Review of Memories and Scars

[Eva Nyaburi]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Memories and Scars" by A. K. Ramirez.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Detective Marissa Ambrose used to be very good at her job and solving cases, but she had an ordeal in which she was captured for two days by two serial killers, one of whom was still at large and stalking her. She was receiving envelopes with brief notes inside that included pictures and various flower pieces that represented various threats. She was now forced to live in constant fear for both her safety and the safety of her loved ones. As a result, she cut close ties with her siblings, mother, ex-husband, and everyone she loved because the stalker posed a threat to them as well. Her only companion became Mac, an agent who was also assigned to protect her. The two have a complex and complicated relationship, and Marissa is unsure about it. She also has feelings for her ex-husband, who appears to have moved on and is even expecting a child with another woman. Read the book and discover whether Marissa's issues will be resolved eventually or if they will simply worsen as time goes on.

I appreciate the portrayal of the characters' emotions in the book, particularly how effectively the pages convey Marissa's confusion, fear, anxiety, and sense of loss. While reading, I could sense her challenges as she grappled with the fragility and complexity of her life. Her struggles were evident, leaving her sisters in the dark about the reasons behind her emotional distance from them. She couldn't tell them that it was mostly so she could keep them safe from the serial killer who was stalking her. I could imagine how difficult it must have been for her to have someone watching her every move and not knowing who to trust. She also experienced a great deal of flashbacks from her ordeal, which would paralyze her with tension and necessitate the use of medications. I also found the mystery element of the book intriguing. As I progressed through the chapters, fragments of information led me to speculate whether the stalker might be someone familiar to Marissa. There's also the question of where her relationship with Mac will go and whether she and her ex will be able to talk about and resolve their differences. All of this, and much more, made the book interesting.

I found no flaws in Memories and Scars by A. K. Ramirez. However, when I was first getting to know the characters in the story, I found the names a little confusing. The names of people in Marissa's family all begin with an M, as do the names of most characters in the book, which meant I had to reread some passages to figure out who was who. For example, Marissa, Madi, Melanie, Marilyn, and Marlene. While this aspect threw me off a bit, I recognize that it might not be an issue for all readers, and I won't subtract any stars for it. I rate the book five out of five stars. There were no grammar mistakes that I could find, and the book's editing was excellent. I find no reason not to give the book a perfect score. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy mystery novels with a touch of romance.

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Memories and Scars
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[Jessica Uchechi Azuka]

Marissa is a Detective, so I'm pretty sure she has a plan up her sleeve. I am looking forward to her executing it. I am looking forward to reading this book. This is an amazing book.

[NetMassimo]

The review of the first book of this series gave me the impression of a brutally intense thriller. It seems like Marissa is suffering from PTSD while having to deal with more problems. Thank you for your great review!