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The Man Who Remembered
A guilt-ridden man who cannot remember. An enigmatic woman who cannot forget.
When Alice Chase stumbles across photographs of a bikini-clad woman on her husband’s computer, she decides to hire a renowned private investigator, James Lee, to uncover the truth. But she accidentally telephones a failing lawyer of the same name.
Stricken by memory loss and formless guilt, the lawyer impulsively pretends to be the investigator Alice is looking for and agrees to take on the case.
Lee follows Alice’s husband to Thailand, where he tracks down the woman in the photographs and finds himself drawn into a dreamlike otherworld where reality disintegrates and his identity begins to unravel.
As he digs deeper, he realizes there is far more to the investigation than meets the eye. This isn’t just a case. It’s his past, his identity, his very life. And the woman controlling it will not relent until Lee has remembered – everything.
When Alice Chase stumbles across photographs of a bikini-clad woman on her husband’s computer, she decides to hire a renowned private investigator, James Lee, to uncover the truth. But she accidentally telephones a failing lawyer of the same name.
Stricken by memory loss and formless guilt, the lawyer impulsively pretends to be the investigator Alice is looking for and agrees to take on the case.
Lee follows Alice’s husband to Thailand, where he tracks down the woman in the photographs and finds himself drawn into a dreamlike otherworld where reality disintegrates and his identity begins to unravel.
As he digs deeper, he realizes there is far more to the investigation than meets the eye. This isn’t just a case. It’s his past, his identity, his very life. And the woman controlling it will not relent until Lee has remembered – everything.
377 pages, Paperback
Published April 17, 2026
About the author
John Caulfield
4 books12 followersJohn Caulfield was born in May 1964 in Cape Town, South Africa. He completed his schooling at the South African College School and went on to study at the University of Cape Town where he obtained a degree in English as well as a post graduate degree in Law.
In 1989, Caulfield was admitted as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa and, some years later, joined the Department of Justice where he prosecuted in a series of high profile criminal trials including Fraud, Armed Robbery, Rape and Murder.
Since moving to the United Kingdom, Caulfield has written three crime novels, all influenced by his experiences as a criminal lawyer in Cape Town. His first novel, "The Atom Heart Murders" won a number of accolades, including a joint first prize in the UK magazine, Writers' Forum. Caulfield's second release is an awesome mystery called "In All My Sad Dreaming", which was shortlisted for the Clarion Review Book of the Year Award.
Apart from writing, Caulfield enjoys music, the mountains, and the sea.
See more at John Caulfield’s site: http://web.me.com/johncaulfield
In 1989, Caulfield was admitted as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa and, some years later, joined the Department of Justice where he prosecuted in a series of high profile criminal trials including Fraud, Armed Robbery, Rape and Murder.
Since moving to the United Kingdom, Caulfield has written three crime novels, all influenced by his experiences as a criminal lawyer in Cape Town. His first novel, "The Atom Heart Murders" won a number of accolades, including a joint first prize in the UK magazine, Writers' Forum. Caulfield's second release is an awesome mystery called "In All My Sad Dreaming", which was shortlisted for the Clarion Review Book of the Year Award.
Apart from writing, Caulfield enjoys music, the mountains, and the sea.
See more at John Caulfield’s site: http://web.me.com/johncaulfield
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 23, 2026
Page turner that keeps you in suspense.
John's excellent use of English (due to the names in his dedication!) make this a delight to read.
An interesting mix of realities, hallucinations, schoolboy fantasies and downright unexplainable events. I couldn't put it down.
The ending, although it faultlessly wove the threads together, left me saddened (not the author's fault!).
Read it, and expect John to take up a corner in your mind for a while...
John's excellent use of English (due to the names in his dedication!) make this a delight to read.
An interesting mix of realities, hallucinations, schoolboy fantasies and downright unexplainable events. I couldn't put it down.
The ending, although it faultlessly wove the threads together, left me saddened (not the author's fault!).
Read it, and expect John to take up a corner in your mind for a while...
June 14, 2026
Once in a while, a book comes along that breaks the mould. Think of Shadow of the Wind or Kafka on the shore. This book is one such example.
To say that it's rounded and complete does it a disservice. Like Lighthousekeeping, I will read it again and again.
Why? Because I get it, not because I want to find some hidden meaning.
Bravo John. Thank you.
To say that it's rounded and complete does it a disservice. Like Lighthousekeeping, I will read it again and again.
Why? Because I get it, not because I want to find some hidden meaning.
Bravo John. Thank you.
August 6, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, John Caulfield and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of this ebook.
What in the Black Mirror/The Twilight Zone did I just read?
I initially struggled to find my way with the plot, but the quality of the writing kept my interest even when I wasn't sure where the story was headed. This is much more speculative and otherworldly than my usual reading, yet I don't regret an experience such as this. It's an imaginative, unsettling novel that won't appeal to everyone, but readers who enjoy fiction that blurs the line between reality and the surreal may find it quite entertaining.
What in the Black Mirror/The Twilight Zone did I just read?
I initially struggled to find my way with the plot, but the quality of the writing kept my interest even when I wasn't sure where the story was headed. This is much more speculative and otherworldly than my usual reading, yet I don't regret an experience such as this. It's an imaginative, unsettling novel that won't appeal to everyone, but readers who enjoy fiction that blurs the line between reality and the surreal may find it quite entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews