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Jo Beckett #2
The Memory Collector
Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett's specialty is the psychological autopsy- an investigation into a person's life to determine whether a death was natural, accidental, suicide, or homicide. She calls herself a dead=shrinker instead of a head-shrinker: The silence of her "patients" is a key part of the job's attraction. When Jo is asked to do a psychological autopsy on a living person-one with a suspect memory who can't be trusted to participate in his own medical care-she knows all her skills will be put to the test.
Jo is called to the scene of an aircraft inbound from London to help deal with a passenger who is behaving erratically. She figures out that he's got anterograde amnesia, and can't form new memories. Jo finds herself racing to save a patient who can walk and talk and yet can't help Jo figure out just what happened to him. For every cryptic clue he is able to drag up from his memory, Jo has to sift through a dozen nonsensical statements.
Suddenly a string of clues arises, something to do with a superdeadly biological agent code-named "Slick," a missing wife and son, and a secret partnership gone horribly wrong. Jo realizes her patient's addled mind may hold the key to preventing something terrible from happening in her beloved San Francisco.
In order to prevent it, she will have to get deeper into the life of a patient than she ever has before, hoping the truth emerges from the fog of his mind in time to save her city-and herself.
Jo is called to the scene of an aircraft inbound from London to help deal with a passenger who is behaving erratically. She figures out that he's got anterograde amnesia, and can't form new memories. Jo finds herself racing to save a patient who can walk and talk and yet can't help Jo figure out just what happened to him. For every cryptic clue he is able to drag up from his memory, Jo has to sift through a dozen nonsensical statements.
Suddenly a string of clues arises, something to do with a superdeadly biological agent code-named "Slick," a missing wife and son, and a secret partnership gone horribly wrong. Jo realizes her patient's addled mind may hold the key to preventing something terrible from happening in her beloved San Francisco.
In order to prevent it, she will have to get deeper into the life of a patient than she ever has before, hoping the truth emerges from the fog of his mind in time to save her city-and herself.
434 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
89 people are currently reading
1506 people want to read
About the author
Meg Gardiner
34 books2,221 followersMeg Gardiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen thrillers. Shadowheart, her latest novel, is part of the UNSUB series featuring FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix. The Real Book Spy calls it “A mind-trip of a story.” Booklist says, “As always, the writing is exquisite and the story is perfectly crafted.” UNSUB, the first novel in the series, won the 2018 Barry Award for Best Thriller. The Dark Corners of the Night was bought by Amazon Studios for development as an hour-long television drama.
Heat 2 is a prequel/sequel to the film Heat, co-authored with the film’s writer/director, Michael Mann. Booklist’s starred review calls it “Riveting… the fully fleshed human stories support and even transcend the often-breathtaking action.” The Associated Press says, “Slick as a Neil McCauley heist and as intense as a Vincent Hanna chase, ‘Heat 2’ is just dynamite.” It debuted at #1 on the NYT best seller list.
Meg is the author of the Evan Delaney series, the Jo Beckett novels, and several stand alones. China Lake won the 2009 Edgar award for Best Paperback Original. The Nightmare Thief won the 2012 Audie Award for Thriller/Suspense audiobook of the year. Phantom Instinct was one of O, the Oprah magazine's "Best Books of Summer."
Meg was born in Oklahoma and raised in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Stanford Law School, she practiced law in Los Angeles and taught writing at the University of California Santa Barbara. She's also a three-time Jeopardy! champion. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Find Meg on Facebook: Facebook.com/MegGardinerBooks Twitter: @MegGardiner1 and Instagram: @Meggardiner1.
Series:
* UNSUB
* Evan Delaney
* Jo Beckett
Heat 2 is a prequel/sequel to the film Heat, co-authored with the film’s writer/director, Michael Mann. Booklist’s starred review calls it “Riveting… the fully fleshed human stories support and even transcend the often-breathtaking action.” The Associated Press says, “Slick as a Neil McCauley heist and as intense as a Vincent Hanna chase, ‘Heat 2’ is just dynamite.” It debuted at #1 on the NYT best seller list.
Meg is the author of the Evan Delaney series, the Jo Beckett novels, and several stand alones. China Lake won the 2009 Edgar award for Best Paperback Original. The Nightmare Thief won the 2012 Audie Award for Thriller/Suspense audiobook of the year. Phantom Instinct was one of O, the Oprah magazine's "Best Books of Summer."
