The Memory Box

By: Eva Lesko Natiello

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

What would you do if you googled yourself and uncovered something shocking?

In this gripping psychological thriller, a group of privileged suburban moms amuse themselves by googling everyone in town, digging up dirt to fuel thorny gossip. Caroline Thompson, devoted mother of two, sticks to the moral high ground and attempts to avoid these women. She's relieved to hear her name appears only three times, citing her philanthropy. Despite being grateful that she has nothing to hide, a delayed pang of insecurity prods Caroline to google her maiden name - which none of the others know.

The hits cascade like a tsunami. Caroline's terrified by what she reads. An obituary for her sister, JD? That's absurd. With every click the revelations grow more alarming. They can't be right. She'd know. Caroline is hurled into a state of paranoia, upending her blissful family life, desperate to prove these allegations false before someone discovers they're true.

The disturbing underpinnings of The Memory Box expose a story of deceit, misconceptions, and an obsession with control. With its twists, taut pacing, and psychological tenor, Natiello's pause-resisting suspense cautions: Be careful what you search for.

©2014 Eva Lesko Natiello (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Be patient with it!

Any additional comments?

This book started out well but became rather tedious for a while. However when the tapes from Caroline's past arrive the pace really picks up. The Memory Box goes from a chore to read to can't put down in the blink of an eye! I highly recommend!

Decent story, didn’t care for the narrator.

Didn’t care for the narrator. Cringed when she mimicked the little girl characters and the husband in a different voice. The story itself was okay, some parts predictable and some surprises. I think I would have liked it better as an actual book read and not on audible.

THE MEMORY BOX

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes, work on making the story "flow", too clunky! All throughout the book I felt like I was on a street with 4 different signs saying "go this way, no go that way." 🔝🔙🔜

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have made it clearer. There just seemed to be to much information that the reader didn't need to know.

What does Cassandra Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really don't know. With all respect to her, because the book, was so difficult, I guess she did a good job. (The doctor and husband sounded the same.)

Was The Memory Box worth the listening time?

Not for me.

Any additional comments?

CONFUSING, CLUNKY, WHICH WAY WAS UP? 🔜🔝🔙

loved it!!

Loved the twists and caught myself yelling at the narrator! Probably best narrator I've heard.

Gave me anxiety in a bad way

I really wanted to like this book, but the main character’s inner monologue gave me anxiety, in a bad way. In the end with the “twist”, it still was never clear why she lost her memory, which is a huge hole in the story in my opinion. I love a good lost memory story, but this just wasn’t it for me.

NOT a good description of the story!

Hated this depressing, freaky book. Needs a different description of what you’re in for! If you want a diabolical read then it’s for you!

Eh.... couldn’t wait for it to end but....

The narrator was ok. The story was just kind of goofy. I wanted it to end but couldn’t stop listening. Ending was a let down.

Interesting

Storyline was interesting but overall sort of disappointing. Didn’t really love the conclusion, it gave off “and then they woke up” vibes.

loved it

From beginning to end...great book. Would definitely recommend. Very suspenseful. One that you don't figure out till the end

Mixed bag

This writer has a very clever turn of phrase and a good story premise. However, she hasn't figured out if she is writing an au courant episode of a flip tv sitcom or a mystery. This story seems to aspire to be a cross between Girl on a Train or Gone Girl and a smart-alecky Janet Evanovich story. There are plot holes large enough for a train to ramble through. And many of the many characters' actions are not reasonable. Many questions left unanswered - even the ones posed by the characters! What happened to her memory? Why did she go see Sullivan...again? What triggered the action in the first place?