Walk the Wire

Amos Decker #6

by David Baldacci

Amos Decker -- the FBI consultant with a perfect memory -- returns to solve a gruesome murder in a booming North Dakota oil town in the newest thriller in David Baldacci's #1 New York Times bestselling Memory Man series.

When Amos Decker and his FBI colleague Alex Jamison are called to London, North Dakota, they instantly sense that the thriving fracking town is ripe for trouble. The promise of a second gold rush has attracted an onslaught of newcomers all hoping for a windfall, and the community is growing faster than houses can be built. The sudden boom has also brought a slew of problems with it, including drugs, property crimes, prostitution -- and now murder.

Decker and Jamison are ordered to investigate the death of a young woman named Irene Cramer, whose body was expertly autopsied and then dumped in the open -- which is only the beginning of the oddities surrounding the case. As Decker and Jamison dig into Irene's life, they are shocked to discover that the woman who walked the streets by night as a prostitute was a teacher for a local religious sect by day -- a sect operating on land once owned by a mysterious government facility that looms over the entire community.

London is a town replete with ruthless business owners, shady government officials, and religious outsiders, all determined to keep their secrets from coming out. When other murders occur, Decker will need all of his extraordinary memory and detective skills, and the assistance of a surprising ally, to root out a killer and the forces behind Cramer's death. . . before the boom town explodes.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

422 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2020

About the author

David 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.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Baldacci's latest addition to the terrific Amos Decker series is a particularly twisted and complex thriller, with the appearance of other series favourites, the assassins Will Robie and Jessica Riel. Decker and his partner, Alex Jamison of the FBI are sent to the North Dakota Badlands, to the fracking for oil boom and bust town of London, currently experiencing an extraordinary boom. The body of school teacher at the closed community of Anabaptists, Irene Cramer, has been discovered by a local hunting tracker, oddly the body shows all the signs of having undergone a post-mortem. Surprisingly, Decker and Jamison are not given given any reasons as to why Cramer's murder is of interest, but they soon learn that Cramer operated below the radar as a streetwalker, as they work with the local cop, Joe Kelly.

London has a military Air Force Station, conducting radar operations, that employs security contractors, Vector, and two of the town's wealthiest rival businessmen benefiting from the growth of incoming workers for the fracking industry, Hugh Dawson and Stuart McClellan. Having not kept in touch with his two sisters, Decker is shocked to find his brother in law, Stan Baker, in London, working in the fracking industry, in the throes of an amicable divorce from Renee. In a thrilling and fast paced narrative, there are several intricate threads that put Decker in severe danger, and when a attempt on his life almost succeeds, he finds he has been assigned high level protection and assistance that is to prove critically important. It takes Decker some time to unpick the several different plots that together have a sky high body count in London that involve corrupt politicians, mercenaries hired by global players, and a morass of local intrigue.

Baldacci is a skilled and expert thriller writer with well plotted explosive storylines that are packed with suspense and tension, as he illustrates here. He does his research too, I particularly appreciated the details he provided of how the fracking industry works. He continues to develop the character of his central protagonist, Amos, who inches closer to becoming closer to his family, something that has eluded him with the trauma of the loss of his wife and daughter. He begins to show an interest in the personal lives of others, such as that of Alex Jamison, until now his sole survival strategy to handle his haunting circumstances has been work, nothing else. This is a great, entertaining, intense and complicated thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

[John Rumery · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed all the Amos Decker books. Up till now. This was a mess. Probably the most convoluted, implausible story I have read in a long time. It was like throwing a Scooby-Doo mystery and an x-Files episode into a blender then pouring it out.

Why does success (previous books in series) always end up with mediocrity after a few years?

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Baldacci is back with another of his powerhouse Amos Decker novels, which never ceases to impress. Decker and his team are sent to the small community of London, North Dakota to investigate the murder of a woman. Her skull has been hacked open and her brain removed, as well as the evisceration of her stomach. Decker cannot make much sense of it, but soon learns that the victim was the teacher on a religious colony just outside of town. When not teaching the minds of tomorrow, she was entertaining the men of the community with her sexual prowess, which is another angle that Decker feels might play a part in her death. London is not the bucolic town it might seem, as a military installation appears to be quite busy on the outskirts, something that Decker learns is related to satellite monitoring. However, something seems off and so the investigation turns in that direction, as odd vehicles appear and planes are in the vicinity at odd hours. While Decker pushes forward, there are some who seem to take offence to this and he lands in a spot of trouble. Just when things get at their most tense, a mysterious figure shows up to cast some light on the situation and save Decker’s hide. More bodies turn up, some mysterious suicides and others outright murders. It would seem there is more to this small town than meets the eye, something some within the US Army want to keep secret. While Decker wants to find the killer, there are bigger fish to fry. Why, then, would someone like Will Robie be here and how will that impact the case? A great piece with some strong cross-over elements to one of Baldacci’s other series. Recommended to fans of his work, as well as the reader who needs a little thrill put back into their day!

I love a story that pulls me in from the opening pages and does not let up. Baldacci does that here from the outset, with his strong mix of characters. That the story was set in North Dakota only added to things for me, as I grew up a few hours away, over the Canadian border. As always, Amos Decker is a wonderful protagonist and his way of thinking keeps me on my toes throughout. His thought process and somewhat rational way of coming to some conclusions makes the story all the better, keeping the reader wanting more. There was definitely a softer side that emerged in this piece, as Decker connects with siblings from his past. Might there be a turn towards the more amenable side of this rock-hard man? The others who emerge in this piece help to complement Decker’s work, as well as keep the action moving. Will Robie’s cross-over appearance here left me wondering if Baldacci wanted to bring one of his past protagonists back, seeing as there have been some new projects taking precedence. Decker and Robie work well together and the race to the answer is found with their teaming up. The story was strong, as usual, and the plot kept evolving throughout, with twists that Baldacci explains to those who pay attention. I am happy to see some cross-over work and would be keen to see if Baldacci tries it again, as it seemed seamless to me. Now to wait for the next book, which is always the hardest part.

Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for another great Amos Decker instalment. I love how creative you can be, given the opportunity.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Rajesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't believe the 4 and 5 star reviews. This one took me 2 weeks to finish. The plot was thin enough to need a very high body count. The high body count itself wasn't enough to pull the story for the required number of pages. So characters from another series, Will Robie and Jessica Reel with Blue Man had to be roped in to fire a few large guns. Multiple cross plots made a mess and the aim seemed to be to fill pages that's all.

All in all, even though I enjoyed all previous Amos Decker books, you can safely give this one a pass.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you met Amos Decker? If not why not? Go and pick up The Memory Man, Book 1 right now and you will see why he is one of my favourite fictional characters. He is a character like now other, with his special abilities and background - but I will not spoil that for you. Get into this series and you will find out for yourself.

Walk The Wire is book 6 featuring Decker and Jamison and I could not wait to read it. They are sent to a town called London in North Dakota when the autopsied boy of Irene Cramer is discovered by a hunter. Her name raises a flag on the FBI system, but they do not know why. It is the start of an action packed story where the bullets fly and the body count rises. This fracking town is a busy one, with not only the oil people but a secret military complex. Who would want Irene, a teacher, dead? And why was her body cut up and sewn back together. The more Alex and Amos look into it the more complicated it gets. The ending was surprising and clever.

The drama never stops in a David Baldacci book and walk The Wire is no exception. It really is a brilliant series and long time fans of David's are in for a treat with some familiar faces making an appearance in this book. High recommend you start at the beginning with Amos, you need to truly understand him as a man.

Thank you to Macmillan Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a page-turner!

Amos Decker is back with his partner Alex Jamison. For those who don't follow this series, Amos has perfect recall memory after an injury while playing football in the NFL. He used to be a cop and now he works as a consultant for the FBI.

