The 6:20 Man
Overview: Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance. Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead.
Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, at least for now—prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, before the day is out, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm. This treacherous role will take him from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power . . . where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bull’s-eye.
Pages: 593
Author: David Baldacci
Recommendations: Boy From the Woods, The By Harlan Coben
Review By: Jason Schulte
Rating: 
This gripping thriller had me hooked from the get-go. Travis Devine, our protagonist, is a complex character with a military background that adds layers to his persona. Despite his father’s lack of support for his military career, Travis decides to please him by taking a job on Wall Street. However, things take a dark turn when bodies start turning up, linking back to Travis in some way. Now, he must unravel the mystery to clear his name and avoid taking the fall for crimes he didn’t commit.
I found myself completely engrossed in the story, unable to tear myself away. Travis Devine is a compelling character, perfectly suited for a film of this caliber. The supporting cast, including quirky roommates, a narcissistic boss, detectives, and an old general, add depth and intrigue to the narrative. Overall, this book was a thrilling ride, and I’m eagerly anticipating diving into the next installment in the series.