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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I love Amos Decker and his partner, Alex. This book kind of fell flat for me though. I felt like the plot and cases were all over the place and just kind of thrown together. It was just a bit weird. But I will continue to read the series, as I am enjoying the progression of Amos and his coping with his circumstances.
Not one of Baldacci's better books. It's still as action-packed and most, but there is way too much going on. Everything is jumbled up together. Decker figures them out one by one. But still, there was some luck and help from outside. Individually, the mysteries would be easier to solve, it's the mix that makes the problem. Better luck next time.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Memory Man series- It's the nostalgia factor now which drives me to pick up the new release and wrap it up. The 6th installment of the book tries to take it a notch higher- combining the thriller and mystery element with the current geopolitical hot topic- fracking. What comes out is a bit of a hotchpotch which to an extent drives home the intended result without being too preachy or boring. That's the fun/guilty pleasure part of these books- they are fast-paced and don't bore you with their crisp narrative and a pretty decent plot.
Like most of its predecessors, this one is based in a small town called London somewhere in North Dakota where FBI agents Amos Decker and his partner Alex Jamison are sent to investigate a brutal murder. The question of why the FBI needs to be involved in a local crime scene leads to a hunt covering fracking operations, family feuds, religious colonies, international conspiracies, and spies.
Sometimes less is more and therein lies the problem. There are just so many things going on with this book that you tend to lose the plot. I have never read any of the Will Robie books so a cross-over might work for fans but for me, it just seemed forced. I kind of missed the Decker- Marvin bond in this one. Without much of its usual characteristic elements, "Walk the Wire" was just another fast-paced thriller that could have been any of the multiple detective thrillers. Despite all the flaws, I am sure I am going to pick up the next installment when it hits the stands- I guess that's what nostalgia does. A 3-star book for me.
Like most of its predecessors, this one is based in a small town called London somewhere in North Dakota where FBI agents Amos Decker and his partner Alex Jamison are sent to investigate a brutal murder. The question of why the FBI needs to be involved in a local crime scene leads to a hunt covering fracking operations, family feuds, religious colonies, international conspiracies, and spies.
Sometimes less is more and therein lies the problem. There are just so many things going on with this book that you tend to lose the plot. I have never read any of the Will Robie books so a cross-over might work for fans but for me, it just seemed forced. I kind of missed the Decker- Marvin bond in this one. Without much of its usual characteristic elements, "Walk the Wire" was just another fast-paced thriller that could have been any of the multiple detective thrillers. Despite all the flaws, I am sure I am going to pick up the next installment when it hits the stands- I guess that's what nostalgia does. A 3-star book for me.
This was a complex, multi-layered thriller that encompassed topics such as: fracking; biochemical weapons, warfare, storage, etc.; LGBT relationships; James-Bond like feats of one of the characters; international terrorism and international skulduggery related in part to oil production and/or secret prisons. I lost count of how many people died and how many deadly situations were successfully dealt with. I was amazed at how the plot kept twisting, dividing, and twisting again. Very clever, exciting read that added credibility to a whole other secret, unpleasant actions taken by our military, our government, etc.
I did like the interplay between Baldacci's characters who "visited" from other series and how they shared the load and the credit. Two men and two women-competent, deadly, but also very human. Also Amos Decker was finally changing into a better person (after being so emotionally stripped after his wife and child were murdered years ago). Well-done audio version.
Not only does this book have Amos Decker buy Will Robie too... score. I love both of these series.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
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/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes