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The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey
4★'s
A man wakes up naked and cold, half-drowned on an abandoned beach. The only sign of life for miles is an empty BMW. Inside the expensive car he finds clothes that fit perfectly, shoes for his tattered feet, a Rolex, and a bank envelope stuffed with cash and an auto registration in the name of Daniel Hayes, resident of Malibu, California. None of it is familiar.
What is he doing here? How did he get into the ocean? Is he Daniel Hayes, and if so, why doesn't he remember? While he searches for answers, the world searches for him - beginning with the police that kick in the door of his dingy motel, with guns drawn. Lost, alone, and on the run, the man who might be Daniel Hayes flees into the night. All he remembers is a woman's face, so he sets off for the only place he might find her. The fantasy of her becomes his home, his world, his hope. And maybe, just maybe, the way back to himself. But that raises the most chilling question of all: What will he find when he gets there?[The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes] is one of those books where it's hard... actually maybe impossible...to say much about it without revealing a few key plot points so I will try to be very elective here. Much of the suspense generated by the narrative comes from Daniel believing that he has experienced a recent traumatic event that has caused him to block his memory of the past. You, the reader, quickly suspect there is much more to it. As Daniel begins his search for himself and the story behind his bizarre predicament you will always find yourself rooting for Daniel in spite of what the various law enforcement agencies believe. His journey makes for an entertaining...intriguing... fast-paced crime thriller.
