Customer Reviews

Fatal Memories

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Do we carry the memory of past lives in our genes?" "What if there were a device that could access these memories?" "Why do people have deja vu and love-at-first-sight experiences?"

What I personally like about the book is that it combines very credible science-based medical technology, (without that sci-fi stuff!) with a powerful love story between interesting characters (without the gooshy romance stuff!)

Without giving away too much of the plot:

Dr. Anne Powell, a brilliant neuro-psychiatrist, invented the MEG -- a brain scanner designed to access remote memories. In trained hands, the MEG can accomplish in seconds what conventional psychotherapy can only hope to achieve in years.

A clash with the FDA forces Powell to leave Boston and continue her research at the world-renowned Pavlov Institute in Moscow. There, an accidental exposure to the MEG triggers a series of dreams that make Anne realize that centuries ago she had a different life -- and a tragic relationship with a man who bears a striking resemblance to one of her current Russian colleagues.

As Powell learns that the MEG is capable of far more than brain-scanning, she is forced to confront past and present, reality and memory, love and hate, in the battle to save the life of her lover, and her own sanity.

I enjoyed the book and if you are into high-tech medical thrillers you will too. I highly recommend it. A good read.

I just finished Fatal Memories. It was a very good read. I have been dragging through another book for about a month, but finished Fatal Memories in just a few days. The characters were believeable, it was well paced, the science was very clearly and plausibly explained, and most of all the story was good. Books in foreign settings, with foreign languages and names are sometimes a problem for readers. But the setting and language in Fatal Memories definitely did not detract, in fact, the dialogues of broken English mixed with Russian words worked very well, and the details about life in Russia were very interesting.

Rebeccasreads recommends FATAL MEMORIES as a fast-paced medical thriller about how past lives can affect present day relationships, especially when is has been bloody & passionate, & steeped in Russia's history.

A lively evening's romantic adventure about a woman scientist who has designed the MEG, a machine which shows how a person's brain remembers, & which allows the doctor to operate on the damaged parts of the brain which are leaving people disturbed.

FATAL MEMORIES takes you to modern Russia, & into an exploration of how the past can still be with us, & affect how we live.

If you like Michael Crichton's earlier work you will enjoy this fast paced thriller. Mr. Lange does a superb job of weaving a scientific theme into a fictional adventure. Anne is an extremely accomplished scientist on the verge of completing her dream of developing a machine that can quickly and systematically erase points in the brain that cause psychotic episodes. Through her exposure to the operation of the machine she unleashes something unplanned...a past that she did not know she had. As the story unfolds you are drawn into two worlds, Russian in the 1430s and a parallel life set in the modern day. The suspense level and intrigue are thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to more of Mr. Lange's work.

Fatal Memories is a fascinating science-fiction suspense thriller that is sure to be made into a movie coming to a theater near you. The visual imagery, particularly of exotic places in Russia, is breath-taking, and the narrative descriptions make you feel like you're right there watching it all happen. The scene-shifts are well-paced and constructed in a way that you just can't put the book down at the end of the chapter. In fact, this little devil had me up until 2:00 in the morning because I had to find out what happened next.

The protagonist in the book, Anne Powell, seems to have it all. She's intelligent, athletic, gorgeous (honey-blond hair and melting green eyes), and poised to become a very wealthy woman. Yet, Lange makes her human and flawed by a violent past which makes her an emotional cripple, unable to give or receive love. The other main characters are "beautiful people" yet also multidimensional. Even the antagonist in the story is more than a mere villain; she's somewhat sympathetic because she is a victim as well.

The detail and subtle nuances in this book, along with the realistic dialogue (except that nobody ever curses - what's up with that?) suggest that this first-time novelist spent a lot of time researching his story and finely crafting the work. And it paid off big-time. Don't be the last on your block to read this book!

Not really knowing what to expect when I started Fatal Memories, I must say that I was impressed. It was a very good read. I have been dragging through Tom Wolf's new book for a month but finished Lange's novel in just a few days. The characters were believable, it was well paced, the science was clearly and plausibly explained, and -most of all- the story was good. Though the protagonist is American, much of the book takes place in Russia. Novels in foreign settings, with foreign languages and names, are sometimes a problem for readers. But the setting and language in Fatal Memories definitely did not detract. In fact, the Russian character's dialogue of broken English mixed with Russian words worked very well, and the details about life in Russia were very interesting. I'm looking forward to Lange's next novel.

Vladimir Lange's first novel, Fatal Memories was a fast read full of fascinating characters, science, intrigue, romance, politics and history! I found it difficult to put down as each new past life experience intruded upon the present. The medical technologies of the MEG (a machine that locates and carves out debilitating memories), the biological experimentation with the DNA/cell memory of mice, as well as the psychological background of each character were spellbinding. I think Carl Jung and Edgar Cayce would have been 100 percent behind the MEG as a tool to heal past psychological wounds in order to live the best present life possible.

After reading Fatal Memories I felt I had been on a `Mystery/History/Romantic/Food and Flavor Tour of Russia' with all of its color and beauty. For anyone interested in biology, medical science, Russian History, mystery and romance, Fatal Memories is a great read.

Vladimir Lange has a rare gift - he writes from the heart of a woman. In Fatal Memories he has created a main character, Anne Powell, who is strong and intelligent, yet maintains the essence of what it is to be a woman. Fatal Memories, a thrilling story of medical science, history and passion, is so sensual and richly descriptive, I could hear, feel, smell and visualize everything. He has created a new standard. It's amazing. It's captivating. I can't wait to read his next novel.

This is the first time I've ever written a review for a book, but I felt that this one deserved it. I love all of the genres mentioned in my title, and usually read them separately, but this book combined them all. The science was accurate and not so "egghead" as to turn off some readers. Traveling to Russia and experiencing a bit of that culture and a bit of history thrown in was fascinating. And, there was just enough thrill to add spice, but not so much as to be gory. The characters were engaging and interesting and I read the book cover to cover over a weekend. I loved the story and am looking forward to Vladimir's next novel.

Reading this book brought you through the gamete of emotions - love, hate, fear, fascination, anxious. I couldn't put this book down. It was great. I highly recommed.