Hope Rises

Walter Nash #2

by David Baldacci

Walter Nash began a journey down a dark path of seemingly no return, and now he finds himself questioning everything that got him there in this thrilling sequel to Nash Falls from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.

Walter Nash, working under the alias of Dillon Hope, is on the road to revenge after becoming an informant for the FBI against a global criminal operation headed up by Victoria Steers. Steers has ripped everything Nash held dear away from him. He has nothing left to lose and with long, rigorous training under his belt the gentle and sensitive Nash has transformed into something he never thought he’d be: a physically imposing man with lethal skills. And now he has only goal left in life: taking down Victoria Steers.

In order to succeed, he’s going to need to cross enemy lines and work the job from the inside. But Steers is shrewd and only brings those with her complete trust into her inner circle. Nash must rely on every ounce of his hard-earned skills in order to prove himself an ally to Steers if he’s ever going to get close enough to decimate her criminal empire.

Yet, despite hating the woman for destroying his life, Nash finds himself oddly drawn to Steers in ways that he never could’ve imagined. And what he ultimately discovers will turn all he believed upside down, forcing Nash to do something truly unfathomable.

So, will the truth set Nash free?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense, Crime, Mystery Thriller

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2026

About the author

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 she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.”)

David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.

In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.

A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walter Nash #2
Hope Rises by David Baldacci

I really enjoyed the first book, Nash Falls, in this series. The book ended on a humdinger of a cliffhanger so I was chomping at the bit to get this book. I do recommend reading Nash Falls before you read this book because you need to know what happened in the first book to understand the second book in the best way.

Walter Nash was a hardworking, extremely successful, intelligent, straightlaced family man. His life ethics were high although he did work too much and could have spend more time giving his wife and daughter the attention he gave to his career. Events in the first book turned his life on its head and that leads to him changing everything about himself. Now he lives under the name of Dillon Hope and his old life is wiped off the face of the earth for the most part.

When we start this book Nash is now working with the FBI to try to bring down a global criminal operation headed up by Victoria Steers. Nash is going to ruin Steers even if that means he has to go rogue and disassociate himself from the FBI. He's transformed himself so well that no one who knew him before his transformation recognizes him now. The everyman has turned into a strongman and he'll be ruthless if his inner ethics don't hold him back.

While I was interested in where Nash was heading in book two, the more I learn and the more I see with this story, the less enthralled I became with what is going on. We have really big bad humans with unlimited recourses talking about and actually wiping out massive numbers of human as a means of proving their world power and might and also for massive profit and prestige amongst those who are in the know about what they are doing. It's all about world domination and control. So Nash wanted revenge for what was done to his family but now he's involved in world powers tussling with the lives of everyday people.

What gets me is that Nash can't keep his mind on his mission and instead has huge amounts of empathy and sympathy for the worst folks. Nash makes excuses, over and over, for doing things that are counter to what he had planned to do and I lost respect for him. Of course, he's super intelligent and I'm just me so I wouldn't even be in his place to make things happen but it feels like he becomes one of them, in a way, and that's no fun. The moral dilemmas here are massive although Nash and only a few others seem to have many morals left. This was a rough ride for me and when it comes to evil world powers, I really don't want to be in their business meetings.

Pub April 14, 2026

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Walter Nash is now Dillon Hope, a man completely transformed and bearing no likeness to his former self. He’s formidable in every way…physically and mentally…and hellbent on avenging the death of his daughter. Nash is also working as an FBI informant and when we last saw him, he had infiltrated Victoria Steer’s enterprise, posing as a bodyguard for Rhett Temple in order to get close to and destroy his nemesis (Steers) and is a man with nothing to lose.

the heart of the story…
Unlike the first book, this begins at warp speed and doesn’t let up for quite some time. Nash sees Steers’s ruthlessness almost immediately upon their first meeting. He’s forced into a rescue of her mother out of a private prison in Myanmar with not only peril at every turn but ambiguity about who he can trust. But then things start to turn as he begins to question what’s truth or subterfuge. Who’s pulling whose strings and who is the ultimate puppet master? I loved that the ethical lines were murky and the humanity of Walter Nash clashed with the single mindedness of Dillon Hope.

the narration…
I’ve come to love the duet narration style in Baldacci’s books and it made a big difference here. With MacLeod Andrews at the lead as Nash, the full cast performance was outstanding. Will Collyer, Shiromi Arserio, Christine Lakin, Larry Herron and Tim Lounibos rounded out the cast.

the bottom line…
It’s a twisty story with lots of shifts, bends and turns beginning in Hong Kong, to Myanmar and ultimately back to the US. It felt like a master chess tournament and I just wanted to keep up. There were flashpoints to current events we’re experiencing here and worldwide that felt prescient and on target, not a good thing though. I found the story thought provoking and liked that Nash felt conflicted. Lots of gray lines here that rang authentic and realistic, making up for the first book leaving us on a cliffhanger. 4.5 stars

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Shivar Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sending me an advanced reader copy of Hope Rises. This book is a sequel to Nash Falls. Walter Nash has to change his identity and go into hiding due to unfortunate events that occur in this first book.
You will need to read Nash Falls because Hope Rises takes off where the first book ends.

