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The Memory Game cover art

The Memory Game

By: Nicci French
Narrated by: Harriet Walter
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Editor reviews

The Memory Game, written by Nicci French is a chilling psychological thriller audiobook narrated by English actress Harriet Walter. At once a mystery but also a fascinating example of attempting to recover those early childhood memories people can never recall in adulthood. Two little girls always play in their garden until one goes mysteriously missing. Her body is not discovered until 25 years later, buried in the same garden. It is a dangerous task to unravel the mystery of who killed the girl. Available now from Audible.

Summary

The Memory Game is a haunting psychological thriller from the top-ten best-selling author Nicci French.

You remember an idyllic childhood. But your memory is deceitful. And possibly deadly...

When a skeleton is unearthed in the Martellos' garden, Jane Martello is shocked to learn it's that of her childhood friend Natalie, who went missing 25 years ago.

Encouraged by a therapist to recover lost memories, Jane hopes to find out what really took place when she was a child - and what happened to Natalie. But in learning the truth about her and Natalie's past, is Jane putting her own future at terrible risk?

©2012 Joined-up Writing (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Memory Game

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Hard to care by the end-usually love Nicci French

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not really time worth spent. The story seemed implausible, as if it was merely a vehicle for the authors to examine the concept of false memory syndrome. The characters weren't likeable, particularly the main character, Jane.

If you’ve listened to books by Nicci French before, how does this one compare?

Not good at all. I kept listening to it because I'd always enjoyed Nicci French books in the past so hoped it would get better. It didn't really.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Probably the final scene.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

I really would rather watch paint dry than sit through the film of this book.

Any additional comments?

I'm glad I've listened to other Nicci French books and enjoyed them immensely. If this is your first Nicci French book, don't let it put you off the authors - everything else they've done has been first-rate.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Long drawn out but worth it..

Not the best Nicci French story, taking longer to play out the narrative than others, but worthwhile if you stick with it. Excellent narrator.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Really poor

I’ve read all of Nicki French’s Freida Klein books so I didn’t think this would be a risk. How wrong can you be!

A couple of things really spoilt this book for me
SPOILER ALERT


1) The narrator, who was able to do a host of very believable regional dialects, chose the most twee and old fashioned BBC English accent for Jane. It’s as if people really think that us Brits speak that that. So frustrating and downright irritating towards the end.

2) The plot was ridiculous. I mean, if you found a body buried under the patio your suspects would be the people who lived there wouldn’t it!!!! The police didn’t seem interested in finding the killer and police procedure and protocol didn’t appear to exist at all.

3) The creepy therapist. All just a bit weird and unnerving.

4) The fact that most of the details about the two families were fairly irrelevant to the story and yet Nicki French went into so much annoying detail. Same with Janes career as an architect and the building project - What was the point? And her relationship with Casper - how did that add to the story??

All in all a really terrible story narrated in the most annoying and old fashioned British accent. I only persevered to the end because I was determined not to have wasted the previous hours spent listening to it.

Not impressed 😤

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really good and interesting

At times I wondered where this story was going but the reader was so good I decided to keep with the flow. Thoroughly enjoyed it

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great

Well read and the story had me hooked right to the end. Would definitely recommend it.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Gave up at chapter six!

I struggled with the amount of characters introduced early on, felt the story wasn’t believable - shame, as this is the first book I’ve ever returned 😳

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Mesmerising!

What did you like most about The Memory Game?

I couldn't stop listening. Believable and sympathetic protagonist and Harriet Walter excellent on portraying many diverse characters.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A mirror image.

.Strange to say, I enjoyed this audio book. Strange because this is not the type of fiction I would normally prefer and I also try to avoid female narrators finding their voices irritating. over time. However, in this book, for me Harriet Walter's reading is what made the story so engaging. She really became the main protagonist whose search to discover what happened to her friend 25 years previously is the basis for the novel. A body is found in the grounds of the house during an extended family gathering. it is that of her missing friend, the daughter of the central family. She had been strangled and buried , but why? And by whom?
All that happens is written from a first person perspective as she tries to piece together the memories of her friend and, in particular, the last time she was seem. But she can't remember clearly : it has been too long. As she feels her life crumbling around her, she seeks help and slowly her remembrances clarify even if her personal life does not.
I found the main storyline rather tedious and predictable, but the characterisations were excellent and Ms. Walter's interpretation held my attention throughout. However, i think that, had I been reading the printed book , i would have become bored fairly quickly.
Would I recommend it? As an audio book, possibly As a written work alone, no.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Don't give up on this

Don't give up on this story too soon. It does get better the deeper you get into it. However, I would not have paid full price fir it. £3

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gentle, touching, intriguing

I really really loved this book! It's rare for me to really care for a character as much as I did for Jane. Although the story is about murder, there's also something very gentle about it. Thoroughly recommended!

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1 person found this helpful