"The Memori Project" eBook was published in 2018 and was written by Martin Ashwell (https://www.martinashwell.com). This is Mr. Ashwell's first publication and the first in his "Josh Heller Thriller" series.

I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story is set in the contemporary US. The primary character is Josh Heller, a former CIA operative who left under questionable circumstances.

Heller is approached by billionaire Simon Scott to shoot a documentary film on the neuroscience experiments he is funding. Once Heller is on-board, he is approached by his former employer to work undercover for the CIA. As Heller digs into what is going on he discovers what appears to be the disappearance of one of the former researchers. That raises questions as to the safety of the procedure and who the next patient to undergo the procedure will be.

The security chief for Simon Scott seems to be watching Heller. Heller recruits one of the research team to assist in his investigation and she too comes under the scrutiny of the security chief. Heller must try not only to find out what happened earlier to the research participant but also keep himself and his recruit safe. 

I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 334-page thriller. I thought the plot was good, but to me, the ending really didn't wrap everything up. The selected cover art is OK, but not tied to the story. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

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It was a strange book. Easy to read, difficult to understand.
My progress in reading:

a) A spy novel meets a science thriller novel. A good mixture normally.
b) A scientific content is a bit complicated.
c) A logical background has no sense.
d) The story has no logical explanation.
e) What it is about?!
f) Where is the sense?!


This book is VERY strange. The separate situations were thrilling to read, but it was difficult to understand why some characters acted the way they did. The whole story left more questions than answers. All in all, a strangely unsatisfied read.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a roller coaster ride from beginning to end. Keller is hired by the CIA to investigate Billionaire Scott' s Memori project. Heller agrees to do the documentary on the project for Scott while digging deeper to discover what's behind the project. What he finds is both horrifying and compelling. Scott is recording memories in the search of preserving his own lost memories of his son. I love how many of these mad scientists and rich billionaire experiments end up with the impossible determination to hang on to something that's been lost.
Very well paced story and characterizations.

Oh my goodness! What a story! The Memori Project is a fascinating, thrilling and riveting page-turner! I loved the concept of neuroscience experiments, test subjects, the latest technology, and a documentary. Every chapter ends with suspense making the reader wanting to know what-happens-next?!

The main characters in the story include Josh Heller, Catherine, and Simon Scott. The other characters include Nathan Bryant, Helen Du Prey, Stefanie Connors, Alex Cheng, and Peter De Vries. Each character is portrayed in a unique way - while some hide dark secrets, some seem distant.

The twist in the story is when Josh learns about the real reason behind these experiments. Josh asks Catherine to help him in finding out more about the Alameda Project. De Vries is Scott's right-hand man. He doubts Josh's alleged past. Though Josh is supposed to be a film-maker, De Vries isn't convinced. Phones are bugged and so is Catherine's home.

The storytelling is simply superb. Ashwell has done an excellent job in keeping his readers hooked on to the story till the end. With another twist, which was totally out of the blue, the ending was unexpected and unique. The language is simple, precise and easy to understand. A couple of technical terms are used and explained too so that's not an issue at all for those who do not like science.

As a debut novel, this book is too good to be true. This is the first best book that I read this year. Simply Wow! I recommend this book to all those who love to read a good mystery and thriller.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 (rounding it off to 5)

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

Martin Ashwell's debut novel is a subtle yet compelling thriller about a Feckless Hero who means well, caught in th web woven by a Villain who gives new illustration to the definition of Narcissism, a man with secrets so deep they could fill volumes of Conspiracy Theory. Mr. Ashwell is champion at building slow suspense and tension, so that the dangers sneak up on the reader as on the protagonist, Josh Heller (a former CIA agent, who "should know better"). You don't have to be an expert at Neuroscience, the topic on which this plot revolves, to understand the implications for humanity posited in this thriller. I certainly am not an expert, and I found the story engrossing. Josh is a delight in his earnest fecklessness; he is indeed skillful in some ways, yet it is his "blind spots" that will be his downfall. Thankfully THE MEMORI PROJECT is Book 1 of a series.