The Memory Man

by Helen Smith

A darkly comic literary short story from bestselling British author Helen Smith.

A psychic makes contact with a troubled soul during a show staged in front of an audience. She wants something from him. But what?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Short Stories, Fantasy

29 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2014

About the author

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Helen Smith is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, The Crime Writers Association and English PEN. She traveled the world when her daughter was small, doing all sorts of strange jobs to support them both – from cleaning motels to working as a magician's assistant – before returning to live in London where she wrote her first novel. She's the author of Alison Wonderland, Being Light, The Miracle Inspector and the Emily Castles mystery series as well as children's books, poetry and plays.

Helen Smith's books have reached number one on Amazon's bestseller lists in the US, UK, Canada and Germany. Her first book, Alison Wonderland, was one of Amazon Publishing's top five bestselling books when it was launched in the US in 2011. In July 2013, following the publication of Invitation to Die, Helen Smith reached the top spot as "America's most popular mystery author" on Amazon. Her books have been praised in The Times, The Times Literary Supplement, the Guardian, Time Out and Wired.com. They have appeared on "best books of the year" lists in For Books' Sake, The Cult Den, The Independent and the Guardian.

Helen Smith has been invited to read at literary events and festivals in London and New York and points in between – including, most recently, a cruise ship en route to California via the Suez Canal. Her work has been read or performed at the National Theatre, The Royal Festival Hall, the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, Amnesty International’s Headquarters, The Edinburgh Festival and The University of London. She’s a Literary Death Match champion and the recipient of an Arts Council of England award. Her work has been optioned by the BBC. She’s amazing! Please buy her books.

"Smith is gin-and-tonic funny." Booklist

Reviews

[F.R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let’s give credit where credit is due: two amnesiac women and a dead man in a deserted kitchen is an intriguing set up for any tale. Unfortunately this one doesn’t prepress anywhere beyond just intriguing. Even the introduction of the memory man himself just feels like frills. There’s no substance to it, with no depth of meaning or emotion underneath.

[Kindle Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women, memory loss, a dead man, and a psychic. Everything else are fragments. This is a bizarre story that I quite frankly did not get the first time I read it. So I had to read it again. I like to believe I got it the second time around. Or probably not. It’s like the movie “Inception”. People think they got it, but they probably don’t.

The truth is it’s a mystery right to the very end. I don’t care if I don't get it right because I enjoyed the writing, the build up, and the intrigue. This is not spoon feeding. You have to think. Think until it hurts and you beg for more.

[Utkarsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was intriguing and gripping story. But when I was able to get hold of the things, it ended. I couldn't make out anything about the end. Nope , nothing at all.

I am not sure whether two women characters were actually alive or dead. Who was that dead Man(Jimmy??). How Valerie just pops out of air to meet Phil and Tom. Why psychic was getting tensed at the name of Jimmy?. So much mystery and so many unanswered questions; it feels like my head going to explode. It would have been much better if there was little more content to the story. Aargh !!! Its frustrating, I want to know more.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have like to have been given some answers, but I think the confusion is part of the point. It ends with as many questions as it starts with, but the story is atmospheric and interesting and I do like the circular nature of psychic communication that is hinted at.

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully clever short story that is full of mystery and surprises! Loved the unique point of views! I look forward to reading more of this author's work. Thank you to the author for providing this for free!

[Seawood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't do it for me really.

[Rachel Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Man is a truly marvellous piece of writing by a much loved author of mine, Helen Smith. She has a wonderful writing style that is both intelligent and quirky. I first fell in love with this book a little over a year ago and it has stayed in my mind ever since. I don't think I have ever completely 'worked it out' and each and every time I have read it, it throws up more questions than answers.

I don't want to give too much away because I wholly recommend that you buy the book yourself and coming to your own conclusions. In summary though, it’s a dystopian novel where two women wake up in a building (complete with dead body) and between them they have no memory as to how they got there. The resulting story is their attempt at trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. It leaves you guessing on so many levels and that is what I feel is the most appealing thing about the entire story.

This book is definitely worth adding to your reading list as are the rest of the authors books. (I will get around to reviewing them all eventually).

[Sarika Patkotwar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Memory Man by Helen Smith is quite an interesting read that I didn't quite get. Set in the backdrop of a dystopian situation (I suppose), this short story has Sarah and Valerie as the main characters around whom the story revolves and always comes back to. There were a few other side characters, all male, whose roles I didn't really understand.

Just like with her Emily Castle Mystery Christmas short story series, Helen manages to have that mysterious aura in her book throughout, which I highly appreciate. Even though I didn't get the story like I said, I still had this urge to know more, which, for me, is always a plus point as it keep readers on the edge on the seat.

While it does have a promising plot and an interesting storyline, The Memory Man didn't work that well for me, at least not as a short story. If this were a full length novel with more details about the happenings, I would have liked it better. Neither the setup, not the situation was very clear to me.

Nonetheless, in spite of what I have said, The Memory Man is still a well written story that oozes with awe and mystery.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. I really don't know where some of the previous reviewers are getting there "It's about this". It was too short, too full of it's own mystery, to really get much of a sense of any of the suggestions. I also really disliked the writing style in the opening: trying far too hard and coming across as rather cringe-worthy, imo - it settles down, thankfully, but had it been more than a quick short story I'd have abandoned it as pretentious and amateurish, which is odd given the author is not a newbie, apparently.

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting twisted little short story that had me reading it twice to make sure I did not miss or misinterpret anything.

I love the authors writing style. In this story literally almost every word written counted towards the plot line and the ending.

A disturbing little tale one I think I would most probably be recommending to fellow authors for whom the economy of words will have the most impact.

Do not get me wrong. If you like the genre you will appreciate the plot but most of all I think this book will leave you blinking twice.

WaAr

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written entertaining short story. In this society everyone has lost their memories. There is a psychic who can help these people recall their memories. Then there is the two women in a delapidated building they don't know how they got there or who they are, are they friends or enemies do they even know each other? Sometimes they support each other other times they are distrustful and afraid. A very intense short story.

[Carol Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very confused with this tale and had to read it a second time to make sure I hadn't missed anything. It was an interesting tale about 2 women who may or may not have been alive with short term memory loss or in face dead and ghosts. The man in the fridge was the odd one as no where does it seem sure how or why he managed to get in there. I will definately look out for more by Helen Smith as it definately keeps you on your toes.

[Donna Fasano · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Man is a thoroughly entertaining short story. Helen Smith is one of my go-to authors whenever I'm in the mood for something different, something that's well-written and thought-provoking. The characters and the strange situation they found themselves in immediately drew me in. Excellent read!

[Jamal · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the concept of the story was interesting, there were too many questions left unanswered - even for a short story. I had to read it twice to ensure that I wasn't missing any thing. The ending tied up some of the loose ends, but not enough that that I'd recommend it unless it was for educational purposes.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I was having a mental block or something but I really didn't get this at all. It might have been free on Amazon, but it wasn't worth the money! Short, confusing and a waste of good reading time.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a bit confusing but well written. I'm not sure what was happening throughout the short story. This is the first story I have read of Helen Smith but I can say this story made you work your mind which kept me wanting to know what is going to happen.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do memories come from?

This story had me scratching my head. What do you do when everyone has lost their memories? Some people make them up while others try to puzzle them out. What would you do? It certainly makes you think.

[NVTony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story with major punch. Smith manages to create an entire world in just a few words. Well written with live characters. Received as gift for honest review.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author has created a thought provoking short story worth time needed for reading.

[Jakenv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another short story you need to put on your list of must reads. Smith is master of short stories and this is another definite hit.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story, although short. That takes the reader into a different place where not all is as it seems. We need memories to look back on and remember, but what if you couldn't find them?

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story though a very short one.

[Carol Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

intriguing... worth wrapping your clever lil' brain around for a few minutes of interesting reading.

[Velvetink]

kindle

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realise it was only a short story but I found it weird and it did not seem to have a point or any character development and did not really go anywhere.

[Debra Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit different, re-read to follow the interesting plot.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsatisfying.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't go anywhere and really didn't make much sense.