The Memory Ward is the first book I have ever needed someone to discuss the ending because I was blown away. It's a speculative thriller that will pull you in and have you questioning reality. I talk about this book to others even if I read it back in January as an ARC. I stayed up until after midnight to finish because I couldn't wait to peel back the layers including that wallpaper. By the time you finish, you'll be questioning ethics and empathy for characters. Couldn't have been a better-timed publication for the future possibilities of science and technology.

Intriguing twisty story.

My suggestion--just go into this blind and don't try too hard to figure it all out. Just go with it.

Basic premise--Hank Davies is a mail carrier in the small picturesque town of Bethlam, Nevada. Everyone knows everyone else. He drops an envelope on the ground and it comes open. When he looks at the letter inside, he discovers that it is just a blank paper. He opens a couple more and finds out they are all blank. What is going on? A woman in the town tells him that there is definitely something wrong--she tells him to peel back his wallpaper and read what he finds. Those writings bring him chills.

I liked how this story twisted and turned in multiple ways. It uncovers things about memory, identity, and agency. How much do we really remember about our pasts? Are there things we wish we could forget?

This book is a bit like a nightmare, and then waking up from the nightmare to discover that real life just might be worse. Once everything about this novel slots into place the reader's mind will be reeling. I really enjoyed my reading experience, I didn't want to put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen.

This isn't going to be a book for everyone, but I really liked this unique concept and all of the wild turns the story took as it went along.

The Memory Ward 5⭐️
Brilliantly Bizarre.

There’s something calmly terrifying when every single resident of Bethlam smiles. Too much, too big, too long, too….suspiciously. The Memory Ward was packed full of creepy vibes and lots of questions. It was unique and kept my attention from beginning to end. I was fully immersed in this story’s world and transported to the town of Bethlam. The writing style allowed me to see, hear, and experience each description provided.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Mar 04 2025

What a great book this is. I enjoyed the pacing and characterization. It kept me turning the pages late into the night. I'll be reading more from this author.

Thank you for my gifted copy.
My full review will be shared to my Instagram account @coffee.break.book.reviews.

Things aren't quite right in Bethlam, Nevada. 
It’s a whiplash of a book. It captured me with the ‘so perfect, it must be sinister’ isolated community hook.

3-1 Update: TikTok post
The Memory Ward builds quietly, chipping away at perception and building its unsettling effects. It's a strange, disturbing book. Things get freaky.

The final 30% hits a tender-bits-to-the-wall intensity that kept me reading non-stop. The ending left me all the more unsettled, yet in a way that fit and satisfied.

This is a brilliantly sneaky book that pushes on many fears in a masterful way. The exploration of expected male roles and relationships was one of my favorite aspects of the book--that and the stark horror.

Jon Bassoff is an unusual talent. I’ll be looking for more of his work. I recommend The Memory Ward for seasoned readers of dark fiction who aren't upset by intense content. Thank you, Blackstone Publishing, for the eARC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.

Thank you Netgalley & Blackstone Publishing Inc for an eARC ❤️


I'm not even kidding, Jon Bassoff's latest thriller has left me with a serious case of the heebie-jeebies. I'd been waiting for what felt like forever to dive into this book, and let me tell you, it was TOTALLY worth the wait... but also totally terrifying.
The story's about Hank Davies, a postal worker in this super creepy town called Bethlam, Nevada. I mean, the town itself seems normal enough, but trust me, nothing's as it seems. When Hank starts delivering blank sheets of paper to residents, he uncovers this sinister web of secrets and lies that'll make your skin crawl.
I'm talking seriously unsettling stuff here. Bassoff's writing is like a masterclass in building tension and creating an atmosphere of unease. Each chapter is like a slow-burning fire that'll keep you on edge, wondering what's going to happen next.
And the characters? Forget about it. They're all hiding secrets, and you'll be guessing until the very end who's behind the sinister forces at work in Bethlam.
What really got me, though, was how this book messed with my head. I mean, I thought I knew what was going on, but then Bassoff would throw in another twist that'd completely flip my theories on their head. 🤯😳

This was a total page turner with really interesting things to say about humanity. I loved the small town setting with an odd twist.

Are there some things it is better not to know?

In the small remote town of Bethlam, Nevada, living is simple and each day is very much like the next. Mail carrier Hank Davies lives in a small house there with his wife Iris pondering the sameness of his life when he trips over a branch on the sidewalk and a few letters slip out of his mail sack. That random mishap will set off a chain of events that will make him question the reality of his world. He was in an accident recently, and wants to chalk up the strange thoughts and dreams he's been having to the effects of that night. He has a good job, a loving wife, and everyone agrees that there is no better place to live than Bethlam...so why is he so uneasy? What would it mean if his memories aren't truly his memories at all?
Within the first few chapters of The Memory Ward it becomes clear that all is not what it seems in Bethlam, but the truth of what is going on remains a mystery for much of the book. What is true and what is a lie? Can you remember something or someone and have the memory not be real? Can any of us ever escape who we essentially are? With traces of The Truman Show and The Stepford Wives all through a Twilight Zone-like filter, this is a psychological thriller that pulls the reader down into Hank's mental rabbit hole. There is an eeriness in the tone of the story as well, as the image of the picture perfect town where everyone is safe and happy is overshadowed by the doubts that Hank begins to harbor. I found the plot fairly predictable despite the occasional twists, and apart from the main protagonist I didn't find much depth to the characters...overall I found it an okay read, but not particularly original. Based on other reviews I have read, some readers have found it unputdownable and a fantastic read, so take my opinion with that contrast in mind. It will likely appeal to readers of authors like Blake Crouch, Iain Reid and Gillian Flynn. My thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me early access to The Memory Ward in exchange for my review.

YES. YES. YES. There was a slow start and took me a few tries to get into it - picked it up and put it down and finally got to the middle and was absolutely hooked! I've already recommended this book to many friends. It gives Don't Worry Darling vibes. The ending! Pheww. The author did an amazing job at making twists and turns without the reader getting lost in them.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC! I truly enjoyed the ride! And what a weird, yet refreshing, ride it was! This book started off as reminiscent of The Truman Show film, but kept the reader suspended, needing to know the WHY.

This story follows a weird cast of characters, all with a weird feeling that reality isn’t what they’re being told. All with the need to understand what is going on. The pacing of this book was good- I really enjoyed the split perception of Catherine! It had just enough flavor to it that it was easy to follow and keep the reader engaged.

I liked the introduction of new characters and their follow up in later parts. I loved the ending and the questions it left, but also the rinse and repeat aspect. This book didn’t fit into my typical genre, but I had so much fun with it!

3.5 🌟
The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff is a mesmerizing and haunting novel that will grip you from the very first page. A dark, atmospheric thriller with psychological depth, this book is an exploration of memory, trauma, and the haunting nature of the past

The plot builds quietly, chipping away at perception and building its unsettling effects. It's a strange, disturbing book. Things get freaky.

The final 30% hits a tender-bits-to-the-wall intensity that kept me reading non-stop. The ending left me all the more unsettled, yet in a way that fit and satisfied.

The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff is very highly recommended psychological suspense novel with a science fiction connection. This page-turner had me fully engaged and speculating right from the start.

Mailman Hank Davies knows it is always beautiful in Bethlam, Nevada. He is surprised one day when a letter he is delivering isn't sealed and he sees it is a blank page. He checks two others and realizes they are blank too. When he arrives home, he mentions the blank letters to his wife. Then he starts to notice people watching him. Finally, a woman knocks on his window late at night and tells him to trust no one and check out what is under the wallpaper in the bedroom.
Mailman Wallie Daley knows it is always beautiful in Bethlam, Nevada...

The eerie and mysterious atmosphere created in The Memory Ward immediately appealed to me as the plot explores identity, memory, trauma, observation and suspicion. The quick paced narrative is divided up into five parts and the story of three different characters is told. Gradually, the three story lines converge, and the truth about Bethlam is revealed. This mind-bending novel is short, so it can be read quickly and is best started only knowing the basic plot information.

There are strong Twilight Zone vibes with a snippet of the X Files in The Memory Ward and I loved it. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Somewhat reminiscent of The Truman Show and very interesting. Very easy to visualize everything happening and it kept my attention the entire time. The only complaint that I could make is the ending, I felt like it wasn't "rewarding" enough but it wouldn't stop me from recommending it. Better than I expected actually. Not really a thriller but definitely a book that makes you think and has you guessing what's going to happen next.

Hank is a mailman in a perfect little town. Until when day he finds his letters are empty and notices the town is a little too perfect.

If you enjoy psychological and speculative novels, this will be a good one to read. It kind of has a Truman Show type vibe to it but much darker. While you are suspicious the entire story, you’ll learn at the end what seems to be the truth and it’ll really make you think.

“The whole world is an insane asylum.”

The Memory Ward comes out 3/4.

I loved the unique idea of this story and it played out well. To me, it was a Pleasantville-esque tale that created a feeling of inquisitive reading. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. There was a great build up to the climax when you are thinking you know what is going on, but I really didn't. I had fun with this one!

4.5/5 stars! This book was utterly mind boggling! I flew through it because the writing flowed together easily and the story was SUPER interesting. The ending wasn’t my favorite but I still was obsessed with this book! I don’t want to say too much without revealing anything but this is the perfect psychological thriller.

4.5 stars.
100% yes to this book. My brain was 😵‍💫 when I finished.
Hank Davies is a mailman in Bethlam, Nevada, a perfect little town where everyone know everyone. Every day is the same as the day before. Someone visits him in the middle of the night and tells him life isn’t exactly what it seems. He finds written notes about what is really going on in the town. What’s reality and what isn’t?
The twists in this book are *chefs kiss*. I truly appreciate how this one got me good. Highly recommend if you like Twilight Zone/ Wandavision vibes.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff will hit shelves on March 4, 2025.

This is a book that will have you wondering where it is going next. I finished this in one sitting. Looking forward to the next one.

Thank you @netgalley for my copy! I am a huge fan of Bassoff so I was so excited for something new. This is described as a “Russian doll of a novel”, and I feel like that is pretty accurate.

I can’t say too much without giving things away with this. Think “Truman Show” vibes. I loved the decent into madness and the claustrophobic and uncomfortable vibes you get while reading. You know things are not quite right, you just don’t know what is true or what that is. This is the way to write a “memory loss” trope people! I will be thinking about this for a long time. Another phenomenal story!

The Memory Ward is a quick read that I think some people will love, while others (like me) would prefer a bit more subtlety. A solid 3 stars.