Fade to Black by David Rosenfelt

Doug Brock returns in Fade to Black, the new book from David Rosenfelt. Brock is a New Jersey cop who has amnesia as a result of being shot in the line of duty. Brock is trying to piece his life back together, including getting to know his fiance again and going to a support group for amnesia sufferers as he prepares to go back to work. A member of his support group, Sean Conner, approaches him and asks him to look into a mystery in Sean’s life. A scrapbook Sean has discovered in his attic relates to a murder victim and Sean has no recollection of her or the book. Doug convinces his captain to reopen the case and learns that he himself was involved in putting the man accused of the woman’s murder behind bars.

Doug reexamines the evidence including interviewing the man he helped put behind bars. When Sean turns up dead, murdered in dramatic fashion, Doug is convinced he’s on the right track. Now Doug is on a trail that involves mobsters in New Jersey and Las Vegas. With the help of his partner and his fiance, Doug doggedly pursues leads even as obstacles pile up in front of him, not the least of which is his own faulty memory.

Rosenfelt does a good job at keeping the story simmering at a constant slow boil. Each revelation leads to a new clue and sheds more light on the central mystery. As the case comes together, the answers are shocking, but they don’t feel unearned. Rosenfelt carefully lays the groundwork for his surprising reveals.

Doug Brock is a solid character and his backstory makes him even more interesting. The relationships with his partner and fiance are likewise entertaining. The mobsters are a little more one-dimensional but still make for a fun diversion from Brock’s pursuit.

Fred Berman narrates the audio version and does a fine job of bringing the characters to life. From the snarky patter between Brock and his partner, the more serious conversations with his fiance, and the snap of the dialogue amongst the various mobsters, Berman keeps you pulled into the story and the world where the book takes place. Very well done.

Rosenfelt keeps up the pace throughout in this fun crime thriller. Recommended read.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

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