The Memory Ward is a surreal and unsettling journey into the mind of a man unraveling in a town that seems too perfect to be real. Jon Bassoff crafts a story that feels like a blend of The Truman Show and Black Mirror, with a strong psychological undercurrent that keeps you questioning what’s real and what’s imagined.

The audiobook narration is solid, engaging, and well-paced, with a tone that matches the eerie, dreamlike quality of the story. The premise is undeniably compelling: a postal worker in a seemingly idyllic town discovers that the letters he delivers are blank, and from there, the mystery deepens.

However, while the setup is strong, the story occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. The narrative becomes increasingly abstract, and some of the twists feel more confusing than revelatory. The ending, in particular, may leave listeners divided—it’s thought-provoking, but not entirely satisfying.

Overall, The Memory Ward is worth a listen for fans of psychological thrillers and speculative fiction, especially those who enjoy stories that blur the line between reality and illusion. Just be prepared for a few narrative detours that may not fully pay off.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jon Bassoff, and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book hit some nerves!
It had tension, sort of action, quite the mystery and a bit of horror. I did like that nothing that we see is what we see and the final revelations, though kind of predictable, because what else could it be? were some kind of self explanatory and almost unnecessary. But overall the entire book keeps you awake and reading till the last page.

Audiobook/Narration: 4.55/5
Book/ Story Overall: 3.75/5

What a ride from start to finish! A little bit of Black Mirror mashed up with The Truman Show! This book had me feeling all the eerie vibes right from the start. After reading a lot of slower-paced books, this was refreshing and held my attention all the way through. I will definitely be recommending it to all my suspense and horror friends out there. I’d even suggest it to readers who want to start—or have just started—reading horror as well. Especially because this isn’t your typical horror book; it leans more into suspense and thriller territory with horror elements.

Everyone in Bethlam knows Hank Davies is a good man. He’s a good son, a loving husband, and a hard worker. He has a great job with the Postal Service and takes each day as it comes—no matter how routine. He is good, life is good, and Bethlam, Nevada is amazing. Because nothing goes wrong in Bethlam…

Until one day isn’t like the others.

Part of the reason I really enjoyed this book is because the author acknowledges that there's an element of predictability in the story. There's a consistent undertone of suspense and something lingering that starts right at the beginning. We get this gradual buildup for both our main character, Hank Davies, the people in Bethlam, and the reader. The author doesn't try to hide the fact that something’s off about Bethlam. It’s described as idyllic and perfect in a way that feels programmed and unsettling. It’s obvious to the reader that not everything is as it seems. Your mind immediately starts going in a million different directions with all the possibilities of what the secret of Bethlam is. As the story progresses, you can pretty much guess where it’s going—but I think many readers won’t expect how far it actually goes.

Now, this isn’t just a story about a creepy town. It’s a story about finding the truth at all costs—and wondering whether that truth is even worth it. It's also largely about memories: the power they have to control us, keep us in a trance, and sometimes trap us in the past, unable to move forward. We kind of see this theme throughout the book. That’s why I found it to be really interesting that every time Hank started to feel out of place, someone was always there to help him "remember" and bring him back down. But brewing underneath it all is the Hank that never left. Which is why by the end of the book it’s interesting to see the changes Hank experiences while trying to escape a routine and cycle that’s beyond his control. He ends up becoming part of that cycle in a different way. And I think many readers, like myself, will get to the end and wonder if Hank made the right decision—or if he ever really had a choice at all.

Funny enough, I don’t usually enjoy stories that leave me guessing too much or have you wondering what’s real and what isn’t. But I actually enjoyed those elements here, because they supported the larger structure and premise: watching someone unravel while also creating a cyclic experience. I know some readers might find the beginning a little slower, but I personally thought the pacing was perfect for the story’s progression. It’s intentional that we see Hank’s days repeat, with just enough variation and strange occurrences each time to build tension and keep both Hank and the reader in a growing sense of unease. The author really succeeded in making the reader feel just as confused and off-balance as Hank.
I listened to the audiobook for this read and was fully engaged the entire time. I never once felt lost, and I think the narrator did a fantastic job capturing the tone and fear in the characters, especially as we meet people with secrets of their own—like Veronica, who helps Hank realize Bethlam isn’t what it seems. I really enjoyed hearing Hank’s father and witnessing the realizations unfold between them. But the most powerful part was hearing Hank at the beginning versus Hank at the end—there’s a little more darkness in his voice, a sharper edge. The audiobook made it easy to be immersed in the world and atmosphere of the story.

And speaking of atmosphere, I found the 1950s/60s elements in Bethlam really entertaining. I’ve seen some readers express confusion about the timeline or when exactly the story takes place, but I thought that was a clever choice on the author’s part—it draws readers deeper into the unraveling of Hank’s reality and descent into madness. There’s both a sense of comfort and creepiness. The furniture Hank once didn’t notice is suddenly so out of date. This reminded me of WandaVision and its 1950s suburban aesthetic—this facade of safety: the working husband, the loving housewife, the perfect neighborhood. But it’s all fake.

While I really enjoyed this read, I’m not surprised it has mixed reviews. Like any thriller, some readers will find one element boring and another fascinating. Something will feel too slow for one reader, too fast for another. It really comes down to individual interpretation. I know some readers might feel the predictability ruined it, but others—like me—were happy to be along for the ride. I’ve also seen reviews saying the truth reveal was jarring, and I definitely understand that perspective. Hank’s truth is dark, and I questioned whether the level of detail was necessary. But considering how Hank is being used, I understood why the author included that information. I think the intent was to make the reader feel just as uncomfortable and disoriented as Hank. You're seeing someone who’s both unfamiliar and somehow still him. I completely understand why some readers might be turned off by that, but for me, it was a welcome shift from my recent reads, and the audiobook energy hooked me. I hope more people check it out!

Spoilers
It’s hard to review this book without diving into what it’s really about, so I’ll touch on some spoilers here. If you don’t want to know them, stop reading now.

I’ll start by saying that this is definitely one of those books where your enjoyment will depend a lot on personal preferences. If you’re not into government conspiracy theories, this might not be the book for you. If you dislike ambiguous endings or the whole “is it real or is it a dream?” thing, again, this might not be your cup of tea. And if you need a main character to connect with or root for deeply, this book may also fall short for you.

Hank is our main character, but he’s not really someone you’re supposed to connect with emotionally. I felt like the real connection here was with the eerie tone of the story, the lingering fear, and the question of whether something like this could actually happen. You do occasionally root for Hank—but more so because you want to uncover the truth, not necessarily because you care about him personally. Once you realize that Bethlam is a government-owned city used for memory-based experiments, it becomes clear that none of the characters are who they seem, including Hank.
The idea of implanting memories is especially compelling because people do this every day—they misremember or reframe events, and eventually those become their truths. Some people lie to themselves so much that they start to believe the lie. That concept worked really well here, especially since the memory tampering is presented as a form of therapy—to help traumatized people forget. Early on, it becomes pretty clear that Hank has done something he wants to forget. Readers may suspect that Hank has a dark or traumatic past, as opposed to the idea that the government randomly selected people for this experiment. And as we meet more people in Bethlam, we see how many of them are actors—being paid to reinforce Hank’s implanted memories. Or maybe their other patients👀…

By the end, when Hank’s truth is revealed—along with the truths of the two women he meets—we learn they’re all murderers. They all committed horrific crimes, and this program is offered in exchange for jail time. So when Hank is given the choice between prison and going back into the experiment, I wasn’t shocked when he chose the experiment again. I think Hank is so traumatized that he’d rather live in a cycle of partial discovery and repression than fully face what he did.

The book ends with Hank repeating the same cycle—finding the notes and writings he left for himself, just like at the beginning. It’s a loop he can’t escape.

Thanks so much to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing Audio for this ALC.

this one had such a promising premise creepy small town ,blank letters, hidden messages, and that unsettling sense that something’s really off. i was drawn to the themes of memory, identity and paranoia, and the unreliable narration kept me guessing what was real and what wasn’t.

but as much as i liked the atmosphere, the story didn’t fully deliver for me. the twist was way too easy to spot and the tension never quite built up the way i expected from a thriller. it felt more like a slow literary exploration than a true psychological mystery-horror.

i think it’ll work for readers who enjoy introspective, unsettling reads. but if you’re looking for major twists or intense suspense, it might leave you a bit underwhelmed.

Thankyou @netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the audiobook

I couldn’t finish this audio book. I did not like the narrator. I was immediately turned off and bored. I’m interested in the story, though, so I’ll read a physical copy.

The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff
4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I am truly torn on how to rate this book. I was so invested, I thought about this book constantly. I spent the entire book confused, convinced I knew what was happening, and then going right back to confused. The ending frustrated me, I wanted it to end in a really conclusive way.

Is it the memory ward? Is it mental illness? Is anything real? Was anyone in the story real? AM I REAL??

If you enjoy ambiguous endings, this is for you! If you want it to have a solid clear cut ending, maybe just know it’s a good book and I’m so intrigued by it.

Absolutely hooked and loved every second of this book. To the point where I found myself sitting in my driveway not wanting to have to go inside and stop listening. If you have been chasing the vibes of Vivarium and Don't Worry Darling in book form, this book is for you!

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

CN. A lot of things referenced, including SA, Child Abuse, Child Murder.

I am really not sure how I feel after finishing this.

The various audiobook narrators were all great and I was gripped by the story until the very end when things continued to twist...

Without spoiling too much I can see this is a bit of a nightmare Truman Show situation, which begins to unravel very early on.

The core premise is great and conveyed very effectively, but where it ultimately goes I just didn't enjoy.

It's incredibly hard to discuss without spoilers, but it is very clear from the title, blurb, and intial pages that mental health plays a bit part in this book. I am someone with complex post traumatic stress disorder, autism, and ADHD. I have been living with and suffering the negative effects on mental health my entire life, so this is a topic I am invested in and absolutely have skin in the game as it were. I also read Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street recently, which has some broadly similar themes and horrific things referenced. Ward's exquisite and heartbreaking book and the incredible author's note speak to a serious understanding and respect for mental health and it's portrayal and handling in fiction.

I mention these things because, knowing nothing about Bassoff and certainly not casting any aspersions, it reads to me like they do not have the same experience and understanding of mental health. This is not to say that mental health is especially poorly handled in this book and I absolutely don't believe there is any malice or disrespect intended by Bassoff, but there is an element of the very end that made me feel a little like mental health was used as a bit of a gimmick for a final twist in the ending, which took the jam out of my doughnut somewhat.

This was immensely readable/ listenable, pretty much did the whole thing today, and I definitely enjoyed it.

I think if it wasn't for my feelings about the very end I would have given this a mediumly high 4/5, but I think 3/5 is where I ended up.

4⭐
Really, really, REALLY enjoyed this audiobook! What an absolute mind-mess!
I genuinely want to see this turned into a movie/Series one day!

Need to pick up more of Mr. Bassoff's books.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wild ride! There was a feeling of foreboding throughout this entire book. An uneasiness. I felt from the start that I (like the “patients”) were being gaslit. I was constantly questioning myself along with the characters as I couldn’t understand “how did we get here”.

As the book progresses, and the intertwinings of the characters are unravelled, showing how this game of dot to dot finally aligns, was a mouth a gape, forehead smack, lightbulb moment. The jigsaw finally pieced together.

This book was wonderful! The narration in particular was performed excellently. The range of dictations within the narrators voice. The emotion that was conveyed. The urgency, the desperation. All of it was fantastic.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. This dystopian novel had me constantly thinking “what if this happened?” With technology propelling everyday and the global phenomena that is AI, there is a possibility that one day, technology will have the means to manipulate our thoughts, feelings, memories and not just imitators our physical looks.

This book could be an indication of what’s to come.

Overall I rate this 4.25. I thought it was excellent. I will be reviewing this on my TikTok. I am extremely grateful to have been accepted to listen to this book on Netgalley.

Xena_morgan -Tiktok

The Memory Ward is like a twisted version of The Good Place where everyone seems to know the main characters, but something isn't quite right. The narrators seem to have extremely good memories, but can those memories be trusted even when they include snow in a Nevada town?

The story is told in layers with multiple characters describing similar experiences where something is somewhat off such as townsfolk remembering the character's birthday even though the character themselves forgot. I kept guessing what would happen next.

This book gave off strong Black Mirror vibes, and I found the storyline fast-paced and easy to follow. The plot twist took me by surprise, and I wasn’t expecting the direction it ended up taking. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. The narrator did a fabulous job bringing the story to life and kept me fully immersed from start to finish. I think this story would translate well into a movie or limited series.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and overall it was a quick enjoyable read. Right off the bat it reminded me of The Truman Show. It felt like you were spiralling into madness with the lead character while trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not. It’s hard to say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything. I found the end to be quite predictable, but it was still a gripping story. I also thought the voice actor did a great job. It was nice to listen to.

I genuinely liked the premise of this book cause it was so confusing and I kept going to try and guess what was going on. It’s not hard to guess, but you still want confirmation ;) anyway, it was quite interesting, but fell somewhat short in the last few chapters.

This book was twisty and crazy. I loved it! Hank lives in a picturesque town where live seems nearly perfect. Then he starts finding clues that life may not all be what it seems. He goes on a search for answers. I am not sure we as readers/listeners ever get the answers but that makes this book all the more intriguing. A fantastic book!

This thriller kept me intrigued from the beginning. Ive read many thrillers and this one is unique. I’ve never read anything quite like it. I never saw the twists coming up until the very end.

Thank you so much @blackstonepublishing for this copy! This is my first book by @jonbassoff I’m definitely won’t be my last!

✨In Bethlam, Nevada everyone is friendly. Nosy, but friendly. With no crime, why wouldn’t you wanna live there? Everything seems perfect… but for postal worker Hank Davies, he suspects something is off. He accidentally discovers that all the letters he’s carrying are blank, so now he’s sure of it. Hank isn’t the only one starting to notice all the odd things happening. Someone shows up in the middle of the night banging on his window and tells him to check his bedroom wall… Hank goes and pulls back all of the wallpaper to discover a manuscript. A full story that’s either complete madness or unbelievable truth. As he begins to look beyond the veneer of his smiling neighbors and their white picket fences, Hank is drawn further and further into his new disturbing reality.

✨Jeeeez, this was eerie!!! I was pretty sure of the plot early on but you never can be sure which way it’ll go when you’re reading a thriller. I liked the little twist with how some of the residents came to be in Bethlam. The characters are weird in the best way. The way their stories come together was very entertaining.
I enjoyed the atmospheric writing. It really helped to build the tension with the sinister vibes.
This was a little slower than I’d like my thrillers to be but that’s my personal preference because of my attention span but it’s still a very enjoyable pace.
Overall I would definitely recommend but reader beware, there’s some very sensitive topics discussed toward the end. A little too disturbing for my taste but pertinent to the story.

What’s real? Who’s real? And who are you? This mind-bending story takes you on Hank’s journey as he begins to unravel mysteries about his life. The beginning of the book gave me The Truman Show vibes, mixed with maybe some Stepford Wives, Black Mirror, and Twilight Zone. This is certainly not a light hearted book; it takes you on a dark, sinister twisting ride largely revolving around memory.

As I got further into the book, there were times that I thought I was losing my mind. The more information that was revealed, the more confused and intrigued I became.. but also it gave more clarity.

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

First off, huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, you’ve officially ruined my ability to trust small towns forever. As always, no fluff, just my completely honest thoughts!

Okay, so picture this: Bethlam, the perfect little town. Like, suspiciously perfect. No crime, no drama, just sunshine, picket fences, and smiles so bright they could blind you. Our main character Hank, a humble postal worker, is just living his best (if slightly boring) life, delivering mail and minding his business… until he realizes the letters he’s been delivering? They’re all blank. Empty pages. Nada. Cue existential crisis.

And that’s when things get really weird.

This book was such a wild ride, I devoured it so quickly because I had to know if my suspicions were correct. Bassoff does an amazing job slowly peeling back the layers of Bethlam’s creepy perfection, and watching Hank unravel piece by piece was equal parts fascinating and terrifying. The whole vibe gave me major Black Mirror energy. You know, that mix of psychological horror and "oh god, this could totally happen" dread? Perfect!

Now, I wish I could say the twists blew me away… but I saw it coming pretty early on. That said, if you’re not a thriller junkie like me, the ending will absolutely knock your socks off. And even though I predicted it, the execution was still so satisfying—tense, eerie, and packed with that "wait, what?" factor that makes psychological thrillers so addictive.

A sharp, unsettling, and seriously entertaining read. If you love mind-bending stories that mess with your head (and make you double check all the people you see), The Memory Ward is 100% worth the ride.

I was confused the whole time. I’m sure there is audience for this book but I’m not it. I don’t think it’s the worse book I’ve read and I think the author is super talented but this book didn’t land for me.