Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review. I was intrigued by the unique premise of The Memory Woods, and what a ride it was.
This narrated from the POV of three characters:
* Elijah, a 12-year old boy, who at the start of the novel is at a police station because he got lost. He’s taken home by his parents. Later we learn he plays in a cottage in the Memory Woods where a young girl is being held hostage and Elijah has befriended.
* Elissa is a 13-year old chess player who goes to Bournemouth for a tournament when she gets abducted. She’s held in a basement and uses her wits in a desperate attempt to stay alive. But who has abducted her and why?
* The third POV is from a detective investigating Elissa’s disappearance.
This was a compelling read. I tore through the first half and was stunned at the midway twist. The first half of this brilliantly maintains suspense and intrigue. Unfortunately the second half was a letdown with twists and twists - a few predictable - thrown the reader’s way. For me personally I wanted more of an explanation behind the antagonist’s actions, who were caricatures and not developed enough for my taste. I understand the author was going for a fairytale like atmosphere which was fine but the entire book hinges on the antagonist’s depraved actions which kickstarts the story and I felt they weren’t given enough room in the book for the story to completely work for me. In the end I had more questions and just didn’t feel satisfied by the climax.
An unique premise with a fresh spin on familiar abduction stories that could’ve been something but let down by a weaker second half, in my personal opinion. It’s 3.5/5

A young boy , Elijah, in custody returned to parents after initial concern over his welfare. A young child prodigy, Elissa, preparing for a major chess tournament: . Although incredibly gifted with a high IQ, limited exposure to her peer group and spending time with her single parent mother, chess master or a very few limited number of other adults demonstrates a childlike view of the world as she continues to hold her soft toy for confidence and reassurance. So far a gentle introduction into two families with very different lifestyles. Suddenly out of nowhere the unimaginable happens. A child goes missing. Police scramble to apprehend the perpetrators well aware that time is of the essence. Weighed down with her own major problem the chief police investigator begins to believe that the finding of the abducted child will enable her to bring her own issues to a satisfactory conclusion, but for both nightmares, time is running out. As the reader we are given limited information and like the victim, attempt to fit together the random pieces of the jigsaw. On the one hand the story unfolds as a desperate police investigation. Simultaneously we move from this frantic activity to a dark and frightening place where each turn of a key exposes Elissa our terrified victim to increasingly bizarre exposure with an increasingly unstable and dangerous assailant. This story is complex in that we the reader are as frustrated as the police even though having the advantage of knowing what is happening to the child if not why, by whom or where. The puzzle is ever consuming and the story develops a life of its own. Totally impressed by the style of writing, the ability to strike an atmosphere of terror and fear with limited words and the descriptions of the black empty void from which our prisoner can find no release. I could not put this book down. The conclusion was as exciting and terrifying as anything I have ever read or seen. Fully believe this book as good as any of its genre, worthy of Stephen King and expect the film rights to be snapped up for the big screen .

This book was sensational . I couldn't stop thinking about it and wanting to read more. Very well written and by 3 different characters. It grabbed you on the first page. Highly recommend.

The beginning and ending of this book is what made me rate it 3 stars. Although the beginning was a bit slow going, I now understand why that was necessary as you really start to understand the relationship that’s building between two of the characters. However the ending definitely dragged on too much. I feel like the author didn’t want it to end, so just kept writing. The ending did get a bit boring. However the middle of this book is fantastic. I was completely shocked by the storyline and the twists - although all of the twists were revealed quite early in the story, so there was nothing shocking at the end. I really enjoyed getting to know Elijah as a character. It’s a very interesting storyline and well written at times. There were times when I wanted to stop reading or skip ahead because of how long it was dragged out. Overall I liked it, but didn’t particularly enjoy it. The middle of this book and twists are the only things that stopped this from being a two star rating.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for letting me read this early. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the three P.O.V’s. The writing was great and the plot and wording was amazing. I highly recommend this book. I gave it 4.5 stars

I couldn't put this book down! It was brilliant - I have never read a thriller quite like it - what a twist at the end. Can't recommend enough - it is a MUST read.
Thanks to NetGalley for my free copy!

Awesome. Brilliantly written. I wasn't expecting the twist at the end. How Kyle was as much of a victim as Elissa. It was absolutely devastating to read how Mairead coped with the trauma of miscarriage. Brillian book.

Outstanding! Every sentence in this book had me gripped. It was non stop edge of your seat stuff from page one right through to the closing sentence! It’s an action packed thriller which had me really emotional at the end. I loved it. I’m going to have that great book emptiness after this for sure.

Thnks Netgalley and the Publisher. This has to be a best seller, it was absolutely brilliant. I loved it and could not put it down.

This page turner, and it certainly was that, had a few negatives amongst the compelling positives! The whole feel of the book, it’s narrative , the descriptions of the locations together with the character names felt far more American than British plus I found Elissa’s age a little incredulous. A few events took a little believing too, i.e., Kyle being allowed free range in the garden and the ease with which he was taken plus Elissa conveniently remembering mobile numbers and e mails as did Elijah/ Kyle! However, despite these incredulities I found it difficult to put the book down and was totally engrossed right up to the story’s thrilling conclusion! Would I recommend it.? Oh yes!

Lock the doors, draw the curtains and don’t answer the phone just read this addictive, fabulous book !!
It is 100% going to be massive hit and wow does it deserve it really is that good and one not to be missed.
The story is told from three perspectives Elissa the girl who is abducted, Elijah who has lived in the memory wood as long as he can remember and Mairead MacCullagh the detective desperately struggling with her own personal problems but putting all that aside to try and find the missing Elissa. It’s a read full of atmosphere, chilling and always with the underlying feeling that all is not as seems as Elissa tries to make sense of her abductor and the strange and complicated Elijah.
A story that creeps up on you and has some stunning twists and I’m not going to say much more about the plot as just read it for yourselves it’s brilliant from page one and the pace just doesn’t let up.
Twisted, dark, clever, compulsive and I just never guessed the many shocking surprises which for me always makes a superior read and it’s going to be one of my favourites of this year !!
My thanks to the wonderful Sam Lloyd, NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press for giving me the chance to read the ARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest opinion.

It's hard to write a book successfully from a child's viewpoint, and The Memory Wood gets it just right. The girl is believable and real, and it really ramps up the tension - a chilling and creepy tale of one girls bravery and determination to survive.
I loved the time line - I got real heart in mouth when we see Elijah talk about someone in past tense, and I had to read read read to find out exactly what happened.
An excellent twist ending, and a thoroughly enjoyable thriller that made me very, very tense! Recommended for all thriller lovers.

Not only are the police and the victim kept guessing with this one. The reader could, at first, be forgiven for thinking this is a straightforward abduction story but it soon becomes evident that Lloyd has a more complicated and twisted plot in mind.
Perpetrator becomes victim or does he? Even he is unsure as to what is true and what is imagined. But, as much as this could sound merely confusing, you find yourself horribly involved and desperate for some sort of happy ending.
Lloyd quite successfully evokes feelings of sympathy, horror and despair with this as the reader is told the story from the standpoint of both perpetrator and victim. A definite recommend if you prefer a crime story with a psychological sway to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers (Penguin Random House) for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Good grief this is an all nighters all right ! What a thrilling read ! Wonderful characters that are expertly drawn pull you into a strange twisted tale that will keep you guessing.

Sympathetic characterisation helps enormously, each has his or her own tale and it’s told from the different perspectives. I am really hoping that there is a next novel in Mairéad’s story line as it feels like there is unfinished business there.

Thank you for allowing me to read this, the pleasure has been all mine

What a rollercoaster of a ride. Once I started this I could not put it down. A thirteen year old girl Elissa is attending a chess tournament when she is abducted and taken to a cellar in an old cottage in The Memory Wood. A young man Elijah who lives on the other side of the wood finds Elissa and befriends her. Her actual abductor is sinister he has an eerie presence and visits her erratically demanding that she understands his requests . She soon learns to do what he asks ever hoping that Elijah will eventually help her.
This book was captivating, dark, psychological and uncomfortable to read but so worth it. For anyone who enjoyed the twist of Psycho will definetly find this a worthy read. It could be great portrayed onto a big screen. Would absolutely recommend.

I loved loved loved this book! It was brilliant! It had so many twists and turns and I have never wanted a happy ending as much as I did for Elissa and Elijah. It was very well written, I honestly couldn’t put it down, it really is the best book I’ve read in a while, it actually made me cry at one point. I cannot wait for the next book by Sam Lloyd.

This is the story of a child abduction. A 13 year old girl goes missing during a chess tournament. At first it sounds like a normal abduction story but along the way it reveals a more complicated and intricate plot. When Elissa awakes in a pitch dark cellar she fears her abductor, who she calls "the ghoul" but who is the 12 year old Elijah who also visits her? Will he help her? If not willingly will she manage to trick him into sending out messages for help? An excellent and unusual story!

Wow!!! This is a book that will have thinking and dreaming about it, well that's what I did when I couldn't read it, and will stick in my head. This isn't your usual psychological thriller, nor is it the usual child abduction.
This is brilliantly written and will have you on the edge of your seat, it will also have you questioning every character.
I honestly can't say anymore except I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend to everyone.

Elissa, a thirteen year old girl is abducted and taken to The Memory Wood. There she meets Elijah, a boy that seems to know more about The Memory Wood than he is letting on. But discovering Elijah's secrets and getting him onside may be her only chance of survival.

Wow, this book! I read this in less than two days, I could not put it down. Absolutely compelling. Elissa was such a a fantastic character, super smart and determined. The way she dealt with what happened to her was inspiring. I feel like I held my breath for this entire book. It took me ages to recover from all the emotions.

Elijah was so well written and his journey had me turning the pages as fast as I could. The story was fast paced, chock full of emotional beats and that ending! Wow wow. Loved it, highly recommend. What a brilliant debut.

Huge thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an outstanding thriller and one of the best novels I have read in a long time. The story of a girl who is abducted and then encounters someone who may be her only hope of salvation does nor scratch the surface of what happens in this book, but to say any more would completely spoil it. The first third of the book is horribly creepy, the writer sets out the various characters involved in the plot but keeps a lot of it shrouded in mystery. We get really clear pictures of the main characters on the victims side, but much more veiled insights into the other characters. I really did find a lot of the first half of the book disturbing and unpleasant, but in a good way, the tension was built to almost breaking point at some stages. The main characters are really believable with lives and problems of their own to deal with, which makes for well rounded characters rather than the cookie cutter police/family member/victim tropes that can creep into these types of story.

The second half of the book goes at breakneck speed and is revelation after realisation after twist, it's an rollercoaster. But every turn in the plot makes perfect sense when you view the piece as a whole, and never stretches your belief. The author employs the trick of showing events from different characters perspective, and its' only when you piece together a few of the accounts you see what the true flow of events is, and this is done really skilfully.

The finale was superb, and I know people say 'I couldn't put it down' but in this case I did have to. As I was about 90% of the way through, but was shattered, I had to put the book down because I wanted to be alert for when I read the final 10%, I put aside a specific time to sit and read it when I wouldn't be disturbed because I really wanted to enjoy the ending. It's a long time since I have done that with a book, and I wasn't disappointed. The author does a great job of keeping you guessing as the final scenes play out and I wasn't sure until I had reached the very end how it would finish.

An exceptional novel, I loved it.