Book Review: Long Shadows by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #7)

My Rating :⭐⭐⭐⭐

Former police detective turned FBI consultant, Amos Decker is back! Grappling with a personal loss, adjusting to working with a new partner and experiencing changes in his own medical condition(a sports injury from years ago that altered his brain function resulting in his perfect recall and synesthesia), he has a lot on his plate. When a federal judge Julia Cummins and her bodyguard Alan Draymont are murdered in the judge’s home, he travels to Florida with his newly assigned partner FBI Special Agent Frederica “Freddie” White to take lead on the case assisted by the local FBI office. It appears that the MO for both murders was different. While the judge was brutally stabbed to death, her bodyguard was shot with a wad of foreign currency shoved down his throat. Decker suspects more than one perpetrator. Working together or separate agendas? What follows is a deep – dive into the personal and professional lives of both victims. What follows is a complex web of murder, lies, deception, corruption and blackmail and cover-ups of crimes that date back decades.

Complicating things further is the question of why, despite having FBI presence in the area were Decker and White sent to Florida to take lead on this case? With internal changes happening in the FBI, what does this mean for Decker’s future?

The plot of Long Shadows is complicated (in a good way) and I thoroughly enjoyed the investigative/procedural aspect of crime solving involving multiple probable suspects, red herrings and a lot of surprises on the way to a thrilling end! With its well-developed and suspenseful plot, short chapters and consistent pacing , Long Shadows is a great addition to David Baldacci’s Memory Man Series (this is Book #7), the first featuring Decker’s new partner FBI Special Agent Freddie White who is very likable. I was concerned when I saw that Alex Jamison didn’t return as Decker’s partner ( but she does contribute her bit to the case in a minor role!) but I was really impressed with White and thought she and Decker made an awesome crime –solving team!

I look forward to more stories featuring Decker and White in the future. Not just the Memory Man Series, I would love more stories featuring John Puller and/or Will Robie! Atlee Pine too!