The Fallen

Amos Decker, David Baldacci's unique special agent with the gift of a remarkable memory,
returns in The Fallen

Poison Town is the name of the place. Well, that's its well-earned nickname that its citizens like to use. Its real name is Barronville, named after its founder, John Barron who built his empire from those twin pillars of moneymaking a century ago: mines and manufacturing. His thirst for wealth is the only reason the town exists, which is the case for many such small towns across the country.

Barron is long dead and the town is not that far behind. The mines and manufacturing are gone and all this left is one Barron heir living out a slow, aristocratic pauper's death in an old, crumbling mansion on the hill. The townspeople are dwindling in number and seizing on any scraps they can to survive. Opioid addiction runs rampant. The health of the citizenry is poor. Job skills and prospects are in a sad state.

Despair is everywhere, but the people soldier on. There is hope amid all the bad. People still live their lives and they get by in myriad ways. There is cleverness and ingenuity in abundance in the midst of so much misery. In that regard it is like many small towns across America.

Enter Amos Decker and Alex Jamison. Why are they traveling to Barronville?