#CynthisFarrell – Rosepoint Publishing

Book Blurb:

Quinn Fleming, a San Diego florist grappling with post-traumatic amnesia, is the only witness to a murder … and the only one who can solve it—in a brand-new thrilling mystery from Sara Driscoll, author of the FBI K-9 novels!

After surviving a terrible attack, Quinn Fleming has recovered in every way but one—her ability to retain new memories. Now, months later, it appears to the outside world as if the San Diego florist’s life is back to normal. But Quinn is barely holding on, relying on a notebook she carries with her at all times, a record of her entire existence since the assault.

So when she witnesses a murder in the shadowy alley behind the florist shop, Quinn immediately writes down every terrifying detail of the incident before her amnesia wipes it away.

By the time the police arrive, there’s no body, no crime scene, and no clues. The killing seems as erased from reality as it is from Quinn’s mind … until the flashbacks begin.

Suddenly, fragments of memories are surfacing—mere glimpses of that horrible night, but enough to convince Quinn that somewhere, locked in her subconscious, is the key to solving the case … and she’s not the only one who knows. Somebody else has realized Quinn is a threat that needs to be eliminated. Now, with her life on the line and only her notes to guide her, Quinn sets out to find a killer she doesn’t remember, but can’t forget …

My Review:

Quinn Fleming has been left with a traumatic brain injury from an attack that she recovered from physically. She is now fully functional and working at a florist shop. She’s been left with the inability to retain short-term memories, however. Having reconciled to this new self, she has learned to live with it by immediately writing notes to herself and she keeps a journal.

One evening as she was closing the shop and tossing trash in the dumpster behind the store, she realized she was not alone in the alley. She witnesses what she believes to be a murder, victim of foul play, and also knew if she didn’t write her observations immediately, they’d be lost to her by the time she could give a complete statement to the police.

Unfortunately, when the police arrive, they do not find a body nor evidence of an attack. She apparently has history with Detective Reyes, however, and Detective Reyes learned how to keep Quinn’s involvement in the moment and tease out details. The question was: were the perps aware there was a witness?

I must confess I’ve read many of the author’s books and jumped on this just seeing her name. I didn’t realize it was a standalone and quickly understood it was not one of my favorite FBI K-9 series. I recently read Lockdown, Book 3 of the NYPD Negotiators series and enjoyed it, but still, it’s hard to beat one of her FBI K-9 novels.

The storyline seemed a slow burn for me. There was a lot of dialogue between Quinn and the detective, explanation of her brain injury, description of the elaborate system of notes she’d made and kept for herself so she could function somewhat normally.

While I enjoy the intelligence of her narratives, I guess I’ve gotten used to more activity, faster pace. The main character is well developed and I marveled at the patience the detective employed in gleaning out the tiniest memory from Quinn, but at times it was also a bit exasperating. Good book, yeah.

Interesting, yeah.

Unique, okay.

If you are a solid diehard fan of the author, then you may appreciate the burn. I am a fan, but obviously chose my favs early on and color me a bit disappointed if there are no dogs involved.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Women Sleuth Mysteries, Suspense
Publisher: Recorded Books
ASIN: B0D2LRKGRS
Listening Length: 11 hrs 9 mins
Narrator: Cynthia Farrell
Publication Date: July 23, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: Echoes of Memory – Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: Sara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9s and the NYPD Negotiators. After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the latest news on her books, including the FBI K-9s, at http://www.saradriscollauthor.com.