The Fallen
Overview: Amos Decker and his journalist friend Alex Jamison are visiting the home of Alex’s sister in Barronville, a small town in western Pennsylvania that has been hit hard economically. When Decker is out on the rear deck of the house talking with Alex’s niece, a precocious eight-year-old, he notices flickering lights and then a spark of flame in the window of the house across the way. When he goes to investigate he finds two dead bodies inside and it’s not clear how either man died. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s something going on in Barronville that might be the canary in the coal mine for the rest of the country.
Faced with a stonewalling local police force, and roadblocks put up by unseen forces, Decker and Jamison must pull out all the stops to solve the case. And even Decker’s infallible memory may not be enough to save them.
Pages: 432 Pages
Writer: David Baldacci
Recommendations:
I am a huge fan of the Amos Decker character and the thrilling stories he finds himself in. Decker is a complex guy – flawed yet blessed with an incredible knack for solving cases. However, when it comes to understanding feelings, well, let’s just say he’s not exactly a pro. He’s direct to a fault, never beating around the bush, even if it means hurting someone’s feelings in the process.
In this particular story, Decker sets out on what he thinks will be a relaxing vacation with his trusty friend. But instead of sipping margaritas on the beach, he finds himself smack dab in the middle of a town rife with corruption, drugs, and murder. Talk about a vacation gone wrong!
Before you know it, Decker is knee-deep in the chaos, trying to unravel the mystery and bring justice to the town. Despite a few flaws in the story, I couldn’t help but be drawn in by the fast-paced action and Decker’s no-nonsense approach to crime-solving. Overall, it was a gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat.