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The Memory Thief
Dr. Marti Segerson's appointment to the staff of the isolated and rural Tennessee Gibson State Mental Hospital was no accident. Years ago, Marti watched a mad man, serial killer Vernon Odessa, murder her sister. Marti never forgot the horror. Never gave up on revenge.
Gibson State may finally hold the key to justice. Odessa is incarcerated within the gloomy, medieval-walled asylum. He's within her reach, but her carefully planned retribution may get her killed. Only days after her arrival, her memory is suddenly riddled with holes. Someone's carefully orchestrated mind games are blurring the line between illusion and reality.
Soon, she's not certain whether she'll get justice for her sister or become the next victim.
Gibson State may finally hold the key to justice. Odessa is incarcerated within the gloomy, medieval-walled asylum. He's within her reach, but her carefully planned retribution may get her killed. Only days after her arrival, her memory is suddenly riddled with holes. Someone's carefully orchestrated mind games are blurring the line between illusion and reality.
Soon, she's not certain whether she'll get justice for her sister or become the next victim.
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
28 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Donaldson
34 books109 followersD.J. Donaldson also writes under the names Don Donaldson and Don J. Donaldson, as well as David Best.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 12, 2015
Take a mental institution with a world-renowned psychiatrist who hires Marti a young female psychiatrist who moves to a new town to work at this institution, one of the inmates is a criminally insane serial killer who is the reason Marti accepts the job, her goal now is to find evidence to prove this man killed her sister many years ago, now throw in some questionable practices that actually remove memories from people and add a little bit of murder, mix this all together into this institution that has many secrets and creepy passageways and you have The Memory Thief, Don Donaldson wrote a good thriller here that I actually enjoyed, a lot may be predictable but Mr. Donaldson takes you many places you will not be expecting, a good read that will leave you thinking a bit differently about how safe your memories actually are.
September 2, 2016
Interesting for the idea of mental movies
This is a story of memory and revenge with a side of serial killer. Marti Segerson is out to punish, legally, the man who killed her sister. Vernon Odessa is a serial killer in a mental health facility. The problem is that although Marti saw the murder the police didn't have Enough evidence to prosecute him. So she becomes a psychiatrist stationed at the mental hospital where Odessa is serving his time. There are some additional oddities occurring in and around the hospital in terms of transient memory loss. The head doctor at the facility is a world-renowned scientist whose ideas are on the cutting edge of what people believe is possible . How do these characters fit together and how does memory storage affect the overall arc of this book. Although I figured out most of the details well before the end I really enjoyed some of the ideas about how the brain works and how we may be able to store our memories on a digital device . Definitely worth a few hours of your time particularly if you have a yen for murder ministries suspense and brain research.
This is a story of memory and revenge with a side of serial killer. Marti Segerson is out to punish, legally, the man who killed her sister. Vernon Odessa is a serial killer in a mental health facility. The problem is that although Marti saw the murder the police didn't have Enough evidence to prosecute him. So she becomes a psychiatrist stationed at the mental hospital where Odessa is serving his time. There are some additional oddities occurring in and around the hospital in terms of transient memory loss. The head doctor at the facility is a world-renowned scientist whose ideas are on the cutting edge of what people believe is possible . How do these characters fit together and how does memory storage affect the overall arc of this book. Although I figured out most of the details well before the end I really enjoyed some of the ideas about how the brain works and how we may be able to store our memories on a digital device . Definitely worth a few hours of your time particularly if you have a yen for murder ministries suspense and brain research.
March 28, 2014
This would have only been 2 stars had it not been for the ending. The description of this book is somewhat misleading. The main protagonist only loses (has stolen) one memory and not more. However, that does lead her to the discovery of the "bad guys." The premise I had a hard time believing in because I couldn't see how anyone would get into a profession such as phychiatry with the SOLE purpose of getting at her sisters killer. The ending however was very intense and worthwhile. I got this book for free and would only recommend to others as a free or cheap pickup.
August 20, 2015
Meh. The science was interesting (what little of it there was), but the remainder of the book fell flat. The plot was humdrum, and the writing itself felt formulaic and uninspired. Wouldn't recommend and wouldn't re-read.
August 1, 2023
After reading a quarter of the book, I already knew it wouldn't deserve a 5-star rating. I had to skip numerous pages, leading me to rate it less and less.
Having previously given 4 and 5 stars to Don Donaldson's other books, I had high expectations for this one. However, it failed to meet my expectations, and I was left disappointed.
The main issue lies in the excessive length of certain passages, which the author could have condensed. In fact, the entire story could be summarized in a single Twitter message. Despite this, I managed to finish the book, and for that, I'm giving it 3 stars.
Having previously given 4 and 5 stars to Don Donaldson's other books, I had high expectations for this one. However, it failed to meet my expectations, and I was left disappointed.
The main issue lies in the excessive length of certain passages, which the author could have condensed. In fact, the entire story could be summarized in a single Twitter message. Despite this, I managed to finish the book, and for that, I'm giving it 3 stars.
February 26, 2019
3.5 stars. This was engaging and kept me reading. I never totally bought in to the premise of going through medical school soley to target a killer. But it was an exciting story.
February 17, 2021
Very good! Couldn't put it down!
September 9, 2024
Loved the idea of the story but characters didn’t have much depth. Overall just average.
April 12, 2013
Review of The Memory Thief by Don Donaldson
5 stars
An engrossing, complex, utterly suspenseful mystery, “The Memory Tree” will appeal to readers who like their mysteries with a lot of meat on the bones. Marti Segerson, psychiatrist, arranges to be hired at a mental institution in rural Tennessee, precisely in order to get close to Vernon Odessa, the killer who slaughtered Marti’s older sister Lee when Marti was just a child. Marti has to go through and around Administrator Oren Quinn, a scientist who is sociopathic enough to be committed himself, and who is quite possibly performing memory experiments which would be both illegal and unethical, utilizing the patients at Gibson.
Convoluted but never confusing, suspenseful and emotional, “The Memory Thief” is a rereader, and a fine introduction to the novels of Don Donaldson, an accomplished and riveting writer.
5 stars
An engrossing, complex, utterly suspenseful mystery, “The Memory Tree” will appeal to readers who like their mysteries with a lot of meat on the bones. Marti Segerson, psychiatrist, arranges to be hired at a mental institution in rural Tennessee, precisely in order to get close to Vernon Odessa, the killer who slaughtered Marti’s older sister Lee when Marti was just a child. Marti has to go through and around Administrator Oren Quinn, a scientist who is sociopathic enough to be committed himself, and who is quite possibly performing memory experiments which would be both illegal and unethical, utilizing the patients at Gibson.
Convoluted but never confusing, suspenseful and emotional, “The Memory Thief” is a rereader, and a fine introduction to the novels of Don Donaldson, an accomplished and riveting writer.
August 2, 2013
Normally I only read horror/paranormal books, cozy mysteries, and the occasional nonfiction (if it is about something horrible or paranormal). I know, I was in a bit of a rut. But, fortunately for me, I was given the opportunity to receive a free e-book in exchange for my honest review. The book, "The Memory Thief" written by Don Donaldson is a psychological thriller. I honestly enjoyed this book and in the process found a new genre to explore. The suspense grabbed me in the first chapter. Mr. Donaldson cleverly gives the reader only bits and pieces of the characters histories and motives at a time throughout most of the book. By the time I got to the last 60 pages, I could not, and would not put this book down until I had finished it. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Donaldson's works.
September 3, 2013
I've been a fan of Mr. Donaldson since I discovered his Kit Franklyn books in high school. I was offered an advance copy of The Memory Thief in exchange for my impartial review.
One thing that troubles me with most novels I read these days is their predictability. When a detail is mentioned, it sticks out in my head, glaring as important to the plot later, because it isn't blended well into the story itself. I did not encounter that problem with The Memory Thief. This is a page-turning thriller that kept me second-guessing my own thoughts about what was going to happen. I highly recommend it, and also any others by this author.
One thing that troubles me with most novels I read these days is their predictability. When a detail is mentioned, it sticks out in my head, glaring as important to the plot later, because it isn't blended well into the story itself. I did not encounter that problem with The Memory Thief. This is a page-turning thriller that kept me second-guessing my own thoughts about what was going to happen. I highly recommend it, and also any others by this author.
July 31, 2016
I can't believe I finished reading this book. The story is weak, the setting is almost cartoonish and the characters are cardboard cutouts. Also, I hate it when an author creates suspense by having the protagonist do utterly stupid things, while presenting him/her as an otherwise intelligent person - and Marti does one stupid thing after another because if she didn't, there would be NO suspense at all.
March 1, 2015
I enjoyed this book. The character development was strong and the story line went fast. I would have rated it higher but the plot was pretty unbelievable. I kept finding myself thinking there is no way that would have happened. However, if you're looking for something quick to read, this one might be for you.
November 23, 2016
This book had a good engaging plot. Some of the incidents were pretty unrealistic - such as professional psychiatrists continually referring to the "retarded", and a "home for the retarded", and other naive unprofessional sounding happenings. But overall I was reading the book quickly to find out what happened next.
I enjoyed the book.
I enjoyed the book.
September 23, 2013
Another new author for me.... Couldn't put it down. A fast paced psychological thriller set in a mental hospital for the criminally insane. Add in an insane psychiatrist and a few mind altering experiments..... And you encounter The Memory Thief!!! Recommend!!!
March 25, 2014
Great book kept me into it the entire time. I loved the concept. Marti is determined to get back at the man who killed her sister and she will do anything to make that happen. I can't imagine someone being able to steal memory's but the way the author tells it. It's completely believable.
January 13, 2015
This was a pretty decent thriller. There were a few annoying bits (the inevitable love story for one) and it was fairly predictable, but it still kept me turning pages.
Mental institutions are creepy as is and the author does a good job of capturing that.
Mental institutions are creepy as is and the author does a good job of capturing that.
April 7, 2015
I got halfway through before I just couldn't read any more of this. I'd like to know how it ends, but this book just can't keep me interested enough to get any further so I guess I'll never know - I bet I could venture a pretty good guess though...
September 29, 2013
Really creepy psychological thriller! And it was free on Book Bub. It doesn't get better than that! Nightmares tonight.
January 4, 2014
Maybe even more. It is not terribly deep, but, once the premise gets established, the action is fast and furious and fun to read.
June 20, 2014
Enjoyed this thriller!
Wow, I was hooked from the beginning until the end. This is a thriller that'll leave your palms sweaty and your heart racing.
Wow, I was hooked from the beginning until the end. This is a thriller that'll leave your palms sweaty and your heart racing.
April 22, 2014
Great read!!
I thought the book was well written and the plot was well thought out. There were twists and turns that keep you turning pages.
I thought the book was well written and the plot was well thought out. There were twists and turns that keep you turning pages.
September 10, 2016
pretty good mystery story.
April 21, 2022
It was OK, if you can get past the initial premise that someone would go all the way through medical school for the sole purpose of getting revenge.
January 11, 2016
Eh, only ok.
April 21, 2015
Not the best book I've ever read, but it kept my attention. The lead character is just not believable enough, the whole premise is too implausible, but I liked the ending.
June 25, 2015
This is a good light reading book. The plot isn't too involved even though it keeps you guessing in some places.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews