The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
**3.5-stars**
The Memory Ward kicks off as we meet a postal worker named Hank, who lives in the idyllic town of Bethlam, Nevada. The way the town is described, it sounds like something from a postcard or Norman Rockwell painting.
As many of us know though, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, but what does that mean for Hank, and the rest of the residents of Bethlam?
As a Reader, you can pick up a vibe very early that something is off. It feels sinister, but you can’t quite put your finger on why. Then Hank makes a discovery, the mail he is delivering, there’s nothing but blank paper inside.
Apparently at least one other resident is cued into the fact that something is wrong in Bethlam, as Hank receives a message to look behind the wallpaper in his room.
When he does, the floodgates open. He discovers dozens of sheets of paper, mapping out a story that is either the whole truth, or utter madness.
But which is it?
The Memory Ward definitely includes some interesting concepts to explore. I would recommend this for fans of Pines, or Paradise. It’s got that trippy sort of, what the hell is going on in this town feeling.
And while I did enjoy the vibe of the story, the feeling of having to question everything and doubting what I had learned, I also continuously felt disconnected from the story for some reason. There was something about it that just didn’t work for me, and it did end up depleting my enjoyment level a little.
I’ve thought a lot about it, and my best guess is that it was the way the various character’s perspectives were delivered. There was something flat about it, but in hindsight, perhaps that makes sense, IDK.
I do really enjoy Bassoff’s writing, I just think this concept was one that was really hard to pull off, and for me, it just fell a little flat. There was nothing to really stick in my mind longer term, or get me super invested in the story.
At the end of the day though, it was entertaining and had a strong build. I’m glad I picked it up and tried it.
Thank you to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Bassoff is definitely an author I want to explore more from.