Memory Man

Written by David Baldacci

Narrated by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy

This "impossible to put down" #1 New York Times bestseller introduces Amos Decker, a gifted police detective with a perfect memory who must solve a mystery he wishes he could forget: his family's murder (Washington Post).

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 play in the NFL. 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 forever, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can forget nothing.

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

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

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

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Apr 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781478985587

David Baldacci

Nacido en 1960, David Baldacci se licenció en Derecho por la Universidad de Virginia y ejerció como abogado en Washington durante nueve años. El reconocimiento unánime con que el público y la crítica recibieron sus primeras novelas le llevó a abandonar la abogacía para dedicarse por entero a la escritura. Desde entonces, David Baldacci es uno de los grandes nombres del género thriller contemporáneo; su obra ha sido traducida a treinta y cuatro idiomas y se publica en más de ochenta países. David Baldacci colabora también con el mundo del cine: es autor de seis guiones y su primera novela Poder absoluto (1996) fue llevada a la gran pantalla bajo la dirección de Clint Eastwood.

Reviews for Memory Man

[atticusfinch1048 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Memory Man is the first book in the Amos Decker series by David Baldacci where we have a complicated and complex former detective. Rather than use the typical defective detective synopsis he used the characteristics of hypermnesia and synaesthesia to create the character of Amos Decker a driven investigator.

Having come home from a stakeout to find his wife murdered and mutilated, his daughter and brother-in-law murdered he has fallen in to a spiral of despair. This has led to him losing his house his job and now sleeping rough. He is now working as a PI living in a motel and just about holding it together.

Sixteen months later someone walks in to Burlington Police Department and confesses to the murder of Decker’s family. Sebastian Leopold confessed to the murder, but Decker does not believe him as he is sure something is off. On the same day someone entered Mansfield High School and shot up the school killing students and two teachers. Decker had attended this school himself and had been the school’s star quarterback.

Captain Miller brings Decker on board to help with the murder and utilise his ‘special’ talents, hypermnesia and synaesthesia. This had been caused in his professional debut when he received a near fatal injury, and he was left with hypermnesia and synaesthesia. The Burlington PD had been joined by the FBI and the evidence was slow in being found and when it was it made no sense. Special Agent Bogart at first held Decker in complete contempt but as the case continued so did his opinion of Decker.

With his former PD partner Mary Lancaster and then with former journalist Alexandra Jamison they start to run down leads looking for a break in the case. With Decker’s brain things started to fall in to place for him before anyone else could see it and he cracks the case wide open. Once the case is over, Decker and Jamison are invited to join a special unit of the FBI

[cebellol · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'll start by saying this: I'm not a huge fan of what I call "serial authors". While I'm aware that he is one, I can't say I've read a lot of Baldacci's works, despite his popularity. That being said, if this was the first of his books I'd read, I would probably not, purposefully, read another.

The story itself is, a little farfetched. A now ex cop spirals into a crazy downward spiral after his family is killed while he's on duty. Their murder remains unsolved. Oh, by the way, this ex cop has a crazy fantastic memory after a hit on the football field in his one and only professional game, hence the title. He never forgets anything. He uses it to help solve a school shooting years later at his old high school, which JUST SO HAPPENS to be related to his family's murder AND his early years with his new "gift" (or curse, depending on how he's feeling about it that day).

If I'm being completely honest, it's a couple hundred pages too long. It's so repetitive and most of it has to deal with Amos Decker (the afor mentioned ex cop), going over and over and OVER things from some aspect of the murders or of his life, or SOMETHING that just keeps making you think "Would you PLEASE GET ON WITH IT" after a few dozen repetitions.

Regardless, for its length and repetition, it is a pretty quick, mindless read and would be a decent plane book or beach read for those needing one. Best part, since it's actually the first book in the series for this new character, you don't feel like you're missing out on anything because there's an excessive amount of background info on the main character. Overall, for a serial author, it's not bad. Not a "go out and get this book now" kinda piece, but not bad. 2.5 *s, overall.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amos Decker is an unusual man. In his early twenties, he had suffered a brutal tackle during an American football game which left him with severe concussion, and led to him giving up the game permanently. It also left him with a perfect memory, so perfect that he literally never forgets anything. This had been especially valuable during his subsequent career as a police officer, and then detective.

About sixteen months before the novel opens, Decker had returned home from work one night to find that his wife and their child had been murdered. After that his life, understandably, fell apart, and found himself jobless and homeless. Since then, he has started to recoup some order in his life, and he now works as a private detective, just about managing to keep himself afloat. His life is thrown back into disarray when his former partner from his time on the police force comes looking for him to let him know that someone has confessed to the murder of his family. Decker makes his way to the police station, hoping to find out more. Meanwhile, a gunman opens fire in a local school, killing various pupils and members of staff.

There is a lot going on in this story, but it all hangs together coherently. I thought that Baldacci handled the oddities of Decker’s enhanced, or at least unusual;, cognitive powers very capably, and the story was very gripping.

[elisabethzguta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed Amos Decker, a very refreshing character. He's not the typical police officer or P.I. and he certainly has a unique manner. The plot of the story, long and short arc, were unique as well. I recommend this for crime thriller readers who want something a little different.

[lbswiener · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Memory Man is a difficult story because of all of the tragedy and murder. The characters have terrible personal troubles. The story is believable as well as the settings. Five stars were awarded to this review because from the beginning to the end the story established a feel and kept it until the end. It is a book that tears at one's heart.

[bons_11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm a fan of Baldacci. I'm a fan of crime fiction so of course I was curious about the Amos Decker series. I will admit it's intense and high with the graphic gore that I will usually try to skim thru because I'm afraid I will miss something. I admire Baldacci's development of Decker. The topics of memory/brain phenomenon/disorders certainly intrigues me. From lewy body dementia, left neglect to as in this story, hyperthmesia and synesthesia, I am interested. I enjoyed Memory Man and will move on to the next book in the series.

[josephking6602 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Never-ending mess of a story; violent gory for lack of anythig else

[judygibson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Usually I won't pick up a story about a serial killer but I'm reading through a friend's collection of Baldaccis and this one was among them. interesting character and good action.

[lee.gabel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book. The main character is as damaged as they come, plus the supporting characters all have quirks about them that make them compelling and different. The story did seem to get a wee bit tedious at the end when it seemed it was going in circles without moving forward, but it didn't last long. The book has a satisfying ending and very clearly sets up another series.

[zachmontana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unlike any other mystery novel I've read and totally engrossing. I'm anxious to read the next books in this Baldacci series and wonder if they can be as good as this one.

[sennebec · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's been years since I read one of the author's books. I grabbed it on vacation after running out of reading material. I have to say that I'm very impressed by the complexity of the plot and how it was so skillfully revealed.

[JUAN PEDRO PABLO · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second novel with the character John Puller, written by David Baldacci. A murder of a close relative is the beginning of a quest for answers; why? Who? What is to be gained? John Puller will begin his search to complete those questions with their answers and find the murderer, or his murderers; could it be a conspiracy? The crime scene suggests an accident, but the road to hell is paved with accidents, and that road is already familiar to him. Let us follow David Baldacci through his pages to unravel the tangled web and discover who did it, why, and for what purpose, and how John Puller will uncover it. (Translated from Spanish)

[hemlokgang · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

David Baldacci introduces the reader to a new protagonist, Amos Decker. Decker remembers everything. EVERYTHING! Helpful trait in a detective, but a tad troublesome to heart & soul. This is good murder mystery with a well paced plot and intriguing psychological twists and turns. Well done!

[jldarden · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have read a couple Baldacci books in the past and they were ok. I found this series starter chock full of cliche's. Washed up former athlete turned detective with tragic life circumstances. It's been done better by others. Also, one of the chief antagonists characters were not even mentioned til over halfway through the book. Doesn't that break some kind of rule? Then the climactic final showdown falls back on the ol' lets have the bad guys explain the whole thing monologue. It's got as well the requisite reporter and fed entangled. Can't recommend this rehash of genre tropes.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the 18 months since his brother in law, wife, and daughter were murdered Amos Decker has let himself go. He was a detective in the police at the time, but eventually they had to let him go.

This novel begins with someone confessing to his family's murder, and his former detective partner from Burlington C.I.D contacting him with the news. Later this person retracts his confession, but by then Amos has been seconded as a consultant when a gunman has killed 13 people at the local high school. For Amos Decker is a man with special qualities: he is a detective who get results. He asks the questions who asks the questions no-one else seems to think of asking.

The turning point comes when the police discover that the gun used in the high school massacre is the gun that was used to shoot his wife eighteen months earlier. Amos realises that the shooting at the school is somehow about him.

An engrossing read, despite the fact that it is a very long book.Well plotted and believable, well almost.

[shrivenne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is the best crime thriller. I have read many but this is the first one wherein the antagonist is not introduced till it is required. antagonist makes entry but in disguise which makes Amos to think really hard. Loved this book so it's a GOODREAD...

[alluvia_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Someone I usually agree with gave this 5 stars, so gave it a shot. It was an easy read and enjoyable enough page-turner, especially (as it happened) I was reading this while recovering from a head cold and didn't feel too sharp.

I think of myself as pretty easily amused and more accepting of unlikely premises than many readers, especially if those premises move the plot along in interesting ways, but the implausibility of some of the villains' exploits left even me out in the cold and wondering why anyone would bother constructing such an over-complicated crime. I just couldn't buy it.

Even so, the main characters are pretty lovably imperfect, albeit in fairly formulaic ways (psychologically wounded male detective, perky and bright younger female journalist, uptight but ultimately caring law / FBI dude). Part of me wants to follow along to their next adventure in the series, so they've hooked me a bit. But I'll be super annoyed if the plot is as unbelievable as this first one.

So - entertained and amused, although slightly annoyed.

[baochuan-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very good start of the series, building up characters. A lot of twist and turn in the plot but it is an easy read.

[jimgysin_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Baldacci is consistently good and this one is no exception as he introduces us to Amos Decker. At the outset, personal tragedy has left Decker far from the person he once was, both personally and professionally. But events occur that bring that past into the present and give Decker the opportunity to get his life back on track and solve the case that ruined his life in the first place. Fans of redemption stories will be particularly fond of this one.

[daftboy1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in the series.
Main character is Amos Decker he is an ex Policeman he has a great photographic memory. He got this after an American football injury.
His wife and daughter were murdered, by an unknown killer.
Decker receives a message then later the same day there is a spree killing at the local high School.
Decker teams up with his old partner Mary Lancaster. Also the FBI and a reporter called Alex Jamison assist.
They are on the hunt of the Murderers
They eventually catch the 2 criminals both are murdered.
Decker decides he will come and work with the FBI in future.
Fast paced good but silly book.

[decaturmamaof2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting... cool divergence from Baldacci's standard M.O. Some of the writing seems a bit flat, but I loved the exploration of Amos Decker's persona.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amos Decker has had the best and the worst that life could offer. He was a pro football player, but during his first and only play as a pro, he suffered a hit that was so intense he died twice on the field. That hit left him with remarkable brain damage: he is now unable to forget anything. He coped with that super power, until the day he came home to find his daughter, his wife, and his brother-in-law all murdered. Now that image is as raw in his mind as the day he first saw them years ago. His life plummeted until he found himself jobless, homeless, and hopeless. Slowly, he pulled himself together just enough to maintain a semblance of a life. Then he gets word that the muderer of his family has confessed, and now his life again has purpose. Author David Baldacci has penned a suspenseful page turner raw with emotion and human failings. The characters are flawed in unusual ways; some are born that way, others made that way, and their struggles are evident in their behavior. But some turn to depravity, and suspense builds as the need for justice, or perhaps revenge, confronts the growing evil. Well written, this novel will have you racing through the pages.

[anniemod · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was not sure I will like this novel - the whole idea of the changed brain of Amos sounded as a gimmick. And then it somehow crept on me and I ended up liking it a lot more than I expected.

Amos Decker lost everything twice - he lost his career and his personality when he got flattened on the gridiron (but he got hyperthymesia and synesthesia as a result (so he cannot forget anything and he sees numbers and colors everywhere). And then, just when his life seems perfect again, with a wife, a daughter and a career in the police, fate strikes again and his whole family is slaughtered. And this second loss makes him throw his life away, lose his job and house and join the ranks of the homeless. By the time we meet him again, 16 months after the murders, he had cleaned up a bit, became a private detective and managed to start living again... somewhat anyway.

And then a shooter comes to the local high school and kills a lot of people on the same day when someone admits to the killing of Amos's family. He ends up in the middle of the investigation - partially because he is asked to help and partially because the killer leaves messages for him - drawing lines between unrelated events and making sure everyone realizes that Amos is the key to the whole thing.

And the chase is on - through more bodies and bad choices, through history and bad memories.

When it was published, it was not advertised as the start of a new series but since then Baldacci decided to make it a series. And I will be curious to see what happens in a case that is not tied to Amos Decker's past.

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I believe I enjoyed "Memory Man" more comprehensively due to a previous television viewing experience in having watched the police procedural crime drama television series "Unforgettable" (2011-2016). The series was developed by Ed Redlich and John Bellucci, and starred Poppy Montgomery as Detective Carrie Wells, a female police detective in Queens (NY) homicide unit with hyperthymesia, a rare medical condition that gives her the ability to visually remember everything. I was drawn to watch the series as I had enjoyed watching Poppy Montgomery as Samantha Spade, Special Agent in the New York FBI missing persons unit in the television series "Without a Trace" which aired from 2002–2009.

Amos Decker becomes "Memory Man" as his first play as pro athlete on the football field becomes the play that would forever change his life as he develops hyperthymesia and synesthesia disorders following an intense head injury. The story is riveting, engrossing, and although a fictional creation by the author, a rare glimpse into the worlds as experienced by those with hyperthymesia and synesthesia. Hyperthymesia is the condition of possessing an extremely detailed autobiographical memory. There are two overall forms of synesthesia: projective synesthesia and associative synesthesia. People who project will see actual colors, forms, or shapes when stimulated, as is commonly accepted as synesthesia; associators will feel a very strong and involuntary connection between the stimulus and the sense that it triggers.

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Amos Decker never forgets anything as a result of a football injury scrambling the circuits in his brain. Former cop, he’s become a recluse after coming home and finding the horrific murder of his wife and daughter. New evidence has come out and Decker is asked to consult on the investigation. There’s an over-complicated high school terrorist situation and lots of grisly murders before Decker teaming up with an FBI agent and a former journalist solve the crimes and how they relate and revolve around Decker.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable character Amos who has a perfect memory and synesthesia from an American Football accident. Enjoyable twists and turns with a satisfying ending.

[gaillamontagne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Suspense-Thriller: Memory Man had me riveted from the first chapter. A story about an ex-detective, Amos Decker, who has hit rock-bottom and has been dealing with the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In addition, he has suffered the loss of his family from violent crime. However, his TBI did not leave him with a disability as one may think. It left him with a brain that cannot forget anything along with another condition called synaesthesia; where sensory and cognitive pathways crossover and emotions, numbers, letters events, among other things, can be identified by different colors. This is a real condition which can be acquired through trauma or a person may be born with it. Some people with autism/aspurgers syndrome have it.
Decker relives discovering the murdered bodies of his family every day in his mind with no suspects, no motives, no understanding of why and certainly no closure. After 16 months, a man who appears to be mentally disturbed, walks into the police department and confesses to the triple homicide of Decker's family. This certainly gets Amos Decker's attention and sets him on the convoluted path to the killers. Soon after, a shooter enters the town's high school killing many. Decker, though almost homeless, still has the talent of a brilliant detective and is asked to help with the Mayfield High shootings. Amos decides to help but has his own agenda. Wonderful plot, suspenseful, clever, and engaging narration make this audio book a must.

[smcgovern-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excop detective family murdered. Hunts down killer. Excop had special memory from football injury..loved the plot page turner

[carolee888 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Memory Man by David Baldacci really clicked with me. I have read a few of his books in this series before, but this one tied everything. Also part of it is set in Indiana and he got the setting including the roads correct.

The most important reason is that although I am not familiar with synesthesia (a neurological condition, I am very familiar with hyperthymesia. My brother has severe autism. He remember word for word, conversations that occurred over 40 years ago. I know that it may seem like a gift but it can be a curse. The main character, Amos Decker, has this too. It is a great attribute for a detective but is very unpleasant when you want to forget horrible things that happened, words said to you or about you. There is much more to hyperthymesia than remembering conversations but you can explore that on your own.

This story recalls the major events on Amos Decker's life and tell when he had those those not so good "gifts". You can read read or listen to this book without having read the others in the series. I was very excited to listen to this book. Now I am thinking I want to go back and listen to the other books in this series. The story is complicated and fascinating and you are always deeply engaged when reading it. Outside of the main character, I was very impressed by the complexity of one of the killers.

This story is very credible for me personally because of my brother. I do not consider it gimmicky but instead greatly appreciate that he brought out the eternal pain that hyperthymesia can bring.

I highly recommend this book for all Amos Decker Series fans.

[tonifgmamtc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This author is becoming a favorite of mine. I just recently started reading his books, and the ones I've read have been wins for me.

I was interested the entire time. The plot didn't take a simple route. There were lots of turns, and it totally kept up the momentum. Amos has a couple of extremely rare brain abilities or disorders, depending upon which way you look at them. He remembers every single thing that happens. He also has almost psychic abilities with seeing colors which tell about a subject at first glance. Amos has problems with regular emotions though. He really doesn't have any. In this book, a killer is on a spree which focuses around him. He must be the one to stop them.