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Shrouded Memory
"Jaws" meets "The Gift"
What You Don't Remember Can Hurt You.
Rian Field has it all. A thriving career as a marine biologist, a loving husband, and a loyal circle of friends. But after surviving a shark attack, she becomes strangely haunted by disturbing memories where two masked men held her hostage in her own home.
Before long, nightmares begin to plague her, her friends start acting suspiciously, and she's convinced that there are fragments from the past that she can't remember, important clues that could save her life.
Then someone breaks into her home. Again. Convinced that the shark attack is somehow connected to the masked men, she experiences a renewed sense of terror as the culprits appear to be among those she trusts. Because they are watching her every move. They aren't finished with the past. They know about her fear of sharks. And they will use that fear against her until she's dead.
Rian must overcome her fear of sharks and uncover the truth before the past buries her once and for all.
A psychological thriller that deals with the realities of trauma and PTSD.
What You Don't Remember Can Hurt You.
Rian Field has it all. A thriving career as a marine biologist, a loving husband, and a loyal circle of friends. But after surviving a shark attack, she becomes strangely haunted by disturbing memories where two masked men held her hostage in her own home.
Before long, nightmares begin to plague her, her friends start acting suspiciously, and she's convinced that there are fragments from the past that she can't remember, important clues that could save her life.
Then someone breaks into her home. Again. Convinced that the shark attack is somehow connected to the masked men, she experiences a renewed sense of terror as the culprits appear to be among those she trusts. Because they are watching her every move. They aren't finished with the past. They know about her fear of sharks. And they will use that fear against her until she's dead.
Rian must overcome her fear of sharks and uncover the truth before the past buries her once and for all.
A psychological thriller that deals with the realities of trauma and PTSD.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2016
114 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Krista Wagner
19 books85 followersAmazon Bestselling Author Krista Wagner writes clean mystery suspense stories that reach into those chasms of darkness where deception and betrayal lie, but where faith, and victory over evil, ultimately win. Her books offer a psychological suspense twist on cozy mysteries like the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys series, brimming with realistic characters, a dash of romance, and soul-inspiring intense storylines.
If you like books by authors like Lynette Eason, CC Warrens, and Alana Terry, you will love Krista's books too!
"Dealing with danger and handing out hope"
Krista Wagner, author of mysteries, thrills, and all that is real
Krista also writes clean billionaire romance under the pen name Cristina Ryan.
If you like books by authors like Lynette Eason, CC Warrens, and Alana Terry, you will love Krista's books too!
"Dealing with danger and handing out hope"
Krista Wagner, author of mysteries, thrills, and all that is real
Krista also writes clean billionaire romance under the pen name Cristina Ryan.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 9, 2017
Great book, with turns around every corner. Easy to read and understand, there is no unnecessary language or words in this fitting fight for survival novel by Krista Wagner!!! Have a great read!!!
April 22, 2021
DNF at around 16%
I chose to DNF this because of the writing. The main character was literally getting attacked by a shark and possibly on the brink of death and I didn't really feel anything for her?? Everything was told rather than shown. There's a scene with a group of people and we're introduced to them one by one, and each is given a paragraph of backstory... I want to know the characters personally, not just facts about them.
The plot aspect of this book may be amazing, but I couldn't keep track of or empathize with the characters. May possibly try again in the future.
I chose to DNF this because of the writing. The main character was literally getting attacked by a shark and possibly on the brink of death and I didn't really feel anything for her?? Everything was told rather than shown. There's a scene with a group of people and we're introduced to them one by one, and each is given a paragraph of backstory... I want to know the characters personally, not just facts about them.
The plot aspect of this book may be amazing, but I couldn't keep track of or empathize with the characters. May possibly try again in the future.
July 18, 2021
Realistic trauma and coping
This story speaks volumes to trusting your gut instincts. The therapist interactions were spot on and true to treatment. The emotions Rian expressed were also right in line, even the parts that may seem off, were also spot on and reality to many PTSD sufferers. Great piece of work here!
This story speaks volumes to trusting your gut instincts. The therapist interactions were spot on and true to treatment. The emotions Rian expressed were also right in line, even the parts that may seem off, were also spot on and reality to many PTSD sufferers. Great piece of work here!
September 5, 2025
This story starts off in an exciting way, with a shark attack. At some points , I found that the plot was a bit slow. Otherwise, I found it interesting, dealing with PTSD and the aftereffects. I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
November 30, 2019
This is an amazing story of a shark attack and, as if dealing with the ptsd of that was not enough, more trauma is brought upon Rian. This story pulled me in immediately and I could not put it down. Literally, I finished this in one sitting! I was on the edge of my seat until the end. This author is amazing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 22, 2025
This is a decent physiological thriller with twists and turns that I did not see coming.
The characters in the story are likeable and it had me interested in knowing what happened next. I completed this audiobook in one sitting.
The characters in the story are likeable and it had me interested in knowing what happened next. I completed this audiobook in one sitting.
September 22, 2021
Strange
I made myself finish this book hoping it would get interesting. It was confusing to figure out and just didn’t make sense to me.
I made myself finish this book hoping it would get interesting. It was confusing to figure out and just didn’t make sense to me.
July 24, 2022
This book is a 5 star read. Beautifully written with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat to the last page.
October 3, 2022
A twisty tale of Rian, a marine biologist, struggling from PTSD, nightmares and premonitions. 2 years earlier, Rian was attacked by 2 men, now she barely survives a shark attack. While trying to figure out the why of it all, she starts to suspect the people closes to her. The story is fast paced, suspenseful and engaging. I loved it.
September 21, 2016
*I was sent this book free of charge so I could read it and create this book review*
This work of fiction was a fair read. The plot of the story seemed stretched over a long time frame. I feel like the story was a bit far-fetched and the writing was okay. It didn’t bring out my inner grammar nazi, but the novel was not fast paced. I prefer stories with quick turnaround and easy to follow plot lines. Especially when I’m having a busy week and trying to read a book in spurts around the rest of my family life!
The book opened well with a shark attack, but then the story is spun that somehow the shark attack is linked to a home invasion Rian was a victim of years before. It takes a lot of characters and a lot of “story time” to finally get to the bottom of what is going on. Plus Krista Wagner throws in the mental anguish of her character (which is warranted) and her therapist visits and a lot of other unnecessary plot points.
While this is not a long book, it took me a bit longer to read than it should have. I had a hard time keeping all the accessory characters straight, and there are a lot of red herrings. That, in itself, is not a bad thing, but after changing my thinking 4 or 5 times about ‘whodunit’ I started to lose interest in the actual resolution to the story.
The ideas and overall plot of this story is fine. The writing is okay but there’s a lot of verbiage that’s not needed in this book. I didn’t hate it, but I’m not too excited about reading more from this author.
This work of fiction was a fair read. The plot of the story seemed stretched over a long time frame. I feel like the story was a bit far-fetched and the writing was okay. It didn’t bring out my inner grammar nazi, but the novel was not fast paced. I prefer stories with quick turnaround and easy to follow plot lines. Especially when I’m having a busy week and trying to read a book in spurts around the rest of my family life!
The book opened well with a shark attack, but then the story is spun that somehow the shark attack is linked to a home invasion Rian was a victim of years before. It takes a lot of characters and a lot of “story time” to finally get to the bottom of what is going on. Plus Krista Wagner throws in the mental anguish of her character (which is warranted) and her therapist visits and a lot of other unnecessary plot points.
While this is not a long book, it took me a bit longer to read than it should have. I had a hard time keeping all the accessory characters straight, and there are a lot of red herrings. That, in itself, is not a bad thing, but after changing my thinking 4 or 5 times about ‘whodunit’ I started to lose interest in the actual resolution to the story.
The ideas and overall plot of this story is fine. The writing is okay but there’s a lot of verbiage that’s not needed in this book. I didn’t hate it, but I’m not too excited about reading more from this author.
March 28, 2017
Rian Field was a pretty decent read. The storyline was unique and suspenseful. There weren't too many grammatical errors, and the writing was generally good.
Some of the circumstances for the story were pretty far fetched with shark attacks being related to direct attacks on Rian's life, but the twists were well thought out and I was not able to guess ahead of time what was going on.
My only real issue was that it was fairly slow paced for the type of story, and I had a hard time connecting with Rian, the MC. However, the action was well-written and fast paced. There were so many secondary characters (friends and co-workers) that I had a hard time keeping up, and frequently had to go back in the story to refresh my memory of who different people were or to figure out what time we were in. There were frequent flash backs.
I think that this story would be well received from anyone who enjoys a good suspense. The plot twist was surprising, which is something I can usually figure out before it is revealed in the story. 3.5 stars rounded up to a 4.
This review was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the circumstances for the story were pretty far fetched with shark attacks being related to direct attacks on Rian's life, but the twists were well thought out and I was not able to guess ahead of time what was going on.
My only real issue was that it was fairly slow paced for the type of story, and I had a hard time connecting with Rian, the MC. However, the action was well-written and fast paced. There were so many secondary characters (friends and co-workers) that I had a hard time keeping up, and frequently had to go back in the story to refresh my memory of who different people were or to figure out what time we were in. There were frequent flash backs.
I think that this story would be well received from anyone who enjoys a good suspense. The plot twist was surprising, which is something I can usually figure out before it is revealed in the story. 3.5 stars rounded up to a 4.
This review was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2016
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
stars: 4
outline:
Rian feild surived a horrific experince were she was almost killed and lost her unborn child. That experince really flung her life into a spin she started suffering from PSTD. It took 2 years for her to pull her life almost together and start her career a a marine biologist. Then with one horrible shark attack all the pain and her PSTD symptoms came flooding back. she had a gut feeling the two situations were connected she just didnt know how and who to trust in her life to help her figure it out.
review:
I really liked how this book had me guessing to the end...all the twist turns and drama had me holding my breath and biting my nails. I really wanted rian to find peace and most of all find herself and her strength to battle through all and end up victorious.
Heather
stars: 4
outline:
Rian feild surived a horrific experince were she was almost killed and lost her unborn child. That experince really flung her life into a spin she started suffering from PSTD. It took 2 years for her to pull her life almost together and start her career a a marine biologist. Then with one horrible shark attack all the pain and her PSTD symptoms came flooding back. she had a gut feeling the two situations were connected she just didnt know how and who to trust in her life to help her figure it out.
review:
I really liked how this book had me guessing to the end...all the twist turns and drama had me holding my breath and biting my nails. I really wanted rian to find peace and most of all find herself and her strength to battle through all and end up victorious.
Heather
April 5, 2020
This is a psychological thriller about a marine biologist named Rian who is haunted by PTSD. Her PTSD stems from two seemingly disconnected scenarios, an assault and a shark attack, but she can't seem to shake the feeling that the events are somehow connected, and that somebody close to her was responsible... perhaps even her doting husband Jack.
I enjoyed the book and found it quite engaging. The suspense was good, and the book gave you hints but kept you guessing until the very end. I personally like psychological thrillers with a little less psychology and a little more thrill, but that is simply a personal taste and not a criticism of this work. The book was relatively clean, with only some slight cursing and violence. Four stars.
I enjoyed the book and found it quite engaging. The suspense was good, and the book gave you hints but kept you guessing until the very end. I personally like psychological thrillers with a little less psychology and a little more thrill, but that is simply a personal taste and not a criticism of this work. The book was relatively clean, with only some slight cursing and violence. Four stars.
June 6, 2021
Um livro leve bem escrito . Algumas inconsistências me fez dar 4 estrelas .
November 16, 2016
Very interesting read.
Good plot, great narrative & dialogue and relaxing pacing at a leisurely- medium pace.
Engaging vivid characterization.
Krista Wagner is a skilled writer.
The settings and characters are so well portrayed- its easy to visualize the pages coming to life.
However, I will be sure to avoid sailing or jet skiing anywhere near waters where sharks frequent as I have no desire to encounter any.
Good plot, great narrative & dialogue and relaxing pacing at a leisurely- medium pace.
Engaging vivid characterization.
Krista Wagner is a skilled writer.
The settings and characters are so well portrayed- its easy to visualize the pages coming to life.
However, I will be sure to avoid sailing or jet skiing anywhere near waters where sharks frequent as I have no desire to encounter any.
January 23, 2022
Shrouded Memory
I enjoyed this book after I could keep up with the dialogue. The story kept flashing back and forth. I almost gave up on finishing the book but was glad I did. The ending made the who!e book worth reading and it was satisfying to get all the answers to what happened to Rien during the home invasion and the shark attack and who was involved. I recommend it as a psychological thriller.
I enjoyed this book after I could keep up with the dialogue. The story kept flashing back and forth. I almost gave up on finishing the book but was glad I did. The ending made the who!e book worth reading and it was satisfying to get all the answers to what happened to Rien during the home invasion and the shark attack and who was involved. I recommend it as a psychological thriller.
June 2, 2016
This is the second book that I have read by the amazingly talented Krista Wagner. She was a way of making her characters very life-like and relatable. Though I didn't relate much with Rian I know there are a lot of people that can. This book was very thrilling and had too many twists in it to count. It definitely kept me on my toes throughout the entire thing.
April 4, 2021
Rian and Jack had a good marriage but no baby came.
Brian had been pregnant once but the baby died before birth. Brian suffered an in home attack. It caused many episodes of PTSD. After over a year the attackers had not been found. Then came a shark attack. She didn't know God buy she learned to call on Him because she feared everyone else.
Brian had been pregnant once but the baby died before birth. Brian suffered an in home attack. It caused many episodes of PTSD. After over a year the attackers had not been found. Then came a shark attack. She didn't know God buy she learned to call on Him because she feared everyone else.
June 4, 2021
Excellent
This book was so great that I read it in one sitting. The characters were awesome.
It truly showed PTS CAN EFFECT YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
This book was so great that I read it in one sitting. The characters were awesome.
It truly showed PTS CAN EFFECT YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
May 4, 2021
Shrouded Memory
A great mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. No bad language or vulgar scenes but filled with suspense.
A great mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. No bad language or vulgar scenes but filled with suspense.
December 22, 2022
Good mystery with some thrilling scenes, and a deeper glimpse into the dark world of PTSD.
March 22, 2025
Shrouded Memory is one of those psychological thrillers that grabs hold of you from the very first page and refuses to let go. Rian Field’s life is turned upside down after surviving a shark attack, and the unraveling of her memories only adds to the suspense. I loved how Krista Wagner masterfully crafted Rian's story—her struggle with PTSD and the terrifying memories that resurface after the attack had me hooked. You could feel her fear and confusion as she tries to piece together fragments of her past, and as the nightmare of masked men begins to intertwine with her present, it’s impossible not to be swept up in her journey.
The tension in this book is palpable. As Rian’s fears and suspicions grow, so does the sense of danger lurking around every corner. What I really enjoyed was how Wagner made the threat feel so personal. The shark attack, once thought to be the pinnacle of Rian's trauma, ends up being just the beginning of something far darker. The way Rian’s memory slowly unravels had me questioning everything—who can she trust when it feels like everyone around her has secrets? It’s this sense of uncertainty that kept me turning pages, desperate to know who was behind the terror and why.
The psychological depth of Shrouded Memory is powerful. Rian’s struggle with fear—whether it’s of sharks, of losing control, or of the people around her—is so real and relatable. It felt like I was living the trauma with her. And when the truth finally begins to surface? It’s a shocking and emotional revelation that ties together all the threads Wagner so expertly wove.
This book will leave you breathless and questioning how much of our memories we can truly trust. If you’re a fan of heart-pounding thrillers that dive deep into trauma and resilience, Shrouded Memory is an absolute must-read. It’s unsettling, intense, and, ultimately, a testament to the strength it takes to face your deepest fears head-on.
The tension in this book is palpable. As Rian’s fears and suspicions grow, so does the sense of danger lurking around every corner. What I really enjoyed was how Wagner made the threat feel so personal. The shark attack, once thought to be the pinnacle of Rian's trauma, ends up being just the beginning of something far darker. The way Rian’s memory slowly unravels had me questioning everything—who can she trust when it feels like everyone around her has secrets? It’s this sense of uncertainty that kept me turning pages, desperate to know who was behind the terror and why.
The psychological depth of Shrouded Memory is powerful. Rian’s struggle with fear—whether it’s of sharks, of losing control, or of the people around her—is so real and relatable. It felt like I was living the trauma with her. And when the truth finally begins to surface? It’s a shocking and emotional revelation that ties together all the threads Wagner so expertly wove.
This book will leave you breathless and questioning how much of our memories we can truly trust. If you’re a fan of heart-pounding thrillers that dive deep into trauma and resilience, Shrouded Memory is an absolute must-read. It’s unsettling, intense, and, ultimately, a testament to the strength it takes to face your deepest fears head-on.
May 24, 2021
This book was disappointing.
First, putting a Bible verse at the beginning of each chapter does not make a book “Christian”. There was nothing about Jesus, relying on him, praying, worshipping or living for him. Not even secondary characters. This isn’t a Christian book.
Second, the story is disjointed. There isn’t a smooth flow to what’s happening. The back and forth from past to present didn’t happen smoothly so it was hard to follow what was happening.
Finally, the big “reveal” was lame. There really wasn’t a satisfactory explanation for why the second person was even involved. The main “bad person” seemed to convenient and the story was wrapped up all nice and tidy; all that was missing was a bow.
I won’t be going out of my way to find something else by this author.
First, putting a Bible verse at the beginning of each chapter does not make a book “Christian”. There was nothing about Jesus, relying on him, praying, worshipping or living for him. Not even secondary characters. This isn’t a Christian book.
Second, the story is disjointed. There isn’t a smooth flow to what’s happening. The back and forth from past to present didn’t happen smoothly so it was hard to follow what was happening.
Finally, the big “reveal” was lame. There really wasn’t a satisfactory explanation for why the second person was even involved. The main “bad person” seemed to convenient and the story was wrapped up all nice and tidy; all that was missing was a bow.
I won’t be going out of my way to find something else by this author.
February 18, 2023
Perseverance pays off!
I love psychological thrillers, and Shrouded Memory fits that bill. I got the opportunity to listen to a review copy on Spotify and chose to provide this review. I wish I could say I absolutely loved the story, but I found myself in the first half of the story wondering if Rian was dreaming or whether she was awake and experiencing a violent reality. The story seemed to shift in the second half of the book where it was very cohesive and took on a “new life” that made reading/listening not just pleasurable but kept me on the edge of my seat. If you pick up a copy, just know your perseverance will be rewarded by reading/listening to the end. Leo Goodman does an excellent job narrating this story and breathing life into the characters.
I love psychological thrillers, and Shrouded Memory fits that bill. I got the opportunity to listen to a review copy on Spotify and chose to provide this review. I wish I could say I absolutely loved the story, but I found myself in the first half of the story wondering if Rian was dreaming or whether she was awake and experiencing a violent reality. The story seemed to shift in the second half of the book where it was very cohesive and took on a “new life” that made reading/listening not just pleasurable but kept me on the edge of my seat. If you pick up a copy, just know your perseverance will be rewarded by reading/listening to the end. Leo Goodman does an excellent job narrating this story and breathing life into the characters.
January 18, 2025
What is on your mind..
This was a great story of finding what happened, what bothers and scares you now, and how to make it not scare you over certain things. With that same token, sometimes some things are hidden within that you should be scared of.
Knowing how PTSD is usually different for each person, getting through the aftermath of immediately and years later, can be very exhausting and with information that you had no idea of.
Thank you, Krista Wagner, for a good story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.
This was a great story of finding what happened, what bothers and scares you now, and how to make it not scare you over certain things. With that same token, sometimes some things are hidden within that you should be scared of.
Knowing how PTSD is usually different for each person, getting through the aftermath of immediately and years later, can be very exhausting and with information that you had no idea of.
Thank you, Krista Wagner, for a good story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.
April 10, 2025
A marine biologist scared of the ocean? Why does she think there's a connection between her attacks? Who's responsible and why? Will she ever be able to trust again?.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2021
Possibilities but a flop
This cannot be a Christian novel. Very loose connection. Plot not well-plotted. Very superficial for a thriller. Disappointed with development.
This cannot be a Christian novel. Very loose connection. Plot not well-plotted. Very superficial for a thriller. Disappointed with development.
June 18, 2021
DNF at 16%. Felt like I was dropped into the middle of an ongoing story.
October 22, 2022
What at first appears to be a woman spiraling into madness is something much worse. The madness of others.
February 24, 2025
I did finish the book but I just couldn't get into this one. It was very confusing and hard to follow along with.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews