Amnesia

Alexander Gregory #6

by L.J. Ross

Some things, you can never forget…

After a nationwide manhunt for notorious felon Carl Deere left two women hospitalised in a critical condition, clinical psychiatrist and criminal profiler Doctor Alexander Gregory is left heartbroken. Both are special to him: one is his new friend, Detective Chief Inspector Ava Hope, and the other is the woman he loves, Doctor Naomi Palmer. However, there’s something he doesn’t know…

One of them is a killer.

Enlisted by the Metropolitan Police, Doctor Gregory must embark on a journey into the past—theirs, as well as his own. In doing so, he comes to understand that justice is seldom black and white, and even good people can commit murder…

Murder and mystery are peppered with dark humour in this fast-paced psychological thriller, set amidst the iconic streets of London.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Murder Mystery

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2024

About the author

LJ Ross is an internationally bestselling author, whose books have sold over 7 million copies worldwide.

Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and became an instant, international bestseller. Since then, a further eighteen of her novels have gone on to take the coveted #1 spot, some even before general release and whilst only available to ‘pre-order’. The Bookseller magazine has reported on Louise having topped the ‘Most Read’ and ‘Most Sold’ fiction charts, and she has garnered an army of loyal fans who love her atmospheric and addictive storytelling.

Her eleventh novel, The Infirmary, is a prequel story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris and Alun Armstrong.

The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category.

In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of libraries.

Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland and Edinburgh. She enjoys reading all manner of books, painting, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’.

If you would like to connect with LJ Ross, she would be very happy to hear from you:

https://www.facebook.com/LJRossAuthor
https://twitter.com/ljross_author
www.lovesuspense.com
lj_ross@outlook.com

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read 4.5 STARS!**

This remarkable psychological crime novel is the 6th volume of the very gripping "Alexander Gregory" thriller series.

Storytelling is excellent, all characters are very believable and lifelike, and the psychological elements are superbly observed and executed by the author.

The story continues with Dr Naomi Palmer and DI Ava Hope both in hospital, the first in a serious coma and the second with a case of amnesia, while a new case of kidnapping of a young boy will keep Dr Alexander Gregory and his friend Professor Bill Douglas occupied.

An 8-year old boy named Rory Smyth is kidnapped, his father being MP Jonathan Smyth, and all avenues of interest will be investigated in order to find this unfortunate boy.

Slowly but steadily Gregory and Douglas will find the true reason and thus the perpetrator behind this kidnapping and bring this culprit to justice, while DI Ava Hope will have some serious confessions to make of her own.

What is to follow is a fast-paced psychological thriller, and that is brought to us in a most fascinating manner by the author.

Very much recommended, for this is another great addition to this excellent improving series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Marvellous Revealing Mind Void"!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

L. J. Ross remains an author I recently discovered, but whose writing has me highly intrigued. A massive manhunt for Carl Deere, a violent offender, has the UK on edge. Two women are in hospital with serious injuries and Dr. Alexander Gregory is beside himself. His instincts were right when no one would listen. One victim is a colleague, DCI Ava Hope, while the other is the woman he loves, Dr. Naomi Palmer. Little does he know, one of these women has a deep secret of which he is not aware. When the Metropolitan Police enlists him to dig through the amnesia from which both women are suffering, Dr. Gregory opens portals and learns of the secrets deeply buried, highlighting that justice is not always clear-cut. A thrilling piece that pits truth against honesty in the most harrowing times.

My binge reading of this series has been a week of joy and intense page flipping. L.J. Ross takes readers on the darkest adventure yet with Dr. Alexander Gregory in the middle of the action. The narrative is both swift and slow simultaneously, permitting the reader to get fully immersed in what is taking place. Revelations and momentum add flavourings of what this series has become, forcing the reader to hang on for dear life! Dr. Gregory's ongoing work adds something to attract the reader's attention. Each chapter pushes things forward in ways one could not expect.

L.J. Ross has offered up more Dr. Alexander Gregory development that is sure to enrich the series for those who remain attentive. There is also some poignant revelations of other characters who have played prominent roles in the series. These characters add their own flavouring to enrich the series and this novel in ways I did not expect.

Surprises fuel this series and L.J. Ross has never shortchanged her fans. Dr. Gregory’s work remains front and centre, peppering the narrative with twists to keep things on point. The plot is handled well as Ross crafts a reading experience like no other in a series that has it all. This is the final published novel to date, so I will have to wait to see what’s next for everyone, provided I have the patience.

Kudos, Madam Ross, for a chilling novel that is as addictive as it is dark!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[myreadingescapism · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entire series is so binge worthy..

[Miss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommended

I couldn't put this book down. It is so well crafted. Some books/series, you become emotionally invested, Alexander Gregory Thrillers are most definitely one of those series. LJ Ross is one of my very favourite authors. Her books are brilliant! I have read them all and eagerly await her next wonderful read.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amnesia picks up straight from where the events in Panic left us. There's so much happening and the whole story just doesn't let off. It's gripping and intense and I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to see what's next for Gregory.

[Tamana Zamani · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Jessica Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN

W H A T

WHAT DO YOU MEAN

[Charlotte Ashcroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from this author 😊

[Kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed seeing more of Ava’s background and understanding why she turned out why she did, but the rest of the story fell flat.

I knew exactly who had the boy from the get go, and everything else just seemed to drag on.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amnesia by L J Ross is a book in the Dr Alexander Gregory series, which follows on from the Carl Deere manhunt where two women are hospitalised. Chief Inspector Ava Hope and Dr. Naomi Palmer, whom Dr. Gregory has fallen in love with. Unfortunately, Naomi Palmer is in a coma and has not yet recovered whereas Ava Hope is now recovering from her physical injuries.
The storyline looks at the past, the present and even the future of Chief Inspector Ava Hope and why she did the things she did and where she ends up at the end of the book.
A child disappears whose father is a member of parliament and Dr Gregory and his colleague, Bill Douglas manage to find him unharmed physically.
A sombre look at the ways justice is metered out to people and how childhood trauma has repercussions throughout adulthood.
Highly recommended

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The previous iteration of Alexander Gregory's story, 'Panic', ended on a nail biting cliff hanger and I couldn't wait for this to be published.
The book follows straight on from the last, we find out why Ava Hope is a murderer. Heartbroken Alexander Gregory sits beside Naomi's bedside waiting for her to wake up and helps Ava navigate her memory loss. Gregory and Douglas also receive a distraction when the son of a MP is kidnapped and they help find him.
I love this series and love this part of it.

[Ray O'Hare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storyline

[Gail Radka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this latest in the series, actually enjoying these more than DCI Ryan, less cheesy on the emotional side.
The last book left us hanging so i was glad to get this one

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Great series!

[Rachael Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Can’t wait for the rest.

[Lorna Feldtmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, and enthralling, again! Another page turner. Really recommend reading previous books in order. The continuation of the Gregory series certainly does not disappoint. LJ Ross books are worth the Kindle Unlimited subscription on their own. Wholly invested in all her characters, she brings them to life and creates connections between them and the UK landscape so well. And love the way they all weave their way into each series of novels. Be it DCI Ryan, Dr Alex Gregory, or the lovely community she’s created with her summer mysteries, I count days until the next release. Keep them coming, Louise! Your novels have truly taken me through some challenging times. I used Poison Garden and Amnesia to keep me company during some recovery from serious surgery, and you never let your readership down. It’s just so hard waiting for the next instalment!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've grown to love the Dr Gregory series just as much as the DCI Ryan one. Can't wait to read what happens next.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the way in which LJ Ross left things at the end of the preceding book, Panic, I have been looking forward to finally reading this instalment with a mix if interest and apprehension. If you know, you know, but let's just say that there were some big surprises in the last investigation, and things were left on a bit of a melancholic edge for poor Alexander Gregory. Not a cliffhanger, as such, but some unfinished business might be a better way to put it. If you haven't read Panic, then I would suggest that is an absolute must before reading this, although the two can be read independently of the other books in the series. You will get the best out of the characters if you have read them all, especially the relationship between Gregory and Naomi, which is somewhat pivotal to certain elements of this book, but it's not essential.

As for this particular instalment ... well. It's hard to review without spoilers perhaps, but let's just say that I really enjoyed it. It's not the longest book - listening to the audiobook it is just a shade over 6 hours long at normal speed - but LJ Ross packs a lot in in that time. You can surmise from the blurb (if you wish) quite what is troubling Gregory this time around - and he is a troubled wee soul, bless him - but this book is less about that, as important as it is, and given more over to letting readers in on the backstory of one of the characters in particular.

From the very beginning of the book we are witness to a tragedy, but one that is all too believable, both of the time it occured and were you to translate the event into the present day. A miscarriage of justice occurs and it is the impact of that which becomes the focus of the ensuing story. LJ Ross has done a grand job of highlighting several issues, including police corruption and institutional racism, and certain situations really are enraging but sadly plausible. There is a lot of emotion attached to this particular book, and that comes through both in the writing and, as far as the audiobook goes, the excellent narration from Richard Armitage.

The book isn't solely focused on this character arc, and Gregory and his friend and colleague, Bill Douglas, are asked to consult on a kidnapping for ransom case. A young boy, Rory, son of a local MP has gone missing, and his parents have received a ransom note demanding cryptocurrency. It's a nice distraction for Gregory who is otherwise likely to get lost in his emotions, and for us as readers as the impact of the other story would potentially be quite hard to bear alone. This is one of the great things about the series, where Gregory gets to use his psychology talents to unearth the motive, and hopefully the identity of the perpetrators. There are a few surprises in store in this particular case and you need to be ready for a few twists and turns here too.

If I wanted to sum up the book, other than as a cracking good read (or listen), then I'd say this a story about family, as so much of what happens links back to the relationships between different characters, and the way in which loss, grief and anger, can come to inform and direct people's personalities in very different ways. The emotional toil is played out quite clearly on the page, LJ Ross balancing this and creating a compelling and absorbing novel for readers just brilliantly. Another top instalment, and one that opens up exciting prospects once more for what lies ahead. Fans (the very small number who haven't got to it yet, that is) will love it.

[Hector King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely better than Panic, with enough going on this time to distract from the genericness - most of the time.
Again, the characters are ridiculously stereotypical. There's the posh MP who leaves his wife for his maid - twice. There's the son who makes a mistake, but instead of being put in prison, gets sent to work with people less fortunate than himself to 'learn a vital lesson'. And of course, there's still good old Alex Gregory (is that his name...? think so): the most forgettable hero of all, whose biggest fault is...? Yes, you guessed it, putting others before himself too often.
But, in book six, this bollocks is at least interspersed with the backstory of DCI Hope and her family, which is actually very good. Yes, the concept of a racially aggravated assault in the 90s in a council estate isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it is really well told - and, unlike some other parts of the series, its effects are actually believable and moving.
The ending is exciting too, and I was really pleased that Ross didn't fall into the trap of waking Naomi up and allowing it to be completely happy as I was convinced she would. That said, I thought this was the last of a complete series, so I wasn't expecting things to be completely unresolved either...

All of the above is fine and leads to an enjoyable read, hence 4 stars, and - honestly - I will almost certainly buy 'Obsession' when it is released in July. However, the only thing that I really, really wish Ross wouldn't do is continue to regurgitate a medical student's psychiatry notes in ways that are completely unrealistic in both detail and timing. The fact that every single conversation between Bill and Alex is supposed to be a high-brow academic discussion is weird enough, but made farsicle when the contents of said discussion are so stupidly basic and uninteresting. I am not one of those annoying medics who loves to point out holes in plots because they aren't technically correct, from a medical standpoint. I actually really love unrealistic medical dramas - they are usually way better than the real thing. But there is something about this style that completely removes me from the moment and the plot and think "this writer is clearly not a doctor...", which is a shame. And what psychiatrist would really go up to a patient with schizophrenia and remind them that they, themselves, had a traumatic upbringing, but didn't end up psychotic. It sort of works in the plot but, when you take a moment to think about it, it is hardly plausible.

Anyway - good, entertaining read!

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest in the Alexander Gregory series by LJ Ross continues on from events that took place in Panic, and we see Gregory at a loss for once. His partner Dr Naomi Palmer is in a coma, one that doctors are not sure she will recover from, and his friend DCI Ava Hope is still recovering in hospital and not only is she dealing with physical injuries she is also having to cope with memory loss and can’t really remember what happened. He wants to help but after crossing the line once before he knows that he has to take a professional step back and just be there to listen.
The book opens with the brutal murder of a young boy, and it is this that starts a chain of events that lead up to the present day. The story is told in a dual timeline giving insights into past crimes and highlight a family’s feeling of injustice that affected them all in different ways. I always enjoy books that approach a story like this as it gives the reader an insight into characters and what motivated them into the actions they take. Whilst you can’t necessarily condone what they do it does make them seem more human and not outright just plain evil (although some really just are). With Gregory slowly putting pieces together from snippets of Ava’s memory and information from her colleague, you are left wondering if he is heading for further self-recrimination that he could have seen or done something to help or prevent what happened.
I love this series as whilst there is a police element to it, Gregory delves into the why of a case and this can really draw a reader in. This time he is called to provide a profile of a kidnapper when the young son of a politician goes missing. With no clue as to who is responsible and no evidence of who took him Gregory and his colleague Bill Douglas have very little to go on. As they dig into the family dynamic it’s clear that the picture they present is not telling the whole story, but it still doesn’t quite prepare you for the eventual outcome.
Normally I would say that you could pick up any of the books in the series and easily pick up what is going on but, in this case, I would recommend that you at least read Panic before you start Amnesia to get the full picture and truly understand. Once again LJ Ross has created a book that covers themes that are unpleasant but unfortunately all too true, handling them sensitively and will even have you feeling a little bit sorry for not just the victims. I can’t wait to see what is in store for Alex next and if even he will find that elusive happiness he has been searching for.

[Cazi3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sad this series has come to an end for now, until the next episode which is due out in early autumn ( I CANNOT WAIT) . This for me, has been the series of the year thus far. It was worth reading these in order. Whilst I found some content hard to listen to, It took me back to the famous case murder of a young teenager back in the 90s and the fight for justice to put his killers behind bars, which only took 30 years, thanks to a corrupt legal system at the time. That with institutional racism made a perfect storm.

The seamless development of the main characters got me emotionally invested. Not to mention the substance within, told by the amazing narrator Richard Armitage, made it all the more enjoyable. Wow he knows how to deliver personality traits male female good or bad people alike, he’s consistent and you know who’s who, where ever you are in the book.

At the heart of this story are two tragic events told in 2 timelines. Alex having just got used to a new life path bringing him well deserved happiness only to have it snatched away. Whilst cop AVA harbours a grudge so deep with more than an axed to grind , unable to control her need takes the least path of resistance in her broken mind. I can’t say I didn’t feel a kind of sympathy for her.

LJRoss has a gift for a gritty physiological thriller I’m impatiently waiting for the next chapter in this stunningly good series whilst praying that Alex can find some peace and happiness in the final book or will he ??? …

5 ⭐️s and more

[Michelle Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a lot more fun in terms of less things that annoyed me than in the other 5 books.

This is another book with misdirection. Much like Mania where a murder victim is ascribed to the wrong bad guy and we're left to unravel the who and why.

The unraveling of this one was different and unfolded in a clever way. I was frustrated that the DI didn't confide more in Alex, but it was good that he didn't.

The part I struggled with most was after all was revealed and the bad guy went to go commit one final crime, did they mentally break when their plan was thwarted?

As the book closes, Naomi has been in a coma for weeks with no real improvement. With book #22 in the DCI Ryan series recently published, and after this one, I guess she's still in limbo and Ryan's questions and Alex's answers make more sense.

Where is the series going to go from here? I really would like to see Bill and Alex on more cases. I would love to see Bill get a fella but I don't think I want Naomi back, mostly because their relationship is a carbon copy of Ryan and Anna, and that really put me off.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge is best served cold...

But revenge can easily become obsession, control is lost, lines are crossed and many more innocent lives are destroyed by the revenge that seemed so straightforward and simple.
Alex finds himself heartbroken and in limbo waiting for any change in Naomi's condition, I am gutted that after spending so much of his life alone and punishing himself for his childhood, he has finally found his soul mate...only for her to be injured and he is left hoping, praying and waiting.
It does however give him time to unravel the dark and twisted case that overlapped the last one...the case that may have cost him the woman he loves.
This is not my favourite of the series, I am disappointed that we are left in limbo for so long regarding Naomi. And I struggle a little with the lengths the perp has gone to to gain her revenge. There is another book due out soon and I hope we get some long awaited good news in that.
I listened to this on Audible but it is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

[Mrs Claire L Troote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

An excellent page turning thriller that will keep you reading long into the night.


With the investigation into Carl Deere now over, leaving not only many people dead but the two women he cares about both, one being his long-time friend and the other his girlfriend fighting for their lives. Alex is at a loss and blaming himself. When Ava wakes up with no memory of who she is, let alone what happened to her and Naomi she starts to work with Alex, in his free time, to regain her memories. . As things start coming back piece by piece she realises that something is very wrong and that perhaps she's not the innocent victim she's being treated as.

Whilst still reeling from the last case, Alex and Bill are called on to help investigate the kidnapping of a prominent MP'a 8 year old son. With conflicting priorities, can they rescue the child before he comes to any

[Paul Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every book that LJ Ross has written and everyone is a 5⭐️rating. This is the 6th Dr Gregory book I have read, and they keep getting better with each new one. This one follows on from where PANIC ended, although with 30 year flashbacks.
Ava Hope joined the police to get revenge on the people who killed her brother Daniel and the corrupt officers who failed to investigate his murder. As the story unfolds certain unfinished loose ends in PANIC are sold.
I give this book a VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED tag and cannot wait for the next LJ Ross book to be published whether it be Dr. Gregory or DCI Ryan.

[Jackie Cain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to use my trial period of Kindle Unlimited to read the next episode of this series for free. Glad I did: it's a thin thing with a lot of potential. There are several things going on. In the present, one character in a coma while another has amnesia and, while we are wondering if she will get her memories back, we see what happened in the past, which is interesting. Then, in the present, our protagonists, Alex and Bill, assist with a case of child abduction, seeing the human story behind the political worries. The solution to the abduction is rushed with lots of facts told to us. A lot more could have been made of it.

[Paul Bish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really not a stand-alone,but the middle of a rough trilogy. The last part is being written as we speak... However, it was the best Doctor Alex Gregory, profiller, so far. We get more and more insights into his past and how he is slowly coming tonterms with about the worst start in life anyone can have ... no spoilers! The case is also really well plotted, and the character of DCI Hope I also well written and developed. Looking forward to tying up all the loose ends in what I hope is the final book in this story line.

[E *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this on New Year's Eve and had fun finally getting to this this book! Super glad Alex is back in this series. I really enjoy reading L.J.'s writing style, it's effortless and transports you into an interesting mystery.

Learning Ava's backstory was awesome, but also sad in her attempt seek justice for her brother. Being 6 books into this series now, you feel a real depth and connection to the characters.

Obsession, the next book in this series, can't come soon enough!

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great thriller from LJ Ross. This one does seem shorter than some of the others, but it’s still a good read.
Alex is still in shock that Naomi has been seriously hurt and is now in a coma. He’s by her bedside every day and is willing her to wake up.
Ava is in the same hospital recovering from her injuries, and is slowly getting better, day by day.
We learn what happened in Ava’s past in this book and what drove her to become a killer.
A short and fast paced thriller.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did take me a couple of chapters to recall what happened at the end of book 5 but once I did , the story took off. Not only has Gregory's partner and best friend ended up in hospital, the first one in a coma and the latter with amnesia but he then becomes involved with a child kidnapping. The story is fast paced with the emphasis on Ava Hope and what the return of her memory will mean to Gregory and the rest of her team.