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Peter Zaks Mystery #1
Amnesia
Sylvia Jackson was shot in the head and left for dead in a cemetery in Boston, her boyfriend lying dead a few yards away. She's in a coma for six weeks, and when she wakes up, she can't remember anything--until three months later, when suddenly she begins to recall details of the crime and the killer. Finally, Sylvia accuses her ex-husband, remembering what seems like incontrovertible evidence of his guilt. Enter Dr. Peter Zak.
Peter, the director of Pierce Psychiatric Hospital, quit acting as an expert on memory and crime for the Boston PD a year ago when his wife was brutally murdered by a killer he'd testified against in court. But when his old colleagues call and ask him to consult on this bizarre and seemingly rock-solid case of amnesia, he's hooked. It's Peter's job to determine how reliable her memory really is, and hopefully to use those memories to uncover what really happened that night in the cemetery.
Peter, the director of Pierce Psychiatric Hospital, quit acting as an expert on memory and crime for the Boston PD a year ago when his wife was brutally murdered by a killer he'd testified against in court. But when his old colleagues call and ask him to consult on this bizarre and seemingly rock-solid case of amnesia, he's hooked. It's Peter's job to determine how reliable her memory really is, and hopefully to use those memories to uncover what really happened that night in the cemetery.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
11 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
G.H. Ephron
6 books11 followersHallie Ephron and forensic neuropsychologist Donald Davidof are co-authors of the Dr. Peter Zak medical/psychological mysteries. They write under the shared pseudonum G.H. Ephron. The character of Dr. Zak is based loosely on Don, who runs a unit at the McLean, Harvard's psychiatric hospital, and often consults as an expert witness for the defense in criminal cases.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 21, 2022
!SPOILERS!
Amnesia is a murder mystery by G. H. Ephron. It stars the main character, Dr. Peter Zak. He's a forensic psychologist and expert witness for the local Public Defender's office, although he hasn't been on a case in two years since the traumatic and public death of his wife. The book starts out with the doctor's old colleagues calling for help on a very odd murder case. A young woman was shot in the head and is the sole witness to her boyfriend's murder but she can't remember the events very well because of her injuries. Trying to construct the truth in her head, she accuses her ex-husband of murder. Dr. Zak doesn't believe this is true and only through many brain tests and unique witnesses does he finds only the real shocking truth involving people at his workplace and the true horrors of the human mind.
A really interesting aspect of this book is Dr. Zak overcoming the death of his wife throughout the case. It's a very significant part of the story and it's almost more important than the murder itself. You can watch his character develop over the course of the story and it's pretty intriguing. At first, he was very apprehensive about doing the case. On page 24, it says, "I turned out the lights and sat in the shadowy office … still not believing that I'd agreed to evaluate another murder. Hadn't I had enough excitement and fame for a lifetime". Slowly, he gets interested in the case and that interest is what pushes him to confront his fears and by the end of the book, he fully opens a new page and is more comfortable with himself and not being consumed by his memories. "No one had been up in Kate's studio since she died. For two years, until just a few weeks ago, I hadn't been able to go there myself…. Annie came down a few minutes later carrying one of Kate's vases in one hand… 'Yes,' I said, 'it's a very lovely thing'" (pg. 292).
Personally, I think this was a decent book. There were instances where it was, for me, dreadful to read, but overall it was adequate. The book didn't really focus on the mystery of the murder and more on the emotional process of Dr. Zak trying not to relive his wife's murder case. Which, seems like an interesting aspect but in actuality, seemed like an excuse for not having the story progress. It was extremely frustrating for me every time I thought the story was getting interesting whilst talking about the case, the doctor would back out of something because he felt sad about his wife, which seemed, to me, more like a cheap escape rather than actual character development. Yet, even as I give it harsh criticism, the actual mystery and storytelling were not bad. I kept reading it because, even though I was frustrated that the story couldn't continue, it still held on to me. Every time Dr. Zak would back out of something, I was more involved because it gave me a taste for maybe what could have happened. All in all, I don't like the doctor as a character but the storytelling of the book was not bad given its faults.
Amnesia is a murder mystery by G. H. Ephron. It stars the main character, Dr. Peter Zak. He's a forensic psychologist and expert witness for the local Public Defender's office, although he hasn't been on a case in two years since the traumatic and public death of his wife. The book starts out with the doctor's old colleagues calling for help on a very odd murder case. A young woman was shot in the head and is the sole witness to her boyfriend's murder but she can't remember the events very well because of her injuries. Trying to construct the truth in her head, she accuses her ex-husband of murder. Dr. Zak doesn't believe this is true and only through many brain tests and unique witnesses does he finds only the real shocking truth involving people at his workplace and the true horrors of the human mind.
A really interesting aspect of this book is Dr. Zak overcoming the death of his wife throughout the case. It's a very significant part of the story and it's almost more important than the murder itself. You can watch his character develop over the course of the story and it's pretty intriguing. At first, he was very apprehensive about doing the case. On page 24, it says, "I turned out the lights and sat in the shadowy office … still not believing that I'd agreed to evaluate another murder. Hadn't I had enough excitement and fame for a lifetime". Slowly, he gets interested in the case and that interest is what pushes him to confront his fears and by the end of the book, he fully opens a new page and is more comfortable with himself and not being consumed by his memories. "No one had been up in Kate's studio since she died. For two years, until just a few weeks ago, I hadn't been able to go there myself…. Annie came down a few minutes later carrying one of Kate's vases in one hand… 'Yes,' I said, 'it's a very lovely thing'" (pg. 292).
Personally, I think this was a decent book. There were instances where it was, for me, dreadful to read, but overall it was adequate. The book didn't really focus on the mystery of the murder and more on the emotional process of Dr. Zak trying not to relive his wife's murder case. Which, seems like an interesting aspect but in actuality, seemed like an excuse for not having the story progress. It was extremely frustrating for me every time I thought the story was getting interesting whilst talking about the case, the doctor would back out of something because he felt sad about his wife, which seemed, to me, more like a cheap escape rather than actual character development. Yet, even as I give it harsh criticism, the actual mystery and storytelling were not bad. I kept reading it because, even though I was frustrated that the story couldn't continue, it still held on to me. Every time Dr. Zak would back out of something, I was more involved because it gave me a taste for maybe what could have happened. All in all, I don't like the doctor as a character but the storytelling of the book was not bad given its faults.
November 16, 2019
Peter Zak jest psychologiem, który poza pracą z pacjentami bierze udział w rozprawach sądowych jako biegły. Jedna z takich właśnie spraw zakończyła się dla niego osobistą tragedią... Jednak kiedy znajomy prosi go o opinię w trudnej sprawie ten nie potrafi mu odmówić.
Książka to całkiem przyzwoity thriller, ciekawe jest przedstawienie historii z perspektywy psychologa, sam bohater jest sympatycznym facetem, niestety po ciężkich przejściach. Na szczęście nie ma w niej psychologicznych teorii niezrozumiałych dla niewtajemniczonych, czego trochę się obawiałam.
Nie ma w niej za dużo napięcia, myślę że jest w sam raz do poczytania w nudne wieczory :)
6/10
Książka to całkiem przyzwoity thriller, ciekawe jest przedstawienie historii z perspektywy psychologa, sam bohater jest sympatycznym facetem, niestety po ciężkich przejściach. Na szczęście nie ma w niej psychologicznych teorii niezrozumiałych dla niewtajemniczonych, czego trochę się obawiałam.
Nie ma w niej za dużo napięcia, myślę że jest w sam raz do poczytania w nudne wieczory :)
6/10
June 23, 2017
Well-written. Likable protagonist and other characters. Fascinating psychological mystery. I'm on to the 2nd in the series.
February 16, 2019
Really enjoyed and would look for more. Did not see the conclusion. Great ending.
March 11, 2025
Primeiro livro deste autor que li. Uma boa história, bem construída e um tema muito interessante
November 18, 2012
This fast-paced mystery features psychologist Peter Zak and investigator Annie Squires. Dr. Zak is asked to give expert testimony in defense of a man charged with killing his wife's lover and attempting to kill his wife. The case tugs at Zak at the same time that it scares him. When his own wife was murdered he was in the uncomfortable position of prime suspect and the unreliable memory of the woman pointing the finger at this suspect pushes Zak to help find the truth.
The story clips along at a good pace mixing mystery with the fascinating neuropsychological cases Zak handles at work. A great mystery with a clever ending. The characters are convincing and layered. The science of psychology is presented in layman's terms and is fascinating. A great start to a promising series!
The story clips along at a good pace mixing mystery with the fascinating neuropsychological cases Zak handles at work. A great mystery with a clever ending. The characters are convincing and layered. The science of psychology is presented in layman's terms and is fascinating. A great start to a promising series!
June 18, 2012
Interesting mystery set in Boston operating on a couple of levels. Forensic psychologist and expert on human memory Dr. Peter Zak becomes involved in helping a public defender defend a murder client. Surviving witness who was shot in the head, identifies a person who murdered of her boyfriend and shooting her in the head. Zak is called in the help determine whether witness's memory is really accurate. Zak is also still recovering from the murder of his wife a year previously and dealing with various psychological problems resulting from that.
June 25, 2013
This was a pretty entertaining mystery. The psychology angle made it quite interesting and gave it an added element over the standard mystery novel. But the characters, overall, lacked that certain sparkle to be the first book in a series that I am desperate to continue reading. I will say that for it being written by two authors, it was remarkably cohesive. The ending was not a complete surprise, but it was exciting nonetheless.
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September 22, 2014Lots of information on memory loss and false memories which I am fascinated by especially as a mystery story line. You do have to tolerate a bit of psycho babble in this book. From the beginning I knew there was something off about Maria? the patient and I don't mean mentally I mean dishonestly. When I finished reading Amnesia my main feeling was, "that was weird". Who was really being manipulated and who was actually the victim? I'm not sure.
January 16, 2009
Excellent book. As a psychology major in college I truly enjoyed reading this book. Excellent description and interpretations. The puzzle pieces at the conclusion fit together to make a fascinating "picture"/story. Will definitely read the remaining books in this Peter Zak series. And I just purchased Hallie Ephron's new book.
July 3, 2007
Good suspense about a forensic neuropsychologist and memory.
November 10, 2007
Read my thoughts at: Thoughts of Joy...
November 23, 2007
Accident victim loses memory, is hospitalized, but someone tries to kill her and the shrink that examines her. Good mystery.
February 28, 2008
My blog post about this book is here.
September 27, 2009
Good mystery....ending was not predictable.
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March 9, 2013Cool book. I like psychology/mysteries but this book did not work for me. It's interesting tho because of the layman's term of psychology mojos. :)
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June 18, 2013I almost didn't finish reading as the story line featured 2 characters without any connection. Finally at the end it was revealed how the 2 characters were related. Overall, good read.
December 16, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. Interesting story, some twists and lots of interesting info on brain trauma and memory loss.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews