The last mile by David Baldacci

"The last mile" by David Baldacci. This book is published by Pan Macmillan India in 2016 and has 352 pages. This is book 2 of Amos Decker series.

Melwin Mars, a man with white father and black mother, is on the verge of entering NFL and becoming very rich. He is arrested and then convicted for murder of his parents. 20 years in prison, when he is about to be executed, his execution is stopped. Amos Decker joins a task force. He comes to know of Mars case. 

Why is the execution stopped? How is Amos involved? What will he discover? Are there parallels?

Readers of the first book 'Memory man' know that Amos suffered accident in a NFL football match that caused injury to his brain and a condition called Hyperthymesia. Thus he does not forget anything. He is recruited to a task force that is set up to investigate cases gone cold. The task force is headed by special agent Bogard and consists of his ex-colleague Alex Jamison, criminal psychologist Lisa Davenport and another FBI agent Milligan whose character shows potential but makes a quiet exit and then re enters. 

Character of Mars is interesting. He is a giant but extremely agile. A meticulous planner and his ability to take in the situation and knowing exactly the positions of those around him make him a force to recon with. Being black he is subject to prejudices, white father not withstanding. He is confounded upon his release and does not know why his parents were murdered and by who and why was he set up. Amos starts investigation to find truth, not to save Mars. Mars doesn't trust him initially, but it changes gradually. 

Narration is good. The story has customory twists and turns. It keeps you interested. On several occasions you think the story is nearing end, but another thing comes up and story continues. 

Bogart's entries and exits seem unnecessary. It makes reader think that he is s double agent. Character of Roy is under developed. His explaintion to Melwin about his actions is lame. Author should have spent some more time on this character. 

Story ends but the author gives clear hint that we have not seen the last of Melwin Mars. He will make an appearance in the series in future.  

Not a must read.