First of all, I love everything that David Balducci writes and this one is no disappointment. Walter Nash/Dillon Hope gets involved with an international crime/drug organization as a bodyguard. He is working in cooperation with the FBI, to bring down this organization.

David Balducci‘s writing is very descriptive and intriguing and keeps the reader totally engaged. This story has some shocking surprises that I did not see coming. Another compelling aspect of his writing, which is evident in this story, is the attention given to character development and story plot. He can weave a story like none other.
If you are looking for a book that is action packed full of suspense, lies, betrayal, and intrigued, this is the book for you! This is a fantastic series!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being sorely disappointed by Nash Falls (book 1), largely due to the cliff hanger ending, I felt compelled to read book 2. While definitely better than the first, I'm still underwhelmed. A good editor would have cleaned up and stripped down book 1 to the bare essentials to establish the back story and then proceeded directly into book 2 (which could use some liberal editing of its own). Hope Rises clearly doesn't work as a stand alone, but these are two books that would benefit from being one. On its own, Hope Rises is a more interesting story, although a few of the twists are predictable and some are not quite believable. Still unimpressed.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishers for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishers for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

David Baldacci bookends his duo series of books featuring Walter Nash with 1000 bolts of crackling action in Hope Rises. Nash is now known as FBI informant and trained mercenary Dilion Hope.
"Nash" ended with a cliffhanger about Nash's next mission. The answer puts him on a flight to Hong Kong where he's been summoned by the ruthless billionaire Victoria Steers (the seductive villianess from "Nash"). She assigns him to break her Mother out of a prison in Myanmar where she's been serving time as a political prisoner. Nash accomplishes his mission, but instead of celebrating it leads to questions about the actual purpose of Steers' mission. Nash gets his answers by investigating Steers' empire and everyone involved in her tight circle. Nash unexpectedly forms a bond with Steers that throws him off from his investigation and his secret vow of vengence against Steers. I give Baldacci credit for making his latest series a duo series or books rather his usual multiple series of books. Nash and Hope reads like one whole novel because Baldacci successfully balanced the questions of the first book and answers in the second book. I particularly appreciated how he gave Nash a suitable ending instead of throwing in a unecessary last minute twist just to stretch his duo of books out as a trilogy. Hope Falls is Baldacci in top form, but I advise reading Nash Falls first in order to get a full understanding of the transformation of William Nash into Dilion Hope.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the last couple of years, David Baldacci has been producing two books a year, and focusing most of his attention on his recent series characters of Amos Decker (Memory Man), Atlee Pine, Aloysius Archer, and most recently Travis Devine. Now, he is branching out again, having introduced a new character – Nash Falls – one that starts off quite a bit different than these more hardcore heroes suited for the hard jobs and dangerous challenges.

When we first met Walter Nash in the first book in the series – “Nash Bridges” - he was his own man when it comes to business, mergers, and acquisition, but his personal side is more sensitive and kind-hearted. Unfortunately, he’s enjoyed an upscale wealthy family life with his wife and daughter to the point of being spoiled. He’s not physically strong, nor an experienced in the ways of a military soldier or government agent. The business world is his domain, where he is white-collar warrior that holds a high-level leadership position with the Sybaritic Investment firm. His skills are business, mergers, acquisition, and legal documents; his special weapon a tenacity for success.

By the end of that book, Walter’s life has been turned upside down in every way possible. He’s lost his father. His wife has left him, and his daughter has been taken. He’s been framed for laundering money with his company, and the FBI is trying to force him to work for them. That’s only the beginning. A global criminal empire led by a ruthless killer is focused on hunting him down and eliminating him permanently. It will force Nash to change everything about himself, physically, emotionally, and mentally and take on a new persona, that of Dillon Hope. Someone even his old friends and family would not recognize.

In the second book of the series, Dillon is seeking revenge on the criminal empire’s leader, Victoria Steers, and has gone undercover as a bodyguard in her organization. Although the FBI thinks he’s working with them, he has only one true intent. To kill her for taking away everyone he ever loved and held dear. He’s a man on a mission with nothing left to lose. His physical and emotional training has transformed him into a killer with lethal skills. His undercover work has forced him to use those skills and begin to question his humanity, at least what’s left of it.

