Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll 

Summary:

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 . . . (Goodreads)

 

Thoughts:

 Echoes of Memory follows Quinn on her journey of recovery while solving two murders. Written by Sarah Driscoll, this is a thriller set in San Diego. Quinn Fleming, a florist in the city of San Diego was assaulted during a night out. This left her with post-traumatic amnesia. 3 months later, she is still recovering and trying to be “normal.” After a shift at the “Gaslamp Blooms” she witnesses a murder.

I have read numerous other thriller books, so I suspected everyone to be the killer. While I was reading, my main suspect was Will. He is first introduced as the group therapy leader. Since Quinn’s memory is vague, the reader is missing information of most of the characters. Not to mention the book had a repetitive nature, especially when she tried recalling her memories or during the group therapy sessions. Each morning, the reader follows the same routine and feelings. It is a cycle of confusion, anxiety, and in the end, understanding.

The only person that I could connect to was Quinn. Even though our lives are drastically different, her thoughts and feelings interested me. She gave me a new perspective on post-traumatic amnesia. In the book she talks about her old life and how she would go out with her friends. After the assault, only 1-2 people stayed in contact with her. On multiple occasions Quinn describes her loneliness and despair. I never realized how difficult it would be trying to recover from a traumatic experience. Another thing I liked about Quinn was her intelligence. Despite her condition, she was still able to think of ways to defend herself on the spot. While she attended therapy sessions, Quinn would be excessively observant. Similar patterns show up during the story, especially when she would meet new people, identify suspects, or draw. Even though this is interesting, reading about it 6-7 times is not.

The climax was a bit rushed, but I enjoyed the closure. After reading over 200 pages, the climax was quite short. Details could have been added, more feeling too. Everything happened all at once which made it hard to follow. Although it was rushed, it was one of my favourite parts in the book. There was suspense and mystery in the air. I noticed that Sarah Driscoll is excellent at writing scenes with suspense. Scenes like the climax, when Quinn would remember unfamiliar information, or when she witnessed a murder. She is quite descriptive and sets the scene well. Capturing the feeling of traumatic amnesia was done incredibly well. It felt like Quinn’s life was real and true. Reading her daily struggles and routines were eye opening.

Pacing-wise it was mediocre. Compared to “The Naturals” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, the pacing is disappointing. In “The Naturals” the pacing was easy to follow and kept the reader hooked. During the crime scene investigations, climax, and plot twists, it was not rushed. There was enough information and details for the reader to follow.

One part that I would change is Vivian’s impact on the story. Quinn and Vivian met at the group therapy sessions; I saw potential in their friendship. I wished Sarah utilized more of the side characters to pull the reader in. Other than that, the book was quite ordinary. There were not any components that shocked me or stuck out to me. From reading other books, a way to make it stick out more, Sarah should build more relationships with the side characters. Despite Quinn’s situation, she could have been closer to Vivian or even other individuals at her group therapy sessions. 

Reviewed by Katie Yee

November 7, 2024