The Memory Wood: the chilling, bestselling Richard & Judy book club pick – this year’s must-read thriller

THE MUST-READ RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK. Chilling, moving and unputdownable, The Memory Wood is a thriller like no other. 'Beautifully told, with two superbly drawn young protagonists, Lloyd is a rare new thriller talent' Daily Mail 'Superbly creepy, with an unexpected twist' Guardian 'Brilliant writing, a terrifying story, and characters so real it feels like you know them. If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers that stay with you, read this book' Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife ************* Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It's the only home he's ever known. Elissa has only just arrived. And she'll do everything she can to escape. When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend. And he doesn't want Elissa to leave. Besides, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn't the first girl he's found inside the Memory Wood. As her abductor's behaviour grows more erratic, chess prodigy Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival. Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . . ************* Praise for Sam Lloyd: 'An intense, atmospheric, and truly original thriller' Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door 'Remarkable. Stunning prose and compulsive reading. It's undoubtedly the best thriller I've read in a long, long time' Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour 'I haven't read anything quite this exciting since Room. You think all the stories have been told, then something like this comes along' Emma Curtis, author of The Night You Left Readers love The Memory Wood 'A very clever psychological thriller. Dark, creepy and intense.' ***** 'Deliciously dark... fresh and imaginative.' ***** 'The twists and turns in The Memory Wood will astound. This book is undoubtedly the best I've read this year.' ***** Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, Winter 2020

About the Author :
Sam Lloyd grew up in Hampshire, where he learned his love of storytelling. These days he lives in Surrey with his wife, three young sons and a dog that likes to howl. His first three thrillers, The Memory Wood, The Rising Tide and The People Watcher were published to great critical acclaim.

Review :
Beautifully told, with two superbly drawn young protagonists, Lloyd is a rare new thriller talent. Remarkable. Stunning prose and compulsive reading. It's undoubtedly the best thriller I've read in a long, long time. What makes this book special is the marvellously executed subterranean power game. Superbly creepy, with an unexpected twist, this is a very grim modern fairytale. I was pulled into The Memory Wood from the very first page—it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let you go. It’s an intense, atmospheric, and truly original thriller. Put everything else aside when you enter the Memory Wood, including your expectations… Forget everything you think you know about thrillers. The Memory Wood is a compulsive page-turner where visceral horror meets Grimm fairytale – a story that’s guaranteed to burn itself into your brain . . . Every twist and distortion evokes a physical response – you’ll be breathless with anticipation, tingling with hope, and numb with dread from beginning to end. A beautifully written, fast-paced thriller with twists and turns as dark as the cell in which Elissa is confined. We devoured it in a matter of hours. A darkly chilling and original novel . . . a series of twists keeps readers captivated until a shocking climax. Brilliant writing, a terrifying story, and characters so real it feels like you know them. If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers that stay with you, read this book. The dreamy nature of the story slowly dissipates as the danger deepens, leaving this reader with pounding heart and sweating palms. The Memory Wood is impossible to put down. It's so wonderfully written, creepily atmospheric and chilling.