Book Review: The Memorist

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

The Memorist     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
M. J. Rose
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Mira, 2008, 453 Pages

The Memorist is a story of many people. Meer Logan has been haunted from childhood by memories of a past life. This is the story of Meer and the women in her past. It is also the story of David Yalom, an Israeli journalist, who has lost his whole family to a terrible explosion. Jeremy Logan is Meer’s father and a firm believer in memories of past lives. Jeremy’s goal in life has been to bring Meer’s past to the present and release her from the haunting memories.

The story also includes Malachai Samuels, head of the Phoenix Foundation. Malachai is under investigation by the FBI and Special Agent Lucian Glass is assigned to his case. Lucian seems fascinated by Meer as if he has known her before.

Jeremy discovers a gaming box similar to the one that Meer drew as a child based on what Meer believes to be false memories. Meer travels to Vienna to view the box that was once owned by a friend of Ludwig Beethoven. Meer’s presence in Vienna seems to draw her closer to her memories. While Meer is busy with her father and his friend Sebastian visiting various places where Beethoven once lived or worked, David Yalom is underground beneath a concert hall planning to destroy the hall and everyone inside.

Meer’s story is told in flashbacks to times in the past when she wasn’t Meer but another woman. Other flashbacks take her further back in time when she was a woman on an entirely different continent. The story is suspenseful, thought provoking and very exciting. M. J. Rose brings the story to a conclusion that is satisfying but not a happy ending for everyone.

The Memorist is a follow-up to the book The Reincarnationist. It is not necessary to have read The Reincarnationist to enjoy The Memorist but Reincarnationist is a great story and ties in with this new novel.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.