Sara Driscoll does it again. ECHOES OF MEMORY is an excellent stand-alone suspense.

Quinn has survived an assault that left her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects her memory to the point that she has to keep a notebook handy to remind herself of day-to-day events. Then, she witnesses a murder. Or does she? The police don't find a body or crime scene evidence ...

As always, the author does a very thorough job of researching her subject, this time TBIs and memory formation/retention. This one does not move as quickly as her Hostage Negotiator or FBI K-9 series, but it is every bit as intense.

Thanks to Sara Driscoll, Kensington Books & Net Galley for the chance to read an advance copy of this book. Expected publication date is July 23, 2024

This had the suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for in this type of book, it uses everything that I was hoping for. The characters were interesting and worked with the setting of this. Sara Driscoll always does a great job in writing this and left me wanting more.

Echoes of Memory has a completely unique storyline I've never seen before. The lead character, Quinn Fleming, is recovering from a brutal assault that included a traumatic brain injury, resulting in short term memory loss. She only retains new memories for an hour or so. Of course this turns her life totally upside down and requires her to develop a slew of compensatory strategies to just get from one day to the next.
Then Quinn witnesses a murder and her already difficult life becomes a nightmare. Fortunately she has a couple of support people in her corner. One is the man who directs her TBI support group, who helps her understand how her brain is working to recover. The other is the police detective who becomes involved in the murder case, who believes Quinn actually did see a murder despite the lack of evidence.
The suspense ratchets up when the murder victim is discovered and identified. Quinn has to use every resource she has to stay alive as she tries to piece together fragments of memory that come to her. Because now someone is hunting her.
I found the premise of a heroine who had short term memory loss very compelling. I met someone once during my training who had this condition, and he utilized the strategies Sara Driscoll described for Quinn. It was so compelling trying to put myself in the position of being unable to remember things I had done or people I had met only an hour earlier. Doing so heightened the feelings of fear and confusion I felt as Quinn was stalked. It also made it harder to predict how Quinn could possibly survive all that was happening to her, which kept me completely engaged until the very last line of the book.
Once again Sara Driscoll has created an excellent and unique story with characters you either love or hate and a level of suspense that keeps you reading because you just have to know how the story ends.

This book has a really interesting premise, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't care about the murder, mostly because we don't know who was involved and why until later on. I didn't care for any of the characters. I found the main character to be kind of annoying and Will was more creepy than anything. I liked the use of drawing to help with memory and the talk of brain injuries, but that was about all I enjoyed.

This book is an amazing work of fiction that gives us a glimpse of just one type of result from a traumatic brain injury. And how one girl, Quinn, handles her memory loss and trying to regain control over her life "after" her assault.

Quinn is also fighting hard to recall a murder she witnessed and stay safe. With a police officer and her TBI support group leader she just might accomplish all these things and more.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is only my second book by this author but I’ll definitely be watching for future books. The main character lost her ability to remember things in an attack so she has a notebook where she writes things down so she can recall them. One night while taking out the garbage at her floral shop job she witnesses a murder. From that time forward she tries to help find the murderer, often through her drawings. Though this book was a little slow at the beginning it had lots of suspense and action. When the murderer comes after her she thinks of a unique way of thwarting him. This is another don’t miss book by Sara Driscoll. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley, the author and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Beaten to with in an inch of her life, Quinn has far to go to recuperate. The mind is a complex unpredictable thing. She has to write everything down and re-read to know to do daily things. Her job at a florist job, where she is managing, brings her front and center to a murder. Will the police manage to solve this murder with out a body? Who removed the body? As Quinn works hard to improve her memory to solve the murder, she inadvertently solves the attack that left her on deaths door. Ms. Driscoll has woven a wonderful murder mystery where it is impossible to figure who did what and why. A definite page turner that kept me awake for two nights. Do not miss this gripping book!

Title: Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll
Genre: Crime Thriller
Pub Date: July 23, 2024

Our FMC Quinn suffers from memory loss after brutal assault. One evening after work she witnesses a murder in the alley, but due to her inability to recall the event without reading from her notebook police don't take her seriously. Detective Reyes, however, does believe Quinn after looking at the medical diagnosis in her still open assault case, and together they work to dig deeper into Quinn's memories to find the killer.

There is a lot of extra information (mainly describing atmosphere or the science behind memory) that slowed the pace a bit, though I think this comes to personal preference and it doesn't take away from the book at all, just makes it "medium/slow paced" instead!
I loved the concept of diving into memories and Quinn's ability to draw details from that night, increasing in accuracy as she cements it more in her mind. I also thought it was interesting how she coped with the loss of her memories and the ability to make new ones, something I'm sure many people take for granted!
The concept was unique and Driscoll did a beautiful job of not only writing an intriguing thriller, but bringing attention to a disability that isn't often spoke about.

⭐ 4/5

Thank you so much @netgalley and Kensington Books for the gifted copy!

Quinn was attacked a few month prior to the beginning of this story and has suffered memory issues ever since. While she remembers everything before the attack, she cannot form and retain new memories, so she has systems in place to help her navigate through life, like a notebook where she writes everything. One day while closing the flower shop she works at, she witnesses a murder and she does what she always does : write it all down in her notebook. When she calls the police they are skeptical to say the least, until one (woman) cop who actually remembers her case, believes her.
Quinn is the kind of witness cops should actually love, her memory of an event doesn't change cause her memory is on a piece of paper. While going through the case and trying to find out what happened, Quinn discovers that her broken brain might still be her superpower after all, and that she's making progress every day.
To be honest, the case doesn't matter that much in the story, though it was well done cause one character that I found so suspicious was actually not it (maybe that says something about me, I do not trust nice men). I loved this book as the story of a woman trying to find a new normal after a terrible attack that left her vulnerable, Quinn found a way to work with a broken brain, and without realising it at first, she does get better and better. That slow journey was very touching to follow, and that kind of injury was obviously really well researched. I also loved how people in her life like Reyes and Will didn't question her method, but actually helped her with it

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Echoes of Memory has many interesting observations but the overall story could not maintain my interest. I did finish the novel and felt moderate satisfaction at having read it. The locale was attractive. Author Sara Driscoll can write well and I would give her another read.Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Echoes of Memory is a stand-alone by Sara Driscoll whose K-9 series is one where I always learn something new about rescue trained dogs. In this book I learned about acquired brain injury recovery techniques. Very helpful.

Quinn Fleming was brutally attacked and left for dead 3 months ago. The resulting brain injury has left her with short-term memory issues. She has learned to cope with help from a support group run by Will, and Jacinta of Gaslamp Blooms who continues to employ Quinn after her injury.

Quinn witnesses a murder one night. Her memory training methods are used against her when she reports the crime, until Det. Nura Reyes takes over the case.

The fast-paced race to track down Jack DeWitt's investigation and solve his murder before the assailants eliminate Quinn kept me turning pages as fast as I could! I highly recommend this book.

Very thought provoking mystery novel and a great story. Remember the movie 50 first dates? Quinn wakes up each day to a clean slate; her brain traumatically injured, leaving her to use a notebook and sticky notes just to function each day. Then she witnesses a murder. As a talented floral designer, she is also quite good at drawing. Her memories start to leak out on to her sketch pad. But is she actually remembering what she saw, or is she just drawing what she's written down in her notes? Her confidence in herself is shot and she doesn't trust much that involves her brain. How does she know what's real? But as the memories keep coming, she becomes a target of the killer that will do anything to keep their identity a secret.

Thank you to Sara Driscoll and Netgalley for gifting me an advanced reader copy. My review is my honest opinion.

2.5/5. This was slow and rather heavy handed with explanations of memory in a way that made it much more tell vs show. Not one I’d recommend.

After being assaulted, Quinn Fleming is unable to create new memories. When she witnesses a murder one night, she has to call on all her resources to be believed. Only Detective Reyes believes her and together they try to make sense of what little Quinn remembers in order to solve the crime.
The novel gets off to a good start but by the time it begins to develop the protagonist's strategies for dealing with her problem, it loses some steam.
The characters are interesting, especially detective Nura Reyes who I would be interested to know more about perhaps in other novels?
Overall an entertaining, leisurely paced read.

Quinn Fleming is trying to recover from an attack that still causes her memory loss. She takes notes constantly to help her remember what she’s just done or needs to do. The repetitiveness helps her. She’s has just witnessed a murder and immediate starts to make notes but once the police show up and start to question her they doubt her story especially since there is no body or evidence.
One lone detective does believe her and will keep looking and asking questions. Things take a turn when a friend of Quinn’s to killed. Was Quinn the real target? Is the detective getting to close to finding answers?
There twists and turns they did t expect.

I’ve enjoyed other books by Ms. Driscoll and while this as good it didn’t keep my attention and I found myself skipping along.

Thank #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #EchoesOfMemory for this ARC

I've really become a fan of this author since reading my first book of her's a year ago, and immediately finding and reading the rest.
This book started a little slower and throughout there's less action, more emphasis on the suspense. I still got drawn into the story. I found myself suspecting every person Quinn meets. Who was the murderer? Who was her attacker? Are they connected? What's the motive? Plus the discussions on brain function, memory, and TBI management were very interesting.
I particularily liked Detective Reyes. And it was a nice touch the way the author used the characters of Will and Reyes to help Quinn. Even though they're coming from two totally different sides, both have a unique perspective on the human mind based on their professions and experiences.
In the beginning I was thinking I might have liked to see some flashbacks to Quinn before the attack, or meet Quinn's friends or see more of Jacinta, just to get a sense of her personality before. By the end I don't know if it really mattered.
This has nothing to do with anything but that donut place Quinn and Will go to- wow. I absolutely need a donut now.
The motive is not kept a secret, you're following along with Reyes as she figures it out, but it's not something I would have saw coming in the early chapters. Great final confrontation between Quinn and the killer.
I know this is supposed to be a standalone, but I wouldn't mind seeing Reyes on another case someday.

I have enjoyed many of the Sara Driscoll K9 series (see my reviews of Still Waters, Under Pressure, Leave no Trace) so thought I’d give this stand alone novel a chance despite probably not having the dog character who drew me to her other books. In Echoes of Memory (Kensington Books 2024), Quinn Fleming is attacked while walking home, left for dead, survives but with a debilitating brain injury that causes her short term memory to disappear long before it is saved as long term. That means much of what she knows is from prior to the attack. Her work around until memory returns is to write everything down in a notebook. If she reviews events enough, they eventually transfer to memory. Quinn's life trundles along like that until the day she witnesses a murder. She records everything, shares it with the police, but they don't believe her because she can't remember anything without her notes. Only one police person does and they work together to find the killer.  The murderer suspects she is a witness to the crime, doesn't realize she has a flawed memory, and sets out to get rid of that loose end.

The story is fascinating. The author goes into a lot of technical and medical detail about this sort of injury, but wraps it well into the story so I was always engaged and never wished for less medical stuff. Highly recommended as a unique take on the usual murder-detective mystery.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this stand alone. I love all of Jen’s/Sara’s series. It was so very good! Just as nail biting, edge of your seat that I’ve come to expect from her series. I kind of wish this was a series as I would love to see how Quinn continues to make progress. I look forward to lots more great writing whether series or stand alone!

ECHOES OF MEMORY
BY: SARA DRISCOLL

About 3.5 Stars!

This mystery-thriller explores how a woman who works in San Diego, California who works as a florist witnesses a murder during one evening when she is alone in the back alley taking out the trash. She is hiding while it takes place hoping that the perpetrator doesn't see her. There is a big problem for Quinn Fleming. She is suffering from traumatic brain injury and can't store new memories so she has to depend on what she writes in her notebook. She is a sympathetic and likable main female protagonist who it's easy to identify with her efforts to try to heal. She has reported the crime to the two male responding police officers who insist that Quinn tells them what she saw, and they don't want her to refer to her notebook.

At home she has notes everywhere reminding her what she needs to do in order to get by. She saw the killer get in a white van taking the male victim with him. So there is no body along with no crime scene. Lucky for Quinn she gets interviewed by an understanding female detective Reyes who writes her name down in Quinn's notebook and tells Quinn to call her anytime day or night if she remembers anything. Quinn can remember everything before she was injured she just can't remember anything that happens in the present so she has to write everything down. She goes to a support group where there are others who are suffering with similar issues and a trained group leader who informs the reader while he explains to Quinn how the brain works and how someone suffering from that condition memories are affected.

Quinn's life is in danger by someone who knows what she witnessed and doesn't want her to implicate them. She has flashes of the crime that comes to her in dreams and while she is trying to get on with her life hoping to recover and remember everything new that happens day to day in her life as she slowly heals. She is someone who I rooted for her to have a break through towards recovering and I worried for her being in danger. She is a talented sketch artist who took drawing lessons before she was injured and that's what she does in her sketch book that with repetition helps her to remember her present day life. She lives alone and doesn't seem to have anybody in her life besides the woman who owns the florist shop, Detective Reyes and Will who is the leader of the support group.

What I liked most about this novel is learning how memory and the brain functions after suffering what Quinn has and how she gets by trying to overcome what she's dealing with.

"Life can change in the blink of an eye. For Quinn Fleming, the attack took not only months of her
life as she recovered, but also her memories. Those from the time of the assault, but also her
ability to form and retain new memories. New snapshots of a life well lived, of family and friends.
Of a lover and a career, of goals and plans. All gone. Leaving only a terrifying blankness.
Taking the words of Robert Frost to heart--the only way out is through--Quinn learned to put one
foot in front of the other, finding ways to compensate and falling back on skills retained from before
the day the life she knew ended. Because to surrender to the darkness was more terrifying than
trying to force her way through it."

"Doctors told her about the amazing recuperative power of the brain--'neuroplasticity' as they called
it, having the ability to literally rewire itself in response to a trauma or a stroke. The first six
months were crucial and her recovery might be bumpy or uneven, something she could attest to--
how could she remember the word 'neuroplasticity' when she couldn't remember what she ate for
lunch that day without looking at her notebook? Now, almost three months later, she was beginning
to dread that the majority of her healing and rewiring was complete, and this was going to be her life
forever--an almost entirely blank page, punctuated by only the most mundane and repetitive acts,
creating, essentially, a single collective memory."

I already knew about the not so recent discovery about the brains neuroplasticity, which has to do with a persons ability to change their way of thinking by creating new neural pathways to the brain by thinking different thoughts that don't serve you. If a person continues to focus on a negative experience it reinforces an analogy of a superhighway as opposed to reinforcing new neural pathways of a new way of thinking about a negative thought or experience. I didn't know that neuroplasticity was possible for victims of assault that suffer from traumatic brain injury or a person recovering from a stroke.

I found the sections about how the brain can use neuroplasticity to retrieve memory loss to be the most interesting aspects of this novel. I thought that Quinn's character and her methods of moving forward and her efforts to heal and help solve the crime and save her life to be the most interesting. The middle point of this novel seemed to lose its momentum with a huge slow down of pacing and it became less intriguing. I was not as invested in the slow development of Detective Reyes procedure of discovery about the victim and found her methods tedious and the less informative part of this novel. I read to learn something new or for entertainment and hope to see something that has not been done before with my objective to learn a fresh approach and not material that I've seen done more times than I care to revisit while reading. So my favorite parts of this were the sections involving Quinn and her journey. The Detective slowly investigating was a disappointing aspect and I felt that at 45 percent into reading this I grew bored. I also believe that the trajectory of writing should increase the compelling content the further I read. I believe that this got bogged down towards the middle and was the opposite way of captivating my attention.

Somewhere deep in Quinn's subconscious lies her buried memories about the crime she witnessed, also her assault that happened to her to be in this predicament. Will she remember everything that happened for her to regain her former lifestyle? Will Quinn be able to survive the entity that wants to eliminate her? She is the only witness to a murder that she can't remember due to post traumatic amnesia. All she has is her notes and her razor sharp wits to elude a killer and solve a crime that has put her life in jeopardy.

Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Sara Driscoll and Kensington Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#EchoesofMemory #SaraDriscoll #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley

This was a slow one. I found myself bored and noticed I was at the 30% mark. This is also told in third person. I’ve gotten so used to multiple POV’s in first person. I find myself rushing through when it’s read like this.

One night Quinn, a florist witnesses a murder. Or so she thinks. However, there’s no body. What’s worse is she can’t recall memories. She was attacked a while back that left her with a brain injury. So, she keeps a notebook where she writes everything down. Including details of what she saw that night.

I think if you are already a Sara Driscoll fan, you will enjoy this. It was my first by her. I would definitely categorize this as a slow burn.

I’d like to that Kensington Books, NetGalley and Sara Driscoll for the opportunity. All opinions are my own. Publication date July 23, 2024
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️