Title: Memory Man
Author: David Baldacci
Genre: Mystery
How I got the book: Borrowed from my mom’s bookshelf
Summary (from Amazon):
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.
My Review (may contain spoilers!):
This novel was interesting until the very end.
It follows Amos Decker, a man who can’t forget anything due to a brain trauma that caused him to have an exceptional memory. Decker used to be a cop and then detective before his family–his brother, wife, and child–were murdered.
The killer was never caught until one day, years later, someone confesses. At that time a shooting occurs at the local high school killing several students as well as a couple teachers.
Decker is brought onto the case as a consultant as they realize both the shooting and the death of his family are connected.
The novel follows Decker as he tries to follow the killer’s clues, which are directed at him. The case is a lot more personal than anyone ever thought.
Overall, this was a great mystery to read. It was heavy, but all questions were answered by the end, the characters were well developed throughout the book, and the plot was complex enough that it wasn’t predictable but you were able to slowly figure it out along with the characters. Which, in my opinion, are the best types of mysteries.
Memory Man by David Baldacci gets 5 out of 5 stars.
Favorite Quote:
“Damaged minds, even turned exceptional in some ways, are capable of many things. Some good, some bad.” –David Baldacci, Memory Man
Be sure to check out my Goodreads page to see what I’ll be reading next!