This is a great psychological thriller. The writer keeps you invested in the characters and wanting to read more to find out what happens. A definite recommendation for mature audiences.

My favorite quote in the whole book is these three little lines. "Life could be found in the sadness. It was in the troubling and the tragic. Happiness, it turns out, could be blinding." The Matrix' meets 'Fight Club' meets 'Memento' in this thrilling psychological science fiction mystery of a book. Plenty of reread value as the subtle details uncovered in the main character's memories fly out rather quickly and are easily missed. Trigger warning: psychological domestic abuse. Enter this mind palace at your own risk.

When I think about Michael Paul Kozlowsky's SCARECROW HAS A GUN, a few days after finishing it, I feel a little perplexed and puzzled. Curious. Not pleased, but also not <i>unsatisfied</i>. I think it's important that after reflecting all this time, I'm still processing complex emotions in response to the story, the characters, and the ending. That means Kozlowsky did his job as a writer: he really entertained me.

SCARECROW is one of those stories where the only characters you really like are the kids and the dead women. That's okay because Kozlowsky pours the stink on thick for everyone, and he also gives lead characters (including the villains) a recognizable repugnance, so I was still able to connect to them.

Also, the concept is pretty interesting--it deals with the mutability of memory, and also the ethics of changing our memory and how that can affect those around us. This is a slippery topic though, as anything dealing with time can be, so expect the requisite plot issues.

One of those issues, in the case of SCARECROW, is that sometimes the narrator (I mean Kozlowski here, of course) goes on for way too long about the concept theory, instead of putting it into action for the reader. Thankfully, this doesn't happen often. All said, this was a great read that I grabbed on a whim because I had just finished L. Frank Baum's THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ and the reference snagged me. So glad for that happenstance!

Rating 4 stars
Finished September 2022
Recommended for fans of thrillers with a Sci-Fi twist, time thrillers, psychological thrillers, medical thrillers, stories about time and sanity, mental health thrillers
TW mild DV (mostly off page), mild child DV (mostly off page), violence against children, burns, gaslighting, guns and shootings, suicide

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the audibook version of this book for review.

I really enjoyed David Doersch's narration - he was easy to listen to and emoted well without going over the top.

Scarecrow has a Gun is an intriguing story which really kept me guessing. The idea presented is unique and at times a little confusing - I was about halfway through the story before I had a clear idea of what was going on.

Sean is a remarried widower - I enjoyed the realistic representation of his relationship with his second wife - two people who love each other but both have their faults. After winning one of a bunch of (very weird) competitions, he is gifted the 'Memory Palace' which allows him to view his memories on a TV. Sean uses the Memory Palace to try and remember who killed his first wife, a task which completely engulfs his 'real' life.

Overall this book had a really interesting concept that I wanted to love. Unfortunately, it was a little slow paced for me at times, and I didn't end up finding it a particularly easy listen, despite the strong narration - if I had a book copy rather than an audiobook I'm not sure I'd have finished it.

3.5 stars for a really interesting concept!

It was hard for me to judge this story. I thought the narrator was great, which helped keep me more engaged in the story than I think I would've been otherwise. I was intrigued by the concept, but I felt like this story got bogged down by all the exposition. I think it would have made a much better short story- I felt like a lot of the text was just filler. I also wasn't crazy about Sean as a character, which made it difficult for me to connect to the story. While the ending made things clearer, it felt a bit rushed, and there were just too many things that were never clearly explained.

Are accurate memories a new superpower?

“Scarecrow Has a Gun” revolves around events and how people’s memories of them differ. False memories are strange but more common than one might think. Let’s get the title out of the way first – yes, in “The Wizard of Oz” the scarecrow really does have a gun. Drag out your ancient copy and fast forward to the “Haunted Forest” scene; look closely. Just after Lion exclaims, “I’d turn back if I were you,” there it is, a close-up of Scarecrow holding – a revolver! It is right there, yet no one remembers.

“Things” happen every day, right in the open, but people remember them differently or not at all. Hence, the discrepancies police find in “eyewitness” reports. Since typical memories are not always accurate, can restoring the accuracy of the past produce a new superpower? This is the question that Michael Paul Kozlowsky explores in “Scarecrow Has a Gun.”

A business mogul with an insider group of “unattached” men, “The Widowers Club,” creates a little cult of “better” men who gain business advantages that lead to unlimited success. Admission to this elite group is granted to the first one who passes a “test” given once per year. Sean wins this year’s challenge, but for him, winning is not a quick trip to money and fame, but is instead a journey into a past filled with events that are not as he remembered. Readers follow his journey to enlightenment and despair as he struggles with his inability to correctly remember details of past events, both trivial and incredibly important.

Kozlowsky’s story explores the balance between opportunity and chance, and between recall and reality. I listened to “Scarecrow Has a Gun” on audio, narrated by David Doersch. The story was compelling and thought-provoking; the narration enhanced the account. It challenges readers to examine the past both as it was and as it is remembered. Never trust other people’s memories, and watch out for your own.


I received a review copy of “Scarecrow Has a Gun” from Michael Paul Kozlowsky, David Doersch, and Imbrifex Books. “Scarecrow Has a Gun” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.

#BookReview #ScarecrowHasAGun #MichaelPaulKozlowsky #AudioBook

I finished this book 9/4/2022

Sci-fi is not my most favorite type of read. That being said. The idea of a memory machine was interesting. Kind of reminds me of that old saying 'be careful what you wish for.' Knowing the truth may not make you happy.

The way the story is presented made me start wondering if the memory machine was actually revealing the true memories or changing our memories for an ulterior goal.

All in all the book was OK. A little long winded for me and still left me questioning at the end.

The concept of the story was intriguing. While Sean Whittlesea seemed like a likable character at the onset, he sheds that like ability once he gets the Memory Palace, a box that reveals memories.
There are really great parts of the story that pulled me in to the finish. But the middle lags a bit. There is enough repetition and unnecessary detail that it felt weighed down. The end finishes with tidy ends to the main plot, but right at the conclusion, we’re introduced to other technologies that could have played a bigger role during the entire story. Felt a little chopped up, and maybe a bit more editing would have been beneficial.

It does make you dive a bit deeper into the concept of memories and how our brain’s perception is reality. It also might drive you to watch Wizard Of Oz again, because after all, “Scarecrow Has A Gun.” (Guilty)

The narrator of the audiobook did a wonderful job. He nails the accent, and really characterized Josie’s nails on chalkboard laugh.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this audio ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I requested this because it sounded quite interesting, not like anything I've read before. The idea of it was good, the memory palace and the memory aspect as a whole in this was intriguing and very insightful. I just feel like it just lacked in the execution a little bit. There were somethings in this that needed a bit more ironing out, more clarification was needed, it just overall just needed to be more fleshed out..

The characters weren't very like able, I don't think any of them were likeable, but I don't think they were meant to be either. I enjoyed listening to this, the narrator was really good but like I said it just needed a bit more fleshing out, especially when the idea is so interesting, I just didn't get that here I'm afraid.

Thanks to Net Galley and Imbrifex Audio for an advance copy of this book.
Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. I feel like this was a book targeted to men and their tastes. I spent a lot of time disliking every single character, and waited for something to happen. I'm sure this is a novel for others, just not for me.

Are you looking for a unique book that will hook you almost from the first words on the page? If you are looking for something that is unique and scary? Sean Whittlesea wants to remember the night that his wife was killed in front of him. Enter a unique way to remember events in your life, given to him by his boss. Will this help him remember, or will it ruin his life?

Horribly slow start with ridiculously unlikable characters. I didn't even like the "baby" of the family. Everyone was awful! The last quarter of the book was better, more intense and the surprise at the end gave me enough of a shock that I bumped the read up to 4 stars from 3. Interesting concept. Bad characters. Make someone likable. Hard to root for people you can't stand.

2.5 stars, rounded down
I wanted to like this book so much. The premise is great and there are so many insightful and intriguing thoughts about memory. However, for me, it just didn't get there in a clear enough way to make the book relatable or exciting enough.

Sean's wife was murdered many years before, but he received a head injury at the same time so he has been unable to remember what happened to her and it haunts him. Through his job, he's offered a strange but unique opportunity to possess "The Memory Palace" and view his memories on a television screen, and he is hoping to see what happened to his wife. Yet the more he watches his memories (which appear at random) the more he comes to realize that either they've been tampered with, or that his memory is fallible and he isn't remembering things correctly.

If the book was a bit more straightforward and if Sean was more likable, I would have connected with the experience. But as it is, Sean gets so immersed in the memories that he neglects his actual life, and this seemed to be the case before he even got the Memory Palace. The ending does clear everything up and has decent closure, but I didn't have buy in to the explanation at all and it felt rushed and contrived. There are quite a few things brought up in the course of the book that are never fully explored (like what was up with the boss and his altered appearance?) yet we are treated to endless examination of the nature of memory in different people and how we can cause altered memories in others, etc.

I have see other reviews saying that this would have been much better as a short story and I definitely agree. I can see this as a Twilight Zone-esque story, but only if the extra randomness is left out.

If you like sci-fi with some mystery and can stand slogging through a lot of filler, then you might join the others who have enjoyed it.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

I listened to this book partially as an audiobook, and the narrator was good and kept me invested in the story.

I had interest in this audio book because I wanted something new to listen too and was approved for it. However this was too far out of my comfort zone and I did not enjoy it. I found it creepy and it really wasn’t my thing. I’m so sorry for the review I wish I could praise this book. Maybe next time I’ll try something a little more close to my taste.

Unfortunately, I struggled with this one. I really wanted to like this book as I thought the premise was unique. However, it did not hold up to my expectations. I got a little lost in all the minutia and was bored.

The narration held up well although it felt a bit noir for this type of book.

*Thank you NetGalley for advanced copy*

An intriguing take on the fluidity of memory! I found the main character very likeable but a bit too oblivious to his own behavior. The cloning conversation came a bit late from when I as a reader had already been drawn to those conclusions.

What if you can remember everything that happened in your life, would you want it? Would you take the opportunity to recall it all, including episodes that you have blocked out of your mind? That is the opportunity that was presented to Sean Whittlesea. His boss presents Sean with the Memory Palace, a state-of-the-art device that allows the possessor to relive every moment on a screen. Sean soon realizes that perusing some memories might lead to truths better left forgotten.

Written by Bronx, New York native, Michael Paul Kozlowsky delivers the harrowing tale of Scarecrow Has a Gun. This near future story of a memory devise is a look at life in general. Just as Sean, humanity tends to skim over the good and dwell in the tragic. As interesting as the novels concept is, the story tends to be bogged down with too many details. Kozlowsky's characters are very real. It's not a stretch to see bits of self in them, but the scenes drag on. But for those who would love a chance to relive their lives this is an intriguing read.

The audiobook is narrated by David Doersch. With a novel taking place in the NYC area, it is a treat to have the accent to go with the place. He helps to make this novel more compelling.

Scarecrow Has a Gun is set more than a decade after Sean Whittlesea's beloved wife was murdered in front of him, when their son was a toddler. Now, that son is a sullen late-teen, and Sean is engaged to the mother of his second child—a barely school-aged girl. The story opens with a truly strange contest hosted by Sean's boss as part of the company's “Widowers’ Club,” in which membership appears to be obligatory. The losers of such contests go back to their normal lives, while the one winner earns a prize that will help him achieve great success and wealth. [It is never explained why such a club exists, nor why it has so many members. Seems sinister, no?] Sean doesn't win that particular contest. Later, when Sean does win, he is awarded a new piece of technology called “the Memory Palace,” which allows the user to relive their memories by viewing them on a screen. Sean, of course, becomes obsessed with extracting and replaying memories of his dead wife, including the night of her murder.

The book is classified as a science fiction mystery/thriller. Given that mystery has always been my favorite genre, and that I also read heavily in science fiction, I jumped at the chance to request to read it as soon as I saw it in early April. Sadly, not only did I not love the book, I actively disliked it. Here are just a few of the reasons:

—The Widowers' Club contests were creepy. At best, one was voyeuristic. At worst, most of the contents were extremely violent.

—All of the characters and relationships are highly unpleasant.

—I predicted the murderer before the 25% mark.

—The book is relatively short, but felt sooooooooooo long. It was a trudge.

—The book is full of violence, misogyny, and psychological manipulation. It's not limited to one character, event, or purpose—it's just pervasive and oppressive.

As always, I'll point out that your mileage may vary, and I welcome discussion with other readers.

Thank you, NetGalley and Imbrifex Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected August 2.

I tried really hard to like this book. I am a long time Frank L Baum fan so when I saw the title and connection to Oz I was in! What I found however, was a narrative that seemed like it tried to hard to be profound. Our Scarecrow is Sean, a man who doesn't understand himself, and has huge blanks in his past. He works for a nefarious employer who as the book goes on you realize had a large hand in the worst moments of Sean's life. This book had promise but the style was far too faux cerebral, stream of consciousness. It is a character driven work but the characters are not likeable or interesting. I feel like I should say something redeeming about the book but it was absolutely a slog.

Thanks to both NetGalley and Booksirens for advanced copies of this book! I have both an audio and ebook copy and both are great!

Audio only feedback: the narrator was good for the book once I got into it. At the beginning he felt so robotic I just wasn’t sure it was going to work for me. Once the story got going though, the robotic-type voice was perfect.

This is an interesting story that deals with memory - and ways we can enhance the memories we know we have - and whether or not this is a good idea. I really enjoyed the way this story was told and how it unfolds. It’s predictable in nature, which honestly isn’t a bad thing. While a twist I didn’t see coming would have been doubly amazing, I enjoyed knowing where it was headed (by correctly guessing of course) and watching the MC figure it out and handle it in his own way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️