Their next case takes them to London, North Dakota where the fracking business is flourishing. A crime has been committed. A teacher by the name of Irene Cramer was found dead by a hunter. The murder plus the way her body was already autopsied is what makes the FBI start investigating.

As the story progresses, it feels like Amos and Alex are ten steps behind whoever committed the crime. Luckily, they get help from a couple of special operatives that are watching their backs as the murder count continues to increase.

I like the story and I like that Amos is starting to show more feelings and learning some social cues too. He makes a good team with Alex. I'm starting the next one right away.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amos Decker is a diminishing character, as is possibly author Baldacci. 1 of 10 stars

[Майя Ставитская · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brutal murder is taking place in the vicinity of the oil workers' town of London in North Dakota. A young woman, disfigured beyond recognition, is thrown to be eaten by wild animals. After that. As a hunter accidentally stumbles upon the body, FBI agents Amos Decker and his partner Alex Jamison arrive in the city.

The authorities use them in the dark, without explaining why the identity of the victim is so important, but they provide additional help and support for the heavy artillery of other through-the-line heroes of Boldacci - agent Will Robey and his partner.

The case, meanwhile, grows like a snowball, murders, suicides and kidnappings multiply, the finale gives considerable pleasure both by surprise and by the fact that everything is finally over. But the performance of Igor Knyazev is able to give charm even to such an illogical pile of stamps.

I am sure this book will find many fans.

Я уеду жить в Лондон
Я ставлю на то, что Лондон, штат Северная Дакота, все-таки превратится из обычного нефтяного городишки в то место, где люди захотят жить.
В окрестностях городка нефтяников Лондон в Северной Дакоте происходит жестокое убийство. Молодая женщина, изуродованная до неузнаваемости, брошена на съедение диким зверям. Ее грудная клетка и череп вскрыты прозекторским способом, органы иссечены, мозг отсутствует, а кожа с лица, вместе со скальпом, собрана в узел на передней части головы.

Любители крови кишок и доброты взбодрились? Можно продолжать? После того, как на тело случайно натыкается охотник, в город прибывают агенты ФБР Амос Декер и его напарница Алекс Джеймисон. Это сквозные персонажи а��тора, "Черная земля" (в оригинале Walk the Wire - пройтись по проволоке) шестой роман о Декере. Что о нем стоит знать: 1. при трагических обстоятельствах потерял жену и дочь, скорбь по ним не оставляет его ни ��а минуту; 2. в результате ранения в голову обрел абсолютную память. О ней не надо знать ничего, кроме того, что в прошлом фотомодель, а теперь отличный спецагент

Начальство использует их втемную, не объясняя, почему личность убитой так важна, однако обеспечивает дополнительную помощь и поддержку тяжелой артиллерией других сквозных героев Болдаччи,агента Уилла Роби с напарницей Рэйчел. Если Декер-Джеймисон мозги, то вторая пара - безупречная физическая форма, сила и ловкость. Роби может вплавь пересечь Ла-Манш, в одиночку захватить Форт Нокс, а после станцевать на чемпионате мира по бальным танцам, и все это не снимая лыж.

Такое усиление оправдано, начальству, знаете ли, всегда виднее, как вскоре выяснится. Дело разрастается снежным комом, убийства, самоубийства и похищения людей множатся, втянутыми в происходящее оказываются военно-промышленный комплекс, религиозная организация, ЦРУ, местные воротилы. И если при упоминании последних вы презрительно усмехнулись, то зря. Нефть, дети мои, это серьезный бизнес и серьезные деньги, которые всегда в тесном соседстве с криминалом.

Кстати о нефти. Немногое, за что я благодарна автору - это развернутая лекция о фрекинговом способе нефтедобычи. Реально, очень интересно. Финал доставляет немалое удовольствие как неожиданностью, так и тем, что все наконец закончилось. Но исполнение Игоря Князева способно придать шарм даже такому алогичному нагромождению штампов.

Уверена, что книга найдет множество поклонников.

[K.J. McGillick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Amos Decker is my favorite character and to have Will Robie show up was an added treat. I learned a lot about fraking which also a plus. Great plots good twists and turns satisfactory ending

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was typical Baldacci entertainment, non stop action, an amazing body count and so much going on it was hard to keep up with it all. In fact if you asked me to explain exactly what happened I would probably get it wrong. I do know I enjoyed it though.

Amos Decker is always good value, although the author seems to be softening his character a little which may not be a good thing. I like his alternative thinking, his abruptness and especially his synesthesia. It makes him stand out from the plethora of special agents, detectives and P.I.s out there in all those murder mysteries and thrillers.

Baldacci made an interesting move in this book by sharing a large part of the action with a character from another of his series, Will Robie. I saw someone comment that it may have been a sales technique to introduce his other series to new readers. Well, if so, it worked for me. I have not read any of the Will Robie series and I have to put that right asap! At least I have something else to read while I wait for the next Amos Decker:)

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amos Decker #6

Amos Decker is a former FBI Agent. Along with his partner Alex Jamison, they are investigating the murder of Irene Cramer. Her body had bee mutilated. Helping to assist the investigation is two CIA assassins, Will Robe and Jessica Riel. The four of them together must try and defeat the perpetrators before anymore murders take place.

The plotline is complex, intriguing and relevant today. The pace is fast in this twist filled story. It's a tense and gripping page turner. With the death toll rising, Deker and Jamison seem to be running around in circles. I like Amos Decker and his perfect recollection of everything. As always, even though it seemed impossible, all the loose ends were tied up. This book could be read as a standalone but it's always best to read a series in the order they were written in. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author David Baldacci for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/re...

3.5 stars

In this 6th book in the 'Amos Decker' series, the detective's investigation of a bizarre murder in North Dakota unveils diabolical wrongdoing. The book works well as a standalone.

*****

Amos Decker, 6'5" tall and 300 pounds, 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 now works for the FBI - on a team that investigates crimes. Decker's FBI partner is Alex Jamison, a woman who understands his problems and has his back.



As the story opens, a wildlife tracker in London, North Dakota finds the body of a woman with her face peeled back, brain removed, and torso dissected.



When the FBI gets wind of the discovery, Decker and Jamison are sent to investigate. The FBI agents work with local police detective Joe Kelly, who tells them the victim was a comparative newcomer to London named Irene Cramer. Cramer had an odd combination of professions: she taught school for an Anabaptist religious sect called The Brothers and provided escort services for oil field workers.



North Dakota's oil industry exploded when fracking was developed.....



.....and at least half London's population of 15,000 are oil field employees.



The boom town environment resulted in increased drug use, theft, drinking, bar fights, prostitution, etc. - but Decker's instincts tell him Cramer's murder wasn't connected to sex work.

In addition to the Anabaptist compound and the oil fields, London also boasts the George S. Douglas Defense Complex, an early warning Air Force station that scans the skies for incoming missiles.



So there's plenty going on in London.

To begin their investigation, Decker, Jamison, and Kelly speak to Cramer's landlady, examine Cramer's apartment, visit The Brothers Compound, inspect a hotel room used by hookers, speak to townspeople, visit the Air Force Station, and so on. Decker and Jamison quickly get the feeling something is wonky in London. For one thing, the Air Force station claims a perfect safety record, but there are ambulances stationed all around.

The detectives get their first lead when Decker reads Cramer's autopsy report, notices something odd, and rushes to the funeral home to examine her body.



This starts a cascade of suicides, murders, disappearances, and kidnappings - and Decker himself is targeted by an ace gunman.



Luckily CIA assassin Will Robie (from another Baldacci series) is on hand to save the day.



Robie's partner Jessica Reel and their CIA handler, the Blue Man, also show up - proving that the treachery in London goes WAY beyond Irene Cramer's homicide.

It turns out that sinister schemes abound in London, and there's so much going on that Decker and Jamison struggle to put the pieces together. They succeed eventually, but not before numerous gun fights and assassination attempts leave bodies scattered across the landscape.

A variety of characters add interest to the story, including Decker's brother-in-law Stan, who happens to be working in London's oil fields;



a coroner who fudges his autopsies;



two rival multi-millionaires who, together, own almost everything in town;



a beautiful woman who turns men's heads;



a feisty nonagenarian who harbors secrets; and more.



Baldacci's stories often feature complex conspiracies, but he goes a bit overboard in this book. It's hard to believe one town could harbor this many diverse cabals. That said, this is an engaging thriller with interesting people, plenty of action, and characters from two of Baldacci's series. Maybe it's the beginning of a trend.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. This is the 6th book in the Adam Decker(Memory Man) series. I read the previous 5 with much enjoyment. This one didn’t appeal to me as much.
This works well as a stand-alone, but those unfamiliar with the series should read at least the first book to learn about Decker’s unique abilities.

Adam Decker suffered a serious head injury at the start of playing pro- football.
When he regained consciousness he was a changed man. He was diagnosed with hyperthymesia (perfect recall) which renders one unable to forget anything they have seen, heard or read, and also with synesthesia where colours are seen in relation to people, places or numbers. These are very rare but actual brain conditions. He also lost empathy and some social skills.

These disorders were upsetting to him, but his heightened memory was put to good use when he joined his hometown police force. Attempting to lead as normal a life as possible, he married and was the devoted father of a young girl. One evening, he returned home to find his wife, daughter and brother-in-law brutally murdered.

Adam Decker went into decline. He lived on the streets, was dirty and shabby, grew a scraggly beard, and gained considerable weight. He was determined to pull himself together and returned to work to find his family's killer.

I found Walk the Wire slow-moving at first. The action didn't really pick up until a character new to me, entered the plot. This was Will Robie, a skilled assassin, secretly hired by the government to eliminate persons threatening the country. My first thought that he would be the perfect candidate for an action series of his own. Not being familiar with David Baldacci’s other books, I was pleased to learn that Robie already was the protagonist in his own thrillers.

Decker’s synesthesia seems to be declining. He is showing interest and feelings for others, and has made a connection with his brother and plans to visit his sisters after avoiding them. He seems to be gradually emerging from his time as a dour loner. It was difficult to know whether his super memory is normalizing. This investigation relied on his intelligence, bravery, and rational thinking and the only examples of his recall were in relation to remarks he heard recently. He will still be a terrific detective, but I fear not as intriguing a character.

Decker now works as a consultant for the FBI. He is called to the boomtown of London, North Dakota, along with his partner, Alex Jamison. The town has seen hard times but now wealth from oil is bringing in newcomers as well as an upswing in crime. The town is dominated by adjacent oilfields, a religious community and a mysterious compound that was once a military base. It was built for the supposed purpose of using radar to track satellites and any incoming missiles and then sold to Vector, a security company.

They have been called upon to investigate the murder of Irene Cramer. Her body had been dumped in a field, her head and body expertly autopsied, and it was later found that her intestines and stomach had been sliced open. Cramer had been a popular school teacher in the religious sect but at night she worked as an escort, mainly with men from the oil fields. I learned more about fracking for oil than I ever wanted to know. This interfered with the flow of the story for me. Who was Irene Cramer and why was she killed?

There were two separate plots here with only minimal connection. There was an obsessive deadly love story. Murders and suspected suicides were piling up. Then there was the former military base which was not as it seemed, with secret use by government authority in the 1950s. Now very strange things are happening, again under the auspices of the government. Planes and helicopters have been seen landing and ambulances taking bodies away. There is a vast conspiracy, and mercenaries will kill to keep its secrets. Robie and his partner, Jessica Beel, have been sent to discover what is going on at the military base and to protect Decker. There is a race to solve the mysteries before an impending catastrophe destroys the area.
Intense action escalated later in the book with much excitement and plenty of head-spinning surprises, danger and thrills.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, this wasn’t really an Amos Decker book. It was just a mystery. The book contained very little of Decker’s trademark quirks, which is why I have loved the previous books in the series. Second, once again, too many characters and too many names in general! Wow! Last, not only were there way to many characters, but Mr. Baldacci would refer to them by their first name and then their last name and back to their first name ... all on the same page. He would set up a scene with 5 people in a room and then also be referring to several other additional characters. It was impossible to keep up with the dialogue while also trying to remember who was who!

[Neecy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was NOT an Amos Decker book.

I love the Amos Decker series. Always look forward to these books. However, I almost stopped reading this book several times. It really didn’t pick up until page 200 (kindle at 48%). These books always grab my attention and I can’t put them down. I’ve taken the last two with me each time I’ve went on vacation because I knew they would be perfect beach reads and I just flew through them. This one just didn’t have the “wow” factor that the other books have had. I felt like there were two separate stories being told simultaneously. A lot of back and forth. I found myself re-reading paragraphs because I couldn’t focus on the story. Also, if you like all of the characters in the other books, you will be disappointed because there’s a couple new characters that have a large role in this book and none of the series favorites are in this book (they have very small, insignificant mentions). Overall my least favorite in this series. And that is saying a lot because I recommend this series to everyone. Took me two weeks to finish this book. Such an incredible disappointment.

*Where is Decker? He was totally off his game. And where were his trademark quirks?

*What happened to Jamison? She can’t seem to figure anything out on her own.

*This is basically a Will Robie book with a smidgen of Amos Decker.

[Barry who enjoys well-written thrillers, mysteries , & espionage & loathes romance, horror & supernat · Rating 1 out of 5]

A DNF. I'm done with Baldacci. It's a shame to see a good writer sell out but, like Patterson, Baldacci appears to have 28 different guys writing under his name and the result, as is the case here, is often wretched. The premise seemed fine but the dialogue was awful. It made Jamison, the faithful partner to the FBI's Amos Decker, sound like an idiot.

I really enjoyed the first couple of books in this series and I have enjoyed a number of Baldacci's other books but no more.

I will delete the remainder of his books from my electronic library.

Over and Out

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, the suspense! Started good with a body and a wolf hunter. As a reader, I tried to see how all the clues fit together until I found out at the end, a letdown mess. Guest stars made it exciting like old friends came to visit.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a big Baldacci fan and buy all his books. That said I have been disappointed in the last few Baldacci books.

In my opinion I have grown tired of the “heroes” being able to escape or fight off extreme odds over and over again. To me I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a sniper rifle out of rolled up newspaper, duct tape and an aerosol can.

It really makes me wonder if the person writing the current books is actually the same author that wrote the earlier works?

I won’t buy future Baldacci books, I may check one out of the library, that way I have no money invested if I quit reading, I can return it.

Disappointed.

[Sandra L. Sorensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Baldacci

But I didn’t love this book. Too many story lines going. The entrance of Robbie kept me going for awhile, but, there were big holes in the flow, and the integrity of the story was ruined by the uncharacteristic procedure lapses made by the main character, Decker.

I feel like the author was playing a game of switch-up, or how many story lines can you fit in one book.

PS: I’m never going to North Dakota.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amos Decker #6

Amos Decker is a former FBI Agent. Along with his partner Alex Jamison, theynare investigating the murder of Irene Cramer. Her body had been mutilated. Helping to assist the investigation is teo CIA assassins, Will Robe and Jessica Riel. The four of them together must try and defeat the perpetrators before anymore murders take place.

The plotline is complex, intriguing and relevant today. The pace is fast in this twist filled story. It's a tense and gripping page turner. With thendea5h toll rising, Deker and Jamison seem to be running round in circles. I like Amos Deker and his perfect recollection of everything. As always, even though it seemed impossible, the loose ends are all tied up. This book could be read as a standalone but it's always best to read a series in the order they were written in. I do recommend this book.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 6th book in the Amos Decker series by author David Baldacci.

Amos Decker is no ordinary person and due to a football injury caused by a severe head trauma now has one of the most exceptional brains in the world. His injury left him with total recall, hence the memory man.
Amos Decker and his FBI colleague Alex Jamison are back on a case, this time in North Dakota when they are told to investigate the death of Irene Cramer whose body was autopsied and abandoned.
On investigation they discover Cramer was a prostitute by night and a teacher for a local religious sect by day. The sect operating on land once owned by a mysterious government facility that looms over the entire community. Further murders follow and Decker's memory and skills are pushed to the limits.
This is an excellent series and would recommend that readers start from the very beginning with 'Memory man' to get the full experience. Great plots with excellent characters that grow and grow. This series is so well written and achieves an high standard consistently.

[Sandi Griffith · Rating 1 out of 5]

terrible

Hard to follow and dull. It is nothing like his other books.

The writing style is not even the same.

[CONNIE ELLIOTT · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trainwreck

I have read and loved all the memory man books. I can't believe David Baldacci even wrote this. It is a hot mess. Convoluted ridiculous plot which makes no sense. But the worst thing is that Amos Decker has been turned into a cutout character with none of his original personality and appeal. Don't waste your money.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

FBI Amos Decker & partner Alex Jamison goto London, North Dakota, investigate Irene Cramer murder, found by a hunter in the woods.

Stab wounds, cut limbs, cleanly skin peeled off with knife off the body.

Irene Cramer worked in a Male Escort Services (prostitute) and as a school teacher with “The Brothers” - religious group - Branch of the Anabaptists. Helping the past “oil rich” town dig to illegal riches.

Suspect - Liz Southern & Walt Southern - funeral home owners (are taking jewelry from bodies before the casket is sealed). Walt Southern’s “Suicide note” is found when killed, but is it written by someone else??

Notes - they are “Large London resource owners”.
1. Hugh Dawson (Caroline Dawson’s dad) is murdered by who? Owned much of London, “the good and bad parts”. Caroline went to college and may inherit some of the business…
2. Stuart McClellan (Shane McClellan’s dad) is killed by who? Owned “pretty much all of the oil and gas London operations”. Shane McClellan went off to the Army & would return to inherit some of the business…

Liz Southern(funeral home owner) & Caroline Dawson had “secret” love relationship? They planned an “escape” to Canada?

Unsuccessful escape by Liz (funeral home owner) & Caroline (Hugh’s daughter).
Decker, Jameson, and Lt. Joe Kelly (police friend) appear to stop them…

But Shane McClellan (Stuart’s son) appears, the x-Army sharpshooter, unexpectedly becomes the hero….killing villains, keeping inheritances in London.

Caroline Dawson, Shane McClellan & Lt. Joe Kelly stay to make the “oil drained” town of London come back & prosper…

Decker, Jameson, Robie & Reel go back to DC.


The end a little complex to finish but the ending is nice.


Characters -
Amos Decker - FBI consultant & project lead
Alex Jamison - Decker’s partner
Will Robie & Jessica Reel - From other Baldacci series
Lieutenant Joe Kelly - Police
Caroline Dawson and Liz Southern

Barnes and Noble review
(In the story, Will Robie & Jessica Riel appears to help them, characters from the “Will Robie - series characters”....)

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In reviewing a lot of those who reviewed the book, there are a lot of different stars. I, for one, think this is a 3.5 star book (well I had the audio). I found too many subplots within the whole book. A lot of moving parts but I kept the stars since the ideas were informative. I enjoyed it and learned a few things.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was very intense and also very convoluted. I respect the writing and the ability to tie all of it together but I think it might have been just a bit too much this time. I still adore the characters and especially having Will and Jessica appear alongside Amos and Alex. What a force those 4 are when all together. There was so much going on in this book that I feel like my head is full of cotton at the moment. But still well worth a read and pretty impressive that Baldacci can juggle all of this and make it come together in the end.

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Explosive Thriller*

Whenever there is a problem criminals better not underestimate Amos Decker, he never leaves a stone unturned and anything inexplicable is not an option he follows the truth. That is the only way his perfect recall mind works. This happened after a serious head injury whilst playing a football match which involved him dying more than once. The result was he woke up with Hyperthymesia (You retain perfect recall)
Synesthesia (Seeing things in colour for Amos colours represent different things like electric blue = Death or numbers.. he is still working out what it all means)

The death of a woman found by a hunter in the snow the most curious thing is a post-mortem seems to have already been performed on her and her death raises a red flag for the FBI, so Amos Decker & his partner in crime Alex Jamison are sent to North Dakota to investigate with very little information. It turns out this town has a lot of secrets and people are out to stop them finding the truth. There are murders, attacks, greed and jealousy not to mention the near death experiences that Amos and Alex encounter.

Amos & Alex will find the truth no matter what, will they manage to live to tell the tale, thrilling right to the end.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sixth book in the Amos Decker series finds our protagonist in London. The one in North Dakota. He and his partner, Alex Jamison, are sent there when the body of a woman is discovered. Irene Cramer was expertly autopsied and then her body was left out in the open. When Decker asks his boss why they are being sent to investigate a local murder he runs into a brick wall. Cramer's name apparently set off alarms at the FBI but no one is telling Decker or Alex why.

Cramer was a teacher at a school for a local religious sect. At night she was walking the streets seemingly as a prostitute. London is in the midst of a booming economy. The boom is the result of oil and fracking. With the booming economy comes a host of problems. Alcohol, drugs, fights, shady business deals and now murder. In addition to the oil workers and the religious sect there is a mysterious government facility. A former Air Force installation now guarded by private contractors. To sum up you have a small town with ruthless business leaders, a mysterious government facility, and a religious sect all determined to keep their secrets. It isn't long before there are other murders.

Amos Decker and Alex Jamison are joined by characters from another series by David Baldacci. Will Robie and Jessica Reel show up just in time. Even Blue Man stops by. Readers of the Robie and Reel series know they are government assassins with the CIA. So why would the CIA be involved in a domestic issue? Good question. It seems that in the small town of London, North Dakota there is not only fracking but terrorists and WMD's.

Bringing in Robie and Reel does not really add anything to the Memory Man series other than perhaps reader interest. Perhaps the author was trying to make readers of this series aware of the Robie and Reel series. Or vice versa. As other readers have indicated I did not find this entry in the series one of the better stories. It was a bit convoluted and hard to believe. It was actually two different stories. I enjoy the characters and it was entertaining. It just wasn't a page turner that kept me up and wondering what was next or whodunit.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The memory man is one of my favorite characters. I felt book # 5 was mediocre and disappointing. I looked forward to Book 6 and expected an explosive recovery. The book kept me intrigued and interested. However, I felt there were two plot lines that were mashed up and thrown into one book. The crossover with Robie was a nice addition. In my opinion, had Baldacci separated the conjoined plots into two books, he would have had two spectacular books. Walk the Wire was a good read, but not an extraordinary read. The crossover with Robie was a nice addition. The book had too much going on and neither plot was given the justice deserved to make tremendous story lines.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. Fast paced. Great main and sub plots. Terrific dialogue.
I love the way he used 3 facts Baldacci learnt about North Dakota (ND). Then he created his own air force amid all the fracking operations of ND and so the story unfolded.
Interesting understanding the perils of the fracking industry.
Unputdownable.