Can a woman who has lost her memory piece together the truth about her family, her life, and a friend's murder?
After waking up with amnesia in hospital, Cassie returns home to a life she doesn't recognize. She gradually learns that dodgy associations from her old life have left her estranged from her husband and alienated from her children. Cassie no longer wants to be the person she was before--but breaking away from her past and from her wealthy family is not so simple.
Meanwhile, she still suffers confusion and experiences nightmares about an unknown man, while hearing from her friend Marcie that she had been having an affair. When the police dismiss her after she receives a frightening phone call, Cassie vows to uncover the truth.
But when a body is found, a series of revelations brings Cassie's past into shocking clarity . . .
From My Cold Dead Hands was one crazy roller coaster ride from beginning to end - and I loved every minute of it!
Cassie wakes up with amnesia in a hospital with only fractured memories and a lot of fear. The memories she does have don't fit with the life she is returning to. Her new life is filled with neo-Nazis, ultra Conservative religious, uber wealth, elitists who worship their guns and their race more than the god they claim to love. Pre-amnesia, Cassie apparently was the spokesperson for a young women's group of Souther Confederate Women doing their part to keep their race pure. BUT - all of these feels so very wrong to Cassie. Her husband and children despise her. She despises the life she has returned to. Nothing makes sense to her and through all of this she feels an impending doom that is coming for her.
Normally, I shy away from amnesia books because the story really has grown old and tired over the past few years. Cold, Dead Hands, however, caught my interest with its underlying themes of southern racism and I was never disappointed. I was raised in a community, not wealthy, but very much like the one Cassie knows. The church she attends was similar to one I attended and every day I am thankful that I escaped from its clutches. The book describes the south I know far too well. I'm so glad that an author had the courage to tackle it, portray it so accurately and show the world what it really is like. It's deplorable. With the parallel story of Cassie's life in London, the book come very close to being the perfect thriller. I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all.
Thank you to @BloodhoundBook for my copy of this book.
This story intrigued me right from the opening page. A devastating accident involving a London taxi cab leaves a young woman recovering in hospital. The mystery takes off when the young woman regains consciousness. And if that wasn’t enough, she has no memory of who she is, nor how she came to be in hospital. It’s evident that the people surrounding her bed, care for her deeply. But who are they?
Cassie is disorientated, though well enough to be discharged from hospital, and is collected by her family and brought home. However, when she arrives at the family estate and enters the huge house with its fine, lavishly furnished rooms, with black servants ready to attend to the family’s every need— it feels wrong, alien to her. She tries to remember her life and is amazed to learn she is an American, with a husband and children. Cassie struggles to uncover the truth about herself, discovering she has bigoted, racist beliefs – she begins to doubt her sanity.
The twists and turns in this plot will keep you riveted in your seat, eager to read more. Danger and the threat to life ramp-up as Cassie soon realises that there are far more disturbing things to worry about than mere memories. A well-crafted, mystery drama.
This book opened strong and just didn’t let up. From the opening chapter where we meet Cassie as she wakes up in hospital after an accident that has left her without her memory through to the final closing scenes, the tension doesn’t let up.
I was initially a little concerned, as Cassie’s family (and pre-accident Cassie) is described as white supremacists which is not a subject I am comfortable with, and may be triggering for some readers - it was dealt with in a way that I was ok with, and brought up some interesting questions for me to think about around the harm that has been done to Black communities in particular in the South.
I had my suspicions as to what was going on and, although I was partially correct, I wasn’t all the way right, and the tantalising clues that were left via memory flashbacks teased just enough to keep me wanting more!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys tense thrillers and likes the memory loss trope (one of my favourite thriller tropes!).
This is such a well written thriller that works on so many different layers. At first I was sucked in by the thriller aspect alone (Who is our MC? Why can’t she remember? What happened to her?) that was perfectly tense and kept me engaged and rooting for our easy to like MC.
Then I was hit by a train as the author drove us deeper into the world she built and showed us maybe things are more sinister than they seem. I really enjoyed the political commentary and the turn the book took.
Whether you are looking for a classic well paced amnesia thriller, or a story about injustice and inequality, this book manages to work both levels without losing sight of either.
This book starts off leaving you completely confused and querying all the characters.
I'm not going to lie but I had some weird and out there theories on what was going on. From body swaps, time loops, AI investigation 🤣
I think I was having lots of fun with my imagination. I won't say if any of my suggestions were right, or if the conclusion was as far out as I thought.
This was a good read, I did find some of the political chat go over my head. I just don't do politics. Though it did add to my confusion more and it was a main character point with views.
This book just ticked all the boxes for me and it was brilliant just loved it and devoured it. I guessed what was happening towards the middle but that was okay I didnt know how. I would have liked more about Nick and his relationship with Cassie but that come right at the end.
All in all an amazing book - never read anything by this author before but she is now on my watch list.
I was given an advance copy by bloodhound books but the review is entirely my own.
It is not something we ever really think about, but can you imagine waking up after an accident and not knowing who you are? In From my cold dead hands the authors debut novel we see just how chaotic life can be if we have lost ourself.
Following Cassie who has been in an accident in London she wakes up in her hometown of Atlanta with a strange man (her father) and her husband and kids. she is scared but has to believe what she is being told and goes home with him.
She is shocked to find what her life is, she is rich REALLY rich but has a rocky relationship with everyone around her.
As her memories slowly start to come back to her she becomes more and more scared and starts to feel crazy as she is told her memories NEVER happened.
The more connections she seems to make, and the more she finds herself, her family are astounded that she seems to have had a complete personality transplant because she couldn’t be MORE different from who she was.
From My Cold Dead Hands is a twisted psychological thriller that left me with my mind boggled – just as much as the characters before me were. This Book was incredibly well written, and had a killer TWIST that although I thought it to be true throughout the entirety I still didn’t see coming.
This was an incredible captivating debut and I can not wait to read what comes next!
It’s thrilling, funny and very entertaining. I loved Cassie and her southern family. I’ve read a few books where the main caracter lost his/her memory but none as good as this one. Couldn’t put it down. Thanks Bloodhound Books.
From the first page Hilly Barmby sets the stage for a novel that twists and turns throughout! When Cassie awakes in hospital with amnesia she’s greeted by a family she has no memory of at all. Worse than that on her return the United States, and as she learns more about herself, she hates the person she used to be. Cassie’s parents are terrifying, and she has two grown-up children and a husband who appear to be estranged from her. Can Cassie discover the truth behind the strange flashbacks and memories? As she gets closer to the truth will she risk her to get answers? Hilly cleverly builds the scenes, using well developed and engaging characters. I was soon pulled into the story, and found it impossible to drag myself away from. I will most certainly be looking for more books by this author!!
This story held my attention right from the first page and held it until the last. A young woman wakes up in hospital following a serious accident and is suffering from amnesia. She is finally allowed home to her rich American family but remembers nothing, and their lifestyle feels abhorrent to her. She speaks with an English accent, her horse dislikes her, and she can’t remember how to ride. Nothing makes sense, and her memory flashbacks have nothing to do with the world she now finds herself in but another sordid existence where she fears for her life. An intriguing and well-written tale which I thoroughly enjoyed. Well done, Hilly Barmby.
This certainly had me blown away an absolute fantastic different writing approach to someone suffering from amnesia. You find yourself captured into a totally gripping cleverly written plot and storyline, with interesting characters. This is without doubt a page turner, full of twists, turns and what revelations. An unputable down book which builds and builds to a well I didn't expect that. I would highly recommend this book. My thanks to Bloodhound books for the copy of this book, this is my honest unbiased review.
Imagine waking up in hospital with no memories, having to be told who you were before the accident that put you there by the husband and children who you don’t remember. The fact that they don’t seem that keen on you would be troubling, as would the information which they impart, bit by bit, which paints a picture of a monster, according to the values which seem to be the only thing left of the life which you’ve forgotten.
Or are they? The memories which Cassie experiences in bite-sized chunks, disorganised, disjointed, don’t match the rich, hard-riding, gun-toting power-hungry and racist Southern woman image which she is being asked to reconnect with in the home to which she’s been returned in Atlanta, Georgia—and neither does the English accent. There’s something else going on here, and Cassie is determined to get to the bottom of it, although her parents don’t seem like the kind of people to help her find out. Can estranged husband Nick and children Lucy and George help her out, along with chauffeur Tyreese and housemaid Dolores?
Author Hilly Barmby dishes out the clues to the mystery in tantalisingly small breadcrumbs, and even when we think we’ve nailed what’s going on she throws another ingredient into the mix. Unputdownable psychological suspense.
This was an excellent read, one I couldn’t put down as I wanted to know what happened next. Well written in a concise style this is the story of Cassie, a ‘Southern belle” who believes in white supremacy, the right of the people to keep and bear arms and who treats her staff as second class citizens as well as being virtually estranged from her husband and children. Or does she? After being hit by a taxi in London Cassie has been flown back to the USA and wakes up in a hospital in Atlanta with retrograde amnesia.
Briefly, after being take back to the family home Cassie is shocked to find that not only is she extremely wealthy but she is also not a nice person. She can’t remember anything from her past but she is having horrible nightmares and flashback about another life she seems to have led. It’s explained that she is most likely confusing real life with things she has seen on the television or in movies. But she isn’t convinced. She can’t remember how to ride her beloved horse or drive her car.
Cassie is a great character who despite all attempts by her parents is determined to change her life. She is horrified by her previous actions and wants to understand her ‘memories’ from the past. The author lets slip clues throughout the book so I had guessed the big plot twist but the actual ending was quite shocking. This was a really good read, I was hooked from start to finish. Fabulous.
A young woman named Cassie wakes up in an Atlanta hospital after having been involved in an accident crossing the street in London, England. She has amnesia and no memories of her husband and her two children or any other memories of her family. Nor does she any recollections of her life to this date.
She is surprised to learn that she is fond of horse riding and is a prominent advocate of the values of the old South, guns and the right to bear arms. She finds it difficult to reconcile what she is being told with the values she thinks she believes in, the opposite of those she supposedly espouses. And she has memories of other people from another place.
We are greeted by many more surprises as the story unfolds. There is a dramatic twist as we approach the end that turns everything on its ear. And suddenly everything becomes clear explaining the inner turmoil that has consumed her as she is exposed to her previous life in Atlantic.
A riveting thriller! I highly recommend this book.
I was provided with an Advance Review Copy by Bloodhound Books.
I received an advance copy of this book from bloodhound books and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved the concept of this from the start. A woman wakes up in an Atlanta hospital with no idea who she is or how she got there. She learns from others that her name is Cassie and she preaches a white supremacist ideology. The new Cassie finds these ideas abhorrent and feels like she has woken up in the wrong body experiencing flashbacks and memories that do not tally with what she is being told. Then her best friend is murdered and she is informed she will be next.... The book is told from Cassie's point of view and I enjoyed the development of her character. The character of her daughter Lucy was also well fleshed out. I found the white supremacist family somewhat stereotypical although in fairness they often also seem that way to me in real life! I loved the ending and hadn't guessed the twist. Great first novel and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 from me
This was a fast paced and thrilling read, which I really enjoyed. It is told from the point of view of a woman with amnesia which was an interesting subject to read about and made me want to delve into this story. I liked how the main character is humourous although she has been through a lot. Throughout the book, you are constantly questioning what will happen next? who is this character? what have they done? what are the other characters relationships with Cassie? etc. This makes for a real page turner, and I thought it would be a great movie too, as there are lots of twists and turns as well as tension throughout. I also liked that the chapters are named, which usually modern novels don’t often do. This created interest by hinting at events to come and elicited curiosity, without giving away what would happen.
I received an ARC copy from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own.
After waking up with amnesia in hospital, Cassie returns home to a life she doesn’t recognize. She gradually learns that dodgy associations from her old life have left her estranged from her husband and alienated from her children. Cassie no longer wants to be the person she was before—but breaking away from her past and from her wealthy family is not so simple. Meanwhile, she still suffers confusion and experiences nightmares about an unknown man, while hearing from her friend Marcie that she had been having an affair. When the police dismiss her after she receives a frightening phone call, Cassie vows to uncover the truth. But when a body is found, a series of revelations brings Cassie’s past into shocking clarity . . .
