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Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 9, 2026
I have read some of Michael Geczi's work and enjoyed his stories very much, so I was excited to get a glimpse of his new novel, Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty.
Shay Landon, a former Special Agent In Charge of the Minneapolis Field Office had been on leave for nine months, following the death of his partner. People had told Jacoby Overton, the new Special Agent In Charge, that Shay had a talent for seeing things others didn't, so he was hoping his return to work would be fortuitous.
Michael Geczi delves into some difficult issues. The mind is a complex organ and it works hard to protect itself. Shay Landon will find himself in some uncertain situations. Can he trust that his memories are true? He works hard to hide the issues that are plaguing him. I was right there at his side as he struggles....
I'm not sure how I thought the story would end, but I didn't see that coming. In hindsight, it seems obvious and that's all I'm saying. Well done, Michael.
My thanks go out to Michael Geczi for the opportunity to review Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty.
Shay Landon, a former Special Agent In Charge of the Minneapolis Field Office had been on leave for nine months, following the death of his partner. People had told Jacoby Overton, the new Special Agent In Charge, that Shay had a talent for seeing things others didn't, so he was hoping his return to work would be fortuitous.
Michael Geczi delves into some difficult issues. The mind is a complex organ and it works hard to protect itself. Shay Landon will find himself in some uncertain situations. Can he trust that his memories are true? He works hard to hide the issues that are plaguing him. I was right there at his side as he struggles....
I'm not sure how I thought the story would end, but I didn't see that coming. In hindsight, it seems obvious and that's all I'm saying. Well done, Michael.
My thanks go out to Michael Geczi for the opportunity to review Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty.
April 19, 2026
It feels like ages since I’ve taken the time for a truly selfish read - one where my plate was clear, I picked something straight off my TBR, and dove in simply because I wanted to. And boy howdy, am I glad I did. This is a must-add for any psychological thriller reader. It’s a quick read, sure - but don’t let that fool you. It lingers. It’s been 24 hours since I finished, and I still can’t stop thinking about it… so take that as your warning.
Onto the review:
Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty.
~Michael Geczi
Mirrors have been known to lie… and so do memories.
There aren’t many stories that leave me sitting there the next day wondering what, exactly, I just read - but this one absolutely did. Going in, I expected your standard, run-of-the-mill FBI thriller. Holy tuna on a cracker, was I wrong. I’m still not entirely sure what I read - in the best possible way - but I am completely here for it and already want more.
Former SAC Shay Landon has just returned from a nine-month mandatory leave after the death of his partner, ASAC - and best friend - Agent Donna Clafton. Everyone around him thinks it’s too soon. Truthfully? Deep down, he might agree. But the pull to feel useful again outweighs the hesitation.
Current SAC Jacoby Overton welcomes him back, easing him into a quieter role - data analysis, something safe, something controlled. Landon leans on the coping strategies he learned in treatment, trying to settle into this new normal. He’s paired with Agent Jasmine Stahre, tasked with compiling reports… until the data starts whispering something more. What begins as research quickly spirals into a case, pulling Landon back into active duty - albeit under close supervision and mandatory daily check-ins.
Even with therapy, medication, and every effort to keep himself grounded, Landon experiences things he can’t - or won’t - share. The trauma of his partner’s death shadows him constantly, feeding into episodes that blur the line between reality and something far more unsettling.
Geczi delivers a cast of complex, deeply human characters. Shay Landon is a study in contradiction - traumatized yet resilient, brilliant yet unable to trust his own mind.
Cara Landon embodies loyalty and quiet strength, but her patience is wearing thin under the weight of his emotional distance. And Donna Clafton? She exists in fragments - memories, reports, and something far less tangible. Every character operates through the lens of trauma. They’re raw, vulnerable, and, at times, unreliable - but that’s exactly what makes them work.
This isn’t a pedal-to-the-floor thriller, but it’s far from a snoozer. I’d call it a methodical, medium-burn ride. Instead of nonstop action, you get sustained tension and a creeping sense of emotional claustrophobia. Each chapter feels deliberate, the pacing mirroring an investigative mind at work. The dual timelines slip between each other so seamlessly it’s almost disorienting - in the best way - leaving you constantly questioning which version of reality you’re actually in.
Overall, Damaged is a slow-burn FBI psychological thriller with a gritty noir edge, an introspective structure, and a laser focus on procedural realism. (Also… let’s just call it what it is: a total mind f*ck.)
I can't recommend this quick read enough! If you are looking for a haunting psychological mystery that will give you a story that bleeds through the cracks then Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty. By Michael Geczi is one you need to pick up and read NOW!
Available on Amazon and KU!
As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
Onto the review:
Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty.
~Michael Geczi
Mirrors have been known to lie… and so do memories.
There aren’t many stories that leave me sitting there the next day wondering what, exactly, I just read - but this one absolutely did. Going in, I expected your standard, run-of-the-mill FBI thriller. Holy tuna on a cracker, was I wrong. I’m still not entirely sure what I read - in the best possible way - but I am completely here for it and already want more.
Former SAC Shay Landon has just returned from a nine-month mandatory leave after the death of his partner, ASAC - and best friend - Agent Donna Clafton. Everyone around him thinks it’s too soon. Truthfully? Deep down, he might agree. But the pull to feel useful again outweighs the hesitation.
Current SAC Jacoby Overton welcomes him back, easing him into a quieter role - data analysis, something safe, something controlled. Landon leans on the coping strategies he learned in treatment, trying to settle into this new normal. He’s paired with Agent Jasmine Stahre, tasked with compiling reports… until the data starts whispering something more. What begins as research quickly spirals into a case, pulling Landon back into active duty - albeit under close supervision and mandatory daily check-ins.
Even with therapy, medication, and every effort to keep himself grounded, Landon experiences things he can’t - or won’t - share. The trauma of his partner’s death shadows him constantly, feeding into episodes that blur the line between reality and something far more unsettling.
Geczi delivers a cast of complex, deeply human characters. Shay Landon is a study in contradiction - traumatized yet resilient, brilliant yet unable to trust his own mind.
Cara Landon embodies loyalty and quiet strength, but her patience is wearing thin under the weight of his emotional distance. And Donna Clafton? She exists in fragments - memories, reports, and something far less tangible. Every character operates through the lens of trauma. They’re raw, vulnerable, and, at times, unreliable - but that’s exactly what makes them work.
This isn’t a pedal-to-the-floor thriller, but it’s far from a snoozer. I’d call it a methodical, medium-burn ride. Instead of nonstop action, you get sustained tension and a creeping sense of emotional claustrophobia. Each chapter feels deliberate, the pacing mirroring an investigative mind at work. The dual timelines slip between each other so seamlessly it’s almost disorienting - in the best way - leaving you constantly questioning which version of reality you’re actually in.
Overall, Damaged is a slow-burn FBI psychological thriller with a gritty noir edge, an introspective structure, and a laser focus on procedural realism. (Also… let’s just call it what it is: a total mind f*ck.)
I can't recommend this quick read enough! If you are looking for a haunting psychological mystery that will give you a story that bleeds through the cracks then Damaged: Life. Death. Memory. Uncertainty. By Michael Geczi is one you need to pick up and read NOW!
Available on Amazon and KU!
As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
March 25, 2026
I absolutely loved this story. From the very first page, Damage by Michael Geczi pulls you into a psychological maze where the suspense never lets up.
Following Shay Landon as he returns to a life that has "tilted" is a gripping experience. The tension of having a memory that contradicts the official record—while being surrounded by mirrors of your own trauma—is masterfully done. This was my first time reading Geczi, and the gritty, atmospheric pace kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
If you crave a thriller that is as smart as it is suspenseful, this is a must-read.
Following Shay Landon as he returns to a life that has "tilted" is a gripping experience. The tension of having a memory that contradicts the official record—while being surrounded by mirrors of your own trauma—is masterfully done. This was my first time reading Geczi, and the gritty, atmospheric pace kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
If you crave a thriller that is as smart as it is suspenseful, this is a must-read.
March 27, 2026
Review of eBook
FBI Special Agent Shay Landon, returning to work after a nine-month leave, wants to focus on tangible objects and make this return following the on-duty death of his partner, Donna Clafton, functional. He wants to contribute value.
Welcomed back by Special Agent in Charge Jacoby Overton, he settles into his new [smaller] office and, at times, finds himself counting ceiling tiles. But he’s soon involved in a strange case, one he will work with detectives in St. Paul and Minneapolis as well as with fellow agent Jasmine Stahre.
But the strange case, seemingly involving taunting of the investigators, soon becomes even more problematic with similar events in Champaign and Urbana. Shay makes every effort to concentrate on the bizarre case, despite his nostalgic thoughts involving Agent Clafton. He’s still having some difficulties dealing with the trauma that caused Clafton’s death . . . memories that somehow differ from the official record.
What is right . . . and will it be possible for Shay to re-integrate with the agency and resume his work?
=========
Despite the ongoing stress, Shay is determined to make the most of his return to work after nine months away. Counseling, medication, and time away have not completely eliminated his neurological symptoms and his distracting thoughts [some of which are quite disturbing]. As his story unfolds, readers will find themselves involved in uncertainties: what really happened nine months ago? and what is happening now?
The unfolding story is complicated; readers are left guessing as to the truth. But it is also compelling, intriguing, and totally absorbing. Readers will root for Shay to recover . . . but his world has tilted and it may not be possible.
Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers, mysteries, and intriguing characters will find much to appreciate here
Highly recommended.
I received a free advance review copy of this book from the author through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
FBI Special Agent Shay Landon, returning to work after a nine-month leave, wants to focus on tangible objects and make this return following the on-duty death of his partner, Donna Clafton, functional. He wants to contribute value.
Welcomed back by Special Agent in Charge Jacoby Overton, he settles into his new [smaller] office and, at times, finds himself counting ceiling tiles. But he’s soon involved in a strange case, one he will work with detectives in St. Paul and Minneapolis as well as with fellow agent Jasmine Stahre.
But the strange case, seemingly involving taunting of the investigators, soon becomes even more problematic with similar events in Champaign and Urbana. Shay makes every effort to concentrate on the bizarre case, despite his nostalgic thoughts involving Agent Clafton. He’s still having some difficulties dealing with the trauma that caused Clafton’s death . . . memories that somehow differ from the official record.
What is right . . . and will it be possible for Shay to re-integrate with the agency and resume his work?
=========
Despite the ongoing stress, Shay is determined to make the most of his return to work after nine months away. Counseling, medication, and time away have not completely eliminated his neurological symptoms and his distracting thoughts [some of which are quite disturbing]. As his story unfolds, readers will find themselves involved in uncertainties: what really happened nine months ago? and what is happening now?
The unfolding story is complicated; readers are left guessing as to the truth. But it is also compelling, intriguing, and totally absorbing. Readers will root for Shay to recover . . . but his world has tilted and it may not be possible.
Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers, mysteries, and intriguing characters will find much to appreciate here
Highly recommended.
I received a free advance review copy of this book from the author through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2026
This was the strangest book, but not in a bad way. It was different than what I was expecting. In other words, typical of Michael Geczi. His characters are always interesting and complicated, and that's especially true here. The story starts as a slightly complicated FBI procedural, but it evolves into so much more. (I can't say much more without giving away too much and creating spoilers.) Suffice it to say, the story evolves slowly, but steadily, and I was never completely sure what was real and what wasn't. I'm still not. It is one of those books that has you thinking about it long after you've turned the last page. I highly recommend this book, but also recommend you take your time and try to avoid as many distractions as possible while you're reading it, or you're going to miss something important. I received a review copy from the author via BookSIrens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.
May 7, 2026
This novella has an interesting premise, but I found the execution frustrating. The narrative frequently loses momentum due to repeated internal digressions, including conversations with a deceased partner and diary fragments, which often restate rather than develop key ideas. Abrupt shifts of point of view confused me.
At this length, the story would benefit from tighter focus. In 174 pages there is little scope for tangential issues. As it stands, the balance between introspection and forward movement isn’t right, and the central investigation—particularly the involvement of FBI profilers—seemed disproportionate to the scale of the crime.
I received a copy of this through Library Thing’s Early Reviewers. My review is my independent opinion.
At this length, the story would benefit from tighter focus. In 174 pages there is little scope for tangential issues. As it stands, the balance between introspection and forward movement isn’t right, and the central investigation—particularly the involvement of FBI profilers—seemed disproportionate to the scale of the crime.
I received a copy of this through Library Thing’s Early Reviewers. My review is my independent opinion.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews