Everything is not as it seems in Bethlam. A small town, suburban, quaint and cookie cutter. Hank is a mailman whose mundane existence is turned upside down when he finds the letters he's been delivering for as long as he can remember are blank pieces of paper. Strangers begin to act erratic and give him clues as to what's happening around him.

This could easily have been an extended episode of The Twilight Zone. I loved the vibe of this book. If you're a fan of stories like Memento, The Jacket, Primal Fear and Shudder Island, but with the American dreaminess of a quaint neighborhood. I.e. Stepford Wives, The Lottery.

Absolutely top notch narration as well. The narrators brought these characters to life in a truly impressive way. The range of emotions that I know I would not have gotten from just the page and my own mind was impressive. Even with the excellent writing, I'm not an actor and would not have built the characters up in such a complex way.

Loved it. I want more from everyone involved.

Thank you Blackstone Audio for an advance copy of this book. Let me first say that this book is trippy. Our main character is Wally or is it Hank? It depends. Wally/Hank lives in Bethlam, Nevada. He is a mail carrier. Every day seems the same until one day, he drops his mail bag, an envelope opens and he takes a look inside. There is a piece of paper but no writing on it. He looks at some others and they are the same. Envelopes with blank pieces of paper inside. Hank goes home to his wife Lisa. His mother comes to visit to celebrate his birthday. She gives him presents from his past, childhood toys. In the middle of the night, a woman knocks on his window and tells him to look behind the wallpaper. The next day Wally goes on his mail route but when he gets home he is taking care of his father who has memory issues. The book explores the idea of conspiracies, mental illness, what we want to believe, and what we are programmed to believe. This would be GREAT for book club. It would also make a thoroughly engrossing beach read. I think this should be made into a movie. This is the first book I have read by Bassoff and I’m going to be reading others. Get this book and thank me later!

This was a really odd book, but not in a bad way. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. It had almost a Pleasantville vibe to it. A little old-fashioned and a little too perfect. But as it went on. It started to be more like The Truman Show, but if it were written by Bentley Little. Definitely one of the more odd ones I’ve read lately. But I did enjoy it. I. Still not sure how I feel about all of the characters, but the story was engaging enough that it didn’t really matter. It was so odd I had to keep reading just to know what happened. The only thing I wasn’t too fond of was the narrator. I liked the female narrator, but I didn’t feel like the male narrator fit his character. Other than that, it was definitely worth a listen!

Huge thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

This is one heck of a mind bending book! Maybe it's just because there's more than a passing semblance to one of my own books, but I was sucked in right from the opening chapter. I absolutely love the bookend story within a story within a story concept, and the narrators make it easy to follow which character's perspective is being presented at all times. Wally, Katherine, Veronica all feel very real, while the supporting characters are delightfully stilted and cloyingly saccharine. This is a definite page-turner (or, if on audio, one that keeps you glued to the narration).

One warning, though, if you're a reader who needs everything tied up at the end with a nice bow, this may not be the book for you. But it's definitely one that will keep you thinking.

I anticipated many of the "twists", but that didn't take away from the entertainment, as what I really wanted to know was "what's going to happen next?"

Bronson Pinchot does a delightful job narrating the bulk of the story, while Janina Edwards and Dawn Harvey fill in the female voices to round things out. Thank you to the author, Blackstone Publishing, and Netgalley for the chance to listen to this gripping book and to provide an unbiased review.

A story about a mailman in any idyllic town, where there may be more than meets the eye.

Very cool:
Premise, character development, the dialogue, which was really believable (especially the old-fashioned way some characters spoke), pacing

Ending was not great, but I recognize it’s hard to end a novel- this is not unique to this story.
As the reality of the situation began to unfold, there was one scene where Wally demands answers from his father, and the father just spills, no hesitation, and reveals much of the “aha” within a few pages.

Audiobook was great - multiple narrators, who each captured the ignorance, confusion, betrayal of the characters very well.

Thanks to Blackstone Audio and NetGalley for an ARC, provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

This reading experience starts with a bit of a funny story and when I was checking out the synopsis to choose my next read, the cutoff point for this one something along these lines 'They say it's always beuatiful in Bethlam, Nevada. No place you'd rather live. The people are really nice if a bit noisy and there's no crime to speak of. Life is pretty perfect. But POȘTAL...' then I opened the ' Full details' and flap and read 'But poștal worker Hank Davies has started to suspect that something is off' Make of this what you will, but that's the exact moment I decided I wanted to read the book and see whether the former interpretation also worked. I'm happy to report that it did.

So, for all of you Twin Peaks or Wayward Pines fans out there, take heart. I'm happy to report that this book fits the bill nicely for 'small town with creeping horror' vibes. The solution is I think rather original (at least different from the other small towns already mentioned) but still extremely believable.

The choice to go with different narrators for different voices made this extremely easy to follow and enjoyable. A big thank you to Bronson Pinchot, Dawn Harvey, Janina Edwards.

Do make sure you check trigger warnings before embarking on this adventure that will send chills down your spine, this is not for the faint of heart.

Thank you Blackstone Lublishing and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Bethlam, Nevada. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. There’s no place better! Your neighbors are friendly. Crime is non-existent. THIS is where you live a trouble free and simple life. You want for nothing.

But one day, postal worker Hank Davies thinks something is off. He’s never had cause to feel that way before, but on his route delivering mail, an unsealed envelope releases it’s contents and the “letter” is just blank paper.

He tells his wife about the blank paper, and his wife says it’s probably just a one off, and maybe don’t look again, even if the opportunity presents itself. Soon thereafter, a woman knocks on his window in the middle of the night, urging him to investigate his bedroom wall. Hank pulls back the wallpaper to discover paper, with writing, that tells a story that seems too insane to be real. He beings to question this idyllic life, and his almost fake neighbors with their fake smiles and their fake lives. Like why are they always saying hi just to him? What is even real? How does EVERYONE know who he is?

This has elements of The Truman Show, but make it extra creepy and way more mind bending. The Narration was INCREDIBLE. I am still shaking my head trying to figure everything out. But what it is, is NOT what I would have imagined. READ IT.

Hank Davies lives in the peaceful and beautiful town of Bethlam, Nevada. The people are friendly and there is no crime at all. Life is pretty perfect. Hank is the local postal worker and has started to feel there might be something kind of off in town. When he realizes he has been delivering blank pages in envelopes everyday, he knows something is not right.

Hank isn't the only one who has noticed something odd and when a woman knocks on Hank's window in the middle of the night, telling him to investigate his bedroom wall, he is further driven to find answers. He pulls back the wallpaper to find dozens of hand written pages telling an unbelievable story...about him! What is reality and what is just a show?

At the beginning this book was giving me The Truman Show vibes that took a darker Twilight Zone shift as the story went on. It was creepy and had you questioning everything throughout. At the end, you really are left wondering what did I just read?! The audiobook was great and the main narrator was so good at expressing the different sides of Hank. It left me with some very mixed feelings, but in the way a good, creepy horror story does.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the audiobook for review.

This book had me hooked from the start. I thought that I knew what was going on and then it would change on me again. The narrator was very easy to listen to and did great with all of the different characters. The story didn't end at all the way that I thought it would have. I'm still left wondering about that character.

The Memory Ward👁️
By Jon Bassoff🧠

Review📚

I have no idea why, but I struggled with this one. It reminded me of the movie Don’t Worry Darling. I think it had some unique aspects but I I feel like I’ve seen this type of thing before. It wasn’t all bad, as I did enjoy the mystery portion of the novel. Overall I felt it was really drawn out and when it finally got to the conclusion I was totally let down.

Mystery⁉️
Thriller🔪
Suspense🫣
Crime🚔

3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Audio:
I enjoyed the narration and thought it was well done.
5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Memory Ward was a dystopian psychological thriller, which proved to be fascinating. I thought I knew what was happening and then new information twists reality. This happened several times throughout the book. Is the narrator reliable? You be the judge. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

An intriguing short story about the town of Bethlam, Nevada, a small but perfect town. However, one day, Hank Davies, a postal worker, notices that a letter that he needs to deliver was blank, and life isn't what it seems and he starts to uncover the truth behind the town of Bethlam and realizes that his memories of his life, might all be a lie.

I was hooked from the first page of this book as more was revealed. While I do wish that there was a bigger reveal at the end that just shocked me, in addition to the smaller reveals throughout the story, I do think that this book was executed pretty well in terms of adding a "world of madness "and thriller aspect to this book. Even though I knew where the book was going, it still made me question everything and who was a part of it all.

I will say though, the narration was well done, however, at times, they did sound similar so it was hard to determine who was talking at the time.

Thank you to Jon Bassoff, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ In perfect Bethlam, Nevada, everyone is nice and waves to postal worker Hank Davies. Hank accidentally drops some letters. He notices that they are blank letters. This sparks moments that Hank thinks Bethlam isn't as ideal as he thought. And he's not alone.

Recently released on March 4th, 2025, this novel by Jon Bassoff, will have you questioning Bethlam and reality.

The Memory Ward is a novel about a man named Hank who starts to suspect something is off in the town of Bethlam, Nevada. He discovers that the letters he's been delivering are blank pages and uncovers a disturbing truth when he investigates further. As he delves deeper into the mysteries of the town, Hank questions the nature of identity and what it means to be human.

I was pleasantly surprised by the book, as I am new to this author, and was drawn in by the intriguing cover. Admittedly, I do judge books by their covers and rarely read the blurb. This novel was like "The Truman Show" on steroids!

From the moment I turned to the first page, I was hooked. The writing was impeccable, creating a suspenseful atmosphere with a myriad of strange occurrences woven throughout the story. The unique style of writing was refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable.

The protagonist was sharp and perceptive, noticing small details that eventually fell into place. I was eager to unravel the mysteries of the peculiar little town, with unexpected twists and turns at every corner. The story was so captivating that I found it difficult to put the book down.

The vivid descriptions of the environment and events added to the chilling ambiance of the narrative, making it all the more engaging. I could easily envision this book being adapted into a movie.

If you appreciate stories set in eerie small towns where privacy is a luxury, everyday routines spiral into chaos, and mysteries abound, then this book is must-read. I was fortunate to receive both the audiobook and eBook versions, and the talented narrators kept me engaged throughout. If the book doesn't resonate with you, I highly recommend giving the audiobook a try.

Thank you, Blackstone Publishing and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I wanted to like this book, I really did. It was interesting at first, but then it got a bit twisted in a Truman Show / Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind type of way. It got confusing and in my eyes, didn't really redeem itself. I did finish it, as it's really hard for me to DNF books, but I wouldn't recommend it to people who have the same taste in stories as I do.

Thank you NetGalley for a ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

"I guess that's what happens when we live a life of routines. Each day becomes inextricable from the others. Five years becomes no different than ten, no different from twenty, no different than a lifetime."

What in the world did I just read? What an absolute HEAD TRIP! I mean that in the BEST way possible.

THE MEMORY WARD is a mesmerizing blend of ‘Pleasantville and 'The Truman Show' but done 'Black Mirror' style, or if you're old school like me, The Twilight Zone.

Hank is a mailman living his best life in Bethlam, a beautiful town where everyone knows each other, and nothing bad ever happens. Yet, there's a strange and eerie feeling that seeps off the pages from right page one! 

This is a SUPER fast read with an escalating intensity that will hold you captive until you finish. I flew through the pages AND couldn't get enough of the audio! Bronson Pinchot is simply brilliant with voices. The nuances of tone and pitch he used were utter perfection AND added a sinister quality! Dawn Harvey and Janina Edwards were equally fabulous and their performances only increased the ominous atmosphere and feelings of claustrophobia and self doubt. I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook for a complete yet chilling experience!

Did I figure out what was going on and why? Yes, but wow was it a wild ride and I could NOT have predicted those details! I found myself pondering what makes us who we are, the effects of grief and trauma and whether we are the sum of our memories. 

The ending was simply sublime, leaving an unsettled feeling and a brief sense of doubt about what the truth, what the REALITY actually was...Such is the masterful writing of Jon Bassoff. Talk about gaslighting! I might actually need to read/listen to this again. THE MEMORY WARD, is a thought provoking thriller that will have your mind spinning and leave you wanting more! I need this adapted to film ASAP. 
____

Thank you Jon Bassoff and Blackstone Publishing for my gifted copies. All opinions are mine.

____

Potential spoiler content warnings below.


















































⚠️Content Warnings: language, knife violence, attempted suicide, gaslighting, Mention of: violence, gun violence, rape, child abuse, child death, domestic violence

The Memory Ward was an absolute wild ride, and I loved every second of it! The audiobook narration was truly outstanding, one of the best performances I’ve heard in a long time. The narrators brought such depth and intensity to the story and characters that it made the experience even more immersive.

I’ve seen comparisons to The Truman Show, but to me, it felt more akin to Don’t Worry Darling with its eerie, unsettling atmosphere and psychological tension. While the plot was slightly predictable at times, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment in the slightest. The journey was still thrilling, the writing was gripping, and the execution kept me hooked until the very end. Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense and eerie, mind bending narratives!

Thank you very much for this ARC!

At first, this book was giving Wayward Pines mixed with The Truman Show. Both of which I enjoyed immensely. The premise caught my attention immediately and was excited to have been approved.

Unfortunately, the story ended up falling short for me. There wasn’t a whole lot of action or build up. It was clear almost immediately what was going on, although not why. The conversations were not believable which led to the story being boring. Every conversation with Wally was like an adult speaking to a child.

The narrator for Wally wasn’t horrible, just seemed whiny. I listened at 2x.

The audiobook/story wasn’t bad, but it had so much more potential of where it could have went and the building up leading to the end.

This was an interesting concept that we have seen played out before, but this was done in a super twilight creepy way!

The writing was a bit lazy to me where it came to description. The first 20% is just him describing everyone by skin color and fat or skinny. Which really rubbed me the wrong way!

It's purposely repetitive the first 30%, and then things do pick up where you want to know what the heck is going on! The last 80% is creepy horror, and I would definitely check trigger warnings! Overall, I wasn't super surprised by the plot, but it was definitely a creepy book!

I was really excited about this book after reading the description, especially after seeing such good reviews for it. But I was sorely disappointed.

First of all, some of my dislike might be my own personal taste at the moment - had I known which direction this book went in, I might have skipped it. But beyond what happens on the page, the execution fell super flat..

While Part One had a great hook (despite the title kinda spoiling it), the story quickly fizzled after that. “Russian nesting-doll” is a correct description - the first 60% is just a copy-paste version of the same story with slightly different features like three times before getting to some sort of ‘explanation’ - an explanation that is so basic and overdone that I kept thinking, “there HAS to be more”.

It’s hard not to talk about the ending here, because the one thing that I was hopeful for with this book was that there’d be some twist at the end to put everything else in perspective. But as I was nearing the end and just hoping for the twist, I realized that it didn’t really matter - even if you have a great twist, the build up to it has to be satisfying as well.

A great twist can really redeem a movie, where you spend 2 hours into it, or a short story, which you can read in 1 hour, but if I’m going to sink 8 - 9 hours listening to a novel, the journey has to be worth it, too.

And the journey was NOT worth it. There were so many lines that I thought, “No one talks like that,” and the characters were so weak. No one had a personality - they just conveyed information to each other.

Now, if I had never heard of this type of story before, I might have enjoyed it. And clearly, there's lots of good ratings so it worked for some people. But I sort of suspect the rating will fall, and quickly.

This really felt like a young person’s passion project that hones their writing skills so they can tackle more creative works in the future. I was surprised to see that this was a well-established writer, and it makes me wonder if this is a trunked novel that the writer pulled from his pre-pubbed career and was unable to see the flaws in it. I wouldn’t be adverse to reading other things by him, but I’d make sure to read reviews carefully to see if I'm the target audience.

I also want to talk about the narrator - the audio quality wasn't great, although that might have just been the NetGalley platform. But the narrator's reading of the lines made the already cheesy dialogue that much cheesier and awkward.

Normally, I don’t want to talk spoilers for a book that I read specifically for reviewing, but the whole point of the book is that there will be some sort of ending twist that puts everything else in a different perspective. So this will be the end of the spoiler-free review, and the start of my spoilery rant.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy for review purposes. My opinions are my own.</i>

<spoiler>First of all, the government conspiracy is NOT for me. I didn’t care for it in X Files, and I can’t care about it here. Plus, like I said, the many different versions of the same story (someone lives in town with a family member and gradually realizes their life is a lie) got old, fast. Don’t Worry, Darling is an EXCELLENT comp title because both were so bad (and both make me want to (re)read Stepford Wives).

And then if it is psychosis, was the whole book a dream? Unreliable narrators are great, but not when whole interactions with other characters are completely made up. What’s great is when you have to start sorting through the facts of the scene and compare them with the narrator’s interpretation - but if the facts are completely made up, then what was the point of the book at all?

Quite honestly, I didn’t bother to relisten to the ending to figure out what was real and what wasn’t - because either way, I don’t care. One-dimensional government conspiracies, “It was all a dream” endings, both meh in my opinion.</spoiler>