I had a hard time deciding on a rating for this book. I detested the main character from the beginning. I could find nothing about the story that rated anything other than the 1 lonely, solitary star that I gave it. Olivia, the heroine, and I use the term loosely. was a despicable character that I just couldn't find any reason to even begin to try to like. Her father-in-law suffers from Alzheimer, but he confesses to a murder. A murder that only may, and probably is, only in his jumbled mind, but Olivia disregards the advice of everyone...her husband, her brother-in-law...her sister-in-law who all said he was a sick old man, and the "murder", if it indeed there ever was a murder, was supposed to have happen years ago. Off Olivia goes to the police with the information. The police determine that no murder had occurred. The father-in-law divulges additional confessions and Olivia is off and running once again. Oliva thought that the supposed murder victim was a former friend of hers, so she decides it is her "duty" as the former "best friend" of this person to solve the mystery. Sometimes things are best left alone as Olivia soon learns that her "best friend" was not all who, or what, she thought she was, but hey, let's rally to her defense anyway. What added to my dislike of Olivia was that every time she thought she had a clue she immediately jumped to the most negative response that went from her weak little mind to her uncontrollable mouth. Anyone who was associated with the new clue was immediately determined, by her, to be guilty. Even her husband was accused of some horrific crimes. As for Olivia...Can we say "sanctimonious"? By the middle of the book, I had thoughts of closing Olivia and her goody two shoes' opinions, tightly between the pages, but I wanted so badly to see her get everything that she deserved. Sadly, I was disappointed. I do believe this was the worst book I have EVER read. I'm going to post this before I take the 1 star away. ( )

Where the Memories Lie is a beautifully written tragic story centered around family. I could not put this book down & I never would have guessed the ending! Great, fast read! ( )

3.5 Tom was an honorable man, a man who always put his family first, a man who would do anything for his family, a man who now suffers from Alzheimer disease and lives in a nursing home. He is now saying that he murdered a young woman, many years ago, but how seriously should he be taken?

A solid story about a decades old tragedy, many secrets and a family in crisis. When Jenny left all those years ago it was presumed, aided by the note she left, that she had run away. But how far did she get?

The difference between lies told to deflect and lies told to protect. I enjoyed the moral aspect of this too, as some characters struggle with a most difficult decision. Loved the two young girls, Anna and Charlotte, their reactions to everything happening was very real.

ARC from Netgalley. ( )

A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sibel Hodge returns following Look Behind You, with WHERE THE MEMORIES LIE —a psychological intense suspense of dark family secrets, confessions, betrayal, and lies—how far would you go to protect the ones you love?

Beware: Be mindful of those holding your secrets. Alzheimer’s could get you faster than a snitch in jail, or a white collar corporate whistleblower!

I N T R I G U I N G ! Hodge explores the power of the secrets people keep-the darker, hidden facets of our lives, and what happens when they come to light.

Tom, an amazing kindhearted man and father, renovated and converted an old barn twenty-five-years ago into a family home. He had owned a successful construction company, Tate Construction and his goal was to see his family content and happy.

A loving father to Nadia, Ethan, and Chris, residing with their dad until they left home. When Tom developed Alzheimer’s, Ethan and daughter-in-law, Olivia purchased the house from him. Olivia loved the rustic and country theme with exposed brick, earthy tones and cozy charm- a place of solace, where they lived in the small village with their twelve-year-old daughter Anna.

None of the family wanted to move Tom to a nursing home; however, Tom almost blew up the house one day, while leaving the gas knob on and lighting his pipe. After Nadia did her research, they found the nicest home and Tom ended up at Mountain View Nursing Home.

Every time they saw Tom, he seemed to shrink inside himself more. Once a tall, solidly built, active man, he was not stooped and colorless and bony. Tom suffers from a ravaging disease of Alzheimer’s. Olivia a nurse, knows the worst thing is the slow, steady relentless progression of a disease that would eventually be fatal. From the initial stages of attacking the part of the brain where memories are formed. Then it spreads to different regions of the brain, killing cells and compromising function.

The damage to the areas where emotions are processed then makes it harder for patients to control moods and feelings. Next it wreaks havoc on the senses, evening causing hallucinations and delusions, and erasing the oldest and most precious memories of a person. In the last stages it destroys the area of the brain responsible for regulating breathing and the heart. It will be horrific for each of their family members to watch a person they love change into someone else. Changing them from kind and compassionate to vicious and bitter. From calm and happy to angry and spiteful. Heartbreaking.

However, what Olivia did not anticipate was an alarming confession! Tom confesses he murdered someone to protect his family. Why is he confessing now, unless it is his blurred mind speaking, which is quite common? A secret to protect his family until the Alzheimer’s made it impossible to stay hidden?

Told from Olivia’s POV, we learn about a missing Georgia Walker. What is she supposed to do with this confession? Surely he is delusional. They would laugh her out of the police station if she went to them, and what about her family? She cannot let this drop, as she has to find out more about this mystery. However, later she finds out Georgia is alive and well, and she is relieved. When she informs Tom of this news, he then says, it was not Georgia, it was Katie Quinn. Olivia’s best friend! He says he had to do it and he buried her. Katie went missing some twenty-five years earlier.

Katie had been eighteen. There had been the letter she had addressed to her mom and dad. They thought she just ran away and would turn up later. Maybe she had left for reasons, and surely Tom had not killed her, or there would not have been a letter. Olivia knew she did not have a good home life, with two alcoholic parents. She had been the adult in the family, carrying a tremendous load.

Her boyfriend, Chris (Olivia’s brother-in-law), had been working for Tom at Tate Construction, at the time as a builder. Katie dreamed of a life with him and a family. The pressure was too much for Chris to be settled down and he was not ready, and finally ended things.

Olivia had always felt guilty for not been there for her friend. She has to find out what happened to her. How do you find someone who wants to stay hidden? Google becomes Olivia’s best friend. Did Katie leave of her own free will? She has to find the letter. She then remembers things about her friend – had she been sexually active or sexual abused? Had her father, Jack sexually abused her, and was the letter a cover up? She has to open Pandora’s Box.

A full investigation is underway, and more secrets surface. They find the body. Each clue and secret to surface, is more alarming than the previous.

Why would her father-in-law admit to killing and burying Katie? This was insane, mad, crazy, right? They lived in a small village, and what if this word got out? She has to protect the family. Could her father-in-law have been involved with Kate? His own son’s girlfriend?

A gripping mystery suspense, as we revisit the time twenty-five years ago. Everyone is a suspect, and Olivia is in the middle of the investigation, suspecting everyone—from Tom, her brother-in-law, even her own husband. Could Katie have turned to Tom, when Chris dumped her? The more she digs, the more she finds out about her best friend. Could Katie be buried under their garage, and if so, who killed her and why? Maybe Tom was covering for someone else to protect them.

When the unspeakable happens, Olivia is blamed for bringing up Tom’s secret. A family is destroyed. Her husband Ethan will never forgive her. Their once-happy family is unraveling, piece by piece. Wow, more shockers, more surprises, and twists and turns—was Katie more conniving and sly than anyone suspected? Right or wrong. Are some secrets left buried?

When I first read the description and started the book, I thought it would be similar to Paul Cleave’s Trust No One (with the thoughts of an Alzheimer’s patient, recalling a murder he may or may not have committed). BTW, I recommend.

However, WHERE THE MEMORIES LIE, delivers a twist so unique—brilliantly crafted. So much more than a story of an Alzheimer’s patient and father. Even though the story begins with the doubt of suspicion with Tom’s confession— the whodunit, begins to slowly unravel like a dark seed sprouting throughout the family, as it infests their lives one by one, a web of deceit, suspicion, and doubt; trusting no one. The author keeps you guessing if Tom was really protecting someone else. This is where the book shines and hums, as the burden is passed along to other family members. What will they do with the newfound information? A choice.

There are so many suspects; motives, clues, and things to lose. Everyone is guarding something. Secrets of the past. Was Katie a liar, manipulative, a thief, or toxic? Or was she just desperate, young, alone, and vulnerable, doing what she had to do, to survive; desiring a better life?

Even though I fancied, Look Behind You, WHERE THE MEMORIES LIE was much richer, bolder, and thought-provoking, as Hodge delves into the emotions, lives, and feelings of each character, especially Olivia with doubt, fears, and suspicions-second guessing everyone around her.

The title tells a story with many layers—the strong bonds of family. Where do the memories lie? Are they stored in a box, waiting for something to jar them loose from their secret hiding place? Hodge grabs you and hooks you with a riveting page-turner from page one to the end----finding yourself glued to the pages into the wee hours of the morning.

“Truth and lies. Justice and complicity. It is an impossible choice. Is there a hazy line between right and wrong? Life is messy. There is no black or white, only blurred shades that intermingle and co-exist. What if you had the power to destroy the lives of those who mean more to you than anything in the world?”

So much more here than a chilling psycho-thriller --- a complex, rich, poignant tale of ties and bonds of family, relationships, and lengths they will go to protect those they love. (with added mystery and intrigue). The novel could have taken so directions, and the way it was played out was clever. Really enjoying her subject material, crossing several genres. My only negative would be a different front cover, as feel it does not convey the true value of the book.

Fans of Liane Moriarty, Diane Chamberlain, JoJo Moyes, Lisa Jewell, Carla Buckley, and Jane Green will enjoy the complexities! When I began the book, I really had not anticipating enjoying so much, exceeding my expectations, finding myself rushing to get back to the saga. You do not get bogged down, her writing is fresh, and crisp with events so realistic and scary, they could happen to anyone. Well-developed characters; Loved the inspiration behind the story. Bloody good! ( )