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SYNOPSIS:
Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It’s the only home he’s ever known.
Elissa has only just arrived. And she’ll do everything she can to escape.
When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend. And he doesn’t want Elissa to leave.
Not only that, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn’t the first girl he’s found inside the Memory Wood.
As her abductor’s behaviour grows more erratic, Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival.
Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . .
Gemma's Thoughts:
This book!! What an absolute ripper of a psychological thriller! Dark, Creepy and chilling.
From the opening pages you just know this thriller will knock you off your feet. I was totally captivated by it, scared witless and couldn't read it fast enough. All I craved for was for the world to freeze so I could ingest it in one sitting.
Elissa is abducted in a car park and taken to a dilapidated cabin in the woods somewhere. Her abductor brings her food but she is chained in the basement unable to see him. During her time locked away Elijah visits. He refers to the woods as The Memory Woods as others before her have been captivated and killed. Elissa is determined to survive and her only hope of getting out alive is to befriend and outwit Elijah.
This was such a harrowing read. I loved how the chapters were dedicated to the different characters: Elijah, Elissah, and Detective Superintendent Mairead. The chapters span over 7 days but don't always follow chronological order. This allows you to get snippets of what is to come and kept me very intrigued and interested. I have to say I loved everything about this book. It provoked so many emotions in me and was mind-blowing. To think that this is a debut novel is astonishing, I cannot wait for what Sam Lloyd has in store for us next. I for one will be pre-ordering a copy of The Rising Tide out on 5th August 2021.
The Book Club Discussion:
Some books naturally lend themselves to longer discussions than other books and The Memory Wood was a book that required a much more thorough discussion time. It was my book choice and having read it previously and thoroughly enjoying it I decided it had to be this book. I love a psychological thrillers although I know some of the other members aren't too keen on that genre so it was a risky choice. Although everyone agreed it was quite the page-turner it did disturb some with the nature of child cruelty, miscarriage and abduction that ran throughout the novel. We were very torn over our feelings of Detective Superintendent Mairead and her dedication/obsession to her job when she herself was going through much pain both physically and mentally. We questioned whether this was a realistic representation of a woman going through such harrowing times and some argued whether this was even the right thing to include in this novel. Some also felt that Ellisa's focus and the methodical way in which she attempted to escape was not realistic. A thirteen year old, chained and scared witless would she really have been able to think logically in that situation? Nevertheless, a book that divides and stirs up so much emotion through discussion, in our eyes, is a great book club book and one that will be forever sketched in our minds.
THE SCORES (out of 10):
Donna: 7
Gemma: 9
Kim: 8
Nic: 7
Pamela: 7
Sandra: 8
AUTHOR:
Sam Lloyd grew up in Hampshire, making up stories and building secret hideaways in his local woods. These days he lives in Surrey with his wife, three young sons and a dog that likes to howl. His debut thriller, The Memory Wood, was published to huge critical acclaim in 2020. His second thriller will be published in 2021.
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