Murder, Forgotten

(Spoiler-free) This is a fantastic whodunnit, the main mystery and a few other mysteries always having lots of suspects and red herrings, as the best mysteries do. The start was a bit slow and I was a little confused, seeing the world through the murky mind of a woman who was having obvious memory issues; I was afraid it was going to be depressing. But it wasn’t really, and things became clearer, as I began seeing what was going on more through the woman’s daughter’s eyes. Parts of the book were intermittently a bit sad, but there was great insight into the life of a very famous mystery author, who was likable despite her shortcomings as a mother and a bit of a temper that is sometimes seen when a person’s memory is failing. The artist daughter becomes a bit of an amateur investigator as she tries to help the police solve what become multiple crimes, with lots of twists and turns. The creeping feeling of danger really builds into a great revelation—I couldn’t put the book down for the last third, despite the time. I highly recommend this book; I was provided an arc, but these opinions are my own.

A man killed. A woman’s sanity questioned…

I’m still reeling from this one. Murder, Forgotten started off so quietly. Just a lady staying at her vacation house trying to rest as as she can’t seem to remember from day to day that her husband is dead. And just her adult daughter trying to come to grips with her stepfather’s death and her mother’s mental decline.

Just a quiet heart-tugging story… Yeah, well, it didn’t stay that way. Next thing you know I’m suspecting everyone of ulterior motives and murder, from the woman’s son to the next door neighbor to the local pastor! Seriously, author Deb Richardson-Moore led me on such a wild goose chase I hardly knew what end was up! And yet each clue was intentionally laid out, building on the previous one, and all leading to the final frantic and spine-tingling showdown with a killer. When the author dropped a shocker bombshell about ¾ of the way through, well, I was shocked all right, and shaken. It was a gutsy move on her part but well played and it left you questioning pretty much everything.

Depending on how you feel about the subjects, the following content may be an issue for you. Some language. The characters all drink like fish and more than one get sloshed. And there is some open discussion, not graphic, of cheating and sexual affairs between several characters.

Of the two books that I’ve read by Deb Richardson-Moore Murder, Forgotten is by far my favorite. Despite the, in my opinion, rather excessive alcohol consumption I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The psychological elements, the complete questioning of whether a main character might actually be the killer, was very very good. I also loved the generational aspects to the story with both mother and daughter trying to solve the mystery. Oh, and it’s worth reading this book just for the exquisite setting, South Carolina’s Sullivan’s Island, alone.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Murder Forgotten is one of those murder mystery novels that will honestly have you page-turning and second guessing yourself as you scramble to discover the true killer before the big reveal. This book by Deb Richardson-Moore isn’t going to start out the way that you expect, but it is going to have the author’s desired effect of grabbing you and seducing you into putting off other responsibilities to learn the truth.
When I first read the blurb for Murder Forgotten I knew that this was a book I wanted to read. I’m given a main character who writes murder mystery novels, but then murder comes and hits home. The way that the story started I wasn’t sure that I would be able to get into it at first. I’m so used to the set-up and lead up to the murder, but in this book the murder has already taken place and now the characters are dealing with the aftermath. I have to admit that I was quickly hooked into this story as I piece together that the main character, Julianna, is struggling with her mental health.
I feel that this is a character driven story. The characters are the primary focus of the storyline and the mystery helps to color it all. The author takes readers to the shores of Scotland and back again to South Carolina. I’m a suspicious person, so when strange things begin to happen with Julianna, I’m immediately picking at things to figure out what is going on. I have to admit that I’m proud of Julianna when she has her moments of clarity. I like her daughter Logan. Logan is the one who chooses to be there with her mother and really begins to step up. I was worried at first that Logan would harbor some resentment towards her mother for the issues that she’s struggling with, but I’m pleased that she never does.
Now, if you’re like me you like to try and figure out who the murderer really is. I honestly thought that I had it figured out a couple times, but the author showed me that I was wrong and kept me guessing until the very end. The author writes in a couple of twists that had me hoping for a different result, but they are part of what fuels the story. I really kept waiting for this book to have a dull moment; however, there is not a single one! I dove into this book and before I knew it I was halfway through in my eagerness to devour this novel.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you love a good mystery novel that hooks you in and has you page-turning to the end, then this book is a perfect fit for you. I love how true to life this book is. You’ll hope for a different turn out with certain situations, but the way that this story comes together is absolutely perfect. I truly look forward to reading more books from this author in the future. I could easily see myself becoming a fan. This is a successful creation of a mystery novel and one that I encourage others to check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Julianna Burke is a celebrity. Her books are best sellers. Suddenly her perfect world is torn apart. Connor, her husband, is murdered. She and her assistant were the only ones home when it happened. Logan her daughter, finds that Julianna suffers from confusion and memory loss. Could she have had an episode and killed the love of her life? Julianna wasn’t close with her children which is why Logan wasn’t aware of her mother’s mental issues. Logan stays to help Julianna which bring closeness between the two. I liked how Logan worked to understand what happened. Connor was like a father to her. All the characters were well developed and easy to relate to. I understood why Julianna acted why she did. Logan was determined to get answers. She wasn’t afraid to ask the difficult questions to get to the truth. This story had so many twists that I couldn’t stop reading. There were so many unanswered questions and the past had the ability to influence the present. The setting added to the story with its scenic beauty. Murder and treachery don’t belong here, but appearances can be deceiving. Many people had motives. Murder, Forgotten focuses on the murder as well as the mother-daughter relationship which enhanced the drama. I found this book thought provoking. It made me look deeply into past relationships as well as the murder. Deb Richardson-Moore has written an exceptional book. I found it was an emotional roller coaster. When I read the last page, I was exhausted.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

Thank you PICT and Lion Fiction for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Murder, Forgotten
By: Deb Richardson-Moore

REVIEW

Deb Richardson-Moore’s Murder, Forgotten poses the question of whether murder actually can be forgotten. Successful murder mystery author Julianna Burke is secretly, but surely, slipping into possible dementia. Then, one fateful day, Connor, her husband of over twenty years, is found murdered in a manner eerily similar to a murder penned by Julianna. Desperate for answers, Julianna, her assistant, Margot, and her distant daughter, Logan, tackle the case.

Julianna claims no memories of the tragedy, and yet… I wonder if Julianna actually has memory loss, or is she an expert liar? Or, a more philosophical question is whether an author can become so entrenched in their work as to blur the line between fiction and reality? Julianna might believe her creation is real and herself a character. This is part of the problem that Logan is attempting to solve. Only relying on Julianna’s word complicates things more because she she says she is slipping in and out of memories. Not being close, Logan and Julianna don’t have a baseline for referencing normal behavior or an established history for clarification.

This story is more than a murder mystery as it delves into the ever complex mother daughter dynamic, mental illness and the infinite number of secrets and lies present everywhere. Does anyone really know anyone else? The red herrings and twists are clever and well executed at the right moments. The characters are not static or without personality. Many of their attributes are relatable, adding authenticity and familiarity, and giving us something to root for, or against, depending upon the situation.

Overall, Murder, Forgotten is unique, compelling, unpredictable and possesses that certain something that makes a story difficult to put down for even a moment. This story is ideal for murder, mystery or suspense fans. I definitely recommend trying this book!

Have you ever stopped reading a mystery when you’re about 2-3 chapters to the end just so you could try to solve the mystery? That’s what I did with this book. I stopped and mulled over the “suspects” for almost a day. I actually guessed right…at one point…but changed my mind many times after that. Great multilayered mystery that I enjoyed very much.

Murder, Forgotten is the latest release by author Deb Richardson-Moore, a stand-alone murder mystery suspense, and my first taste of this author.

The novel, told in the third-person, takes us immediately to Fife in Scotland where we follow Julianna in the aftermath of her husband’s murder; the narration then switches to Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina where we join Julianna’s daughter, Logan, and where the investigation into the murder is taking place. The author brings the locations vibrantly to life, showing a true love for them. The story is divided into three parts and the chapters continue to alternate between Julianna’s and Logan’s perspectives as they try to make sense of recent events and the many conundra surrounding them.

The author also gives us a peek into the mind of the mystery writer and the processes it entails, including the art of misdirection, which I enjoyed, especially as I found them reflected in the book itself. Questions about human motivations, greed, adultery, parenthood, bereavement, and illness are also present throughout, as are deceit and subterfuge. This is a clean read; be aware that it does talk about suicide.

I really liked the concept of this book and really wanted it to capture me and be a page turner, but, unfortunately, although well written, I found the pace a bit slow, with several concepts repeating time and again, but not moving forward. I felt that, despite a foreboding and imminent sense of danger, major aspects that surfaced, and which should have been pivotal, were not explored timely, and all main characters seemed very laid back. Even the police investigation did not appear to be particularly thorough. Some events were never explained, even though later revelations would have warranted further prodding; one in particular could very easily have been explored, in fact, it should have been as part of the investigation.

We were also quickly introduced to a growing number of peripheral characters that would weave in and out of the story, but I felt this was mainly done to leave open many paths to a possible culprit rather than being fully explored sub-plots. The sheer number of similar neighbours meant that they were all kind of muddled in my head and as I went on and worked out the rough motive and then who had done it, by that point I could not remember which character I was thinking of and was too lazy to look back to remind myself.

Overall it was an entertaining story, with twists and turns to keep you guessing, however, unlike many others, I failed to be fully engaged by it. Having said that, I would definitely give this author another try.

[ARC received via Netgalley]

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