I really hate to say it, but I really did not enjoy this book. I felt like the majority of the story dragged pretty badly and then the ending that was built up, just fell a bit flat. This is the first WLM book I've read, so I may give another of his books a try in the future. This one just missed the mark for me.

"Backstory" by William L. Myers, Jr. is a riveting and intricately woven thriller that plunges readers into a world of mystery, betrayal, and self-discovery. With its compelling narrative and multifaceted characters, the novel earns a well-deserved four-star rating for its gripping storytelling and the exploration of the complexities within the protagonist's past.

The story unfolds in the aftermath of Jackson Robert Hunter's wife's apparent suicide, a tragedy that leaves him with a battered head and no memory of the events leading up to that fateful night. As Jackson pieces together the puzzle of his wife's death, he is drawn into a web of dark secrets and a backstory filled with broken relationships and deadly betrayals.

The author skillfully blends elements of mystery and psychological suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Jackson embarks on a quest to uncover the truth. The journey takes him from a small town in Kansas to Philadelphia and Las Vegas, unraveling a narrative that is as much about the protagonist's own past as it is about solving a murder mystery.

William L. Myers, Jr. excels in creating a complex and flawed protagonist in Jackson Hunter. The layers of Jackson's backstory, intertwined with broken hearts, abandoned lovers, and a trail of betrayal, add depth to his character. The exploration of his relationships and the revelation of his own dark deeds contribute to the novel's richness.

The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The author's ability to maintain suspense and gradually unveil the layers of the story showcases a mastery of the thriller genre. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for the gradual unfolding of the mystery while maintaining a sense of urgency.

The supporting characters, including Jackson's newfound sister, niece, and mentor, add further complexity to the narrative. Each character brings their own set of secrets and motivations, enriching the overall tapestry of the story.

While the novel successfully captivates with its plot and character dynamics, there may be moments when the complexity of the backstory could be challenging for some readers to follow. Additionally, the resolution, while satisfying, may leave certain questions unanswered.

In conclusion, "Backstory" is a gripping and immersive thriller that seamlessly combines mystery, suspense, and self-discovery. William L. Myers, Jr.'s storytelling prowess shines through, creating a narrative that engages readers from start to finish. This book is recommended for those who enjoy intricately plotted mysteries with compelling characters and a blend of psychological suspense.

This slow-burn thriller hooked me from the first pages! It's fast-paced and intriguing. This complicated character with his equally complicated past made for an interesting read.

Title: "Backstory" by William L. Myers, Jr. - A Riveting Legal Thriller

Rating: ★★★★☆

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of "Backstory" by William L. Myers, Jr., and it did not disappoint. In this legal thriller, Myers expertly weaves a gripping narrative filled with suspense, courtroom drama, and unexpected twists.

The novel centers around the compelling character of Attorney Nick Mannino, who finds himself drawn into a high-stakes legal battle when a wrongful death case resurfaces from his past. Myers' writing is sharp and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the intricacies of the legal world. The courtroom scenes are well-crafted, providing an authentic and intense atmosphere that keeps the reader engaged.

What truly sets "Backstory" apart is its character development. Nick Mannino is a complex and relatable protagonist, and his emotional journey adds depth to the narrative. As the layers of the backstory are peeled back, secrets and long-buried truths come to light, keeping the reader guessing until the final pages. While the pacing is slightly uneven in parts, the book remains a page-turner, delivering a compelling legal thriller that will satisfy fans of the genre.

I extend my sincere appreciation to both NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to explore this advanced reader copy. "Backstory" is a four-star novel that combines legal intricacies with an emotionally charged storyline, offering a thrilling and thought-provoking read. William L. Myers, Jr. has once again proven his skill in crafting captivating legal dramas.

I'm long overdue in reading and reviewing this book but it's a pretty good story and well written. The protagonist's journey takes us from a small town in Kansas to Philadelphia and Las Vegas as he attempts to put the pieces of his past together and to find his wife's killer. Although I enjoyed the book I felt the flashes of memory Bob/Jackson experienced were too frequent to be believable but it was a clever way to tell the story and the ending was quite dramatic. Sorta like Memento gone rogue. There's some violence and death as well as sex scenes but nothing really offensive. I gather from other reviews that Mr. Myers usually writes legal thrillers and I'm interested in checking out some of his past catalogue.

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel. All opinons expressed are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

Jackson is recovering from a blow to the head but is having difficulty with his memory. His wife has died but the details are unclear until he determines that she was murdered. Through a series of flashbacks, Jackson is faced with secrets from his past. I enjoyed reading about Jackson piecing his life back together after his short term memory loss, but I felt that the flashbacks got a little jumbled up jumping from character to character. Overall an entertaining read!

What an interesting yet strange story. Told in memories and present, it could get a little confusing but was still entertaining.

The MC awake in an alley with amnesia. The journey to recover lost memories and self take a lot of twists and turns with a great ending.

A psychological thriller for sure! Bob has amnesia following an assault. He goes on the search for who he is and who murdered his wife. What he finds is that he is a whole different person...Jackson. A bad dude! The story starts as a slow burn, then the pace picks up, somewhat confusing. Characters well developed and flawed (the best kind). Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 Stars

Never quite knew how this one was going to end up! Full of interesting characters although I wasn't particularly rooting for any of them. I did like the way the story flipped between past and present tense although it caught me out a few times.

My first novel by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The storyline was engrossing and the character development while the main character pieces together parts of his past leaves you wondering whether he's really a good guy or a bad guy?! Are there things we can do in the future to make up for the mistakes of our past?

Well paced and full of twists and turns without overcomplicating the plot.

Would recommend!

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Backstory is a dark thriller full of surprises, I was immediately hooked from the first page. I loved how we got learn alongside Bob of what had been going on in his life.

This story has a very unique and intriguing plot but was very much a slowburn for me throughout. An unreliable narrator who wakes up with a head injury and without any memory of what happened or who he is. The story follows Jackson Robert Hunter as he tries to piece together his life and who is after him and why. It is a fascinating storyline and filled with so many turns and revelations; however, it seemed to drag a but for me personally between "action scenes". I wouldn't think of this book when asked for a recommendation; but I also wouldn't advise someone to avoid it either.

Interesting concept. The protagonist has amnesia but remembers bits and more bits as the pages turn. I felt there were so many ways this book could have been trimmed for a tighter story. Still, again, I do like mysteries.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.

Backstory by William L. Myers Jr. gives us a high-octane psychological thriller that follows an amnesia case discovering the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about who and what he is. It’s not a lighthearted glossy view; it’s very intriguing and insightful. Come for the suspense and you will stay engrossed for the characters and plot. Highly recommend.

Jackson Hunter wakes up with no memory and a bashed in head only to learn that his wife committed suicide that was considered suspicious. He finds he was apparently a dirty cop and not a sweet midwestern man. The book is full of plot twists and dives into realistic issues of drug use and the path to being clean, cheating, and other life issues. The plot will keep you engaged and not wanting to put this one down until you are finished. I highly recommend the book and the author.

BACKSTORY
William L. Meyers, Jr. @jr.williammyers
Mystery / Thriller

Take this wild ride as Jackson tries to figure out exactly who and what he is. He wakes up after having been knocked out with a case of total amnesia in some small midwestern town.

I really enjoyed this book full of dirty cops, drugs, and illicit sex. It was great in places and sad in others. I loved how he reunited with his long lost sister and niece. Although usually I would not read a book like this, I would give this book a 4 of 5 stars based on the fact that it kept me turning the pages so I could see what happened next.

Bob wakes up in a bar having been violently attacked in the alley outside. He can't recall what happened or even who he is but the people in the bar all know him well. He has to look in his wallet to find out his name. Memories begin to return slowly as people converse with him. He's shocked when they talk about the death of his wife recently and that it was suicide. But he gradually suspects that she was murdered and he begins to track down her killer.

I like the writer's style as he slowly reveals the story as Bob remembers things. One memory after another, some mundane and some shocking. It was a book I found hard to put down as the story accelerated. There are some areas where it's difficult to tell what's real or imagined as it flicks about the timeline.

Verdict - On the whole, it's a good read. For anyone who is a Jack Reacher fan then this is for you.

Here I am again with another incredibly late review! Bless the publishers who still send me early releases 🤪

Thank you to William and Oceanview Publishing for an advance copy of Backstory.

Jackson is having a really rough go of things. His wife committed suicide recently and he’s just woken up outside of a bar with absolutely no recollection of how he got there, what happened, and just the revelation that his wife may not have taken her own life. He sets off to try and figure out what exactly happened to her while also trying to figure out what happened to him, leading him to discover that his own past is a lot darker than he imagined.

The amnesia trope is one that comes and goes in thrillers, and sometimes I like it and sometimes I could totally do without. In this case, I think William did a fantastic job. Instead of trying to remember the immediate past, we’re taken all the way back through Jackson’s life and it is one wild ride. Trying to figure out what happened to both himself and his wife at the same time leads to crazy revelations while flowing seamlessly and creating an exciting story that made me want to keep reading.

Jackson was perfectly flawed. The past that he can’t remember is far from squeaky clean, but we get to see a nice internal struggle as he comes to terms with who he was and who he wants to be going forward.

I also really enjoy when off-page characters are what drives a book, and at its heart Backstory is centered around Jackson’s wife dying and his desire to know what happened to her despite the audience ever meeting her.

Backstory is a dark thriller, full of surprises, that makes for a very enjoyable summer read.

Bob wakes up with a huge bruise and bump on his head, and no memory. He only knows his name because he is with people who know who he is. He slowly realizes that his wife has just died from suicide, and he works at the Goodyear factory. But he also knows how to box and kickbox, and looks like he's had quite a few fights in his life. His late wife's brother tells him he's been clean and sober for 10 years, but he has memories of drinking that don't seem to back that up. There's a gray car that is following him, and memories that are telling him to run away, to go back East, to where he grew up.

This is a book that works best if you learn along with Bob about his life, so I'll stop the plot summary there! Suffice it to say, Bob has led a very interesting life, and it comes back to him in drips and drabs as the book progresses. The story is very dark, with a good amount of violence toward both good guys and bad guys. But even when you aren't sure which side Bob falls on, you want him to recover his memory and figure out what is going on.

Pick up this book to read on a bright summer day - it needs a little light to keep you from falling into the depths of Bob's shady world.