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A Eurocrimes Thriller #1
The Memory Man
Introducing cross-border investigators Peter Ash and Frankie Varg of the European Crime Division in the first of a series of hard-hitting thrillers.
When a newly-appointed Catholic bishop disappears shortly after receiving a macabre gift in the post – a severed human tongue – the Vatican calls in Peter Ash of the European Crime Division to help. Enclosed with the package was a bizarre Memini Bonn. I remember Bonn.
At the same time, Ash’s Swedish counterpart Frankie Varg is investigating the murder of a prominent politician. When it transpires that the two cases are linked, the pair team up to become enmeshed in a baffling investigation where nothing is as it first appears. What exactly is the significance of Bonn? And who is so determined to unleash those carefully buried memories …?
When a newly-appointed Catholic bishop disappears shortly after receiving a macabre gift in the post – a severed human tongue – the Vatican calls in Peter Ash of the European Crime Division to help. Enclosed with the package was a bizarre Memini Bonn. I remember Bonn.
At the same time, Ash’s Swedish counterpart Frankie Varg is investigating the murder of a prominent politician. When it transpires that the two cases are linked, the pair team up to become enmeshed in a baffling investigation where nothing is as it first appears. What exactly is the significance of Bonn? And who is so determined to unleash those carefully buried memories …?
- GenresMystery
288 pages, Hardcover
Published February 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Steven Savile
247 books250 followersSteven Savile (born October 12, 1969, in Newcastle, England) is a British fantasy, horror and thriller writer, and editor living in Sala, Sweden.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 5, 2018
This is a gritty thriller about a series of revenge killings in present day Europe. It is a debut for a potential police procedural series featuring detectives from a multinational task force called the Eurocrimes Division of the European Union.
I found the two detectives in this book to be the best thing about it. Peter Ash from England and Francesca ("Frankie") Varg from Sweden form a good team, even though they only meet face-to-face at the end of the story. They narrate the story in alternating chapters to progress the investigation. I think there's a future for them if there's a sequel to this book.
The opening chapter is an attention-getter. A prominent gay Swedish politician is kidnapped and killed. His tongue is cut out and sent to a French monsignor in Paris, who disappears shortly after receiving it. Ernesto Donatti, a shadowy Vatican official, is called in by the monsignor's assistant to deal with his disappearance, and he in turn calls in Ash. (He knows and trusts him from previous encounters.) They soon find a connection between the Swedish murder and the French monsignor's kidnapping , which brings Ms. Varg into the investigation. What follows is a cat-and-mouse chase for the killer and it's revealed that Peter is one of his targets. A conclusion comes after a tense and violent confrontation between Ash and the killer.
The story is cringe-worthy reading at times. Early on it seems obvious what is driving the killer, but for much of the story, Ash struggles to find a motive. He actually makes a couple of rather stupid mistakes which essentially allows the killer to successfully strike again. There's a backstory to Ash which might explain these lapses, but his character is not developed to make a connection. Similarly, the treatment of Donatti's role in the story is a missed opportunity for more depth. As to the killer, there's no presentation of his personality or character. At the conclusion there's an information dump about him and his scheme, but for most of the story he's a sinister mystery man. This book rates as an OK read that could be better.
I received my review copy of the eBook from Severn House via Netgalley. The views expressed are my own.
I found the two detectives in this book to be the best thing about it. Peter Ash from England and Francesca ("Frankie") Varg from Sweden form a good team, even though they only meet face-to-face at the end of the story. They narrate the story in alternating chapters to progress the investigation. I think there's a future for them if there's a sequel to this book.
The opening chapter is an attention-getter. A prominent gay Swedish politician is kidnapped and killed. His tongue is cut out and sent to a French monsignor in Paris, who disappears shortly after receiving it. Ernesto Donatti, a shadowy Vatican official, is called in by the monsignor's assistant to deal with his disappearance, and he in turn calls in Ash. (He knows and trusts him from previous encounters.) They soon find a connection between the Swedish murder and the French monsignor's kidnapping , which brings Ms. Varg into the investigation. What follows is a cat-and-mouse chase for the killer and it's revealed that Peter is one of his targets. A conclusion comes after a tense and violent confrontation between Ash and the killer.
The story is cringe-worthy reading at times. Early on it seems obvious what is driving the killer, but for much of the story, Ash struggles to find a motive. He actually makes a couple of rather stupid mistakes which essentially allows the killer to successfully strike again. There's a backstory to Ash which might explain these lapses, but his character is not developed to make a connection. Similarly, the treatment of Donatti's role in the story is a missed opportunity for more depth. As to the killer, there's no presentation of his personality or character. At the conclusion there's an information dump about him and his scheme, but for most of the story he's a sinister mystery man. This book rates as an OK read that could be better.
I received my review copy of the eBook from Severn House via Netgalley. The views expressed are my own.
February 5, 2019
This is an easy and fully detailed read. Now, when I say an 'easy read' I mean it is written well, therefore you are able to read it quickly. I do not mean the particularly sadistic content is easily read.
This is the first in a new police series by the author to include Peter Ash and Frankie Varg (from the UK and Swedish offices respectively) both working for the Eurocrimes Division. Ash and Varg have never met in person, but clearly enjoy a little flirtation over the phone for most of the story. They do finally meet face-to-face at the end of the book.
The reason for the murders and the dismembered body parts winging their way across Europe, I think, is pretty obvious these days unfortunately. However, I didn't guess the mysterious and deadly culprit. Ash seems a bit less 'on form' than Varg, but then he has just lost his work partner. He did miss a couple of whopping clues, though. I'm hoping the partnership and relationship develop over the series.
I found this novel to be very entertaining, exciting, and I went through it like a dose of salts. It seemed a bit slow in some small parts, but then that is to be expected for the first in a series as you are ensuring the reader has all the information they need. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I chose to accept an eARC copy from Severn House via Netgalley, which I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.
This is the first in a new police series by the author to include Peter Ash and Frankie Varg (from the UK and Swedish offices respectively) both working for the Eurocrimes Division. Ash and Varg have never met in person, but clearly enjoy a little flirtation over the phone for most of the story. They do finally meet face-to-face at the end of the book.
The reason for the murders and the dismembered body parts winging their way across Europe, I think, is pretty obvious these days unfortunately. However, I didn't guess the mysterious and deadly culprit. Ash seems a bit less 'on form' than Varg, but then he has just lost his work partner. He did miss a couple of whopping clues, though. I'm hoping the partnership and relationship develop over the series.
I found this novel to be very entertaining, exciting, and I went through it like a dose of salts. It seemed a bit slow in some small parts, but then that is to be expected for the first in a series as you are ensuring the reader has all the information they need. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I chose to accept an eARC copy from Severn House via Netgalley, which I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.
February 3, 2019
Excellent Memory. This is the first book in a new police mystery series, centered on a Eurocrimes Division with authority and agents spread throughout Europe, including a United Kingdom in the midst of the Brexit split. It is intensely dark - we open with a politician being tortured and murdered, and it really doesn't get any brighter from there. But also very good - I'm no fan of cops (being American and seeing what they get away with here), but Ash and Varg are shown to be good people approaching the case from different perspectives with the same end goal: solve the crime, period. Truly one of the best mysteries I've read in quite a while, and the dark and grit is one of the reasons for this. Yes, the reader gets a sense early on of what the scope of the mystery likely is, but the way Savile pulls it all together and throws in just enough reveals along the way, with nearly earth shattering (and so very tragic if based on anything remotely similar in real life) reveals in the last 10%, certainly for our heroes. There is enough backstory to both Ash and Varg that could merit a few prequel books, and there is enough potential here that by the end of the book, when the two *finally* meet, this reader was genuinely hoping for a Book 2.
October 25, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the eARC.
The European Crime Division's Peter Ash (UK) and Frankie Varg (Sweden) work together to solve a disturbing case: the disappearance of a Swedish politician as well as a Catholic bishop in the Vatican missing on his first day in office after receiving a severed tongue with the message Memini Bonn (remember Bonn). Both were subsequently found murdered. More men and body parts across Europe pose a huge puzzle for the two agents, ending in a shocking denouement.
The book sounded like a good read; a mystery taking the reader across Europe. Unfortunately I couldn't feel anything for the two main characters, they left me cold. And the reason for the crimes was obvious to me and I felt revulsion; I know these things happen, it's on the news
regularly, but is definitely not my choice for entertainment or escapism.
The European Crime Division's Peter Ash (UK) and Frankie Varg (Sweden) work together to solve a disturbing case: the disappearance of a Swedish politician as well as a Catholic bishop in the Vatican missing on his first day in office after receiving a severed tongue with the message Memini Bonn (remember Bonn). Both were subsequently found murdered. More men and body parts across Europe pose a huge puzzle for the two agents, ending in a shocking denouement.
The book sounded like a good read; a mystery taking the reader across Europe. Unfortunately I couldn't feel anything for the two main characters, they left me cold. And the reason for the crimes was obvious to me and I felt revulsion; I know these things happen, it's on the news
regularly, but is definitely not my choice for entertainment or escapism.
March 23, 2024
A pan European crime fighting unit with so few people involved seemed a little far fetched, the author hints at the low numbers because of Brexit. In fact Brexit is mentioned so often it becomes boring, a bit like any author who constantly harps on about the pandemic or Covid.
As a thriller it has its moments of tension and mystery but at times I was left scratching my chin has how the two main investigators came to various conclusions.
There is a lot of graphic detail which won't be to a lot of readers' tastes. Still the book was engaging enough for me to finish but with a shrug of the shoulders.
As a thriller it has its moments of tension and mystery but at times I was left scratching my chin has how the two main investigators came to various conclusions.
There is a lot of graphic detail which won't be to a lot of readers' tastes. Still the book was engaging enough for me to finish but with a shrug of the shoulders.
January 22, 2019
Peter Ash and Frankie Arg are working collaboratively to solve some creepy murders and the disappearance of a Catholic bishop. The story is told by each in alternating chapters. This one didn't resonate with me and I'm not sure why- it's an intriguing premise and I liked the two main characters but the underlying reason for being just didn't grab me. I'd like to see these two again on a different crime. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
February 5, 2019
This is a book worth keeping !!
Clear, incisive, logical plot=lines, a terrifying villain
and determined detectives; what more do you need?
The tells are there if you know what to look for, but
you only figure them out at the end of the story.
I read this book straight through from beginning to
end, non-stop.
Mystifying, entertaining and dramatic.
Prepare to be enthralled!!
I could ** not ** put it down.
Very **very ** well done.
Phyllis S.
Clear, incisive, logical plot=lines, a terrifying villain
and determined detectives; what more do you need?
The tells are there if you know what to look for, but
you only figure them out at the end of the story.
I read this book straight through from beginning to
end, non-stop.
Mystifying, entertaining and dramatic.
Prepare to be enthralled!!
I could ** not ** put it down.
Very **very ** well done.
Phyllis S.
November 10, 2018
This book reminded me of a Netflix series with almost the same premise. A group of investigators from different countries stationed at The Hague with the ability to cross borders to solve crimes.
I think that this book, if it tends to become a series, has possibilities although I felt the writing was a little stilted, the characters could be expanded on and maybe a not-so-obvious plot.
August 24, 2019
A tale of revenge and cover-ups.
I struggled to get into this book.
Reading time around four hours.
I struggled to get into this book.
Reading time around four hours.
March 18, 2019
A grisly, gritty thriller!
‘The Memory Man’ by Steven Savile is the debut, grisly, gritty thriller, for the Eurocrimes Division to solve. We are introduced to two stalwart detectives, Peter Ash and his female counterpart, Frankie Varg of Sweden.
The tense drama begins with the murder of a Catholic Bishop, having first received a parcel containing a severed human tongue! The Vatican naturally need answers. Soon even more human body parts are posted to certain characters, but the question is why? Also, each time there is a baffling note saying, “Memini Bonn.” (Remember Bonn)
Ash and Varg are on the case, and both are led in different directions, on a series of jaunts around Europe, until finally, all becomes clear, with almost disastrous consequences! I'm sure that some readers will predict the finale, however, I found this debut novel a truly enjoyable read, but it certainly is not for the faint-hearted!
I shall look out for the next in the series, where I’m sure the characters will be developed further, so thank you Steven Savile!
Galadriel.
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
‘The Memory Man’ by Steven Savile is the debut, grisly, gritty thriller, for the Eurocrimes Division to solve. We are introduced to two stalwart detectives, Peter Ash and his female counterpart, Frankie Varg of Sweden.
The tense drama begins with the murder of a Catholic Bishop, having first received a parcel containing a severed human tongue! The Vatican naturally need answers. Soon even more human body parts are posted to certain characters, but the question is why? Also, each time there is a baffling note saying, “Memini Bonn.” (Remember Bonn)
Ash and Varg are on the case, and both are led in different directions, on a series of jaunts around Europe, until finally, all becomes clear, with almost disastrous consequences! I'm sure that some readers will predict the finale, however, I found this debut novel a truly enjoyable read, but it certainly is not for the faint-hearted!
I shall look out for the next in the series, where I’m sure the characters will be developed further, so thank you Steven Savile!
Galadriel.
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews