This feature is for short reviews, reviews of books in a series where it might feel repetitive, or (as Michelle suggested) books I was too lazy to write a “real” review for. Today’s books are the rest of the Amos Decker Series I recently binged with Anne.
Redemption by David Baldacci Narrator: Kyf Brewer, Orlagh Cassidy
Series: Amos Decker #5
Published by Blackstone Publishing on April 16, 2019
Genres: Mystery
Length: 12 hours 22 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Whew I have gotten behind on my reviews terribly this past month! I’m thankful I buddy read this with Anne so I have all my notes from our FB Messenger chat to look back at – otherwise I doubt I could write a good review. This was another solid mystery with lots of character progression with Amos. There was a little bit less of some of the other characters I really love and I figured out the mystery a bit easier than I normally do with these books. For those reasons I gave it 4 stars. Anne gave it 4.5 🙂Detective Amos Decker discovers that a mistake he made as a rookie detective may have led to deadly consequences in the latest Memory Man thriller in David Baldacci's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Amos Decker and his FBI partner Alex Jamison are visiting his hometown of Burlington, Ohio, when he's approached by an unfamiliar man. But he instantly recognizes the man's name: Meryl Hawkins. He's the first person Decker ever arrested for murder back when he was a young detective. Though a dozen years in prison have left Hawkins unrecognizably aged and terminally ill, one thing hasn't changed: He maintains he never committed the murders. Could it be possible that Decker made a mistake all those years ago? As he starts digging into the old case, Decker finds a startling connection to a new crime that he may be able to prevent, if only he can put the pieces together quickly enough...
As I mentioned, we did see some really good character progression with Amos. I liked seeing him back in his hometown where he lost his family. Ithink that lended itself well to making him face some of his emotional demons, both with his family and also with some of the people he left behind. Not to mention the case he’s undertaking is one he kind of messed up – as his FIRST case as a detective. Even though, as the plot unfolds it’s really easy to see he’s not to blame for those mistakes, it bothers him greatly that he messed up. He cares in his own, abstract way, and I always enjoy seeing that.
As happens frequently, Amos is undertaking a case that the FBI has not sanctioned him to work; Not only does that create some tension (because when will the FBI learn that if Amos is interested, they should be too?!), but it also means that Alex – his partner and newly minted FBI Agent – is absent for a significant part of the book. I really enjoy their relationship and that being missing really detract from the book for me. However, Melvin does show up in her stead, and I also really enjoy that relationship, so it wasn’t a total loss.
I continue to adore the narration for this series. It’s just so great to have such distinct voices for the characters, thanks to Kyf Brewer voicing all the male parts and Orlagh Cassidy voicing all the female parts. I imagine that is a much more difficult narrative experience to record and I appreciate that they continue to take it there. It really brings these books to life!
Walk the Wire by David Baldacci Narrator: Kyf Brewer, Orlagh Cassidy
Series: Amos Decker #6
Published by Grand Central Publishing on April 21, 2020
Genres: Mystery
Length: 11 hours 57 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
The #1 New York Times bestselling author with over 130 million books in print worldwide returns with his next blockbuster thriller. 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.
While this was not my favorite Amos Decker book, I definitely enjoyed it. Anne and I buddy read this and both gave it 4 stars/hearts. I’m really glad there’s another book coming because if this were the last book in the series I would be disappointed. But as just another in the series development, it’s good!
The mystery was a weird one – so much going on that didn’t feel connected but also couldn’t be sure that it wasn’t, in part because the FBI was giving so little information. But hey, at least Amos is finally working an approved case lol! There was some unexpected personal development with Amos, thanks to running into his brother-in-law, and I always enjoy seeing Amos growing (particularly emotionally). The case(s) ended up being fairly tragic and I was a little heartbroken for one character in particular.
There’s a crossover with Will Robie, a character from a series by David Baldacci that I haven’t read before and I actually feel like I was missing something by not having read that series. Maybe not, but I felt like those characters played a pretty big role in this book and while I’m sure that was super cool for those who have read that series, I wasn’t sure that I wasn’t missing something in terms of their characters and overall roles. I was already planning on reading more David Baldacci after enjoying this series so much, but now I know which one I’ll be going to next. Will Robie here I come (soon lol)!
I continue to love the narration for this series. They’ve done a really great job with the co-narration by Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy voicing everything together, with Kyf doing the male parts and Orlagh doing the female parts. I really wish more books were narrated this way! Can’t wait for #7 this fall (I think).
I definitely loved this series. I’m thrilled there will be another book. I’m thrilled to have read them with you. I’m thrilled to look forward to the Will Robie books.