Echoes of Memory

After a vicious attack left Quinn Fleming unconscious and left for dead, she now suffers from post-traumatic amnesia, which leaves her unable to create new memories. Quinn cannot remember anything that happens from day-to-day, since the attack, but she is slowly recovering and finding ways to manage her daily challenges.

One day while closing up at her job at a floral shop, she witnesses a murder but her initial call to the police isn’t taken seriously due to her memory deficits. Quinn assumes the murder will be ignored and her identity as a witness long forgotten, until Quinn starts seeing images of the scene replaying in her dreams and she knows that she has to find justice for the unknown victim, whether or not anyone believes her.

Echoes of Memory is the first standalone novel by Canadian author Sara Driscoll (pen name for Jen Danna, author of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries series) and it is gripping, suspenseful and pulse-pounding from start to finish!

Quinn is both likable and relatable; after suffering a terrifying and traumatic attack, she strives to rebuild her life the only way she can, which cements her role as the admirable heroine. The extra steps she makes just to get through her day, including leaving Post-it notes for herself on nearly every surface of her apartment, generates empathy with the reader but also makes it clear that Quinn is courageous and not one to be underestimated.

Driscoll’s storyline is well researched and creative, with “Echoes” being full of information on memory loss, flower decoration and details about paint supplies (which is relevant to the plot in a big way), it is obvious that Driscoll puts tremendous effort and passion into her work.

Not only does the murder investigation add suspense and intrigue, but the unknown suspect who tails Quinn throughout the novel, desperate to silence her and keep her from talking about what she saw, compounds the intense mystery. “Echoes” has a plethora of twists and turns, keeping the outcome a secret until the absolute end, where Driscoll then delivers one final punch, wrapping up all of the loose ends.

“Echoes” has a stellar protagonist worth cheering for as well as a detailed and unique plot line with an emotional representation of traumatic brain injury and the struggles it causes its sufferers. Add to this a police investigation into a murder where the only witness is seemingly unreliable and Driscoll has created a page turner that pulls you in from the start and doesn’t let up!