Murder By Memory - Olivia Waite

Sci-Fi/Mystery

Rating: 8.5/10

Have you ever gazed up at the stars and wondered what it might be like to live among them? I certainly have, and my dream scenario involves a stunning library, quaint shops and quirky neighbours. Does my vision have a murder? Of course not! But a mystery? Probably.

Dorothy snaps awake in the elevator. Opening a pair of eyes not her own, with skin smoother than she can remember in years and a body far younger than hers was mere moments ago. Something has gone wrong. Make no mistake, Dorothy is usually up for whatever mystery crosses her path, but when she finds that someone is not only killing bodies but deleting minds from the Library, she is determined to solve the case.

It’s more than mere death that threatens the inhabitants of the Fairweather, it’s the destruction of the Library. A library that holds a copy of your mind. A place that allows you to update your book as often as you like, adding in whatever experiences you are having in your waking life. And when your body is inescapably weakened by age or illness, the Library decants your book mind into a new one. And a whole new lifetime begins.

Despite this read being on the shorter side, the author layers in so many charming touches to the world she has created for us. I am in awe of her deft hand with the written word.

Footnote: My favourite touch in this charming story; the memory liquors. A distilling of nature and nurture mixed to provide a sense memory tailored to whatever you wish. Bespoke bar anyone? 

Book Pairing(s):Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty, The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart, The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal