iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Memory Game is a psychological thriller novel by Nicci French, the shared pen name of writing partners Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. When skeletal remains are discovered in a garden, Jane Martello learns they belong to Natalie, her childhood friend who disappeared 25 years earlier. Jane revisits her memories to work out what happened—and whether her recollections can be trusted. This guide distinguishes the novel from the 2023 Dutch-language film and a separate Nintendo Switch game with a similar title.
What is The Memory Game about?
Jane Martello’s childhood seems ordinary until the discovery of Natalie’s remains forces her to reconsider the past. Natalie was Jane’s friend, and she disappeared 25 years earlier. With a therapist encouraging her to recover lost memories, Jane tries to understand what happened to Natalie and what her own memories reveal. The novel’s central mystery turns on the possibility that remembering may be dangerous as well as necessary.
Penguin Books classifies the novel under crime, mystery, thriller, and suspense; Hachette Book Group describes it as a mystery and thriller. It is fiction, not a guide to therapy or memory science. The story’s treatment of recovered memories should not be taken as clinical guidance.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWho wrote the book?
Nicci French is the shared pen name of writing partners Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. The name on the book is therefore a writing partnership, rather than a single author’s personal name.
#1 Best Overall
Which edition should you look for?
Publication details vary by market and format, so use the ISBN to identify the edition rather than relying on page count or title alone.
| Publisher listing | Format and market | ISBN | Pages and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penguin Books UK | Ebook | 9780141918464 | 416 pages; listed as a 2008 ebook |
| Penguin Books UK | Paperback | 9780141030105 | Paperback edition listed from 2018 |
| Hachette Book Group | US mass-market paperback | 9780446619110 | 400 pages; on sale October 1, 2007 |
The pagination and dates above belong to the specific publisher listings; they are not universal specifications for every edition. Penguin lists retailers for its editions, while Hachette identifies the US mass-market paperback. Check the listing for your territory and format for current availability and price.
Rank #2
Is there a film adaptation?
Yes. A Dutch-language film adaptation was released in 2023 under the original title Het Geheugenspel, also known by the English title The Memory Game. It is a screen adaptation, not another edition of the novel.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The official catalog records do not agree on all details: Dutch FilmWorks International lists a 120-minute runtime and credits Lex Passchier as screenwriter, while Flanders Image lists 100 minutes and credits Jan Verheyen and Lien Willaert as directors and writers. Treat the running time and credits as catalog-specific rather than assuming one record describes every version.
Rank #3
- Learn French the Fun Way: Dive into AGO en français 2, the ultimate card game for learning French, featuring 36 more unique illustrated questions and answers to enhance vocabulary and French grammar skills.
- Innovative & Interactive: Transform language learning with interactive gameplay that encourages fluid question and answer sessions, mimicking real-world French conversations.
- Versatile Learning Tool: Also use as engaging flashcards and a pictorial dictionary, perfect for classroom teaching, home study, or at family game night!
- For Every Learner: Suitable for both beginners and intermediate students, this game is an essential resource for building conversational fluency and learning the core aspects of French grammar.
- Durable & Designed for Ease: Enjoy learning with larger, more durable cards housed in a sturdy two-piece box, ensuring your language journey is both lasting and enjoyable.
Is this the same as Nintendo’s memory game?
No. Nintendo lists Simon: The Memory Game as a separate digital Nintendo Switch game. It is not the Nicci French novel or its film adaptation. Adding “Nicci French” to a book search helps distinguish the novel from other products sharing similar words in their titles.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 384 Memory Game Playing Cards covering 192 French words. Card format is simple: One card with the picture and a corresponding separate card with the matching French word. Cards have color coded borders to help you quickly group the cards if they get mixed up.
- How to Play: Set pairs of cards face-down on the table. First player flips over two cards at a time. If the picture matches the French word, player removes the matching cards and keeps them. If the cards don’t match, player flips them back over and the turn is completed. Once all the cards are taken, the player with the most cards wins!
- Printed on easy-to-shuffle playing card paper. Size of each card is the standard 2.5" x 3.5" playing format.
- NO ENGLISH on the cards means you must associate the French with the pictures. There are also eight additional cards with English-French translations in case you don’t know the English associated with the picture.
- Excellent supplement to our set of French Beginning Vocabulary Flash Cards. Designed in the USA. Made in the USA.
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
