Quicksand of Memory by Michael J Malone

Delighted today to be sharing my review of the new book from one of my fave peeps. Quicksand of Memory by Michael J Malone came out in paperback on 14th April 2022, from Orenda Books. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me into the blog tour and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

Scarred by their pasts, Jenna and Luke fall in love, brimming with hope for a rosy future. But someone has been watching, with chilling plans for revenge … An emotive, twisty, disturbing new psychological thriller by the critically acclaimed author of A Suitable Lie and In the Absence of Miracles.

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…

My Review

I look forward to a new book from Michael Malone because I know I'm in for a treat and Quicksand of Memory absolutely delivers. 

Luke is setting himself up as a therapist, working from home as he brings up Nathan, the young son of his late partner, helped by her mother. He is only just starting out on this road and to supplement his income he works part time as a doorman. He is clearly a good man but we are given hints of a past, one that might not have been so rosy. The full picture is teased out tantalisingly throughout the book. 

Jenna is struggling with her mental health. She's trying to juggle part time work with the care of a demanding and  ungrateful mother after illness changed her. And the death of a former partner has affected Jenna more than she realised. She turns to Luke for help but as soon as the questions get difficult she leaves the session. However, that brief meeting was enough to ignite a spark between them and they hesitantly begin a relationship. 

Whilst the story is about Luke and Jenna's budding relationship, the main character has to be Danny. He's been dead for many years but he had such an impact on those around him, his influence is still felt in the present day.  

Luke and Jenna are both easy to like and you can't help but cheer them on. One of Malone's strengths is his characterisation. Luke and Jenna come fully formed and fleshed out with pasts, problems, hopes, fears and dreams. They are flawed. And they feel very real. Their tentative but burgeoning relationship makes us smile. But the shadow of Danny is never far away and there are other threats to their happiness. 

We learn about Danny through flashback scenes with him and Luke. In Danny, Michael Malone has created a truly toxic, controlling character, a man who strikes fear in many around him but who can present a completely different face to others. He's duplicitous and he really provoked some quite strong feelings in me. We feel his presence throughout the book. 

I must also mention Jamie, a young man with a difficult childhood. He comes to Alex for help and they develop a loose friendship. But Jamie is troubled and easily influenced by those around him. For me, he was a standout character, just heartbreaking, beautifully written. 

As well as writing novels, Michael Malone is also a poet and that shows in his beautiful writing. I noted a couple of examples but there are many others. 

'Jenna's smile was small, timid. A mouse peeking out from behind a wall'. My favourite couple of lines from the book. 

'...set off the tears. A silent slide of emotion down her cheek...'

'The wind lifted, signed in her ear...'

Quicksand of Memory is a study of memory, how it affects us, how we all view and remember things differently. Realising that not everything we believed was true. It's a story of love, friendships - healthy and toxic, heartache, revenge, pain and hope. How one person can still be affecting the lives of those close long after he's gone, the ripples of his actions still being felt. It's about breaking free. There are some real shocks in this book, and some uncomfortable moments for the reader, but it is so beautifully written and full of flawed, human characters that you will care about, root for and cry over, written with care and compassion. Just a gorgeous book. 

The Author

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. His psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number one bestseller, and the critically acclaimed House of Spines, After He Died, In the Absence of Miracles and A Song of Isolation soon followed suit. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr.


Be sure to check out the rest of the tour!