What do you think?
Rate this book
Quicksand of Memory
The darker the memory, the deadlier the obsession…
Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships.
Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy.
When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need.
And yet, someone is watching.
Someone who has been scarred by past events.
Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…
Dark, unsettling and immensely moving, Quicksand of Memory is a chilling reminder that we are not only punished for our sins, but by them, and that memories left to blacken and sharpen over time are the perfect breeding ground for obsession, and murder…
Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships.
Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy.
When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need.
And yet, someone is watching.
Someone who has been scarred by past events.
Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…
Dark, unsettling and immensely moving, Quicksand of Memory is a chilling reminder that we are not only punished for our sins, but by them, and that memories left to blacken and sharpen over time are the perfect breeding ground for obsession, and murder…
300 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2021
21 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 19, 2022
QUICKSAND OF MEMORY is a dark, intensely emotional psychological thriller by Michael J. Malone. This is the second novel I have read by this author, having enjoyed reading, A Song of Isolation, and it won’t be the last one. This author writes with so much passion.
Luke is a therapist struggling to survive after starting his own practice and pay the bills while providing a safe home for his deceased partner’s young son, Nathan. Nathan is not his biological son, and Nathan’s mother, Lisa died of cancer three years ago.
Jenna who works in a bookstore is trying to rebuild her life, after suffering from anxiety following a relationship break-up. She is Luke’s new client.
When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, their future is very promising…
But someone has been watching them, someone from the past, who doesn’t think they deserve happiness and will stop at nothing to get revenge.
In this novel the author addresses a sensitive topic with respect…the topic of violence and revenge and its aftermath.
The characters in this novel come from troubled pasts shaped by violence and a tough life. The chapters are short, packed full of action and emotion for a speedy read. I really felt sorry for Luke and Jenna as they both deserved so much more.
Quicksand of Memory is a very moving emotional psychological thriller that explores the many levels of destruction of innocent lives, in a world full of greed and lies. I was glued to this novel from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
Luke is a therapist struggling to survive after starting his own practice and pay the bills while providing a safe home for his deceased partner’s young son, Nathan. Nathan is not his biological son, and Nathan’s mother, Lisa died of cancer three years ago.
Jenna who works in a bookstore is trying to rebuild her life, after suffering from anxiety following a relationship break-up. She is Luke’s new client.
When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, their future is very promising…
But someone has been watching them, someone from the past, who doesn’t think they deserve happiness and will stop at nothing to get revenge.
In this novel the author addresses a sensitive topic with respect…the topic of violence and revenge and its aftermath.
The characters in this novel come from troubled pasts shaped by violence and a tough life. The chapters are short, packed full of action and emotion for a speedy read. I really felt sorry for Luke and Jenna as they both deserved so much more.
Quicksand of Memory is a very moving emotional psychological thriller that explores the many levels of destruction of innocent lives, in a world full of greed and lies. I was glued to this novel from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
June 5, 2022
I’ve never been disappointed with a Michael J Malone book. He has the dedicated passion and the incredible writing talent to pen hard hitting, powerfully emotive storylines that truly tug the heart strings and tackle the sensitive subjects that affect people in so many different ways, physically and mentally.
- Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships. Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy. When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need. And yet, someone is watching. Someone who has been scarred by past events. Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…—
QUICKSAND OF MEMORY focuses on long harboured guilts and dark memories that each character contrastingly recalls. Along with deeply buried secrets and the complex triangle of friendships, relationships and the desire for revenge all make this superbly thought out story, an engaging and compelling read.
I liked how we saw inside the minds of each of the characters and how they themselves recounted the tragic and life changing events from the past and the long term effect it had on their future lives. The chapters that went back in time, gave the reader the true understanding of why the characters acted the way they did and you really do have to have empathy for each of them, as they dealt with their confusing emotions.
Engaging characters and a superb storyline that is both compelling and dark and together with a premise that truly tugs at the heart, makes this a highly recommended read!
#QUICKSANDOFMEMORY - 5 stars
Thank you to the TBC Reviewer’s Request on Facebook for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
- Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships. Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy. When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need. And yet, someone is watching. Someone who has been scarred by past events. Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…—
QUICKSAND OF MEMORY focuses on long harboured guilts and dark memories that each character contrastingly recalls. Along with deeply buried secrets and the complex triangle of friendships, relationships and the desire for revenge all make this superbly thought out story, an engaging and compelling read.
I liked how we saw inside the minds of each of the characters and how they themselves recounted the tragic and life changing events from the past and the long term effect it had on their future lives. The chapters that went back in time, gave the reader the true understanding of why the characters acted the way they did and you really do have to have empathy for each of them, as they dealt with their confusing emotions.
Engaging characters and a superb storyline that is both compelling and dark and together with a premise that truly tugs at the heart, makes this a highly recommended read!
#QUICKSANDOFMEMORY - 5 stars
Thank you to the TBC Reviewer’s Request on Facebook for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
January 2, 2022
Michael Malone is one of those rare authors who can turn what could be an interesting read into something extra special, the sort of book that dominates you every waking moment. Quicksand Of Memory is dark and unsettling, but within its pages there are moments of anguish and despair. Jenna is attempting to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships. Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son. The couple fall in love, and it looks like they may have found their ‘happy ever after’. But someone stands in the shadows, scarred by their past, their hatred and need for revenge fester into a dark and dangerous obsession.
Luke’s story in someways is a familiar one. As a young boy, his toxic friendship with his best friend Danny leads him down a dark path, and one that results in tragedy. Although guilt and shame keep him awake at night, Luke’s resolved to make a better life for himself. The chapters told from the POV of the person obsessed with the couple add a constant sense of dread that stays with the reader throughout, increasing the tension tenfold. The author draws you farther into the lives of the characters; he burrows into their minds, exposing a caldron of emotions, conflict, guilt, resentment, anger and hatred which bubble and simmer away throughout this troubled tale.
The author depicts the emotions that the characters experience with an intensity that takes your breath away; they are raw and complex. You can’t help but feel some sympathy for the person seeking their revenge. As the reader, you feel sorry for their troubled childhood, and you can’t help but hope their sense of decency will outweigh their need for vengeance. Quicksand Of Memory is without doubt a page-turner, with a riveting storyline. I can genuinely say ‘Fiction doesn’t get any better than this’ highly recommended by me!
Luke’s story in someways is a familiar one. As a young boy, his toxic friendship with his best friend Danny leads him down a dark path, and one that results in tragedy. Although guilt and shame keep him awake at night, Luke’s resolved to make a better life for himself. The chapters told from the POV of the person obsessed with the couple add a constant sense of dread that stays with the reader throughout, increasing the tension tenfold. The author draws you farther into the lives of the characters; he burrows into their minds, exposing a caldron of emotions, conflict, guilt, resentment, anger and hatred which bubble and simmer away throughout this troubled tale.
The author depicts the emotions that the characters experience with an intensity that takes your breath away; they are raw and complex. You can’t help but feel some sympathy for the person seeking their revenge. As the reader, you feel sorry for their troubled childhood, and you can’t help but hope their sense of decency will outweigh their need for vengeance. Quicksand Of Memory is without doubt a page-turner, with a riveting storyline. I can genuinely say ‘Fiction doesn’t get any better than this’ highly recommended by me!
March 29, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
My full review will be posted on April 1st as I am participating in the blog tour for Orenda Books hosted by Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours.
My full review will be posted on April 1st as I am participating in the blog tour for Orenda Books hosted by Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours.
April 27, 2022
Oh my goodness what a dark, chilling and incredibly moving story from Michael J. Malone. Having read his books before I was in no doubt as to the beauty and poignancy of his writing but he manages to bring the characters to life so superbly. Love or hate them, they get under your skin and pull at your emotions.
Luke and Jenna are the principal characters but there are others surrounding them who all have a huge impact on the story. Luke was the one I felt the most sorry for, despite all his past deeds. He had faced his past mistakes and turned his life around with subsequent tragic results. Jenna, I didn’t warm to as much, and I can’t explain why, she deserved happiness as much as Luke.
There is a clear feeling of malevolence running throughout the story. Although this sinister narrative is anonymous it is clear who is responsible. I had mixed feelings about this aspect and the personal involvement. Yes there is no doubt that grief and revenge both played their part and I felt sorry for what they had suffered in the past but their actions went well above what would be reasonable behaviour.
This is such a multi themed story with layers and a backstory that reveals the worst and the best in people. The characters are flawed, destructive and complex but never bland.
It feels wrong to say that I enjoyed this because for most of the time I was on tenterhooks, and almost reading through my fingers, wondering what dark secret would be revealed, not really wanting to know what damage and hurt would be inflicted next but also not being able to look away. As a thriller, Quicksand of Memory works perfectly, it is unsettling, dangerous and emotive.
Luke and Jenna are the principal characters but there are others surrounding them who all have a huge impact on the story. Luke was the one I felt the most sorry for, despite all his past deeds. He had faced his past mistakes and turned his life around with subsequent tragic results. Jenna, I didn’t warm to as much, and I can’t explain why, she deserved happiness as much as Luke.
There is a clear feeling of malevolence running throughout the story. Although this sinister narrative is anonymous it is clear who is responsible. I had mixed feelings about this aspect and the personal involvement. Yes there is no doubt that grief and revenge both played their part and I felt sorry for what they had suffered in the past but their actions went well above what would be reasonable behaviour.
This is such a multi themed story with layers and a backstory that reveals the worst and the best in people. The characters are flawed, destructive and complex but never bland.
It feels wrong to say that I enjoyed this because for most of the time I was on tenterhooks, and almost reading through my fingers, wondering what dark secret would be revealed, not really wanting to know what damage and hurt would be inflicted next but also not being able to look away. As a thriller, Quicksand of Memory works perfectly, it is unsettling, dangerous and emotive.
April 27, 2022
Thank you Random Things Tours and Orenda Books for this review copy!
Quicksand of Memory is an intense, edge of your seat read that digs into one man's guilt and siblings' eagerness for revenge. While showing just how hard it can be to put your past behind you and build a new life. This is a book that will keep you reading while reflecting on actions and consequences.
Michael J Malone tells this story from the various character's points of view and moves between present and past as he gently reveals the truth. The story circles around a family in a poor community of Glasgow, who live a life consumed by alcohol and abuse. The author highlights how vastly opinions can differ. In this story, he has four characters whose lives were touched by one young man, and each one knew him as a different person. They have difficulty accepting each other’s memories of this person as each one has a completely different picture of this man.
Luke Forrest has worked very hard to put his past behind him. He has tried to better himself and wants to help others deal with their difficulties. When his girlfriend died, she asked him to raise her son, and Luke is determined to do right by this little boy – even if he isn’t his son. The child has no one else and Luke adores the child.
When Luke meets a new woman and decides that he is ready to move on, it seems his life is starting to fall apart.
Jenna works in a book store, despite her education which her mother loves to remind her about. When she meets Luke, there is something about him she cannot resist. But Jenna has had some bad experiences with men in the past, and when her make’s carer quits – no one can handle the sharp tongue of Jenna’s mom for very long, she is forced to take leave from the book shop and look after her mother herself. This leaves Jenna with too much time on her hands and her past starts to haunt her. Remembering a little too much, and when she finds out that Luke, her new love interest has some secrets, her world starts spiralling out of control.
Amidst all the confusion, Luke bumps into Jamie, the little brother of Danny – Luke’s old friend from his youth. Only Danny was never really a friend, and Luke struggles to decide how much of what he knows about Danny he should share with Jamie. The young man is troubled, and Luke wants to help him. However, each time Jamie is finally going to open up, something happens to cause Jamie to raise the walls around him again.
As the truth about their pasts collides, these characters have some harsh facts to face, can they accept each other’s truth?
I found myself drawn to these characters, they had rough lives and made some questionable choices. Yet each one had a vulnerability about them that draws you to them. The author did a fantastic job with his characters. Allowing you to see them warts and all and still manage to love them.
Initially, I did not like any of the characters in this book. Jenna felt a little unrealistic, her expectation seemed unreasonable and I felt she was not in touch with reality. However, as her story developed, I found myself feeling sorry for her. This woman had a lot on her plate, and her bad decisions in youth haunt her as she has never dealt with those feelings. She really could use a good therapist.
My heart broke for Luke. He made his share of mistakes, lived an unsavoury life and ended up paying the price. Yet he worked hard to change things, to leave his part behind and become a better person. His love and devotion for the little boy showed his commitment to bettering himself.
When his past comes knocking and his world is suddenly pulled apart, I thought everyone was way too harsh in their judgement. The man was trying – there was never a moment's doubt about that. This guy was beautifully written, the author managed to bring this man to life and keep him realistic.
There is no doubt, that I loved this story. It was emotional, thought-provoking and full of just enough twists to keep you eager to keep reading. I enjoyed every second of reading this book and highly recommend this one.
If you enjoy a book that is thought-provoking, emotional and full of surprises then you will not be disappointed when you pick this title. You are guaranteed an entertaining read that will leave you judging the characters for their actions and quickly picking sides as the story is revealed.
https://featzreviews.com
Quicksand of Memory is an intense, edge of your seat read that digs into one man's guilt and siblings' eagerness for revenge. While showing just how hard it can be to put your past behind you and build a new life. This is a book that will keep you reading while reflecting on actions and consequences.
Michael J Malone tells this story from the various character's points of view and moves between present and past as he gently reveals the truth. The story circles around a family in a poor community of Glasgow, who live a life consumed by alcohol and abuse. The author highlights how vastly opinions can differ. In this story, he has four characters whose lives were touched by one young man, and each one knew him as a different person. They have difficulty accepting each other’s memories of this person as each one has a completely different picture of this man.
Luke Forrest has worked very hard to put his past behind him. He has tried to better himself and wants to help others deal with their difficulties. When his girlfriend died, she asked him to raise her son, and Luke is determined to do right by this little boy – even if he isn’t his son. The child has no one else and Luke adores the child.
When Luke meets a new woman and decides that he is ready to move on, it seems his life is starting to fall apart.
Jenna works in a book store, despite her education which her mother loves to remind her about. When she meets Luke, there is something about him she cannot resist. But Jenna has had some bad experiences with men in the past, and when her make’s carer quits – no one can handle the sharp tongue of Jenna’s mom for very long, she is forced to take leave from the book shop and look after her mother herself. This leaves Jenna with too much time on her hands and her past starts to haunt her. Remembering a little too much, and when she finds out that Luke, her new love interest has some secrets, her world starts spiralling out of control.
Amidst all the confusion, Luke bumps into Jamie, the little brother of Danny – Luke’s old friend from his youth. Only Danny was never really a friend, and Luke struggles to decide how much of what he knows about Danny he should share with Jamie. The young man is troubled, and Luke wants to help him. However, each time Jamie is finally going to open up, something happens to cause Jamie to raise the walls around him again.
As the truth about their pasts collides, these characters have some harsh facts to face, can they accept each other’s truth?
I found myself drawn to these characters, they had rough lives and made some questionable choices. Yet each one had a vulnerability about them that draws you to them. The author did a fantastic job with his characters. Allowing you to see them warts and all and still manage to love them.
Initially, I did not like any of the characters in this book. Jenna felt a little unrealistic, her expectation seemed unreasonable and I felt she was not in touch with reality. However, as her story developed, I found myself feeling sorry for her. This woman had a lot on her plate, and her bad decisions in youth haunt her as she has never dealt with those feelings. She really could use a good therapist.
My heart broke for Luke. He made his share of mistakes, lived an unsavoury life and ended up paying the price. Yet he worked hard to change things, to leave his part behind and become a better person. His love and devotion for the little boy showed his commitment to bettering himself.
When his past comes knocking and his world is suddenly pulled apart, I thought everyone was way too harsh in their judgement. The man was trying – there was never a moment's doubt about that. This guy was beautifully written, the author managed to bring this man to life and keep him realistic.
There is no doubt, that I loved this story. It was emotional, thought-provoking and full of just enough twists to keep you eager to keep reading. I enjoyed every second of reading this book and highly recommend this one.
If you enjoy a book that is thought-provoking, emotional and full of surprises then you will not be disappointed when you pick this title. You are guaranteed an entertaining read that will leave you judging the characters for their actions and quickly picking sides as the story is revealed.
https://featzreviews.com
March 26, 2022
Luke is someone with a past. He his trying his best to move on and help others through his work. I liked Luke who he is a single parent trying to make enough for a secure future for his boy. I think events in the story will definitely have the reader thinking about what they would do in various of the characters roles. To a certain extent I could see all points of views but didn’t necessarily agree with them but then it’s easy to judge when you are not in the same shoes so to speak.
This is an author whose writing always manages to tug on my heart strings. Whilst ultimately this is a psychological thriller, the story gets under your skin and grabs onto your emotions. I started and finished the novel in the same day as I was so engrossed more so when dark secrets start to be revealed, shocking ones at that!
Quicksand of Memory captured my attention from the very first page and wouldn’t let go. I found myself in turmoil at times with my feelings for a couple of the characters as certain actions of theirs left me feeling uncomfortable yet I felt empathy for them at the same time. This was another of the author’s novels where it consumed me as his writing takes over you as it’s so wonderfully powerful and literally takes your breath away. Chillingly brilliant!
My thanks to Anne cater for inviting me on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
This is an author whose writing always manages to tug on my heart strings. Whilst ultimately this is a psychological thriller, the story gets under your skin and grabs onto your emotions. I started and finished the novel in the same day as I was so engrossed more so when dark secrets start to be revealed, shocking ones at that!
Quicksand of Memory captured my attention from the very first page and wouldn’t let go. I found myself in turmoil at times with my feelings for a couple of the characters as certain actions of theirs left me feeling uncomfortable yet I felt empathy for them at the same time. This was another of the author’s novels where it consumed me as his writing takes over you as it’s so wonderfully powerful and literally takes your breath away. Chillingly brilliant!
My thanks to Anne cater for inviting me on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
January 15, 2022
Quicksand of Memory….an intriguing title that would not be out of place on a Bond movie. But this is no Bond movie. It is, however, a beautifully written, riveting piece of fiction that has many of the thrills and chills you’d experience watching the same.
What Michael Malone does so well is to take a dark story and make it super creepy, but at the same time imbuing his characters with emotions that touch the reader and make them so three dimensional that you feel as if you know them.
What you get are rounded characters to whom you can’t apply a straightforward black and white, good and bad analysis. None of these characters is perfect. Each is a product of their background, but each has handled that background differently.
Luke came out of prison and is working hard to re-build his life and to do something worthwhile. His past is dark and despite his best efforts, full of tragedy and he feels shame and remorse for the events that led him to be incarcerated. Now released, he is serious in his intent to make a good life and he is spurred on to achieve that by Nathan, a young lad whose mother sadly died, leaving Luke to bring him up.
Jenna works in a bookshop. She got led astray by a handsome but reckless and dangerous young man and has been paying the consequences ever since. When Luke and Jenna meet, the attraction is instant and the pair begin a tentative relationship. But both are concealing their own dark secrets, so what chance do they have of making a lasting relationship?
Someone is watching and that someone is determined that will never happen. Who they are and why they feel that way is something Malone handles with care and sensitivity, but the result is raw, shocking and full of emotion.
The one who waits in the dark and watches is compulsive and not a little obsessed, but even that is only a part of the story. What they have suffered; the losses they have experienced has left deep scars that do not heal, but remain to be picked at until they hurt some more. As you listen to that voice, the malice burrows its way into your brain.
Quicksand of Memory is a thriller, but it is also so much more. It burrows into the psyche of characters revealing toxic masculinity; a desire for revenge so hot it burns and a recognition that the building bricks of what makes you the person you become can be layered in different ways and the choices you make will influence the final design.
There’s intensity to Malone’s writing that sends chills down your spine. His characters feel and they let their feelings spill over into action. Not always wise, but each action and its consequence has its roots in what went before and Malone lays out the back story with compassion and understanding, so you can’t help but feel sorry for all those whose lives have been blighted by the past.
Verdict: Quicksand of Memory is a tautly written revenge tragedy about secrets, lies and the past coming back to haunt you. It is a beautifully conceived and brilliantly plotted exposition of the fact that in order to move forward, you first have to examine the past, confront it and make peace with it. You won’t forget these characters on a hurry. A highly recommended must read.
What Michael Malone does so well is to take a dark story and make it super creepy, but at the same time imbuing his characters with emotions that touch the reader and make them so three dimensional that you feel as if you know them.
What you get are rounded characters to whom you can’t apply a straightforward black and white, good and bad analysis. None of these characters is perfect. Each is a product of their background, but each has handled that background differently.
Luke came out of prison and is working hard to re-build his life and to do something worthwhile. His past is dark and despite his best efforts, full of tragedy and he feels shame and remorse for the events that led him to be incarcerated. Now released, he is serious in his intent to make a good life and he is spurred on to achieve that by Nathan, a young lad whose mother sadly died, leaving Luke to bring him up.
Jenna works in a bookshop. She got led astray by a handsome but reckless and dangerous young man and has been paying the consequences ever since. When Luke and Jenna meet, the attraction is instant and the pair begin a tentative relationship. But both are concealing their own dark secrets, so what chance do they have of making a lasting relationship?
Someone is watching and that someone is determined that will never happen. Who they are and why they feel that way is something Malone handles with care and sensitivity, but the result is raw, shocking and full of emotion.
The one who waits in the dark and watches is compulsive and not a little obsessed, but even that is only a part of the story. What they have suffered; the losses they have experienced has left deep scars that do not heal, but remain to be picked at until they hurt some more. As you listen to that voice, the malice burrows its way into your brain.
Quicksand of Memory is a thriller, but it is also so much more. It burrows into the psyche of characters revealing toxic masculinity; a desire for revenge so hot it burns and a recognition that the building bricks of what makes you the person you become can be layered in different ways and the choices you make will influence the final design.
There’s intensity to Malone’s writing that sends chills down your spine. His characters feel and they let their feelings spill over into action. Not always wise, but each action and its consequence has its roots in what went before and Malone lays out the back story with compassion and understanding, so you can’t help but feel sorry for all those whose lives have been blighted by the past.
Verdict: Quicksand of Memory is a tautly written revenge tragedy about secrets, lies and the past coming back to haunt you. It is a beautifully conceived and brilliantly plotted exposition of the fact that in order to move forward, you first have to examine the past, confront it and make peace with it. You won’t forget these characters on a hurry. A highly recommended must read.
March 17, 2022
Haunting and brilliant…
There are just not enough words to express how incredibly brilliant this book is. I’ll be writing a full review on my blog soon but I was so moved, felt like a cloud was hanging over the pages as I read at times and realised how miscommunication, guilt, and blame can affect people in so many different ways. Thought-provoking, haunting and pacy - this story will grab hold of you. Highly recommended!
There are just not enough words to express how incredibly brilliant this book is. I’ll be writing a full review on my blog soon but I was so moved, felt like a cloud was hanging over the pages as I read at times and realised how miscommunication, guilt, and blame can affect people in so many different ways. Thought-provoking, haunting and pacy - this story will grab hold of you. Highly recommended!
April 15, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up. Luke is a therapist, battling his own demons after an earlier tragedy. Jenna is trying to rebuild her life, following a series of disastrous relationships. When they meet one another there’s an instant attraction but they don’t realise that someone is watching them. Someone who thinks they don’t deserve happiness. Someone who will do absolutely anything in their power to ensure that they don’t achieve happiness. And someone who will wait patiently to find the exact moment to wreak revenge.
This is a tale of obsession and revenge, where memories darken and rot and reform. The characters in this book are shaped by violence so it’s easy to see how past mistakes occurred. The book has short punchy chapters which I loved and as a result flew through the book. Seeing how Luke had turned his life around was heartening, he had grown up as a tough kid on a tough estate and all he wanted was to escape. I empathised with him hugely.
There are wonderfully dark characters within this book which enhanced the tension - there was a deep sense of dread emanating from one in particular, which made my pulse quicken every time they appeared. Quicksand of Memory is a terrifyingly realistic tale; there are people like this, there are circumstances and events like this going on in our towns and cities all the time, it’s so real. And if you fancy getting sucked down into the tough and gritty underworld of human life where violence and revenge are the norm, then this is for you.
Thank you Random Things Tours and Orenda Books for my review copy. All views my own.
This is a tale of obsession and revenge, where memories darken and rot and reform. The characters in this book are shaped by violence so it’s easy to see how past mistakes occurred. The book has short punchy chapters which I loved and as a result flew through the book. Seeing how Luke had turned his life around was heartening, he had grown up as a tough kid on a tough estate and all he wanted was to escape. I empathised with him hugely.
There are wonderfully dark characters within this book which enhanced the tension - there was a deep sense of dread emanating from one in particular, which made my pulse quicken every time they appeared. Quicksand of Memory is a terrifyingly realistic tale; there are people like this, there are circumstances and events like this going on in our towns and cities all the time, it’s so real. And if you fancy getting sucked down into the tough and gritty underworld of human life where violence and revenge are the norm, then this is for you.
Thank you Random Things Tours and Orenda Books for my review copy. All views my own.
April 11, 2022
This book follows Luke and Jenna. He is a struggling therapist with a young stepson, Nathan. She, a part-time bookshop assistant and a carer to her ill mother. When the worlds of these two people collide, both of them think that this could be it, their chance at happiness, possibly even redemption.
However, Luke and Jenna both conceal dark secrets. Secrets that best stay hidden.
What they don’t know is that someone is watching their every step. Someone who is desperate for revenge and will stop at nothing…
Team Orenda have done it again. I was so excited to start this book and I wasn’t disappointed.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. That’s what came to my mind as I was reading this book. The conniving and the patience of the antagonist (it was apparent that there was just one person behind all of this; the other acted as a lackey) blew my mind.
Malone delivers an intricate plot with relatable characters: a singe parent struggling to make ends meet, a carer trying her best but feeling as if she was failing her mother, a young man desperate for friendship.
I loved how all the characters were connected to each other and with each chapter the pieces of the puzzle began to fit. Also, the setting: bonny Scotland 💙
Overall, it is an amazing book and I definitely recommend it.
However, Luke and Jenna both conceal dark secrets. Secrets that best stay hidden.
What they don’t know is that someone is watching their every step. Someone who is desperate for revenge and will stop at nothing…
Team Orenda have done it again. I was so excited to start this book and I wasn’t disappointed.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. That’s what came to my mind as I was reading this book. The conniving and the patience of the antagonist (it was apparent that there was just one person behind all of this; the other acted as a lackey) blew my mind.
Malone delivers an intricate plot with relatable characters: a singe parent struggling to make ends meet, a carer trying her best but feeling as if she was failing her mother, a young man desperate for friendship.
I loved how all the characters were connected to each other and with each chapter the pieces of the puzzle began to fit. Also, the setting: bonny Scotland 💙
Overall, it is an amazing book and I definitely recommend it.
June 4, 2022
Quicksand of memory by Michael J Malone.
Scarred by their pasts, Jenna and Luke fall in love, brimming with hope for a rosy future. But someone has been watching, with chilling plans for revenge ... An emotive, twisty, disturbing new psychological thriller by the critically acclaimed author of A Suitable Lie and In the Absence of Miracles.
I really really enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. Loved Jenna and Luke. 4*.
Scarred by their pasts, Jenna and Luke fall in love, brimming with hope for a rosy future. But someone has been watching, with chilling plans for revenge ... An emotive, twisty, disturbing new psychological thriller by the critically acclaimed author of A Suitable Lie and In the Absence of Miracles.
I really really enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. Loved Jenna and Luke. 4*.
August 15, 2022
A dark tale, where every character seems to have a skeleton in their cupboard. If you can overlook a couple of big coincidences in the plot, this is a good read. The title is appropriate as everyone seems to struggle to remember fairly major events in their past. It grips and twists until the end.
January 23, 2022
If there is one thing guaranteed when reading a book by Michael J Malone it is that the writing style, the complexity and lyrical nature of the narrative will elicit from readers a multitude of emotions. Be it anger or sadness, hope or despair, you will find the beautifully evocative language captures them all, and the reaction felt mirrors what you see and read on the page. That is the case with Quicksand of Memory, a story of loss and of family, of friendships, new and old, and a complex tale of regret and hatred that leads to a truly destructive desire for revenge. It is a multi-faceted, character driven drama that whilst told largely in the present day, draws heavily on the mistakes of the past in informing the fragile security that our characters have developed.
This is, by and large, the story of Luke and Jenna. Luke is recently bereaved, raising his former partner's son as his own as he tries to get his fledgling counselling business of the ground. Jenna is, at least temporarily his patient, coping with her own loss and sense of regret. When the two meet you can feel the chemistry, the pull between them, but it take a few more contrived, non-therapeutic encounters for their lives to really start to gel.
Both were characters I felt drawn to from the start. With Luke it is due to his overwhelming empathy and the real sense of emotion that we experience in learning about his loss and his own personal demons. A troubled childhood, mistakes made that are set to change the course of his whole future but from which he needs to find redemption. But for all his mistakes, there is a tenderness to Luke which makes him impossible not to like, in spite of the shocking revelations that are made about him over the course of the novel. Jenna is also buried under the weight of grief and struggling with her mothers declining health, but facing up to some choices in her past that leave her with an aching feeling of regret that gave an initially flaky feeling individual a real depth of character I wasn't expecting. I love how the author always manages to make their feelings, the often all consuming nature of it, live on the page. It's an almost immersive experience as I found myself also bearing the burden of this grief as the literary voyeur, and totally invested in their journey to their own version of absolution.
There is another side to this story, one that takes us beyond the everyday exploration of his fledgling relationship, and one which adds a real sense of foreboding and tension to the story. There is someone who is less than enthusiastic about Luke and Jenna's new friendship, someone with their own selfish reasons for wanting it to fail. But again, there is a real complexity to this element of this story and the person involved is not an antagonist that I could simply hate or wish to see fail. Life is never that simple, never so black and white, and Michael J Malone has woven in so many shades of grey, such inner turmoil for this character, that it is hard to ignore that pull of empathy toward them or dismiss them as merely a bad person. Their background is troubled, their home life neglectful and abusive, and even now they are like a puppet whose strings are being pulled by someone with their own agenda. It inspires more consideration of that nature verses nurture debate, whether their final actions mean more than their original intent.
This is a very complicated story, an almost perfect storm of circumstances which lead us to a dramatic and potentially deadly conclusion. Toxic friendships, peer pressure, and misguided hero worship all colour and taint the present day. A host of what ifs and if onlys driving a quest for vengeance that can only really ever end one way. Presenting the fragile nature of the human mind, the corrosive nature of a secrets kept, and the way in which our actions can be exploited when factored into an overwhelming need for acceptance and to belong, this is another emotionally charged story that fans of the author are sure to love.
This is, by and large, the story of Luke and Jenna. Luke is recently bereaved, raising his former partner's son as his own as he tries to get his fledgling counselling business of the ground. Jenna is, at least temporarily his patient, coping with her own loss and sense of regret. When the two meet you can feel the chemistry, the pull between them, but it take a few more contrived, non-therapeutic encounters for their lives to really start to gel.
Both were characters I felt drawn to from the start. With Luke it is due to his overwhelming empathy and the real sense of emotion that we experience in learning about his loss and his own personal demons. A troubled childhood, mistakes made that are set to change the course of his whole future but from which he needs to find redemption. But for all his mistakes, there is a tenderness to Luke which makes him impossible not to like, in spite of the shocking revelations that are made about him over the course of the novel. Jenna is also buried under the weight of grief and struggling with her mothers declining health, but facing up to some choices in her past that leave her with an aching feeling of regret that gave an initially flaky feeling individual a real depth of character I wasn't expecting. I love how the author always manages to make their feelings, the often all consuming nature of it, live on the page. It's an almost immersive experience as I found myself also bearing the burden of this grief as the literary voyeur, and totally invested in their journey to their own version of absolution.
There is another side to this story, one that takes us beyond the everyday exploration of his fledgling relationship, and one which adds a real sense of foreboding and tension to the story. There is someone who is less than enthusiastic about Luke and Jenna's new friendship, someone with their own selfish reasons for wanting it to fail. But again, there is a real complexity to this element of this story and the person involved is not an antagonist that I could simply hate or wish to see fail. Life is never that simple, never so black and white, and Michael J Malone has woven in so many shades of grey, such inner turmoil for this character, that it is hard to ignore that pull of empathy toward them or dismiss them as merely a bad person. Their background is troubled, their home life neglectful and abusive, and even now they are like a puppet whose strings are being pulled by someone with their own agenda. It inspires more consideration of that nature verses nurture debate, whether their final actions mean more than their original intent.
This is a very complicated story, an almost perfect storm of circumstances which lead us to a dramatic and potentially deadly conclusion. Toxic friendships, peer pressure, and misguided hero worship all colour and taint the present day. A host of what ifs and if onlys driving a quest for vengeance that can only really ever end one way. Presenting the fragile nature of the human mind, the corrosive nature of a secrets kept, and the way in which our actions can be exploited when factored into an overwhelming need for acceptance and to belong, this is another emotionally charged story that fans of the author are sure to love.
May 13, 2022
Wow! As ever with a Michael J Malone book there are layers upon layers that slowly peel away. Eventually you are level with one or two smaller events that caused a chain reaction of ripples that get bigger and bigger as time goes by.
I always set aside time to concentrate on these books because they are always multi faceted, layered masterpieces. I want to absorb every last moment of their cleverly plotted writing.
As ever it’s an absorbing, amazing read. As ever, I held my breath, hoped, cried and felt for the characters. Every Michael J Malone book is like being there, looking over their shoulder as pictures are slowly painted and you watch wanting everything to work out.
It’s an exploration into the secrets we keep. The things we blame ourselves for because we don’t always want to tell others of the shame we carry about the past. The characters have all got secrets and know things about other characters. It’s also a wonderful exploration of memories. How we can build up people who are less than perfect (as are we all!), and make them into who we want them to be, while forgetting or choosing not to know the side we prefer not to. An absolute masterpiece of a novel and yes, I cried at the end. Another for my books of the year list! This is also about redemption and how people go about redeeming themselves, and it asks the question are some people redeemable? Is support all that we need for redemption? Are some people just hellbent on destroying others and causing destruction? Again, don’t miss this book that sets every cog in your mind whirring and might make you wonder about yourself or those around you. Truly wonderful!
