Hope Rises | Book Review

Lisa Harvey
Apr 13
2 min read

By David Balducci

Hope Rises by David Baldacci Book Cover Art

An Intense and Intricate Action-Packed Thriller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY

A sequel to Nash Falls, Walter Nash, now known as Dillion Hope, seeks revenge for his daughter’s death. Victoria Steers disrupted Walter Nash’s life when he became an FBI informant after the company he worked for was drawn into Steers’s global criminal operation. Steers is determined to find Walter Nash and eliminate him.

But Nash has other plans, and Dillion Hope is his new alias. Hope is the result of a remarkable transformation from his life as a businessman to a physically imposing man with lethal skills. With a totally different look, Hope goes deep undercover, infiltrating Steers’ inner circle in an attempt to take her and her entire operation down. But Hope must first prove himself to her if he wants to get close enough to topple her organization.

REVIEW

HOPE RISES is an action-packed thriller with elements of identity, revenge, and moral ambiguity. What differentiates this book from Balducci’s other thrillers is the compelling character of Walter Nash. Nash, who starts as a nice husband, father, and businessman, must transform and harden himself into the lethal vigilante Dillion Hope out of necessity.

The story begins with Hope en route to Hong Kong as a bodyguard for his old boss, who fails to recognize his former friend and employee. Once there, it’s non-stop, tension-filled action to prove his loyalty to Victoria Steers. Steer’s is also facing problems of loyalty within her own organization

The story is intense and intricate. Author David Balducci’s seamless, descriptive writing creates a constant sense of tension throughout the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Publisher Grand Central Publishing

Published April 14, 2026

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