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Install Memory, Run
Martin Hart is eighty-three years old. He has the memories to prove it—forty years of teaching, a marriage, a mortgage, a cat called Humphrey, and a firm opinion about the correct way to make tea.
He's been alive for six months.
When a minor kitchen accident reveals circuitry where there should be blood, Martin's quiet retirement takes a sharp left turn. Every memory he has—the classrooms, the wedding, the funeral, Humphrey—was installed. He is, technically, a newborn with arthritic knees and strong feelings about cardigans.
Before he can fully process this (or even begin to), a twelve-year-old girl called Bella shows up on his doorstep. She's not interested in his identity crisis. Her grandmother built him, hid something vital inside his neural architecture, and now she's dead. Bella wants what's in his head. Other people want it too. Worse people.
Now Martin and Bella are on the run—an old man who isn't old and a young girl who's had to grow up too fast, arguing their way across a world Martin only thinks he recognizes. His fabricated memories are starting to glitch. Her plan is starting to unravel. And the data locked inside him might not be what either of them expected.
He has weeks before his systems degrade. She has secrets she's not sharing.
And Martin is beginning to suspect that Humphrey the cat never existed, which is honestly the part that hurts the most.
He's been alive for six months.
When a minor kitchen accident reveals circuitry where there should be blood, Martin's quiet retirement takes a sharp left turn. Every memory he has—the classrooms, the wedding, the funeral, Humphrey—was installed. He is, technically, a newborn with arthritic knees and strong feelings about cardigans.
Before he can fully process this (or even begin to), a twelve-year-old girl called Bella shows up on his doorstep. She's not interested in his identity crisis. Her grandmother built him, hid something vital inside his neural architecture, and now she's dead. Bella wants what's in his head. Other people want it too. Worse people.
Now Martin and Bella are on the run—an old man who isn't old and a young girl who's had to grow up too fast, arguing their way across a world Martin only thinks he recognizes. His fabricated memories are starting to glitch. Her plan is starting to unravel. And the data locked inside him might not be what either of them expected.
He has weeks before his systems degrade. She has secrets she's not sharing.
And Martin is beginning to suspect that Humphrey the cat never existed, which is honestly the part that hurts the most.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 13, 2026
An Amusing Tale, Where The Book’s Title and Cover Art Say It All
Admittedly, I was intrigued when I came across this book. I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece, but perhaps a tale that would plod along, explaining itself as one page turned past another. And, what do you know? That’s what The Author wrote!
Yes, this is a SciFi book, and yes, it’s also a (? British ?) thriller, but it’s also a fictional account of a man and a girl taking care of each other, with an occasional woman thrown in here and there, along with a combination of thugs and thieves.
The story told in this book was OK, not great, but adequate to convince me to want to finish it. And, while I prefer a lot more intense action scenes, one after this other, this book was acceptably in a ‘different’ category. Yes, go ahead and pick this up to read and enjoy.
Admittedly, I was intrigued when I came across this book. I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece, but perhaps a tale that would plod along, explaining itself as one page turned past another. And, what do you know? That’s what The Author wrote!
Yes, this is a SciFi book, and yes, it’s also a (? British ?) thriller, but it’s also a fictional account of a man and a girl taking care of each other, with an occasional woman thrown in here and there, along with a combination of thugs and thieves.
The story told in this book was OK, not great, but adequate to convince me to want to finish it. And, while I prefer a lot more intense action scenes, one after this other, this book was acceptably in a ‘different’ category. Yes, go ahead and pick this up to read and enjoy.
May 22, 2026
Jon Kiln does it again! :) This one hit the right spot as it is easy to identify with the senior protagonist as I am also a retired school teacher (history, etc. not math), drink tea, and have an annoying cat. I will be very careful when I am in the kitchen otherwise sparks might fly. As far as I currently know, my memories are real, the aches and pains are all too real. I really enjoyed this book!
May 12, 2026
there is nothing better than a Jon kiln story
I love jon’s characters. They are kind and loving but never boring. He steers clear of gratuitous violence which I greatly appreciate.
I love jon’s characters. They are kind and loving but never boring. He steers clear of gratuitous violence which I greatly appreciate.
July 28, 2026
Fast Paced and Interesting
This was an engrossing, fast paced story with a initial hook that kept the reader engaged. Character development was somewhat thin, although the descriptions of the grandfather were amusing.
This was an engrossing, fast paced story with a initial hook that kept the reader engaged. Character development was somewhat thin, although the descriptions of the grandfather were amusing.
August 1, 2026
Install Memory, Run
A very well written, outstanding. Well rounded characters who are quite believable. I can imagine how one would feel to find out their entire life's memories weren't real. Indeed.
A very well written, outstanding. Well rounded characters who are quite believable. I can imagine how one would feel to find out their entire life's memories weren't real. Indeed.
June 2, 2026
Very good
I was so happy to find this book. I absolutely enjoyed it. I love the ideas, the relationships and the science fiction. Highly recommended.
I was so happy to find this book. I absolutely enjoyed it. I love the ideas, the relationships and the science fiction. Highly recommended.
June 4, 2026
Fun, Cute, Amazing
Very much enjoyed this story. So much that I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day. Can always sleep tomorrow.
Very much enjoyed this story. So much that I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day. Can always sleep tomorrow.
June 8, 2026
This book was so much fun, heart warming and exciting. This was an uplifting read.
August 30, 2026
A wondrous stofry.
A story of thinking. What makes something real? Are our thoughts our own or are they something someone else has given up. Always question what is real.
A story of thinking. What makes something real? Are our thoughts our own or are they something someone else has given up. Always question what is real.
October 22, 2026
A futuristic conflicted girl and her robotic old guardian of 6 months evade the evil of the world.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, read with Alexa using the audio application.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, read with Alexa using the audio application.
June 23, 2026
I loved this book! There are so many sci-fi and fantasy books and it isn't often that you run into a completely new story. The relationships of the characters and the twisty plot line were compelling. This was another book that I read in one sitting, I could not put it down. I also loved that the story was written without any graphic sex or violence, it was just fun. If you are looking for a great quick read this is it! Thank you Jon Kiln.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews