Echoes of Memory is a slow mystery. It is a thriller, but not in the typical sense. Everything is based on protagonist Quinn’s faulty memory. O felt there was some disconnect between telling the story of Quinn and her learning to cope with her memory and the mystery of the murder that she thinks she’s witnessed.

Sara Driscoll is an author who does not shy away from difficult topics making Echoes of Memory a challenging book to read. Quinn is the primary focus, a woman assaulted a few months prior to the start of the book. Consequently, she deals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) which affects her short term memory. In order to compensate, she writes everything down in a notebook carried with her everywhere. When she witnesses a murder in the alley behind her place of employment, she quickly wrote down what she saw before she called the police. It will be gone from her memory about an hour afterwards. Working with a detective who understands her memory issues, she tries her best to help solve the murder and bring justice to the victim. As glimpses into her past infiltrate her dreams, she sketches the images but is never really sure if they are actual people and events or if it is just her imagination. While trying to assist the police in the investigation, she struggles to trust herself. The difficulties Quinn deals with on a day to day basis show her strength and fortitude toward life. This book has a depth not found in many books, making it an excellent read.

My first read by Sara Driscoll, and it was an ok read for me. I have seen some great reviews on her prior work so I will check out another book by her before I decide if this author is for me or not. I just felt this one didn't keep my interest peaked enough, I felt for the main character Quinn who is suffering from memory loss due to a traumatic event, and this memory loss plays a major roll in the story. Altbough interesting, it makes for a slow story and honestly no major peaks . However, I gave three stars because reading how she continued to work through the struggle despite the memory loss and the things she did in order to remember and do things that needed to be done was what kept me reading.

Quinn Fleming witnesses a murder and calls the police. There is no body and no other witnesses, so when Quinn can only give the police her account of the events by referring to her notebook, they dismiss her as a crank. Fortunately, Detective Reyes recognises Quinn's name when reviewing the notes and realises that Quinn herself was the victim of an unsolved assault and suffered a traumatic brain injury, meaning that she can only retain new memories for a few minutes, hence the notebook.

This is a fast paced and well written book with hints of 50 First Dates in Quinn's use of her notebook and reminders around her apartment. As well as the criminal investigations, there is a great storyline involving Quinn's support group, with her friend Viv and group leader Will supporting Quinn in recovery of her memories, both personal and related to the incidents. I found this fascinating and actually enjoyed it more than the crime solving element, although both aspects of the story were very good.

This is the first book I have read by Sara Driscoll and I look forward to more!

4.5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sara Driscoll and Kensington for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After an attack, Quinn Fleming is suffering from post-traumatic amnesia. She can’t retain new memories. When she witnesses a murder, she quickly writes down every detail in her notebook before she forgets. When the police arrive, there is no body, no crime scene so it’s like the murder never happened. When Quinn starts having flashbacks of the murder, she sets out to find the killer.

I enjoyed this one. I like that Quinn was able to find a way to work around the short term memory problem she has. The author really researched the topic well and is able to craft a fascinating story that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read and give my honest opinion. Highly recommend.

Wow, this was a great suspense. Started out a little slow, but by the end, I couldn't put it down!! Strong female lead, a woman that had something indescribable done to her, but refused to be a victim. 4 stars because of the slow start, and got kind of wordy at times, but highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

Another awesome book by Sara Driscoll. After being assaulted Quinn”s memory no longer works. Her retention of events might last an hour before it’s gone. She witnessed a murder but due to brain trauma the police have a hard time believing her. She writes it all down in her notebook and the next day she is shocked to find out that she saw the murder.
Goodreads

This is the story of a woman who has a brain injury after being attacked, who witnesses a murder. With no memory, but using her other senses and art she helps solve the crime. Lots of info on how she functioned and about brain injuries, which was interesting but also slowed down the mystery part of the book. It was ok but not as strong as it could have been

This book was intense and filled with details. Center to the story is Quinn, who has significant short term memory issues due to an assault. She keeps track of her life by writing everything in a notebook, knowing that within an hour or so, she wouldn’t remember it. After witnessing a murder, this book details her attempts to recall information, do some investigating on her own, and reminds her of the help and belief in her shown by the detective investigating the crime as well as Quinn’s support group leader, Will. The frustration Quinn felt at not being able to remember anything, and the steps she took to compensate, were palpable, and I was fascinated by the intriguing story and amount of research that went into details about the various types of brain injuries. The mystery is compelling with many twists. I very much enjoyed this book.

Another Great book by this author. Hard to put down as it is so action packed, & fast moving.
I have often heard reports of School shootings but never realize how huge of an operation it is until reading this well written book.
It clearly describes not only the size of operation but also the Bravery of the victims & rescuers involved & the heartache of the family waiting for word of their involved family members.
I found it interesting how they interpreted the signs of the crime & the people involved.

Sara Driscoll does it again. ECHOES OF MEMORY is an excellent stand-alone suspense.

Quinn has survived an assault that left her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects her memory to the point that she has to keep a notebook handy to remind herself of day-to-day events. Then, she witnesses a murder. Or does she? The police don't find a body or crime scene evidence ...

As always, the author does a very thorough job of researching her subject, this time TBIs and memory formation/retention. This one does not move as quickly as her Hostage Negotiator or FBI K-9 series, but it is every bit as intense.

Thanks to Sara Driscoll, Kensington Books & Net Galley for the chance to read an advance copy of this book. Expected publication date is July 23, 2024

Echoes of Memory has a completely unique storyline I've never seen before. The lead character, Quinn Fleming, is recovering from a brutal assault that included a traumatic brain injury, resulting in short term memory loss. She only retains new memories for an hour or so. Of course this turns her life totally upside down and requires her to develop a slew of compensatory strategies to just get from one day to the next.
Then Quinn witnesses a murder and her already difficult life becomes a nightmare. Fortunately she has a couple of support people in her corner. One is the man who directs her TBI support group, who helps her understand how her brain is working to recover. The other is the police detective who becomes involved in the murder case, who believes Quinn actually did see a murder despite the lack of evidence.
The suspense ratchets up when the murder victim is discovered and identified. Quinn has to use every resource she has to stay alive as she tries to piece together fragments of memory that come to her. Because now someone is hunting her.
I found the premise of a heroine who had short term memory loss very compelling. I met someone once during my training who had this condition, and he utilized the strategies Sara Driscoll described for Quinn. It was so compelling trying to put myself in the position of being unable to remember things I had done or people I had met only an hour earlier. Doing so heightened the feelings of fear and confusion I felt as Quinn was stalked. It also made it harder to predict how Quinn could possibly survive all that was happening to her, which kept me completely engaged until the very last line of the book.
Once again Sara Driscoll has created an excellent and unique story with characters you either love or hate and a level of suspense that keeps you reading because you just have to know how the story ends.

This book has a really interesting premise, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't care about the murder, mostly because we don't know who was involved and why until later on. I didn't care for any of the characters. I found the main character to be kind of annoying and Will was more creepy than anything. I liked the use of drawing to help with memory and the talk of brain injuries, but that was about all I enjoyed.

This book is an amazing work of fiction that gives us a glimpse of just one type of result from a traumatic brain injury. And how one girl, Quinn, handles her memory loss and trying to regain control over her life "after" her assault.

Quinn is also fighting hard to recall a murder she witnessed and stay safe. With a police officer and her TBI support group leader she just might accomplish all these things and more.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is only my second book by this author but I’ll definitely be watching for future books. The main character lost her ability to remember things in an attack so she has a notebook where she writes things down so she can recall them. One night while taking out the garbage at her floral shop job she witnesses a murder. From that time forward she tries to help find the murderer, often through her drawings. Though this book was a little slow at the beginning it had lots of suspense and action. When the murderer comes after her she thinks of a unique way of thwarting him. This is another don’t miss book by Sara Driscoll. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley, the author and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Beaten to with in an inch of her life, Quinn has far to go to recuperate. The mind is a complex unpredictable thing. She has to write everything down and re-read to know to do daily things. Her job at a florist job, where she is managing, brings her front and center to a murder. Will the police manage to solve this murder with out a body? Who removed the body? As Quinn works hard to improve her memory to solve the murder, she inadvertently solves the attack that left her on deaths door. Ms. Driscoll has woven a wonderful murder mystery where it is impossible to figure who did what and why. A definite page turner that kept me awake for two nights. Do not miss this gripping book!

Title: Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll
Genre: Crime Thriller
Pub Date: July 23, 2024

Our FMC Quinn suffers from memory loss after brutal assault. One evening after work she witnesses a murder in the alley, but due to her inability to recall the event without reading from her notebook police don't take her seriously. Detective Reyes, however, does believe Quinn after looking at the medical diagnosis in her still open assault case, and together they work to dig deeper into Quinn's memories to find the killer.

There is a lot of extra information (mainly describing atmosphere or the science behind memory) that slowed the pace a bit, though I think this comes to personal preference and it doesn't take away from the book at all, just makes it "medium/slow paced" instead!
I loved the concept of diving into memories and Quinn's ability to draw details from that night, increasing in accuracy as she cements it more in her mind. I also thought it was interesting how she coped with the loss of her memories and the ability to make new ones, something I'm sure many people take for granted!
The concept was unique and Driscoll did a beautiful job of not only writing an intriguing thriller, but bringing attention to a disability that isn't often spoke about.

⭐ 4/5

Thank you so much @netgalley and Kensington Books for the gifted copy!

Quinn was attacked a few month prior to the beginning of this story and has suffered memory issues ever since. While she remembers everything before the attack, she cannot form and retain new memories, so she has systems in place to help her navigate through life, like a notebook where she writes everything. One day while closing the flower shop she works at, she witnesses a murder and she does what she always does : write it all down in her notebook. When she calls the police they are skeptical to say the least, until one (woman) cop who actually remembers her case, believes her.
Quinn is the kind of witness cops should actually love, her memory of an event doesn't change cause her memory is on a piece of paper. While going through the case and trying to find out what happened, Quinn discovers that her broken brain might still be her superpower after all, and that she's making progress every day.
To be honest, the case doesn't matter that much in the story, though it was well done cause one character that I found so suspicious was actually not it (maybe that says something about me, I do not trust nice men). I loved this book as the story of a woman trying to find a new normal after a terrible attack that left her vulnerable, Quinn found a way to work with a broken brain, and without realising it at first, she does get better and better. That slow journey was very touching to follow, and that kind of injury was obviously really well researched. I also loved how people in her life like Reyes and Will didn't question her method, but actually helped her with it

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Echoes of Memory has many interesting observations but the overall story could not maintain my interest. I did finish the novel and felt moderate satisfaction at having read it. The locale was attractive. Author Sara Driscoll can write well and I would give her another read.Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Echoes of Memory is a stand-alone by Sara Driscoll whose K-9 series is one where I always learn something new about rescue trained dogs. In this book I learned about acquired brain injury recovery techniques. Very helpful.

Quinn Fleming was brutally attacked and left for dead 3 months ago. The resulting brain injury has left her with short-term memory issues. She has learned to cope with help from a support group run by Will, and Jacinta of Gaslamp Blooms who continues to employ Quinn after her injury.

Quinn witnesses a murder one night. Her memory training methods are used against her when she reports the crime, until Det. Nura Reyes takes over the case.

The fast-paced race to track down Jack DeWitt's investigation and solve his murder before the assailants eliminate Quinn kept me turning pages as fast as I could! I highly recommend this book.