David Baldacci, an incredibly prolific writer, has produced another captivating crime novel, The Last Mile. It is the second novel in a seven book series about protagonist Amos Decker who has joined an FBI special force although he is not officially an FBI employee. Decker was drawn to a specific case which mirrored his own earlier life. Melvin Mars had been convicted of murdering his parents and was sent to prison for his execution. After 20 years in death row, Decker was about to be executed when another man came forward to admit committing the murders. Both Decker and Mars were former college football players. Mars was an all-star who was headed for a big NFL contract and perhaps to become the best player in the league. They had played against each other in a big game, Decker with Ohio State and Mars with Alabama. Mars was a star that day and Decker was unable to stop him. After graduation Decker had made it to the NFL for just one play that resulted in his knee being destroyed. Both men had lost their families to brutal murders only to have someone else, many years later, claim that he had done the deed. Mars story had to be proven, and it was not known if the new confessions was an honest one. Mars’ case became more important when a woman on the FBI who was also working on Mars’ case was kidnapped. Surely, there were some ominous hidden truths hidden behind that kidnapping.
The story was rather complicated. There were lots of characters from both Decker’s and Mars’ early lives, as well as people they knew currently. What if Mars parents were really not dead? I thought this was a good story, one that clearly kept me interested to the very end. Both protagonists were strong and well-developed personalities. The Last Mile gets a strong recommendation from me.
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