In this second book in the 'Memory Man' series, newly hired FBI consultant Amos Decker helps free a man from Death Row. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Background: Amos Decker, 6'5" tall and over 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 helps him in his career as a detective, and he now works for the FBI. Decker's FBI partner is Alexandra (Alex) Jamison, a woman who understands his problems and has his back.
The story: Amos Decker and his partner Alex Jamison have been hired to work with an FBI team that aims to free prisoners who were wrongly convicted. The team, led by Special Agent Ross Bogart, consists of Decker, Jamison, a psychologist named Lisa Davenport, and a pushy agent called Todd Mulligan.
The squad is trying to decide between two cases, one sponsored by Mulligan and one sponsored by Decker. After Decker decimates Mulligan's case using his superb memory and observational skills, the squad takes up Decker's case of an African-American man named Melvin Mars, who's on Death Row in Texas.
Twenty years ago, Melvin Mars was a college football star headed for the NFL and a lucrative contract. Melvin's plans were shattered when he was convicted of killing his mother and father and sent to Death Row. Melvin languished on Death Row for decades, losing appeal after appeal.
Mars was just hours away from execution when a man named Charles Montgomery suddenly confessed that HE killed Mars' parents. Montgomery is also on Death Row, in the state of Alabama, and he's scheduled to get the electric chair in a few days.
Interviews with Montgomery establish that he knows all the details about the murder of Mars' parents, even those not made public. So the Texas courts accept that Montgomery is guilty and Mars is innocent. Melvin is released from prison and Decker - who also lost his family to violence - takes the former prisoner under his wing.
Still, something about Montgomery's confession strikes Decker as not kosher, and - feeling compelled to uncover the truth - Decker pushes his squad to investigate further. This leads to more murder, a kidnapping, threats against the FBI team, attempts on Amos and Alex's life, and all manner of trouble. Part of the trouble has it's roots in racism, since some people are furious that African-American Melvin is now a free man.
In any case it's pretty clear that people out there want the case dropped, and the reasons why are corkers.
The story is VERY convoluted and has elements that are not credible. For example, I don't believe a car can be rigged to break down in front of a specific building that's an hour away from where you started. (I mean, really?) And after someone breaks into your hotel room and threatens your life, wouldn't you start putting a chair under the doorknob or something? There's more iffy stuff, but to say more would be a spoiler.
On the upside, Alex's prodding gets Decker - who's out of shape and overweight - to take an interest in his health. So Decker starts going to the gym and eats what Alex puts into his fridge - even quinoa and salad.
And it's funny when Melvin Mars, who's in superb shape, asks Decker if he wants to work out with him and Decker responds, "I'd be dead in five minutes." LOL 😊
I enjoyed the book because I like the characters, and the overall mystery is interesting, but it's not the best entry in the series. (I've read the books out of order.) Still, the book is worth reading for Decker fans.
Rating: 3 stars
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