For review of all books in the Amos Decker series, go here.
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: It is still a well-written and engaging story, even though it is disturbing and dark. Definitely not fast-paced since a lot of redundancy and droning goes on. Somehow Baldacci still managed to keep the reader gripping to the tale. That is what this makes readable!
Memory Man is the first book in the Amos Decker series by David Baldacci and originally published on April 21, 2015. The story centers on Amos Decker, a detective turned private investigator who is trying to solve a year old murder.
The stories in this series center on Amos Decker, a detective turned private investigator who has an excellent memory, that he doesn’t forget anything and can recall things from his past and personal experiences and also everything he heard or read about in history. His condition – hyperthymesia and synesthesia – is due to the helmet-to-helmet collision with opposing team player on his very first NFL game, that almost killed him. He was revived twice which caused his brain to retain memory; and also see world in a kaleidoscope of colors and numbers. He uses his skills to catch killers as a detective first and later as a private investigator.
The very first plot centers on the murder of his entire family, and how Decker hits rock bottom before he comes out of it and becomes a private investigator. However, he is roped in again as a consultant by the Burlington Police Department in Burlington, Ohio when a mass murderer creates rampage and chaos in a school killing school children and teachers. And while investigating this he finds that there is more behind the murders of his entire family.
Having never heard about either conditions – hyperthymesia and synesthesia – it was really interesting read from the perspective of the person suffering from these, how they overcame, what aids they used and how they used these exceptional conditions for betterment and in some cases for worse. A choice the individual have to make in how they want to use their abilities and live with them.
Note the name of the FBI special agent Ross Bogart. His last name is my favorite actor Humphrey Bogart’s last name. That is why perhaps I was a bit partial to him in a positive way, even though he behaved like an ass sometimes.
There is a lot of paraphrasing and repetitive scenes and scenarios that we could have gotten away with it and still have a decent story. It is unusual for Baldacci’s books since I read a few of his novels in a different series.
Although the story kept you interesting, it was surprising a bit of the motive of the killer(s) albeit they were twisted in mind so we can never tell who they focus on to kill or what ticks them. It was indeed a dark and disturbing tale even though kept the reader gripping.
I liked the fact that the protagonist, Amos Decker, is not a lean and thin and gorgeous character like many heroes of many authors. He is a 350 lb fat private investigator who lost is prestigious job, his family and has been on rock bottom that he takes a while to get out of. He is shown so human with real emotions as opposed to having a god-like figure and overtly rich. This was the one of the saving graces that made me give 3 stars.
We don’t see a lot of epiphany coming from any of the other detectives and any other supporting characters. Its all Amos who finds all the clues and solves in the end. That was a little too much I think, depending everything on one man, even if he has incredible memory.
It is still a well-written and engaging story, even though it is disturbing and dark. Definitely not fast-paced since a lot of redundancy and droning goes on. Somehow Baldacci still managed to keep the reader gripping to the tale. That is what this makes readable!
Spoiler Alerts:
- Plot Reveals:
- At the end of the plot, Amos Decker gets opportunity to work with FBI as a consultant on FBI Special Agent Ross Bogart’s special task force. Decker decides to join and move o Quantico.
- Alex Jamison also gets a similar offer to join that special task force team.
- FBI Agent Bogart is recently separated from his wife. Has no kids.
- Sub Plots:
- Amos Decker’s family and friends: His dead family – Cassandra “Cassie” his wife, Molly his daughter and Johnny his brother-in-law; he has two sisters too with spouses and kids.
- Other characters frequently appear: Detective Mary Suzanne Lancaster, his ex-partner and her husband Earl and daughter Sandra “Sandy” Elizabeth with Down Syndrome; Alexandra “Alex” Jamison, reporter for News Leader in Burlington, Ohio; June, buffet attendant at Residence Inn.
- Law enforcement in Burlington, Ohio: Captain MacKenzie “Mac” Miller, head of Burlington Police Department; Pete Rourke, works for Burlington Police Department; Sheila Lynch, prosecuting attorney; Judge Christian Abernathy.
- FBI Agents: Special Agent Ross Bogart
Galavant Reflections 