* POPSUGAR’s “New Thrillers That Should Be on Your Radar This Year” * Women.com’s “12 New September Books Worth Canceling Plans For” In New York Times bestselling author Nevada Barr’s gripping standalone, a grandmother in her sixties emerges from a mental fog to find she’s trapped in her worst nightmare Rose Dennis wakes up in a hospital gown, her brain in a fog, only to discover that she’s been … fog, only to discover that she’s been committed to an Alzheimer’s Unit in a nursing home. With no memory of how she ended up in this position, Rose is sure that something is very wrong. When she overhears one of the administrators saying about her that she’s “not making it through the week,” Rose is convinced that if she’s to survive, she has to get out of the nursing home. She avoids taking her medication, putting on a show for the aides, then stages her escape.
The only problem is–how does she convince anyone that she’s not actually demented? Her relatives were the ones to commit her, all the legal papers were drawn up, the authorities are on the side of the nursing home, and even she isn’t sure she sounds completely sane. But any lingering doubt Rose herself might have had is erased when a would-be killer shows up in her house in the middle of the night. Now Rose knows that someone is determined to get rid of her.
With the help of her computer hacker/recluse sister Marion, thirteen-year old granddaughter Mel, and Mel’s friend Royal, Rose begins to gather her strength and fight back–to find out who is after her and take back control of her own life. But someone out there is still determined to kill Rose, and they’re holding all the cards.
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This was a funny, edge-of-your-seat mystery. What a unique combination. I fell in love with Rose Dennis and her quirky sense of humor and her strong personality. And when you add her granddaughter, Mel, into the formula, you have a delightful read. There are some credibility issues with the plot, but it doesn’t matter! The author does a great job of holding your attention and keeping you invested in the story and the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Rose wakes up outdoors, in a hospital gown and utterly confused. She’s lost a huge amount of time and she’s been placed into a memory care home. When she stops taking her meds, she realizes she really doesn’t belong there and schemes to not only get herself out but to figure out how she got in there in the first place. We follow Rose as goes from one crazy plan to the next, all in the hopes of figuring out who is responsible. With her life in danger and the police looking for her, she needs to figure this all out, and quick.
This was a bit of a slow start but once we laid out the situation and got Rose out of there, the book really picked up for me and I didn’t want to put it down. Rose was a fun and quirky character and very easy to like. Some of her plans to get information were a little far out there and that’s what kept me reading. Her sister Marion was a fun character and I would love to read a book in which she plays the main character.
Barr has created great characters, from Rose to Marion, to Mel, and even the night nurse, they were multi-dimensional. While the plot was a bit out there, I think it played on the fears that a person is sent off to be taken care of by someone else that we all have, and here in the states, care homes are very common for the elderly. What Rose Forgot was witty and insightful, a slow-burn of a thriller that once it picked up, was impossible to put down.
Rose Dennis is a 60 something woman who wakes up to find herself in a dementia. She’s confused, feels drugged, and manages somehow to escape. Found by a young teen she’s returned to the home. But she’s more aware. She’s starts hiding her drugs and plots her next escape. Fortunately her granddaughter’s home is nearby and Rose makes her way there. In the backyard Rose meets up with Mel her granddaughter. Mel is a teen used to fending for herself in her odd household. She ubers, does her own shopping, and now will help her Rose sort out her mystery.
This is a fast-moving novel as Rose fights for her life and her memory. This is a story well-told. I highly recommend it.
What Rose Forgot was such a charming mystery by Nevada Barr. Rose, terrified and confused, awakes from a groggy sleep to find herself alone with no recollection of how she arrived in the middle of the woods. When she is “captured” by nurses from a nearby memory care facility, she realizes that she has been admitted as a patient and has escaped. She struggles to shake away the fogginess of her mind and finds herself plotting another escape. She is sure that she is not meant to be there and is adamant that she does not have dementia.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this delightful tale, following Rose through her journey to uncover the truth of her intended demise. Nevada Barr, as usual, impressed me with her eloquent writing, casual humor, and endearing characters. I highly recommend this light mystery read to anyone looking for a quick, easy, and adorable book.
I jumped at the chance to read this new book by Nevada Barr. I love her Anna Pigeon series, and her book Blind Descent is one of my all time favorites. So I went into this expecting great things.
To be honest, the first third of the book did not do it for me. It was slow moving, and I did not like the writing style from the point of view of a drugged person. But once Rose was attacked in her house, the book switched into high gear and I became more invested in the characters. I enjoyed the scenes with Rose and her granddaughter Mel. They have the kind of relationship that I aspire too. I wish we had more with Rose’s sister Marion. She sounds like an interesting character, but she was barely in the book. The ending with the reveal of the bad guys was a complete surprise to me. I was also really interested in what happened to Chuck, a man Rose met in the care facility.
I enjoyed reading this. Once I got past the initial few chapters, it was a fast moving, fun read.
I received a free copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Nevada Barr, and Minotaur Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I looked many times for this novel on my phone and downloaded it more than once, but it was not available on my Kindle Cloud. Come to find out (last weekend), the title had changed to/or/from The World Rose Forgot so I was able to read and review. I love Nevada Barr, both her series and single stories, so I was really pleased to find What Rose Forgot. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.
This was a midnight-oil-burner of a book. It is an extraordinary look into the world of Rose – who awakens tied down in a lock-down ward of the Longwood Memory Care Unit after a virulent bout with the flu. She has no memory of being in this care home the last couple of months, no memory of the flu, no memory of the death of her beloved husband. The only hint she has that her world has imploded is overhearing the doctor tell the nurse that they must re-start her dementia medications at half strength for a day before going back to full doses. She then overhears the night nurse tell others to medicate her at her regular dosage. Did Karen just forget? Rose decides no more meds for her for a while and hides them behind the kleenex box. She is later able to escape, but she is easily recaptured as she doesn’t really know where she is.
Her second escape is much better planned, and with the help of her teenage granddaughter, she is able to hide out and attempt to figure out what is going on. But will she find the key to her dilemma before those trying to kill her can achieve their goal?
This is a great story! I loved Rose – and Mel – from the get-go, both feisty and colorful and very determined to figure out what is going on. Even the bad guys have some saving graces, and there are characters you just automatically befriend in your mind. There are places – on the roof of Rose’s house comes immediately to mind – where you get caught up in the action and don’t see the hoot of laughter coming. This is a book to recommend to friends and family of all ages. This is another excellent tale from Nevada Barr.
A well plotted mystery told from intended victim Rose’s point of view. The reader is immediately plunged into Rose’s world as she comes out of a meditative trance to find herself not in her meditation room, as expected, but outside surrounded by trees and other shrubs. How did she get her? Where is here? And Why is she so thirsty and confused?
Moments after becoming aware of her surroundings, Rose is found by two young boys, one of whom gives her the little water he has and then hurries off to the local nursing home/Alheimer’s Care Center for help. Before she understands what is happening, two orderlies descend on her with orange juice and pills. Just as the thought that the juice contains poison enters her mind, Rose is drug back to the facility and returned to the Memory Care Unit from which she escaped, although no one knows how.
Through a curtain of confusion brought on by drugs that are pushed on her by the staff, Rose maintains enough lucidity to suspect she is being poisoned. She has no clue as to who is trying to harm her, but she has reason to suspect they want her dead within the next week. Armed with this belief, Rose hatches a plan to escape the unit and figure out who is trying to murder her.
As the book unfolds the picture of Rose comes into focus. She is 68 years old, wealthy, a widow who practices Yoga, pursues Buddhism, and has an artist’s temperament. Add in a quirky sense of humor and you have the makings of a truly enjoyable mystery. The writing is off center just enough to add to the unique nature of the narrative with descriptions like: feeling like she’s been trampled by a herd of gnus. Rose is that older woman we always see depicted with a highly individualized sense of style, bordering on bohemian, an accomplished artist, and devoted grandmother.
As the story progresses, Rose becomes increasingly convinced that she is the only one who can solve the mystery of who is trying to do her harm. After all, who is going to believe an older woman who is recently widowed and then diagnosed with early rapid onset dementia? She sets out to solve the mystery herself, getting help along the way from her young teenage granddaughter and her sister Marion, a computer expert, whose aide she enlists by relating facts that demonstrate how her life is in danger.
The book is well paced, pulling the reader through at a speed that allows for continued interest and makes room for appreciation of the humor when and where it appears. The suspense of the culprit’s identity builds to an excellent climax at the point of denouement and then gently returns to earth with an insightful epilogue. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.
I enjoyed this book and it definitely kept you guessing. I cycled through characters thinking, oh it’s this one, no it’s this one, etc. I loved that Rose’s granddaughter, Mel, and her friend, Royal, helped her through this mystery. It was crazy to involve a young girl and the neighborhood boy in this very grownup mystery, but it worked for me. We can’t forget about the recluse sister on the phone, although I wasn’t very fond of her. The thing I didn’t like — at all, the way the author portrayed Rose’s confusion in the first several chapters. It was too much, so confusing that I got tired of trying to figure out what she was really saying. I mean I knew it was a confused Rose, but it was too much work and nearly quit reading the book. I’m glad I persevered, so keep that in mind when you pick up the book, it gets better and it’s worth it.
Rose Dennis is definitely not Anna Pigeon but that’s okay
I have been a fan of author Nevada Barr for years, reading her entire series about Anna Pigeon, park ranger, assigned to different national parks across the United States.
I’ve wondered what happened to Barr. She hasn’t published a book since 2016. So even though this is a standalone mystery, I was still looking forward to reading it.
It started out kind of confused to me. I had a hard time even imagining that Barr wrote this book – it’s so different to her other books. But I’m glad I persevered.
Rose Dennis is 68 years old and finds herself in a memory card center after her husband dies. She doesn’t feel she should be there and, after overhearing a conversation outside her room, realizes she needs to get herself out of there or die.
Rose is quite a character – an artist, a Buddhist, a yoga practicing bohemian. The book was serious at times but liberally sprinkled with humor.
I recommend this book to mystery lovers, lovers of books with quirky characters and a dash of humor.
I received this book from St. Martin’s Press through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
What Rose Forgot is my first Nevada Barr book. It is a fun and entertaining story. The book synopsis lays out the facts of the story. I really liked Rosa. Having had a father in a memory care unit ,Nevada Barr brought back many memories I have of the unit. I think everyone’s worst nightmare would be for others to think you had lost your mental faculties when you had not. Rosa is my age, 68. I do think at times the author made her seem physically much older. There were times that I thought the book dragged but for the most part It was good. I loved the relationship between Rosa and her granddaughter Mel. There were some very funny scenes in the book. For example “the finger.” That is all I am going to say. I do see how this could be the start of a series.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books) and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What Rose Forgot sounded like an interesting mystery, and it does start off that way. However, it soon turns into something unbelievable bordering on ridiculous. I realize this is fiction, and a certain amount of leeway can be given, but this one is almost fantasy, especially since nothing short of magic could make a woman in Rose’s condition bounce back so quickly. And I don’t just say that because of her age. I would find it hard to believe of a twenty-year-old, let alone someone in their sixties. It’s a shame because Rose was such a feisty character, and I did have a few laughs along the way. But once things started happening, most of it was just eye-rollingly off the wall. I like quirky characters, and they tend to be some of my favorites, but this one takes quirky to a whole new level. The mystery had potential, but by the time I got through Rose’s many adventures, I was just over it and really didn’t care one way or the other about the whodunit.
Rose is committed to a home by her family saying she is suffering from Alzeimer’s. When she comes to enough to realize what has been done to her she escapes and trys to clear herself with the courts with her sisters help and find out why her family has done this to her and who wants her dead. It was a bit slow for me but still a good mystery. well written and good characters. Was a fairly quick read worth reading.
A fascinating read! Rose finds herself locked up and being drugged. This is a story that paints a worst case scenario picture of what can happen to the elderly. This is a story about determination and self preservation. It is also a story about how greed can drive you to destructive things. Joined by two teenagers and her older sister, Rose goes on a quest to find the missing pieces of her life and determine who is trying to do her harm. Their is mystery and mayhem as she confronts the bad guys. There are moments that will make you laugh out loud and you will cheer her on with each win she gets. Her inner monologues are especially amusing and her heroic feats will impress.
This book was very confusing for the first few chapters and then it got to be more enjoyable. This is the usual type of book that I read but I did end up enjoying it. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest read.
I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book as I read the first chapter. But I wanted to know more and by the end of chapter 2, I was hooked. Rose is the true definition of eccentric. She is quirky and fun. Somehow she was able to escape the home she had been put in with no memory of it. She had enough wits about her to escape a second time before she is killed. With the help of her elderly sister, 13 year old granddaughter Mel and Mel’s friend Royal, she sets out to figure out who had her sent to the home and is trying to kill her.
With each chapter, I loved Rose more! The story was full of twists and turns. The book also made me laugh out loud. It was a fabulous combination. The characters were so much fun. The descriptions were so clear, I could picture it all perfectly.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4 stars for an entertaining mystery. This is a stand alone mystery and not part of the Anna Pigeon series by Nevada Barr. Rose wakes up in a state of confusion. She is in a hospital gown and near a road. She sees 2 boys on bicycles and asks for water. One gives her water and the other goes to the nursing home to tell them that one of their patients is nearby. Rose is taken back to the nursing home. But she realizes that she is being drugged and pretends to continue taking the drugs and escape. She does escape and unravels a conspiracy behind the drugs. Rose is a feisty 69 year old woman who ends up saving her life. To say more would be a spoiler, but if you liked the Anna Pigeon series, then you will like this book also. I read it in 2 days.
One quote on Rose philosophizing: “Of course, Rose knows there are people who live and die in the shadow of lies, betrayals, violence and crime.
It has to be exhausting.
People should love one another right now.
Buy the world a Coke and keep it company.
The Age of Aquarius was way too short as far as Rose is concerned.”
Thank You St Martin’s Press and Nevada Barr for sending me this book through NetGalley.
What Rose Forgot by Nevada Barr is a well-written standalone mystery that I was excited to read since I thoroughly enjoy her Anna Pigeon series.
This story is set in Charlotte, North Carolina and the main protagonist is 68 year old Rose Dennis who wakes up outside in a hospital gown and her mind is foggy. She has been committed to a Memory Care Unit of a nursing home, but Rose becomes convinced that her life is in danger. With this information, Rose enlists the help of her sister in New Orleans, her granddaughter Mel, and Mel’s friend Royal. The clever plot progresses rapidly. To avoid spoilers, I will withhold the rest of the story line.
The plot is thought-provoking, intense, insightful and captivating. While many have considered this book to be humorous, I did not. Yes, there was a chuckle here and there, but I was so upset with the situation that Rose found herself in that I did not find the time to laugh.
The story showed great depth in the main character. Additionally, there was never a dull moment. To me, it was fascinating, gripping, heartbreaking, insightful, courageous and very memorable.
I highly recommend this novel to both mystery fans and those that are fans of Nevada Barr.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Nevada Barr and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
I’ve read all the Anna Pigeon books and really liked them. Along comes this standalone and took me completely by surprise.
The main character is my new best friend. She is strong and capable and took everyone by surprise. I lost count of the number of times her life was in jeopardy. In amongst all the tragedy was some pretty laugh out loud funny stuff. By the end, I had narrowed the field down to about 5.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
This book was gifted to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
A fun romp involving a miss used elderly artist and her side kicks. Sweet, laugh out loud antics are balanced by drug abuse, lies and deceit. The sad reality is, this scenario could happen, without the happy outcome. An excellent story, add this to your TBR list.
I’ve read a lot of this author’s other books so I was really excited about this stand alone. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting but it was a heck of a ride! It took off from the first page and didn’t stop til the last. I enjoyed it! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy