Amos Decker Books in Order

Below is the complete list of Amos Decker books in order of publication. This is the recommended reading sequence for the series by David Baldacci.

Amos Decker Series

1. Memory Man (2015)
   Buy on Amazon
2. The Last Mile (2016)
   Buy on Amazon
3. The Fix (2017)
   Buy on Amazon
4. The Fallen (2018)
   Buy on Amazon
5. Redemption (2019)
   Buy on Amazon
6. Walk the Wire (2020)
   Buy on Amazon
7. Long Shadows (2022)
   Buy on Amazon

About Amos Decker Series

David Baldacci introduced Amos Decker in Memory Man (2015), launching a gripping crime thriller series centered on one of the most unusual investigators in modern suspense fiction. Decker is a former professional football player whose life changes dramatically after a violent hit during a game leaves him with hyperthymesia — a rare neurological condition that gives him the ability to remember almost everything he experiences. While the condition allows him to recall details with remarkable clarity, it also makes it nearly impossible for him to forget painful memories.

Before becoming an investigator, Decker played briefly in the NFL before the injury ended his career. He later became a police detective in Burlington, Ohio. Tragedy strikes when his wife, daughter, and brother-in-law are murdered in his home. The case leaves him emotionally shattered and eventually leads to him leaving the police force. His extraordinary memory and keen observational abilities later draw the attention of federal authorities, and he begins working on complex investigations tied to the FBI.

The Amos Decker novels combine Baldacci’s signature fast-paced plotting with psychological depth. Decker’s memory functions almost like a living database, allowing him to reconstruct conversations, scenes, and clues others overlook. At the same time, the very ability that makes him brilliant at solving crimes also burdens him with the inability to forget trauma, guilt, and loss. This tension between brilliance and vulnerability is a defining element of the series.

Throughout the books, Decker often partners with FBI Special Agent Alex Jamison, a sharp and resourceful investigator who helps balance Decker’s intense focus and sometimes socially distant personality. Their working relationship evolves over the course of the series, creating a strong investigative duo that drives many of the stories forward.

The Amos Decker series is best experienced in publication order, as Baldacci gradually develops Decker’s character, his working relationship with federal agencies, and the lingering emotional impact of his past. Each novel introduces a new mystery while also expanding the broader narrative around Decker’s life and career.

The series begins with Memory Man (2015), where Decker is drawn back into investigative work after a school shooting echoes elements of the tragedy that destroyed his family. The case reconnects him with law enforcement and ultimately leads to federal involvement.

The story continues in The Last Mile (2016), which revisits a decades-old murder conviction. Decker reopens the case of Melvin Mars, a former football player on death row, uncovering layers of corruption and mistaken identity. The investigation forces Decker to confront the reliability of evidence and the dangers of assumptions in criminal justice.

In The Fix (2017), Decker witnesses what appears to be a routine shooting outside FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., only to realize that the case may involve a much deeper conspiracy tied to national security.

The Fallen (2018) places Decker and Jamison in a small rural town where a suspicious death quickly escalates into a complex investigation involving multiple murders and hidden secrets within the community.

The fifth book, Redemption (2019), brings Decker face-to-face with his own past when he returns to his hometown to investigate a decades-old murder that haunted his early police career.

In Walk the Wire (2020), Decker travels to a struggling North Dakota oil town after a murder case reveals links to organized crime and powerful interests tied to the region’s booming energy industry.

Long Shadows (2022) sends Decker and Jamison to Florida, where a double homicide leads them into a maze of hidden identities, political influence, and decades-old secrets.

The most recent installment, Simply Lies (2023), expands the investigative scope of the series as Decker works with federal authorities on a high-stakes case involving deception, corporate power, and a complex trail of crimes.

Across the series, Baldacci blends intricate investigations with strong character development, turning Amos Decker into one of the most memorable protagonists in contemporary crime fiction. The novels balance large-scale conspiracies with deeply personal stakes, making each entry both a compelling mystery and another chapter in Decker’s ongoing story.