How far would you go to never say goodbye?
Laurie is sixty-five and living with Alzheimer’s. Her beloved daughter Amelia, twenty-three, cannot bear to see her mother - and her memories - fade.
Faced with the reality of losing her forever, Amelia signs mother and daughter up to take part in a world first experimental merging process for Alzheimer’s patients, in which Laurie’s ailing mind will be transferred into Amelia’s healthy body where their consciousness will be blended as one.
As they prepare for their new life, they form strong relationships with other participants in equally difficult circumstances before moving to The Village, a luxurious rehabilitation centre for those who have merged.
But as their time in The Village progresses, they begin to question whether everything is really as it seems.
About the Author :
Grace Walker is an English teacher living in Surrey with a background in video production. The Merge is her first novel.
Review :
'This clever and provocative debut introduces us to a near-future dystopia in which the government has rolled out a raft of authoritarian measures under the guise of tackling climate change... smart and engaging – like Nineteen Eighty-Four crossed with Never Let Me Go.' Daily Mail
'Moving between the viewpoints of the two women, this is a compelling and disturbing story of love and sacrifice, control and resistance.' Guardian
'Get lost in an engrossing, disturbing novel with an audacious twist.' The Mail on Sunday
'In this debut novel, a mother with Alzheimer’s and her daughter make the radical choice to merge minds, blending their consciousness into one. It’s about preserving what matters most – love, memory and identity – against the erosion of time, beautifully exploring the mother-daughter bond.' Woman & Home
'This unforgettable debut... If you're a fan of Black Mirror, this is the book for you. It's twisty and thought-provoking, and sure to linger in your mind long after you've finished reading it.' Daily Mirror
'It is hard to believe this is a debut; The Merge is dark, heartbreaking and, at times, horrifyingly close to reality. A haunting read that will stay with me for a long time.' Press Association
'A heart-wrenching exploration of the struggle for autonomy amidst dwindling resources, The Merge perfectly captures a modern world obsessed with controversial solutions for problems it has created. Grace Walker depicts all too clearly the impossibility of aging with dignity in a society that doesn’t value life, and I was riveted from the first page to the last.' Ling Ling Huang, author of Immaculate Conception and Natural Beauty
'Grace Walker creates an uncanny world so rich and all-encompassing that it’s hard to believe it’s not real ... it's clear that Walker poured her all into this future classic of the genre.' Jodie Matthews, author of Meet Me at the Surface.
'Chilling, claustrophobic and deeply unsettling, The Merge is a brilliant, unforgettable exploration of memory, control and freedom.' Carole Hailey, bestselling author of The Silence Project
'An arresting, deeply imaginative debut. The Merge is both a gripping speculative drama and a moving meditation on memory, family and control. Grace Walker also asks what we're willing to surrender for those we love and her questions linger long after the final page.' Freya Bromley, author of The Tidal Year
'With The Merge, Grace Walker takes a clever speculative premise, and creates a dystopian world that feels frighteningly plausible; filled with compelling characters struggling to come to terms with the new reality. Terrifying and fascinating.' Guy Morpuss, author of Five Minds
'I read The Merge in one frenzied weekend ... Walker has a frighteningly good imagination, but the most frightening thing of all is that the world she’s created doesn’t feel all that outlandish… This is a story that will stay with me. Timely, important, and beautifully written.' Silvia Saunders, author of Homesick
'A disturbing, heartbreaking and gripping read, which manages to explore capitalism, technology, personal identity, climate change, human rights and over-population without ever losing sight of its central characters and their vividly drawn lives.' Jo Harkin, author of Tell Me an Ending
'This thought-provoking debut for fans of Never Let Me Go, The Testaments and The School for Good Mothers.' Bookseller
'Walker debuts with a frightening glimpse into a near-future London... Walker effectively blends climate dystopia and body horror, especially in the novel’s chilling final twist.' Publisher's Weekly
'In this taut thriller, a new kind of technology enables a person’s mind to coexist in another’s body... Walker has produced an inventive exploration of climate change, class disparity, corporate influence, and biotech "enhancement," all of which converge in this frightening vision of a totalitarian Britain... An excellent addition to the growing catalogue of 21st-century dystopian nightmares.' Kirkus
'It is hard to believe this is a debut; The Merge is dark, heartbreaking and, at times, horrifyingly close to reality. A haunting read.' The Scotsman
'This imaginative read explores some massive issues, but the two women are kept central throughout. Thought-provoking and fascinating.' Platinum Magazine
'A haunting read that will stay with me for a long time.' Woman's Way
'A powerful and inventive debut, this novel follows a mother with Alzheimer’s disease and her daughter, who bravely makes the radical choice to merge their minds, blending their consciousness into one. At its core, it’s about preserving what truly matters most - love, memory and identity - against the slow erosion of time. With a unique concept, emotional resonance and lyrical depth, it explores the complexities of the mother-daughter bond beautifully, and the lengths we go to to hold on to each other.' Woman's Weekly