With thanks to Orenda Books, Anne Cater and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
I always set aside time to concentrate on these books because they are always multi faceted, layered masterpieces. I want to absorb every last moment of their cleverly plotted writing.
As ever it’s an absorbing, amazing read. As ever, I held my breath, hoped, cried and felt for the characters. Every Michael J Malone book is like being there, looking over their shoulder as pictures are slowly painted and you watch wanting everything to work out.
It’s an exploration into the secrets we keep. The things we blame ourselves for because we don’t always want to tell others of the shame we carry about the past. The characters have all got secrets and know things about other characters. It’s also a wonderful exploration of memories. How we can build up people who are less than perfect (as are we all!), and make them into who we want them to be, while forgetting or choosing not to know the side we prefer not to. An absolute masterpiece of a novel and yes, I cried at the end. Another for my books of the year list! This is also about redemption and how people go about redeeming themselves, and it asks the question are some people redeemable? Is support all that we need for redemption? Are some people just hellbent on destroying others and causing destruction? Again, don’t miss this book that sets every cog in your mind whirring and might make you wonder about yourself or those around you. Truly wonderful!
With thanks to Orenda Books, Anne Cater and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
April 16, 2022
This psychological thriller certainly keeps you on high alert with the twists and turns in the plot. You have to follow your instinct as to which characters are reliable and as the title suggests, memories can be changeable and shifting. What appears on the surface may not be the truth. There are some flawed characters. Early childhood experiences have moulded them and never left them. Families can be destructive experiences for some vulnerable people and yet family ties can also be strong.
Luke's relationship with his unofficially adopted son gives you an insight into his true character and there is a great feeling of penance and restitution through nurturing him. The main focus of the story seems to be Luke and Jenna who both share a great and hidden regret for actions in the past. There is a complexity in the characters and you never feel that events are plot driven. They arise through the characters' desires. With dark moments, it is nevertheless a story of renewal and hope for a better future.
In short: a complex story of loss, regret and revenge
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book
Luke's relationship with his unofficially adopted son gives you an insight into his true character and there is a great feeling of penance and restitution through nurturing him. The main focus of the story seems to be Luke and Jenna who both share a great and hidden regret for actions in the past. There is a complexity in the characters and you never feel that events are plot driven. They arise through the characters' desires. With dark moments, it is nevertheless a story of renewal and hope for a better future.
In short: a complex story of loss, regret and revenge
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book
April 21, 2022
I’ve read this author before so was expecting something good and I wasn’t disappointed. Another great read from the Orenda stable this book features Luke, Jenna, Amanda and her brother Jamie each of whom has a dark secret in their past. Complex characters and you soon realise you can’t trust anyone! This is a fast paced and thought provoking read with short chapters which I love, so easy to read.
Briefly, Luke is trying to rebuild his life after a long prison sentence when he meets Jenna and they fall in love. However, their happiness is about to be shattered by a stalker seeking revenge. Amanda and Jamie were brought up in foster homes having been separated when their parents died. Circumstances bring the four of them together and revelations about their past forcing each of them to face uncomfortable truths.
A very clever, dark and twisted psychological thriller which I didn’t want to put down as secrets literally poured off the pages. Some of them I may have guessed but some which were a complete shock. I did think the ending was less dramatic than I expected but it was a great read and I enjoyed it a lot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Briefly, Luke is trying to rebuild his life after a long prison sentence when he meets Jenna and they fall in love. However, their happiness is about to be shattered by a stalker seeking revenge. Amanda and Jamie were brought up in foster homes having been separated when their parents died. Circumstances bring the four of them together and revelations about their past forcing each of them to face uncomfortable truths.
A very clever, dark and twisted psychological thriller which I didn’t want to put down as secrets literally poured off the pages. Some of them I may have guessed but some which were a complete shock. I did think the ending was less dramatic than I expected but it was a great read and I enjoyed it a lot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
May 23, 2022
Luke had a past he wanted to forget. He bitterly regrets things he did in his youth & is now doing his best to bring up Nathan, the son of his partner recently died. Money is tight as he tries to get his psychotherapist business off the ground & occasionally working as a bouncer in a nightclub. Jenna works in a bookshop. A failed relationship has left it's scars but when she meets Luke there is an attraction. However it seems that their pasts are about to catch up with them-particularly with Luke. Someone wants revenge & will stop at nothing to get it.
This book drew you in. I really liked Luke & felt for him as he tried to keep his world together. I also felt for Jamie, left to himself he might have recovered from his dreadful childhood, but his twisted sister made sure the wounds of the past were kept open. It was well written by an author I'd not heard of, but I'll be looking out for him in the future.
This book drew you in. I really liked Luke & felt for him as he tried to keep his world together. I also felt for Jamie, left to himself he might have recovered from his dreadful childhood, but his twisted sister made sure the wounds of the past were kept open. It was well written by an author I'd not heard of, but I'll be looking out for him in the future.
December 31, 2021
Michael J Malone is one of my favourite storytellers as he has the ability to transport you to a plot and characters that are totally compelling. This is a story of loss, trauma, hidden memories, revenge and love.
Jenna meets Luke and they very quickly fall in love , but both of them have memories buried in their past that they would rather not reveal. They also start to sense that someone is following them and even trying to sabotage their relationship, but who?
A great absorbing thriller with plenty of twists and turns
"Their affection for each other was like a drill working through the defences he'd set up all those years ago. Bit by bit, the brick and the lye was being chipped away. Buy only slowly"
Jenna meets Luke and they very quickly fall in love , but both of them have memories buried in their past that they would rather not reveal. They also start to sense that someone is following them and even trying to sabotage their relationship, but who?
A great absorbing thriller with plenty of twists and turns
"Their affection for each other was like a drill working through the defences he'd set up all those years ago. Bit by bit, the brick and the lye was being chipped away. Buy only slowly"
May 22, 2022
Mesmerising and brilliant. This shows the complexity of human nature and the way we hold onto secrets from our past and the dark feelings of vengeance which can simmer within until they reach deadly conclusions.
I loved the characterisations and their intertwining connections which ran really deep. I also loved the way interpretation and slight details from the past can really change perspectives and the truths about what really happened.
There were plenty of twists and turns which I didn’t see coming and the plot was deliciously dark with a good balance of snippets of good and love.
Overall an absolutely unmissable read and I’d thoroughly recommend.
I loved the characterisations and their intertwining connections which ran really deep. I also loved the way interpretation and slight details from the past can really change perspectives and the truths about what really happened.
There were plenty of twists and turns which I didn’t see coming and the plot was deliciously dark with a good balance of snippets of good and love.
Overall an absolutely unmissable read and I’d thoroughly recommend.
May 5, 2022
This was excellent and such a quick read! The fast paced, twisted thriller was so captivating that I really didn’t want to stop reading - so I didn’t! There were a lot of twists and turns that I think made for really interesting reading and I loved the level of detail that made all the secrets and trauma so connected and woven into all the characters. Would love to read more from the author!
April 21, 2022
I can't think of an author better suited to examining the lasting impact of trauma on the minds of people than Michael J. Malone; his novels may be classed as crime fiction but they are also invariably filled with warmth for his troubled, flawed characters. People are sometimes advised that to truly live in the present, they have to let go of the past but as he explores in his latest book, Quicksand of Memory, that often isn't easy – particularly when dealing with the complex sorts of issues that face these characters.
Luke has served time and has apparently faced up to the crime he was guilty of and first impressions would suggest that he has moved on from his earlier problems; following the death of his girlfriend, he is raising her young son, Nathan and despite not being his biological father, the love between the two is absolute. He's recently trained as a therapist but knows he needs to build his business and welcomes a new client, Jenna who has booked to see him due to her crippling anxiety. Their first meeting ends abruptly but it quickly becomes clear that there's a spark between Luke and Jenna. Fortunately, Jenna walked out before any client and therapist relationship was established and so it would seem that nothing is preventing them from becoming romantically involved.
However, Jamie is interested in Jenna too, and he has a connection to Luke. He also begins therapy sessions in order to become closer to him but though they develop a friendship thanks to Luke's open-minded generosity, there's another side to this complicated young man. The multiple narratives in Quicksand of Memory, including the occasional flashbacks, allow readers to understand who and what drives Jamie. His story is harrowing; a little boy torn from his family following tragedy, he was consistently let down by the adults who were supposed to protect him.
The contrast between Jamie's upbringing and Nathan's are stark and yet there are similarities too and even at the darkest points in the novel, Michael J. Malone paints a picture of a man tormented by who he has become and who he wants to be. Meanwhile, it transpires that Luke and Jenna are still haunted by the aftermath of the choices they made years ago. Throughout everything looms the malevolent figure of Danny who, despite being dead for many years, still dominates those left behind. While some still want revenge for his death, others are hiding what they know about his death – but Quicksand of Memory is a multifaceted novel and this is not a straightforward story of a perpetrator escaping justice.
Michael J. Malone understands that memories and the truth are often more complicated and that each person's perspective will affect how an event is viewed afterwards. There are the facts and there are what people believe and it's how they become interwoven that can lead to anger, regret and fear.
The nuanced characterisation in Quicksand of Memory is complemented by the superb sense of place which reflects the poverty-driven circumstances that frequently result in young men in particular turning to crime. There is darkness and violence here but it's juxtaposed throughout by love and an empathetic understanding of the way in which people are manipulated by their own thoughts as well as the actions of others. It's a gritty yet sensitive book that doesn't excuse or disregard the destructive past but allows remorse to be acknowledged and hope to persist. Suspenseful, poignant and so beautifully written, the outstanding Quicksand of Memory is another triumph by Michael J. Malone that will live long in my own memory. Very highly recommended.
Luke has served time and has apparently faced up to the crime he was guilty of and first impressions would suggest that he has moved on from his earlier problems; following the death of his girlfriend, he is raising her young son, Nathan and despite not being his biological father, the love between the two is absolute. He's recently trained as a therapist but knows he needs to build his business and welcomes a new client, Jenna who has booked to see him due to her crippling anxiety. Their first meeting ends abruptly but it quickly becomes clear that there's a spark between Luke and Jenna. Fortunately, Jenna walked out before any client and therapist relationship was established and so it would seem that nothing is preventing them from becoming romantically involved.
However, Jamie is interested in Jenna too, and he has a connection to Luke. He also begins therapy sessions in order to become closer to him but though they develop a friendship thanks to Luke's open-minded generosity, there's another side to this complicated young man. The multiple narratives in Quicksand of Memory, including the occasional flashbacks, allow readers to understand who and what drives Jamie. His story is harrowing; a little boy torn from his family following tragedy, he was consistently let down by the adults who were supposed to protect him.
The contrast between Jamie's upbringing and Nathan's are stark and yet there are similarities too and even at the darkest points in the novel, Michael J. Malone paints a picture of a man tormented by who he has become and who he wants to be. Meanwhile, it transpires that Luke and Jenna are still haunted by the aftermath of the choices they made years ago. Throughout everything looms the malevolent figure of Danny who, despite being dead for many years, still dominates those left behind. While some still want revenge for his death, others are hiding what they know about his death – but Quicksand of Memory is a multifaceted novel and this is not a straightforward story of a perpetrator escaping justice.
Michael J. Malone understands that memories and the truth are often more complicated and that each person's perspective will affect how an event is viewed afterwards. There are the facts and there are what people believe and it's how they become interwoven that can lead to anger, regret and fear.
The nuanced characterisation in Quicksand of Memory is complemented by the superb sense of place which reflects the poverty-driven circumstances that frequently result in young men in particular turning to crime. There is darkness and violence here but it's juxtaposed throughout by love and an empathetic understanding of the way in which people are manipulated by their own thoughts as well as the actions of others. It's a gritty yet sensitive book that doesn't excuse or disregard the destructive past but allows remorse to be acknowledged and hope to persist. Suspenseful, poignant and so beautifully written, the outstanding Quicksand of Memory is another triumph by Michael J. Malone that will live long in my own memory. Very highly recommended.
April 20, 2022
I am a huge huge fan of Michael J Malone's books. He writes crime fiction with a difference. Whilst dealing with some of the darkest and most serious issues, he creates a stories that beguile and entrance his readers. His biggest strength is his ability to create characters who are often flawed and dysfunctional, yet always so very human. He creates back stories for these characters that can help the reader to understand the decisions that they take. However, he doesn't make them blame-free, he examines consequences and the far reaching effects of actions taken.
Quicksand of Memory is Luke and Jenna's story, but I think it's fair to say that the main character in this novel is Danny. Danny died years ago, but his influence remains.
Danny was a huge part of Luke's early years, their relationship was strained, for Danny was a manipulative man who was able to use his skills for his own good, and as the story progresses, we realise just how much of an impact his actions have made, on so many lives.
Luke feels that he's paid the price for the mistakes of his early years. He's trained as therapist and wants nothing more than to be a good father to Nathan; the son of his recently deceased girlfriend. The reader has no doubt that Luke's intentions are good and that he truly wants to leave the past behind. However, that past keeps catching up with him, and just won't let go.
Jenna hasn't had a great life so far. She has to care for a mother who is no longer the person she once was. Her only proper relationship ended in tragedy and she feels that seeing a therapist will help her. There's a spark between Luke and Jenna, and their relationship soon moves way past professional, and they are both invested in a potential new love.
Jamie is an outlier. He also visits Luke, seeking help for his personal issues, but there's more to Jamie that first appears and he also becomes a large part of Luke's life.
Quicksand of Memory is an incredibly well written story, the author's psychological insight into how damaged minds work is intoxicating in parts. Do damaged people always cause more damage? Malone looks at this question in depth, producing evidence from the past that will shock and stun the reader.
Memory is a strange thing. We all interpret our thoughts in different ways, we can all look back at an event and see different things and take contrasting ideas from just one event, or one person, seen by many, known by many, but what is the truth? Is our own truth correct? Can we change the way we see something? What if we learn something that totally destroys a long held belief? How does that change us as a person? Luke, and in parts, Jenna and Jamie all experience these things and each of them will deal with them in their own ways.
This is a novel that is often quite harrowing, always compelling and quite beautifully written. It's a crime story with such depth, with characters who have been carefully and sensitively created and subject matter that is both relevant and shocking.
Another masterpiece from a favourite author, and publisher. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Quicksand of Memory is Luke and Jenna's story, but I think it's fair to say that the main character in this novel is Danny. Danny died years ago, but his influence remains.
Danny was a huge part of Luke's early years, their relationship was strained, for Danny was a manipulative man who was able to use his skills for his own good, and as the story progresses, we realise just how much of an impact his actions have made, on so many lives.
Luke feels that he's paid the price for the mistakes of his early years. He's trained as therapist and wants nothing more than to be a good father to Nathan; the son of his recently deceased girlfriend. The reader has no doubt that Luke's intentions are good and that he truly wants to leave the past behind. However, that past keeps catching up with him, and just won't let go.
Jenna hasn't had a great life so far. She has to care for a mother who is no longer the person she once was. Her only proper relationship ended in tragedy and she feels that seeing a therapist will help her. There's a spark between Luke and Jenna, and their relationship soon moves way past professional, and they are both invested in a potential new love.
Jamie is an outlier. He also visits Luke, seeking help for his personal issues, but there's more to Jamie that first appears and he also becomes a large part of Luke's life.
Quicksand of Memory is an incredibly well written story, the author's psychological insight into how damaged minds work is intoxicating in parts. Do damaged people always cause more damage? Malone looks at this question in depth, producing evidence from the past that will shock and stun the reader.
Memory is a strange thing. We all interpret our thoughts in different ways, we can all look back at an event and see different things and take contrasting ideas from just one event, or one person, seen by many, known by many, but what is the truth? Is our own truth correct? Can we change the way we see something? What if we learn something that totally destroys a long held belief? How does that change us as a person? Luke, and in parts, Jenna and Jamie all experience these things and each of them will deal with them in their own ways.
This is a novel that is often quite harrowing, always compelling and quite beautifully written. It's a crime story with such depth, with characters who have been carefully and sensitively created and subject matter that is both relevant and shocking.
Another masterpiece from a favourite author, and publisher. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
May 29, 2022
This darkly compelling revenge thriller is a powerful examination of one man’s struggle to leave his past behind and an equally vehement obsessive who is just as intent on destroying his new life. Shocking, disturbing and incredibly affecting, it’s an involving and fast-moving story of a group of people scarred by their pasts in different ways. The story brilliantly illustrates how a damaged mind, that has spent years nurturing a dark obsession, can wreak havoc and compound the trauma and misery of the past.
For therapist Luke, guilt is something that is ever-present and although he has done the time for the mistakes he made in his late teens, it still weighs heavily on his conscience. Having rebuilt his life following his release from prison and met and married single mother Lisa, her death has left him as sole carer to Nathan, and he is working hard to establish a new business and make a stable home for the boy he considers a son. When Jenna books a therapy session with Luke after her latest relationship has ended in disaster and she is struggling to care for her ailing elderly mother, she has more than a few regrets to talk over, specifically the tragic death of her first proper boyfriend. When a spark between Luke and Jenna draws them closer together neither of them know that they share a connection in common in Danny Morrison. But someone with a vested interested is watching them both and determined that the happiness and brighter future they are both so desperately hoping for won’t be so forthcoming. Danny’s lonely brother, Jamie, fifteen years Danny’s junior also seeks Luke out to talk about the brother he never really knew and the pair establish an awkward friendship of sorts. Soon after meeting Jenna, life begins to conspire against Luke with a string of things going awry and his personal life, business and finances all take a hit and it becomes clear from the narrative that someone is intent on making sure he never stops paying for his past.
Quicksand of Memory is a book that I read with my heart in my mouth and every single fibre of my being invested. The characterisation of the four central players (Luke, Jenna, Jamie and Amanda) is brilliantly done with all shaped by their pasts and the fact that Malone gets into their heads, and conveys their often conflicting emotions with such skill, make it a profoundly emotive read. All four knew different versions of Danny despite all being in his life at the same time, with age, rosy retrospection and love all playing a part in their memories of the man. The narrative moves briskly between all four of the central characters with short chapters that keep the action unfolding and make the book hard to put down. It’s feels wrong to describe the occasions when the screw is tightened on Luke as twists, but they do represent turning points which raise the stakes and heighten tension, and not a single one felt contrived or thrown in for sake of it. A thought-provoking and emotionally involving read with strong characterisation.
For therapist Luke, guilt is something that is ever-present and although he has done the time for the mistakes he made in his late teens, it still weighs heavily on his conscience. Having rebuilt his life following his release from prison and met and married single mother Lisa, her death has left him as sole carer to Nathan, and he is working hard to establish a new business and make a stable home for the boy he considers a son. When Jenna books a therapy session with Luke after her latest relationship has ended in disaster and she is struggling to care for her ailing elderly mother, she has more than a few regrets to talk over, specifically the tragic death of her first proper boyfriend. When a spark between Luke and Jenna draws them closer together neither of them know that they share a connection in common in Danny Morrison. But someone with a vested interested is watching them both and determined that the happiness and brighter future they are both so desperately hoping for won’t be so forthcoming. Danny’s lonely brother, Jamie, fifteen years Danny’s junior also seeks Luke out to talk about the brother he never really knew and the pair establish an awkward friendship of sorts. Soon after meeting Jenna, life begins to conspire against Luke with a string of things going awry and his personal life, business and finances all take a hit and it becomes clear from the narrative that someone is intent on making sure he never stops paying for his past.
Quicksand of Memory is a book that I read with my heart in my mouth and every single fibre of my being invested. The characterisation of the four central players (Luke, Jenna, Jamie and Amanda) is brilliantly done with all shaped by their pasts and the fact that Malone gets into their heads, and conveys their often conflicting emotions with such skill, make it a profoundly emotive read. All four knew different versions of Danny despite all being in his life at the same time, with age, rosy retrospection and love all playing a part in their memories of the man. The narrative moves briskly between all four of the central characters with short chapters that keep the action unfolding and make the book hard to put down. It’s feels wrong to describe the occasions when the screw is tightened on Luke as twists, but they do represent turning points which raise the stakes and heighten tension, and not a single one felt contrived or thrown in for sake of it. A thought-provoking and emotionally involving read with strong characterisation.
March 20, 2022
I have always been a huge fan of Michael J Malone and his latest book Quicksand of Memory is another great read. There is always something that will pull at every range of emotion you can experience and although this does have a slightly different feel to his previous books the effect is still very much the same and you will definitely feel like you have been through everything alongside the characters.
Luke is trying to start a new therapy business off the ground whilst caring for the son of his partner who had passed away. He is clearly struggling with this and also with actions in his past that he is trying desperately to distance himself from. One of his first clients is Jenna who herself is struggling with her past and also her ailing mother. Their first session does not go well but Luke really seems to like her and as they get to know each other they both feel relieved that they no longer have a business relationship. As they seem to bond over some similarities as the reader you are fully aware of the secrets they are keeping. What you don’t know is how this will affect them going forward or just how deep their connections run. Luke’s only other client is Jamie who himself has had a troubled childhood but is also a link to the past that Luke would rather stay right where it was the past but at the same time he really wants to help.
You can’t help but feel for Luke as he deals with everything that life is throwing at him. He knows that he is not perfect and that his business is a way to in some way atone for his past actions. He is still suffering from what he did, and this often clouds his actions when dealing with situations. At times the youth that he was rears up and his usual calm demeanour is replaced by something else. As we get glimpses of the past and his toxic relationship with his friend Danny, the ripples in the present make more and more sense.
Quicksand of Memory is a book that highlights just how views can be coloured by the past, what you remember may not be the whole picture and this can lead to actions that can have very serious consequences. For Luke his determination to run from the past meant that he never actually had the full picture in the first place and this led to events that changed his whole future for ever, Jenna was collateral damage due to half truths and hero worship but as is often the way of revenge neither were the ultimate losers in this story nor the only victims.
Luke is trying to start a new therapy business off the ground whilst caring for the son of his partner who had passed away. He is clearly struggling with this and also with actions in his past that he is trying desperately to distance himself from. One of his first clients is Jenna who herself is struggling with her past and also her ailing mother. Their first session does not go well but Luke really seems to like her and as they get to know each other they both feel relieved that they no longer have a business relationship. As they seem to bond over some similarities as the reader you are fully aware of the secrets they are keeping. What you don’t know is how this will affect them going forward or just how deep their connections run. Luke’s only other client is Jamie who himself has had a troubled childhood but is also a link to the past that Luke would rather stay right where it was the past but at the same time he really wants to help.
You can’t help but feel for Luke as he deals with everything that life is throwing at him. He knows that he is not perfect and that his business is a way to in some way atone for his past actions. He is still suffering from what he did, and this often clouds his actions when dealing with situations. At times the youth that he was rears up and his usual calm demeanour is replaced by something else. As we get glimpses of the past and his toxic relationship with his friend Danny, the ripples in the present make more and more sense.
Quicksand of Memory is a book that highlights just how views can be coloured by the past, what you remember may not be the whole picture and this can lead to actions that can have very serious consequences. For Luke his determination to run from the past meant that he never actually had the full picture in the first place and this led to events that changed his whole future for ever, Jenna was collateral damage due to half truths and hero worship but as is often the way of revenge neither were the ultimate losers in this story nor the only victims.
April 17, 2022
Jenna and Luke are at the start of their story.
Together, they could find the love and happiness they've been searching for so long. They're no strangers to heartbreak. Luke has been through prison, running a failing business, losing his best friend and most recently trying to build a life for his partners young son after she died. And Jenna has been trying to pick up the pieces from the aftermath of another devastating relationship left behind - but that all changes when she walks into that small therapists office and finds Luke.
This new chapter should be a happy one, but a happily ever after isn't looking likely. There's someone lurking around the corner, seeking revenge for the things others have forgotten. And while Jenna and Luke try to create a new life together, someone is just waiting to tear it apart.
I don't know where Orenda Books keep finding their authors … but wow. As soon as I see that little bird logo I know I'm in for something special, and as usual I was not disappointed.
This absorbing, esoteric story is a bitter, dark tale of obsession, of revenge and redemption. And thanks to the short, quick chapters, it was so easy to read and the pages flew by too easily.
Almost immediately, we start to see cracks form and the eerie tension is instant. Malone peels back the layers of our happy couples lives, and their lies, showing us the people they've left behind and the skeletons in their closets so only one thing is clear - you can't trust anybody and nothing is quite what it seems.
Now here's where Malone stands out - there's some details in this book that are obvious from the first few chapters, he gives us some key information the characters don't have … so with one key mystery out of the way, we're left wondering what other terrifying revelations could possibly be waiting around the corner. The characters all had a strange empathy about them, with deep insight into their pasts, their fears and motivations very quickly creating fully rounded, complex people who kept me guessing to the bitter end.
Together, they could find the love and happiness they've been searching for so long. They're no strangers to heartbreak. Luke has been through prison, running a failing business, losing his best friend and most recently trying to build a life for his partners young son after she died. And Jenna has been trying to pick up the pieces from the aftermath of another devastating relationship left behind - but that all changes when she walks into that small therapists office and finds Luke.
This new chapter should be a happy one, but a happily ever after isn't looking likely. There's someone lurking around the corner, seeking revenge for the things others have forgotten. And while Jenna and Luke try to create a new life together, someone is just waiting to tear it apart.
I don't know where Orenda Books keep finding their authors … but wow. As soon as I see that little bird logo I know I'm in for something special, and as usual I was not disappointed.
This absorbing, esoteric story is a bitter, dark tale of obsession, of revenge and redemption. And thanks to the short, quick chapters, it was so easy to read and the pages flew by too easily.
Almost immediately, we start to see cracks form and the eerie tension is instant. Malone peels back the layers of our happy couples lives, and their lies, showing us the people they've left behind and the skeletons in their closets so only one thing is clear - you can't trust anybody and nothing is quite what it seems.
Now here's where Malone stands out - there's some details in this book that are obvious from the first few chapters, he gives us some key information the characters don't have … so with one key mystery out of the way, we're left wondering what other terrifying revelations could possibly be waiting around the corner. The characters all had a strange empathy about them, with deep insight into their pasts, their fears and motivations very quickly creating fully rounded, complex people who kept me guessing to the bitter end.
April 24, 2022
Here I am again, another amazing Orenda published book by an equally amazing author. I am so sure that I will never do Michael J Malone's Quicksand of Memory justice. He is an author who writes the most riveting books. I always love a new Orenda release, I haven't yet found a book I do not like...and I have been part of their Blogger Team for quite a while now.
Michael J Malone always brings characters that are real, the humanity within them is clear to see. No one is perfect and neither are Luke and Jenna our main characters in Quicksand of Memory. They have flaws and are multi layered people. I found it so interesting to learn of their pasts and see how they acted, this gives us insight into their behaviour patterns in the present day. Their predictability, or not, as the plot develops,creates such an engaging and addictive experience.
This is a story of love, loss, friendship,revenge and hatred. A dark and raw story which is chilling in parts as well. This author always writes a story that overtakes my life and I am immersed from beginning to end.
Luke and Jen fall in love and are feeling they may have found 'the one'. They see a happy ever after on the horizon. At the same time there is someone in the shadows and just out of sight of the loved up couple. Someone who is out for revenge, scarred by their past and oozing with hatred.
The person in the shadows even has chapters from their point of view which gave me an even larger feeling of impending doom and dread. The tension was palpable throughout. I even got to a point where there was sympathy for their past and childhood. I am a person who tries to see or hope there is a little good in everybody. I hoped they would come to their senses at a certain point.
This is an expertly woven tale. Told with such depth that I was certainly feeling every characters emotions. It is an intense, raw, complex and fascinating story that shows just how skilled Michael J Malone is as an author,that's very skilled by the way.
Michael J Malone always brings characters that are real, the humanity within them is clear to see. No one is perfect and neither are Luke and Jenna our main characters in Quicksand of Memory. They have flaws and are multi layered people. I found it so interesting to learn of their pasts and see how they acted, this gives us insight into their behaviour patterns in the present day. Their predictability, or not, as the plot develops,creates such an engaging and addictive experience.
This is a story of love, loss, friendship,revenge and hatred. A dark and raw story which is chilling in parts as well. This author always writes a story that overtakes my life and I am immersed from beginning to end.
Luke and Jen fall in love and are feeling they may have found 'the one'. They see a happy ever after on the horizon. At the same time there is someone in the shadows and just out of sight of the loved up couple. Someone who is out for revenge, scarred by their past and oozing with hatred.
The person in the shadows even has chapters from their point of view which gave me an even larger feeling of impending doom and dread. The tension was palpable throughout. I even got to a point where there was sympathy for their past and childhood. I am a person who tries to see or hope there is a little good in everybody. I hoped they would come to their senses at a certain point.
This is an expertly woven tale. Told with such depth that I was certainly feeling every characters emotions. It is an intense, raw, complex and fascinating story that shows just how skilled Michael J Malone is as an author,that's very skilled by the way.
May 12, 2022
‘Quicksand of Memory’ is a stunningly woven narrative full of twists and turns that truly keeps you hooked. Malone is a master at creating characters that commit awful acts but yet you still have empathy for them as you learn about their story. Complex and real, they are people you won't forget for a while. It was a disturbing read but an empathic one. It just proves that the world is not black and white and is indeed a shade of murky grey.
There is one scene, in particular, that moved me and it's the one that the front cover is based on. I felt quite emotional reading it - a confused girl stood in front of a grave thinking she is crying… It was just sublime. Yes, this is a psychological thriller but it is much more than that. It examines masculinity both as a son, a person and a father. It highlights the generation of lost boys that have dealt with absent fathers and the culture of West Scotland that has a distinct working-class idea of what makes a man. Pair that up with out of town council estates, lack of opportunities and education and it is kindling for many a messed up life. I had a lot of time for Luke. He was trying to make a better life for himself and it made me remember something that happened to my mum. So she grew up in Drumchapel, Glasgow and was from a large family that suffered from all the above issues. I remember her brother beat her up one night in a drunken rage and it was her that got thrown out of the family home as she was too up herself for trying to get an education. Maybe it is living in Glasgow and knowing about its society but this book resonated with me deeply. It struck a careful balance of entertainment with a literary prowess that culminates in a book that has depth and the power to move the reader.
I loved it. Yet another 5⭐ book from the house of Orenda!
There is one scene, in particular, that moved me and it's the one that the front cover is based on. I felt quite emotional reading it - a confused girl stood in front of a grave thinking she is crying… It was just sublime. Yes, this is a psychological thriller but it is much more than that. It examines masculinity both as a son, a person and a father. It highlights the generation of lost boys that have dealt with absent fathers and the culture of West Scotland that has a distinct working-class idea of what makes a man. Pair that up with out of town council estates, lack of opportunities and education and it is kindling for many a messed up life. I had a lot of time for Luke. He was trying to make a better life for himself and it made me remember something that happened to my mum. So she grew up in Drumchapel, Glasgow and was from a large family that suffered from all the above issues. I remember her brother beat her up one night in a drunken rage and it was her that got thrown out of the family home as she was too up herself for trying to get an education. Maybe it is living in Glasgow and knowing about its society but this book resonated with me deeply. It struck a careful balance of entertainment with a literary prowess that culminates in a book that has depth and the power to move the reader.
I loved it. Yet another 5⭐ book from the house of Orenda!
April 13, 2022
“Family is thicker than blood”.
I’ve always wondered about this quote; and I think this story puts it from a very interesting perspective. When you are doing something that your conscience says that is bad but your family wants you to do, who should you follow? I know that this is not an easy answer and seeing all the troubles the poor characters of this story had lived, much more. But in the end, it’s us against the world, so no one will complain if what we did was bad, it will be in our conscience forever.
If you haven’t read anything previously from the author Michael J. Malone, you should do it right now, the stories are always intriguing and realistic, you want to hug the characters even when you know that they are acting wrongly, because life is never black and white but made of a spectrum full of grey.
There are quite a few main characters in this story; or at least for me, because even if Luke and Jenna are the ones that maybe have the focus, the “stalkers” can’t be ignored or forgotten, they have their own story to tell.
Don’t take this book as an easy read; it’s sad, painful and bitter; greatly created to keep you discovering layers and layers of secrets and twists. Some of them are easy to predict, some of them not, but for me what mattered more of this book were the characters. Neither of them had an easy childhood, and now as adults they are still struggling, will they have at least a little bit of peace at the end? Of course you’ll have to read the story if you want to know all the truth!
Ready to discover the “Quicksand of Memory”?
I’ve always wondered about this quote; and I think this story puts it from a very interesting perspective. When you are doing something that your conscience says that is bad but your family wants you to do, who should you follow? I know that this is not an easy answer and seeing all the troubles the poor characters of this story had lived, much more. But in the end, it’s us against the world, so no one will complain if what we did was bad, it will be in our conscience forever.
If you haven’t read anything previously from the author Michael J. Malone, you should do it right now, the stories are always intriguing and realistic, you want to hug the characters even when you know that they are acting wrongly, because life is never black and white but made of a spectrum full of grey.
There are quite a few main characters in this story; or at least for me, because even if Luke and Jenna are the ones that maybe have the focus, the “stalkers” can’t be ignored or forgotten, they have their own story to tell.
Don’t take this book as an easy read; it’s sad, painful and bitter; greatly created to keep you discovering layers and layers of secrets and twists. Some of them are easy to predict, some of them not, but for me what mattered more of this book were the characters. Neither of them had an easy childhood, and now as adults they are still struggling, will they have at least a little bit of peace at the end? Of course you’ll have to read the story if you want to know all the truth!
Ready to discover the “Quicksand of Memory”?
May 2, 2022
I absolutely loved this book! So much so that I finished it in one day. I really enjoyed the characters and the way that the author wrote about them, made me feel like I knew them personally. Despite many of the flaws in each of the character’s personalities, I was drawn to liking them and willing them to work things out. What an emotional rollercoaster this novel really is and if you are a fan of a gritty story, then this is the book for you! I will be looking up others by this author immediately. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews