The darker the memory, the deadlier the obsession…
Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships.
Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy.
When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need.
And yet, someone is watching.
Someone who has been scarred by past events.
Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…
Dark, unsettling and immensely moving, Quicksand of Memory is a chilling reminder that we are not only punished for our sins, but by them, and that memories left to blacken and sharpen over time are the perfect breeding ground for obsession, and murder…
I'm thrilled to be hosting the blog tour for Quicksand of Memory today. My grateful thanks to Michael J. Malone, Orenda Books and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
I can't think of an author better suited to examining the lasting impact of trauma on the minds of people than Michael J. Malone; his novels may be classed as crime fiction but they are also invariably filled with warmth for his troubled, flawed characters. People are sometimes advised that to truly live in the present, they have to let go of the past but as he explores in his latest book, Quicksand of Memory, that often isn't easy – particularly when dealing with the complex sorts of issues that face these characters.
Luke has served time and has apparently faced up to the crime he was guilty of and first impressions would suggest that he has moved on from his earlier problems; following the death of his girlfriend, he is raising her young son, Nathan and despite not being his biological father, the love between the two is absolute. He's recently trained as a therapist but knows he needs to build his business and welcomes a new client, Jenna who has booked to see him due to her crippling anxiety. Their first meeting ends abruptly but it quickly becomes clear that there's a spark between Luke and Jenna. Fortunately, Jenna walked out before any client and therapist relationship was established and so it would seem that nothing is preventing them from becoming romantically involved.
However, Jamie is interested in Jenna too, and he has a connection to Luke. He also begins therapy sessions in order to become closer to him but though they develop a friendship thanks to Luke's open-minded generosity, there's another side to this complicated young man. The multiple narratives in Quicksand of Memory, including the occasional flashbacks, allow readers to understand who and what drives Jamie. His story is harrowing; a little boy torn from his family following tragedy, he was consistently let down by the adults who were supposed to protect him.
The contrast between Jamie's upbringing and Nathan's are stark and yet there are similarities too and even at the darkest points in the novel, Michael J. Malone paints a picture of a man tormented by who he has become and who he wants to be. Meanwhile, it transpires that Luke and Jenna are still haunted by the aftermath of the choices they made years ago. Throughout everything looms the malevolent figure of Danny who, despite being dead for many years, still dominates those left behind. While some still want revenge for his death, others are hiding what they know about his death – but Quicksand of Memory is a multifaceted novel and this is not a straightforward story of a perpetrator escaping justice.
Michael J. Malone understands that memories and the truth are often more complicated and that each person's perspective will affect how an event is viewed afterwards. There are the facts and there are what people believe and it's how they become interwoven that can lead to anger, regret and fear.
The nuanced characterisation in Quicksand of Memory is complemented by the superb sense of place which reflects the poverty-driven circumstances that frequently result in young men in particular turning to crime. There is darkness and violence here but it's juxtaposed throughout by love and an empathetic understanding of the way in which people are manipulated by their own thoughts as well as the actions of others. It's a gritty yet sensitive book that doesn't excuse or disregard the destructive past but allows remorse to be acknowledged and hope to persist. Suspenseful, poignant and so beautifully written, the outstanding Quicksand of Memory is another triumph by Michael J. Malone that will live long in my own memory. Very highly recommended.
Quicksand of Memory is published by Orenda Books and can be purchased directly from their website or from bookshop.org, Hive, Waterstones, Kobo and Amazon but please support independent bookshops whenever possible.
Don't miss the rest of the blog tour, details are below.
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