Amos Decker Races Against Time in David Baldacci’s ‘The Fix’ [REVIEW]

Amos Decker faces off with the Defense Intelligence Agency in David Baldacci’s The Fix.
(Photos by US Navy, compiled by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

A man shoots a woman execution style in front of the Hoover building, then turns the gun on himself, and Amos Decker is there to witness it all. Thus begins David Baldacci’s latest thriller, The Fix, in which the number one bestselling author leads us down the rabbit hole and into a world full of intrigue, cunning, and lies. Only Decker can help us wrap our minds around such a potentially volatile situation.

Grand Central Publishing

The more clues that are gathered in this baffling case, the more puzzling the answers. One question in particular haunts Decker: why kill a woman you have not crossed paths with in front of FBI headquarters? Decker and his team race against time, saboteurs, and their own perceptions in order to find answers.

This is a novel that delivers everything Baldacci’s fans have come to expect: an intricately plotted story, taut suspense, and loads of unexpected twists and turns. However, what I love most about this book is how the author has deftly captured Decker’s growth and evolution as a character in an endearing, unforgettable way.

Personally, I was touched by the scenes featuring Joey, a boy dying of Leukemia. This child reminds Decker of his own little girl that he so tragically lost. They would have been about the same age.

“Decker’s life was complicated, his future probably even more so. But right now he forgot about having a perfect memory, or the horrific way by which he acquired it. He stopped thinking at least a little while about the family he had lost…then he looked down at Joey. The boy’s eyes were closed, but his hand remained firmly attached to the precious football. Decker reached out a big hand and gently stroked Joey’s head. As he did so he felt his eyes moisten. But for now, right this instant, things were okay.” (pg. 415)

Yes, life is messy and complex, but the sum of our experiences makes us who we are, human beings trying to make the world a better place for those who come after us. David Baldacci is one of those people, a writer who wields his pen in such a way that he not only entertains us, but moves and enlightens us as well. Dizzying in scope and yet breathlessly paced, the third installment in the Amos Decker saga is one read you shouldn’t miss!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Baldacci
(Photo by Alexander James)

David Baldacci is the international number one bestselling author of 33 novels for adults, including No Man’s Land, The Last Mile, The Guilty, Memory Man, and The Escape. 

Several of his books have been adapted for film and television, including his 1996 debut novel, Absolute Power, which starred and was directed by Clint Eastwood.

More than 110 million copies of his books are in print worldwide, having been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries.

David is also the author of five novels for young readers, including the number one bestseller The Finisher, which is in development for a feature film, and its number one sequel, The Keeper. 

Together with his wife, Elizabeth, the Baldaccis founded the Wish You Well Foundation®, which supports family and adult literacy in the United States by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of literacy and educational programs.

David lives in Virginia with his family. Visit his home on the Web, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter.

THE FIX
By David Baldacci
432 pgs. Grand Central Publishing. $29