The Memory Ward deeply unsettled me. We first realize something isn't right when Bethlam, Nevada's resident postman, Hank, gets the feeling that people are staring at him and not in a good way. As he is delivering mail, he trips over a branch and after one of the letters slips out of its envelope, he realizes it's blank. Things get stranger from there. After realizing how isolated he truly is after a harrowing accident, he's convinced something is wrong especially after meeting another town resident.

The book is told in three different POVs and each story is linked. As the story progresses, the town vibes get creepier and creepier. The climax isn't what I thought it would be - but still very screwed up. This is a horror that is pretty realistic and less science fiction than it should be.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this eARC. The Memory Ward is out now.

This was an interesting ride. A bit slow in parts but a good premise.

Walter Daly grows up in an idyllic town called Bethlam, Nevada. Life is good until it seems weird. Walter sees some odd things, people seem to be watching him. Walter's memories seem blurred.

I enjoyed the characters, set up and story. This gives Truman Show Vibes. I would read more from this author.

I really enjoyed this disquieting, page-turning novel! Thank you so, so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title!

Blurb:
From critically acclaimed author Jon Bassoff, The Memory Ward is a haunting, Russian Doll of a novel about one man’s attempt to discover what’s real and what isn’t …

They say it’s always beautiful in Bethlam, Nevada. No place you’d rather live. The people are friendly, if a little nosy, and there’s no crime to speak of. Life is pretty perfect.

But postal worker Hank Davies has started to suspect something is off in this idyllic little town. And he’s certain of that when he realizes the letters he’s been delivering are just blank pages.

Hank isn’t the only one who’s noticed the oddities in Bethlam. One such person knocks on his window in the middle of the night, urging him to investigate his bedroom wall. When Hank pulls back the wallpaper, he discovers dozens of sheets of paper, full of a story that is either complete madness or unbelievable truth. As he begins looking beyond the veneer of his smiling neighbors and their white picket fences, Hank is drawn further and further into a disturbing new reality …

Told in Bassoff’s lyrical and evocative style, The Memory Ward is a disquieting page-turner that examines the nature of identity, trauma, and what it means to be human.

Wally Daley is the mailman for the sleepy desert town of Bethlam, Nevada. He’s lived there for as long as he can remember, and spends almost all his free time now as an adult taking care of his ailing dad, who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s-related dementia. It’s a simple life but it keeps him busy enough, even as he’s started to notice things about Bethlam that just don’t sit right.

While he’s on his daily rounds one day, the impossibly tragic happens. Catherine Gordon is well known around Bethlam for her large and somewhat historic collection of Barbie dolls. But on this hot summer evening, she’s about to become notorious for something far worse. As she stands in the doorway of her own home, surrounded by a bevy of alarmed bystanders, she accuses not only her husband but the rest of the town of trying to destroy her. Her rant culminates in an attempt to kill herself by slashing her own throat:

QUOTE
She placed her hand to her throat, and blood began soaking through her fingers. Soon her whole arm was covered in blood. “Oh, Lord,” she said. “Look what you’ve done. You killed me. Each and every one of you.”

I should have rushed to her side. I should have. But I couldn’t convince my body to move, so I remained where I was. There was a commotion of screams and moans and chatter. And then, moments later, the neighbors were upon her. A large man, his stomach hanging below his belt, the sweat bubbling on his forehead, got to her first. He placed his hands beneath the crazy woman and picked her up, like she was some rag doll. “Don’t let her die!” somebody shouted. “She’s too important to the cause!”
END QUOTE

Once Catherine has been spirited away to the doctor’s, a rattled Wally finishes his route then goes home. The whole bloody incident – and the strange reference to a “cause” – are hard for him to shake. But everyone else in Bethlam just seems to want to move on from what happened. As the days pass, Wally notices more and more unsettling things about his neighbors, foremost being the way so many of them are constantly watching him.

Only one other person appears to genuinely care about what happened to Catherine. Veronica Miller is an artist with an overprotective husband. Is her husband constantly hovering out of jealousy, or is he motivated by something even more sinister? As Veronica and Wally join forces to uncover the truth, they slowly peel back the layers of their town to reveal a secret that could not only endanger their lives, but irrevocably change everything they’ve ever believed about who they are.

Jon Bassoff’s latest page-turning thriller is a surprisingly deep examination of identity and how memories shape people and personalities. Catherine herself, for example, was interviewed for a local TV program shortly before her psychotic break, talking about how her beloved collection is more than just a bunch of pretty dolls. After the interviewer asks about her husband’s opinion of her hobby, she replies:

QUOTE
“Oh, he’s very supportive. He understands that I don’t collect them to try and impress or set some silly Guinness Book record. I only collect them to remember.”

“Remember what?”

“My childhood. The way things used to be.” Her expression changed to one of longing, and the tone of her voice changed to one of despondency. “It’s so sad,” she said, “the way the past disappears. And all that we’re left with is souvenirs.”

I didn’t notice my mother standing behind me, watching.

“But what’s wrong with souvenirs?” my mother said. “How else could we remember? How else could we be human?”
END QUOTE

These questions form the basis of the novel’s gripping plot, as several of our viewpoint characters band together to fight the strange circumstances that they find themselves living in. Wally, Veronica and Catherine have all slowly realized that everything they thought they knew was a lie. Will they be able to figure out who has gone to such great lengths to give them each these semblances of a “normal” life? Perhaps just as importantly, will they be able to figure out why, without risking great harm to each other and to themselves?

The Memory Ward’s stylish execution falters only slightly towards the end, in large part due to the topics it grapples with being so tough to pin down. The novel overall is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of what makes a human being an individual person. It’s also a timely cautionary tale of what societies can allow to happen to their most vulnerable segments for a purported greater good.

Jon Bassoff gives us a serious psychological thriller of a ride. It's really hard to review this book without giving away hints or spoilers. Just know this, whatever you think is going on, you will be amazed and/or surprised. Absolutely gripping!!! Highly highly recommend!

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

Not a lot going on. Minimal tension or thrill. The idea is intriguing, but the execution is slow and mild. I did like how the story was separated into different sections for each character. The scariest parts were the ideas of consent for research and the potential uses of the outcome, but that wasn't explored.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

While this book was interesting, with a decent premise, I'm afraid it simply wasn't for me. I know there are a lot of people who will enjoy a government experiment conspiracy novel, but that's not my interest

Jon Bassoff has been writing great fiction for a long time, and this most recent book just elevates him in my mind. Such a creative and weird story. If you've ever felt like you're having Truman Show Syndrome, this could be the book for you.

I’m left reeling and I don’t know if it’s in a good or a bad way. I feel like it was one huge loop and im definitely at a loss for words right now. Did I just waste my time? I don’t know the answer.

Thank you so much Blackstone Publishing, Jon Bassoff, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

This was my first Jon Bassoff book and it did not disappoint. It has Truman Show vibes and I was hooked from the first chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Reviews are my own.

I am giving the memory ward 3.5 stars. Although I did find the story line intriguing and definitely mind bending, I felt like the ending 20% of the book lost that same feeling the rest of the book gave which was sort of a let down. I do also like the all the neighbors are intrigued into what this man is doing because I feel like more than not books only focus on a specific neighbor when you know in reality everyone is nosey within their neighborhood!
I definitely appreciate the gruesome scenes, you don’t get them too often anymore where they truly can paint that picture in your head. It definitely was giving Black Mirror vibes. Definitely an eerie book I will be recommending in the future!

🧠THE MEMORY WARD🧠 by @jonbassoff will have you questioning what is real. Thank you to the author, @netgalley, and the publisher, @blackstonepublishing for the e-ARC.

🏠🏠🏠

Wally is a mail carrier in little Bethlam, Nevada. He spends his days delivering his neighbor's mail, attending to his ailing father with dementia, and speaking with his wife Iris. Wally was in a terrible accident and now has amnesia but is trying to get back into his routine. One day, Wally drops some mail and inadvertently realizes all the mail he is carrying is blank - no writing. Curious about why someone would send mail with no writing, Wally also starts to realize little lies people in his neighborhood are telling him. He sees Katherine, a neighbor, having a meltdown in her driveway and then seems perfectly fine the next day. When someone leaves Katherine's diary for Wally to read, he finds a story very similar to his own and starts to realize things are not what they seem in Bethlam.

This sinister story gave me the heebee jeebies. With a fishbowl atmosphere like The Truman Show, collective memory loss like that of THE GIVER, and sinisterly nice neighbors like that of THE STEPFORD WIVES, this story will have you second guessing this quiet suburban neighborhood and perhaps your own memories. This book aims to answer, what are memories if they can be tampered with, along with many other questions.

I flew through this both to get to the conclusion and to stop the improving anxiety!😂 Would highly recommend if you are looking for a suburban thriller with the vibes of the aforementioned books and movie.

A bizarre book that I enjoyed. I read the written version and also listened to the audiobook as well. It’s a creative idea for a book and worth the read.

I loved this! The ending shook me! This is a masterfully done story and one I would highly recommend! Special Thank You to Jon Bassoff,Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff is a psychological thriller. It's a dark and atmospheric thriller. What a story full of twists and turns! I really enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy.

Since I read the premise of this one I knew I wanted to read it. While this book wasn’t exactly what I thought it’d be, it also still was in some ways.

The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff is a one-sitting type of read. By the end of chapter one you are all in and by chapter four you have to finish reading to see where the plot going.

While this was a fun read I found the pacing a little too slow, but it still kept me entertained. It felt reading a book version of Pleasant Ville and The Truman Show with a hit of We’ve Come to Welcome You.

This would make an excellent limited series! I think it’d work well, maybe better than reading it.

Quick fun read that begs you to find out what is going on. The writing is intriguing with eerie vibes and the main character pushes the plot along. I liked the sci-fi angle of the book.

The audio was also well done. I listened while following along.

Def a thought-provoking read that begs discussion! If given the option I think I’d have what’s in the book (no spoilers) done to me.

4-5 hr read

Memory Ward is a mind-bending thriller that will make you question your own sanity. This twisty, edge-of-your-seat mystery had me completely hooked, and it’s one of those rare books that begs for a re-read just to catch all the clever breadcrumbs the author leaves behind. If you love a story that keeps you guessing long after you’ve turned the last page, this one is a must-read!

Wow! This was an unsettling and insidious quick read with chapters that flew by as I read and learned the stories of Wally, Hank, Catherine, and Victoria. It unravels quickly in this little town where everything is too perfect and all the neighbors are friendly and nothing ever changes. But then something does and that kept me hooked in reading this to find out the truth. Very like the Truman Show, though with a twist that make me think about what makes a person who they are? Are we the sum of our memories or something more? And would you change yourself if given the chance? So, loved this story and zipped right through it! It definitely makes me want to see what other books this author has written.

This novel explores the theme of memory and the disorientation of being trapped in a world that feels perpetually unfamiliar. The pacing of the book is well-timed, engaging me in a continuous effort to connect the dots throughout the narrative.

“The Memory Ward” has a vibe reminiscent of the show “Severance,” making it a compelling read for fans of psychological and existential mysteries. It was a quick read, packed with interesting plot twists that kept me intrigued and eager to see how each twist would unfold. Overall, the deep dive into the intricacies of memory and identity was thoroughly enjoyable.

I was really drawn in by the premise of this book and enjoyed the buildup, but the payoff just wasn’t there. I was dissatisfied by the last part of this book which honestly just didn’t make sense to me. I’m sorry to say this one just wasn’t for me. I see plenty of other readers loved it, so I say grab a copy and decide for yourself.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.