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Spook Squad #1
Memory Zero
Sam Ryan has no memory of her past. All she has is a crayon drawing of a woman with the word 'Mummy' scrawled underneath. For the ten years Sam's been with the State Police, she's used their resources to search for any clues to her identity. But it's as if all mention of her family has been deliberately wiped off the system, and no one knows why. Everything changes the night her missing partner, Jack, attempts to kill her. Charged with his murder, Sam finds herself accepting help from Gabriel Stern - a shapeshifter with secrets of his own. As Sam delves into her partner's death, she discovers that not only is he very much alive, but he's involved with an organisation that plans to destroy the human race. Worse, someone knows the truth about Sam's past, and it appears that they'd rather see her dead than have her uncover it.
338 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2004
138 people are currently reading
1827 people want to read
About the author
Keri Arthur
100 books5,991 followersKeri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
May 11, 2017
My casting:
This book was totally okay. It was filled with action, friendship, explosions, secrets.. Though you might think it would have romance, which I will tell you, it did not.
The characters were cool. Sam did some kicking, though she had no clue what was going on, and Gabriel had his own thing going on. Though, I was hoping Gabriel and Sam had a bit more connection.. I don't know how to explain.. I just wanted something more.. Perhaps we'll get more in the next book.
All in all, the book was worth reading and I will continue reading this series, because its a good read and Keri Arthur is an awesome author :)
This book was totally okay. It was filled with action, friendship, explosions, secrets.. Though you might think it would have romance, which I will tell you, it did not.
"Maybe the answers we seek lie in the past you can't remember."
The characters were cool. Sam did some kicking, though she had no clue what was going on, and Gabriel had his own thing going on. Though, I was hoping Gabriel and Sam had a bit more connection.. I don't know how to explain.. I just wanted something more.. Perhaps we'll get more in the next book.
A man stood at the top of the stairs, staring down at her. The warm corridor light flared strangely across his back and shoulders, almost giving him the appearance of wings as it cast his features into shadows. A dark angel, she thought, and wondered briefly if death had come to collect her.
Nah. Hell was more likely her last resting place.
All in all, the book was worth reading and I will continue reading this series, because its a good read and Keri Arthur is an awesome author :)
August 4, 2024
Memory Zero
was first published in 2004, but has since been republished in 2014 with a new book cover. I have to say I really like the 2014 book cover. It’s eye catching.
WOW!! Memory Zero hooked me. I couldn’t put the book down and read it almost in one sitting.
I absolutely adored the mystery behind Sam and who or what she is. She doesn’t remember her past and the records that could help her, do not exist or where hidden by influential people. But things in her life soon take on a new turn and now she’s got to discover a new mystery besides finding out about herself. It’s all so intriguing!! Sam's past, the mystery on her partner Jack, this war that's coming, and everything else that pops up. I can’t wait to fully unravel it all in this three book series.
I loved the characters, plot, mystery, and well everything. It's action-packed throughout and the plot takes us away. Sam soon finds herself in the middle of something. The suspense and mystery keep her and us on our toes and on the edge of our seats. Sam, our heroine, is a determined person, dedicated to learn the truth, loyal and sweet, but that’s not all, because she’s full of flaws and fears. We get some answers, some changes in Sam, and then their are still more things to figure out. I’m very curious to see what Sam will become and where the mystery leads us.
As for a romance don’t expect anything big, because their is none, but it does have the potential and the possibility for their to be a romance.
Memory Zero focuses on a the mystery’s and a war thats coming to this world. So much happens and I can't wait to dive into Generation 18.
Rated: 4.5 Stars
WOW!! Memory Zero hooked me. I couldn’t put the book down and read it almost in one sitting.
I absolutely adored the mystery behind Sam and who or what she is. She doesn’t remember her past and the records that could help her, do not exist or where hidden by influential people. But things in her life soon take on a new turn and now she’s got to discover a new mystery besides finding out about herself. It’s all so intriguing!! Sam's past, the mystery on her partner Jack, this war that's coming, and everything else that pops up. I can’t wait to fully unravel it all in this three book series.
I loved the characters, plot, mystery, and well everything. It's action-packed throughout and the plot takes us away. Sam soon finds herself in the middle of something. The suspense and mystery keep her and us on our toes and on the edge of our seats. Sam, our heroine, is a determined person, dedicated to learn the truth, loyal and sweet, but that’s not all, because she’s full of flaws and fears. We get some answers, some changes in Sam, and then their are still more things to figure out. I’m very curious to see what Sam will become and where the mystery leads us.
As for a romance don’t expect anything big, because their is none, but it does have the potential and the possibility for their to be a romance.
Memory Zero focuses on a the mystery’s and a war thats coming to this world. So much happens and I can't wait to dive into Generation 18.
Rated: 4.5 Stars
April 10, 2017
I actually love this book it's great, it has everything I enjoy a great story almost romance and a great plot! This is definitely better than Riley and Risa both series also by Arthur! I really wish and hope that the series continues! All of you who read this please tweet, email, comment, post card, mail, SOS Arthur so that she can maybe resurrect this series. I'm writing this review after having read ALL 3 books available in the series. It's that good.
So in this book we meet Sam, Samantha Ryan, she's just been kicked off the force for blowing her partner's head off, except it wasn't her partner and he is a vampire. But there are some nefarious things going on with her expartnet. Instead she gets pulled down to the "Spook Squad" see when she went to meet her partner she ran into Gabriel the Assistant Director of the SIU (aka Spook Squad) though she didn't know it yet. He helped her out when a "kite" monster was after her. Eventually they go investigating together.
Sam also has a side plot about who she is, see she doesn't remember much before she ended up at the orphanage's door step when she was a teenager. So this is interesting to say the least.
The plot was great, giving clues to our series long plot, and giving clues to the plot(s) at hand or murder investigations at hand. And another side plot of a possible maybe relationship between Gabriel and Sam which I'm rooting for.
This is set in the future, like In Death, and has a lot of similar qualities to In Death, however I don't feel like it's a copy cat from where I am in the In Death series, having read much of Arthur's other works I can say it fits with her niche of her other worlds in those series. While this was written first it's seriously well written and so far Sam is not annoying me like Riley did by later in the series.
Ms. Arthur PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE continue this series!!
So in this book we meet Sam, Samantha Ryan, she's just been kicked off the force for blowing her partner's head off, except it wasn't her partner and he is a vampire. But there are some nefarious things going on with her expartnet. Instead she gets pulled down to the "Spook Squad" see when she went to meet her partner she ran into Gabriel the Assistant Director of the SIU (aka Spook Squad) though she didn't know it yet. He helped her out when a "kite" monster was after her. Eventually they go investigating together.
Sam also has a side plot about who she is, see she doesn't remember much before she ended up at the orphanage's door step when she was a teenager. So this is interesting to say the least.
The plot was great, giving clues to our series long plot, and giving clues to the plot(s) at hand or murder investigations at hand. And another side plot of a possible maybe relationship between Gabriel and Sam which I'm rooting for.
This is set in the future, like In Death, and has a lot of similar qualities to In Death, however I don't feel like it's a copy cat from where I am in the In Death series, having read much of Arthur's other works I can say it fits with her niche of her other worlds in those series. While this was written first it's seriously well written and so far Sam is not annoying me like Riley did by later in the series.
Ms. Arthur PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE continue this series!!
October 30, 2017
This review was updated on A Weebish Book Blog as part of my TBT Review feature. Review publishes on 1/25/2018.
MEMORY ZERO by Keri Arthur is a library read I picked up on a whim. I hadn't read anything Keri Arthur in years but I fondly remembered enjoying the Riley Jenson series and wanted to see how this one would compare.
I enjoyed this one pretty well, but it wasn't a stunner. MEMORY ZERO is the usual first-in-series read. It's focus was background and world-building, and while both are essential, I prefer a little heat and excitement in my PNR and this one had very little. Which I found rather off, considering the author. I recall the Jenson series was all sex all the time, but I can appreciate Arthur trying to change gears.
Though I can appreciate that Sam and Gabriel spent most of the time feeling each other out instead of feeling each other up, but MEMORY ZERO felt a bit stale. Sam's life was kind of falling a part so I am excited to see how things out work for her in GENERATION 18—and how the love interest plays out.
MEMORY ZERO by Keri Arthur is a library read I picked up on a whim. I hadn't read anything Keri Arthur in years but I fondly remembered enjoying the Riley Jenson series and wanted to see how this one would compare.
I enjoyed this one pretty well, but it wasn't a stunner. MEMORY ZERO is the usual first-in-series read. It's focus was background and world-building, and while both are essential, I prefer a little heat and excitement in my PNR and this one had very little. Which I found rather off, considering the author. I recall the Jenson series was all sex all the time, but I can appreciate Arthur trying to change gears.
Though I can appreciate that Sam and Gabriel spent most of the time feeling each other out instead of feeling each other up, but MEMORY ZERO felt a bit stale. Sam's life was kind of falling a part so I am excited to see how things out work for her in GENERATION 18—and how the love interest plays out.
November 5, 2022
3.5 - 4 stars
"Memory Zero" had the twists and turns I like in an urban fantasy. The futuristic paranormal world with vampires, shapeshifters, shapechangers, kites, the Shadow Walkers myth, and as yet to be introduced supernaturals, was very fleshed out and easy to drop into as a reader. I'm curious to learn more about Sam's past and what she is. It seemed as though there is a love interest set up for her. Too bad I read spoilers in other books 2 & 3 book reviews. If the mystery-suspense is just as good as this book then I'm positive I'll like the next two Spook Squad books.
library eloan
"Memory Zero" had the twists and turns I like in an urban fantasy. The futuristic paranormal world with vampires, shapeshifters, shapechangers, kites, the Shadow Walkers myth, and as yet to be introduced supernaturals, was very fleshed out and easy to drop into as a reader. I'm curious to learn more about Sam's past and what she is. It seemed as though there is a love interest set up for her. Too bad I read spoilers in other books 2 & 3 book reviews. If the mystery-suspense is just as good as this book then I'm positive I'll like the next two Spook Squad books.
library eloan
November 21, 2022
A nice departure from the other books I've read by this author. I'm glad this wasn't a how many sexual partners can I fit into this book. The story itself was good, although a little long. I liked Sam, I just didn't love her. She was way too trusting of her old partner no matter what anyone said or showed her. I did like that she was exploring changes in her life. I'm planning on reading the rest of the series. 3-1/2 stars
September 9, 2015
Sam Ryan is a cop for the Melbourne State Police. Upon receiving a phone call from her partner, Jack - her missing partner, she agrees to meet him. Not only because of their partnership, but also because of the fact they share a deep friendship. When she arrives, what she discovers certainly rocks her world. And not in a good way. Jack is decidedly different, there are things around she's never seen in her life, and everything is cloaked in a paranormal veil of mystery. Because of certain unforeseen circumstances, Sam is forced to shoot Jack. Subsequently, she is investigated for his murder. That's not the least of her problems; besides being investigated and potentially implicated for murder, someone is also trying to murder her. She finds an ally in the form of Gabriel Stern, who is a mystery all his own. While on the run, Sam learns quite a bit about not only the world she is living in and the different aspects she clearly wasn't aware of, but she also learns quite a bit about herself in the process.
In this book, Arthur uses that old standby trope of missing/dead parents, questionable lineage, and lo and behold!, MC may not be what she thought she was after all!. This old trick never really bothers me because typically, each author that uses it brings something different to the table, Keri Arthur being no exception. I liked that Sam didn't wake up one day completely changed and super-powerful; little by little through the course of the book, minor things are noticed and any power is garnered slowly. What I appreciated most about the slow evolution is that Sam uses her instincts and her investigative skills to figure out the mystery, not some newly acquired and feisty skills. Although I'm sensing in future books to come in this series, Sam will have a nice balance of cop-skills and some powers to rely on.
When it comes to the world-building, I would have liked a little more. The story takes place in Melbourne but aside from a few token mentions of familiar Melbourne sites, this could have been Anywhere, Suburbia. It's also in the future - I want to say the year 2047, but I'm not altogether sure if that's the exact time period. I liked that the author used some gadgetry in order to lend a futuristic feel, but there were still elements that are current to our time period. Had this turned into a sci-fi kind of book rather than a UF with some sci-fi elements, I doubt I would have liked it as much. Straight sci-fi often confuses my brittle brain :)
While reading this, some patience needs to be in place. Something very pertinent to both the world and the storyline, the Race Wars, is mentioned here and there for the first half of the book. Nothing is explained about the Wars until well after the 50% mark. Same goes for some of the prominent (but secretive) organizations that play a role in the mystery. It's all revealed and luckily, the story is exciting enough that any confusion that may be had is quickly shoved on the back burner until the big reveal comes around.
I had tried reading one of Arthur's series before, the Riley Jenson series, and that one really didn't strike my fancy. This one, however, did. There isn't such a strong focus on the sex, the focus is on the mystery, murder, mayhem and action. I recommend this if you like all of the aforementioned and I will definitely be continuing on with this series.
**eARC received on behalf of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this book, Arthur uses that old standby trope of missing/dead parents, questionable lineage, and lo and behold!, MC may not be what she thought she was after all!. This old trick never really bothers me because typically, each author that uses it brings something different to the table, Keri Arthur being no exception. I liked that Sam didn't wake up one day completely changed and super-powerful; little by little through the course of the book, minor things are noticed and any power is garnered slowly. What I appreciated most about the slow evolution is that Sam uses her instincts and her investigative skills to figure out the mystery, not some newly acquired and feisty skills. Although I'm sensing in future books to come in this series, Sam will have a nice balance of cop-skills and some powers to rely on.
When it comes to the world-building, I would have liked a little more. The story takes place in Melbourne but aside from a few token mentions of familiar Melbourne sites, this could have been Anywhere, Suburbia. It's also in the future - I want to say the year 2047, but I'm not altogether sure if that's the exact time period. I liked that the author used some gadgetry in order to lend a futuristic feel, but there were still elements that are current to our time period. Had this turned into a sci-fi kind of book rather than a UF with some sci-fi elements, I doubt I would have liked it as much. Straight sci-fi often confuses my brittle brain :)
While reading this, some patience needs to be in place. Something very pertinent to both the world and the storyline, the Race Wars, is mentioned here and there for the first half of the book. Nothing is explained about the Wars until well after the 50% mark. Same goes for some of the prominent (but secretive) organizations that play a role in the mystery. It's all revealed and luckily, the story is exciting enough that any confusion that may be had is quickly shoved on the back burner until the big reveal comes around.
I had tried reading one of Arthur's series before, the Riley Jenson series, and that one really didn't strike my fancy. This one, however, did. There isn't such a strong focus on the sex, the focus is on the mystery, murder, mayhem and action. I recommend this if you like all of the aforementioned and I will definitely be continuing on with this series.
**eARC received on behalf of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 15, 2014
Mon avis en Français
My English review
This is a new edition of a series by Keri Arthur and I must say that once again I fell in love with the series. Indeed, I am delighted to have the chance to read all the novels that the author was able to release because I love all her writings that are ultimately still very different from each other. The theme and the kind made me think of her, however, Nikki & Michael series that I enjoyed.
Now, we discover Sam Ryan, a young woman who has a past only after her 14 years old and she hopes to find out who she really is. Yet it seems that the records that could help her, do not exist or were hidden by the most influential people. But all this is quite forgotten when she is forced to kill in self defense her partner who disappeared for quite a while. But as she explains the reason, the police suspects murder and she finds herself suspended right away. However, she attracts a totally different font which is particularly interested in the unusual abilities of the young woman, but also in the interest that everyone has towards her. This is how Sam is going to team up with one of the members of this group, Gabriel, to understand what is happening, why we try to kill her and to find out what exactly happened with her partner.
I had a lot of fun with this novel. Do not expect a big romance here because there is none even if something could born in the next volumes. However, we have plenty of action throughout the story and a plot that takes us away from the beginning. I admit that I was immediately intrigued by Sam’s partner Jack and his sudden change of attitude. But that’s not all because Sam finds herself in the middle of a story that surpasses her completely and although we have some early answers, the mystery settles and I can not wait to read on to find out my answers. Oh yes because I expect to know more about the origins of the young woman, to discover exactly who the person who tries to keep Sam alive is and of course to understand the mechanisms of the two organizations we discover. Our heroine is a determined person, desperate to learn the truth, but also loyal and sweet. But that’s not all, because she is full of flaws and fears she tries to keep to herself. Gabriel resembles her in many points, but he has his family to support him and he will do everything to understand what is happening, even if it should break some rules for that. Some events are initiated here, as well as some changes in Sam and I am very curious to see what she will become in the next volume.
As I said I had a great time and the plot carried me throughout the chapters. I’ll quickly get into the next one to discover more about the very existence of Sam and see if it is possible that something exists between Gabriel and her. A good discovery for me!
My English review
This is a new edition of a series by Keri Arthur and I must say that once again I fell in love with the series. Indeed, I am delighted to have the chance to read all the novels that the author was able to release because I love all her writings that are ultimately still very different from each other. The theme and the kind made me think of her, however, Nikki & Michael series that I enjoyed.
Now, we discover Sam Ryan, a young woman who has a past only after her 14 years old and she hopes to find out who she really is. Yet it seems that the records that could help her, do not exist or were hidden by the most influential people. But all this is quite forgotten when she is forced to kill in self defense her partner who disappeared for quite a while. But as she explains the reason, the police suspects murder and she finds herself suspended right away. However, she attracts a totally different font which is particularly interested in the unusual abilities of the young woman, but also in the interest that everyone has towards her. This is how Sam is going to team up with one of the members of this group, Gabriel, to understand what is happening, why we try to kill her and to find out what exactly happened with her partner.
I had a lot of fun with this novel. Do not expect a big romance here because there is none even if something could born in the next volumes. However, we have plenty of action throughout the story and a plot that takes us away from the beginning. I admit that I was immediately intrigued by Sam’s partner Jack and his sudden change of attitude. But that’s not all because Sam finds herself in the middle of a story that surpasses her completely and although we have some early answers, the mystery settles and I can not wait to read on to find out my answers. Oh yes because I expect to know more about the origins of the young woman, to discover exactly who the person who tries to keep Sam alive is and of course to understand the mechanisms of the two organizations we discover. Our heroine is a determined person, desperate to learn the truth, but also loyal and sweet. But that’s not all, because she is full of flaws and fears she tries to keep to herself. Gabriel resembles her in many points, but he has his family to support him and he will do everything to understand what is happening, even if it should break some rules for that. Some events are initiated here, as well as some changes in Sam and I am very curious to see what she will become in the next volume.
As I said I had a great time and the plot carried me throughout the chapters. I’ll quickly get into the next one to discover more about the very existence of Sam and see if it is possible that something exists between Gabriel and her. A good discovery for me!
June 13, 2014
I had mixed feelings about this book. It jumps right into the action and never stops. And while this is exciting, it's also problematic. Because with all the go, go, go the characters never once stop and have any sort of getting to know one another conversations. This means that the reader never has access to any getting to know one another conversations. I've finished the book and still feel that Sam is a complete stranger; Gabriel too, though to a minimally lesser degree, as we at least got to see his affection for his brother.
Further, I checked again and again to ensure that this is in fact the first book in the Spook Squad series. Once I had convinced myself it is, I started looking to see if the Spook Squad is a spin off of another series. Dark Angels is a fairly large series by Arthur, for example, and dark angels are mentioned here. But as far as I can see, the original release of this book predates the other series, so it can't be a spin off.
The reason I was so convinced it must be is because there is no world building and a lot of information seems to be assumed or glossed over—What is the Federation, for example, or who/what is this Sethanon everyone seems to know about, the events surrounding the recently deceased sibling, the interspecies war, all of Sam and Jack's history, why does the SIU and the Federation know all about Jack in the first place, etc. There is a lot of history that is referenced but never directly addressed (and arn't part of the book's mystery) and I felt I was missing a very large piece of the puzzle.
I did like that the book was set in Melbourne. I always enjoy finding that books are set in interesting locations. Though, honestly it could have been set anywhere. The setting played very little part in the story. I also liked that though the MCs were obviously becoming emotionally aware of each-other, the book didn't go there. This is urban fantasy and it remained true to its genre by not straying into romantic territory.
The writing was pretty good, though I do have to admit to thinking the use of 'kite monster' was incredibly cheesy. I could have lived it just 'kite,' you know, like the bird. But really, kite monster? Would a group of shifters, vampires, shapechangers, etc (you know monsters) really refer to another mythical creature as an xxx monster anyway? Either way, it felt really middle grade to me.
Final say: not a complete dud, but not a big winner either.
Further, I checked again and again to ensure that this is in fact the first book in the Spook Squad series. Once I had convinced myself it is, I started looking to see if the Spook Squad is a spin off of another series. Dark Angels is a fairly large series by Arthur, for example, and dark angels are mentioned here. But as far as I can see, the original release of this book predates the other series, so it can't be a spin off.
The reason I was so convinced it must be is because there is no world building and a lot of information seems to be assumed or glossed over—What is the Federation, for example, or who/what is this Sethanon everyone seems to know about, the events surrounding the recently deceased sibling, the interspecies war, all of Sam and Jack's history, why does the SIU and the Federation know all about Jack in the first place, etc. There is a lot of history that is referenced but never directly addressed (and arn't part of the book's mystery) and I felt I was missing a very large piece of the puzzle.
I did like that the book was set in Melbourne. I always enjoy finding that books are set in interesting locations. Though, honestly it could have been set anywhere. The setting played very little part in the story. I also liked that though the MCs were obviously becoming emotionally aware of each-other, the book didn't go there. This is urban fantasy and it remained true to its genre by not straying into romantic territory.
The writing was pretty good, though I do have to admit to thinking the use of 'kite monster' was incredibly cheesy. I could have lived it just 'kite,' you know, like the bird. But really, kite monster? Would a group of shifters, vampires, shapechangers, etc (you know monsters) really refer to another mythical creature as an xxx monster anyway? Either way, it felt really middle grade to me.
Final say: not a complete dud, but not a big winner either.
August 23, 2014
Memory Zero was first released in paperback in 2004. I honestly don’t know if this re-issue undergoes some re-editing or additional words. Since I never read the original release, I will treat this as a new book.
The story went straight into action – Sam was called by his missing partner of five years only to find out that it was a trap; that her partner was no longer human, and she was forced to kill him. Then the action just kept going, with Sam being targeted by some bad guys and she must work with Gabriel Stern, the assistant director of the Spook Squad, to stop the plan of war against the human race.
On one hand, the story was fast paced. Our characters didn’t exactly have time to relax because the bad guys seemed to be able to find them quickly. There were guns blazing and places being blown up. There were twists with shapeshifters taking the form of other people – which kept me guessing on who was who – and still an unanswered plan about what Sam was truly capable of.
On the other hand … man, I wish there was more background information about the world building! Finishing this book, I still didn’t fully grasp what actually happened when it came to an interspecies War, the reason for the two organizations (Sethanon vs. Federation), the history of Sam, why Jack was being recruited by Sethanon, and the actual history of Spook Squad (and there wasn’t a lot mentioned about the term “Spook Squad” here, SIU was more used). Also, did Gabriel used to have a female mate or something? So many things here were left in the mind of the author; they were written like it was assumed readers would understand it by reading between the lines. Well, this reader didn’t understand…
I know that the book was the start of a trilogy, which was why maybe most of the information was not completely revealed. However, it did lessen my enjoyment in reading this. So in the end, while it was a good start, I’m not really sure if I want to jump immediately for the sequel when it is released. I just don’t feel like I have enough connection with both Sam and Gabriel to find out what will happen to the both of them.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
The story went straight into action – Sam was called by his missing partner of five years only to find out that it was a trap; that her partner was no longer human, and she was forced to kill him. Then the action just kept going, with Sam being targeted by some bad guys and she must work with Gabriel Stern, the assistant director of the Spook Squad, to stop the plan of war against the human race.
On one hand, the story was fast paced. Our characters didn’t exactly have time to relax because the bad guys seemed to be able to find them quickly. There were guns blazing and places being blown up. There were twists with shapeshifters taking the form of other people – which kept me guessing on who was who – and still an unanswered plan about what Sam was truly capable of.
On the other hand … man, I wish there was more background information about the world building! Finishing this book, I still didn’t fully grasp what actually happened when it came to an interspecies War, the reason for the two organizations (Sethanon vs. Federation), the history of Sam, why Jack was being recruited by Sethanon, and the actual history of Spook Squad (and there wasn’t a lot mentioned about the term “Spook Squad” here, SIU was more used). Also, did Gabriel used to have a female mate or something? So many things here were left in the mind of the author; they were written like it was assumed readers would understand it by reading between the lines. Well, this reader didn’t understand…
I know that the book was the start of a trilogy, which was why maybe most of the information was not completely revealed. However, it did lessen my enjoyment in reading this. So in the end, while it was a good start, I’m not really sure if I want to jump immediately for the sequel when it is released. I just don’t feel like I have enough connection with both Sam and Gabriel to find out what will happen to the both of them.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
January 11, 2017
This was my first Keri Arthur book so didn't know what I was going to get. Turned out I got a good story.
It's paranormal, yes, but the thriller category is a better fit.
It's a thriller first and foremost. There's a spot of romance thrown in but mostly it's about police murder investigations, a framed cop and a villain trying to outwit and avoid the law. Everything a good thriller should be.
However, it's set in a time and place where otherworldly creatures are the norm in society (even if society doesn't know about them) and so the characters are shape shifters/changers and monsters of indeterminate origin and vampires (and not the sparkly, cute kind either).
This is the first in a trilogy so there's a lot of world/character building but there's still a lot of story packed in too. I have a couple of criticisms though. As good as the story is, I found some of the characters a bit confusing because it was hard to keep tabs on who the shape changers were at any given time. The ability of some shifters to 'change' into one of the other characters kept things interesting but made it hard to know 'who was who'. Also, the ending seemed very rushed and didn't keep the same pace as the first three quarters of the book which jarred a bit.
I would recommend this book as a good and solid story and if you're into thrillers and/or paranormal then this is for you.
I'm looking forward to part 2.
It's paranormal, yes, but the thriller category is a better fit.
It's a thriller first and foremost. There's a spot of romance thrown in but mostly it's about police murder investigations, a framed cop and a villain trying to outwit and avoid the law. Everything a good thriller should be.
However, it's set in a time and place where otherworldly creatures are the norm in society (even if society doesn't know about them) and so the characters are shape shifters/changers and monsters of indeterminate origin and vampires (and not the sparkly, cute kind either).
This is the first in a trilogy so there's a lot of world/character building but there's still a lot of story packed in too. I have a couple of criticisms though. As good as the story is, I found some of the characters a bit confusing because it was hard to keep tabs on who the shape changers were at any given time. The ability of some shifters to 'change' into one of the other characters kept things interesting but made it hard to know 'who was who'. Also, the ending seemed very rushed and didn't keep the same pace as the first three quarters of the book which jarred a bit.
I would recommend this book as a good and solid story and if you're into thrillers and/or paranormal then this is for you.
I'm looking forward to part 2.
August 18, 2014
Memory Zero is a rerelease of Keri Arthur's Spook Squad series.
Set in Melbourne, Australia the book follows Detective Samantha Ryan after she shoots and kills her partner of 5 years Jack Kazdan. Only he's not really dead. And Sam has been suspended. And...Sam seems to have some special abilities she was not aware of.
Enter Gabriel Stern of the Special Investigations Unit, a part of a covert group called the Federation and also known as Spook Squad. Gabriel is investigating the case and sees that Sam is unique, something that has not been seen in over 50 years. Sam is interested in proving her innocence - and she likes to work alone - just like Gabriel.
I don't know. It was really hard to stick with this book. I had difficulty connecting to either Sam or Gabriel. Sam played the TSTL card often and took some unnecessary risks with her life. Gabriel was just too secretive for me to fully enjoy the book.
I've got to hand it to Jack. Jack was probably one of the most annoying villains I've encountered in a while.
I felt that the plot could have been better developed, perhaps giving the reader a little more information about the paranormals from the start, rather than making us wonder why the characters were so important.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Dell for a review copy of this book.
Set in Melbourne, Australia the book follows Detective Samantha Ryan after she shoots and kills her partner of 5 years Jack Kazdan. Only he's not really dead. And Sam has been suspended. And...Sam seems to have some special abilities she was not aware of.
Enter Gabriel Stern of the Special Investigations Unit, a part of a covert group called the Federation and also known as Spook Squad. Gabriel is investigating the case and sees that Sam is unique, something that has not been seen in over 50 years. Sam is interested in proving her innocence - and she likes to work alone - just like Gabriel.
I don't know. It was really hard to stick with this book. I had difficulty connecting to either Sam or Gabriel. Sam played the TSTL card often and took some unnecessary risks with her life. Gabriel was just too secretive for me to fully enjoy the book.
I've got to hand it to Jack. Jack was probably one of the most annoying villains I've encountered in a while.
I felt that the plot could have been better developed, perhaps giving the reader a little more information about the paranormals from the start, rather than making us wonder why the characters were so important.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Dell for a review copy of this book.
July 23, 2014
Good UF story; nice plotline, lots of action. Too bad this is an old series with only three books. Allows the reader to see what Arthur can do with a UF story not overly obsessed with sex scenes; and with a heroine who is not constantly looking for the next man to boink.
Since this series is being re-released with new covers, I wonder if there is a possibility Arthur plans to pick the threads of this series up again...
Since this series is being re-released with new covers, I wonder if there is a possibility Arthur plans to pick the threads of this series up again...
September 19, 2018
Decent paranormal fantasy trilogy about a police officer who doesn't remember anything about her life before age 14. Then everything in her life is turned upside down when it suddenly seems as if nearly everyone is out to get her. Delightfully free of sex (but not sexual tension), I wish things had been tied up a little more at the end of the third book. (The books were originally released in 2004/5, then rereleased with new covers a decade later.)
March 19, 2013
In my continuation to check out this author's back list I have run into another dud. With this one I am giving up on others, as for me, it seem that Arthur hit her stride with Riley and company.
I have a hard time explaining why I didn't like this one, there was just something about it that turned me off, that made me not want to keep reading. In the end this one just wasn't for me.
I have a hard time explaining why I didn't like this one, there was just something about it that turned me off, that made me not want to keep reading. In the end this one just wasn't for me.
October 12, 2018
Many of my friends already know that I absolutely love Keri Athur's Riley Jenson Series! This series didn't fall short! It was a wonderful read! I actually stayed up way later than I should have, on my birthday, to finish this book!
November 1, 2012
I was a bit leary to start a Kery Arthur's back title. (Her Ripple creek werewolf series wasn't that good compared to RJ.) But I admit that the book was really good. It mixes mystery and fantasy in a good blend.
did-not-finish
November 22, 2022DNF at 5%. Don’t enjoy a heroine who makes stupid choices off the bat.
If police have been disappearing, your partner contacting you out of the blue after being gone for a while is out of character, and you don’t feel quite okay… THEN CALL FOR BACKUP OR AT LEAST LET SOMEONE KNOW YOU’RE THERE!!!
But no, she just keeps on plugging. Made me read a review again which said she trusts her old partner too much throughout the whole book. And since it looks like he’s a creep from the get go, I am not prepared to read this book and yell at her the whole time.
If police have been disappearing, your partner contacting you out of the blue after being gone for a while is out of character, and you don’t feel quite okay… THEN CALL FOR BACKUP OR AT LEAST LET SOMEONE KNOW YOU’RE THERE!!!
But no, she just keeps on plugging. Made me read a review again which said she trusts her old partner too much throughout the whole book. And since it looks like he’s a creep from the get go, I am not prepared to read this book and yell at her the whole time.
August 18, 2014
The Riley Jensen series was a binge read of mine a few years back, so when I found out that Keri Arthur had a new Urban Fantasy series releasing, I was excited to give it a try. What I discovered later was that it’s not really new. Memory Zero and the entire Spook Squad series was actually released for the first time a decade ago. This is a re-release with new edits and a new publisher. Hardcore Arthur fans undoubtedly knew this already. Another surprise: there is no romance. None. Urban fantasy purists may celebrate, but I was a bit disappointed.
The book is action packed, starting in the middle of a dangerous situation for our heroine, Samantha. Her partner, Jack, has called her to a shady part of town for a secret meeting. And since he has been missing for the past few weeks, she can’t ignore the opportunity to finally find out what has been going on. In a matter of just a few pages, she is nearly killed and the sequence of events essentially destroys the life as a cop she has worked so hard to build.
She is set up to look like a killer. The only witness is Gabriel, a mysterious shapeshifter who has his own agenda. He works for a secret supernatural organization that is not only interested in Samantha’s partner, but Samantha herself. She is forced to work with him if she has any hope of finding answers or clearing her name.
You might think this is a romantic set up for Gabriel and Sam. I did. I was wrong. At least in this book. It’s all business in most times, with a few traces of warm and fuzzies of the friendship variety. Maybe later installments may move toward more, but don’t expect it here. In fact, there is very little time for any exploration of feelings. There are too many explosions, kidnappings, shootings and stabbings; betrayals and double-betrayals. It’s pretty much a breakneck pace and you have little opportunity to grow bored.
I liked the story overall. It kept me engaged and interested in what would happen next. It posed a lot of questions, though, without giving many answers. This is especially true when it comes to what Sam is or what has Gabriel so hellbent on not having her as a partner. There was also a nearly throw-away line about a dead mate that really needed more explanation. My biggest issue was in the relationship between Sam and Jack. I take issue with how far off Sam’s perception was from the reality. She is supposed to be a smart woman and a good cop. That she could be so completely snowed came off as convenient to the plot but inauthentic – and for something so pivotal to the story—that was a fail.
I am curious about where the story will go, but I am also bummed to find out it’s over, before I’ve barely started it. Arthur says on her website that she is done with the characters, so three installments seem to be it. I have to ponder whether to continue.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC Provided by publisher for review
The book is action packed, starting in the middle of a dangerous situation for our heroine, Samantha. Her partner, Jack, has called her to a shady part of town for a secret meeting. And since he has been missing for the past few weeks, she can’t ignore the opportunity to finally find out what has been going on. In a matter of just a few pages, she is nearly killed and the sequence of events essentially destroys the life as a cop she has worked so hard to build.
She is set up to look like a killer. The only witness is Gabriel, a mysterious shapeshifter who has his own agenda. He works for a secret supernatural organization that is not only interested in Samantha’s partner, but Samantha herself. She is forced to work with him if she has any hope of finding answers or clearing her name.
You might think this is a romantic set up for Gabriel and Sam. I did. I was wrong. At least in this book. It’s all business in most times, with a few traces of warm and fuzzies of the friendship variety. Maybe later installments may move toward more, but don’t expect it here. In fact, there is very little time for any exploration of feelings. There are too many explosions, kidnappings, shootings and stabbings; betrayals and double-betrayals. It’s pretty much a breakneck pace and you have little opportunity to grow bored.
I liked the story overall. It kept me engaged and interested in what would happen next. It posed a lot of questions, though, without giving many answers. This is especially true when it comes to what Sam is or what has Gabriel so hellbent on not having her as a partner. There was also a nearly throw-away line about a dead mate that really needed more explanation. My biggest issue was in the relationship between Sam and Jack. I take issue with how far off Sam’s perception was from the reality. She is supposed to be a smart woman and a good cop. That she could be so completely snowed came off as convenient to the plot but inauthentic – and for something so pivotal to the story—that was a fail.
I am curious about where the story will go, but I am also bummed to find out it’s over, before I’ve barely started it. Arthur says on her website that she is done with the characters, so three installments seem to be it. I have to ponder whether to continue.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC Provided by publisher for review
July 26, 2014
Memory Zero had me hooked by the end of the first scene. Although it makes use of that common trope; police woman turns paranormal investigator, there is enough of a difference that makes the story feel new. Officer Sam Ryan may be one of these paranormals.
This isn't to say she suddenly becomes Superman, like so many other heroines of this genre. Her skills are hinted at here and there and there is no sudden glorious transformation. Instead, she survives a fall that might kill another, she has uncanny intuitions and can sense other beings, to name a few skills.
I liked how many powers are only hinted at. In one scene she cannot comprehend why her captors couldn't see her but as a reader we know that some of the other characters are speculating about her unusual biology and legends of a race thought to be extinct or legend. The reluctance of her fellow investigators, Assistant Director of SUI, Gabriel being the main culprit, is their lack of trust and secretiveness. In reality, what organisation would fling open their doors to someone who appears more than a little suspicious on paper?
Her innocence about her capabilities makes for a read where the hero doesn't become cocky or just plain stupid. Also, as Sam's childhood is victim to amnesia, she herself is a more realistic blend of curiosity and wariness. It just felt real to read about. Again the author lays out little hints; a fear of tight spaces, the boy with red hair and an old military tracking device.... But the puzzle is far from solved by the end of the book.
As the mysteries are peeled back, layer by layer, I cannot wait to see what is uncovered next in Generation 18!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook from netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2016
For Sam Ryan, life began at age fourteen. She has no memory of her parents or her childhood. In a decade of service with the State Police, Sam has exhausted the resources of the force searching for clues to her identity. But all mention of her family seems to have been deliberately wiped off the record. Everything changes the night Sam’s missing partner resurfaces as a vampire . . . and forces her to kill him in self-defense. Now Sam is charged with murder. Suspended from the force, and with no one left to trust, Sam accepts some unexpected help from Gabriel Stern, a shapeshifter who conceals startling secrets.
While investigating the circumstances surrounding her partner’s strange behavior, Sam discovers that Garbriel’s been involved with a dangerous organization that’s planning a war on the human race. More immediate, someone is guarding the truth about Sam’s past—someone who’d rather see her dead than risk her knowing too much. To stay alive, Sam must unravel the threads of her past—and find out not only who she is but what she is.
This was an awesome book. It was almost perfect. The story was well pace, the characters likeable, the villain truly evil, and an ending at the end :) Why was it not perfect? For me it had no heat. I would have liked more intensity between the hero and heroine. I understand it is a trilogy, but right now they have barely acknowledge they are the opposite sex. I wanted more. Hopefully, there will be in the next 2.
While investigating the circumstances surrounding her partner’s strange behavior, Sam discovers that Garbriel’s been involved with a dangerous organization that’s planning a war on the human race. More immediate, someone is guarding the truth about Sam’s past—someone who’d rather see her dead than risk her knowing too much. To stay alive, Sam must unravel the threads of her past—and find out not only who she is but what she is.
This was an awesome book. It was almost perfect. The story was well pace, the characters likeable, the villain truly evil, and an ending at the end :) Why was it not perfect? For me it had no heat. I would have liked more intensity between the hero and heroine. I understand it is a trilogy, but right now they have barely acknowledge they are the opposite sex. I wanted more. Hopefully, there will be in the next 2.
September 2, 2014
Until I was done with this book, I had no idea that it was a re-released novel. It seemed pretty updated even though it was pretty futuristic anyway.
Samantha's missing partner calls & says he needs to see her. She goes to a seedy part of town and feels something happening in an alley. She finds a dead old man. She chases a murderer only to find her old partner is a vampire who is going to kill her, so she kills him instead.
Now she's under investigation & suspended. She gets a guard who is a paranormal & actually the director of his division. He believes her, but won't tell her department he does. It's bigger than what they know.
It was pretty good, but this is a continuing saga. Those are not my thing. The ups and downs of characters though out several books. If this is something you can handle, I highly recommend this book.
Samantha's missing partner calls & says he needs to see her. She goes to a seedy part of town and feels something happening in an alley. She finds a dead old man. She chases a murderer only to find her old partner is a vampire who is going to kill her, so she kills him instead.
Now she's under investigation & suspended. She gets a guard who is a paranormal & actually the director of his division. He believes her, but won't tell her department he does. It's bigger than what they know.
It was pretty good, but this is a continuing saga. Those are not my thing. The ups and downs of characters though out several books. If this is something you can handle, I highly recommend this book.
August 27, 2011
Clones! I've been reading Ms. Arthur's other books when I came across this one. I found this book to be a fast and intriguing read. I want to read the other two books to find out what is really happening. This is the type of stories I enjoy. Never a dull moment.
January 6, 2021
Fast paced
This was a really compelling story. I was NOT planning on staying up to finish this once I'd started it, but here we are. I really, really liked Sam and Gabriel and I'm intruiged by the talents hinted at but not fully explained. Can't wait to read book 2!!
This was a really compelling story. I was NOT planning on staying up to finish this once I'd started it, but here we are. I really, really liked Sam and Gabriel and I'm intruiged by the talents hinted at but not fully explained. Can't wait to read book 2!!
October 1, 2023
loved it
I am very happy to have a new series to read! I have always liked Keri Arthur’s books and this one was no different. I really enjoyed the characters in it and the story was exciting. I am looking forward to starting the next one in this series.
I am very happy to have a new series to read! I have always liked Keri Arthur’s books and this one was no different. I really enjoyed the characters in it and the story was exciting. I am looking forward to starting the next one in this series.
August 5, 2014
Great series ended too soon by publisher I spent my birthday with a new series (for me) that I was really enjoying. The Spook Squad by Keri Arthur. The premise and story are fascinating, involving a close-to-us parallel world where nonhumans live alongside normal in an uneasy balance. They are policed by the SIU, a shadowy group set up to police nonhumans.
The main character in the book is Sam Ryan, a State Police Officer. As far as Sam is concerned, she is fully human – but is she truly? With no memory of the first 14-years of her life, Sam is an exemplary officer, but she is also a haunted woman, searching for her life before she awakened in a foster home at 14.
In Memory Zero we first meet Sam as she is set to meet with her partner, Jack, in a dark and stinking back alley of Melbourne. Jack – who has been missing for over two weeks, supposedly the victim of an unknown cop killer. Called to the alley by the missing Jack, having promised to tell no one, Sam finds much more than she expects as the Jack she meets is no longer human, but instead is a vampire. And something else – something much, much worse. Killing the man who is her partner, and yet not, Sam is pulled into a whirlwind of terror which begins to pull her history from her own mind, opening doors that should have stayed closed.
Generation 18 is the second in the series, and continues Sam’s story. Now a member of the SIU, she is partnered with Assistant Director of the SIU, Gabriel, the two are neck deep in the investigation of a serial killer who is targeting a seemingly unrelated group of victims, whose only link is that they are all adopted, and all have red-gold hair. We learn a lot more about Samantha in this volume, and I really came to admire and like her, though not Gabriel, a cold and isolated man, determined to shake Sam off as his partner. He is determined to never have a partner again after the death of his former two partners, one of whom was his mate, Andrea. That loss, when he was 18, has set in his mind that he will never allow anyone close to him again, not even his twin brother. Struggling to catch the killer, the invisible Sethanon, Sam has to fight not only her growing memories, and her jackass of a partner, but also a growing threat against herself and who she may, or may not, be.
Penumbra is the third book in the trilogy, and builds up the series to a massive head, as Sam finally realizes who, and what she is. And who Gabriel is supposed to be to her – though he desperately fights it. Tracking a mix of clones, shapeshifters and shapechangers, the murders come fast and furious as the military comes closer and closer to achieving their goals of an unstoppable army, and Sam comes to realize that her dreams of her twin are not only real – but that they are much more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
I was really liking this series. I mean, really liking it – enough that I sat other things aside and continued reading through all three books without stopping, other than to do what I absolutely had to.
EDIT TO REVIEW:
It appears that the whole "won't be publishing any longer" wasn't actually Keri's fault. Here is a note from here. I really loved the books, Keri, and will be updating all my reviews. I also just finished Full Moon Rising and will be writing a review on that one too. Loved it.
Sorry I’ve upset you by not finishing the series…but the reason is not as simple as I didn’t feel like finishing it. I had planned a 4th book, but the Riley Jenson series came along and given it was my first major book contract (along the publisher’s decision to release the first 4 books in one year), I had to give priority to that series rather than the Spook Squad novel. And I’m afraid that several years away from the Spook Squad world meant I was no longer immersed in it. I’d rather leave a series unfinished than make a total and utter mess of it.
However, with Bantam re-releasing the series in paperback in the US, I did write a brief (5 page) epilogue that gave some closure on the relationship aspects. The rest of the plot (and the war) does remain unfinished.
Again, sorry to upset and disappoint you. I wish I could finish the series, too, believe me, but there’s just too many other books I have to write.
So, now we know why Spook Squad was never finished – the demands of Publishers! I am updating and reposting my reviews everywhere to take her note into account.
So, my apologies to Keri for losing my temper and being a snot!
The main character in the book is Sam Ryan, a State Police Officer. As far as Sam is concerned, she is fully human – but is she truly? With no memory of the first 14-years of her life, Sam is an exemplary officer, but she is also a haunted woman, searching for her life before she awakened in a foster home at 14.
In Memory Zero we first meet Sam as she is set to meet with her partner, Jack, in a dark and stinking back alley of Melbourne. Jack – who has been missing for over two weeks, supposedly the victim of an unknown cop killer. Called to the alley by the missing Jack, having promised to tell no one, Sam finds much more than she expects as the Jack she meets is no longer human, but instead is a vampire. And something else – something much, much worse. Killing the man who is her partner, and yet not, Sam is pulled into a whirlwind of terror which begins to pull her history from her own mind, opening doors that should have stayed closed.
Generation 18 is the second in the series, and continues Sam’s story. Now a member of the SIU, she is partnered with Assistant Director of the SIU, Gabriel, the two are neck deep in the investigation of a serial killer who is targeting a seemingly unrelated group of victims, whose only link is that they are all adopted, and all have red-gold hair. We learn a lot more about Samantha in this volume, and I really came to admire and like her, though not Gabriel, a cold and isolated man, determined to shake Sam off as his partner. He is determined to never have a partner again after the death of his former two partners, one of whom was his mate, Andrea. That loss, when he was 18, has set in his mind that he will never allow anyone close to him again, not even his twin brother. Struggling to catch the killer, the invisible Sethanon, Sam has to fight not only her growing memories, and her jackass of a partner, but also a growing threat against herself and who she may, or may not, be.
Penumbra is the third book in the trilogy, and builds up the series to a massive head, as Sam finally realizes who, and what she is. And who Gabriel is supposed to be to her – though he desperately fights it. Tracking a mix of clones, shapeshifters and shapechangers, the murders come fast and furious as the military comes closer and closer to achieving their goals of an unstoppable army, and Sam comes to realize that her dreams of her twin are not only real – but that they are much more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
I was really liking this series. I mean, really liking it – enough that I sat other things aside and continued reading through all three books without stopping, other than to do what I absolutely had to.
EDIT TO REVIEW:
It appears that the whole "won't be publishing any longer" wasn't actually Keri's fault. Here is a note from here. I really loved the books, Keri, and will be updating all my reviews. I also just finished Full Moon Rising and will be writing a review on that one too. Loved it.
Sorry I’ve upset you by not finishing the series…but the reason is not as simple as I didn’t feel like finishing it. I had planned a 4th book, but the Riley Jenson series came along and given it was my first major book contract (along the publisher’s decision to release the first 4 books in one year), I had to give priority to that series rather than the Spook Squad novel. And I’m afraid that several years away from the Spook Squad world meant I was no longer immersed in it. I’d rather leave a series unfinished than make a total and utter mess of it.
However, with Bantam re-releasing the series in paperback in the US, I did write a brief (5 page) epilogue that gave some closure on the relationship aspects. The rest of the plot (and the war) does remain unfinished.
Again, sorry to upset and disappoint you. I wish I could finish the series, too, believe me, but there’s just too many other books I have to write.
So, now we know why Spook Squad was never finished – the demands of Publishers! I am updating and reposting my reviews everywhere to take her note into account.
So, my apologies to Keri for losing my temper and being a snot!
July 25, 2014
Sam Ryan is a cop and, despite the rules, she’s investigating a crime – the disappearance of her partner. She finds him – but then nothing goes to plan, not least of which when she is suspected of killing him.
Suspected of murder and with some shadowy organisation apparently trying to kill her, all she can do is try to investigate with what little resources are available to her while dodging her attackers – but the only person she can work with is Gabriel, member of the Supernatural police and with his own very suspicious motives.
Things are confusing enough without changes within herself – and the mystery of her amnesia and the secrets contained in the missing years of her childhood.
There was a lot in this book.
We have a futuristic version of our world – with a lot of new technology that isn’t quite sci-fi level future but is certainly up there. We also have a world with the supernatural very much openly present, has been for some time and uneasily fits into normal, legal society. Which means we have laws and legal structures created around the supernatural to fit them into the real world. We have a large history complete with wars and tension between humanity and the supernaturals.
And that’s the world – a world that is detailed and broad with a large number of creatures, technology, magic and practices all worked in in a way that was believable and worked. It’s huge, it’s rich and it’s really fascinating. I think I especially like the slightly-future tech, we don’t have phasers and teleporters – we have technology I can see us having in the not too distant future and making it fit realistically rather than making it a mystical panacea, indistinguishable from the unexplained magic. Though at times I got a little lost and think I would have liked to have some of the points on how the law worked, how the supernatural creatures worked and how that related to the story. I also think the setting suffered, this book is set in Melbourne, Australia – but it felt very “any city, nowhereland”.
The relevant plot also involved vast conspiracies, historical societies, competing philosophies and further hidden agendas and nefarious characters. It’s complex, believable and really well done. But there’s also a lot that I wish had been clarified.
Then there’s Sam Ryan herself. She has a mysterious past, complete amnesia. She may have some unexplained woo-woo and this may or may not make her super desirable to both feuding organisations. However, so far, those powers don’t make her a special snow flake chosen one nor do they make her super powerful – and while they may make her desirable, that isn’t emphasised particularly in why she’s so embroiled in the plot. At very least, she’s not a passive actor, a gem to be claimed by either side- she actively investigates for her own reasons which are completely divorced from whatever special past or powers she has. She drives forwards into the plot – and she does so intelligently and with relative wisdom considering the extreme circumstances she’s in
Add to that complexity we have the fact no-one can trust anyone else. Gabriel working for his secret organisation may be following Sam around and protecting her – but he doesn’t know why the other org is after her or whether that makes her nefarious and because he’s not sharing secrets with her he can’t trust her to support him anyway. While she doesn’t know Gabriel well enough to trust him and does know Jack
Add to that we have at least 3 traitors, a splinter group, blackmail, old resentments and secret upon secret all mixed in with shapeshifters who can look like anyone and the very idea of trusting someone else seems like a rather comically ridiculous exercise.
All of this is told at a breakneck pace while Sam and Gabriel run around, try to learn about the various factions in play while escaping constant attempts on Sam’s life, trying to clear Sam’s name (because she’s been framed for the murder of her partner, which she actually did, but not quite and there were clones and vampires and odd bodies and shadowy monsters no-one’s even supposed to know about involved) and discover whether her oldest friend is good or bad or very very bad indeed.
Read More
Suspected of murder and with some shadowy organisation apparently trying to kill her, all she can do is try to investigate with what little resources are available to her while dodging her attackers – but the only person she can work with is Gabriel, member of the Supernatural police and with his own very suspicious motives.
Things are confusing enough without changes within herself – and the mystery of her amnesia and the secrets contained in the missing years of her childhood.
There was a lot in this book.
We have a futuristic version of our world – with a lot of new technology that isn’t quite sci-fi level future but is certainly up there. We also have a world with the supernatural very much openly present, has been for some time and uneasily fits into normal, legal society. Which means we have laws and legal structures created around the supernatural to fit them into the real world. We have a large history complete with wars and tension between humanity and the supernaturals.
And that’s the world – a world that is detailed and broad with a large number of creatures, technology, magic and practices all worked in in a way that was believable and worked. It’s huge, it’s rich and it’s really fascinating. I think I especially like the slightly-future tech, we don’t have phasers and teleporters – we have technology I can see us having in the not too distant future and making it fit realistically rather than making it a mystical panacea, indistinguishable from the unexplained magic. Though at times I got a little lost and think I would have liked to have some of the points on how the law worked, how the supernatural creatures worked and how that related to the story. I also think the setting suffered, this book is set in Melbourne, Australia – but it felt very “any city, nowhereland”.
The relevant plot also involved vast conspiracies, historical societies, competing philosophies and further hidden agendas and nefarious characters. It’s complex, believable and really well done. But there’s also a lot that I wish had been clarified.
Then there’s Sam Ryan herself. She has a mysterious past, complete amnesia. She may have some unexplained woo-woo and this may or may not make her super desirable to both feuding organisations. However, so far, those powers don’t make her a special snow flake chosen one nor do they make her super powerful – and while they may make her desirable, that isn’t emphasised particularly in why she’s so embroiled in the plot. At very least, she’s not a passive actor, a gem to be claimed by either side- she actively investigates for her own reasons which are completely divorced from whatever special past or powers she has. She drives forwards into the plot – and she does so intelligently and with relative wisdom considering the extreme circumstances she’s in
Add to that complexity we have the fact no-one can trust anyone else. Gabriel working for his secret organisation may be following Sam around and protecting her – but he doesn’t know why the other org is after her or whether that makes her nefarious and because he’s not sharing secrets with her he can’t trust her to support him anyway. While she doesn’t know Gabriel well enough to trust him and does know Jack
Add to that we have at least 3 traitors, a splinter group, blackmail, old resentments and secret upon secret all mixed in with shapeshifters who can look like anyone and the very idea of trusting someone else seems like a rather comically ridiculous exercise.
All of this is told at a breakneck pace while Sam and Gabriel run around, try to learn about the various factions in play while escaping constant attempts on Sam’s life, trying to clear Sam’s name (because she’s been framed for the murder of her partner, which she actually did, but not quite and there were clones and vampires and odd bodies and shadowy monsters no-one’s even supposed to know about involved) and discover whether her oldest friend is good or bad or very very bad indeed.
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May 14, 2010
Sam is unable to remember anything about her past and joined the State Police to try to find out about her background. Despite doing detailed searches she has been unable to find out anything - it's as if all details of her & her family have been wiped from the system but the reason why is still a mystery. At the start of the story Sam's partner Jack is missing along with several other police officers. When she recieves a phone call from Jack asking her to meet him she is relieved to know that he is OK but then they meet & he attempts to kill her. Things soon go from bad to worse and she only manages to escape with her life because of the help she receives from Gabriel.
She finds herself suspended from the police and fighting for her life but has no idea who she can trust or where to turn for help. In the end she has to accept help from Gabriel but she still isn't sure that she can trust him. Gabriel is a shapechanger and has plenty of his own secrets to keep hidden. He needs to get Sam to trust him but how can he convince her to do that if he doesn't trust her? Gabriel is a member of SID (otherwise known as the Spook Squad) and while trying to find out about Sam's past and investigate the reasons Jack is trying to kill her they find themselves in a situation that is larger than either of them could have imagined. Their enemies may be closer than they think and they will have to put their trust in each other if they are going to survive.
After reading the first couple of books in Keri Arthur's Nikki & Michael vampire series I knew I wanted to check out more books by this author. I loved the sound of Memory Zero and had high hopes for this trilogy but I have to say I was blown away by this book. When I read the first book in a series I tend to expect that they will be a little slow to start while the author is building their world for us but Memory Zero was action from the word go. The story was so fast paced & had so many plot twists it was like being on a rollercoaster. One that I really didn't want to end but just couldn't get off of and I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting!
Despite the fast and twisting plot Keri Arthur manages to create a realistic and detailed futuristic world. It was easy to connect to both of the main characters and although there was no romance you can feel the chemistry between Sam and Gabriel so I have high hopes for something developing between them throughout the series. This was a 5 star start to the series and I'm looking forward to reading the remaining 2 books!
She finds herself suspended from the police and fighting for her life but has no idea who she can trust or where to turn for help. In the end she has to accept help from Gabriel but she still isn't sure that she can trust him. Gabriel is a shapechanger and has plenty of his own secrets to keep hidden. He needs to get Sam to trust him but how can he convince her to do that if he doesn't trust her? Gabriel is a member of SID (otherwise known as the Spook Squad) and while trying to find out about Sam's past and investigate the reasons Jack is trying to kill her they find themselves in a situation that is larger than either of them could have imagined. Their enemies may be closer than they think and they will have to put their trust in each other if they are going to survive.
After reading the first couple of books in Keri Arthur's Nikki & Michael vampire series I knew I wanted to check out more books by this author. I loved the sound of Memory Zero and had high hopes for this trilogy but I have to say I was blown away by this book. When I read the first book in a series I tend to expect that they will be a little slow to start while the author is building their world for us but Memory Zero was action from the word go. The story was so fast paced & had so many plot twists it was like being on a rollercoaster. One that I really didn't want to end but just couldn't get off of and I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting!
Despite the fast and twisting plot Keri Arthur manages to create a realistic and detailed futuristic world. It was easy to connect to both of the main characters and although there was no romance you can feel the chemistry between Sam and Gabriel so I have high hopes for something developing between them throughout the series. This was a 5 star start to the series and I'm looking forward to reading the remaining 2 books!
April 18, 2015
You know how sometimes you read a book, maybe an urban fantasy book, and even though you kind of like it, it also annoys you because there are things that feel really derivative or forced or like the author is checking "things that need to be in a popular urban fantasy book" off of a list? This wasn't like that. It could easily have been. There isn't any big original idea. It's even extremely similar to the author's Riley Jensen books in many ways. But half way through I found myself wondering why this one works and others don't. I don't know the answer other than it felt easy and effortless. Maybe she just didn't try to over complicate the premise. It's a pretty basic paranormal set-up. She added shapechangers to shapeshifters and changed the definitions a little, created a couple of new kinds of paranormal people to spice things up. But the intrigue is in the characters and Arthur writes good characters. Sam is one that most people would be hard pressed not to like, she's not a smart-ass, she's a stubborn, brave cop. She doesn't look like Gwen on Torchwood, but that's who she reminds me of. Nothing will stop her from getting to the truth, no matter how weird or scary it is. Especially when someone she loves is at risk.
Unfortunately, I just looked at someone else's review and saw that this isn't a trilogy, as it appeared because the books were re-released not that long ago, but it was three books at the beginning of a series that was never completed because she was contracted to start the Riley Jensen series and wasn't able to work on these anymore. Why in the world the publishers re-released the beginning of an uncompleted series I don't know, but I have no interest in getting even more immersed in characters and a world and then being left even more frustrated at the end when it gets abandoned. I have the next two books from the library and I'll flip through them to try and get some of my questions answered, but I can't recommend anyone try this book or this series because of this situation. It's a shame.
Unfortunately, I just looked at someone else's review and saw that this isn't a trilogy, as it appeared because the books were re-released not that long ago, but it was three books at the beginning of a series that was never completed because she was contracted to start the Riley Jensen series and wasn't able to work on these anymore. Why in the world the publishers re-released the beginning of an uncompleted series I don't know, but I have no interest in getting even more immersed in characters and a world and then being left even more frustrated at the end when it gets abandoned. I have the next two books from the library and I'll flip through them to try and get some of my questions answered, but I can't recommend anyone try this book or this series because of this situation. It's a shame.
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