A riveting thriller that will keep the reader on edge. The story blends suspense with emotional depth, creating a captivating tale. The plot is well crafted and engaging as the reader learns more about Quinn’s amnesia and what happened to her previously.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

After being brutally attacked, Quinn has lost her short term memory capabilities. Though she struggles, she finds ways to cope When she witnesses a murder outside her workplace, she quickly writes down everything she saw before the memories fade. The first officers at the scene are skeptical when she can’t recall the events without her notebook. Only Detective Nura Reyes, who is familiar with Quinn’s earlier attack, is willing to believe her.

This is a captivating thriller that has it all. An intriguing mystery, a vulnerable main character and a strong secondary cast. Though the mystery is central to the book, this is definitely a character drive story. Quinn's journey wasn't easy. At the beginning, she is unsure and still figuring out how to adapt to her life after the attack. She is embarrassed by what she sees as shortcomings and can't give her self credit for the changes she has made for her to move forward. By the end, through her own determination and the encouragement of those around her she finds her strength.

Sara Driscoll is a masterful storyteller, creating a thriller full of interesting twists and turns. Her ability to develop real, believable characters is exceptional. Their emotions are real and the suspense and intensity make this real page turner

ECHOES OF MEMORY by Sara Driscoll is a fascinating suspense/crime thriller police procedural featuring a protagonist with a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) who witnesses a murder, or did she? This standalone slow burn thriller has a sense of foreboding throughout that kept me turning the pages.

Quinn Fleming is a florist in San Diego who survived a horrific mugging. She is back to work, but her TBI has her finding ways to compensate for her inability to retain new memories. She relies on recording everything she must remember in a notebook she always carries with her. After work, as she is emptying the shop’s trash in the back alley, she witnesses a murder as she hides in the shadows.

Detective Nura Reyes knows about Quinn’s attack and challenges and believes her tale of witnessing a murder even though there is no proof. Bits and pieces of that night return in flashbacks, dreams, and Quinn’s art, so when she goes to find proof that what she saw was real, someone else realizes she is a threat. Det. Reyes is now in a race to uncover the truth with Quinn’s life on the line.

This is such an interesting plot twist with a protagonist that does not remember anything past approximately an hour unless it is reinforced by repetition or a traumatic incident. Her coping skills were amazing and yet she was embarrassed when anyone found out about them. The explanations of her TBI complications are well integrated throughout the story between Quinn’s actions and thoughts and her TBI therapy group instructor, Will. The plot does start out a little slow, but there is always a shadow of foreboding and as more clues come together, the plot pace increases exponentially. This is an all-around gripping story.

I highly recommend this intense crime thriller/police procedural.

Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll – 4 stars

Echoes of Memory delivers a captivating mystery centered around Quinn Fleming, a San Diego florist with post-traumatic amnesia. After surviving a brutal attack, Quinn relies on her notebook to capture fleeting memories before they fade. When she witnesses a murder and records the details, she’s thrown into a tense investigation—despite no one believing her due to the lack of evidence and her memory loss.

Quinn’s struggle with amnesia adds an intense layer to the mystery. The concept of her forgetting everything within hours creates a constant urgency, and her resourcefulness makes her a strong protagonist. While the medical explanations sometimes slowed the pace, they added depth to her character. The partnership with Detective Reyes and the vivid San Diego setting added to the intrigue.

Overall, a gripping and emotional read that kept me engaged, despite a few slower moments. Driscoll’s unique premise and well-developed mystery make this a standout thriller.

Quinn has dealt with a traumatic brain injury since she was attacked outside a nightclub. She had a full recovery... other than losing virtually all her short term memory.

Now, if she doesn’t write something down…poof! It’s gone!

So when Quinn witnesses a murder behind the flower shop where she works, she immediately jots everything down. Detective Reyes, familiar with Quinn’s background, understands Quinn and knows how to work with her to help find the killer.

Are Quinn’s notes enough for the police to go on? Will Quinn recognize the man responsible? And what happens if the killer recognizes her first?

After being the victim of a violent attack, Quinn Fleming is unable to remember anything that happens for more than a brief time. She maintains a journal that she carries with her at all times to remind her of the days of her life and has post-it notes throughout her apartment to tell her where things are. While taking out the trash in the alley behind her workplace, she witnesses a brutal attack and murder - the only problem is without her notebook she is unable to remember exactly what she saw. Over time she begins to use her art skills to recreate memories as they come to her and she begins to look into the case on her own - all putting herself in serious danger. The most disturbing part of this was what it would be like to not be able to remember your own day as it was happening and having the slate reset each morning.

What a gripping story. Read in one sitting.

We follow Quinn who after being assaulted loses her ability to have new memories. So to remember things she uses a notebook in hopes to get through each day and have memories. When she comes about and witnesses a murder, the notebook soon becomes a way that will put her in danger.

This was an excellent read and it is definitely action packed. Keeps you interested and i plan to read more by the author in the future.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

After surviving an assault, Quinn has lost her ability to retain new memories. All she has is her notebook where she writes everything down to help get through each day. When she witnesses a murder, her handwritten notes put her in danger.

This was an excellent thriller/mystery! It starts off with Quinn already dealing with amnesia, and takes off into an action-packed story. Perfect pacing that kept me interested until the end. This is my first book by the author, but I plan to read others.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll

This one took me back to patients I cared for when once a nurse working in neurosurgical intensive care and later in a skilled nursing facility for mentally alert neurologically impaired patients…loved reading about someone with the strength to pursue a better life than some in my care managed to have.

What I liked:
* Quinn Flemming: survivor, dealing with TBI and residual amnesia, witness to a murder, brilliant coping skills, mad art skills, florist, driven, intriguing character that I really liked
* Detective Nura Reyes: dedicated, capable, intelligent, protective, methodical, team player, believed in and was there for Quinn, someone I would like on my side
* Will Dawsey: medical professional, certified brain injury specialist, runs support groups for TBI survivors, supportive, kind, intelligent, sharing, possible love interest for Quinn
* Some of the supporting characters: Detective Felip Cerveló, Jacinta, and Vivian
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* Quinn’s artistic abilities and how they played into providing clues
* That I was drawn in, felt part of the story, and cared about the outcome
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* The new information I learned about traumatic brain injuries and thinking about what goes into living with them
* That all the threads were tied up by the end of the story
* Wondering what will happen in the future

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The evil some are willing to do and the impact it has on others

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

At first I didn’t think I would like this book, but it drew me in. I found the whole not remembering this to be annoying. It starts slow, despite the murder, it’s focused on what happened to Quinn & her disability. In the beginning Quinn is helpless & weak. But she progresses to a strong woman. It’s nice to see. I’d give this a 3 1/2 stars if I could., not sure it’s up to a 4. #EchoesofMemory #NetGalley

This review is coming from someone who suffers from PTSD as well. Knowing what I do and having experience with PTSD myself some of the things in this book hit close to home. I can understand the forgetfulness because when something traumatic happens all you want to do is block it out.

However, I don't know what it was about this story but at times it was hard to get through. I don't know if it felt slow or something else. I LOVE all of Sara's other books but this one just felt different. It is still a great read and I do recommend it.

After she has been attacked, Quinn Fleming, recovers bodily but she is not able to remember recent events, even something that happens an hour ago … She witnesses a murder, and that is when memory would be good thing, especially as there is no body.
Each new chapter, each time she reviews her notes, I felt the frustration, and as fragments of her memory come back, I cheered, but was scared for her.
Excellent read!

Quinn works at a flower. While dumping trash in the alley she witnessed a murder. With her recent attack Quinn suffers from memory problems so she took notes of the scene. When the police arrived with no body and no crime scene they discredited her immediately. Then Detective Reyes is handed the case and she decides to look into Quinn’s past. With some coaxing Detective Reyes was able to read Quinn’s notes which she found to be beneficial.
…
Quinn has been struggling with her lapse in her ability to retain memories. It’s caused her to doubt herself. She joined a support group where the team leader has provided some helpful tools.
…
Echoes of Memory is about a woman who suffers from memory loss after being attacked. On a daily basis she claws her way back to those memories. Her daily routine is to study her notes from the day before. She also sketches pictures from dreams she’s had to help her with those memories.
…
Let’s talk about the show stopping cover design. It sold me. When I saw this cover I knew I had to invest more time reading the synopsis. The synopsis was solid. But the author name Sara Driscoll wasn’t one I’m familiar with, yet sometimes I take necessary risks to invest my time in new authors. While I found the concept fascinating I wasn’t completely satisfied with the slow progression of the storytelling process. However, Choosing to use a character with memory issues was satisfying. Even more satisfying was the character’s ability to sketch memories from dreams.

I've read many of Sara Driscoll's FBI K-9 series so was not surprised at the well written suspense in ECHOES OF MEMORY, a stand alone thriller. The plot line was an unusual spin on a victim of violent crime losing their memory. In Echoes, Quinn Fleming has short term amnesia. She's unable to retain memories of current events, recording everything that happens to her in a notebook so she'll have a frame of reference when she needs recall. This causes anxiety in every one of her interactions with customers at her florist shop. It also is a very good baseline story when Quinn witnesses a murder.....or did she?

Driscoll has done an excellent job of letting readers inside Quinn's world as she struggles to regain a "normal" life complete with memories. The tension builds with each chapter as Quinn faces disbelief from crime investigators and worries about the return of a killer to prevent her memory from returning. Driscoll's series work is a favorite of mine. Here's hoping we'll see a Quinn Fleming series in our future.

