Hey bookworms! 📚✨ I just finished reading Recollection by Jeremiah Beck, and I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the mind of Jeremy Peoples, a radio DJ with a perfect memory. But here's the twist: his incredible memory is more of a curse than a gift, especially as he grapples with survivor's guilt and secrets from his past.

One of the standout moments for me was when Jeremy orchestrates a tell-all interview with Mason Reynolds, the murderer responsible for a killing spree in his hometown. During the live show, Jeremy confesses his sins, hoping for forgiveness, but Mason brushes him off with a cryptic message. The tension in this scene is palpable, and it's a perfect example of Beck's ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The way Beck explores themes of memory, identity, and reality is thought-provoking and ambitious. It's a twisty, turny ride that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of dark, gritty psychological thrillers, Recollection is a must-read.

So, grab your copy and get ready for a mind-bending adventure! 🌟📖

All his secret memories have led to this moment…

Jeremy Peoples remembers everything. But it’s more of a “terrible condition” than a “gift.” Even still, he’s a radio DJ on the verge of stardom, orchestrating a tell-all interview with the murderer responsible for a killing spree in his hometown.

He’s also harboring secrets.

Scarred by survivor’s guilt and desperate for forgiveness, Jeremy confesses his sins… live on the air.

The killer—Mason Reynolds—instead brushes aside Jeremy’s plea for mercy and delivers a cryptic message. As he loses control of his live show, another shocking revelation lures Jeremy back to the small Wisconsin town where he lost everything.

Home in Sugar River, the past is inescapable. And even worse: his perfect memory starts to fail at the worst possible time. He can’t see the danger he’s brought back with him… until it’s too late.

Fans of domestic suspense from Mary Kubica and Charlie Donlea will love Recollection. Stylishly written, this twisty debut novel is fraught with tension and heart-felt themes offering unexpected depth.

Recollection is simply… UNFORGETTABLE.

Trigger Warning: Though a work of fiction, Recollection contains content that may be troubling to some readers, including (but not limited to): suicide ideation, drug and alcohol abuse, vulgar and insensitive language, cigarette smoking, bullying, depictions of a mass casualty event, sexual content, and nightmare imagery. Please be mindful of these and other possible triggers contained within the pages of this novel.

I appreciate the trigger warning. I really enjoyed the story. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not working for me and I decided to not finish it. I felt like the story was just way too slow and I was not interested anymore.

I hope others love it..

Jeremy Peoples is a complex and troubled man who seeks forgiveness for a tragedy from his past. He will go to great lengths to get what he wants. Recollection tells his story. Masterfully told, Recollection is a dark and immersive psychological thriller that alternates between the past and the present. The narrative includes serious themes such as grief, guilt. loss and fear. Well plotted and fast moving, Recollection is a memorable book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Recollection left me with mixed feelings.

First of all, while I know Jeremy's inability to stop remembering is a major plot point, I didn't need it hammered over my head with what felt like too much repetition. Maybe it was an intentional literary device, but the book could probably be shortened by at least a fifth.
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I loved the early and late 90s setting and I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of radio during that time. That said, Jeremy's age felt off to me. He was only supposed to be, what, 25? Although his "fame" was more local than anything, he was meant to be sort of a big-shot radio star in DC and I had a hard time buying that he'd be that young. It took me out of the story a bit as I had to keep reminding myself how old he was actually supposed to be.

Finally, the ending took me aback a bit and left me looking up the author to see if the entire book was intentional proselytization (I'm still not entirely clear).

All of that said, I couldn't put it down. Even with the excessive length, I had to see what happened next. And once I finished, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, even if I can't quite put my finger on why.

O.M.G! RECOLLECTION, Jeremiah Beck’s debut novel is an action packed thrill ride that I COULD NOT put down. I got absolutely none of my chores completed from the minute I started this book. Clear your weekend and buckle in for a wild ride.

Radio talk show host Jeremy Peoples is a survivor of a school shooting where he lost the love of his life. On New Year’s Eve 1999, his show was centered around callers confessing their wrongs and asking for forgiveness. At 11 pm, he plans to interview Mason, the classmate who is now serving 19 life sentences for the shooting. He actually plans to ask the shooter for forgiveness for his own behaviour. Seven years on from the event that the nation watched in horror, Jeremy has his own demons to expel. He has been dealing with his survivor’s guilt with sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. When he had no one in his life he met Stacy Ramone and his wife, Michelle. They opened their home and hearts to him, but he failed them in the worst way possible.

During the New Year’s Eve show, Jeremy receives an on air call from Stacy asking him to return home to Sugar River, Wisconsin because Michelle is gone and he has no one to help him through it. Even though Jeremy left Stacy’s home at the wrong end of a gun, he had promised Stacy that he would be there for him for life. He finds himself in a bar on New Year’s and receives a letter from Michelle via the bartender. He loved Michelle but cannot bring himself to read her only communication with him in seven years. Stacy appears to be off the rails with paranoia and conspiracy theories when Jeremy returns to his home. Is it the drugs that Stacy has used over the years or is there something more ominous going on here? The final confrontation left me with my jaw hitting the floor.

This book had me from start to finish. I’m not even sure what genre to put it in, but I am so glad I stumbled upon it. There are trigger warnings of drug abuse, violence etc., so keep this in mind. And please, don’t let the length turn you off as every word is a masterpiece. This story could not have been told in a shorter version. But clear your weekend as you will not want to put this down for anything including sleeping and eating. Mr. Beck is, without a doubt, an author that I will be watching closely and I can’t wait to see where he takes me next! BRAVO, Mr. Beck! BRAVO! I would certainly give more than 5 stars if I could.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Fantastic premise and plot but the execution wasn’t my favorite. The main character is very hard to love and yet, very hard not to root for, that’s what kept me going. I had to see the outcome of his horrible life choices. The story took me to dark places I’ve never been and I can’t fathom. Honestly, those parts were hard (uncomfortable) for me to read

Below is the trigger warning from Goodreads as I thought that was important to include.
Warning: This story contains content that may be troubling to some readers, including—but not limited to—depictions of attempted suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, vulgar and insensitive language, bullying, a mass casualty event, PTSD, sexual content and vivid nightmare imagery. Please be mindful of these and other possible triggers contained within this work of fiction

This book was decent, but just not for me. I did not enjoy the content of the story, but it was well written and suspenseful. It was a very slow burn, as described by the author. For those who like slow burn thrillers, this would be a great one.

It was so hard for me to get through this book. The writing was good and it was a nice story on forgiveness and redemption but it was just so long. I feel like it could have been edited in half. The excessive detailed descriptions slowed down the plot progression. With such a heavy subject matter it was just too much for me. When I got halfway through it I started skipping ahead so I could be done with it. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shorter and had a clearer focus on the plot.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book. My reviews never contain spoilers and are freely given.
A DC radio show host, the survivor of a school shooting, hosts a New Year’s Eve show featuring an interview with the shooter. It sends him on a journey through his past, seeking forgiveness for mistakes made in his past.
Definitely a book that will make you think about how decisions and actions of the past affect your life.

Recollection

by Jeremiah Beck is a dark, gritty dive into the mind of a deeply troubled man. Trigger warnings abound, so proceed with caution. Jeremy Peoples, a successful radio host haunted by a horrific past, concocts a desperate plan for redemption on New Year's Eve 1999. His journey back to his Wisconsin hometown is a harrowing exploration of guilt, memory, and survival.

Beck’s writing is often sharp and evocative, particularly in his portrayal of Jeremy’s psychological torment. The novel’s intricate plot keeps readers engaged, even as the pace occasionally falters. The character of the Jack of Clubs is a fascinating and disturbing element.

While the story is undeniably compelling, the novel’s excessive length hinders its impact. A tighter edit could have intensified the narrative’s power. Despite its flaws, Recollection is a thought-provoking exploration of trauma and the human capacity for both darkness and resilience. For readers with strong stomachs and a penchant for psychological thrillers, the rewards may outweigh the challenges.

Rating: ★★★ (3 out of 5 stars)

A slow burn that is filled to the brim with a sense of forbododing, Beck delivers an unwavering thriller that takes our main characters past and weaves it through the present, cinching ever tighter like a slipknot until he's dangling from the edge with barely a toe to keep him from being strangled. Unsettling in the best of ways, an absolutely timely thriller.

Memories are a tricky business, especially when suddenly you no longer have a grip on them, How do you make amends to the dead? How do you keep from screaming when guilt is crushing the air from your lungs? How do you stop a force you've already set in motion?

You know that feeling after you finish a book and you know it’s going to “stay with you” for a while? This is one of those books.

This was a very dark, often depressing, twisty tale. It's well-written, but I feel like it could've been a bit shorter.

I found it difficult to read at times because of the subject matter and because of the way it jumped around. It was also hard for me to connect with or even like the characters, which I think was kind of the point. There was a lot going on in the book. It's definitely not a light read. I'd recommend it if you're in the mood for something dark and haunting and raw.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BookBaby for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This is such an emotional and dark read.

Jeremy Peoples has a hit talk radio show and is gifted or cursed, depending upon how you see it, with an eidetic memory. He is also convinced that 7 years ago, he caused his high school shooting. So, on New Years Eve of Y2K, he plans to have on his show the incarcerated murderer of his high school shooting and confess his actions. This event kicks off a tailspin where he returns to Wisconsin to deal with the past, present and redemption.

This was a well written novel with fantastic character development and suspense. Its very fast paced despite being 500+ pages. The alternating chapters of past and present are well done. There is so much going on in this story. Heed the trigger warnings well. Recommend for the strong!

This deep and dark tale concerns Jeremy Peoples, a radio personality who has the ability to never forget, n precise detail, a moment of his past. While this may seem like an extraordinary gift, it's actually a curse because all the bad memories are remembered too and Jeremy has a lot of them. This felt a bit repetitive in spots but, overall, was very interesting and compelling.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Have you ever thought about what kind of memory you have? I’m terrible with some things (where I put things and dates) but great with others (movie facts and names). Did you ever think about what it would be like to live with a photographic memory? And what if you had a serial killer in your past, what would you do? Recollection is about exactly that: what happens when no matter what you do, you can’t escape your past and it drags you back to where it all began. If you like Gillian Flynn and Denis Lehane, like I do, you should check this one out.

Recollection by Jeremiah Beck is a dark, twisting, drug-filled read. It has many trigger warnings that readers should check before diving in. If you are willing to sit closely with a self-sabotaging, damaged protagonist, you are in for an enjoyable read.

Jeremy Peoples is a successful radio show host with a perfect memory, but unfortunately, most of his memories are terrible and haunt him. It’s New Year’s Eve, and the world is panicking about Y2K, but he has a plan. He’ll confess his role in the school shooting that nearly killed him and finally seek forgiveness for his actions by interviewing the shooter on his show. He must return to Wisconsin despite the risks when nothing goes as planned.

I almost DNF’d it quite a few times before about the 60% mark, but even though I would set it away, eventually, I would have to come back to it. Beck does a great job keeping the reader curious, and the plot’s intricacies come together nicely. I had faith in the author’s ability to tell the story, so I kept reading because I knew it would all come together.

Recollection comes in at over 500 pages, which is its biggest weakness. The writing is, at times, brilliant, and I love what the author does with the Jack of Clubs, but overall, it would benefit from another round of edits. Trim and tighten this, and you’ve got a novel I recommend to everyone (who can handle the trigger warnings.) With all of that in mind, I give it three stars.

I want to thank NetGalley and Jeremiah Beck for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I personally have always loved an unlikeable character. I find them more realistic and in turn, more relatable. The main character is well developed, even though their actions are questionable. The storyline flowed from past to present without making the book too choppy. Overall liked it all and would recommend

A twisting page turner that keeps you guessing, wondering, and sleuthing as the main character's multiple life-long issues and secrets come to a head in his drug-addled and painful life, giving him one hail-mary shot at forgiveness, for which he has been searching for the last decade ever since he, his girlfriend, and fellow classmates were shot by a boy he had bullied.