As he proves himself valuable to her and her family, Dillon finds himself to be closer to the enemy than he ever expected. While waiting for opportunity to take her down, things start to change. Not everything seems as clear as he was instructed it would be. Personal situations within the family are not following the behaviors he expected, nor align with the criminal activities around him. Even worse, he finds himself being drawn to Victoria in ways that he never thought possible. Will his growing inner battles cause him to be discovered before he can complete his mission?

In many ways, this is another change-up for Baldacci, and surprisingly a pretty good one overall. First and foremost, it is not a two-book series, or a duology. It is one book that’s been cut in half for publication purposes, much like his “Atlee Pine” series, one story told over multiple books as opposed to separate or ongoing adventures. The good news is that it still maintains the same Baldacci thriller recipe – a strong lead character being thrown into tough situations and having to use his intellectual and a newly developing physical prowess to resolve a set of serious challenges, fight against seriously dangerous bad guys, and in this case, an absolutely brilliant and psychotic woman.

Baldacci’s secret sauce is the how he uses the storylines to instill empathy in the character’s outcomes, emotions in their struggles, and strength in their journeys. Even for someone who’s a masterful storyteller like Baldacci, this was one heck of an entertaining reading experience. I was so immersed in it that I finished it in just two weekend evenings as is often the case with a new Baldacci novel.

The other interesting thing that Baldacci does is shift gears in the second book. As much action and plot development as the first book had, it still served to set the table by breaking down Walter’s character in several key ways by having him face incredible and life threatening challenges (and a few salutes to the “Rocky Balboa” training school along the way), introduced multiple connected plotlines, and placed interesting characters with “skin” in the game.

Then, in the second book, he executes on the writers promise to bring everything together in several climactic outcomes. And he adds some additional tweaks to his secret sauce. He takes elements and flips them upside down. What you thought was one thing, was really another. When he’s finished unwrapping the story, it has been changed from how it was wrapped. Perspectives and paradigms have changed. Now I will say, that as a heavy reader, you will see some predictability in the subterfuge and mysteries as they unfold. It’s not rocket science, but a good writer can still deliver things well enough to get the payoffs needed. And in my opinion, Baldacci makes it work most of the time in this one.

When I look at the two books together as one complete story (and my gut tells me if this is the end of the road for Walter Nash/Dillon Hope, it’s one that I can live with) I have some closing thoughts.

This was an immersive, fast moving, and easy read. One of the key elements for me was the surprisingly complex and flawed characters. By the end, Baldacci turned several of the cast upside down. You were angry at them one moment and then almost empathetic later on. Most of them go through severe conflicts and challenges that bring on serious self-reflection and an attempt to change.

For me, it turned out to be one of the better Baldacci thrillers that I have read. I always enjoy reading his books, and am entertained by them, but this one is now one of my personal favorites. It just connected with me. I liked how not all of the characters were just either good or bad, but that they acted in ways that were both. Baldacci really hit home on themes of family, love, selfishness, forgiveness, change, and of course, revenge, and the cost that comes with it. Yes, this a thriller, but hitting on an emotional level helped amplify the mystery and thriller elements in way that felt refreshing. Yes, there was a definite Count of Monte Cristo vibe, but Baldacci put his own spin on it in a way that worked surprisingly well.

Overall, “Nash Falls” and “Hope Rises” were two of my favorite Baldacci reads. One I enjoyed enough to stay up way too late because I couldn’t find the will to close the book. For an author that’s producing two books per year, he shows that he is still capable of not only maintaining his writing recipe for success - intricate plotting, character depth, and strong pacing – he can raise the bar even higher.

I give this a worthy 4.5 out of 5-stars and highly recommend both to readers, especially if you haven’t read a Baldacci novel before. These books are a great place to get started.

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to be honest, I don’t think this is Baldacci’s strongest series. Not bad by any means, but I think maybe I had super high expectations because Baldacci writes awesome books. :)

Hope Rises was definitely fast-paced and packed with action. There’s a lot going on: undercover work, revenge, shifting loyalties... and the stakes are high from the start. But at times, I found myself a little confused. Not because it was badly written, but because so much was happening at once that it felt slightly overcrowded.

Book one made me genuinely curious to see where Walter’s story would go. His transformation and his mission for revenge were compelling enough to pull me into book two. However… this installment felt more predictable. I kept waiting for a twist or a moment that would genuinely surprise me, but unfortunately, nothing really did.

That said, I didn’t dislike it. The pacing is solid, the action scenes are strong and Baldacci’s storytelling is still very readable and engaging. I just didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would.

Overall: 3.5–3.75★ from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another phenomenal story with Walter Nash and co... although many of my hopes were dashed towards the end of this one...

Walter Nash has been reborn... and his new name and persona are not like his original being. No, they seem to be a lean, mean, killing machine... and then some. But underneath it all, he still has a big heart... I think...

Also, this is book #2. So, MAKE SURE TO READ BOOK #1... NASH FALLS BEFORE YOU PICK THIS ONE UP! There are a lot of references to the first book, and I don't think you'll understand much of what is happening without the knowledge of book #1.

So, Nash is now dead set on getting revenge on the person who killed his daughter, Maggie.
And, he will do whatever needs to be done to get that revenge... even if it means blowing his contacts and cover with the FBI...

But, things don't always go as planned in life... and, along the way he does meet some exceptional people... well, maybe it's just one or two... but it's something.

And, that gives him pause as to the whole scheme... because is it all really black and white? Or maybe, there are some gray areas?
But, it WAS HIS Daughter!!

This one will have you ON EDGE for a good part of the book, AND, if you are like me you will find yourself with your mouth HANGING OPEN on several occasions, and you might just have a few GASPS as well!!

5 Bold, Bright, Second-Chance, Gun-Slinging, Karate-Kicking as well as Ass-Kicking Stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#HopeRises by @DavidBaldacci and narrated phenomenally by a full cast including: @MacLeodAndrews, @WillCollyer, @ShiromiArserio, @ChristineLakin, @LarryHerron and @TimLounibos.

This one was released yesterday, 4/14/26, and I was so happy to be able to get it a bit earlier! Please look for it on shelves now!!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HachetteAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!

And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷

[R L HERSKOWITZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

RTC - Below are some immediate thoughts. I need to think about this book more, too.

It’s best to read Nash Falls prior to reading this book, Hope Rises.

Parts of this book seemed to be written by someone other than David Baldacci (or maybe this was a very old story that Baldacci tried to rework & finish).

Hope Falls is a complex story.
It’s busy.

I really enjoyed Nash Falls, except for the cliffhanger ending & waiting for Hope Rises.
I found Hope Rises disappointing.
I hope David Baldacci’s next book is much better.

Please read other reviews for more information and other opinions.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eager to delve into the latest novel by David Baldacci, I was privy to the second novel in this new series. Baldacci features Walter Nash, a man of great sensitivity and whose intelligence has helped him progress over the years. After an adventurous opening novel, Nash is back under a pseudonym and working undercover to kill a woman who has left his life in tatters. However, knowing your target sometimes changes things for all involved. Baldacci delivers a sobering addition to the series with this piece.

With his eyes on the target he seeks, Walter Nash is now taking his next steps under the name Dillon Hope. He's gaining credentials as an FBI informant to target the global empire of Victoria Steers. As Nash has nothing to lose, he will play the role of Hope and dismantle Steers, who has taken everything away from him. Now a stunning physical specimen, Nash is ready to use his Dillon Hope character to bring her down. Working to infiltrate Steers' inner circle, Hope works to help his target with a risky mission that takes him into some of the most dangerous parts of the world. A daring prison break is only the start, as Hope earns a great deal of trust from Steers, but their encounters are not done there. Now, Hope will have to work for Steers in a more direct way or face death, his loyalty not yet entirely earned. This may be the only way to destroy the Steers empire. While he surely hates Victoria Steers, Waster Nash/Dillon Hope finds himself connecting to her as he learns more about her backstory and what made her the woman she has become. Will Nash be able to keep his eye on the prize or has he discovered that truth is sometimes deeply buried? Baldacci continues this series that is slightly different from past collections I have enjoyed.

David Baldacci has impressed me with stories that are both well-crafted and full of action. The narrative introduces another busy story that pulls the attentive reader in the middle of the action. Momentum builds with each chapter, as developments thicken the plot without rushing them. Baldacci has perfected action thrillers, the elements present here while also ensuring human connection within the piece. The Nash and Steers characters show that this changes the story in key ways.

Characters develop once more and Walter Nash is front and centre yet again. There is more backstory to offer, as well as key developments to keep the reader on point throughout. Victoria Steers emerges, less as a criminal mastermind alone, as her backstory enriches the story and helps leave Nash wondering if his vendetta is entirely justified. Many varied characters emerge in the book once more, keeping the reader learning with each page turn. Many have struggles and successes, each playing a part in flavouring the larger foundation of the story and series as a whole. Baldacci has always created great characters and this is no exception. Readers familiar with Baldacci will see some great individuals whose development begs future exploration in upcoming novels.

The plot points of the book develop intensely as the story becomes clearer. though not in a linear fashion. Baldacci weaves the story together with twists and surprises, which make things intriguing as truths come together with ease. Many of these keep the reader on the edge of their seat, especially during the former portion of the book, though the latter half has its own twists. The fast-paced nature of the story kept me from being able to predict much, which leaves things open for more Walter Nash, and more mysteries revealed.

Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for a great adventure that continues.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how David Baldacci writes but this one was a harder read. In the beginning, there are lots of characters to keep track of and by the end, if you didn't read the first one, it won't make a lot of sense. Do yourself a favor and read this almost immediately after the first Nash book.

In this book Walter Nash is out to find the person who killed his daughter. Many twist and turns within this book.

Thank you Net Galley for the advance copy.

[Dawn H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great continuation of Nash Falls. The story picks up right where Nash Falls ended and continues the story of Walter Nash/Dillon Hope and Victoria Steers criminal enterprise. Yes, you need to read Nash Falls first and it’s terrific, so no worries. Just settle in and read them one after the other.

I enjoyed the continuation of the story and learning a bit more about the characters and the events that shaped them. It’s also fun seeing some of the bad guys receive their comeuppance. Some of the action and situations are a bit far fetched but it’s a thriller and therefore somewhat expected. It’s fast paced, has short chapters and is entertaining from start to finish. I enjoyed the first two books and hope the series continues.

I read the eARC several months ago, thoroughly enjoyed it and now I’ve just listened to the ALC. It’s fantastic! The full cast of narrators do an outstanding job telling the story. I enjoyed it even more than the eARC. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Grandma Susan]

DNF’d at 13%. Profanity.

[Katrina Vallett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Nash Falls, a story about a man whose life is destroyed when the FBI strongarms him into extremely risky behavior, spying against a criminal organization known for its ruthlessness. By the end of book 1 (look away if you have not read it bc I am going to tell you everything...seriously, don't read any further if you are considering reading book 1) he lost his wife and his job, his daughter is dead and he is on the run from the authorities. He trains with his fathers old Vietnam War buddy, Shock, and changes his appearance through muscles, a bald head and lots of tattoos and swears revenge. He tricks his old boss, Rhett, into hiring him while he's pretending to be "Dillon Hope" body guard.

That leads us to Hope Rises. Walt, now known as Dillon Hope, body guard to Rhett Temple, is in the belly of the beast so to speak. The Steer's criminal organization has been looking for him (loose ends and all) and yet he is on a jet with Rhett on his way to meet Victoria Steers in person. He wants to kill Victoria, but he also wants to take down the organization. It is essentially a suicide mission.

Victoria creates her own blackmail and forces Rhett and Dillon to jump through hoops to help liberate her mother from a particularly nasty prison. Mind you, she cuts Dillon's arm from wrist to shoulder and then sends him on this mission that includes days of travel, on planes, dirt bikes, horses, etc., through dangerous terrain, meeting up with various associates along the way. This, along with the character Thura, who always gets the job done, was my favorite part of the book.

After, when she and Dillon start getting cozy and the enemies to lovers plot started becoming obvious, I was not as happy with the book. I do like a good redemption story, but she refused to let Dillon go back to America when his boss got to leave because she wanted him to stay, and there was the fact she used him for a cutting board. No matter that she may not be as bad as he once thought, I do not see that as a healthy relationship.

What bothered me the most, was that in an attempt to create empathy for Victoria and reduce her responsibility, the book said that since she took over operations of the criminal empire, they were mixing animal (like horse and cattle) tranquilizers like Xylazine with the heroin, instead of fentanyl, thereby reducing opioid deaths in America. The book admitted that Xylazine is still toxic to humans but claims its not as immediately lethal as fentanyl. Um, before we hand Victoria a cookie for putting "safer" drugs in her drugs, let me point out that Xylazine, despite what this book says, is extremely dangerous. It can cause loss of consciousness, dangerously low blood pressure, decreased heart rate and death. Narcan, now widely available in the US, given to addicts for free, does NOT work on Xylazine, nor is there currently an antidote.

I have read other books by this author. I read the whole Will Robie series and was so sad when it ended. I read and enjoyed one of the Memory Man books. I do recommend this author, but I was not a fan of this book.

[AllBookedUp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, high stakes sequel that not only delivers on its predecessor but surpasses it with layered characters and relentless unease.

This novel is the sequel to Nash Falls and picks up exactly where the first book leaves off, with Nash accompanying Mr. Temple to meet the formidable and deadly Ms. Veronica Steeles. Just when you think you have a grasp on the story, the narrative turns sharply, pulling you into a web of betrayal, double crosses, shocking revelations, and, perhaps most unexpectedly, moments of empathy for characters you would never anticipate.

At the center of it all is Walter Nash, alias now known as Dillon Hope, a complex and evolving protagonist. His transformation from an emotionally distant figure into a deeply layered character is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. While he adapts to the dangerous and morally complex world he inhabits, he never fully loses his sense of humanity and compassion.

As with many sequels, I approached this book with some hesitation, especially after giving the first novel a five star rating. Fortunately, this installment not only meets expectations but exceeds them. I was absolutely absorbed by the first book., Nash Falls. The characters are far from black and white, and I especially appreciated how Nash’s evolution into Dillon Hope is handled with nuance and care. His internal struggle, navigating deception, violence, and conflicting loyalties while holding onto his core purpose, adds depth to the fast paced plot.

The dynamic between Hope and Veronica Steeles is particularly compelling. As more is revealed about her, perceptions begin to shift in subtle and intriguing ways, much like ripples across water that gradually alter the surface. Yet beneath it all, the underlying danger remains ever present. This complexity adds an extra layer of tension that keeps the reader fully engaged.

The novel is action driven and tightly paced, keeping me on edge from beginning to end. I strongly recommend reading the first book before starting this one, as it builds directly on prior events and character development. This is not a standalone read. I strongly recommend reading the first book in the duology beforehand for full context and impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[A Dreaming Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing (eARC) and Hachette Audio (ALC) for providing me with advanced copies.

This was a pretty good sequel to the first book with new twists and turns of its own. This definitely cannot be read as a standalone unlike other Baldacci books because it picks up directly from the cliffhanger ending of the first. This was definitely less intense than the first book though but a lot more moral grayness was introduced which I liked. I was a little disappointed by the whole enemies-to-lovers arc that came up. It really undermined the revenge objective of the book which was really what I was looking for. New villains are introduced along with new plotlines. I think there is a third book but I'm not entirely sure what's left of this storyline to continue for one more book. This book doesn't end on a huge cliffhanger, just a little bit open-ended. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series though whenever it comes out because I do like the character development Nash is given. I would recommend this series to fans of Jack Reacher and anyone who enjoys fast-paced action thrillers with a revenge focus.

The audiobook was well done. I really enjoyed the multicast narration. I was skeptical about it initially and it took me a while to get used to but it significantly improved my listening experience and made it easy to differentiate between characters. All the different narrators also maintained a consistent reading pace and I didn't have to modify speeds for each chapter.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this outstanding second novel in this series, the fate of Dillon Hope rises to prominence, just as that of Walter Nash fades into oblivion. David Baldacci has written a fast-paced, edge of your seat thriller filled with twists and turns on every page! It kept me guessing from beginning to end! At times, the events are a bit improbable, but always exciting. Dillon has embraced his transformation and is determined to revenge the death of his daughter, whatever the cost is to himself. This quest takes him on a journey into a dark world of drug trafficking, murder and deceit. As the story unfolds, Dillon realizes that some of those on whom he seeks revenge are in many ways, victims themselves. The part of him that is still Walter realizes that his real quest is for justice, not simply revenge. I would definitely recommend reading Nash Falls first, for a complete understanding of the story and the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the book! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

[Val Wheeler]

I was ultra excited to get to this book as the previous title Nash Falls ended with a cliff hanger and as much as I enjoyed the book, the ending annoyed me as had to wait to find out what happened next.

I recommend you read Nash falls first otherwise a lot of this book will leave you wondering what happened.

a great page turners and great writing as usual from Baldacci.

I wont give the story away, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book but towards the end I could see that Nash/Hope was very conflicted, and I'm not sure I would have made the same choices he makes.

Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed it and am glad this book had a conclusion rather than another cliff hanger like the first book, which felt a little unfinished with its ending.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walter Nash is back in this sequel to Nash Falls. There is a lot of crucial information and setup for the series in the first book so I feel it is required reading before venturing into Hope Rises, because the action starts immediately in this second installment and there is no time for catching up the readers. Unfortunately, I found the entire premise of the book to be unbelievable. The action and the double-crossing happened too easily for Nash (AKA Dillon Hope) and his associates and this made it very hard for me to get behind the plot or the characters, most of which are unlikable to begin with. This seems to be a common theme for both books. For a man with nothing left to lose and intent on revenge, Nash has a soft heart for those responsible for the wild upheaval of his life and everything he loves. This brings me back to my very first thoughts of Nash in book one - that he is a boring man.

I listened to the audio book version, which has a full narrating cast. Each narrator played their part really well, giving this story a movie production quality. The fantastic narrators saved my rating of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing for the DLC in exchange for my honest review.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edgy, propulsive, and electrifying!

HOPE RISES is a gripping, high-octane thriller that picks up where Nash Falls left off, plunging readers back into the dangerous world of Walter Nash (aka Dillon Hope) as he ventures straight into the lion’s den, determined to confront his most despised enemy and exact long-awaited revenge.

The writing is sharp and controlled. The characters are skilled, relentless, and resourceful. And the plot unfolds with intensity, weaving a suspenseful tale packed with twists, turns, mayhem, coercion, politics, power, obsession, deception, secrets, vengeance, and murder.

Overall, HOPE RISES is a gritty, addictive, pulse-pounding instalment in the Nash Falls series by Baldacci that delivers a steady sense of urgency, a formidable cast of characters, and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one picks up where the last left off. Walter is still in limbo, going after those that ruined his life, yet now he has been forced to defend the person responsible to hide what is going on. From here it's a giant came of cat and mouse. You aren't really sure who is good and who is bad. So many of the characters have alternate things going on in the back ground of their own agendas and games. By the end of the book it surprises you who is left, what happened and why. Of them all, Walter is in a better place, still no access to his "old" life, but there is closure for him and a way forward.

[Kerrin Barassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Nash Falls, had high hopes for Hope Rises & it didn’t, for me, pack as much of a punch as I had hoped.
The premise of the book is brilliant, yin & yang, love & hate, good & evil, black & white, it all resides in all of us-2 sides of the coin. The decisions made that shaped lives were international, intentional & at times appeared irrational. Nash endured more than anyone should but shook off the Clark Kent persona & emerged a superman who had no kryptonite fears. I am a baldacci lover-bring back The Camel Club!!!! There is a but though HR seemed to just have loose ends tied up quickly at the end. So much emotion just seemed to fade out & happily ever after (kinda). HR wasn’t so much raising my hopes as dashing them.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! I liked this one even more than the first!

[Lesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel was good, but failed on narrative fidelity too much. This is the only one of baldacci’s books that I said “ he wouldn’t do that” on several occasions. Still- an entertaining read( well, listen - since I did audiobook) the various narrators were good!

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so excited for this sequel and I enjoyed it!!

[Gary Parkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Walter Nash series is as awesome as the first book! This has fast become one of my favorite series and I look forward to more books!

[Ray Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nash's Prolonged Effort To Meet His And FBI's Goals

The novel opens on a private jet flying to Hong Kong. Veronica Steers had summoned Rhett Temple to see her. He was accompanied by his bodyguard, Dillon Hope. Steers is one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Because she wants Walter Nash dead and he wants her dead, the FBI had recruited him to help bring down the Steers's criminal empire. The FBI transformed him into Dillon Hope, a personal security expert. Now, he has to fool everyone around him into believing he really was Hope. Nash had managed to secure a position as his old boss's personal bodyguard, without Temple having any clue as to Hope's true identity. Steers called Temple to Hong Kong because the FBI had planted a spy in his organization. Steers has a task for them first. Hope plans to kill Steers. From these divergent goals, a very complex novel starts.

This novel has two main storyline threads. In the first thread, Steers's perfectly planned escape plan to free her mother is disrupted a few days in when a myriad of unforeseen problems arise. For the second thread, upon Nash's return with Steers's mother, he is reactive to what is happening. He often thinks he has no clue what he needs to do to achieve his goals. The second thread is essentially a series of plot twists and turns that Nash must react to. Some of them are significant twists, while he must be collecting evidence all the time to achieve the FBI's goal, yet he doesn't seem to find the right moment to complete his goal. I read mainly crime procedurals, so it was easy to see where those novels were going. My interest was piqued as I tried to see how he would achieve his goal of killing Steers. My attention was especially drawn to his reactions to what was happening to Steers's organization. Here, the B-storyline between Nash and Steers plays a major role within the second thread, especially because it transitions into a C-storyline as their relationship transitions. This relationship thread is what kept me reading this novel.

Two other B-storyline threads provide more depth to Nash's character. They are his relationships with Temple and another character named Thura. The thread with Temple also transitions to a C-storyline. The background in this novel provides a very extensive depth into Nash's character. I have not encountered this depth in my previous reading. This aspect of the novel really enhanced my enjoyment of it.

Aspects that can cause readers to stop reading are present in this novel. There is one short, intimate scene. For profanity, it was noticeable but not out of place and fit the mood of the scenes it was used in. There is violence. Most of it is portrayed as it occurs, either firsthand or secondhand. I did find reading this novel on a Kindle to be valuable, especially in the first thread, where the action takes place in remote locations in Myanmar. I used the ready access to the Internet quite often to see where they were. Lastly, this is the second novel in the series. I did not read the first. The only issue was the identity of one character and his role in the novel, which wasn't clear when he first appeared. The background was provided later in the novel, and I did not consider it an issue by the end. I believe you can read this one first, but because of the rich story in this novel, reading the first novel before this one may be a more enjoyable way to learn what happened before this novel starts.

This novel is so rich in content that it took me longer to finish, but that richness is also what made it so enjoyable to read. All potential loose ends were tied up by the end. This aspect, though, made the ending bittersweet for me, but any other ending would not be believable. My previous experience reading this author's novels was two years back in the early 2000s. I do highly recommend reading this novel. Based on the two previous novels and this one, the author is solidly in my Will-Read category. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with five stars.

I received the free, pre-publication e-novel version of this novel from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

[Lori Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope Rises is book 2 in the fantastic Walter Nash series by David Baldacci. The first book in the series is called Nash Falls and sucked me in like no other book. I absolutely loved the book and couldn't wait for the follow-up with an ending that keeps you hanging. Enter Hope Rises and we get the answers we were left questioning in Nash Falls. It's hard to have a second book in a series be as good as the first, but Hope Rises is that book! I again was getting up early to read and staying up late to read this book. I've only ever done that with one other book and it was Nash Falls. This series is my favorite right now as it has everything. from mystery, suspense, relationships, sacrifice, family, romance, etc. I hope David Baldacci is going to continue the Walter Nash series because I need more!

Hope Rises finds Walter Nash now working under the alias of Dillon Hope. He has transformed his body and mind into a lethal killing machine if those skills become necessary. After losing his daughter, Dillon wants revenge on the woman who killed her., Victoria Steers. Hope wants to make Steers feel the kind of pain she inflicted on him. Hope is still working with the FBI to bring Steers down. He's now working beside her and has become one of her most trusted security guards. As Steers come to trust Hope more and more, things begin to get complicated for him. He sees Steers in a different light and learns things about her he never knew. How can Hope begin to feel sorry for Steers and even come to have feelings for her? Just when you think you know how this book is going to go, things turn upside down, and you learn you know nothing! This book is so suspenseful you won't be able to stop reading it. I loved Hope Rises and rate it 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. The book is out now and should not be missed. I highly recommend reading Nash Falls first so that you really feel all that's going on in Hope Rises. I am impatiently waiting for book 3 in the series even though there's been no announcement! I need more Walter Nash/Dillon Hope! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of Hope Rise in exchange for a fair review. #HopeRises

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope Rises by David Baldacci is the second in the Walter Nash series. Walter is a regular guy who inadvertently gets mixed up with an international drug ring. His daughter is taken and killed, and his wife is attacked. He resorts to an old friend of his father who transforms him, over a period of many months, into a killing machine. He is now Dillon Hope and bodyguard to the man who had caused all this trouble, following in the footsteps of his father. This second book beings the story arc to a conclusion and makes me more appreciative of the first book, which I really didn’t like so much. He and Temple are on their way to meet the head of the organization, Victoria Steers, the daughter of a Japanese woman and an English man. After a fatal place crash, in which Victoria was badly injured, she assumed the reins of the business. As she got more into it she realized it was not of her father’s making, but rather her mother’s who was now in prison in China. The story was non-stop.

Dillon is still, at heart, Walter Nash, a good man. Victoria is a complicated personality, one which Nash had trouble reading, let alone assessing. He and Temple were to rescue her mother, Masuyo, from this prison, which would be suicide. But, their options were limited. It was the beginning of quite a ride. Baldacci writes excellent characters and he gets them into situations that the reader can only hope could not become reality. Victoria came to trust Dillon and after an attack on her stronghold where many were killed, he became her head of security. He was still after revenge, but he was biding his time. Thrilling ride. Characters with complicated personalities. Excellent read.

I was invited to read Hope Rises by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GrandCentralPublishing #DavidBaldacci #HopeRises

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

Hope Rises is the sequel to Nash Falls which ends with Nash on a plane at the mercy of Victoria Steers.  In the first half of the story, it is hard to see how Nash will achieve any of his plans, much less stay alive.  But he is smart and remains calm in the most difficult situations.

The pacing is a bit up and down. Fast when a fight is happening, slow paced when living the day to day between events without a plan for getting revenge or going home. But the suspense and danger is continuous.  As Nash gets to know Victoria, her old nanny, and later her mother, he begins to see not everything is as it seems.

There are some real hard twists, and Nash and Victoria come to be sort of friends.  Victoria also wants to get out of the criminal life and constant danger, and is a brilliant strategist. This leads to a big confrontation with her business associates.

Temple is never likable, always about himself.  He's never had Nash's back from sleeping with his wife to leaving him in Asia.  Victoria's mother is also only focused on her Chinese masters to the detriment of all others.  But Nash has some true friends like his father's friend, Shock and Thura, another guard.

Hope Rises is not the book I expected and that's not a bad thing.  The twists were fascinating.  It was tough between actions to try to find a new strategy with the danger so deadly.