Yes, A Trace of Memory by Elizabeth Bailey has a heroine with amnesia. I know this has been done to death, but must hand it to this version that it’s actually quite well-done here. While I appreciated the amnesia plot, the novel left me fairly cold otherwise, which is why I only rate it slightly better than average.

Charles Clevedon, the Earl of Wytham, is on a walk through his woods in the company of both his sisters when they come across a young woman who is bruised, wearing wet and torn clothing, and claiming to have lost her memory. Now Charles is highly eligible, and girls have tried to catch his attention with a great deal of subterfuge before, so he cannot help wondering if this is not another, albeit creative, attempt. Still, he can’t just leave the young woman in the lurch, so he takes her into his home and sends for the doctor. While she is half-conscious, the young woman mumbles something including the name “Elaine”, which is what they decide to call her until they know who she is. The doctor, in contrast to the Earl, has no problem believing Elaine is really suffering from amnesia, and he assures her it will probably all come back in time, provided she does not put herself under too much pressure.

Charles’s sisters react to their visitor in very different ways: While the younger believes her and does everything she can to help her, the older is deeply suspicious and shows this openly. Charles himself is of two minds about Elaine: On the one hand, he is instantly attracted to her blonde, willowy beauty, on the other hand he cannot help distrusting her. In his confusion he shows his distrust openly, thus hurting Elaine’s pride and adding to her insecurity, for can she really be sure this isn’t what brought her here? Her amnesia is real, and she only has flashes of her past, part of which she instantly forgets again.

This leads to one of my problems with the book. The author does a good job in showing Elaine’s fear and confusion resulting from her amnesia, but it made it difficult for me to keep the facts straight. How much does she remember? How much do Charles and his family know? What does he act upon? If she keeps certain facts a secret, why? After all, every little detail might be a clue to her true identity. As result of this rather muddled approach, Charles and Elaine appear a bit clueless in the ways they attempt to determine Elaine’s true identity. This becomes the more important when the two realize they are falling in love, as one of her memories is about a faceless man in her bed, which must mean she is either married or someone’s mistress – both serious barriers to marriage with an Earl.

Slowly we find out more about Elaine’s background, and it is most unhappy. This leads me to my second major issue with the novel. I found the heroine utterly cheerless. It’s actually understandable with all she’s been through, but does not make her any more likable. She’s unhappy, fearful, and proud, but she’s never relaxed or happy. I also felt a lack of courage or resourcefulness in her. This may be a matter of taste, but I like my heroines with more pluck.

This said, there are a few more good points. The author handled the denouement of Elaine’s amnesia well; I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it’s dealt with far more believably than in most other amnesia novels. The claustrophobia of Elaine’s situation – having nowhere to go to, no means to escape from her not always kind hosts – is described sensitively. And I liked the way that Elaine’s possible married state is presented as a real problem here. Too many amnesia novels gloss over that sort of issue in a sentence or two.

All in all I consider A Trace of Memory an interesting read, if one that is not quite to my taste. If you like traditional Regencies and want to see how an old plot device can actually appeal when it is done well, this might be one for you to try.