Dare to Remember

Lisa Fulbrook, the heroine of British author Beard’s psychologically acute debut, begins the long, arduous process of recovery after an acquaintance, Colin Fergus, injures her and fatally stabs her roommate, Ali Mayfield, in the women’s flat. Lisa, who has no memory of the traumatic incident and suffers from PTSD, decides she would benefit by moving from her home in an unnamed city to the countryside. In an isolated village, she meets aged John Grey, whose dog, Riley, becomes her walking companion. Through Riley, Lisa gets to know fellow dogwalker Jessica Temple, and the two start to share secrets. Meanwhile, Lisa tries to remember what happened and what drove Colin to attack her and Ali. Working with the psychotherapist she calls the Psycho, Lisa gradually recovers memories and even summons the courage to face the imprisoned Fergus and Ali’s family. Beard paints a painfully detailed and convincing picture of Lisa’s small steps toward regaining control of her life. Agent: Philip Patterson, Marjacq (U.K.). (Sept.)