Publisher:

Kindle – Penguin (18th July 2016)

Paperback – Penguin (11th August 2016)

Set in the seaside town of Oldcliffe, Local Girl Missing centres around Frankie and Sophie. They were best friends as kids/teenagers, but Sophie disappeared when she was 21. It was assumed that she had fallen off the old pier, drunk, so death by misadventure was declared even though her body was never found.

Frankie could no longer face living in Oldcliffe and has since moved to London, managing her father’s hotels. She’s always kept herself busy, trying not to think too much about Sophie. She has a successful career, nice home, nice car, but she’s never been so lucky in love. Now she’s 39 years old and is suddenly contacted by Daniel (Sophie’s brother). Remains have been found and he needs her help and support in identifying them as it’s believed they may be Sophie’s. So, Frankie returns to Oldcliffe for the first time in years and all sorts of secrets are revealed. I won’t say more than that as I don’t want to give anything away, but this was a fab read. Very cleverly written! I finished it quite late last night. I was going to save the last couple of chapters for this morning, but I just couldn’t! My heart was literally racing towards the end! Loved it!

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley. I am more than happy to recommend!

Buy your copy here – Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas

Description:

Twenty years ago
21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night.
She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier –
and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca.

Now
A body’s been found.
And Francesca’s drawn back to the seaside town she’s tried to forget.
Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out.
Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn’t returned.

Everywhere she turns are ghosts from her past.
The same old faces and familiar haunts of her youth.
But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night then now’s the time to find out – isn’t it?

Except sometimes discovering the truth can cost you everything you hold dear – your family, your sanity and even your life . . .

About the Author

Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years writing features for women’s magazines and national newspapers, but she’s dreamed of being a novelist since the age of seven. She finally got her wish after winning the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award, with her first novel, The Sisters. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children.

Publisher: Penguin (28th July 2016)

This is the first book I’ve read by Liane Moriarty, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Truly Madly Guilty had me gripped from the start. I found the characters interesting, although not all necessarily likeable all of the time. I was itching to find out more about them.

Erika’s and Clementine’s friendship is an odd one. They’ve been friends since they were little, but Clementine seems to resent the fact that her mother included Erika in pretty much everything as she was growing up, almost as though she feels like she’s been forced to be her best friend and it has just become a habit. They are polar opposites! I did feel quite sorry for Erika at times, but I could also see how she might grate on someone. Anyway, they stayed in close contact as adults and Erika is Clementine’s daughter’s God Mother. So, when Erika needs help, she feels like Clementine is the obvious person to go to, but Clementine isn’t so sure she can offer the help needed when first approached.

The story centres around a barbecue, which they are all invited to, at Erika’s neighbours house. They are hopeful that the afternoon will provide some much needed relaxation and give them time to think about what is being asked of them. None of them could have imagined how that day would end.

I loved the build up to this life changing event. Throughout the book we flit back between that day and since. As the story progresses we learn more and more about the characters and their relationships with each other. The whole thing flows really well, creating suspense. I had to keep reading to find out what was so awful about that day at the barbecue. I have to say that I was imagining all sorts of scenarios, but as usual I got it wrong!

Overall an excellent read.

I’ll be off now to add Liane Moriarty’s other books to my TBR list 🙂

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley. I will happily recommend!

Buy your copy here – Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Description (via AmazonUK):

Despite their differences, Erika and Clementine have been best friends since they were children. So when Erika needs help, Clementine should be the obvious person to turn to. Or so you’d think.

For Clementine, as a mother of a two desperately trying to practise for the audition of a lifetime, the last thing she needs is Erika asking for something, again.

But the barbecue should be the perfect way to forget their problems for a while. Especially when their hosts, Vid and Tiffany, are only too happy to distract them.

Which is how it all spirals out of control….

I attended the 6×6 Reading Café, with my friend Gayle, on 14th June and really enjoyed it. We will be going again 🙂 I highly recommend if you’re local enough to attend, or happy to travel. Tickets are free!

Today I am very pleased to welcome Dan Klefstad to my blog. Dan very kindly agreed to answer my questions. I’m sure you’ll enjoy his answers…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I want to tell stories that blend a life story with a letter addressed to a specific person. So my novel Shepherd & the Professor is the fictional memoir of Susan Shepherd — Gulf War vet, cop and single mom — but it’s also a query letter to an unnamed editor at an unnamed publishing house. At first I worried about addressing a story to one person (the editor) about whom Shepherd and the reader knows nothing. Then I realized when you (or your protagonist) speak to one person, you’re speaking to everyone who reads it — That is, if you make it an honest revealing of your main character. I hoped this would make it especially easy to identify with my protagonist, or even the addressee. Now I’m ready for the reader to judge.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I’m going to say something most writers say, and then I’ll put a spin on it: Write what you know; then use your imagination. I started with very basic characteristics belonging to my wife Susan, myself, and the university town we live in. Then my imagination took over and blew up several traits into things that might be, or could’ve been, or could never possibly be. I wasn’t happy with the story until I created an alternate universe that barely resembles the one I live in.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Continuing with the above, every character is a composite or completely made up. I’m pretty sure no one will accuse me of modeling a character after them. And why would I? If your aim is to write a compelling story, then using everyday people will keep it stuck on the ground. Very few of us are so interesting that we could inspire a page-turner by ourselves. That’s actually a compliment if you think about it: How many friends do you have? Now think about how many friends Sean Penn has, or someone equally fascinating? I’ll bet you’re way ahead on that count.

How do you pick your characters names?

I pick the first name that comes into my head and stay with it awhile. After revisions, after the story evolves, I go back and change some names. In the case of Shepherd, I picked Susan Shepherd right away and it stuck. She’s a protector by nature, so Shepherd made sense all the way to the final edit.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I have a day job so I write on weekends or vacations. I don’t try to force anything, though. The true words will only come when they’re ready — or when you’re ready for them. A lot of emotionally dishonest prose gets written when writers are on a tight deadline, or have a big contract to fill.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have two who influenced my writing a lot so far. Novelist Robert Hellenga (“Snakewoman of Little Egypt”) often writes from the perspective of female narrators, and he gave me the courage to try that. Poet Amy Newman wrote a book called “Dear Editor” that inspired the query letter aspect of Shepherd. Both are written in the first person, which I find the most compelling way to tell a story.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? And what would you ask them?

Ernest Hemingway: Was there really nothing — nothing — left to say?

Were you a big reader as a child?

If the subject interested me, yes. When I was a pre-teen I was fascinated by horses, so I read all the Black Stallion novels. Then I was into Dungeons & Dragons and read all the fantasy I could get a hold of.

When did you start to write?

I was sixteen when I saw the TV series “Reilly: Ace of Spies” starring Sam Neill (remember that?). I immediately wrote a spy novel based loosely on that character and period. It was terrible but my mother encouraged me to keep writing, so I did.

What are you working on right now?

OK promise not to laugh? I’m writing a short story about a man who’s the guardian for a vampire. He watches the home while the creature sleeps. He pays the bills, and arranges for an uninterrupted supply of blood. Now, after decades of service, the man is about to retire. This is also a fictional memoir which doubles as a letter to one person: the man who will succeed the guardian. In addition to the confessional element, this story is also a guidebook on how to care for a vampire. I’d like to turn this into a novel.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Well, Shepherd took me five years to write. Now that I’m getting the hang of it, I hope to have this one done in half that time.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I’m the only Dan Klefstad on Facebook and Twitter, to the best of my knowledge, so I’d begin there. I’m pretty quick with a reply. I’m also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/10cnd_tkZlI

Let me share another bit:

Shepherd & the Professor is my first paperback release. But it started out as an e-novella called Dr. Shabbaz which has a similar plot told in third-person. After publishing it, I realized how bored I was with telling a story in “Third P” so I turned it into a fictional memoir. Then I added the query letter aspect. There: Now you know the most important part of my process — Revise, revise, revise!

Many thanks to Dan for joining me on my blog today 🙂

Publisher: Black Rose Writing; 1 edition (22nd April 2016)

Most people take comfort knowing their family and friends will remember them after they die. For Susan Shepherd, “remembering” is bullshit. She wants an eternal shrine to her sacrifice: a book that never goes out of print.

Shepherd served her country in the Gulf War, got shot while serving her community as a cop, raised an ungrateful daughter by herself — and for what? A diagnosis of terminal cancer and she isn’t even fifty. If you were in her shoes, you might agree that nothing short of national perpetual acknowledgement will do.

She’s glad you feel that way; she just wrote a memoir and sent a flurry of query letters, hoping a publisher will memorialize her with a best-seller. After hitting Send, she waits not-at-all patiently for an editor to decide if her story will sell enough copies — that is, if her life really mattered.

Buy your copy HERE

Today I am very pleased to welcome Melissa Grunow to my blog.

Melissa’s book, Realizing River City, was published on 14th February 2016. Melissa has very kindly sent me an e-book copy to add to my review list. You will find the link to buy later on in the post, but in the meantime enjoy Melissa’s Q&A…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I’m a Michigan-based author of the memoir Realizing River City that was published in February 2016 by Tumbleweed Books. It’s my first book, but my work has also appeared in such literary journals as Creative Nonfiction, River Teeth, Yemassee, New Plains Review, Blue Lyra Review, and Limestone, among many others.

I have an MFA in creative nonfiction from National University and an MA in English from New Mexico State University.

Although I’ve written and published short stories in the past, most of my current work is focused on creative nonfiction, such as personal essays and short narratives.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Since I write creative nonfiction, I pull most of my content from personal experiences and observations.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

If other people show up in my work, they are usually real people.

How do you pick your characters names?

I use real names most of the time.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

Usually a new piece is triggered by a memory of a scene or even a moment. I jot it down in a journal or on a Post-It and let it ruminate until I think of a way to connect it to a bigger issue. Thematically, my work is often focused on relationships, identity, belonging, and health, so once I make connections between scenes and theme, an essay can start to come together. I write slowly and revise extensively, reconsidering structure and purpose with each review of the piece. I also make sure I spend some time away from the work and go do other things so that I have a fresh perspective when I come back to it.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have many! I adore the writings of Maggie Nelson, Augusten Burroughs, Dorothy Allison, Dinty W. Moore, Charles Baxter, Wendy C. Ortiz, Jill Talbot, and Cheryl Strayed. The list grows as I discover new books and new authors.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? And what would you ask them?

I wish I would have had the chance to meet Judith Kitchen before she died. If I could have a sit-down chat with her, I would ask her to share her thoughts on how writers can overcome barriers to success while still remaining humble and open to learning and growing so their writing keeps getting better. It’s something I struggle with all the time, and I know others do as well, yet nobody really talks about it.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Most definitely. I was pretty restricted on what I could watch on television and movies I was allowed to see, but I was able to read nearly everything I wanted, so I read all the time. I actually used to get in trouble for reading because I would hide out in the bathroom to finish a book or put off my chores just to get through another chapter.

When did you start to write?

I started writing a little in high school and college. My work didn’t really go anywhere, but I learned a lot. I started writing seriously and publishing in 2012, and I haven’t stopped.

What are you working on right now?

My primary project right now is a collection of essays that examines the concept of place and belonging as they pertain to identity and the uncertainty that exists for all of us when confronted with issues that never saw resolution. The twenty essays will examine situations and encounters that raised unanswerable questions, shoddy memories that shudder with remnants of doubt, and always a subtle sense of guilt that has surfaced from introspection and the passage of time. Ultimately, the collection will be a chorus of voices that are finally getting a chance to speak without inhibitions or limitations in search of an absolute, yet illusive, truth.

I was recently hired by Literary Arts Review to be a contributing writer and columnist. I’ll write articles about the literary lifestyle for each issue as well as a monthly piece for “The B-List Writer” column. The first issue is due out September 1, so I’m really excited about that.

Additionally, I’m interested in getting more involved in teaching workshops, presenting at conferences, coaching new writers, and engaging more with authors at various events. The support I got from others while I was working on my memoir was invaluable, and it’s time for me to pay it forward.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Oh, I wish I knew! I don’t have any forthcoming publications right now because I’ve been so focused on writing material for the new book and doing readings and interviews for Realizing River City. I’m hoping to have new work out in early 2017, though. Fingers crossed!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I always love to hear from readers! I have a contact form on my website www.melissagrunow.com as well as resources for Book Clubs.

I’m also reachable on Facebook, www.facebook.com/MelissaGrunowAuthor and Twitter, https://twitter.com/melgrunow.

Readers can even post questions on Goodreads (and also give ratings and write reviews) at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28699641-realizing-river-city.

Many thanks to Melissa for answering my questions 🙂

Publisher: Tumbleweed Books (14th February 2016)

It’s a story about loss, love, compassion, and finally redemption.

At times, life can feel like a challenging feat of survival. Whether it’s living through abusive relationships or figuring out the complexities of what it means to be a woman searching for love, Realizing River City is a memoir that proves how despite the troubles we may face, there is hope in the way we continually risk ourselves in search for the life we want to live. In her poetic exploration of past relationships, Melissa Grunow’s honest words do not falter in the face of so much loss. Taking the rage we all feel about grief and pain, and funneling it into truth, beauty, and ultimately redemption on each page, Realizing River City is about discovering how the most important relationship is the one we have with ourselves.

Realizing River City

Just the Right balance of vulnerability and strength.

You can purchase your copy here – Realizing River City by Melissa Grunow

Review

Happy Publication Day Roma 🙂

Today I am very pleased to welcome author, Roma Brooks to my blog.

Roma has very kindly sent me an e-book review copy of her novel, Wicked Summer (book 2 in the Cape Harriet series), which I will be reading as soon as possible (what this space for my review!). In the meantime, I have a Q&A with the author herself for you to enjoy…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I have always wanted to write. I put it off as something to do later but that day never came. Last year, I started writing something for NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month, a project that encourages budding authors to write 50K words in November. It is highly motivating being part of a global platform of like minded people. I didn’t end up with a complete novel but it got me putting words down on paper. I got a feel for what sort of genre I was really interested in, and that paved the way for the Cape Harriet series.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

From life itself! There is no one to one correlation or nothing very concrete. A multitude of things you see around you, read about or experience come together to form some sort of impression on you. Some things linger on in the mind for a long time, and they morph into the concept of a story.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

I like to think my characters are regular people, the kind you have come across in life. A character is like a quilt made out of scores of different pieces of cloth. They are real, but they have been built bit by bit. There is a sense of people I have met and interacted with over the course of life. So far, I haven’t used a person I know well as an inspiration though.

How do you pick your characters names?

I spend a lot of time on this. I believe the name is important – it gives a sense of the person. I look for names that are going to match the personality portrayed. I also consider the age and ethnic background of the person. I generally shortlist a few names for every character. Intuition or gut instinct also plays a big part in making the final choice. I have a mental image in my mind for the character, and the name should match it. For example, in Wicked Summer, the mother’s name is Mary. She is a wise older woman who keeps her opinion to herself most of the time, but intervenes when absolutely necessary. She lives her life with elegance and grace. I wanted the character to be larger than the name. Ultimately, I settled on Mary because it is a simple name and the first thing I think of when you hear it is ‘mother’.

In Clipper Beach, the main character is called Sandhya which means dusk or evening. Sandhya is a troubled young woman who is facing a serious decision in life. She’s young but past the first blush of youth, past first love. Her vibrant personality is a bit dampened now due to circumstances. The name had to be South Asian considering the character’s ethnicity, easy to pronounce and short enough to remember. Sandhya was my final choice because it seemed to click.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

The writing process is continuous. I’m more of a ‘pantser’, or spontaneous writer, but I still do an outline. I decide the general concept, then think of the characters. I know at a high level what is going to happen next. But once I start writing, it is all imagination. For example, Wicked Summer begins with the flight journey of Iris, a 40 year old mother with four kids. I close my eyes and imagine the whole process of taking a long flight. Waking up early, packing, leaving for the airport, security lines, the long flight with no food, cramped spaces, anxiety of arriving in a new place, and four whining kids – all of it gives me a sense of what these people will say and do when the flight lands, what state of mind they will be in. The words flow from there.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have many favorite authors so it is hard to name any one. As a child, I was very fond of Enid Blyton. Then I discovered Stevenson and Austen. Then I discovered Jeffery Archer. Then I discovered John Grisham and Clive Cussler. And so on. Nowadays, I have a favorite author every week.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Oh yes. I have always been glued to a book. My day starts and ends with a book. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When did you start to write?

I have been writing in my head forever. I didn’t really start writing fiction until last year. Now I wonder why.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on the next book in the Cape Harriet series. It will be set around Christmas. I want it to be a story of hope and love, one where your most farfetched dreams come true. Holiday spirit will be very much in evidence, and as always, there will be lots of yummy food.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Book 3 is coming at Christmas time.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I like using Twitter to stay in touch with fans. You can connect with me there @romabrooksauth. I love getting emails from readers, so you can also write to me at romabrooksauthor@gmail.com.

Many thanks to Roma for agreeing to answer my questions 🙂

Publication Day – 15th August 2016

Buy your copy here – Wicked Summer by Roma Brooks

Wicked Summer Blurb

A fun family summer holiday on the beach takes an unexpected turn.

Wicked Summer follows the Bloom family as they spend a once in a lifetime vacation at Cape Harriet, a charming seaside town on Virginia’s scenic Eastern Shore.

All Mary Bloom ever wanted was to celebrate her 60th birthday at the beach. The extended Bloom family converges at the Rising Tides Inn, where their slightest whim is catered to.

Forty something Iris is the perfect suburban mom, holding her four kids and husband on a tight leash. 36 year old Hyacinth is single, successful and the self-proclaimed brains of the family. At 26, Poppy is a top travel blogger, wandering across countries most people only dream of visiting.

The rivalry among the sisters is as strong as ever, and each sister is dealing with it in her own way. So while Iris taunts and needles, Hyacinth takes the high road and shows disdain. Poppy suffers silently, lost in her own inner turmoil. None of them has an inkling of the storm that is about to break loose in their lives.

Soft shell crabs and salt marshes will be forgotten as shocking secrets are revealed. Everyone seems to be guilty of hiding something.

Set in idyllic Cape Harriet, Wicked Summer takes the reader on a thrilling roller coaster ride with plenty of laughs, tears and intrigue with heartwarming emotions, scrumptious food and never a dull moment.

Author Bio

Roma Brooks writes stories featuring real life characters, the kind you would come across in your own family. Her books will make you laugh, cry, love, hate and bite your nails. She dreams of retiring to a seaside town like Cape Harriet where the gentle waves of the ocean lull you into sweet dreams.

Excerpt

Zadie flushed with pleasure. “Fresh ingredients make a big difference. The cheeses are made right here in Cape Harriet at Fern’s Dairy Farm. And the bread is also baked fresh in our local bakery. The peppers are from my garden, roasted this morning.”

“Go ahead, cut the cake,” Zadie urged Kevin who had decided to stop attacking the grilled cheese and seemed ready for something else.

Kevin immediately cut out a huge slice, then cut it in half. Four layers of yellow cake with buttery snow white frosting, sprinkled with generous amounts of coconut brought on another chorus of approval.

“Shouldn’t Hyacinth be here by now?” Mary thought out loud. “What time is it?”

“4:30,” Maddie informed her. “She was near Annapolis an hour ago.”

“Oh, she should be here by 6:30 then. Summer time is busy around here. And the single lane roads are slow going,” Zadie explained.

“I still don’t understand why she wouldn’t let me come in the car with her,” Amber wailed. “I’m an adult now, aren’t I?” 

“You can ask her when she gets here,” Mary said soothingly, wondering the same thing. She couldn’t always explain her daughters’ behavior.

“You bet I will, Grandma!” Amber said resolutely.

“When is Poppy getting here?” Iris wanted to know. “I thought she planned this whole thing.”

“Oh, Poppy’s been here for a while,” Zadie said with adoring eyes. “She’s such a darling.”

Kevin raised his hand to high five her, and Zadie met his hand with full force, gaining his instant approval.

“Aunt Poppy’s something, isn’t she?” His hero worship was clear in his eyes and voice.

Iris cleared her throat. She didn’t like her kids idolizing her youngest sister.

“Poppy’s gone into Delaware for a meeting. She’ll be back tonight.” Mary answered Iris’s question.

“What kind of meeting? It’s not like she’s got a job!” Iris said, not even trying to hide the derision in her voice.

Zadie and Mary looked at each other and beamed. 

“We’ll let her tell you about it. That sister of yours is a gem, that’s for sure. We are so honored to have her here.”

“Is this about her next trip?” Maddie burst out excitedly.

Haven’t read book 1 yet? Download here – Clipper Beach by Roma Brooks

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Kerry. x

Publisher: Ebury Digital (28th July 2016)

4/5*

I have to start by saying that the author first attracted me to this book. I find Shappi Khorsandi’s stand-up comedy hilarious! I had expected Nina is Not OK to be hilarious too and it is at times, but mostly I found it quite sad.

Nina is 17. She lost her Dad when she was just 9 years old and is obviously still grieving. She struggles with the fact that her Mum has moved on with Alan, but she loves her baby sister and wouldn’t be without her (they are so cute together). However, she is spiralling out of control. Following in her fathers footsteps.

Nina has the usual teenage worries, with friends, family issues and college, but to me she seemed much older than her 17 years. Maybe because I was 18 before I had my first boyfriend, I found Nina’s antics quite shocking. I certainly hope my daughter doesn’t behave this way at 17! She would be grounded until she’s 35!! Seriously, I know all teenagers need to make their mistakes in order to grow up, but 17 seems really young for some of Nina’s behaviour. Maybe I’m just really old!! It certainly highlights how easily having a few drinks with friends can turn from being a bit fun into a dangerous situation.

I did really like Nina. I was completely drawn to her character and felt really sad for her, even though she could be a brat to her mother! (These scenes really did show her immaturity!)

I don’t want to say too much because of spoiling the story for others, but she certainly doesn’t deserve the way she is a treated one Saturday night. She is a very likeable character with more than the average teenager has to deal with, and I very much wanted her to be OK.

I’ve found this book quite difficult to review. I can’t find the right words to do it justice at all! I don’t want you to think it’s totally depressing because it really isn’t. It’s very well written. It WILL make you laugh! It will make you cry, I’m sure. I was obviously reading it as a mother of a teenage daughter.

I will be interested to see what others think of it. I would certainly recommend it.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley.

Buy your copy here – Nina is Not OK by Shappi Khorsandi

Description (via AmazonUK):

Nina does not have a drinking problem. She likes a drink, sure. But what 17-year-old doesn’t?

Nina’s mum isn’t so sure. But she’s busy with her new husband and five year old Katie. And Nina’s almost an adult after all.

And if Nina sometimes wakes up with little memory of what happened the night before , then her friends are all too happy to fill in the blanks. Nina’s drunken exploits are the stuff of college legend.

But then one dark Sunday morning, even her friends can’t help piece together Saturday night. All Nina feels is a deep sense of shame, that something very bad has happened to her…

A dark, funny – sometimes shocking – coming of age novel from one of the UK’s leading comedians. NINA IS NOT O.K. will appeal to fans of Caitlin Moran and Lena Dunham.

Review

Publisher: HQ (12th July 2016)

5/5*

I finished All Is Not Forgotten at 00.35 this morning as I couldn’t sleep until I got to the end. It is a fantastic read! Not a particularly pleasant read, given the subject matter, but brilliantly written. I was well and truly gripped. It is tagged as “the gripping thriller you’ll never forget” and that is a more than fair assessment of this book. I’m pretty sure this one will stay with me.

15 year old Jenny is brutally raped, but she remembers nothing about it thanks to an experimental treatment which has erased the memory. This is agreed to by her parents in the hope that she will be able to move on without the horrific attack affecting the rest of her life. Her physical wounds heal, but Jenny is no longer herself, the fun-loving Jenny her parents and friends are used to. Was erasing her memory the best treatment for her after all?

All Is Not Forgotten is narrated by Jenny’s psychiatrist. I really enjoyed the fact that it is written from a psychological perspective. Psychology fascinates me, it always has. I’m not sure I liked the doctor’s character, but he is certainly interesting. He is obviously passionate about his job, but came across to me as feeling quite superior to others. Then again I guess you would have to have plenty of self-confidence to be a successful psychiatrist. I’m not sure I would want to be married to one! Anyway, he is determined to help Jenny to remember that horrendous night as he believes it is the only way she will ever be able to truly move on. As we follow Jenny’s treatment, along with her parents (individually) and other patients, shocking secrets are revealed and emotions run high as the investigation seems to go cold. With Jenny having her memory wiped there is less to work on. Will they ever find out who is responsible for this horrific crime? I thought I knew where the story was going a few times, but as usual I was wrong!

Completely compelling! A scary read, though, especially with having teenagers of my own.

How easily your life could change just by being at the wrong place at the wrong time!

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley. I will be more than happy to recommend!

Buy your copy of All Is Not Forgotten HERE

Description (via AmazonUK):

For fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, All Is Not Forgotten is the next ‘grip-lit’ sensation.

You can erase the memory. But you cannot erase the crime.

Jenny’s wounds have healed.
An experimental treatment has removed the memory of a horrific and degrading attack.
She is moving on with her life.

That was the plan. Except it’s not working out.
Something has gone. The light in the eyes. And something was left behind. A scar. On her lower back. Which she can’t stop touching.
And she’s getting worse.
Not to mention the fact that her father is obsessed with finding her attacker and her mother is in toxic denial.

It may be that the only way to uncover what’s wrong is to help Jenny recover her memory. But even if it can be done, pulling at the threads of her suppressed experience will unravel much more than the truth about her attack.

Review

About the Author