What do you think?
Rate this book
Cole Jones #1
The Memory Detective
So many memories. So little time. In an astounding thriller ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, cutting-edge technology and a pulse-pounding manhunt lead to a conspiracy of money, power, and sex.
Cole remembers what it’s like to be murdered. That’s how he does his job. The operation takes eight hours with a dead body on the table next to his; when it’s over, he’s flooded with images, thoughts, recollections, some hazy, some crystal clear. They all come straight from the victim’s brain—right up until his or her final chilling moments.
Cole’s career in homicide has wreaked havoc on his personal life. As usual, his new case—a young runaway battered to death with a hammer—consumes all his waking moments . . . and then some. Haunted by the Jane Doe’s hopes, desires, and fears, Cole mentally retraces her every move, from Kansas to New York City, to track down a killer.
But Cole has a terrible suspicion that someone is using the same memory-transfer science for a very different purpose. In fact, he’s already being watched. Because Cole’s the only one standing in the way of a ruthless corporation that’s harvesting people for their most intimate memories—and eliminating anyone who stands in the way.
Cole remembers what it’s like to be murdered. That’s how he does his job. The operation takes eight hours with a dead body on the table next to his; when it’s over, he’s flooded with images, thoughts, recollections, some hazy, some crystal clear. They all come straight from the victim’s brain—right up until his or her final chilling moments.
Cole’s career in homicide has wreaked havoc on his personal life. As usual, his new case—a young runaway battered to death with a hammer—consumes all his waking moments . . . and then some. Haunted by the Jane Doe’s hopes, desires, and fears, Cole mentally retraces her every move, from Kansas to New York City, to track down a killer.
But Cole has a terrible suspicion that someone is using the same memory-transfer science for a very different purpose. In fact, he’s already being watched. Because Cole’s the only one standing in the way of a ruthless corporation that’s harvesting people for their most intimate memories—and eliminating anyone who stands in the way.
276 pages, ebook
First published January 23, 2018
5 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
T.S. Nichols
2 books5 followersT. S. Nichols was born and raised in New Jersey. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Georgetown University Law Center. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 5, 2018
Cole is a homicide detective with a twist. Medical personnel hook him up to a murdered victim and transfer all those memories into Cole. Hopefully, he will be able to identify the killer by strolling through someone else's memories.
Meanwhile, an unnamed organization hires people to go out and enjoy themselves ...make lots of happy fun-filled memories. They, then, turn around and sell those memories to people who are very wealthy and have missed out on their own fun. The people who have been harvested for their memories are disposed of.
This is a futuristic crime thriller. Cole is an interesting character, especially as all those other memories of dead people are destroying his own personal memories.
I'm not sure what I was expecting .. but this one just didn't do anything for me. It's a good mystery, but it sounded much more riveting than promised.
Many thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Alibi / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Meanwhile, an unnamed organization hires people to go out and enjoy themselves ...make lots of happy fun-filled memories. They, then, turn around and sell those memories to people who are very wealthy and have missed out on their own fun. The people who have been harvested for their memories are disposed of.
This is a futuristic crime thriller. Cole is an interesting character, especially as all those other memories of dead people are destroying his own personal memories.
I'm not sure what I was expecting .. but this one just didn't do anything for me. It's a good mystery, but it sounded much more riveting than promised.
Many thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Alibi / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 13, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In order to do his job, Cole undergoes surgery to receive the implanted memories of murder victims. After he recovers from the eight hour operation, he can remember the thoughts of someone else - right up until the moment of their death that is. Sometimes these memories are fuzzy, but others are perfectly clear. Cole's cases completely consume his every waking moment, leaving him without much of a personal life but that's how he prefers it. He will do whatever it takes to solve the case and track down the killer. While Cole is working his most recent case, however, he begins to suspect that someone else is using the memory-transfer tech for another purpose altogether. Cole isn't far off, in fact, he's the only one standing in the way of a ruthless company harvesting people's most intimate memories and eliminating anyone standing in the way.
The Memory Detective by T.S. Nichols has so much potential. The concept behind it is absolutely fantastic, but it never quite hits that mark in execution. I liked getting a look into this author's take on near future technology. I was particularly interested in the consequences of the memory-transfer surgery. Everyday people can receive only one sometimes two transfers, but Cole is the exception to the rule due to his detective skills. He's had many more transfers than the average person could ever hope to receive - and the consequences are high. Think insanity. Unfortunately, I couldn't really connect with Cole because he feels too distant and a little flat. If this novel were told in the first person, I think that would have definitely helped get us into his head. I don't know about you, but with the memory subject matter I think that could only be a good thing. Also as much as I enjoyed the tech, there were moments when I was left wanting more when it came to some of the details regarding how the process all worked. During my entire reading experience, I totally had iZombie in the back of my mind. It's a very similar concept - aside from the zombies and brain eating part, of course.
Overall, The Memory Detective features a good mystery and intriguing near future sci-fi elements. The cast of characters could definitely afford to be more well drawn and developed in order to connect better with them on the whole. The story has a lot of potential to be great, but it doesn't quite hit the mark, plus it isn't terribly unique. You may want to give T.S. Nichols first novel a try if you enjoy iZombie and Total Recall.
Thanks again, NetGalley!
In order to do his job, Cole undergoes surgery to receive the implanted memories of murder victims. After he recovers from the eight hour operation, he can remember the thoughts of someone else - right up until the moment of their death that is. Sometimes these memories are fuzzy, but others are perfectly clear. Cole's cases completely consume his every waking moment, leaving him without much of a personal life but that's how he prefers it. He will do whatever it takes to solve the case and track down the killer. While Cole is working his most recent case, however, he begins to suspect that someone else is using the memory-transfer tech for another purpose altogether. Cole isn't far off, in fact, he's the only one standing in the way of a ruthless company harvesting people's most intimate memories and eliminating anyone standing in the way.
The Memory Detective by T.S. Nichols has so much potential. The concept behind it is absolutely fantastic, but it never quite hits that mark in execution. I liked getting a look into this author's take on near future technology. I was particularly interested in the consequences of the memory-transfer surgery. Everyday people can receive only one sometimes two transfers, but Cole is the exception to the rule due to his detective skills. He's had many more transfers than the average person could ever hope to receive - and the consequences are high. Think insanity. Unfortunately, I couldn't really connect with Cole because he feels too distant and a little flat. If this novel were told in the first person, I think that would have definitely helped get us into his head. I don't know about you, but with the memory subject matter I think that could only be a good thing. Also as much as I enjoyed the tech, there were moments when I was left wanting more when it came to some of the details regarding how the process all worked. During my entire reading experience, I totally had iZombie in the back of my mind. It's a very similar concept - aside from the zombies and brain eating part, of course.
Overall, The Memory Detective features a good mystery and intriguing near future sci-fi elements. The cast of characters could definitely afford to be more well drawn and developed in order to connect better with them on the whole. The story has a lot of potential to be great, but it doesn't quite hit the mark, plus it isn't terribly unique. You may want to give T.S. Nichols first novel a try if you enjoy iZombie and Total Recall.
Thanks again, NetGalley!
December 20, 2017
Memory Detective is a terrific read. It is a well-written, thoroughly plotted, story that explores a number of really interesting ideas about inheriting memories. Frank Herbert explored this in the Dune series with the Bene Gesserit reverend mothers inheriting all the memories of their maternal ancestors and the power and the horror of having all those other personas in your mind.
Nichols takes a slightly different approach. In his concept, memories are found in brain proteins and can be siphoned out via medical procedures within 48 hours after death and given to a recipient, often inherited by family members. While the story doesn’t really focus on the family member situation, it poses questions about use and misuse of memories. Cole, dubbed the Memory Detective, takes on memories of crime victims with the intention of finding their killers. To get those memories, he often has to struggle to find things that trigger the memories. As great as his purpose is, Cole has so many memories from so many people that he often gets lost in them and loses some if his own memories.
Of course, there’s another side to the coin which is what happens when someone comes up with the brilliant idea of purchasing memories, that is, rich folk with bland boring corporate boardroom lives can lose themselves in other lives, living it up as rock stars, race car drivers, surfers, as people dared to live out every adventurous or sexual fantasy imaginable. Are they purchasing better lives by buying these memories? What life is worthwhile or meaningful? Can you basically purchase someone else’s life and live vicariously through their memories like the ultimate virtual reality game? And, well, memories can only be harvested from the dead. Who would sell their memories in such a situation? At what price? At what cost?
Nichols does a great job of exploring all these ideas in the context of an action packed thriller.
Thanks to Random House -Alibi for providing a copy for review.
Nichols takes a slightly different approach. In his concept, memories are found in brain proteins and can be siphoned out via medical procedures within 48 hours after death and given to a recipient, often inherited by family members. While the story doesn’t really focus on the family member situation, it poses questions about use and misuse of memories. Cole, dubbed the Memory Detective, takes on memories of crime victims with the intention of finding their killers. To get those memories, he often has to struggle to find things that trigger the memories. As great as his purpose is, Cole has so many memories from so many people that he often gets lost in them and loses some if his own memories.
Of course, there’s another side to the coin which is what happens when someone comes up with the brilliant idea of purchasing memories, that is, rich folk with bland boring corporate boardroom lives can lose themselves in other lives, living it up as rock stars, race car drivers, surfers, as people dared to live out every adventurous or sexual fantasy imaginable. Are they purchasing better lives by buying these memories? What life is worthwhile or meaningful? Can you basically purchase someone else’s life and live vicariously through their memories like the ultimate virtual reality game? And, well, memories can only be harvested from the dead. Who would sell their memories in such a situation? At what price? At what cost?
Nichols does a great job of exploring all these ideas in the context of an action packed thriller.
Thanks to Random House -Alibi for providing a copy for review.
December 7, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Alibi for a digital galley of this novel.
Sometimes a book will have a premise that holds so much promise that I am disappointed when the writing craft doesn't carry the project into a totally enjoyable experience. That's what happened to me here. Thinking about a detective being able to solve crimes by having the victim's memories implanted into his own brain just hours after their death was a fantasy I couldn't resist. Naturally things couldn't go quite that smoothly because there wouldn't have been many pages in a book that told of only memories leading to arrests of criminals. I was fine with the system of memory recovery taking some time to play out. What wasn't so fine was my feeling of total ambivalence regarding the lead character, the memory detective. My reading of the personality of Cole, the detective, was more or less just a flat line. I know he had emotions because the author told me about them, but I didn't feel them coming from the character. In fact, I began to wait patiently for the twist in the story that would tell me that Cole was not human at all but was a robot. No, no spoilers here because Cole is not a robot. I would have liked him much better if he had been.
Through investigating the murder of a young woman - from Kansas, which seems to be very important for some reason - Cole and his colleagues become aware that there is a serial killer operating worldwide. Cole begins to use the memories transplanted from the young murder victim to investigate this case and finds himself going completely off the rails. I doubt that the author would describe it in that way but it sure looked that way to me. I know from the ending of this book that there will be at least one more novel featuring this main character. I wish him well.
Sometimes a book will have a premise that holds so much promise that I am disappointed when the writing craft doesn't carry the project into a totally enjoyable experience. That's what happened to me here. Thinking about a detective being able to solve crimes by having the victim's memories implanted into his own brain just hours after their death was a fantasy I couldn't resist. Naturally things couldn't go quite that smoothly because there wouldn't have been many pages in a book that told of only memories leading to arrests of criminals. I was fine with the system of memory recovery taking some time to play out. What wasn't so fine was my feeling of total ambivalence regarding the lead character, the memory detective. My reading of the personality of Cole, the detective, was more or less just a flat line. I know he had emotions because the author told me about them, but I didn't feel them coming from the character. In fact, I began to wait patiently for the twist in the story that would tell me that Cole was not human at all but was a robot. No, no spoilers here because Cole is not a robot. I would have liked him much better if he had been.
Through investigating the murder of a young woman - from Kansas, which seems to be very important for some reason - Cole and his colleagues become aware that there is a serial killer operating worldwide. Cole begins to use the memories transplanted from the young murder victim to investigate this case and finds himself going completely off the rails. I doubt that the author would describe it in that way but it sure looked that way to me. I know from the ending of this book that there will be at least one more novel featuring this main character. I wish him well.
January 2, 2018
There's just something about memory, lately. The subject has been all over the movies and tv. Maybe it's just what I've been coming across. And I'm mentioning this appropriately while reviewing the book that very much reads like a movie (or a tv show). Something along the lines of a bastard child of Total Recall and iZombie, both of which are book adaptations, actually. But this isn't as good as either and miles away from the superlative Black Mirror, which also often plays with the subject of memory. And this isn't terrible either. It's just average or slightly above average. In something like a new future or an alternate now memory transplants have been achieved and perfected. NYPD Detective Nicholas Jones, Nick originally, now Cole, solves crimes by inheriting memories of the victims, thus relegating old fashioned detecting and deductions to things of the past to an extent. Cole also holds a record for the amount of memories he stores and juggles in his brain and is also addicted to memories of others. When he has to solve a murder of a gay teenager, he becomes embroiled in a much larger crime. This isn't so much of a mystery, because whatever's mysterious in here can be seen a mile away. There are some suspense and thriller elements to make up for it. The writing is ok, occasionally just above ok (particularly character writing), but there isn't much in the way of originality, all the ideas are sort of versions of other ideas, which have already been done. If this was a tv show, which is easy enough to visualize, it would be wildly derivative of iZombie. Thing is...do you want to watch a kinda cute and quirky zombie girl creatively cook and eat victims' brains and then assist in solving their murders all done in a good naturedly funny fashion or a middle aged nonzombie nondescript cop do more or less the same thing but all too seriously. Well, now there's something for everyone apparently, the ending of this one is definitely sequel ready and who knows how many memories Detective Nick/Cole Jones can fit into his gaunt blonde cranium. Entertaining enough, relatively quick read, just nothing to particularly wow the readers. I'm not usually the one to recommend tv over books, but seriously just watch Black Mirror instead. Or just watch Black Mirror. It's so good. Thanks Netgalley.
November 29, 2017
This novel takes "I see dead people" to a whole new level! Instead of simply seeing dead people, detective Cole is able to see and immerse himself in the memories of those who have been murdered so he can catch the killers. But of course there is a downside to this futuristic society as a secretive company has capitalized on this memory transfer technique and is paying young twenty-somethings to create a wild, adventurous life--only to have their memories taken by millionaires. So lots of questions abound: what is a life worth? How far would you go to live through someone else's "better" memories? This novel has it all--power, money, corruption, sex...what more could you ask for? Even though I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, this novel won me over!
January 21, 2018
A good read, but the ending seemed a little weak. Still recommended.
January 12, 2018
I got ARC of this book and I'm so glad to have chance for reading. The idea about transfer another person memory to help police solve difficult cases is new for me and it's so interesting! I love the writing, the characters and how the writer get me on edge just because I want to know what happen next. This book is one of book that you want to read in one sitting, totally page turner book!
What makes me give this book 4 stars than 5 stars instead is because I feel a bit disappointed with the ending. Why Cole give up so easily? Will be the next book for this story? If so, I'm dying to read it!
What makes me give this book 4 stars than 5 stars instead is because I feel a bit disappointed with the ending. Why Cole give up so easily? Will be the next book for this story? If so, I'm dying to read it!
February 3, 2018
T. S. Nichols’ The Memory Detective takes place in a near future or alternate world where life and technology are pretty much the same with one difference–the memories of people who have died can be transferred in a medical procedure to family, loved ones, or if they have been murdered and the family agrees, to homicide detectives who can use those memories to solve their murder. Cole, the Memory Detective, is unique, though, in being able to absorb the memories of multiple victims. Not only do they not drive him insane, he has become addicted to memories.
Meanwhile, there is Fergus, a Mephistopheles traveling the world making and fulfilling Faustian bargains. Imagine him coming to you in your twenties and offering endless wealth and freedom for ten years to live the richest, most glorious life you can. After ten years, you will die and your memories will be sold to wealthy people to enrich their lives. Would you take that deal?
The story begins with Cole getting the memories of a Jane Doe. In investigating her murder, he gathers some incidental information that becomes useful when he begins investigating another mysterious death, one that links to mysterious unidentified bodies around the world.
The Memory Detective is an inventive and clever idea and the problems and possibilities of such a technology are ably explored. The Faustian contracts are within the realm of possibility. I can imagine people making that deal when they are young and feel immortal. Wealth and opportunity can be tempting to a few people, though I think most folks would choose a less-privileged and longer life because they want love, friends, and family more than wealth and privilege. Of course, we don’t see many people choosing love in this book, even Cole, the detective, cannot imagine choosing love over his work.
I think this was an imaginative story, but it was marred by making the villains such omnipotent super-villains. There is a comic-book quality to the villains that undercuts the credibility of the overall story. Cole is interesting, the dilemma of losing oneself in others’ memories is compelling. It is also fascinating how memories are used to solve murders. Contrary to what one might expect, they are not instant solutions. They must be analyzed for clues and used to see real, physical evidence that can be used in court. They are incomplete and sometimes frustratingly incomplete.
In the end, I think the idea that animates The Memory Detective is effective, intriguing, and a great conceit, but its execution is marred by a comic-book villain.
I received an e-galley of The Memory Detective from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Memory Detective at Penguin Random House | Alibi
T. S. Nichols on GoodReads
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
Meanwhile, there is Fergus, a Mephistopheles traveling the world making and fulfilling Faustian bargains. Imagine him coming to you in your twenties and offering endless wealth and freedom for ten years to live the richest, most glorious life you can. After ten years, you will die and your memories will be sold to wealthy people to enrich their lives. Would you take that deal?
The story begins with Cole getting the memories of a Jane Doe. In investigating her murder, he gathers some incidental information that becomes useful when he begins investigating another mysterious death, one that links to mysterious unidentified bodies around the world.
The Memory Detective is an inventive and clever idea and the problems and possibilities of such a technology are ably explored. The Faustian contracts are within the realm of possibility. I can imagine people making that deal when they are young and feel immortal. Wealth and opportunity can be tempting to a few people, though I think most folks would choose a less-privileged and longer life because they want love, friends, and family more than wealth and privilege. Of course, we don’t see many people choosing love in this book, even Cole, the detective, cannot imagine choosing love over his work.
I think this was an imaginative story, but it was marred by making the villains such omnipotent super-villains. There is a comic-book quality to the villains that undercuts the credibility of the overall story. Cole is interesting, the dilemma of losing oneself in others’ memories is compelling. It is also fascinating how memories are used to solve murders. Contrary to what one might expect, they are not instant solutions. They must be analyzed for clues and used to see real, physical evidence that can be used in court. They are incomplete and sometimes frustratingly incomplete.
In the end, I think the idea that animates The Memory Detective is effective, intriguing, and a great conceit, but its execution is marred by a comic-book villain.
I received an e-galley of The Memory Detective from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Memory Detective at Penguin Random House | Alibi
T. S. Nichols on GoodReads
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
December 20, 2017
cash? This is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in reverse. Instead of deleting memories of a specific person or event, you can get other’s memories. Mom died? Inherit her memories! Cousin lead a phenomenal life? Inherit those memories!
However, remember, inheriting the good also means inheriting the bad. And this is where Detective Cole Jones comes in. Cole is a cop who has a unique ability to take in many individuals’ memories without going crazy. He takes the memories of individuals who are murdered who have nobody else to take their memories. He uses the memories to figure out who killed the person. A strange side effect of taking in other’s memories is the addiction. Cole has not stopped taking in other’s memories not only to solve their murders, but because he gets a rush each time he is immersed in that person’s past.
His 14th case, however, is about to change everything. A young woman named Meg is murdered and he downloads her memories to figure out who bashed her head in with a hammer. What he was not expecting was what Meg’s memories would unlock. Unbeknownst to Meg, she overheard a much larger and exponentially more dangerous conspiracy of memory transfers. Someone is paying others to live their life to the fullest for a decade, and then kills them to transfer their memories to the highest bidder.
When Cole realizes what he has access too, he goes deeper into the rabbit hole to find out just how far this conspiracy goes and how many others are out there who are willing to pay anything to live a life they never had.
However, remember, inheriting the good also means inheriting the bad. And this is where Detective Cole Jones comes in. Cole is a cop who has a unique ability to take in many individuals’ memories without going crazy. He takes the memories of individuals who are murdered who have nobody else to take their memories. He uses the memories to figure out who killed the person. A strange side effect of taking in other’s memories is the addiction. Cole has not stopped taking in other’s memories not only to solve their murders, but because he gets a rush each time he is immersed in that person’s past.
His 14th case, however, is about to change everything. A young woman named Meg is murdered and he downloads her memories to figure out who bashed her head in with a hammer. What he was not expecting was what Meg’s memories would unlock. Unbeknownst to Meg, she overheard a much larger and exponentially more dangerous conspiracy of memory transfers. Someone is paying others to live their life to the fullest for a decade, and then kills them to transfer their memories to the highest bidder.
When Cole realizes what he has access too, he goes deeper into the rabbit hole to find out just how far this conspiracy goes and how many others are out there who are willing to pay anything to live a life they never had.
January 25, 2018
The concept of the Memory Detective is fantastic and well-thought-out. This is also the only really obvious SF part of the plot, with the rest of the world seeming pretty much the same as always. Cole’s presence gives context to the procedure and prevents it from feeling like a gimmick or plot device. He truly humanizes the whole thing, particularly through his addiction and his quirky methods for trying to tease out the memories he needs. In addition, our exploration of the mysterious memory-selling company is through the experiences of one of their customers as he goes to great lengths to draw out every last one of the memories he’s inherited, again putting a human face on all of the machinations.
The only difficulty I had was with one particular scenario where Cole fails to figure out something that seemed rather obvious. But at least that situation doesn’t last for long. (Sorry for the vagueness; I’m trying not to give spoilers.)
I keep wishing there was already a sequel for me to read!
Uncorrected book provided by publisher for review
Original review on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/01/r...
The only difficulty I had was with one particular scenario where Cole fails to figure out something that seemed rather obvious. But at least that situation doesn’t last for long. (Sorry for the vagueness; I’m trying not to give spoilers.)
I keep wishing there was already a sequel for me to read!
Uncorrected book provided by publisher for review
Original review on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/01/r...
December 3, 2017
This one surprised me and I loved it! The plot sounded so unbelievable that I thought it would be difficult to take in, but it was superb! IT had me gripped from the beginning. In a surgical procedure, memories can be transferred from a dead person to a live person. Cole is expert at this, having had many memories transferred to him. He is a cop, but the memories help to catch killers. But it has made his personal life difficult as the memories become mixed up with his real memories. His relationship with Allie has disintegrated. He has become addicted to having memories transferred to him. He tries to break away from the memory transfers and go back to normal cop life. But will he succeed, can he do it? A memorable story.
November 8, 2017
When I first started reading this book I thought the premise was a little far fetched. But then I thought given all that is going on in this world, maybe it's not. I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept you on the edge of your seat. Very different from all the other books out there. Loved the main character. You could see how his job really affected his whole life and how tormented he was. Great from beginning to end. I am hoping that based on the ending there might be a sequel. Enjoy the book !
January 9, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! When I saw the synopsis of this book I knew that I wanted to read it. I enjoy medical thrillers and although this one wasn’t exactly medical it was close. Transferring memories, what a novel idea and one that kept me reading and coming back for more! Actually, this book probably has something for everyone! It’s a real page turner and it will keep you occupied, interested, and guessing!
The concept of this book is definitely unique (well to me it was). How fascinating to be able to obtain the memories of another person, a loved one for example. I’ve often wondered what others in my family experienced and how their memory of an event was different from the memory I have of the same event. Talk about actually being able to understand another individual and relate more compassionately. Sorry, I digress!
The detective in this book, Cole, uses other peoples memories in order to catch killers. The problem is he finds it addictive and continues to take on more and more memories to the detriment of his health and life. He basically gives up everything in order to catch killers. The book is written in such a way as to make the reader understand Cole’s feelings, his need for another fix (memory transfer) and his need to catch killers.
Somehow, the plot, the setting, the characters and the writing style all mesh together to create a wonderful book and I wanted MORE! I know when I want more that it’s a book I want others to read and an author that I’m going to follow closely. I received a copy of The Memory Detective through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Penguin Random House books and T.S. Nichols for the opportunity.
The concept of this book is definitely unique (well to me it was). How fascinating to be able to obtain the memories of another person, a loved one for example. I’ve often wondered what others in my family experienced and how their memory of an event was different from the memory I have of the same event. Talk about actually being able to understand another individual and relate more compassionately. Sorry, I digress!
The detective in this book, Cole, uses other peoples memories in order to catch killers. The problem is he finds it addictive and continues to take on more and more memories to the detriment of his health and life. He basically gives up everything in order to catch killers. The book is written in such a way as to make the reader understand Cole’s feelings, his need for another fix (memory transfer) and his need to catch killers.
Somehow, the plot, the setting, the characters and the writing style all mesh together to create a wonderful book and I wanted MORE! I know when I want more that it’s a book I want others to read and an author that I’m going to follow closely. I received a copy of The Memory Detective through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Penguin Random House books and T.S. Nichols for the opportunity.
January 27, 2018
This book is extremely thought-provoking. It deals with the issues created by a medical technique that allows memories to be transferred from one person to another. This capability is displayed for both good and evil, but the line between them blurs as the story proceeds. The characters are interesting, if a little far out, and the style of writing keeps the story up front in the reader's mind. Danger and suspense lurk behind every page, leading up to a most unusual ending. The book will stay in your mind long after you finish reading.
January 13, 2018
Memory transfer is an interesting concept as a way to solve crimes but to be honest, I like IZombie better ( possibly because of the live action engaging characters.). If you haven't watched Zombie, in that one, the brains are eaten by Liv, a doctor who works in the coroner's office after having been turned into a Zombie. She takes on the characteristics of the victim before solving the crime. Cole isn't a zombie but he's definitely carrying a huge burden doing this. The conspiracies that surround him are different= not better, not worse, just not zombie (for one thing.). To be fair this is well written and carefully plotted (gotta watch those twists). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Recommend for sci-fi detective fans (I know, narrow market) and to those who would like to try something different.
January 26, 2018
What a unique plot! This book gripped me at the very beginning. Many twists and turns and "edge of your seat suspense"! I hope there is a next book, if so I am ready for it!
January 3, 2018
It is two or three years in our future. Law enforcement is making use of a method of transference of memory from the dead into the minds of police officers. There is a limit to how many such transfers can be made into a single mind. Two is generally considered as safe. One person took four transfers and went insane. Cole Jones has done 15.
Cole’s skills and experience make him unique.
One day, he has a sixteenth transfer from a dead body – which has absolutely no memories. Cole is determined to find out what has happened to the memories of the person who had lived in that body. The nightmare begins.
Nichols has thought the concept through, in a thorough manner. There is some medical science content – right or wrong – that suggests an acceptable basis for the concept. However, Cole (“The Memory Detective”) gives the reader a rich depiction of this own memory process and how that interacts with the memories of the victims in a way that will let you suspend any disbelief.
Back in the 1960s, we had the Vulcan Mind Meld which avoided the necessity of syringes and intracranial mind probes. If you are old enough, you might recall a television movie (1970) called Hauser’s Brain (starring David McCallum). Or the original and remake of Total Recall.
A true page-turner, and an author to keep track of.
Cole’s skills and experience make him unique.
One day, he has a sixteenth transfer from a dead body – which has absolutely no memories. Cole is determined to find out what has happened to the memories of the person who had lived in that body. The nightmare begins.
Nichols has thought the concept through, in a thorough manner. There is some medical science content – right or wrong – that suggests an acceptable basis for the concept. However, Cole (“The Memory Detective”) gives the reader a rich depiction of this own memory process and how that interacts with the memories of the victims in a way that will let you suspend any disbelief.
Back in the 1960s, we had the Vulcan Mind Meld which avoided the necessity of syringes and intracranial mind probes. If you are old enough, you might recall a television movie (1970) called Hauser’s Brain (starring David McCallum). Or the original and remake of Total Recall.
A true page-turner, and an author to keep track of.
March 6, 2018
First, let me say I hope the author continues this as a series. I loved the blurb, I started the book and was a little iffy but quickly got sucked in and was captivated (Its the geek in me).
Overall, The storyline was great, it gave just enough details to understand what was happening, but wsn't overwhelming. Fast paced and while not a lot of action or suspense, it good detective story with the fascinating bit o having other people's memories.
Overall, The storyline was great, it gave just enough details to understand what was happening, but wsn't overwhelming. Fast paced and while not a lot of action or suspense, it good detective story with the fascinating bit o having other people's memories.
January 3, 2018
page turner. loved it.
February 2, 2018
Fast-paced riveting thriller! Fun read!..... main protagonist is Cole a homicide detective whose life is immeasurably altered when he starts receiving "memory transfers" from murder victims. Apparently science/ medicine have discovered the presence of neuroproteins in the frontal lobes that house our memories .... and have developed an operative technique allowing for their successful extraction shortly after death. Thus Cole is able to utilize the victims memories to help solve the homicide ... however, the presence and mixture of all these memories are not without consequence.
Cole becomes addicted to acquiring more memories ... thus leading to unfortuitous changes to his personality and personal relationships.
In his quest to solve the crimes, he stumbles across the existence of a company utilizing these memory transfers for nefarious and very profitable purposes.
As a neurosurgeon I couldn't help but notice the inaccuracy of the author's harvesting technique.
Such a procedure , as outlined in the book , would lead to the cerebellum ... and not the frontal lobes. Regardless, I still immensely enjoyed this book . I appreciated his adept plotting and prose which swept me away to devour this morsel in two seatings. Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin/ Random House for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Cole becomes addicted to acquiring more memories ... thus leading to unfortuitous changes to his personality and personal relationships.
In his quest to solve the crimes, he stumbles across the existence of a company utilizing these memory transfers for nefarious and very profitable purposes.
As a neurosurgeon I couldn't help but notice the inaccuracy of the author's harvesting technique.
Such a procedure , as outlined in the book , would lead to the cerebellum ... and not the frontal lobes. Regardless, I still immensely enjoyed this book . I appreciated his adept plotting and prose which swept me away to devour this morsel in two seatings. Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin/ Random House for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2018
“The Memory Detective” follows a police detective who solves crimes by having the memories of the victim transferred into his brain. Cole is the detective that the other detectives try to avoid getting partnered with. The scientists say that a person should have no more than 2 memory transfers, but Cole has had more than a dozen. He has become expert at pulling the crucial clues out of the victim’s memories and bringing murderers to justice. But this skill comes at a cost to his personal relationships. When the memories of an unidentified female victim are transferred into Cole’s brain, neither he nor his colleagues are prepared for the Pandora’s box that he is about to open.
I found the idea of memories being transferred from one person to another to be fascinating and the author did a great job of exploring how that would feel and affect the individual receiving the transfer. The story also has some great twists in it to keep you alert while you’re reading. My only problem with this book is the characters. I didn’t feel like I really connected with any of the characters. The premise of the story is great, the settings felt real and came alive with the author’s descriptions, and the narrative moved smoothly with a quick pace. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t feel the characters.
I found the idea of memories being transferred from one person to another to be fascinating and the author did a great job of exploring how that would feel and affect the individual receiving the transfer. The story also has some great twists in it to keep you alert while you’re reading. My only problem with this book is the characters. I didn’t feel like I really connected with any of the characters. The premise of the story is great, the settings felt real and came alive with the author’s descriptions, and the narrative moved smoothly with a quick pace. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t feel the characters.
February 14, 2018
The premise of The Memory Detective is excellent and leaves you with the question, would you want someone else's memories? The police officer, Cole, allows the downloads of crime victims memories. Whether he becomes addicted to the rush of other people's lives, or to the addiction of adrenaline that comes from solving their murders, is unclear. Either way, Cole loses his own life in the process. The side story in this tale is that a corporation has found a way to become wealthy by selling the memories of the short lives which they've designed and then discarded. The story was intriguing, but none of the characters, not even Cole, seemed to be "fleshed out". And had I known that this was the first in a series and would end with a cliffhanger, I probably would not have read it. That said, the author is a talented writer and it will be interesting to see where he goes with this series. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
November 13, 2017
Yes - I am reviewing my own book here. I had a lot of fun writing this book and I hope people have a lot of fun reading it. At the same time, I hope it makes people think... about memory and life and its important moments. Hat tip to Radio Lab and Moonwalking with Einstein for the inspiration.
If you wonder if you'd be interested in this book, ask yourself these questions:
1. If you could inherit the memories of someone you loved, but you have to take all the memories, good and bad, would you?
2. If you could will your memories to someone when you die, but you have to give them all your memories, good and would you?
If you find those questions intriguing, I think you'll find the whole book pretty interesting. If you are interested in getting a pre-publication galley. Shoot me a message and I'll see what I can do.
If you wonder if you'd be interested in this book, ask yourself these questions:
1. If you could inherit the memories of someone you loved, but you have to take all the memories, good and bad, would you?
2. If you could will your memories to someone when you die, but you have to give them all your memories, good and would you?
If you find those questions intriguing, I think you'll find the whole book pretty interesting. If you are interested in getting a pre-publication galley. Shoot me a message and I'll see what I can do.
March 1, 2018
T.S. Nichols looks at an alternated present in which it is possible to retrieve memories from someone dead only a few days. The technology has been around for two decades and usually used by family members. Cole has taken fifteen memories to solved murders. The press calls him The Memory Detective (ebook from Random House LLC) and he’s an expert in recall, So when some bodies arrive stripped of memory and other ways to identify the people. What he doesn’t know is that there is an illegal company paying people to live a good life and create memories. Their memories are harvested and sold and the bodies dumped. Cole follows one of their clients only to learn that the company is very dangerous. I wasn’t happy with the ending, but presumably there will be sequels. Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
February 12, 2018
This book had a really interesting premise: in a near-future world where we've developed a procedure that allows the transfer of memories, a detective takes on the memories of murder victims in order to help him find their killers. I wasn't sure what exactly to expect out of the execution, however, so I went into this without any real expectations.
There were some good things and some not-so-good things about this book.
The best aspect of the story, by far, was Cole's experience of the memories he gained, and how those memories influenced his investigation. There was a lot of genuine emotion running around in those memories, and I liked how it allowed me, as a reader, to explore the lives of characters who were no longer alive in a way that wasn't just summarization.
The overarching plot concerning the main villains of the story was also interesting and believable, specifically the way that the memory transfer process was commoditized.
However, although I really enjoyed those two elements of the book, I felt it did have some major weaknesses.
The biggest weakness was Cole's personality. I understand he was supposed to seem "diluted" by his multiple sets of memories, that he was struggling with a sense of identity in some places, but I failed to properly connect with him as a result, and it made reading his narrative considerably less enjoyable than it would've otherwise been.
The second biggest weakness of the book was the ending. There appears to be some kind of sequel setup here, which is all right, but the way that story led up to it was rather messy. And I didn't like how far the narrative went in exploring Cole's investigations, only for most of his work to get thrown away in favor of dragging out the story in a second book. I think this could've made for a self-contained novel with no loose ends, and it would've been more satisfying that way.
Overall, this was a pretty decent mystery novel with an usual twist, though it did have a few issues.
3/5 stars
[NOTE: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
There were some good things and some not-so-good things about this book.
The best aspect of the story, by far, was Cole's experience of the memories he gained, and how those memories influenced his investigation. There was a lot of genuine emotion running around in those memories, and I liked how it allowed me, as a reader, to explore the lives of characters who were no longer alive in a way that wasn't just summarization.
The overarching plot concerning the main villains of the story was also interesting and believable, specifically the way that the memory transfer process was commoditized.
However, although I really enjoyed those two elements of the book, I felt it did have some major weaknesses.
The biggest weakness was Cole's personality. I understand he was supposed to seem "diluted" by his multiple sets of memories, that he was struggling with a sense of identity in some places, but I failed to properly connect with him as a result, and it made reading his narrative considerably less enjoyable than it would've otherwise been.
The second biggest weakness of the book was the ending. There appears to be some kind of sequel setup here, which is all right, but the way that story led up to it was rather messy. And I didn't like how far the narrative went in exploring Cole's investigations, only for most of his work to get thrown away in favor of dragging out the story in a second book. I think this could've made for a self-contained novel with no loose ends, and it would've been more satisfying that way.
Overall, this was a pretty decent mystery novel with an usual twist, though it did have a few issues.
3/5 stars
[NOTE: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
January 23, 2018
Admittedly, this isn't the type of thriller that I would normally pick up, and I was a little worried about the medical side of this tale getting too technical and bogged down in the details. Thankfully, that wasn't the case at all. The author gives just enough of the medical side for the reader to get what's going on and follow the story. The idea of going in for a procedure that gives you a dead person's memories was thoroughly chilling to this reader, especially when The Company's purpose is revealed. The story does drag at times, particularly when memories are being "remembered." While the way remembering worked for the recipient is an important part of the story, I felt that a complete play by play of every memory was a bit much. That aside, the story did keep me turning pages to see what would happen next, right up to the jaw-dropping conclusion. About 95% of the way through, I completely expected a cliffy - either that or the ending would have to be a rush job - but that didn't make it any less shocking when I got there. On the whole, this is a solid debut novel for Nichols and I'll be anxious to see what's next for the Memory Detective.
June 28, 2020
The Memory Detective introduced us to policeman Cole Jones, who has agreed to have the memories of murder victims' inserted into his own mind, with the hope that he can locate and apprehend the suspects' involved. This has become an obsession after several successes and one he is reluctant to give up. However, things are set to get really complicated when a series of bodies are found around the world, who have had their memories wiped clean. This leads to a mysterious character called Fergus and 'The Company' for whom he works. Cole is then left to put clues together in a bid to pursue the truth about 'The Company' and to get justice for the dead. I really enjoyed the novel, which was unique and absorbing in my personal view. It had a genuine twist in the end. Although it can be read as a stand alone novel, it also led us into a follow on novel called The Murderer's Memories. However I've not been able to find out how to purchase a copy of it yet, as it's not listed on Amazon or Kobo and Mr Nichols doesn't appear to have a dedicated website. It's a shame, as I would have liked to continue with Cole's story.
December 16, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book! I was fascinated by the topic, and actually could visualize it happening, which is pretty scary. You can sell your life memories for a 10-year chance to do whatever, whenever, wherever you want, all expenses paid. I'm not sure if it was clear to the buyers what would happen at the end of the ten-years! The memories you saved up over your odyssey would be sold to the highest bidder, and your life would end. The original idea of harvesting memories came about to help solve crimes, thus the Memory Detective, who takes the memories of a crime victim (who is deceased of course) into his own head and then is able to see the crime as it happens, and solve it. Great idea, very successful! Unfortunately, the bad guys saw a way to use this to make money, selling off these amazing memories to the rich who never experienced anything like it! It was a fun, scary read, and I see sequel possibilities!
January 7, 2018
I was very intrigued by the concept of this book. A detective who relies on memories to solve crimes - how would that play out? How would it feel to have someone else's memories? What are the consequences and rewards for Cole?
All of these questions are thankfully answered, but disappointingly vague and distanced-feeling. I never forgot I was reading a book due to all the telling of Cole's feelings without the desired emotional punch for the reader. The science behind the memory transfers was given in such watered down terms that I felt like it went beyond being talked about in layman's terms and instead lacked any sort of depth of thought to how the process would work in the real world.
That being said, there are ups and downs in Cole's journey that kept me interested. The book was left open on a cliffhanger so I'm sure there will be a second book, even though I haven't seen mention of this being part of a series.
I received a review copy.
All of these questions are thankfully answered, but disappointingly vague and distanced-feeling. I never forgot I was reading a book due to all the telling of Cole's feelings without the desired emotional punch for the reader. The science behind the memory transfers was given in such watered down terms that I felt like it went beyond being talked about in layman's terms and instead lacked any sort of depth of thought to how the process would work in the real world.
That being said, there are ups and downs in Cole's journey that kept me interested. The book was left open on a cliffhanger so I'm sure there will be a second book, even though I haven't seen mention of this being part of a series.
I received a review copy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews