Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll, aka Jen J Danna
Mystery, thriller.
Several months earlier, San Diego florist Quinn Fleming survived a terrible attack which left her with post-traumatic amnesia. Her short term memory is gone. In order to remember anything from day to day, she keeps a notebook of hand written notes of things she needs to remember, which she then reads on the bus to and from work each day.
One night when closing the store, she witnesses a murder in the alley. She immediately writes down everything she saw in detail including impressions and calls the police. By the time they arrive though, there is no body and no evidence of a crime. When Quinn starts having flashbacks, Detective Reyes matches a body found washed up on a beach to Quinn’s notes and sketches. Quinn innocently starts investigating a logo she thinks she’s remembering from that night, which triggers a threat from the killer. He heard someone in the alley that night. Now he knows who else needs to be eliminated.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was performed by Cynthia Farrell. The narration is fantastic with varying voices for the few main characters and impressive emotional scenes from the victim. Much of the book is high tension and terror which is clearly heard and felt while other parts include her therapy sessions where you hear tension, embarrassment and hope from Quinn.
For me, reading print is more visual and immersive while an audiobook is heard and felt. Both work wonderfully for this thriller.
I listened to the audiobook at a speed of 1.5 which more closely matches speech patterns in my area.

I couldn’t imagine having no memory of yesterday or this morning and having to refer to notes, let alone the shock of reading about witnessing a murder, and being in danger because of it. Talk about a wake up call!
A gripping and intense thriller.
4.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher RB Media.

Three months ago, Quinn's life was turned upside down by a traumatic brain injury that left her unable to retain new memories. Her days are now filled with sticky notes and alarms to navigate her world. One evening, she witnesses a murder behind the shop where she works. The police need her to piece together the crime, but how reliable is her shattered memory?

My thoughts:
This book felt like an unexpected deep dive into the workings of memory. And I might also have gained some knowledge about how the bits and bytes of my memory lane work. 😛

I loved the story and its portrayal, especially the dual POV, which was perfect. Experiencing the world through Quinn's eyes made me question my own perception at times. Like Quinn, the narrative moved one step back and two steps forward, guiding us to the story's climax. It felt like being on a journey with her, sharing her setbacks and breakthroughs.

I also listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed Cynthia Farrell's narration.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sara Driscoll, and Kensington Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Cynthia Farrell does a great job narrating this one.

Imagine being in a horrible attack that left you without your short term memory. This is Quinn's new world. She survived a horrible attack outside a nightclub only to be left with no short term memory unless she writes it down in her notebook. Then, one night when working late in the florist shop, Quinn witnesses a murder. She recorded all of the events in her notebook which makes the detectives suspicious of her. Also, there is the small fact of no body has been found. Will Quinn recognize the killer? Will the cops believe her?

I do think this is an entertaining read and my favorite sections were learning how memory and the brain function after suffering a traumatic event. I loved learning how the brain can use neuroplasticity to retrieve memory loss. I thought that Quinn's character and her methods of moving forward and her efforts to heal and help solve the crime and save her life to be interesting. The pacing for me fell off a bit in the middle but it did pick up at the end.

3.5 stars rounded up!

I love this. I know "isn't this a cop book?" It is! It is like a super cop book because our girl can't remember a thing and is trying to solve a murder she witnessed and then forgot. She ends up working with a lady cop. It was intriguing, I loved the narration too.

3.5 stars
Quinn Fleming is recovering both mentally and physically from a life changing assault. Being attacked left Quinn with amnesia that affects her day to day life tremendously. She must journal even the smallest of details to be able to try to live as normal as she can. One night while closing the flower shop she works at, she witnessed a murder in the alley behind the shop. She immediately went to her journal to jot down any details she could retain. But once the police arrive, there seems to be no evidence of a murder at all. Not even a body. Will Quinn be able to recall enough details to assist in solving this horrendous act?

I really enjoyed the first 30 or so percent of this story. Great foundation with a lot of potential. I really enjoyed Quinn's character. Her working relationships with Detective Reyes was admirable. They both showed so much respect for one another. I loved how Reyes was supportive and encouraging through Quinn's biggest struggles.
I enjoyed the writing style/prose and would read other books from this author.
I listened to the audiobook - narration was 2.5/5 stars for me and potentially a large part of the reason this one fell short for me. It felt flat/monotone. The storyline got repetitive with little action towards the end. I felt like it was opposite of the usual slow burn beginning and explosive ending. There were no twists or unexpected happenings. Simply a detective investigation story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sara Driscoll, and RB Media for this ARC audiobook and the chance to give my own honest opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Recorded Books Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this standalone book by Sara Driscoll, wonderfully narrated by Cynthia Farrell. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Quinn survived a terrible attack that left her with a traumatic brain injury. Three months later, she relies on tips she learned in a TBI support group to help her retain her short-term memories. When she witnesses a crime, she writes down the details before she forgets them. The police aren't impressed and she soon starts experiencing flashbacks about the crime, leading her to do her own investigation.

I got lost in this book, and loved being able to switch from the audio to the digital versions so I could keep reading. I thought the TBI storyline was fascinating, as were all the tricks and tips Quinn used to help retain her memories. The suspense was high and I worried for Quinn's safety as she took things into her own hands. Detective Reyes was the only law enforcement officer who put stock into Quinn's story, and she turned into a very sympathetic friend and supporting character. Great read - would love to read more from these characters!

The story centers around a woman who suffers from some sort of short-term memory loss due to brain damage from an assault. As she navigates her life with the aid of a notebook where she records her daily experiences to keep track of her life, she unexpectedly becomes a witness to a murder. Besides jotting down notes, she sketches what she remembers, utilizing her talent as an artist to help piece together her fragmented reality.

The premise of the book is intriguing, with the potential to offer a deep, psychological exploration of memory and trauma. However, the execution falls short. The prose feels mechanical, almost as if it were generated by an AI. While there are no glaring issues with the writing, it lacks the emotional depth and soul that would make the story engaging. The characters are flat, and the plot, despite its promise, becomes monotonous.

Unfortunately, the narration only adds to the overall lackluster experience. The narrator's delivery is painfully monotone, making it difficult to distinguish between characters during conversations. Every character ends up sounding like a TBI patient. Additionally, the narrator's frequent swallowing etc is distracting.

The book also lowkey suggests various coping mechanisms for memory issues, which seem to be sourced from Wikipedia ;) While this information could be useful, its presentation feels superficial and uninspired.

Overall, while the concept had potential, both the writing and narration fail to bring it to life. The result is an audiobook that is more of a chore to listen to than a compelling experience.

This was a really great filth thriller. Lots of cat and mouse and very plot driven. This is definitely a different perspective of a thriller. and I very much enjoyed the differences. The FMC was in an accident that messed with her brain and stole her short term memory. Finding the courage and strength to work at overcoming her obstacles, she witnesses a murder. She tries to find the murderer as while trying to hold on to her glimpses of memory. As she overcomes little by little, she turns herself from a victim to a hero. Great read.

What an unusual book. This might be especially liked by people who have had - or know someone who has had - some sort of brain injury. There's a lot of information on the subject that seems to be well researched but it sort of slows the story down a bit. It's an interesting story, though, and the narrator does a good job.

This is a fascinating story and Quinn is such an amazing character trying her best to solve a murder despite the way her brain can't remember (due to her own attack three months ago) and how memories slip away, despite her trying to keep a hold of them as long as possible. The way she compensates with the little notebook and post its all over her house just proves what a strong woman she is and how Quinn works so hard to recover lost moments. Now, I know that probably the detective who ends up with the possible murder case would not have put so much trust and faith in someone with such a TBI injury but it makes for a nice story and Detective Reyes comes off as compassionate and someone for Quinn to lean on as they try to solve the case. The way it is done with dreams and artwork and plan old tracking down clues and suspicions makes it a thrilling story that I am glad I got a chance to listen to. Though I would love to have been able to see some of the drawings that Quinn does (the regular stuff, not dealing with the murder or her own attack).

So, this was a good story and the narrator did a wonderful job in keeping me hooked to see if Quinn and Detective Reyes could solve the case before anyone else was killed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for a review.

“Echoes of Memory” by Sara Driscoll follows a woman who, after having injury related daily memory loss, witnesses a murder and must try to put together the pieces to what happened.

I think this book may have a niche audience. There is a lot of information about brain injuries and memory in this book. At some points, it feels like an information dump. I enjoyed that the book seems very well researched. However, I could see some people not being interested in this.

I think this story was a little slow, but it kept me intrigued. It could have been sped up. There are some things I do not think were strictly necessary for this story. However, it felt more realistic than some thrillers do. It was easy to follow the story, and the main character’s choices made sense.

The ending was the most disappointing part of this book for me. Everything came together perfectly, which was great! However, I appreciate thrillers having some sort of twist. The ending of this book was expected by the time I got there.

Overall, I had a fun time and felt intrigued by the way the story played out, but I don’t think it will be very memorable to me.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. The premise was interesting but the book felt slow and repetitive. I know that the main character has a brain injury and that’s a lot of the plot but it felt like it was too much. I know this will be a favorite for some but it just wasn’t the book for me.

Actual Rating 2.5

This is a really slow read. There’s a heavy focus on brain function, memory recall versus retention, and how memory loss affects different people in different ways. Not to mention that since the protagonist couldn’t remember most things from after her brain injury, there was a lot of repetition of somewhat basic info that the reader didn’t need to be reminded of. I do wish these aspects had been trimmed down; maybe rather than such a heavy emphasis on telling us these things, if there’d been a character from Quinn’s “before” that could have helped show some of those elements it would have been more impactful and taken less page time.

About a third of the way through, a second POV is introduced. It worked decently to provide info on the case that we wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise, but there wasn’t really any character development for this POV, which made it impossible to connect with the characters and their chapters. And actually, despite most of the book being about Quinn, you don’t really get a feel for her as a person beyond her memory struggles.

Unfortunately, I just found this one rather boring and didn’t have much of a connection to the characters or plot. If you’re interested in a slow mystery with a focus on memory, then you may like this one and I am an outlier here, so keep that in mind. My thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for allowing me to read this work, which will be published July 23, 2024. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow, I did not enjoy this book. It was like reading a tbi textbook. No thank you. Could have been an interesting story but way too technical.

Absorbing mystery thriller.

Quinn Fleming is trying to reclaim her life after a vicious nighttime attack left her with a traumatic brain injury. The trauma resulted in a type of amnesia that prevents her from forming new memories. Although she's back to work as a florist in a San Diego flower shop, she cannot function without her post it labels on every surface and her diary notebook in which she records every detail of her daily existence. Then she witnesses a murder in the alley behind the floral shop. In order not to forget what she saw in the dark, she records every detail immediately and gets the police involved. Fortunately, Quinn is an artist, and she pours any snippet of memory into sketches from dreams and flashes of insight. Unfortunately, someone else knows that she was there in the alley and saw what happened. That someone does not want Quinn to remember anything.

I enjoyed the story, especially the clinical details about TBI and this particular type of amnesia. The recovery from such an injury can be very arduous and frustrating. I liked how the main character approached her situation and all her efforts to keep making progress toward recovering lost memories and also to increase her ability to make new ones. The other characters in the book were also fleshed out and important to the narrative. The mystery was complicated and the pacing of the revelations as it was solved was well done.

Fortunately, I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC -- both provided by the publisher. The narrator of the audiobook, Cynthia Farrell, did an excellent job of voicing and giving nuance to all the characters. both male and female. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

I tried a few times with this book. I liked the MC and setup but couldn’t stand to be around the male characters. They couldn’t help but grand stand and blabber on or “mansplain” there are enough of these guys already I don’t need more.

Quinn was a victim of an attack that left her with virtually no short term memory. If she doesn’t write something down, it is forgotten. This brings obvious issues with daily life, but the problems multiply when she is the only witness to a murder outside of her work.

She’s given a hard time about not being able to recall this without her notes and questioned as though she is reading a prepared statement. The police don’t trust her and feel she is wasting their time.

Thankfully, there is one cop, Detective Reyes, with a brain who doesn’t treat Quinn unfairly and wants to work with her. Quinn is determined to solve the case and identify the killer before they find her. She works or her memory retention and simultaneously works on solving the murder she witnessed, searching for proof.

I enjoyed the perspective of this interesting take on an unreliable narrator- it made me think how I would live life with a similar condition.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publish date 7/23/24!

“If I don’t write it down… I won’t remember it”

… this was almost like a spin on 50 first dates but with a murder mystery twist.
We find ourselves in the book wondering if all of her thoughts are that of conjectures, or truly memories shes gaining back after a TBI.

The end is really great. Not sure it leaves enough question for a sequel but well written overall makes you want to continue to read on. Fast paced

This was the first book I have listened to by Sara Driscoll and I know it won't be my last. This book was so unique. I couldn't stop listening to this story. Cynthia Farrell did an amazing job narrating this story and kept me entertained through the whole book. While I was listening I just kept trying to imagine losing your memory and trying to figure out how you can go about life on a daily. Then to carry around a notebook to help you remember to find out you witnessed a murder. I was just blown away by the story. I had so much fun with this book. The characters are well written and enjoyable. I love how she had a good support system through all of this. I would definitely recommend this audiobook. It's a great mystery thriller that will keep you wanting more.


Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to listen to this ARC for my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

Before the start of the book we learn Quinn has had a traumatic brain injury when she was attacked outside a nightclub. She had a full recovery... other than losing most of her short term memory and before the accident she remembers. The only way she is getting through the day is writing it all down i full details and leaving notes for herself. If she sees or does something enough she will remember some of the new things but has to review it a lot before she starts.


So when Quinn witnesses a murder behind the flower shop where she works, she immediately jots everything down. The cops of scene are not believing her since she's reading for her notebook. but the Detective that takes over the case learns about what happen to her so she's trying to help her remember and help with anything from her VERY detailed notes to solve this case.

With enough of her notes and flashes of images start coming back to her where she starts drawling will she be able to help solve the case? Was she seen that night? Are they looking for her?

I loved the premise of this book but some of the descriptions of her memory loss and then how she could remember somethings just had a little disconnect for me. But I'm curious in reading other books this author

Thank you to NetGalley for this audio arc in exchange for my honest opinions.