Member Reviews
Quinn is sure she has witnessed a murder - but after investigation and finding nothing, the police don't believe her because she suffers from a condition called Post Traumatic Amnesia. She keeps a notebook where she draws the events she wants - or needs to remember, and she is increasingly remembering more details of the murder. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in audiobook format.
In “Echoes of Memory,” Sara Driscoll crafts a gripping tale that delves into the fragile nature of memory and the resilience of the human spirit.
Narrated by the talented Cynthia Farrell, this audiobook brings to life the harrowing journey of Quinn Fleming, a San Diego florist grappling with post-traumatic amnesia. Quinn’s life is a delicate balance of routine and survival, as she relies on handwritten notes to navigate her day-to-day existence after a brutal attack leaves her unable to retain new memories.
Driscoll masterfully weaved a narrative that is suspenseful and deeply emotional. When Quinn witnesses a murder, her fragmented recollections become the only means of solving that crime...
Cynthia Farrell’s narration is mesmerizing. Her ability to convey Quinn’s vulnerability and determination adds an extra layer of depth to the story.
Driscoll’s exploration of memory loss is fascinating; she delves into the psychological impact of Quinn’s condition with sensitivity and insight, creating a protagonist who is fragile yet fiercely determined.
“Echoes of Memory” is a mystery which offers a fresh perspective on the classic whodunit.
Driscoll’s intricate plot and well-developed characters, combined with Farrell’s exceptional narration, make this audiobook a must-listen for fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries.
These days there are precious few original stories left to tell, however Driscoll managed to deliver a uniquely compelling mystery /psychological thriller with her latest novel.
Couldn't get interested in this one. Not sure if it was the narrator or just the book. Listened to the first 4 chapters and gave up.
I am absolutely enamored with Driscoll's K9 mystery books. Recently, I stumbled upon a new release that not only stands alone but also boasts a truly intriguing plot. I have a deep appreciation for authors who shed light on unseen disabilities, as living with one can be incredibly challenging.
Quinn Fleming, a San Diego florist, suffers from post-traumatic amnesia after a brutal attack. She witnesses a murder but can't remember it afterward. Using her handwritten notes and flashbacks, she tries to solve the crime before the killer comes after her.
As I delved into this book, I found myself completely engrossed, suspicious of every character and their motives. The writing was impeccable, drawing me in with its intricate details and well-thought-out storyline. I was particularly frustrated by the dismissive attitude of the police officers towards Quinn and her condition. However, my faith was restored when Detective Reyes took charge, showing understanding and support towards Quinn.
The audiobook version was a delight to listen to, with the narrator skillfully portraying each character with distinct voices. I found myself walking for miles, unable to tear myself away from the captivating story.
This book is a perfect beach read, easy to digest yet highly engaging. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling and well-crafted mystery novel.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book follows Quinn’s journey in trying to remember her own attack and one she witnessed. It goes through some of her tactics for remembering. It was interesting reading some of the things she implemented to help her get through her day to day and help solve the cases. The concept of her sketching the perpetrator and clues was a nice touch. The ending was a twist I did not see coming!
This is my second Driscoll book. She is becoming one of my new favorite authors. I enjoyed her choice in writing this in third person view. It helped build the story line nicely in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley, Sara Driscoll & Kessington books for the opportunity to read this early. Publishing date 7/23/2024.
Book Title: Echoes of Memory
Author: Sara Driscoll
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Cynthia Farrell
Publisher: RB Media
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: July 23, 2024
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages 330
San Diego florist Quinn Fleming has been dealing with a traumatic brain injury after she was attacked outside a nightclub. Although told she has fully recovery-there still a very serious situation in that she has no short term memory.
Then one evening after the shop closed while taking out the trash she witnesses a murder. Although she has no memory she has learned to always keep a notebook with her to write down anything and everything.
Detective Reyes, familiar with Quinn’s background, knows about her lack of memory and notetaking and is hoping it will help find the killer and solve this crime.
Although the details about memory loss got a bit repetitive, I have to admit it totally kept me interested. I am a high school Guidance Counselor and worked with a student who had been injured in a wrestling match which resulted in traumatic brain injury.
He was a large teenager who was on the quiet side. However, after his injury his personality completely changed. He became over friendly – did not pick up on social clues that he was over stepping. We adults often had to remind him and although he was confused at being corrected, he knew to trust us.
This story had me wondering how he is doing now.
I loved Quinn and was pulling for her. Additionally thought Detective Reyes was great.
Hmm and what about Quinn & Will?
Hmmm wonder with Quinn artistic skills and Reyes investigative skills if perhaps these two should team up in another story. Not many stories are based in San Diego – There surely are a lot of stories an author can come up with from the fun Gaslamp area!
Hint Hint – Ms. Driscoll or Jen J. Danna!!!!
Want to thank NetGalley and RB Media for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 23, 2024
This audiobook was way too drawn out for me. Over explanations and repetitive dialogue made it feel like the author was trying to make the book longer. If I am going to enjoy an audiobook in particular, it needs to grab my attention right away. This was extremely slow, so it was tough to pay attention and become invested in the story.
The narrator was great, I always enjoy listening to her. I listened at 2x and it was the perfect speed.
All in all, it wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t a book I would “write home” about.
This is my first Sara Driscoll book. I really enjoyed it. I loved that it dealt with TBIs. But, with it dealing with TBIs, I found it hard to believe the detectives would use Quinn solely to solve the case. But, it is a book and not real life.
This is a standalone book, but I think it could be fun to see Quinn again in another book trying to solve a mystery.
I was sucked into this book very early on. I did find the beginning repetitive, but I also know that it was written that way because of Quinn and her memory loss. As someone who works with people who have had strokes and who have dementia, this is relatable. Repetition really does help them.
Quinn Fleming works in San Diego at a florist’s shop. She uses a notebook to remember things. She was involved in an assault and suffered a brain injury. The only way for her to remember things is her notebook and repetition.
One night while closing the store, she witnesses a murder….and the murderer saw her. She quickly writes everything down and calls 911. The officers don’t believe her. There is no crime scene, no body, and she has to read from her notebook for a statement.
Detective Reyes enters the story. Reyes has a gut feeling and looks in the system for Quinn’s name. When Reyes learns it’s the same Quinn as the assault investigation, she gives Quinn her number and patiently works with Quinn to piece together the night of the murder.
Quinn begins to think she imagined it until the flashbacks and nightmares start. Quinn is determined to break into her subconscious to figure out what happened.
Someone else now realizes Quinn may be able to remember that night and needs to be eliminated. Will Quinn survive? Will she remember everything? Will the case be solved?
I have received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for a review. This has not influenced my review in any way.
This stand-alone mystery was a true masterpiece. Driscoll’s ability to write suspenseful and engaging mysteries is a true talent. Echoes of Memory tells a truly beautiful story about overcoming struggles and difficulties, wherein the main character faces memory loss after a tragic and traumatic assault, and soon after is witness to a murder. With her amnesia, and her insecurities surrounding it, she is helped alongside a range of characters to help solve this murder and slowly gain courage and confidence with herself.
I felt truly connected to all of the characters in this book, particularly Quinn, whose story was so beautifully brave and so empowering.
The mystery, the suspense, and the tragedy was written so perfectly, and this book is absolutely deserving of unlimited praise.
Echoes of Memory follows Quinn, who suffers with amnesia after a brutal attack. One night after work, she witnesses a murder and writes down everything she remembers before she forgets. Nervous that someone might know what she witnessed that night, she sets out to find the killer. She has to fight against her own brain and struggle to recover her memories with only her handwritten notes and art sketches to guide her.
I found this one to be pretty slow. I felt like the story was weighed down by way too many details, especially in regard to Quinn’s condition. So much time is spent talking about her condition and how the brain handles memory. There was almost too much medical/scientific information that I ended up zoning it all out. I wanted more time dedicated to the murder and wanted things to move a bit faster. I also didn’t really care for the reveal at the end, but that’s more of a personal issue since I don’t find that sort of “twist” interesting. I really did like Quinn as a character and thought she was insanely strong for working through her condition and searching for the killer. There were some really great moments, and I liked the overall concept of the story. But ultimately, this book was just okay to me.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
The main character, Quinn, suffers memory problems after getting a traumatic brain injury during a random act of violence. The story begins with Quinn witnessing a murder in the alley by the flower shop where she works. She immediately writes everything down and then calls the cops to report the homicide. She has to write down anything she wants to remember due to her short term memory loss.
The cops don't initially believe her because there's no dead body and the fact that she keeps referring to her notes seems suspicious. Fortunately, a detective in homicide thought to look more into Quinn's background and sees that she was attacked only a few months prior and sustained a head injury. The detective believes Quinn's report and starts trying to solve the murder.
As the story continues, Quinn slowly starts remembering details that have to do with the murder she witnessed. Quinn is an artist so she's able to sketch with great accuracy all these random details to help the detective solve the crime.
I thought this story was fine. It was a little repetitive, though I know it's to reiterate Quinn's memory problems and to show how life is for Quinn on a daily basis. I also found it a little boring. I didn't really care for any of the characters or their backgrounds. The narrator did a good job, except the voice for the detective (female) was easily confused with all of the male character's voices. Overall, I just thought it was okay.
My first by this author. This book started out great, but then it slowed down more than I like. It seemed pretty repetivite. I found it hard to focus on the story. I do love a good mystery though and enjoyed piecing things together with the main character as the story progressed.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for this audio ARC. This is a story in third person about a woman who is struggling with life because of a traumatic brain injury from being attacked resulting in her having amnesia and she now has short term memory loss and she’s trying to get her life back and she has a journal she carries around with her and writes everything down that’s important so she can remember. In the beginning she witnesses a murder in an alley as she is at work and calls 911 and she nearly forgets everything. She has help remembering by repetition. This is my first novel with the amnesia trope and it’s very interesting! There’s not much action and it can be slow at times and I personally had trouble with how long and dragging it was but it was good.
What an interesting concept. This issue isn’t new to me as I always go down a rabbit hole when I read about a new idea and this was in 50 first dates, but that was a rom com so no adrenaline rush. And a stand alone from an author known for her series work, gives you a chance to taste her work without the pressure of multiple books.
Imagine knowing there is danger but not being able to remember the facts and circumstances surrounding it. And imagine being the police and not only trying to solve a crime and protect her.
I had a lot of sympathy for Quinn. With all the reading I do, an amateur sleuth with memory issues is new to me. But this isn’t your normal cozy. There is a sense of urgency and danger for Quinn.
I loved how her art helped her focus and remember things she might not have otherwise. And that the support group she attends added a way to keep the reader in the know of the process of Quinn’s limitations.
Quinn’s isolation due to her brain injury and working towards finding new support and trusting others adds depth to this psychological thriller. It shifts what is normally about the plot to also focusing on the character and adding depth to the story.
Cynthia Farrell does a good job narrating Quinn and keeping the listener on the edge of their seat while also showing Quinn’s vulnerabilities.
If you love slow burn mysteries with an air of danger and depth, this one needs to be on your summer reading list.
After a brutal attack one evening, Quinn is coping with a TBI. She can only retain new memories for a brief period- less than an hour. She is coping- she carries a notebook and writes everything down. One day, after work, she witnesses a murder while taking out the garbage. She quickly writes it all down, but the cops that respond think she wrote a script. But one detective believes her. Quinn works to regain her brain function and to help solve the murder. But she can never get over the feeling that maybe the murderer saw her.
The whole brain injury/memory aspect made this interesting and unique. It also made Quinn a very sympathetic character and someone you couldn't help but root for. However, for some reason, I didn't love this. I liked it and enjoyed it, but something was off. I really wonder if it was partially the audiobook narrator. Cynthia Farrell narrates and it just didn't feel like a good match. No particular reason why. The only thing I can say I actively disliked about the narration is the detective's voice in dialogue. Other than that, it just seemed off.
I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the premise of this book…a woman with short-term memory loss witnesses a murder and has a hard time believing if she is remembering flashes or making them up. It is definitely an exciting and interesting idea, but I had a really hard time with the writing. The author over-explained everything as if assuming the reader couldn’t possibly make small connections on their own. There was nothing to discover or figure out, because the author spelled every single interaction out. There was a point where it felt like the author was also trying to hit a specific word count, because the amount of times coffee was described and talked about was distracting to the story.
This standalone with a fun mystery and while I liked the characters are am disappointed it is a standalone I have to admit that a woman with a TBI and unable to make/recall short term memories a poor amateur sleuth. I also really like Detective Reyes (even if I don’t believe that anyone would put so much faith into a witness with a TBI). I listened to the first 7 or 8 chapters in audiobook and then I binged the rest on kindle in one sitting. Patience is not my thing. This one wasn’t as full of action as some mysteries, but I really liked the stuff about memory loss and TBIs which kept me interested even in the slow parts. Quinn was attacked and left for dead after a night out about 3 months ago. She’s trying to get back to her old life, largely because she can’t recall anything after the accident. She is using a notebook and repetition helps her to remember a little more a little longer but she struggles to keep her condition from everyone around her. One night in the alley behind her work she witnesses a murder. She wrote down everything she could remember before calling 911 and forgot almost everything before the responding officers arrived. This was a good mystery and I highly recommend it.
I recently had the chance to read an advanced copy of "Echoes of Memories" by Sara Driscoll, marking my first encounter with this author. The story follows Quinn Fleming, who is grappling with a traumatic brain injury and becomes entangled in a mystery involving a suspected murder—though no body or crime scene is found when she reports it.
I particularly appreciated the detective character assigned to the case and how Driscoll explored Quinn's life both before and after the injury. While the book earned 3.5 stars from me, I felt that the pacing in the middle could have been tighter. The narrative seemed to drag a bit, and a more concise approach might have intensified the suspense and driven the story forward more effectively.
I thought this book started out really well and I was definitely intrigued but around the 50% mark or so it started really dragging for me and was a bit repetitive. I think the concept of this book is good and the book is entertaining but a bit too slow for my personal taste. There was a fair amount of suspense so I will hand that to the author because I think that was done well. I do love books about amnesia / memory issues due to trauma but this one was not a favorite for me although I definitely see the appeal and many other readers will enjoy this one.
I do think the narrator, Cynthia Farrell does a great job of voicing the FMC Quinn.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This book got over 4 stars on Goodreads, I’m not seeing it, but obviously it’s just me. It started out strong and I loved the first 30% of the book. But then it just drug out and was monotonous. It felt a little bit Groundhog Day-ish. It took a really long time to get to the mystery and then it just wrapped it up with no real twist. Instead of action really telling us who the murderer was, the detective sits down and tells what happened step by step in the case. The detective mentions several times throughout the book that she is waiting on phone records to help solve the case. At the end, she talks about not knowing what was on the victims phone because they were still waiting on the information to come in. It was really frustrating to me to read this uber slow storyline only to have it wrapped up in few minutes by someone telling me what happened and not even completing the evidence.