Press, tap, refresh… When Autumn Carpenter stumbles upon the social media account of the family who adopted her infant daughter years ago, she finds herself instantly drawn into their picture-perfect existence. From behind a computer screen, Autumn watches Grace’s every memory, from birthdays to holidays to bedtime snuggles. But what starts as an innocent fascination soon spirals into an … spirals into an addictive obsession that comes to a screeching halt the day the McMullen family closes their Instaface account without so much as a warning.
Frantic and desperate to reconnect with her daughter, Autumn applies for a nanny position with the McMullens, manipulating herself into Grace’s life under false pretenses. And it’s only then that Autumn discovers pictures lie, the perfect family doesn’t exist, and beautiful people? They have the ugliest secrets.
“I’m calling it. THE MEMORY WATCHER is 2017’s GIRL ON THE TRAIN! Couldn’t put it down. Couldn’t go to bed until it was over. And that twist in the end! I will buy anything and everything Minka Kent writes.” – Romy, The Riveted Reader Blog
“Autumn’s stalking of the family who adopted her child is a gut-wrenching and heart-pounding exploration of a very disturbed woman’s psyche. Is she a forlorn mother desperate to reconnect with her child? Is she a delusional woman obsessed with a non-existent perfection? Autumn’s bizarre fascination and Daphne’s constant struggle to maintain her family create the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. The author keeps you guessing, and I never saw the twist coming!” – Book Lover, Amazon Reviewer
“Kent’s first novel is a tight, vivid, tense thriller. Fans of Gone Girl, You, and the television series Black Mirror will thoroughly enjoy this debut. Looking forward to More Minka Kent to come!” – Kenneth, Amazon Reviewer
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This domestic thriller stands out with its attention to details of setting and character. The plot is engaging, and although a twist at the end has been overused, the author makes it convincing.
Wow! This book had me on the edge, holding on tight for what was around the next corner. Getting in to Autumn’s mind, the connection she feels to her daughter and doing everything she can to watch her grow up… had me all twisted up, curious and anxious about her next step. I enjoyed every twist, every turn, every moment that had me questioning the next. It’s a thrilling read, jaw dropping moments and a must on your list.
I recently read The Stillwater Girls and thought I would read some more of Kent’s work. The thing we know most about social media is that not everything is as it appears. People only tend to share the good parts. Those good parts are what lead Autumn to everything she does and gives us The Memory Watcher. Told in alternating viewpoints from Autumn and Daphne, we get to see the truth revealed from both standpoints.
While it’s hard to connect with the characters, it makes reading this even more compelling. If I didn’t love anything, it was the ending. But once I started reading, it was really hard to put down because you want to get to the bottom of their secrets. Everything from the creepy daughter to the twisty elements makes for a super fun read.
Not everything is as it would seem on the surface. A photographer will show you what they want you to see but the truth that lies behind each picture could be unbelievable. This was a really good story that picks up speed and twists towards the end. I have read other books by this author (thriller & romance) and love her writing. I would recommend picking this one up.
Enjoyed this book tremendously!
good read, couldn’t put it down
very good book. Not predictable at all.
The ending was “different”.
A good, easy beach read. Light. Weird. A very unpredictable ending!
Wtf? Every single time I thought I knew what was happening, I was proven wrong. Perfect, engrossing, page turning psychological thriller!
Great book. Really enjoyed the characters. Good ending.
One of the best books I’ve ever read. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Didn’t want it to end.
Author set up very believable characters. Excellent plot twists and an unexpected ending.
I was just beginning to root for Autumn grabbing Grace and ride off into the sunset when the entire story took some unpredictable turns!
Very clever!
The Memory Watcher is a stunning psychological thriller that really hits home. What are the limits of obsession? What happens when one woman becomes obsessed with another woman who seems to “have it all”? Through an extremely clever device, the woman who “has less” gains entry into the family life of the “luckier” woman. Obsessions and unhappiness of both women spiral out of control. The book’s ending – and then another ending – are true shockers. This book is fantastic! Five stars!!
Well written and kept me guessing. While I thought it was starting out as an assault on the social media craze of our culture (people sharing only their perfections and others stalking them, thinking they know them because they follow them online). It became a much more complicated story with a twist at the end.
I had not read anything like this before. The characters were believable, as were the situations. I liked the surprise ending. I wasn’t expecting it!
Easy book to get hooked into. Would have enjoyed it even without the really surprising end.
Keep you up at night!!