Meg was born in Oklahoma and raised in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Stanford Law School, she practiced law in Los Angeles and taught writing at the University of California Santa Barbara. She's also a three-time Jeopardy! champion. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Find Meg on Facebook: Facebook.com/MegGardinerBooks Twitter: @MegGardiner1 and Instagram: @Meggardiner1.
Series:
* UNSUB
* Evan Delaney
* Jo Beckett
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
April 12, 2012
Wow! What an awesome thriller! This is my first Meg Gardiner, and the little sticker on the front of the book says ‘As gripping as Tess Gerritsen or your money back’!! As I am an avid Tess Gerritsen fan, and the book was only $5, I decided to take a chance. And boy, am I glad I did!
Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett was called to a recently landed plane from the Congo, where a man by the name of Ian Kanan has had to be restrained for his erratic behaviour. He had tried to open the plane door in flight, was screaming hysterically, and two passengers had tackled him to the floor, one of them being slightly injured in the process. Kanan was locked in the toilet while the rest of the flight disembarked in San Francisco. But when Kanan was spoken to, he had no memory of what had happened, and was confused as to why they wanted to take him to the hospital. Then they discovered an anomaly in his brain, which meant he was suffering from a rare form of amnesia where he was unable to form new memories, and forgot everything again after 5 minutes. Kanan also believed his family had been kidnapped, and he had been exposed to a deadly biological agent, which the kidnappers wanted in exchange for his family.
But is he delusional? Jo and best friend, Lieutenant Amy Tang are desperate to find out. And when Ian Kanan escapes from hospital, attacking Jo on the way out, then more bodies appear, it seems ex-soldier Kanan is a murderer. But where is Seth? And why doesn’t Misty appear to be who she’s supposed to be? Will Jo manage to discover the truth before it’s too late...
The breakneck speed of this suspense thriller is absolutely riveting and I literally could not put it down! I will definitely be reading more in this series by Meg Gardiner!
Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett was called to a recently landed plane from the Congo, where a man by the name of Ian Kanan has had to be restrained for his erratic behaviour. He had tried to open the plane door in flight, was screaming hysterically, and two passengers had tackled him to the floor, one of them being slightly injured in the process. Kanan was locked in the toilet while the rest of the flight disembarked in San Francisco. But when Kanan was spoken to, he had no memory of what had happened, and was confused as to why they wanted to take him to the hospital. Then they discovered an anomaly in his brain, which meant he was suffering from a rare form of amnesia where he was unable to form new memories, and forgot everything again after 5 minutes. Kanan also believed his family had been kidnapped, and he had been exposed to a deadly biological agent, which the kidnappers wanted in exchange for his family.
But is he delusional? Jo and best friend, Lieutenant Amy Tang are desperate to find out. And when Ian Kanan escapes from hospital, attacking Jo on the way out, then more bodies appear, it seems ex-soldier Kanan is a murderer. But where is Seth? And why doesn’t Misty appear to be who she’s supposed to be? Will Jo manage to discover the truth before it’s too late...
The breakneck speed of this suspense thriller is absolutely riveting and I literally could not put it down! I will definitely be reading more in this series by Meg Gardiner!
February 18, 2021
Fun enough popcorn thriller. Pass the salt, yo!
May 24, 2018
The memory collector by Meg Gardiner is book 2 in the Jo Beckett mystery series. Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett is called to an airplane when a passenger acts erratically and finds that he is suffering from a rare form of amnesia where he is unable to form new memories. It is found that he may have been exposed to a contaminant that he was forced to obtain after his family is kidnaped. A fast paced and captivating thriller with plenty of suspense and action. A bit unbelievable in parts but very enjoyable nonetheless.My first book by this author and it won’t be my last.
January 27, 2021
When I read this book almost a decade ago, I was looking to read a book on amnesia. I came across this Meg Gardner book, and I wasn't disappointed at all. Dr. Jo Beckett and Ian Kanan were solid characters in this mystery/suspense/thriller.
The beginning of the book hooked me in. I loved the scene in the Virgin Atlantic Airline where a man had to be tackled by two male passengers and a female flight attendant. The way they acted and the ramifications of an "infected person's" touch was definitely eerie.
Ian Kanan's repetitive amnesiac states throughout the book, is one where time is definitely a big factor, both in chasing time and time catching up with you, literally speaking.
As you read on and conclude that advanced technology helps mankind, you also learn about the opposite of that effect. Basically, advanced technology utilized as weapons and uncontrolled can cause rampant chaos and danger to mankind.
Enter the danger of nanotechnology. It is no longer science fiction as I am typing this. Corporations have been pouring billions in dollars/euros in research regarding nanotechnology. Reading Memory Collector will make you think about the safety features in effect on those research facilities... and the ethics of the people conducting the research.
The beginning of the book hooked me in. I loved the scene in the Virgin Atlantic Airline where a man had to be tackled by two male passengers and a female flight attendant. The way they acted and the ramifications of an "infected person's" touch was definitely eerie.
Ian Kanan's repetitive amnesiac states throughout the book, is one where time is definitely a big factor, both in chasing time and time catching up with you, literally speaking.
As you read on and conclude that advanced technology helps mankind, you also learn about the opposite of that effect. Basically, advanced technology utilized as weapons and uncontrolled can cause rampant chaos and danger to mankind.
Enter the danger of nanotechnology. It is no longer science fiction as I am typing this. Corporations have been pouring billions in dollars/euros in research regarding nanotechnology. Reading Memory Collector will make you think about the safety features in effect on those research facilities... and the ethics of the people conducting the research.
July 22, 2009
"The Memory Collector" may be Meg Gardiner's first misfire in the world of suspense thrillers. I found her last summer after reading about Stephen King's recommendation of her novels in his Entertainment Weekly column. I found and read all of her thrillers--both the Evan Delaney series and the start of this series of stories about Jo Beckett.
But it's only here with "The Memory Collector" that I find myself being disappointed with Gardiner.
Her novels have always been the equivalent of popcorn thrillers. You jump in and let the rush of adrenaline propel you through the twists and turns of the story. However, with "The Memory Collector," the huge leaps of suspension of disbelief required at certain points in the novel are too huge and really take you out of the story. In many ways, it feels like Gardiner has several central action pieces she wanted to weave into the story and then forced the story elements around them.
The premise itself is an interesting enough one and should have been a better hook. On a flight into San Francisco, a man tries to open the emergency exit door after the flight has landed. He's restrained by several people and after examination, it's discovered he can't create any new short-term memories. As Jo begins to dig into his case, she begins to make some discoveries about the trip he just returned from and a potential new nanotechnology. Again, all elements and ideas that should make for a fascinating and fun read.
But "The Memory Collector" ends up being less than the sum of its parts. The story feels too disjointed at times and starts and stops too much to really feel like the smooth roller coaster ride it wants to be.
With Gardiner's previous record of enjoyable books, I hope this is only an aberration and not the beginning of a decline in quality along the lines of Patrica Cornwell.
But it's only here with "The Memory Collector" that I find myself being disappointed with Gardiner.
Her novels have always been the equivalent of popcorn thrillers. You jump in and let the rush of adrenaline propel you through the twists and turns of the story. However, with "The Memory Collector," the huge leaps of suspension of disbelief required at certain points in the novel are too huge and really take you out of the story. In many ways, it feels like Gardiner has several central action pieces she wanted to weave into the story and then forced the story elements around them.
The premise itself is an interesting enough one and should have been a better hook. On a flight into San Francisco, a man tries to open the emergency exit door after the flight has landed. He's restrained by several people and after examination, it's discovered he can't create any new short-term memories. As Jo begins to dig into his case, she begins to make some discoveries about the trip he just returned from and a potential new nanotechnology. Again, all elements and ideas that should make for a fascinating and fun read.
But "The Memory Collector" ends up being less than the sum of its parts. The story feels too disjointed at times and starts and stops too much to really feel like the smooth roller coaster ride it wants to be.
With Gardiner's previous record of enjoyable books, I hope this is only an aberration and not the beginning of a decline in quality along the lines of Patrica Cornwell.
April 25, 2022
The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner is the 2nd book in the thriller series, featuring forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett. If you are looking for non-stop action, this is the series for you. If you don't mind farfetched a bit, that is.
Ian Kanan, security specialist for a California company, returns from South Africa, infected with some sort of nano-technology that affects his memory. He can remember his past up to the time he was infected but from that point onward he can only remember things in five minute snatches. Every five minutes his memory is scrubbed clean.
As his plane lands in San Francisco, Kanan becomes panic - stricken and tries to open the emergency door. Jo Beckett is called to the scene and assists in over powering him and taking him to the nearest hospital. Some people on the flight are also infected and this will impact future events. At the same time, Kanan's family seem to have been kidnapped and the kidnappers want something from Kanan. The difficulty is Kanan's deteriorating memory.
This is the intro to a complex, high octane, entertaining thriller. The story jumps from Beckett to Kanan to Beckett's new boyfriend, Gabe & to police Lt Amy Tang. As far-fetched as it all seems, Gardiner makes it all very interesting and creates a taut, suspenseful story. There are a number of entertaining characters, even down to relatively minor ones like Beckett's strange neighbor, Ferd and his monkey.
Sometimes it's fun to just sink yourself into an entertaining story, submerse yourself into action and suspense and just forget about your normal routine.. Mind you, nano-technology.. Eeeps! (3.5 stars)
Ian Kanan, security specialist for a California company, returns from South Africa, infected with some sort of nano-technology that affects his memory. He can remember his past up to the time he was infected but from that point onward he can only remember things in five minute snatches. Every five minutes his memory is scrubbed clean.
As his plane lands in San Francisco, Kanan becomes panic - stricken and tries to open the emergency door. Jo Beckett is called to the scene and assists in over powering him and taking him to the nearest hospital. Some people on the flight are also infected and this will impact future events. At the same time, Kanan's family seem to have been kidnapped and the kidnappers want something from Kanan. The difficulty is Kanan's deteriorating memory.
This is the intro to a complex, high octane, entertaining thriller. The story jumps from Beckett to Kanan to Beckett's new boyfriend, Gabe & to police Lt Amy Tang. As far-fetched as it all seems, Gardiner makes it all very interesting and creates a taut, suspenseful story. There are a number of entertaining characters, even down to relatively minor ones like Beckett's strange neighbor, Ferd and his monkey.
Sometimes it's fun to just sink yourself into an entertaining story, submerse yourself into action and suspense and just forget about your normal routine.. Mind you, nano-technology.. Eeeps! (3.5 stars)
January 11, 2021
Este é um livro cheio de adrenalina e ação rápida, terminei-o mais cedo do que contava e sem sequer estava a tentar.
Já tinha gostado muito de Jo Beckett no 1° livro da série e foi muito bom revê-la. É o tipo de heroína que todos gostamos.
O enredo foi interessante se bem que também achei que era um pouco rebuscado demais que um personagem com amnésia retrógrada conseguisse fazer o que Ian fez. É um conceito original e serviu para criar uma boa história.
Ainda me ri com o vizinho de Jo e o macaco dele, já não me lembrava destes dois LOL.
No próximo mês espero ler o 3° livro da série e acho que esta autora passa a ser obrigatória nas minhas estantes e leituras.
Ah, com os 2 livros que já li, acho que desenvolvi uma paixão inesperada pela cidade de São Francisco.
Já tinha gostado muito de Jo Beckett no 1° livro da série e foi muito bom revê-la. É o tipo de heroína que todos gostamos.
O enredo foi interessante se bem que também achei que era um pouco rebuscado demais que um personagem com amnésia retrógrada conseguisse fazer o que Ian fez. É um conceito original e serviu para criar uma boa história.
Ainda me ri com o vizinho de Jo e o macaco dele, já não me lembrava destes dois LOL.
No próximo mês espero ler o 3° livro da série e acho que esta autora passa a ser obrigatória nas minhas estantes e leituras.
Ah, com os 2 livros que já li, acho que desenvolvi uma paixão inesperada pela cidade de São Francisco.
July 6, 2022
Bit of a slow start, but improved as it went on.
August 22, 2022
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There is a buttload going on in this novel and it starts right out the gate. Africa to San Francisco, kidnapping, impersonating other people, car chases, gunfights, bombs, science stuff I didn't quite understand, rich CEOs being rich, a yacht fight, stabbing people, a little PG13 over-the-clothes action, crazy people on planes, even crazier people on other planes, an obsessed stalker, a monkey humping Beanie Babies, electrocution, ball gags...
My only real issue with this book is the one loose end that wasn't tied up - WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DOG? Omfg someone fucking tell me that the dog is okay!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4 stars
There is a buttload going on in this novel and it starts right out the gate. Africa to San Francisco, kidnapping, impersonating other people, car chases, gunfights, bombs, science stuff I didn't quite understand, rich CEOs being rich, a yacht fight, stabbing people, a little PG13 over-the-clothes action, crazy people on planes, even crazier people on other planes, an obsessed stalker, a monkey humping Beanie Babies, electrocution, ball gags...
My only real issue with this book is the one loose end that wasn't tied up - WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DOG? Omfg someone fucking tell me that the dog is okay!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4 stars
May 29, 2019
I am admittedly a touch reviewer. In the last four years, I've read 364,028 pages in 1,162 books, and I’ve rated just 41 books a 5.
(I'll insert here my typical complaint about Goodreads being a 5 point scale vs 10)
I've now read three books in this series, but not in order, and they hang together really well as a series, but also stand alone. Of the three I've read, this was without question my favorite. I found myself intrigued, a few times laughing out loud, and completely admiring the tight writing.
This book inspired me to take another stab at writing something of my own soon.
(I'll insert here my typical complaint about Goodreads being a 5 point scale vs 10)
I've now read three books in this series, but not in order, and they hang together really well as a series, but also stand alone. Of the three I've read, this was without question my favorite. I found myself intrigued, a few times laughing out loud, and completely admiring the tight writing.
This book inspired me to take another stab at writing something of my own soon.
December 6, 2022
Four stars for the fact it kept me on my toes and wondering what the hell was going to happen.
Great mystery and suspense. I loved it
Great mystery and suspense. I loved it
August 22, 2018
One of my new fave series I've found
December 10, 2019
I remember enjoying the first book in this series, unfortunately not this the second. I did want to like it, but just couldn’t. The main character is fine, it was the secondary character and his situation I just couldn’t get into. I know it’s fiction, but the whole plot was absurd in my opinion and just not my cup of tea. Therefore a book by a decent author i had no inclination to finish. Sorry!
June 9, 2010
3.0 out of 5 stars Erase this one from your memory..., June 19, 2009
This review is from: The Memory Collector (Jo Beckett) (Hardcover)
This book was OK. Average in thrills and short on suspense, the story just sort of limps along with its heroine, forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett behaving in completely illogical, almost superhero fashion, to save her beloved San Francisco from annihilation.
Before I read The Memory Collector, I obtained a copy of the first in the series, The Dirty Secrets Club (Jo Beckett)and reviewed it as well. I said then, and I repeat, I couldn't work up much energy to really care about any of the characters in the book. I read this second in the series to see if further exposure provided more depth and a more interesting story. It didn't. I was bored and just trying to get through to the finish by the time I reached the halfway point.
Jo is not a believable woman and her interactions with the bad guys and with her sidekick, police detective Amy Tang, don't give insight into her motivations. The book reads like a movie screenplay but the nonstop action is tedious to read, the dialogue isn't realistic, and the science seems shaky.
In this particular novel, Jo must race against the clock to save the family of Ian Kanan, who has lost his ability to form new memories because of exposure to a nanotech product, a chemical known as "slick". Part of the convoluted plot involves Ian's colleagues at Chira-Sayf, Jo's boyfriend Gabe, her neighbors, and other assorted one scene characters such as Jo's sister and Ian's old special forces buddy.
Finally reaching the conclusion was a relief and the ending was a disappointment. The second in the series held no promise of the real job of a forensic psychiatrist to perform a psychological autopsy to determine equivocal death.
Skip this one.
This review is from: The Memory Collector (Jo Beckett) (Hardcover)
This book was OK. Average in thrills and short on suspense, the story just sort of limps along with its heroine, forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett behaving in completely illogical, almost superhero fashion, to save her beloved San Francisco from annihilation.
Before I read The Memory Collector, I obtained a copy of the first in the series, The Dirty Secrets Club (Jo Beckett)and reviewed it as well. I said then, and I repeat, I couldn't work up much energy to really care about any of the characters in the book. I read this second in the series to see if further exposure provided more depth and a more interesting story. It didn't. I was bored and just trying to get through to the finish by the time I reached the halfway point.
Jo is not a believable woman and her interactions with the bad guys and with her sidekick, police detective Amy Tang, don't give insight into her motivations. The book reads like a movie screenplay but the nonstop action is tedious to read, the dialogue isn't realistic, and the science seems shaky.
In this particular novel, Jo must race against the clock to save the family of Ian Kanan, who has lost his ability to form new memories because of exposure to a nanotech product, a chemical known as "slick". Part of the convoluted plot involves Ian's colleagues at Chira-Sayf, Jo's boyfriend Gabe, her neighbors, and other assorted one scene characters such as Jo's sister and Ian's old special forces buddy.
Finally reaching the conclusion was a relief and the ending was a disappointment. The second in the series held no promise of the real job of a forensic psychiatrist to perform a psychological autopsy to determine equivocal death.
Skip this one.
April 22, 2013
Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett is a " psychological autopsy" specialist - if cause of death is unclear she will "profile" the victim's life to see if she can come up with a verdict, be it suicide, natural or other. I found this to be an interesting premise and a unique one (The first in the series is "Dirty Secrets Club" which somehow passed me by, but that did not detract from my reading pleasure in this novel and I will be visiting Jo's first case shortly!) and was looking forward to diving in, especially as the book was a gift from someone who knows a good book when they see one! I was not disappointed. In this case, Jo is asked to profile a still living subject - Ian Kanan - who having caused havoc while on a flight is found to be unable to form new memories - Ian insists he has been poisoned and having escaped from custody, is considered a danger to both himself and others. People who were on the flight with him begin to succumb to the same problem, and it becomes clear that there is a lot more going on than at first appears. Its scary stuff as the possible causes for the situation begin to emerge. I loved Jo Beckett as a character - she has depth and an intriguing back story (which I may well discover more of when I head backwards in time!) and she has a collection of supporting characters around her who add to the enjoyment of the read (I especially love Jo's next door neighbour!) and give the story more than one dimension. All in all a brilliant read and I look forward to more in this series. I should probably check out the "Evan Delaney" books as well because one of my favourite things in the world is discovering a great author who has a back catalogue I can dig myself into - Better late to the party than never arriving. Enjoy!
August 8, 2009
enjoying it ok so far. Develops the theme of a person who has lost the ability to learn anything new and keep it in the memory banks... I have seen simliar stuff before but don't recall what book. I think there may be smoe movies with this as a theme also.
the ending is one where there don't seem to be any alternatives, but it is still oh so sad.... give up one's life for others.... the guy who has lost his memory anteretrograde amnesia style.... ie can't form new memories from the time of brain damage, realizes that he won't be able to hold on to memories that his family is safe and will also be functioning as tho they are in danger unless they are right beside him. the drew barrymore/adam sandler film is based on this also as I recall
the ending is one where there don't seem to be any alternatives, but it is still oh so sad.... give up one's life for others.... the guy who has lost his memory anteretrograde amnesia style.... ie can't form new memories from the time of brain damage, realizes that he won't be able to hold on to memories that his family is safe and will also be functioning as tho they are in danger unless they are right beside him. the drew barrymore/adam sandler film is based on this also as I recall
August 20, 2022
Another great thriller from Meg Gardiner! I find nothing wrong with her books and have to give five stars to them.
Jo Beckett is a forensic psychologist and the nearest psychologist when airport security calls for an evaluation of a just landed passenger. Jo has her suspicions and they are confirmed when the passenger is evaluated at a hospital. He has short term amnesia. Something is eating away at the memory center of his brain. He cannot store any new information. When more passengers are stricken Jo works the case to figure out why the passenger was in Africa and who he is hunting in LA now.
Jo’s neighbor and his psychotic monkey are growing on me and provide levity to often times heavy and serious books.
Jo Beckett is a forensic psychologist and the nearest psychologist when airport security calls for an evaluation of a just landed passenger. Jo has her suspicions and they are confirmed when the passenger is evaluated at a hospital. He has short term amnesia. Something is eating away at the memory center of his brain. He cannot store any new information. When more passengers are stricken Jo works the case to figure out why the passenger was in Africa and who he is hunting in LA now.
Jo’s neighbor and his psychotic monkey are growing on me and provide levity to often times heavy and serious books.
July 11, 2009
You know how the guy in Memento had that condition where all his old memories were intact, but he couldn't retain a new memory for more than five minutes? Now imagine you're trying to track down somebody like that -- and you're among the people he's trying to track down as well. Oh, and did we mention the condition is now contagious?
Gardiner's second novel about forensic psychologist Jo Beckett takes a few chapters to work its way up the gears, but once it's up and running it just doesn't slow down.
Gardiner's second novel about forensic psychologist Jo Beckett takes a few chapters to work its way up the gears, but once it's up and running it just doesn't slow down.
July 19, 2009
good book to take to an airport or (if you're me) to the beach - goes by fast, makes a long wait more bearable - intriguing concept, interesting characters, but, possibly because it does go by so fast, I couldn't get emotionally invested in it and so the ending didn't have the kick I would have liked.
September 18, 2010
My favorite of the 3 Jo Beckett books. I like the premise that her nemesis has been infected by a biological weapon/virus that makes it impossible to form new memories (basically every 5 minutes his brain resets). It's a very interesting device that she carries through very well through the whole thriller. Very fast paced.
May 14, 2018
This book wound up being too much for me, a little too far into the absurd and outlandish. I have difficulty suspending my disbelief that much on a contemporary novel. I just didn't buy a lot of what the characters were doing and the situations they found themselves in- a lot of "too convenient" scenarios. It wasn't a terrible read, but I found it hard to relate to and thus hard to care about.
July 13, 2009
I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this book. I ended up getting really caught up in the last third of the book, but this just didn't have to compelling "can't put this down" that Dirty Secrets Club did.
October 16, 2015
This was an ok thriller but it was a bit disjointed and a bit unbelievable at times, especially with the almost super hero features of the heroine Jo Beckett. Apart from this it was an interesting premise and an easy read. Not sure if I will continue with this series.
Want to read
March 22, 2009I liked DIRTY SECRETS CLUB and CHINA LAKE. Coming soon...
July 27, 2009
Just started...seems promising
July 29, 2009
Loved it! My only complaint is that it was a little too like the movie Memento, but otherwise I thought it was great! Suspenseful, fast-paced, and suprising!
July 8, 2009
Very good follow-up to the first Jo Beckett book, but I still prefer the Evan Delaney series.
October 31, 2017
This is an entertaining techno-thriller that just zooms along. Jo Beckett is a forensic psychologist who liaises with the San Francisco Police Department; when they can't determine how or why a person died, they come to her to conduct a forensic examination of the person's life. She is also on call some of the time. So when a passenger flies into San Francisco International behaving irrationally and causing a disturbance, Dr. Beckett is called to the scene. And as she interviews him and then sends him to the hospital, it turns out the man is a former civilian contractor - read mercenary - and has been contaminated in South Africa with a laboratory compound that causes anterograde amnesia - short-term memory loss. (This doesn't mean that you forget things for a short while; it means you can't form new memories and forget everything new after about five minutes.) And after this contractor escapes and begins his own investigation as to his family's whereabouts, it slowly becomes clear to Jo that his condition is contagious through contact. Fast pacing and good characterization make this a fun read.
July 1, 2024
My only criticism of this book is its fast-paced action, which feels a little madcap from time to time. I don't think that's what the author is trying to portray here. That's the only negative thing I have to say about it. This was an excellent read, and I have no problem recommending the book to you.
Ian Kanan encountered some nanotechnology while working a security detail for his employer. Alas, the technology can easily cross the blood brain barrier, and it creates in him a circumstance where he can remember nothing after five minutes. He is the proverbial goldfish. He knows only that he must disembark from the plane that landed bearing passengers from Heathrow Airport to San Francisco. So intent is he to leave the aircraft that he tried to force open the emergency exit door. Some passengers and a flight attendant stopped him.
Now he’s under the care of Jo Beckett. She’s normally a forensic psychiatrist—the person who determines whether a death was homicide, suicide, or accident, While Kanan is alive, he can’t talk about anything short term. His memory resets every five minutes or so.
This is a fast-paced popcorn thriller that was good, but that I wouldn’t reread.
Ian Kanan encountered some nanotechnology while working a security detail for his employer. Alas, the technology can easily cross the blood brain barrier, and it creates in him a circumstance where he can remember nothing after five minutes. He is the proverbial goldfish. He knows only that he must disembark from the plane that landed bearing passengers from Heathrow Airport to San Francisco. So intent is he to leave the aircraft that he tried to force open the emergency exit door. Some passengers and a flight attendant stopped him.
Now he’s under the care of Jo Beckett. She’s normally a forensic psychiatrist—the person who determines whether a death was homicide, suicide, or accident, While Kanan is alive, he can’t talk about anything short term. His memory resets every five minutes or so.
This is a fast-paced popcorn thriller that was good, but that I wouldn’t reread.
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