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Memory Bank Thrillers #2
Retrograde Flaw
In a world of high-tech deceit, where memories are weapons and truth is a fragile illusion, Detective Morgan Reed must decipher his own past to survive.
Detective Morgan Reed is back on the force, but the digital landscape he once knew has evolved into a treacherous realm of shadow games and shifting allegiances. Thrust into an investigation surrounding the enigmatic High Rock Holdings and Spectre Group, he soon discovers the Kraken—a next-gen tech weapon with chilling accuracy.
Yet, the deeper Reed digs, the more personal the stakes become, with ties to his own haunted past and a murdered friend, Dontae Black. Teamed with the astute Detective Natalie “Nat” De La Cruz, the duo unravels a tapestry of betrayal, crime rings, and covert tech conspiracies.
But as the truth edges closer, Reed must confront a harrowing In a world where trust is just a byte away from betrayal, who can you really believe?
From Raquel Byrnes and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brian Shea comes Retrograde Flaw, where every digital footprint leads to an unexpected twist, and the line between ally and adversary is but a click away. A must-read for fans of Michael Crichton and David Baldacci.
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Praise for the Memory Bank
“...a nerve-fraying thriller that blurs the line between memory and menace. A relentless journey into the dark underbelly of technology.” —Jason Kasper, USA Today Bestselling Author of The Enemies of My Country
"Part police procedural, part technothriller, all action...a murder mystery where the thieves are after the only thing that is unique to each of our memories." —David Bruns, author of Command and Control
“...grabs you by the circuits and doesn’t let go." —Dale M. Nelson, author of No Prayers for the Dying
"A clever blend of police procedural and speculative fiction, The Memory Bank is a well crafted whip-smart futuristic thriller. Exceptional!" —Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Justice novels
Detective Morgan Reed is back on the force, but the digital landscape he once knew has evolved into a treacherous realm of shadow games and shifting allegiances. Thrust into an investigation surrounding the enigmatic High Rock Holdings and Spectre Group, he soon discovers the Kraken—a next-gen tech weapon with chilling accuracy.
Yet, the deeper Reed digs, the more personal the stakes become, with ties to his own haunted past and a murdered friend, Dontae Black. Teamed with the astute Detective Natalie “Nat” De La Cruz, the duo unravels a tapestry of betrayal, crime rings, and covert tech conspiracies.
But as the truth edges closer, Reed must confront a harrowing In a world where trust is just a byte away from betrayal, who can you really believe?
From Raquel Byrnes and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brian Shea comes Retrograde Flaw, where every digital footprint leads to an unexpected twist, and the line between ally and adversary is but a click away. A must-read for fans of Michael Crichton and David Baldacci.
______________________________
Praise for the Memory Bank
“...a nerve-fraying thriller that blurs the line between memory and menace. A relentless journey into the dark underbelly of technology.” —Jason Kasper, USA Today Bestselling Author of The Enemies of My Country
"Part police procedural, part technothriller, all action...a murder mystery where the thieves are after the only thing that is unique to each of our memories." —David Bruns, author of Command and Control
“...grabs you by the circuits and doesn’t let go." —Dale M. Nelson, author of No Prayers for the Dying
"A clever blend of police procedural and speculative fiction, The Memory Bank is a well crafted whip-smart futuristic thriller. Exceptional!" —Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Justice novels
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2024
154 people are currently reading
954 people want to read
About the author
Brian Christopher Shea
52 books284 followersAuthor also writes under Brian Shea
BRIAN CHRISTOPHER SHEA has spent most of his adult life in service to his country and local community. He honorably served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. In his civilian life, he reached the rank of Detective and accrued ten years of law enforcement experience between Texas and Connecticut. Somewhere in the mix he spent five years as a fifth-grade school teacher. Brian’s myriad of life experience is woven into the tapestry of each character’s design. He resides in New England and is blessed with an amazing wife and three beautiful daughters.
Writing has always been a dream, but life seemed to find a way of interrupting. It wasn’t until recently that he dedicated time to this passion. His first book, The Camel’s Back, gave him a much-needed mental break from his work investigating atrocities against children. He allotted time in the morning each day. Usually waking at 5 to bang away on his manuscript. The second round of daily writing would occur after his children were asleep. He proved that working full-time and raising a family were no longer valid excuses to putting off his novel.
BRIAN CHRISTOPHER SHEA has spent most of his adult life in service to his country and local community. He honorably served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. In his civilian life, he reached the rank of Detective and accrued ten years of law enforcement experience between Texas and Connecticut. Somewhere in the mix he spent five years as a fifth-grade school teacher. Brian’s myriad of life experience is woven into the tapestry of each character’s design. He resides in New England and is blessed with an amazing wife and three beautiful daughters.
Writing has always been a dream, but life seemed to find a way of interrupting. It wasn’t until recently that he dedicated time to this passion. His first book, The Camel’s Back, gave him a much-needed mental break from his work investigating atrocities against children. He allotted time in the morning each day. Usually waking at 5 to bang away on his manuscript. The second round of daily writing would occur after his children were asleep. He proved that working full-time and raising a family were no longer valid excuses to putting off his novel.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 21, 2024
Retrograde Flaw is a heart-pounding sequel to The Memory Bank that keeps you on edge from the very first page. Reed and Nat find themselves in a high-stakes murder investigation involving a new age, futuristic weapon. Trust is a rare commodity as every lead brings new twists and escalating danger. If you haven’t read The Memory Bank yet, go back and start there—this series is best enjoyed in order.
Reed has lost his childhood friend Dontae and the weapon used to kill him is something Reed and Nat have never even heard of. The investigation deepens after the duo realize some connections involving Danzig, a influential man whose company owns the technology that can support such a deed. The series complicate it as Reed goes deeper and becomes a target of hatred in his own department, making the stakes personal.
Every step Reed and Nat take pulls them deeper into a web of deceit. With unknown informants and lethal enemies, one is always placed in a state of dilemma of who is friend and who is foe? Just when you think you’ve figured it out, another layer unravels, keeping the tension high and the mystery alive.
This series is more than a typical thriller—it challenges you to think ahead, as the use of cutting-edge technology blends science fiction with detective work. It offers the ideal stage for the next part, Aurora Fragment (due January of 2025), to leave the reader begging for more.
A must-read for fans of intricate, action-packed thrillers with technological twists. Can’t wait to see where this series goes next!
Thank you Severn River Publishing for the gifted copy
Reed has lost his childhood friend Dontae and the weapon used to kill him is something Reed and Nat have never even heard of. The investigation deepens after the duo realize some connections involving Danzig, a influential man whose company owns the technology that can support such a deed. The series complicate it as Reed goes deeper and becomes a target of hatred in his own department, making the stakes personal.
Every step Reed and Nat take pulls them deeper into a web of deceit. With unknown informants and lethal enemies, one is always placed in a state of dilemma of who is friend and who is foe? Just when you think you’ve figured it out, another layer unravels, keeping the tension high and the mystery alive.
This series is more than a typical thriller—it challenges you to think ahead, as the use of cutting-edge technology blends science fiction with detective work. It offers the ideal stage for the next part, Aurora Fragment (due January of 2025), to leave the reader begging for more.
A must-read for fans of intricate, action-packed thrillers with technological twists. Can’t wait to see where this series goes next!
Thank you Severn River Publishing for the gifted copy
September 5, 2024
Another action-packed thriller.
Retrograde Flaw, the second book of the Memory Bank thriller series, will keep you guessing who Reed and Nat can trust as they try to solve a murder that used a new kind of weapon. If you have not read The Memory Bank prior to starting Retrograde Flaw stop and read it first. Even after reading The Memory Bank when it came out in March of 2024, I had to dust off my memory to keep up with the action in this book and parts of the back story as it relates to Reed and Nat. Like I said earlier, the action in this book is non-stop and the intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure who is on which side and what their aims are in the ongoing story.
If you enjoy stories and series that are more than your basic thriller and require you to think things through in the story, then you should consider reading The Memory Bank thriller series. One of these days I intend to sit down, and binge read or maybe listen to the entire series once it is complete. Speaking of the series being complete. The setup for the next book in this series was done in a way that has set my expectations for making sure I have plenty of time open in January of 2025 to read Aurora Fragment.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of Retrograde Flaw from the publisher and chose to provide my review.
Retrograde Flaw, the second book of the Memory Bank thriller series, will keep you guessing who Reed and Nat can trust as they try to solve a murder that used a new kind of weapon. If you have not read The Memory Bank prior to starting Retrograde Flaw stop and read it first. Even after reading The Memory Bank when it came out in March of 2024, I had to dust off my memory to keep up with the action in this book and parts of the back story as it relates to Reed and Nat. Like I said earlier, the action in this book is non-stop and the intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure who is on which side and what their aims are in the ongoing story.
If you enjoy stories and series that are more than your basic thriller and require you to think things through in the story, then you should consider reading The Memory Bank thriller series. One of these days I intend to sit down, and binge read or maybe listen to the entire series once it is complete. Speaking of the series being complete. The setup for the next book in this series was done in a way that has set my expectations for making sure I have plenty of time open in January of 2025 to read Aurora Fragment.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of Retrograde Flaw from the publisher and chose to provide my review.
September 4, 2024
I received an ARC through "Severn River" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This story has Reed and Nat looking into the death of one of Reed's boyhood friends. The weapon that was used was something that was unusual. The evidence that was available was quite scarce and did not provide a lot of information. Reed ultimately began his investigation by meeting up with Dante's family to find out what Dante was up to.
In addition, Reed received a call from an unknown party that furnished him with hints about the case. As Reed and Nat developed possibilities and starting interviewing people, they soon ran into danger. Eventually Reed honed into Danzig as possibly being involved. Reed had Nat look into individuals that were in Danzig's circle. The unknown party that was providing Reed info, eventually was identified. Reed's involvement in the case placed him as a target of one of the Detectives in his department.
To learn why Reed was in the Detective's crosshair, what other individuals were targeted with the strange weapon, what finally was the last action that led the case to conclusion and how it all worked out in the end, then you must read this book.
This story has Reed and Nat looking into the death of one of Reed's boyhood friends. The weapon that was used was something that was unusual. The evidence that was available was quite scarce and did not provide a lot of information. Reed ultimately began his investigation by meeting up with Dante's family to find out what Dante was up to.
In addition, Reed received a call from an unknown party that furnished him with hints about the case. As Reed and Nat developed possibilities and starting interviewing people, they soon ran into danger. Eventually Reed honed into Danzig as possibly being involved. Reed had Nat look into individuals that were in Danzig's circle. The unknown party that was providing Reed info, eventually was identified. Reed's involvement in the case placed him as a target of one of the Detectives in his department.
To learn why Reed was in the Detective's crosshair, what other individuals were targeted with the strange weapon, what finally was the last action that led the case to conclusion and how it all worked out in the end, then you must read this book.
September 5, 2024
This is the second high tech thriller in the Memory Bank series from the collaboration between Brian Shea and Raquel Byrnes. This is one of those series that I think it’s important to start at the beginning. Start with The Memory Bank - book one in the series. Reed and De La Luca’s hunt for Danzig continues. The investigation into the murder of a childhood friend from Reed’s past morphs into something much more complex when it exposes the use of a futuristic weapon that should not exist. Danzig’s company, along with only a couple others, possess the technology to have created such a weapon. The race is on to find and stop them before the weapon is sold to the highest bidder. This is a well written, action packed thriller!
September 23, 2024
Retrograde Flaw (Memory Bank Thrillers Book 2), my sixteenth read from author Brian Christopher Shea and the second co-written with author Raquel Byrnes. Outstanding technothriller, well-written with characters & plot you can buy into with unexpected twists & turns. Shea is a master character creator, blending seamlessly with co-author Raquel Byrnes. I look forward to Aurora Fragment (Memory Bank Thrillers Book 3), scheduled for release in January of 2025. “I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
September 16, 2024
Retrograde Flaw is a non-stop action, intrigue, misleading mysteries, and a look into what may be the future. Nat and Reed are cornered, they do not know who they can trust and every lead they follow seems to bring more problems than solutions. Memory Bank Thrillers is one of those series that once you get started you just cannot stop reading its books. Highly recommended!
I thank the authors, their publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
I thank the authors, their publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
October 9, 2024
What an awesome story that will keep you wanting more. These two authors have combined for another book that will have you gripped until the end. Captain Morgan is back on the force but didn’t expect the danger he’s in. Couldn’t stop reading.
April 4, 2025
Crazy and fast paced...
The mystery had many complexities. I like the unique characters, as well as the Pacific Body setting. I liked the variety of options that they researched, while trying to solve the case.
The mystery had many complexities. I like the unique characters, as well as the Pacific Body setting. I liked the variety of options that they researched, while trying to solve the case.
February 12, 2025
Good procedural/mystery/ action book
October 10, 2024
I received this as part of a goodreads giveaway.
I honestly really liked this and it kept me guessing til the end. I’m curious about the other two books in this series. I hadn’t read the first book and this book was fine as a stand alone if you couldn’t get ahold of the first book. Definitely would recommend to anyone who likes an action packed thriller with a touch of sci fi.
I honestly really liked this and it kept me guessing til the end. I’m curious about the other two books in this series. I hadn’t read the first book and this book was fine as a stand alone if you couldn’t get ahold of the first book. Definitely would recommend to anyone who likes an action packed thriller with a touch of sci fi.
December 31, 2024
Liked this book enough to start looking into buying additonal books in the series.
The cast of characters is very interesting and there is just so much detail. I hope that the other books in this series are just as good.
The cast of characters is very interesting and there is just so much detail. I hope that the other books in this series are just as good.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews