Amnesia: Book One of the Agent 917 Trilogy

by Andy Holmes

220 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2025

Reviews

[Matthew Futter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Agent 917 is like Repairman Jack meets Jason Bourne. It’s packaged like a psychological thriller, but it’s mostly vengeful wish fulfillment for people who have been grievously wronged and need to witness the evildoers get punished on the page; not so much fun for your casual reader.

Note that “Book One” contains four other “books” in it, which I suppose are novellas in this single tome. The author explains tidbits of background (that the reader needs to know) the same way in every internal book/novella, as if the reader is just starting the story there; this made for tedious moments in the compendium edition with four clearly-sequential stories in one book.

I eventually started skimming past the graphic poetic “justice” that Agent 917 metes out to the criminals he pursues, and I stuck to the Agency plot developments and the light exploration of his past that we get to glimpse and question but never really discover in this “Book One”. The plots could have been better, but if you need the catharsis of *seeing* bad people get their due in great detail, perhaps this book IS for you.

As for me, I prefer my thrillers less grisly and more psychological; more strategy than tactics; more science and “chess” and creativity to solve difficult problems. This is not at all that type of novel. If you choose to read it, you have been warned.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has no name, no past, only a number. That tagline instantly drew me in, and the book did not disappoint. Agent 917 wakes up in a motel, ready to kill, guided only by an implant and a voice from a phone. It feels like Memento meets The Bourne Identity, but with a much darker, more unrelenting tone. Each mission is brutal and cinematic, from cultists in New York to deranged arsonists. What makes the story work isn’t just the action, it’s the slow, chilling unraveling of Agent 917’s humanity. Memories start creeping in, and what begins as a straightforward action story becomes a deeper psychological drama. If you enjoy moral complexity in your thrillers, this is a must read.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased and listened to this on Audible books. First off the virtual voice intonation gave the impression of a black man's voice, though the main character is Caucasian. Also not much emotion in this virtual voice.
The story itself is well done and you are following a man who intentionally gave up his memory of his past to be a assassin for the depth. This is a view of several jobs he was sent on from start to completion.

[Bill]

Agent 917 is supposed to have memory blanked, but he is having flashbacks. He also disobeys direct order and pursues a bad guy

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A programmed killing machine, no name, no memory, just complete the mission.

A well written read.

[Jackie Martello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strange but somewhat entertaining. 4 short stories starring the same protagonist/killer. The audiobook is narrated by ai, so I recommend reading the book.

[Ernest · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a great read I loved the story thank you Andt