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Amos Decker #7
Long Shadows
Memory man FBI agent, Amos Decker, returns in this action-packed thriller to investigate the mysterious and brutal murder of a federal judge and her bodyguard at her home in an exclusive, gated community in Florida.
Things are changing for Decker. He’s in crisis following the suicide of a close friend and receipt of a letter concerning a personal issue which could change his life forever. Together with the prospect of working with a new partner, Frederica White, Amos knows that this case will take all of his special skills to solve.
As darkness falls, evil comes to light . . .
Judge Julia Cummins seemingly had no enemies, and there was no forced entry to her property. Close friends and neighbours in the community apparently heard nothing, and Cummins’ distraught ex-husband, Barry, and teenage son, Tyler, both have strong alibis. Decker must first find the answer to why the judge felt the need for a bodyguard, and the meaning behind the strange calling card left by the killer.
Someone has decided it’s payback time.
Things are changing for Decker. He’s in crisis following the suicide of a close friend and receipt of a letter concerning a personal issue which could change his life forever. Together with the prospect of working with a new partner, Frederica White, Amos knows that this case will take all of his special skills to solve.
As darkness falls, evil comes to light . . .
Judge Julia Cummins seemingly had no enemies, and there was no forced entry to her property. Close friends and neighbours in the community apparently heard nothing, and Cummins’ distraught ex-husband, Barry, and teenage son, Tyler, both have strong alibis. Decker must first find the answer to why the judge felt the need for a bodyguard, and the meaning behind the strange calling card left by the killer.
Someone has decided it’s payback time.
498 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2022
6241 people are currently reading
15199 people want to read
About the author
David Baldacci
222 books123k followersDavid 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,730 reviews
December 11, 2022
2.5⭐
Goners. What's wrong with the old characters that they're canceled? ❌❌❌
A former detective from Burlington, OH, Amos Decker's been with the FBI in the last few books and has a new partner Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White.
Decker is a unique character. He suffered a major head injury during his short NFL career that left him with perfect memory and synesthesia. It becomes handy in his line of work, but also a curse when he returned home way back when and found his whole family murdered.
Long Shadows takes place in Florida where a federal judge and her bodyguard were murdered. The case was very complex with many characters and what-ifs. Not impressed and took the fun away. I stop guessing at 40%, and glad I did because the reveal was sadly underwhelming.
3 days on this audiobook but it felt like 10. My mind wandered and it still refused to end. Long Shadows started so well then was a big slog. Decker should've stayed a small-town detective.
Goners. What's wrong with the old characters that they're canceled? ❌❌❌
A former detective from Burlington, OH, Amos Decker's been with the FBI in the last few books and has a new partner Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White.
Decker is a unique character. He suffered a major head injury during his short NFL career that left him with perfect memory and synesthesia. It becomes handy in his line of work, but also a curse when he returned home way back when and found his whole family murdered.
Long Shadows takes place in Florida where a federal judge and her bodyguard were murdered. The case was very complex with many characters and what-ifs. Not impressed and took the fun away. I stop guessing at 40%, and glad I did because the reveal was sadly underwhelming.
3 days on this audiobook but it felt like 10. My mind wandered and it still refused to end. Long Shadows started so well then was a big slog. Decker should've stayed a small-town detective.
October 18, 2022
Former police detective turned FBI consultant, Amos Decker is back! Grappling with a personal loss, adjusting to working with a new partner and experiencing changes in his own medical condition(a sports injury from years ago that altered his brain function resulting in his perfect recall and synesthesia), he has a lot on his plate. When a federal judge Julia Cummins and her bodyguard Alan Draymont are murdered in the judge’s home, he travels to Florida with his newly assigned partner FBI Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White to take lead on the case assisted by the local FBI office. It appears that the MO for both murders was different. While the judge was brutally stabbed to death, her bodyguard was shot with a wad of foreign currency shoved down his throat. Decker suspects more than one perpetrator. Working together or separate agendas? What follows is a deep – dive into the personal and professional lives of both victims. What follows is a complex web of murder, lies, deception, corruption and blackmail and cover-ups of crimes that date back decades.
Complicating things further is the question of why, despite having FBI presence in the area were Decker and White sent to Florida to take lead on this case? With internal changes happening in the FBI, what does this mean for Decker’s future?
The plot of Long Shadows is complicated (in a good way) and I thoroughly enjoyed the investigative/procedural aspect of crime solving involving multiple probable suspects, red herrings and a lot of surprises on the way to a thrilling end! With its well-developed and suspenseful plot, short chapters and consistent pacing , Long Shadows is a great addition to David Baldacci’s Memory Man Series (this is Book #7), the first featuring Decker’s new partner FBI Special Agent Freddie White who is very likable. I was concerned when I saw that Alex Jamison didn’t return as Decker’s partner ( but she does contribute her bit to the case in a minor role!) but I was really impressed with White and thought she and Decker made an awesome crime –solving team!
I look forward to more stories featuring Decker and White in the future. Not just the Memory Man Series, I would love more stories featuring John Puller and/or Will Robie! Atlee Pine too!
Complicating things further is the question of why, despite having FBI presence in the area were Decker and White sent to Florida to take lead on this case? With internal changes happening in the FBI, what does this mean for Decker’s future?
The plot of Long Shadows is complicated (in a good way) and I thoroughly enjoyed the investigative/procedural aspect of crime solving involving multiple probable suspects, red herrings and a lot of surprises on the way to a thrilling end! With its well-developed and suspenseful plot, short chapters and consistent pacing , Long Shadows is a great addition to David Baldacci’s Memory Man Series (this is Book #7), the first featuring Decker’s new partner FBI Special Agent Freddie White who is very likable. I was concerned when I saw that Alex Jamison didn’t return as Decker’s partner ( but she does contribute her bit to the case in a minor role!) but I was really impressed with White and thought she and Decker made an awesome crime –solving team!
I look forward to more stories featuring Decker and White in the future. Not just the Memory Man Series, I would love more stories featuring John Puller and/or Will Robie! Atlee Pine too!
October 12, 2022
This is a thrilling addition to David Baldacci's Amos Decker, the Memory Man series, a man simultaneously blessed and cursed with a perfect memory and never being able to forget a single thing from his past. This means his grief over the loss of his wife and daughter, Molly, is constant and hard to live with, this is exacerbated when he receives a disturbingly unsettling late night phone call from his ex-police partner suffering from early onset of dementia, Mary Lancaster, who kills herself, leaving behind a devastated husband and daughter. Additionally, he receives a letter that bears news that may threaten his future, and Alex Jamison is no longer his partner. The FBI have now partnered him with the ambitious, double black belt Frederica 'Freddie' White, a guilt ridden single mother who has herself lost a son.
The two of them make their way to Florida to investigate the murder of a federal judge, Julia Cummins, living in a exclusive gated community, and her bodyguard, Alan Draymont, of Gamma Protection Services, run by Kasimira Roe. Strangely the local FBI agent, Doug Andrews, has not been warned about their arrival, it takes a little while for the out of sorts Decker to establish a relationship with Freddie, and he worries that his special gifts can no longer be relied upon. His changing circumstances sap his energies, and he has to work really hard to motivate himself in the most complex, dangerous and twisted of investigations. He and Freddie delve into the lives of Julia, her distraught ex-husband, Barry Davidson, and her grieving son, Tyler, and Draymont, who had been shot twice and had old Slovakian money stuffed down his throat.
This is a fast paced and tense thriller, Cummins appears to have no enemies, and the manner of her death, a frenzied stabbing attack, differs markedly with the more professional shooting of Draymont, leading Decker to wonder if there is more than one killer at large. It takes some considerable time before Decker and White's inquiries begin to bear fruit, and involves them being forced to go back in time to the secret services protection of the then president, Ronald Reagan, speaking at a fundraiser in Florida. This is a terrific addition to a wonderful series, it was great to see Decker begin to connect with White, comprehending that it is the human connections that make life worth living. This will appeal to fans of the author and to other readers of the crime and thriller genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
The two of them make their way to Florida to investigate the murder of a federal judge, Julia Cummins, living in a exclusive gated community, and her bodyguard, Alan Draymont, of Gamma Protection Services, run by Kasimira Roe. Strangely the local FBI agent, Doug Andrews, has not been warned about their arrival, it takes a little while for the out of sorts Decker to establish a relationship with Freddie, and he worries that his special gifts can no longer be relied upon. His changing circumstances sap his energies, and he has to work really hard to motivate himself in the most complex, dangerous and twisted of investigations. He and Freddie delve into the lives of Julia, her distraught ex-husband, Barry Davidson, and her grieving son, Tyler, and Draymont, who had been shot twice and had old Slovakian money stuffed down his throat.
This is a fast paced and tense thriller, Cummins appears to have no enemies, and the manner of her death, a frenzied stabbing attack, differs markedly with the more professional shooting of Draymont, leading Decker to wonder if there is more than one killer at large. It takes some considerable time before Decker and White's inquiries begin to bear fruit, and involves them being forced to go back in time to the secret services protection of the then president, Ronald Reagan, speaking at a fundraiser in Florida. This is a terrific addition to a wonderful series, it was great to see Decker begin to connect with White, comprehending that it is the human connections that make life worth living. This will appeal to fans of the author and to other readers of the crime and thriller genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
March 4, 2023
I wasn't expecting a change!
Since I liked this series from the beginning, I don't read the blurbs anymore so I was shocked to see so many changes happening with this series.
First Amos receives a call that leaves him disturbed and profoundly sad. Then I realized Boggart, his boss has retired and Alex Jamison is assigned to a different city and partner.
What the heck is happening?
Yet, I shouldn't have worried. Baldacci knows what he is doing.
Amos is given a new partner, Frederica White. She is short and a black woman. She is also a black belt in martial arts and she speaks her mind. I instantly liked her.
The case was a mystery too. A judge, Julia Cummins, and her bodyguard, Alan Draymont have been found murdered and the FBI sends Amos and Freddie to Florida to investigate.
Amos knows something doesn't add up. The judge was stabbed to death and the bodyguard was shot instead. Are there two killers?
Glad Amos was back and I'm glad Freddie is his new partner. Hopefully, we can see Amos becoming happier with his life and his abilities.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Since I liked this series from the beginning, I don't read the blurbs anymore so I was shocked to see so many changes happening with this series.
First Amos receives a call that leaves him disturbed and profoundly sad. Then I realized Boggart, his boss has retired and Alex Jamison is assigned to a different city and partner.
What the heck is happening?
Yet, I shouldn't have worried. Baldacci knows what he is doing.
Amos is given a new partner, Frederica White. She is short and a black woman. She is also a black belt in martial arts and she speaks her mind. I instantly liked her.
The case was a mystery too. A judge, Julia Cummins, and her bodyguard, Alan Draymont have been found murdered and the FBI sends Amos and Freddie to Florida to investigate.
Amos knows something doesn't add up. The judge was stabbed to death and the bodyguard was shot instead. Are there two killers?
Glad Amos was back and I'm glad Freddie is his new partner. Hopefully, we can see Amos becoming happier with his life and his abilities.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
October 31, 2022
The moment someone says there is a new Amos Decker book out then I am down at the bookshop acquiring my own copy. Then I read it in one day which makes it a long wait until the next one!
Amos is having a rough time in Long Shadows. His partner and his other friends have all moved away and are settling down. Someone very close to him commits suicide. Then he receives a less than promising report about his future health. He is depressed and starting to doubt himself and his abilities.
When he is given a new FBI Agent partner, Frederica White, he is not enthusiastic but she perseveres and they start to become a good team. The plot is very involved and features a lot of police procedural work which I always enjoy. There are multiple suspects and an equal number of red herrings. I did not predict the ending.
It will be interesting to see where Baldacci takes this story next. Amos is aware that his brain may be changing and suspects that his perfect memory may be less than perfect already. I really hope he stays smarter than everyone else - for me this is what makes the books so good.
Amos is having a rough time in Long Shadows. His partner and his other friends have all moved away and are settling down. Someone very close to him commits suicide. Then he receives a less than promising report about his future health. He is depressed and starting to doubt himself and his abilities.
When he is given a new FBI Agent partner, Frederica White, he is not enthusiastic but she perseveres and they start to become a good team. The plot is very involved and features a lot of police procedural work which I always enjoy. There are multiple suspects and an equal number of red herrings. I did not predict the ending.
It will be interesting to see where Baldacci takes this story next. Amos is aware that his brain may be changing and suspects that his perfect memory may be less than perfect already. I really hope he stays smarter than everyone else - for me this is what makes the books so good.
October 24, 2022
As these stories get darker, I grow weary of the Amos Decker character. There's little redeemable in this. 3 of 10 stars
October 26, 2022
Although I’ve read a good number of Baldacci books (15 so far) I’ve never read any of his books in the Amos Decker series. I was happy to notice that this was no problem; there is enough information about Decker’s background to read this seventh ‘adventure’ without having trouble to understand what drives him – and what not. And an adventure it is. Decker loses his best friend and partner Mary right at the start, and in the most horrible way. And if this is not enough, the next day he is partnered with someone new, Frederica (Freddie) White, who is like him not at all thrilled to be told that they have to work together. Their first job together is finding out who killed judge Julia Cummins and her bodyguard Alan Draymont.
On the positive site: it ís a David Baldacci so it is very well written and there is a lot going on between all characters. On the not so positive site: I was a bit disappointed with the book as a whole. I felt there was a lot going on in the first half of the book, and then it sort of petered out. Amos and Freddie do a lot of driving, and I mean a lot. They have to go an talk to different people all over the state, and sometimes those people play only a very marginal role. They are just there to give Amos and Freddie the tiniest bit of information. It’s interesting to see how they piece all those tiny bits together to come to a conclusion and solve the case, but I wasn’t impressed by the ending. The final solution came too fast and it felt not very original to me. In fact, it reminded me more of books that are set in an era in the last century.
All in all I can understand why readers love this series so much, but it is not entirely for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for this review copy.
On the positive site: it ís a David Baldacci so it is very well written and there is a lot going on between all characters. On the not so positive site: I was a bit disappointed with the book as a whole. I felt there was a lot going on in the first half of the book, and then it sort of petered out. Amos and Freddie do a lot of driving, and I mean a lot. They have to go an talk to different people all over the state, and sometimes those people play only a very marginal role. They are just there to give Amos and Freddie the tiniest bit of information. It’s interesting to see how they piece all those tiny bits together to come to a conclusion and solve the case, but I wasn’t impressed by the ending. The final solution came too fast and it felt not very original to me. In fact, it reminded me more of books that are set in an era in the last century.
All in all I can understand why readers love this series so much, but it is not entirely for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for this review copy.
September 5, 2023
Another long overdue book review coming to Goodreads.
This is Baldacci’s character Amos Decker, known as the “memory man.” He does not like change, and in this particular book, he is thrust into it. His long-time partner at the FBI has taken a promotion and moved to NYC. His boss has retired and left the bureau. And his memory, has become less infallible. Always being able to at least count on that, even as annoying as it has been, this is not the time for it to let him down.
So now…
He has to deal with a new partner. Special Agent Frederica White.
And…
A new case.
They are being sent to Florida to investigate the murder of a judge and her bodyguard. When they arrive, they find that the local agents were not briefed about their coming – which isn’t helpful.
As they begin to investigate, they are caught up in something that might put them in the crosshairs of something completely unexpected that could result in them being the next target.
Baldacci knows how to tell a story. He has characters that are complex, driven, with inner passions and demons. They feel real. Decker even shows a humanness towards his new partner...growth in his character.
For someone who writes these books with righteous people pursuing evil in the face of danger, Baldacci sneaks in some very modern sensibilities.
And...
That felt like what was needed for readers to appreciate another good series.
October 13, 2022
Amos Decker is one of my favourite fictional detectives. Injured whilst playing football, Amos is known as the Memory Man, he remembers everything he sees. This is book 7 in the series and I have loved every single one of them. I highly recommend starting at the beginning, with Memory Man, as this will give you background into who Amos is who he is and why.
In Long Shadows, Amos has a lot to deal with. He is mourning the loss of a friend, battling health issues and wondering where he fits into the world now that his partner Alex Jamison has moved on. Then he gets a call and is sent to South Florida with his new partner, Freddie White. A federal judge and her bodyguard have been murdered in the judge's home. The local authorities are not happy that the FBI have been called in, but Decker and White just want to solve this case.
As always, there are a multitude of possible suspects. Freddie and Amos pull out all the tricks they know to get to the bottom of this one. It certainly kept me guessing and turning those pages, I had no idea how it was going to conclude.
Baldacci is an auto read author for me, and this book just shows you why. His plots are complicated but never confusing. His characters are realistic and get into your heart.
Thanks to Macmillian Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes in Australia, October 11th.
In Long Shadows, Amos has a lot to deal with. He is mourning the loss of a friend, battling health issues and wondering where he fits into the world now that his partner Alex Jamison has moved on. Then he gets a call and is sent to South Florida with his new partner, Freddie White. A federal judge and her bodyguard have been murdered in the judge's home. The local authorities are not happy that the FBI have been called in, but Decker and White just want to solve this case.
As always, there are a multitude of possible suspects. Freddie and Amos pull out all the tricks they know to get to the bottom of this one. It certainly kept me guessing and turning those pages, I had no idea how it was going to conclude.
Baldacci is an auto read author for me, and this book just shows you why. His plots are complicated but never confusing. His characters are realistic and get into your heart.
Thanks to Macmillian Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes in Australia, October 11th.
May 5, 2025
Baldacci rarely disappoints, and Amos Decker has always been a great character.
March 10, 2024
In this 7th book in the 'Amos Decker' series, the detective investigates a double murder in South Florida. The book can be read as a standalone but familiarity with the series is a plus.
*****
Amos Decker, 6'5" tall and hefty, was a professional football player until a massive hit ended his career and left him with hyperthymesia and synesthesia.
The hyperthymesia gives Decker a permanent detailed memory of everything he's ever seen or experienced - like a combination photo album/video in his head. And the synesthesia makes Decker see things in false colors - like death scenes glowing blue. Unfortunately, Decker's hyperthymesia doesn't allow him to dim the memories of his dead wife and child, who were murdered a few years ago.
On the upside, Decker's phenomenal memory helped him in his career as a police detective, and he's now employed as an FBI consultant, working out of the Washington, D.C. office. Decker is a maverick, though, and doesn't always follow FBI rules to a T.
As the story opens Decker's former police partner, Mary Lancaster, who's suffering from early onset dementia, shoots herself in the head. Decker is very upset by Mary's suicide and also concerned about a new prognosis related to his head injury.
In this atmosphere, Decker is doubly annoyed when his FBI boss sends him on an assignment to South Florida with a new partner, Special Agent Frederica White (Freddie).
Decker doesn't like working with new people, but - given there's no choice - Amos and Freddie fly south to investigate a double murder. The bodies of Federal Judge Julia Cummins......
.....and her bodyguard Alan Draymont were found in Cummins' house in a gated Florida community.
Draymont was shot downstairs and Cummins was stabbed upstairs, in her bedroom. The detectives' first thoughts are that Cummins was the target, and Draymont was collateral damage. Things get more complicated, though, when a wad of Slovakian money is found shoved down Draymont's throat.
Decker and Freddie examine the crime scene and interview Cummins' ex-husband, teenage son, neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances - but no one knows why Cummins would be targeted. The detectives also visit Gamma Protection Services, which employed Alan Draymont. However the firm's CEO, Kasimira Roe, makes noises about confidentiality and refuses to give out any information.
Decker and Freddie are particularly anxious to speak to Draymont's immediate superior and to Cummins' secretary, but both these women go missing before they can be interviewed. All this, plus Decker examining the 'video' of the crime scene in his mind, changes the direction of the investigation. Things get even more complicated when Kasimira Roe asks Decker to look into the disappearance of her father - a Slovakian business tycoon - three years ago.
While Decker and Freddie investigate the South Florida homicides, they're also dealing with personal issues. Freddie is an African-American single mother with two children, and she's concerned her ambition to climb the FBI ladder will interfere with being a good mom.
And Decker is thinking that new executives at the FBI, annoyed with his independent streak, may be planning to phase him out.
For me, the plot got too convoluted, and I wasn't quite satisfied with the climax. Still, I alway enjoy the Amos Decker books, and I'd recommend the novel to fans of the series.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
April 29, 2023
The 7th book in the Amos Decker series, I found Long Shadows to be quite a mundane murder investigation that rarely scaled any significant heights. When he first appeared on the scene Decker was a fresh take on the quirky, hard-to-get-along-with investigator. The perfect memory and synesthesia he picked up after a brain injury from a football collision was a significant point of difference. Now, it seems, the memory thing is just a handy tool, the synesthesia is a hindrance and we’re left to be amused by his abrupt manner.
The case to be investigated here is the murder of federal judge Julia Cummins and her bodyguard Alan Draymont inside her Florida home. It’s a case that finds Decker assigned to travel down along with his new partner FBI Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White to investigate.
And this is the first complication that must be overcome. Decker doesn’t work well with others and he’s just had the traumatic experience of listening to an ex-partner commit suicide. He’s not exactly in the most amenable of moods when it comes to new partners. There’s going to be a feeling out period, you can be sure.
When they get there they find a complicated crime scene. The bodyguard, Draymont, was found downstairs shot to death while the judge was upstairs in her bedroom where she had been stabbed multiple times. To top things off, Draymont had a wad of foreign currency stuffed down his throat.
The vastly differing methods of murder suggests strongly to Decker there were more than one perpetrator responsible. But getting a handle on exactly how things played out and, just as importantly, who was responsible will prove difficult to ascertain.
Although Decker works as a kind of consultant with the FBI, this reads like your typical private detective investigation. Once we’d gotten over the reminder of the brain injury that he suffered plus the fact that he had to deal with taking on a new partner, the investigation consists largely of schlepping from one person’s place to the next, asking a series of questions, picking up a lead to the next person and questioning them. Occasionally they would return to an earlier person, re-question and so on.
To be fair, this is actually quite a complicated murder mystery and it does require a reasonable amount of lateral thinking which is where Decker’s specific skills come in very handy. Where things started to fall down for me was in the preponderance of theory and guesswork that went into the reasoning of both Decker and White. It depended largely on confronting a person with a theory, gauge their reaction, threaten with some kind of exposure if they didn’t provide the information they were seeking and then move on to the next person. Investigation by blunt force, if you like.
The case itself, a double homicide, was an interesting one. The newly developing relationship between Decker and Freddie White shows a lot of promise. But the pacing was all over the shop and, in fact, never really clicked into gear until right at the very last moment and even then, it felt over before it really began.
I’ve read all of the Amos Decker books to date and this is the first one that I’ve finished feeling a little flat and underwhelmed. Hopefully it’s just an aberration, there’s more of the Decker/White partnership to discover and the magic from Memory Man returns.
The case to be investigated here is the murder of federal judge Julia Cummins and her bodyguard Alan Draymont inside her Florida home. It’s a case that finds Decker assigned to travel down along with his new partner FBI Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White to investigate.
And this is the first complication that must be overcome. Decker doesn’t work well with others and he’s just had the traumatic experience of listening to an ex-partner commit suicide. He’s not exactly in the most amenable of moods when it comes to new partners. There’s going to be a feeling out period, you can be sure.
When they get there they find a complicated crime scene. The bodyguard, Draymont, was found downstairs shot to death while the judge was upstairs in her bedroom where she had been stabbed multiple times. To top things off, Draymont had a wad of foreign currency stuffed down his throat.
The vastly differing methods of murder suggests strongly to Decker there were more than one perpetrator responsible. But getting a handle on exactly how things played out and, just as importantly, who was responsible will prove difficult to ascertain.
Although Decker works as a kind of consultant with the FBI, this reads like your typical private detective investigation. Once we’d gotten over the reminder of the brain injury that he suffered plus the fact that he had to deal with taking on a new partner, the investigation consists largely of schlepping from one person’s place to the next, asking a series of questions, picking up a lead to the next person and questioning them. Occasionally they would return to an earlier person, re-question and so on.
To be fair, this is actually quite a complicated murder mystery and it does require a reasonable amount of lateral thinking which is where Decker’s specific skills come in very handy. Where things started to fall down for me was in the preponderance of theory and guesswork that went into the reasoning of both Decker and White. It depended largely on confronting a person with a theory, gauge their reaction, threaten with some kind of exposure if they didn’t provide the information they were seeking and then move on to the next person. Investigation by blunt force, if you like.
The case itself, a double homicide, was an interesting one. The newly developing relationship between Decker and Freddie White shows a lot of promise. But the pacing was all over the shop and, in fact, never really clicked into gear until right at the very last moment and even then, it felt over before it really began.
I’ve read all of the Amos Decker books to date and this is the first one that I’ve finished feeling a little flat and underwhelmed. Hopefully it’s just an aberration, there’s more of the Decker/White partnership to discover and the magic from Memory Man returns.
October 21, 2022
Great addition to this series AND can be read as a standalone — so jump on in! Th series is a favorite of mine. I recommended to several friends all continue reading it. (also me, at 6'6" has a soft spot for big athletic or tall characters that don’t fit easily or standout in situations!)
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January 30, 2023
David Baldacci returns with another novel in his highly successful Memory Man series, sure to attract many. Amos Decker has evolved and helped readers know him a little better, but there is a great deal of change for the behemoth in this piece, which takes the story down to the humid climate of Florida. Baldacci offers some great storytelling and builds a new protagonist, sure to fill a needed spot in the series. While he has many series on the go, David Baldacci has not waned in the least with Amos Decker and the gang!
After the death of a close friend and a piece of personal news that could real turn south for him, Amos Decker agrees to take on a new case far from Washington. Working with a new partner, Frederick White, Decker heads to Florida, where a federal judge and her bodyguard have been brutally murdered.
While Judge Julia Cummins seems clean, with no one she’s riled up and no known skirmishes around town, someone surely had it out for her. Decker and White scour the area and look into the judge’s background. Happily divorced and without many waves in her life, Cummins’ death baffles everyone around the area. However, Decker is not quite convinced that things are as bucolic as they seem.
Working a side case while down in Florida, Decker learns a little more about Cummins and the community, which will prove helpful when he needs to return his findings to the higher-ups within the FBI. Still, there is something not quite kosher and Decker cannot put his finger on it. All the while, White is struggling with her new partner and seeking to juggle single parenthood with children who are growing up fast. This case is something else and the Decker-White pairing could be both a dream and nightmare rolled into one. With a killer out there, Decker and White will have to put the pieces together before it’s too late, as their plates are full with personal matters that require their attention. Baldacci proves his worth yet again with a stunning novel that advances the series effectively.
Having been a fan of David Baldacci for many years, I am always excited when he publishes something new. The stories are always top-notch, with characters and plots that never fail to impress. Baldacci has the ability to write in so many styles that the reader need only show up and let the magic consume them. I can only hope that there is more to this series, as Baldacci left some loose ends that will soon need solving if things are to move forward.
Baldacci has long proven that he is a storyteller, able to concoct ideas and massage them into stellar pieces of wonder. His narrative approach eases the reader into the piece and then gains momentum effectively. With great characters and some plots to pique the interest of the curious, Baldacci has the reader hooked before they can back out. The introduction of Frederica White will surely add something needed to the series, though it is hard to tell how Amos Decker will react. Not that he doesn’t have some stuff of his own that needs addressing. I have longed for some more crossover work amongst Baldacci’s series and hope to see it again soon, as there is something about mixing his protagonists together that has me giddy.
Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for a sensational piece that had me gripped until the very end.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After the death of a close friend and a piece of personal news that could real turn south for him, Amos Decker agrees to take on a new case far from Washington. Working with a new partner, Frederick White, Decker heads to Florida, where a federal judge and her bodyguard have been brutally murdered.
While Judge Julia Cummins seems clean, with no one she’s riled up and no known skirmishes around town, someone surely had it out for her. Decker and White scour the area and look into the judge’s background. Happily divorced and without many waves in her life, Cummins’ death baffles everyone around the area. However, Decker is not quite convinced that things are as bucolic as they seem.
Working a side case while down in Florida, Decker learns a little more about Cummins and the community, which will prove helpful when he needs to return his findings to the higher-ups within the FBI. Still, there is something not quite kosher and Decker cannot put his finger on it. All the while, White is struggling with her new partner and seeking to juggle single parenthood with children who are growing up fast. This case is something else and the Decker-White pairing could be both a dream and nightmare rolled into one. With a killer out there, Decker and White will have to put the pieces together before it’s too late, as their plates are full with personal matters that require their attention. Baldacci proves his worth yet again with a stunning novel that advances the series effectively.
Having been a fan of David Baldacci for many years, I am always excited when he publishes something new. The stories are always top-notch, with characters and plots that never fail to impress. Baldacci has the ability to write in so many styles that the reader need only show up and let the magic consume them. I can only hope that there is more to this series, as Baldacci left some loose ends that will soon need solving if things are to move forward.
Baldacci has long proven that he is a storyteller, able to concoct ideas and massage them into stellar pieces of wonder. His narrative approach eases the reader into the piece and then gains momentum effectively. With great characters and some plots to pique the interest of the curious, Baldacci has the reader hooked before they can back out. The introduction of Frederica White will surely add something needed to the series, though it is hard to tell how Amos Decker will react. Not that he doesn’t have some stuff of his own that needs addressing. I have longed for some more crossover work amongst Baldacci’s series and hope to see it again soon, as there is something about mixing his protagonists together that has me giddy.
Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for a sensational piece that had me gripped until the very end.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 18, 2022
Long Shadows Run Deep
Review of the Grand Central Publishing audiobook edition (October 11, 2022) released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover.
[4.5 rounded up]
After a shocking personal incident at its start, Long Shadows introduces a new partner for FBI consultant Amos Decker. He is of course resentful and is his usual crotchety self to start with, but there is a gradual growing respect between himself and FBI Special Agent Frederica White. They definitely will need it and have to watch each other's backs throughout this case which takes many bizarre turns from what at first seems like a straightforward hit-job.
Federal Judge Julia Cummins and her apparent bodyguard Alan Draymont are found murdered inside her house. Complications quickly arise and Decker's suspicions are aroused by the two different murder methods. Can there really be two different killers at the same crime scene within minutes of each other? Draymont's employer, the Gamma Protection Agency is suspiciously unhelpful about his status. Then witnesses start to disappear. Then it begins to look like the FBI has set Decker and White up to fail in order to find an excuse to either sideline or fire them. The cast of characters is not overly large and by Ebert's Law of the Economy of Characters it shouldn't be that hard to figure out the prime suspects. But everyone seems less and less likely to be the villain or villains. Can Decker's vaunted memory solve the case or will he fail at last?
I've always thought that Decker's hyperthymesia (total memory recall) and colour synesthesia (his 'feeling' in colours) is under-utilized in this series, but his gruff manner is endearing nevertheless. I've even come to appreciate the now regular 'in-joke' where he forgets something. That wasn't quite so evident in this outing, but he does have a time struggling to remember a key clue at one point. New partner Frederica White is a great addition to the cast.
I listened to the audiobook edition and the narration performances by Baldacci regulars Kyf Brewer (all male voices) and Orlagh Cassidy (all female voices) was completely outstanding and earns an extra half star, bumping this into 5 star territory.
Review of the Grand Central Publishing audiobook edition (October 11, 2022) released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover.
"This is the messiest case I've ever been involved in." - FBI Special Agent Frederica White to FBI Consultant Amos Decker.
[4.5 rounded up]
After a shocking personal incident at its start, Long Shadows introduces a new partner for FBI consultant Amos Decker. He is of course resentful and is his usual crotchety self to start with, but there is a gradual growing respect between himself and FBI Special Agent Frederica White. They definitely will need it and have to watch each other's backs throughout this case which takes many bizarre turns from what at first seems like a straightforward hit-job.
Federal Judge Julia Cummins and her apparent bodyguard Alan Draymont are found murdered inside her house. Complications quickly arise and Decker's suspicions are aroused by the two different murder methods. Can there really be two different killers at the same crime scene within minutes of each other? Draymont's employer, the Gamma Protection Agency is suspiciously unhelpful about his status. Then witnesses start to disappear. Then it begins to look like the FBI has set Decker and White up to fail in order to find an excuse to either sideline or fire them. The cast of characters is not overly large and by Ebert's Law of the Economy of Characters it shouldn't be that hard to figure out the prime suspects. But everyone seems less and less likely to be the villain or villains. Can Decker's vaunted memory solve the case or will he fail at last?
I've always thought that Decker's hyperthymesia (total memory recall) and colour synesthesia (his 'feeling' in colours) is under-utilized in this series, but his gruff manner is endearing nevertheless. I've even come to appreciate the now regular 'in-joke' where he forgets something. That wasn't quite so evident in this outing, but he does have a time struggling to remember a key clue at one point. New partner Frederica White is a great addition to the cast.
I listened to the audiobook edition and the narration performances by Baldacci regulars Kyf Brewer (all male voices) and Orlagh Cassidy (all female voices) was completely outstanding and earns an extra half star, bumping this into 5 star territory.
October 16, 2022
3.5⭐️ The book is a little too bogged down and convoluted. It’s difficult, if not impossible to comprehend how logical conclusions are made from all those dangling possibilities germane to the murders and mysteries to be solved. The story lagged at various intervals. The really bright spot is Agent Fredericka White, a black FBI agent, assigned to be Decker’s partner. I liked this Decker book least of all. (I keep hoping he’ll find a love interest, but I’m sure that’s wishful thinking). Overall, not a bad read, but for a Decker story, it’s mediocre.
March 12, 2023
I was thrilled to finally get to the latest David Baldacci book in his Amos Decker series. Long Shadows is book seven and Amos has been through a lot during the last six books. This time he's getting a new partner, Frederica White and together they are assigned to solve the case of the murder of a judge and her bodyguard.
I love reading Baldacci's books and Amos Deckor is one of the best series he's written. Long Shadows feels like a new start for Amos, with his friends and colleagues all moving on to greater things. And, getting a new partner is not easy for him. And he has to deal with the suicide of a close friend. Life isn't easy for him. And, this case will be a tough nut to crack.
The story is good and I really like Freddie, Amos' new partner. She's a tough woman who like Amos has gone through a lot in her life. I think they will work great together and I'm looking forward to reading more books with them as partners.
I love reading Baldacci's books and Amos Deckor is one of the best series he's written. Long Shadows feels like a new start for Amos, with his friends and colleagues all moving on to greater things. And, getting a new partner is not easy for him. And he has to deal with the suicide of a close friend. Life isn't easy for him. And, this case will be a tough nut to crack.
The story is good and I really like Freddie, Amos' new partner. She's a tough woman who like Amos has gone through a lot in her life. I think they will work great together and I'm looking forward to reading more books with them as partners.
October 31, 2022
I really enjoyed this one. Decker is paired with a new partner and the two are sent to Florida to investigate the murder of a federal judge and her bodyguard. The new partner is a good character and throughout the book there are hints of further changes for Amos. This should mean more books are coming. Recommended.
January 8, 2023
*A Maze of a Case*
Amos Decker having had a serious head injury whilst playing professional football he wakes up in hospital with Hyperthymesia (perfect recall) and Synesthesia (seeing things in colour) for Amos colours represent different things like electric blue = Death or numbers.. which he is still working out what it all means.
He now works with the FBI and after receiving a letter re his condition, he is also reeling after a tragedy concerning his former detective partner before working with the FBI.
With all this in mind he is being sent to Florida and his usual partner in crime Alex Jamison has been transferred, he now has to deal with another partner Frederica White “aka Freddie” which means change which he hates.
He feels all over the place and wonders if his perfect recall will be affected. This case is one that has foxed the FBI for years and because Amos does not wear a suit or conform they are hoping this will be the case that will be his downfall. Unbeknownst to Amos they are banking on him failing. His new partner Frederica aka Freddie is a no nonsense character who does not take any prisoners has had a heads up from Alex re Amos and his quirks.
They have a murder with of two people to deal with and Amos & Freddie go to town trying to find out the motives and as they dig deeper they discover the crime goes way back years and people out in plain site are not who they appear to be, blackmail plays a big part as the culprits start to clean house to keep their crimes and secrets under wraps. They do not bank on this duo. Will this case be Deckers undoing and will his perfect recall let him down….
Amos Decker having had a serious head injury whilst playing professional football he wakes up in hospital with Hyperthymesia (perfect recall) and Synesthesia (seeing things in colour) for Amos colours represent different things like electric blue = Death or numbers.. which he is still working out what it all means.
He now works with the FBI and after receiving a letter re his condition, he is also reeling after a tragedy concerning his former detective partner before working with the FBI.
With all this in mind he is being sent to Florida and his usual partner in crime Alex Jamison has been transferred, he now has to deal with another partner Frederica White “aka Freddie” which means change which he hates.
He feels all over the place and wonders if his perfect recall will be affected. This case is one that has foxed the FBI for years and because Amos does not wear a suit or conform they are hoping this will be the case that will be his downfall. Unbeknownst to Amos they are banking on him failing. His new partner Frederica aka Freddie is a no nonsense character who does not take any prisoners has had a heads up from Alex re Amos and his quirks.
They have a murder with of two people to deal with and Amos & Freddie go to town trying to find out the motives and as they dig deeper they discover the crime goes way back years and people out in plain site are not who they appear to be, blackmail plays a big part as the culprits start to clean house to keep their crimes and secrets under wraps. They do not bank on this duo. Will this case be Deckers undoing and will his perfect recall let him down….
October 26, 2022
Memory Man was a wonderful book with lots of twists and turns, so naturally I had to read the series. When Long Shadows was finally released, I bought the book immediately and couldn't wait to read it.
I don't know if Baldacci is getting careless with his books as he cranks them out regularly or he is just writing for the sake of writing ( does he have to fill a quota?) but this book is disappointing. Where "Walk the Wire" was short on detailing Decker's amazing abilities, "Long Shadows" is overkill on that aspect. The book constantly went into his past, kept reminder the reader of so many events that were covered in detail in the early part of the series. At times I thought the book was just a rehash of the previous 6 books and the crimes in this book was just a byline at times.
The book seemed disjointed and the language used by the FBI agents certainly had less professionalism than the previous books in the series. The book was basically "dumbed down". Makes me question if Baldacci has someone helping him to churn out the Memory Man series.
I don't know if Baldacci is getting careless with his books as he cranks them out regularly or he is just writing for the sake of writing ( does he have to fill a quota?) but this book is disappointing. Where "Walk the Wire" was short on detailing Decker's amazing abilities, "Long Shadows" is overkill on that aspect. The book constantly went into his past, kept reminder the reader of so many events that were covered in detail in the early part of the series. At times I thought the book was just a rehash of the previous 6 books and the crimes in this book was just a byline at times.
The book seemed disjointed and the language used by the FBI agents certainly had less professionalism than the previous books in the series. The book was basically "dumbed down". Makes me question if Baldacci has someone helping him to churn out the Memory Man series.
December 19, 2023
The man knows how to write and keep you turning the pages! This is the seventh book of Baldacci's Memory Man series. Amos Decker consults for the FBI and is sent to South Florida to investigate the murder of a judge--and her bodyguard. It becomes a very complicated case. But Decker has an advantage most other detectives don't have (Holmes comes close!) and that is that he has perfect recall. It certainly helps him to put together the pieces of the puzzle to solve the crime. I enjoyed seeing those pieces come together as I tried to guess whodunit (of course I was wrong!). It's a 400+ page book but the story moved along at a swift pace. I have to confess I have only read one other book by Baldacci and this is the first book I've read in this series. I'll be looking for the rest of the Amos Decker books.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the Advance Reading Copy!
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the Advance Reading Copy!
September 13, 2022
I’ve read all of the Memory Man books, loving each one. This is by far my favorite. The book starts out with some reflection of people who have been in Deckers life along with a little drama. Then he is sent to Florida with a new partner. She’s very likable with quick wit that actually makes Decker smile occasionally. Every chapter is filled with drama, excitement and another piece of the puzzle to help Decker and ‘Freddie’ solve their case.
I read this book in 2 days, just couldn’t put it down.
I read this book in 2 days, just couldn’t put it down.
November 8, 2022
Uncharacteristically dull from a usually page turning author. The only reason I did not put it down was to stay up to date with the series. I hope the next book is better.
September 9, 2023
Some people find Amos decker series a little boring, I like the pace and how he solves murders. Let me first say I am usually a terrorist or counter-terrorist type of reader. This is my deviation from the norm.
April 20, 2025
Neue Partnerin
Nach seiner letzten Untersuchung ist Agent Amos Decker irgendwie verunsichert. Der neue Auftrag lenkt ihn weitgehend ab. In einer geschlossenen Siedlung in an der Küste Floridas sind in einem Anwesen zwei Tote gefunden worden. Eine angesehene Richterin und ihr Bodyguard. Es scheint ganz einfach. Doch neben den gesundheitlichen Ungewissheiten muss sich Decker auch noch mit einer neuen Partnerin auseinandersetzten. Special Agent Frederica White wurde ihm zugeteilt Sie schient eine kompetente FBI-Agentin zu sein, doch ein wenig beschnuppern müssen sie sich. Die Ermittlungen führen jedoch erstmal zu nichts, bis Decker auf eine Idee kommt, durch den die Beiden anders denken können.
Mit diesem siebten Band wird es für Amos Decker, den Memory Man, nicht einfacher. Er hat mit seinen privaten Verlusten zu kämpfen, wegen seines phänomenalen Gedächtnisses steht ihm alles wie ein Bild vor Augen, auch wenn es schon Jahre her ist. Mit seiner neuen Partnerin Freddie ist es zunächst auch nicht einfach. Nach und nach lernen sie sich gegenseitig zu schätzen. Langsam kommt auch die Ermittlung voran und es entwickelt sich ein sehr ungewöhnlicher Fall. Besonders mysteriös wird es als Menschen verschwinden, die eigentlich als Zeugen vernommen werden sollten. Ist der Täter etwa noch nicht fertig oder müssen unliebsame Zeugen beseitigt werden?
Man muss nicht alle Bände der Reihe kennen, um von diesem Teil gut unterhalten zu werden. Der Fall ist in sich abgeschlossen und es wird genug von Agent Decker erzählt, um seinen Hintergrund verstehen zu können. In diesem Teil der Reihe wird es ganz schön brenzlich um Decker und seine neue Partnerin. Zum einen müssen sie sich zusammenraufen und zum anderen gestaltet sich der Fall ausgesprochen schwierig. Erst nachdem Decker einen überraschenden Ansatz wählt, gibt es erste Fortschritte. Allerdings wechseln sich sehr spannende Abschnitte mit eher nicht so spannenden ab. Und manchmal fragt man sich, ob einem Teile der Geschichte bekannt vorkommen. Zwar kann das nicht sein, weil der Roman erst im Jahr 2022 geschrieben und veröffentlicht wurde. Das kann nur bedeuten, dass man die Art des Autors zu gut kennt oder die Story doch etwas vorhersehbar ist. Auch hat man das Gefühl, die Erzählung hätte ein wenig gestrafft werden können. Dennoch liest sich der Roman gut und durch die vielen Dialoge auch flüssig. Der Fall hält trotz der Vorahnungen einige Überraschungen bereit und er ist schlüssig aufgebaut.
3,5 Sterne
Nach seiner letzten Untersuchung ist Agent Amos Decker irgendwie verunsichert. Der neue Auftrag lenkt ihn weitgehend ab. In einer geschlossenen Siedlung in an der Küste Floridas sind in einem Anwesen zwei Tote gefunden worden. Eine angesehene Richterin und ihr Bodyguard. Es scheint ganz einfach. Doch neben den gesundheitlichen Ungewissheiten muss sich Decker auch noch mit einer neuen Partnerin auseinandersetzten. Special Agent Frederica White wurde ihm zugeteilt Sie schient eine kompetente FBI-Agentin zu sein, doch ein wenig beschnuppern müssen sie sich. Die Ermittlungen führen jedoch erstmal zu nichts, bis Decker auf eine Idee kommt, durch den die Beiden anders denken können.
Mit diesem siebten Band wird es für Amos Decker, den Memory Man, nicht einfacher. Er hat mit seinen privaten Verlusten zu kämpfen, wegen seines phänomenalen Gedächtnisses steht ihm alles wie ein Bild vor Augen, auch wenn es schon Jahre her ist. Mit seiner neuen Partnerin Freddie ist es zunächst auch nicht einfach. Nach und nach lernen sie sich gegenseitig zu schätzen. Langsam kommt auch die Ermittlung voran und es entwickelt sich ein sehr ungewöhnlicher Fall. Besonders mysteriös wird es als Menschen verschwinden, die eigentlich als Zeugen vernommen werden sollten. Ist der Täter etwa noch nicht fertig oder müssen unliebsame Zeugen beseitigt werden?
Man muss nicht alle Bände der Reihe kennen, um von diesem Teil gut unterhalten zu werden. Der Fall ist in sich abgeschlossen und es wird genug von Agent Decker erzählt, um seinen Hintergrund verstehen zu können. In diesem Teil der Reihe wird es ganz schön brenzlich um Decker und seine neue Partnerin. Zum einen müssen sie sich zusammenraufen und zum anderen gestaltet sich der Fall ausgesprochen schwierig. Erst nachdem Decker einen überraschenden Ansatz wählt, gibt es erste Fortschritte. Allerdings wechseln sich sehr spannende Abschnitte mit eher nicht so spannenden ab. Und manchmal fragt man sich, ob einem Teile der Geschichte bekannt vorkommen. Zwar kann das nicht sein, weil der Roman erst im Jahr 2022 geschrieben und veröffentlicht wurde. Das kann nur bedeuten, dass man die Art des Autors zu gut kennt oder die Story doch etwas vorhersehbar ist. Auch hat man das Gefühl, die Erzählung hätte ein wenig gestrafft werden können. Dennoch liest sich der Roman gut und durch die vielen Dialoge auch flüssig. Der Fall hält trotz der Vorahnungen einige Überraschungen bereit und er ist schlüssig aufgebaut.
3,5 Sterne
December 24, 2022
I don't know what happened between this book and every other Amos Decker or Baldacci book. I remember maybe one f bomb across several other books. This one has probably 20-30. For no reason. Adding no value or realism, or creativity to the story. Just random filthy language. The story skips around a little. The characters were more stale in this story. The random jumps from asking questions to suddenly having answers are incomplete. The mystery solving was incomplete and fragmented.
Slow. My mind strayed too often.
I'm guessing a ghost writer wrote this one and it just isn't the same. If Baldacci wrote this one I would be surprised.
Slow. My mind strayed too often.
I'm guessing a ghost writer wrote this one and it just isn't the same. If Baldacci wrote this one I would be surprised.
April 8, 2023
5 Stars. Same Decker, new supporting cast. Maybe the best Memory Man Baldacci has given us. Great mystery that was interesting until the end. Plenty of room for another set of stories, fresh with his new partner, Freddie. Definitely looking forward to seeing what’s coming.
January 4, 2023
First, this author is my most read author. Now with that said, this series is NOT my favorite by him. But many readers really like it.
Baldacci can create a great story with a great pace. He can also create some fun characters. I like Amos as an MC. However, as he shines, all of the other characters don't have a life of their own. It feels as if their sole purpose for existence is to make sure Amos stays in the lime light. It doesn't feel natural. Which brings me to the main reason I struggle with this series. And that is the dialogue. It feels off...and even a little dated. I have a hard time believing that adults, let alone tough FBI guys, talk like that. So only 3 stars.
Baldacci can create a great story with a great pace. He can also create some fun characters. I like Amos as an MC. However, as he shines, all of the other characters don't have a life of their own. It feels as if their sole purpose for existence is to make sure Amos stays in the lime light. It doesn't feel natural. Which brings me to the main reason I struggle with this series. And that is the dialogue. It feels off...and even a little dated. I have a hard time believing that adults, let alone tough FBI guys, talk like that. So only 3 stars.
August 7, 2024
Another great story in the Memory Man series! Amos Decker never disappoints. I was a little sad that his counterpart, Alex, wasn't a part of this story. But I warmed up to Decker's new partner pretty quickly.
This case was a little complex. Baldacci almost lost me in what I call the "Scooby Doo rundown" section of the book - where Decker fills everyone in on how he got to the conclusions he made. So I put the book aside for a while and it made better sense when I came back to it.
I was just thrilled to have another Amos Decker book to read. I don't need much more than that to be happy! :) Four out of five stars because I got a little lost in the wrap up!
This case was a little complex. Baldacci almost lost me in what I call the "Scooby Doo rundown" section of the book - where Decker fills everyone in on how he got to the conclusions he made. So I put the book aside for a while and it made better sense when I came back to it.
I was just thrilled to have another Amos Decker book to read. I don't need much more than that to be happy! :) Four out of five stars because I got a little lost in the wrap up!
December 7, 2022
A satisfying seventh instalment in the Amos Decker series.
Amos finds himself with a new partner, and the separation from his other. Interesting character choices move the story along briskly. The plot is relatively linear, but with sub-branches and tendrils to keep track of, it suits reading in larger sections.
Overall, for fans of Amos, most will be intrigued. For criminal investigations the book does an excellent job. A few teasers at the end could indicate a new direction coming. One I’ll be reading!
Amos finds himself with a new partner, and the separation from his other. Interesting character choices move the story along briskly. The plot is relatively linear, but with sub-branches and tendrils to keep track of, it suits reading in larger sections.
Overall, for fans of Amos, most will be intrigued. For criminal investigations the book does an excellent job. A few teasers at the end could indicate a new direction coming. One I’ll be reading!
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