I got total Memento vibes from this book and I loved it! The idea of an amnesiac witnessing a murder and trying to help the cops solve it is such a cool idea. I can only imagination the frustration that goes along with that. I found the book to be clever and exciting and really enjoyed it.

Echoes of Memory has an unusual plot. The main character, Quinn, was attacked, and after that is unable to retain new information and starts every day as if it were a totally new life. She works hard to find a "new" normal but everything becomes even harder when she witnesses a murder. She will then embark in a mission of discovering what did she really see, who she saw, and help the police to bring the culprits to justice. The story is well-written, engaging and thrilling and kept me pinning for Quinn to solve the mystery.
I thank Ms. Driscoll, her publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

The main character Quinn suffers from Post -Traumatic Amnesia as the result of an assault 3 months prior to the start of the book. She is able to work in a florist shop and function with the help of a notebook in which she writes the sequence of tasks to do, as well as sticky notes throughout her apartment identifying where things are. These activities help compensate for her loss of memory.
One night as she is getting ready to leave work, she takes out the garbage and notices some activity at the other end of the alley behind the shop. She sees 2 men, and it looks like one is murdered, and they take off in a white paneled van. She quickly writes everything down and calls 911, but the police have doubts about the case because there is no evidence of the crime and Quinn's notes are sparse.
However, one detective believes her and remembers the case where Quinn was attacked and helps her delve into the murder. I liked the way that Det. Reyes helped Quinn piece together the event, and tracks down the victim and the perpetrator. In addition, Will, the TBI specialist who is the leader of the support group that Quinn attends weekly, is also supportive and helpful, as he explains the difficulties that Quinn experiences.
The book was believable - I have worked with TBI victims and liked that the author used realistic ways to compensate for the amnesia.
The ending was plausible - and wrapped up the story on a hopeful note.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and a paper copy from Kensington Publishing. The opinions expressed are my own and voluntarily expressed.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the copy of Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll. I read some early reviews of the audio version that weren’t very complimentary, but I read the book and absolutely loved it. Quinn is suffering from amnesia after an attack and lost her long-term memory. She witnesses a murder and struggles to remember what happened and if she saw the killer. I loved how Quinn is learning to cope, and how determined she was to find clues to help the detective on the case. This is a crime story blending a detective with heart with the resilience and determination of an excellent main character. Do not miss this amazing book! 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll was more suspenseful than I was expecting. It wasn't that I was overly invested in the fate of our protagonist - though I was [invested] - rather Driscoll cushions her in a supportive environment and the cynical (reads-too-much-crime-fiction) me expected that one of her confidantes or friends would end up being a baddie. As a result I held my breath for much of this, wondering which one of the handful of helpful support cast members would have a hidden agenda or ultimately let [us] her down... obviously [breaking my heart] disappointing me in the process!

Some of this hit a little close to home as my father suffered from dementia and wasn't able to retain short term memories. And my darling mother (although now 80 years of age) is becoming forgetful. Like Quinn, mum is diligently writing down everything she needs to remember. Which is good of course. It wasn't something we'd put in place with dad... who never knew if he'd eaten lunch or what he'd just finished doing.

Quinn writes down things she needs to remember while they remain with her for about an hour before disappearing and she knows to re-read what she's written on a regular basis. Driscoll actually includes quite a lot of useful (and interesting) information here about the way we process memories, simplifying everything including what we mean by 'memories' versus 'remembering'. Quinn uses repetition to familiarise herself with things and people and discovers it's working. Which of course is problematic for the person she witnesses killing a journalist.

My only gripe with this book was with its opening (apologies for letting the pedant in me escape!). I felt like the paragraphs needed rearranging. The way it started made me feel like I'd come in part-way through something and I think it could have been done a little more deftly by kicking off with the fourth or fifth paragraph which is more action-focussed - though realise it's not as impactful as the current opening... 'Life can change in the blink of an eye' .

That aside, this is a different take or approach to crime fiction, a different way of piecing things together which I very much enjoyed. Quinn uses dreams and art to recover memories and, though we've seen similar in SJ Watson's Before I Go To Sleep or similar, I enjoyed the way she works with Detective Reyes and Will (who leads her group therapy sessions) to make sense of the those memories.

I'm not a visual person at all. I never picture characters or scenes but there was something vivid about this and I can imagine that it'd translate well onto the big or little screen.

I really enjoyed the different spin on this book that the author gave us!
Dealing with traumatic head injury, losing memory and basically living every day literally as a new day can play havoc when someone is out to get you!
With great characters and an intriguing plot, this book had me from the beginning to the end.
Highly recommend this book and a big thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity!