Distant Memory [Paperback]

Alton L. Gansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2000

        SHE COULDN'T REMEMBER HER NAME,
                                HER ADDRESS,
                                        HER FAMILY.
                NOT EVEN WHY SOMEONE WANTED HER DEAD--


WHO WAS SHE?

SHE HAD LOST HER WALLET, HER IDENTITY--EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE CLOTHES ON HER BACK--AND HER LIFE.  

She awoke in a room she didn't remember, asleep on a bed she did not recognize, in a hotel she had never heard of, bruised and battered from an incident she couldn't recall.

THEN HER LIFE TURNED COMPLICATED.

Befriended by a truck driver who takes her under his wing, she sets about to rediscover--and reclaim--the life she's lost. But despite appearances, she's not really alone. Two men--one, a hardened killer; the other; a methodical, high-tech tracker--stalk her every move. Even Nick--the good Samaritan truck driver helping her--may not be all that he appears.

LOCKED IN HER MIND IS A SECRET WORTH KILLING FOR--
AND WORTH LIVING FOR.

More than anything, she wants her memory--and life--back. Others will stop at nothing to make sure she never remembers anything again. For though she does not know it, deep in her mind is buried a secret that threatens to bring down one of the richest men in the world. A secret that can shake governments to their very foundations. A secret that could lead to her destruction--or her salvation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

        SHE COULDN'T REMEMBER HER NAME,
                                HER ADDRESS,
                                        HER FAMILY.
                NOT EVEN WHY SOMEONE WANTED HER DEAD--


WHO WAS SHE?

SHE HAD LOST HER WALLET, HER IDENTITY--EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE CLOTHES ON HER BACK--AND HER LIFE.  

She awoke in a room she didn't remember, asleep on a bed she did not recognize, in a hotel she had never heard of, bruised and battered from an incident she couldn't recall.

THEN HER LIFE TURNED COMPLICATED.

Befriended by a truck driver who takes her under his wing, she sets about to rediscover--and reclaim--the life she's lost. But despite appearances, she's not really alone. Two men--one, a hardened killer; the other; a methodical, high-tech tracker--stalk her every move. Even Nick--the good Samaritan truck driver helping her--may not be all that he appears.

LOCKED IN HER MIND IS A SECRET WORTH KILLING FOR--
AND WORTH LIVING FOR.

More than anything, she wants her memory--and life--back. Others will stop at nothing to make sure she never remembers anything again. For though she does not know it, deep in her mind is buried a secret that threatens to bring down one of the richest men in the world. A secret that can shake governments to their very foundations. A secret that could lead to her destruction--or her salvation.

About the Author

Alton L. Gansky is the author of eight novels, including Terminal Justice and Tarnished Image. He is also the senior pastor of High Desert Baptist Church in Phelan, California, where he has served for over a decade. He and his wife Becky are the parents of three college-aged children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1st edition (February 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578561213
• ISBN-13: 978-1578561216
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #853,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alton Gansky (www.altongansky.com) has written a number of other novels, including Zero-G, Finder's Fee, Director's Cut, Before Another Dies, The Prodigy, and the J. D. Stanton mystery series. He also writes nonfiction books that explore the mysteries of faith, the Bible, and God. He and his wife, Becky, have three adult children and live in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast-moving story with a thought-provoking premise, February 17, 2000

By 

Deborah Raney - See all my reviews

This review is from: Distant Memory (Paperback)

Gansky's book moves as quickly and as well as a Grisham novel. The intriguing question of what remains of a person's faith and personality when their memory is lost through amnesia is answered in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. This is a novel that begs for a sequel since we're just beginning to know the real "Lisa" when the book ends. A fast-moving, highly entertaining read--with a message to boot.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, But Unoriginal, August 5, 2000

By 

Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Distant Memory (Paperback)

Gansky's imagination in some of his previous works--ie. "A Ship Possessed" and "Vanished"--ratcheted his stories above the mediocre, propelled me onward toward the resolution. Here, the story is intriguing, but takes few original twists or turns.

The idea of a person experiencing amnesia and then becoming caught up in international espionage has been played out many times, in many different ways. What makes "Distant Memory" different, and what ultimately redeemed the effort for me personally, was the exploration of the idea that even if one's mind has gone blank, their soul remains saved.

The premise, though noteworthy, remains only scratched on the surface, and I finished the book with a sense of minor disappointment. Beside the occasional technical problems--should all three villians have names that start with M, for example?--Gansky competently unveils his plot with just enough intrigue to keep you reading to the end.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, October 26, 2001

By 

J. Vaughn (DeLand, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Distant Memory (Paperback)

In a category of highly entertaining, suspenseful fiction I think I would give this 5 stars. But if I put it up against some of the classics---well, 4 stars is enough. This is not intense, deep, life-changing fiction such as a Francine Rivers book. But it was great fun and I found myself looking forward to the end of the day when I could read a few more chapters. I think that most people would enjoy this book.