How would you feel if you could remember exactly what you head for breakfast on the same day seven years ago? Disconcerted, most likely.Īuthor David Baldacci, image via Fast Companyīaldacci is often credited with being a master storyteller, and with good reason. This certainly has it advantages when you’re a detective, but also wreaks havoc on the essential human condition. A victim of severe head trauma when he was a young man, he now has hyperthymesia, meaning he can never forget anything. Not quite, though, because the condition Decker suffers from is real. Thirdly (there are many more), he possesses a near-superhuman trait, which almost catapults the story into the realms of science fiction. Secondly, he doesn’t look the part-Baldacci frequently draws attention to Decker’s obesity: a physical state, which is quite at odds with his mental brilliance. Firstly, he’s grumpy (admittedly, with good reason) and does “not like interacting with people”, which makes for some rather engaging dialogue. Thrown into the mix with his former colleagues, Amos slowly realises that these two events are connected, and he’s the only one who can work out why.ĭecker is a boldly drawn character, and refreshing as a result. 16 months later, there is a high school shooting in his hometown. The story is as follows: the detective-turned-private inspector loses his family in a brutal homicide. There are, of course, exceptions and a particularly notable one is David Baldacci’s new protagonist, Amos Decker.ĭecker’s first appearance is in Memory Man. Intelligent, determined, swarthy… broadly speaking, they’re often designed to be figures who men and admire and women desire. Thriller detectives tend to be estimable people, even if they don’t lead enviable lives. Meet Amos Decker, his life has been changed forever-and he’s out for revenge…

The bestselling crime writer introduces a new detective hero in Memory Man.

Memory Man by David Baldacci