Book Review: Memory Man by David Baldacci

Author: David Baldacci

Published: 21 April 2015

Series: Amos Decker #1

Synopsis:

Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice.

The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything.

The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.

His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can.

But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Memory Man will stay with you long after the turn of the final page.

Review:

David Baldacci is known for his excellent mystery series. I have loved every one of them that I have read and this was not an exception. Amos Decker is an excelent character and Memory Man was the perfect way to introduce him to the world.

The book has so much meat to it. The poor man goes through so much right from the start. From the promising football career to a disastrous accident. Then 20 years later he not only loses his wife and child, but his job and home. Homeless and doing odd jobs for food he finally hits rock bottom. When things finally start changing.

A man who claims to have killed his family turns himself into the cops. Amos devises a rather clever little plan to get close to this man. But all is not as it seems. Pulled into an investigation he did not really want to be a part of things start moving really fast.

It's a great story, with really full round characters. This is the perfect introduction to a new David Baldacci series.

Rating: 4/5