero, and I was hooked the entire ride. Twists, danger, impossible choices. it had everything I want in a Baldacci novel. And yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, which means I’m already counting down until book two. I literally dropped everything on my schedule to finish this book when I got access!

Walter Nash-he’s this buttoned-up finance exec who lives for spreadsheets and acquisitions, not spycraft. But once the FBI shoves him into the middle of their sting operation, watching him adapt, stumbling, learning, and then finally owning it was addictive. I loved the layers with his dad’s Vietnam past too. the way his father’s best friend Shock steps in as a mentor gave those training sequences emotional weight, not just action-movie flash.

The moment when Victoria Steers figures out Nash isn’t just another pawn and flips the board on him? I gasped. Then came the gut-punch with his family getting pulled into the fallout. Those personal stakes are what kept me turning pages you can feel Nash’s desperation ratchet up with every chapter.

This was the PERFECT THRILLER!

In Nash Falls, David Baldacci takes a surprising detour from his usual high-stakes thrillers to introduce a new series centered around Walter Nash—a mild-mannered, intelligent, and kindhearted businessman whose life is upended when the FBI comes knocking at his door in the middle of the night.

Walter, still reeling from his father’s funeral, is thrust into a world of espionage and corporate corruption when the FBI recruits him to help expose Sybaritic, the powerful investment firm he works for. But things quickly spiral out of control when a leak puts his and his family’s safety in jeopardy.
Unlike Baldacci’s more grounded thrillers, Nash Falls veers into campier territory, with several far-fetched twists and implausible plot turns. Still, if you’re willing to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride, there’s plenty of intrigue to enjoy. Walter Nash is an endearing and relatable protagonist, and the novel successfully sets the stage for what could be an entertaining series—provided future installments dial back the over-the-top elements.

Not Baldacci’s most refined work, but an enjoyable setup for what’s to come. Here's hoping book two delivers a bit more realism while keeping the momentum going.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nash Falls by David Baldacci tells the story of Walter Nash a top level executive at an investment firm. He has a perfect life until the FBI shows up to recruit him as their inside man. Apparently his company is partaking in money laundering and other illegal activities.

The cast of characters are developed and interesting. I like that the book doesn’t take place in a week. It’s over a year or so. It’s very action packed and suspenseful. I think I read it in a day!!

My only question is when is the next one coming out!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC.

I always look forward to a new David Baldacci book, and have read and enjoyed many, but this one is a disappointment. I read the first 10% of it and quit. The characters seem flat; the plot uninteresting. I hope the book gets better for readers who can persist.

Balducci launches a great new hero in Walter Nash – who we first meet as an unassuming brainiac head of new acquisitions for a large corporation, Sybaritic Investments. Walter has established an enviable track record for himself in identifying winning investments, which has been attributed to his keen attention to detail and hard work. Outside of long hours and travel to scope out new companies, Nash lives a happy quiet, upscale life with his wife and daughter.

That is until one night when he’s approached by an FBI agent who informs him that his company is actually an elaborate money laundering scheme by an international criminal syndicate. He’s asked to become an informant. Nash realizes as he investigates what’s been going on that all his high performing investments may have actually outperformed based on nefarious money laundering that kicks in after purchase. He also learns that the two people who have been previously tasked by the FBI to look into this have been murdered. Suddenly, Nash himself is getting framed for murder by the powers that be at Sybaritic and he has to desperately go on the run to save himself and his family.

Nash has to completely gear up: an emotionally and physically wrenching transformation and one for which he’s completely unprepared. To do so, he has to delve back into his hostile relationship with his Vietnam War vet Dad and rely on his Dad’s best friend to build him slowly and painfully into the soldier he needs to become. Nash brings the same dogged tenacity and investigation skills he brought to evaluating new companies for investment as he emerges a reluctant action hero.

This intelligent thriller keeps you rooting for Nash while consumed by the tightly woven plot with its completely unexpected twists and turns.

Here’s hoping that Nash makes a reappearance soon!!


Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Nash has done everything he is supposed to be at the top of his career and provide for his family. Nash likes his quiet if predictable life. Until the FBI approaches him with a threat that he has to help or else they will prosecute him.

Nash has little choice but to accept the FBI’s 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.
And even that may not be enough.

I read everything David Baldacci writes and once again he has written a terrific character. My only complaint would be that I have to wait until the next book in the series to find out what happens to Nash.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

So dang good, twists at every turn, and shocking plot shakeups that you can.not.see.coming. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy so I was reading on my Kindle ... which meant I couldn't really tell where I was in the total book. So when it ended, I said out loud "on NO!" Really wish I could have turned the page and read the next installation, if there is going to be one (hint, hint!)

First a big Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher, Grand Central for my early copy.
David Baldacci is one of the best authors in Mystery/Thriller genre today, and I was excited to get an early look.

I put this book into 2 halves; the first half is setting up the story and introducing the characters. To be honest, I was not happy reading the first half. Walter Nash is a brilliant mind working for Sybaritic Investments. He seems happy, with a beautiful wife and daughter who decided to take a Gap Year after High School and wants to be an influencer. Unfortunately, things in his life go south, quick! His estranged father dies, and he is humiliated at the funeral by his father's best friend. Then he is approached by the FBI that night, and asked for him to be an inside spy of his firm to take down a criminal ring. Nash has no choice, but when he finds out the previous 3 asked by the FBI were all killed, what is Nash to do?

In the 2nd half, the action kicks up into high gear and Baldacci shows why he is a master storyteller. Things only get worse for Walter Nash, as the mastermind behind the criminal organization that is running the Temple family in charge of the investment firm, kidnaps Walter's daughter. Walter decides to go on the offensive, but how will that work out for him and his family?

After getting passed the initial start of the story, where I truly did not like any of the characters besides Walter (including his wife, Judith), I was able to enjoy Baldacci's writing and plot twists and turns. The story is complete fiction, but you dont need to be told that, as it is so unbelievable, it is almost laughable. The story ends with a cliffhangar, so get ready for the next Nash tale.

I will read every book put out by David Baldacci. This was not his best work, but I will still read the next chapter!
If I could give 1/2 stars, this is a 3.5.

I love when a new Baldacci book comes out. He just has a way of drawing you in to the characters. Nash Falls was no exception.
The first half of the book was among Baldacci's best. He really makes you care for the characters
Unfortunately, I thought the 2nd half of the book was just OK/ As the inevitable sequel comes out, I hope it returns to more character and Baldacci has earned that chance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Walter Nash has a good life as a senior executive with an investment firm. His wife and daughter love him, they have a beautiful home and while he travels too much, he loves the work he does which is suited to his analytical mind.

Nash’s day doesn’t start out well. On the day he buries his father, Nash is humiliated by his father’s best friend during the service. Nash returns home and pours himself a drink, reflecting on the estranged relationship he had with his father, and that’s when his day gets worse. An FBI agent jumps out of the bushes and tells Nash that the firm he is working for is laundering money for a large, sophisticated and particularly violent criminal organization. Nash is recruited to help expose the crimes, but does so unwillingly as he is told he will be framed for crimes if he doesn’t help. Nash begins investigating the crimes, but the criminal organization is onto him and they frame him for crimes he didn’t commit to discredit him.

The book was good up until this point. Nash takes things into his own hands, becomes the avenger and that’s where the book loses me. The remainder of the book focuses on Nash’s transformation from mild-mannered business executive to killing machine. There is no thrilling suspense, wondering how he is going to figure this out. There are no plot twists to keep you guessing. It’s just Nash’s rage, and then the book ends. I’m not sure it held enough plot for me to read the sequel. While his previous books have been very entertaining, this one just misses the mark.

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/

Nash Falls is my new favorite David Baldacci novel. It's an absolute page-turner that I devoured in just 24 hours. The story is packed with tension, sharp twists, and a protagonist whose transformation kept me fully invested from start to finish. Baldacci’s ability to craft compelling characters and high-stakes drama and ethical issues is on full display here. Knowing ahead of time that the book ends on a cliffhanger helped me appreciate the story without frustration. The ending left me satisfied yet eager for more, and I’m already counting down the days until the next installment. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. Highly recommended for fans of gripping thrillers and character-driven suspense.

This book was quite the roller coaster ride! Walter Nash has just buried his estranged father when an FBI agent shows up in his yard in the night. The agent wants him to provide the FBI with information to prove the business he works for is doing illegal things. The first part of this book is a bit boring as the reader is led through Nash’s job and home responsibilities. The book picks up about halfway through and became a book I had a hard time putting down. The pace became much faster and much more interesting. I liked getting to know Nash and how he stepped up when it was needed. His father’s friend whose nickname is Shock is definitely shocking. The ending of the book was not what I expected and I hope the next book picks up there. If you’re a fan of thrillers I think you’d like this book. I received a copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
This book was totally awesome! It had everything in it you wanted for a good read!
Nash is recruited by the FBI. He has a good job, where he is on top of his game, a wife, and a daughter. Does he dare put them in danger— but if he doesn’t then what? But when the powerful people find out he’s working for the FBI things get scary and dangerous. Nash must meet the challenge but can he? A must read!

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Walter Nash has just buried his estranged father when he is visited by the FBI. Walter is sure that the reason is due to something nefarious in his father's life, but instead, the FBI wants to enlist his help to bring down the investment firm that employs him. The FBI gives him enough information to know that the mission will be dangerous, but not enough to convince him to help. When Walter does get involved, the tables are turned on him and he barely escapes. In order to survive, and bring down the dangerous people involved, he must totally reinvent himself -- before they can find him.

I stayed awake far too late into the night to see if Walter would stay alive long enough to be successful in his quest, only to be left with a cliffhanger. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can't wait to see how the rest of Walter's journey unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Nash Falls by David Baldacci is a fast paced exciting FBI thriller. It is the first book in a new series that promises to be an exciting one.
This main character is a wonderful character that has to undergo a complete identity change to stay alive. This thriller uses loyalty, friendship family and revenge to tell its story. I can't wait for the next book in the series

When the FBI unexpectedly knocks on his door in the middle of the night, mild-mannered businessman Walter Nash has his upscale life turned upside down in Nash Falls, a new series from David. Baldacci. Nash has an upper level position at an investment firm that is on the FBI’s radar, and they want Nash to work for them, gathering intel on his company. but a leak puts Nash and his family in danger. Not your typical Baldacci book here, as this one takes a sharp turn as the author builds a backstory for this series. The plot gets a little campy, with too many implausible scenarios and outcomes, but if you just go with the flow and not expect a rationale story, then this book is enjoyable enough to keep you hooked and looking ahead to Nash’s exploits. With the groundwork laid, let’s see if the next book is a little more reasonable. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Straight as an arrow & all around good guy, Walter Nash, is having a seriously bad day. First, while attending his estranged father’s funeral, he’s berated and screamed at by one of his father’s best friends. Next, the FBI show up at his house informing him that he needs to be an informant for them against his boss and if he doesn’t agree he’ll likely end up in jail as well. Once Nash makes his decision to help the FBI, his entire world starts falling apart and he finds himself on the run. Can he survive long enough to bring those that deserve it to justice or will he perish like those before him?

When I was given an opportunity to read an ARC of a David Baldacci novel I jumped at the opportunity. His ability to weave a story is absolutely amazing & always keeps me guessing and wanting more. Nash Falls is no exception. While the beginning moved a little slower than I’m used to, the middle to end truly made up for it to the point where I could not put it down & even read while walking through the splash pad with my youngest son.

Nash is an all around good guy, an Eagle Scout through and through, his only flaw is that he’s a bit aloof when it comes to displaying his emotions. His wife & daughter know for absolute certain that he loves them but he’s still a bit distant as a result of how his father was with him. Everything he does is for them & when tragedy strikes he transforms completely for his family.

Then we have Rhett who can only be described as an asshole but I still felt myself feeling a little bad for him. While he was definitely sleeping with Nash’s wife & manipulating his younger than him stepmother so he could get controlling votes for the board of the company, he was also thrown into working with Steers & all the illegal shit that came with that thanks to his father. I got the sense that if it was him making the decision to work with Steers initially, he would’ve opted out.

Of course in true Baldacci form, this is probably the beginning of a new series or there will be at least a sequel to find out how everything pans out & I will be ready and waiting.

**Thank you NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC**

Wow, what an amazing story! David Baldaccia has done it again! At first I was a little lost but as it continued it became a book I couldn’t put down.. Nash’s dad and friend Shock were so awesome in their relationship in Vietnam.. His family issues, wife, daughter were very carefully but yet explosive in their relationship book! Bravo! Thank you to the author for this great novel!