The darker the memory, the deadlier the obsession: Quicksand of Memory by Michael J. Malone #excerpt #QuicksandofMemory #RandomThingsTours

Hi and welcome to FromBelgiumWithBookLove where it is my absolute pleasure to share with you an excerpt from Quicksand of Memory!

Many thanks to Anne Cater for having me on the tour, and to Orenda Books for the excerpt.

Let’s have a quick look at the blurb first:

Jenna is trying to rebuild her life after a series of disastrous relationships. Luke is struggling to provide a safe, loving home for his deceased partner’s young son, following a devastating tragedy. When Jenna and Luke meet and fall in love, they are certain they can achieve the stability and happiness they both desperately need. And yet, someone is watching. Someone who has been scarred by past events. Someone who will stop at nothing to get revenge…
Dark, unsettling and immensely moving, Quicksand of Memory is a chilling reminder that we are not only punished for our sins, but by them, and that memories left to blacken and sharpen over time are the perfect breeding ground for obsession, and murder…

Sounds so good, am I right?! Ready to find out more? Here we go!

Jenna’s thoughts were interrupted by the chime above the door telling her someone had entered the shop. Her only customer so far that morning had been one of her regulars, Mrs MacPherson. 

‘It’s got a girl with a red coat on the cover,’ Mrs MacPherson had asserted. She was a lovely old soul. Never left her house without her trolley-bag and a blue rinse. Bought loads of books, but often set her these interesting challenges. It was good training for dealing with her mother. 

‘Oh,’ she said when she turned and saw who her next customer was. 

‘I’m looking for a book.’ 

‘You’re in the right place.’ Luke smiled. 

‘It’s by Bessel Van Der Kolk.

She couldn’t help herself. A giggle bubbled up. ‘That’s an interesting name,’ she said. Then she squirmed a little. Feeling bad that she hadn’t been back to see him. ‘I’m guessing he’s not from Airdrie,’ she added. 

‘I think that would be a good guess.’ 

He had a nice smile. It took years off him. 

‘Let me, eh…’ she turned to the computer ‘…check.’ She felt her face heat. 

Wait a minute – was she attracted to this guy? 

‘It’s called The Body Knows the Score.’ 

‘And I’m guessing that’s not a reference to the latest Rangers versus Celtic match?’ She instantly regretted her attempt at humour. 

He laughed. She stared at the screen. It really hadn’t been that funny. 

The door chimed, and a woman in a blue coat came in. This was Mrs Docherty. She’d ordered the latest Martina Cole, and it had just come in that morning. 

‘Do you mind if I…’ she said to Luke. 

‘Not at all,’ he said, and stepped to the side. 

Mrs Docherty took a long second to give Luke the once-over before she bustled up to the counter. 

‘Is it in, hen?’ she asked. 

‘Just arrived this morning,’ Jenna answered, reached under the counter to the pile of arrivals and picked out Mrs Docherty’s book. She put it in a bag, along with a couple of bookmarks and rang the cost up on the till. 

Mrs Docherty paid, took the book and put it in her bag. Before she turned to leave she leaned forward, tilted her head towards Luke and in a stage whisper said, ‘Good choice, hen.’ 

Then, as if she’d approved the love match of the year, she sashayed out of the shop. 

‘You must get a lot of characters in here,’ Luke said. 

‘You don’t know the half of it.’ Jenna smiled.

Ready for more? I know I am! But no worries: Quicksand of Memory is out now in digital formats, audiobook and paperback!