Some truths aren’t buried. They’re trained to stay quiet.
Elise Warren believes the danger is in the past.
She’s wrong.
When Elise returns to her childhood home to settle her estranged father’s estate, she expects unanswered questions—especially about Ivy, the quiet girl who lived there and then vanished.
What she finds is far worse.
Her father’s psychological work wasn’t meant to heal children. It was meant to control them. And someone else may have been watching—someone who never needed to be in the room to be obeyed.
As Elise uncovers the truth, she realizes her return wasn’t an accident.
It was anticipated.
And the experiment may not be over.
Because some experiments don’t end. They wait.
My Review:
Mercy, but did this book ever deliver all the Gothic Goodness I’d been craving! So atmospheric, verging on the edge of eerie but not to the hair-raising thriller level of some books. More mysterious with pockets of spooky throughout.
And the way the story develops – honestly I was so confused (in a good way!) Elise can’t remember a chunk of her childhood until she returns to a dilapidated old house she and her mother had fled twenty years earlier. I was full of questions and my imagination worked overtime, creating the most outlandish scenarios since the author was not obligingly forthcoming. Though I love the way Alford paced the mystery, teasing us with mere snippets of facts oh so gradually throughout the read. And, double mercy, that ending! Not even on my radar. At all!
‘The Memory House’ is an all-consuming, page-turner steeped in mystery with hints of romance and some gentle inspirational truths to keep things on an even keel.
“Maybe breaking isn’t always the end.”
Her gaze lifted. “You really believe that?”
“I believe God can rebuild what people damage.”
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a gently used copy of this book so is available for any reader anywhere in the world so – Yay – INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!
If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Memory House, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 19 2026.
sounds really good!
tam – appletamoATyahooDOTca
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Good luck, Tammy!
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This sounds great. Count me in. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com
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Counted! Good luck, Lucy!
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Looking forward to reading this book. Only one of hers I haven’t read yet.
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Oh wow, I have so many to catch up on. Must check her website. I haven’t read any of her Indies yet. Good luck, Kim!
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Ooh, love a good page-turner!
manderley23 at gmail dot com
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This is definitely that! Good luck, Kimmy!
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This one sounds perfect for the “spooky” season! I love a well written gothic book….and it’s been far too long since I’ve read a book by Mary.
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
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This book is great re-introduction to her writing. Good luck, Trixi!
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It has been a while since I read one of Mary’s books. This one looks great.
paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom
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Me too. I just checked her website and….whoa…I have a lot of catching up to do. Good luck, Paula!
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This book has suddenly been making a splash across my social media feeds and I admit it sounds very interesting! Thnx Kav!
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That cover sold it for me. I saw it on instagram, read the blurb and ordered it immediately! lol Good luck, Sarah!
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I think I’d like to try this one.
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Good luck, Becky!
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I have been intrigued by this one ever since I saw it come up as a preorder
marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com
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It caught my eye too and I just had to read it! Good luck, Mark!
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I read Mary Alford’s Among the Innocent earlier this year and loved it. As soon as I saw this one was coming out I added to my tbr.
Jeanette cjaneread98 at gmail dot com
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I really need to play catch up with her. I’ve read Among the Innocent and I loved it as well but I think this is the first indie book of hers I’ve read. Good luck, Jeanette!
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It sounds like this book would be best read when you had nothing else that had to be done so it could be read all in one sitting. I usually enjoy a good gothic mystery.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
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Absolutely an unputdownable read! Good luck, Pam!
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I’m always game for a Mary Alford novel! I am woefully behind on her releases and I don’t think that I’ve read any of her indies at all.
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
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That’s the same with me and she has a ton of Indies! Good luck, Perrianne!
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This sounds so good. Count me in, please.
Angie – angieadams306(AT) gmail(DOT)com
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Counted! Good luck, Angie!
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Sounds good, Kav. Throw my name in the hat, please! 🙂
ckbarker at gmail dot com
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Good luck, Cheryl!
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Love Mary’s books! LOVED this book! Whoever wins this book is in for an amazing read.
Have a great reading (listening) day!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Yay! Wasn’t it good? Happy Reading, Kay!
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