A great read. Interesting story. I did feel for Cassie. 5*.
This is one of those books for which the description you can't put down was made for. There's is an opening chapter, where events happen without explanation, leaving a woman being hit by a vehicle. You soon find out the woman was Cassie, and it was a taxi that hit her. She has been left with retrograde amnesia and can't remember anything before the accident. As the truth starts to unravel, Cassie is often shocked by the life she was leading, and what about the flashbacks and innate fear she has of certain people in her life. I had to keep turning the pages to discover as quickly as I was able what on earth was going on. I liked Cassie, I really felt for her, must be horrendous to not remember a single thing of your life. A few red herrings chucked in and plenty of clues that you wouldn't guess until you know the truth. A really fantastic book, thanks you.
This is not my usual sort of read but I am so glad I got the chance to do so. Cassie is involved in a traffic accident in the UK and suffers retrograde amnesia when she returns to the US. She discovers her background and behaviour is quite reprehensible while trying to piece together her memories of her life and past and decides she wants to change.
I found this a totally gripping read. It was quite intense and I couldn't stop reading it to see how Cassie manages to change things around while at the same time, avoid whoever is determined to do kill her. The whole story was so interesting and the reveal at the end was quite astonishing.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of this and this is my honest review.
What A Novel! A young woman in England gets into an accident and wakes in a hospital to find herself surrounded by a family she can't remember. Cassie has retrograde amnesia. She is shocked to this cover that she is from the US (although she spots a fetching British accent). Her children and husband seem distant from her, and after she goes home with her family, and quickly starts to piece together, that...well...she might not be the best person pre-amnesia.
Through the books, I was drawn into the character's shoes, and her recovering her life, the shock as she continues to unfold the layers of her memory, and comes face to face with what is happening. And add a killer running around and I COULD NOT STOP READING!
What. A. Novel. It was thrilling and uncomfortable, but gripping.
This book comes out July 19,2022. This is a story of a woman name Cassandra Barber-Davenport. Cassie a young woman that has a memoirs loss from amnesia. Cassie wakes up in a private room in Atlanta, Ga. The accident of her injury takes place at the time she was located in London, England. She also wakes up with an accent, Yes. Then Cassie found out she also has a whole family a husband, two children, a mother, and a father. This is just the beginning of the story. You have a book full of thrillers, twists, and turns, and it fast pace full of details. This book is great. I enjoyed this one. And you will be surprised what happens.
I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed and look forward to seeing what is next for them. This is a well written story about Cassie and how she wakes with amnesia. She suffers from a nightmare about a certain man but than a body is found. What happens next I highly recommend reading this book to find out. The characters have great growth and they are connetable. I enjoyed how they brought the story to life. The twists and turns are edge and page turning. You don't want to miss what happens in this story for sure. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story. It is worth the pick up.
Cassie wakes up in the hospital without knowing who she is, is what her family telling her the truth or there something sinister going on here? In this gripping novel this is the main question. You'll be riding along in the rollercoaster of the story with the main character Cassie, narrated in the first voice you will be inside her head trying to figure out what's going on. With lots of twists and turns the book grabs you from the beginning and you need to keep reading until the end.
Gripped from the start. The opening seemly sets up what could be a straight forward story, but no, all is not as it appears. With the main character having to relearn her life from scratch and not liking what her loved ones tell her and her resolution to correct the many wrongs leads to a absolutely enthralling page turner.
I received this book in return for an honest review and how glad I am that I did! It’s a great, compulsive read – it gripped me from the start through to the very unexpected twist at the end.
The story starts with Cassie, the main character, waking up not knowing who she is or who anyone around her is including those who claim to be her family. Who can she trust? Is she experiencing memories or dreams? And who are the people who appear in them – certainly not the people she is living with now. The plot is exciting and the tension increases as Cassie feels her way around a life that is unfamiliar to her while dealing with threats to her life.
I read a lot of crime books and thrillers and would definitely recommend From My Cold Dead Hands if you want an exciting, tense read with a satisfying conclusion but be prepared not to be able to put it down!