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Unforgotten
After five years, lawyer Hugh Gwynne's most difficult case has finally come to court. His client Tom Deacon is claiming damages for post-traumatic stress after a car accident in which he witnessed the death of his young daughter by fire. The case is going well; it seems certain Tom will win the compensation that will enable him to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. Then Hugh receives an anonymous letter that throws him into an impossible dilemma. To stay on the case is unethical, to withdraw will threaten its success, and Tom Deacon, revealing himself in an entirely new light, makes it clear that such treachery will not be forgiven.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Clare Francis
55 books66 followersClare Francis's first novel; Night Sky was published in 1983 to international success. It went to number one in the Sunday Times bestseller list, and spent six weeks in the New York Times top 10.
Three more thrillers followed, Red Crystal (1985), Wolf Winter (1987) and Requiem (1991), which was published in the U.S. as The Killing Winds. Her first crime novel, Deceit was published in 1993, and dramatised for television in 2000. Four other highly successful crime novels have followed, and a highly acclaimed literary novel, Homeland. Her latest crime novel Unforgotten has just been published. Her books have been translated into 20 languages and published in over 30 countries.
Clare was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, the younger of two sisters. Christmas holidays were spent with her grandparents in a remote corner of the Yorkshire Dales where she developed the love of landscape that is a feature of so much of her fiction. Summer holidays were spent on the Isle of Wight, where she learnt to sail at the age of nine.
After five years at the Royal Ballet School she went to an A-level crammer in Oxford (where she appeared in the university revue Keep This to Yourself), then to University College London, where she obtained a degree in Economics. She worked in marketing for three years before taking a year out to travel and discover what she really wanted to do.
What began as a personal odyssey turned into what she terms her 'unplanned' five-year career in sailing. The odyssey was an unsponsored and unsung solo voyage across the Atlantic, during which she read, listened to music and tried her hand at writing. Soon after, Clare was offered sponsorship to take part in the Round Britain Race with Eve Bonham. This was followed by the Azores and Back Singlehanded Race, the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race, and, with a crew of eleven, the Whitbread Round the World Race. It was after writing three works of non-fiction about her adventures, Come Hell or High Water (1977), Come Wind or Weather (1978), and The Commanding Sea (1981) that Clare took the leap into fiction.
In 1977 she married Jaques Redon with whom she had a son, Tom, in 1978.
She is an MBE, a Fellow of University College London, and an Honorary Fellow of UMIST. She has served as Chairman of the Society of Authors (1997-99) and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Public Lending Right (2000-03).
For the past twenty years she has been commited to the charity Action for ME, of which she is President, a trustee and member of the Council of Management. She herself has had ME (also known as Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) for many years.
Clare Francis lives in London and the Isle of Wight, and loves opera and walking.
Three more thrillers followed, Red Crystal (1985), Wolf Winter (1987) and Requiem (1991), which was published in the U.S. as The Killing Winds. Her first crime novel, Deceit was published in 1993, and dramatised for television in 2000. Four other highly successful crime novels have followed, and a highly acclaimed literary novel, Homeland. Her latest crime novel Unforgotten has just been published. Her books have been translated into 20 languages and published in over 30 countries.
Clare was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, the younger of two sisters. Christmas holidays were spent with her grandparents in a remote corner of the Yorkshire Dales where she developed the love of landscape that is a feature of so much of her fiction. Summer holidays were spent on the Isle of Wight, where she learnt to sail at the age of nine.
After five years at the Royal Ballet School she went to an A-level crammer in Oxford (where she appeared in the university revue Keep This to Yourself), then to University College London, where she obtained a degree in Economics. She worked in marketing for three years before taking a year out to travel and discover what she really wanted to do.
What began as a personal odyssey turned into what she terms her 'unplanned' five-year career in sailing. The odyssey was an unsponsored and unsung solo voyage across the Atlantic, during which she read, listened to music and tried her hand at writing. Soon after, Clare was offered sponsorship to take part in the Round Britain Race with Eve Bonham. This was followed by the Azores and Back Singlehanded Race, the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race, and, with a crew of eleven, the Whitbread Round the World Race. It was after writing three works of non-fiction about her adventures, Come Hell or High Water (1977), Come Wind or Weather (1978), and The Commanding Sea (1981) that Clare took the leap into fiction.
In 1977 she married Jaques Redon with whom she had a son, Tom, in 1978.
She is an MBE, a Fellow of University College London, and an Honorary Fellow of UMIST. She has served as Chairman of the Society of Authors (1997-99) and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Public Lending Right (2000-03).
For the past twenty years she has been commited to the charity Action for ME, of which she is President, a trustee and member of the Council of Management. She herself has had ME (also known as Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) for many years.
Clare Francis lives in London and the Isle of Wight, and loves opera and walking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 21, 2018
Hugh Gwynne, in the middle of a court case, becomes obsessed with the idea that his wife, Lizzie, was killed by an arsonist. She had died in a fire at their home, a fire the police insisted was accidental, but nothing seemed to fit, there were too many things out of place.
In the meantime, his client, Tom Deacon, a war veteran claiming PTSD after a car crash in which he saw his daughter burned to death, is furious with Hugh because Hugh had revealed some negative information about Tom that threatens his case which had appeared headed for victory until an anonymous letter arrived with the information.
Hugh's son Charlie has a history with drugs and Hugh worries that perhaps one of his contacts had killed his wife. But she was also involved in finding a witness to a killing that she had stumbled on while working with her clients in the projects.
An interesting story that has less mystery and more a treatise on bereavement and obsession. Still, I would read more of her work.
In the meantime, his client, Tom Deacon, a war veteran claiming PTSD after a car crash in which he saw his daughter burned to death, is furious with Hugh because Hugh had revealed some negative information about Tom that threatens his case which had appeared headed for victory until an anonymous letter arrived with the information.
Hugh's son Charlie has a history with drugs and Hugh worries that perhaps one of his contacts had killed his wife. But she was also involved in finding a witness to a killing that she had stumbled on while working with her clients in the projects.
An interesting story that has less mystery and more a treatise on bereavement and obsession. Still, I would read more of her work.
December 1, 2023
Setting: West Country and London, UK; modern day.
Lawyer Hugh Gwynne's most complicated and difficult case is finally reaching its conclusion after five long years with a final hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. His client, Tom Deacon, is claiming for PTSD suffered in a road traffic accident in which he had to watch his four-year-old daughter burn to death in their crashed car after another driver forced them off the road. Tom, formerly in the British Army and having served in Iraq and Bosnia, is now unable to work, his marriage has broken up and he is not allowed to see his two sons - but he is hoping that winning his substantial claim of approaching £1 million will enable him to rebuild his life to an extent.
Meanwhile, Hugh is living in his lovely old house near Bristol with his adoring wife, Lizzie, with whom he has nurtured two adopted children, now grown up and making their own way in the world. Lizzie does voluntary work with the Citizens Advice Bureau, helping people sort out housing issues and other social problems, but often gets deeply involved in her cases, even though she shouldn't.
As Tom's case nears its conclusion, Hugh receives an anonymous letter that casts doubt on some of what Tom has been saying in court in relation to his mental health. Hugh is torn between his professional responsibility and his desire to protect his client but Tom refuses to 'come clean' to the court. Then, a personal tragedy hits Hugh at the worst possible time and has a devastating impact on him, causing him the same sort of distress that Tom has been feeling.....
I found this to be a quite unputdownable read, even though I was convinced that I knew who the 'baddy' was from an early stage - only to be proved totally wrong at the end! Certainly found this to be a gripping story and I really enjoyed the characterisation and storylines - 9/10.
Lawyer Hugh Gwynne's most complicated and difficult case is finally reaching its conclusion after five long years with a final hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. His client, Tom Deacon, is claiming for PTSD suffered in a road traffic accident in which he had to watch his four-year-old daughter burn to death in their crashed car after another driver forced them off the road. Tom, formerly in the British Army and having served in Iraq and Bosnia, is now unable to work, his marriage has broken up and he is not allowed to see his two sons - but he is hoping that winning his substantial claim of approaching £1 million will enable him to rebuild his life to an extent.
Meanwhile, Hugh is living in his lovely old house near Bristol with his adoring wife, Lizzie, with whom he has nurtured two adopted children, now grown up and making their own way in the world. Lizzie does voluntary work with the Citizens Advice Bureau, helping people sort out housing issues and other social problems, but often gets deeply involved in her cases, even though she shouldn't.
As Tom's case nears its conclusion, Hugh receives an anonymous letter that casts doubt on some of what Tom has been saying in court in relation to his mental health. Hugh is torn between his professional responsibility and his desire to protect his client but Tom refuses to 'come clean' to the court. Then, a personal tragedy hits Hugh at the worst possible time and has a devastating impact on him, causing him the same sort of distress that Tom has been feeling.....
I found this to be a quite unputdownable read, even though I was convinced that I knew who the 'baddy' was from an early stage - only to be proved totally wrong at the end! Certainly found this to be a gripping story and I really enjoyed the characterisation and storylines - 9/10.
August 26, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this author. She taught me that life can be very hard on you when you least expect it. I loved the suspense, the intrigues in court when Hugh tried to protect his client. Not everything looks like it really is. I liked the way that the author has included so many contemporary social problems within the storyline. There is drug abuse (and the mental health issues that go hand in hand with it), agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress syndrome, alcoholism, gangs, racism and bullying. All of this gives a very modern feel to the book. On top of that, they are dealt with in a very non-judgemental way. I really enjoyed this book, mostly the unexpected ending.
July 29, 2013
This was the second Clare Francis book I read and I didn't enjoy it as much as Deceit. That said, I did enjoy it! I liked the hero very much, and found it hard to take when things changed for him drastically, though of course I realised we had been set up for it - clever writing! I found the build-up of the clues confusing, and the denouement was rushed for me.
I gather Clare Francis was ailing when she wrote this book, and perhaps that's why. I'd like to read more of her. I still think she writes atmospherically and creates strong emotive characters. Great and unusual crime writing.
I gather Clare Francis was ailing when she wrote this book, and perhaps that's why. I'd like to read more of her. I still think she writes atmospherically and creates strong emotive characters. Great and unusual crime writing.
October 9, 2011
Felt like a final twist never happened, not very satisfying ending.
February 5, 2022
This story has the background of man trying to establish his case for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a lawyer of over 40 years experience in this field and specifically in the Royal Courts of Justice where some of it is set, I am astonished at the level of accuracy the author achieves in her descriptions of court procedure, client/solicitor/barrister relationships. It’s all spot on, and how she managed that, with no legal experience herself, is extraordinary.
Anyway, it’s basically a whodunit. There are plenty of credible suspects, red herrings and as the denouement approached I anxiously awaited an explosively surprising revelation. Sadly, this didn’t happen, and I thought the ending a little flat.
But it’s a good tale well told, and as I said with exceptional observation.
Clare Francis, having achieved recognition as an internationally renowned yachtswoman, reinvented herself as an international best-selling author. That’s quite a career, and hats off to her.
Anyway, it’s basically a whodunit. There are plenty of credible suspects, red herrings and as the denouement approached I anxiously awaited an explosively surprising revelation. Sadly, this didn’t happen, and I thought the ending a little flat.
But it’s a good tale well told, and as I said with exceptional observation.
Clare Francis, having achieved recognition as an internationally renowned yachtswoman, reinvented herself as an international best-selling author. That’s quite a career, and hats off to her.
September 16, 2017
So very good. I seem to remember reading a Clare Francis years ago and enjoying it, this was no different. Great tale and great characters. Clever, believable twist. I will look out for more by her in the future.
November 1, 2017
I had to give up on this 60 pages in. Not for me at all. Too much court drama in great detail and never felt the story was going anywhere. I may be wrong and if so, I stand corrected. Life is too short to keep going on a book that does not hold your interest.
July 12, 2021
I never really got into this, and even after finishing I'm still not sure how the two plotlines (Tom's case, and Hugh's tragedy) were really connected in any way. There was very rarely any kind of suspense, and the 'corrupt police' angle could have been developed so much further.
July 23, 2024
Very good self contained thriller as a lawyer, embroiled in a difficult PTSD case, faces a grevious family event that opens into a clever whodunit that, sadly, petters out having built itself up nicely. Close to being excellent but just ends up being good.
July 15, 2021
Very good book
Starts slowly with rather dull court proceedings but gains momentum soon and keeps you reading straight through with a very unexpected conclusion!
Starts slowly with rather dull court proceedings but gains momentum soon and keeps you reading straight through with a very unexpected conclusion!
April 27, 2022
Long build up to a clever finish, although not all together original. I'm not a Clare Francis fan yet.
January 14, 2025
Enjoyed this one. Kept wanting to know what was going to happen. I've liked Clare Francis books in the past too.
November 21, 2025
A slow start, increasingly gripping with an unexpected twist to the ending. Like a whodunnit
November 25, 2025
absolutely loved this book
July 5, 2015
Author..
Clare Francis..
Location...
Bristol and London (U.K)..
Characters..
Hugh Gwynne, Tom Deacon, Lizze, Charlie, Lou, Montgomery, DI Steadman, Denzel Lewis
Genre..
Suspense, Thriller..
PLOT..
Lawyer Hugh Gwynne lives peacefully in a village nearby Bristol, with his wife Lizze and two adopted children Charlie and Lou. One day when he was away in London representing a case for his firm, Hugh's wife Lizze dies in fire accident in his house under suspicious circumstances. Police and fire brigade departments decides to rule out this incident as "tragic accident" and close the file without any further investigation. But Hugh, is not happy and suspects this accident, as an arson murder, and wants further investigation from the PD.Without further cooperation from PD, Hugh hires private fire brigade officer John Slater and gets confirmed that his wife's death is not accidental but by arson, deliberately set to kill Lizze for silencing her from something unknown to Hugh.
Who killed Lizze? For what purpose? Is it, by his Client Tom Deacon, claiming charges for his post traumatic stress after a car accident in which he witnessed the death of his young daughter Holly ? or, By Hugh's drug addict son Charlie and his friends , ready to go to any extent for getting the drugs and joints by robbing money? or because of,Lizze's active participation, in reopening the Jackson murder case, with a witness to prove the alibi of Denzil Lewis a wrongly convicted youth of Carstairs Estate, thereby helping police in finding the real culprit..? or by Police Department's corrupt black sheep (Steadman) getting bribes from gangsters to protect them? forms the rest of the plot..
MY COMMENT..
"Unputdownable" novel. A slow starter, but after Lizze's murder, the novel travels in the third gear , with unexpected twists and turns ..!!!
Clare Francis..
Location...
Bristol and London (U.K)..
Characters..
Hugh Gwynne, Tom Deacon, Lizze, Charlie, Lou, Montgomery, DI Steadman, Denzel Lewis
Genre..
Suspense, Thriller..
PLOT..
Lawyer Hugh Gwynne lives peacefully in a village nearby Bristol, with his wife Lizze and two adopted children Charlie and Lou. One day when he was away in London representing a case for his firm, Hugh's wife Lizze dies in fire accident in his house under suspicious circumstances. Police and fire brigade departments decides to rule out this incident as "tragic accident" and close the file without any further investigation. But Hugh, is not happy and suspects this accident, as an arson murder, and wants further investigation from the PD.Without further cooperation from PD, Hugh hires private fire brigade officer John Slater and gets confirmed that his wife's death is not accidental but by arson, deliberately set to kill Lizze for silencing her from something unknown to Hugh.
Who killed Lizze? For what purpose? Is it, by his Client Tom Deacon, claiming charges for his post traumatic stress after a car accident in which he witnessed the death of his young daughter Holly ? or, By Hugh's drug addict son Charlie and his friends , ready to go to any extent for getting the drugs and joints by robbing money? or because of,Lizze's active participation, in reopening the Jackson murder case, with a witness to prove the alibi of Denzil Lewis a wrongly convicted youth of Carstairs Estate, thereby helping police in finding the real culprit..? or by Police Department's corrupt black sheep (Steadman) getting bribes from gangsters to protect them? forms the rest of the plot..
MY COMMENT..
"Unputdownable" novel. A slow starter, but after Lizze's murder, the novel travels in the third gear , with unexpected twists and turns ..!!!
April 25, 2011
Clare Francis writes crime fiction that has a haunting, ethereal quality to it, and that is certainly the case with this novel. The main character, Hugh Gwynne, is a lawyer who suffers a traumatic personal tragedy, whilst in the midst of an emotionally-charged child custody case for his client.
Readers of courtroom dramas should enjoy this, and for those unfamiliar with Ms. Francis, her style sometimes reminds me of the writing of fellow British author Robert Goddard, and the crime fiction of classic British novelist Winston Graham. Like those authors, Clare Francis delivers multi-faceted characters and intriguing storylines that are embedded in otherwise everyday lives.
Particularly engrossing in this tale is the portrayal of Gwynne, who believes the "accidental" death of his wife was something more sinister, despite this belief being dismissed by his family, his friends and the authorities. The measured, considered pace of the narrative draws you in to this family and the stark reality of dealing with a shattering event.
Francis' first three novels - Night Sky, Red Crystal and Wolf Winter, are taut, epic thrillers of wartime and espionage - and like her early crime mysteries, Deceit and Betrayal, 'Unforgotten' is among her finest.
Readers of courtroom dramas should enjoy this, and for those unfamiliar with Ms. Francis, her style sometimes reminds me of the writing of fellow British author Robert Goddard, and the crime fiction of classic British novelist Winston Graham. Like those authors, Clare Francis delivers multi-faceted characters and intriguing storylines that are embedded in otherwise everyday lives.
Particularly engrossing in this tale is the portrayal of Gwynne, who believes the "accidental" death of his wife was something more sinister, despite this belief being dismissed by his family, his friends and the authorities. The measured, considered pace of the narrative draws you in to this family and the stark reality of dealing with a shattering event.
Francis' first three novels - Night Sky, Red Crystal and Wolf Winter, are taut, epic thrillers of wartime and espionage - and like her early crime mysteries, Deceit and Betrayal, 'Unforgotten' is among her finest.
May 14, 2009
After five years, lawyer Hugh Gwynne's most difficult case has finally come to court. His client Tom Deacon is claiming damages for post-traumatic stress after a car accident in which he witnessed the death of his young daughter by fire. The case is going well, it seems certain Tom will win the compensation that will enable him to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. Then Hugh receives an anonymous letter that throws him into an impossible dilemma. To stay on the case is unethical, to withdraw will threaten its success, and Tom Deacon, revealing himself in an entirely new light, makes it clear that such treachery will not be forgiven.For Hugh the dilemma is intensified by the contrast between their lives: Tom tormented by flashbacks, jobless, with a broken marriage and two children he hardly sees; Hugh with what he regards as a blessed existence, a rewarding life as a jobbing solicitor and an intensely happy marriage to Lizzie, with whom he has two adopted children, Lou away on her gap year, and fragile, sensitive Charlie who seems to have overcome his personal demons. Then one night Hugh's life changes for ever.
November 12, 2011
It was a while since I last read a Clare Francis novel, and I can't, in all honesty, say that I was glad to have gone back to her. The plot of Unforgotten starts with a dreary civil court case about a chap suing an insurance company for a massive payout due to his apparent PTSD; I found this part of the story particularly tedious and almost gave up at that point. About a third of the way through the book shifts focus to Hugh, the main protagonist and solicitor, and his fight to discover who killed his wife by setting fire to their house. I have to say, that none of it really grabbed me, and on the whole I felt pretty disinterested in the story; Francis needs to focus more on plot - if it's badged as a thriller, the story's got to keep moving, even if it isn't that exciting. She has a somewhat detached style, and there's no real passion and drive in her writing. I struggled to finish this one, by the end not caring very much at all about these lacklustre characters. Not one that I'll recommend and it's likely to be at least another ten years , if at all, before I pick up another one of her books.
© Koplowitz 2012
© Koplowitz 2012
April 5, 2010
This is the first book by Clare Francis that I can remember reading, and whilst it was a reasonable read, I can't say I will be searching out other books by this author.
It concerns a lawyer representing a client claiming damages for post traumatic stress following the death of his daughter in a horrific car accident. The lawyer's wife is then killed in a house fire which he is convinced was arson.
It was a good enough story but for me it lacked pace, it seemed ages before we got to the main plot, the first 140 pages just seem to be filling in background and setting up a red herring. In contrast the conclusion seems to come with a rush at the end and left me wondering how we got there.
It concerns a lawyer representing a client claiming damages for post traumatic stress following the death of his daughter in a horrific car accident. The lawyer's wife is then killed in a house fire which he is convinced was arson.
It was a good enough story but for me it lacked pace, it seemed ages before we got to the main plot, the first 140 pages just seem to be filling in background and setting up a red herring. In contrast the conclusion seems to come with a rush at the end and left me wondering how we got there.
November 1, 2013
Upon completion the word that came to mind and stayed there two days after was, drum roll please….. average. Yep average in every way - not always a bad thing this was perfect to read before bed but not really one to rave about.
A moderately intriguing story line which took some time to build. Once we got there essentially it is about a dependable sort of chap representing a less than dependable chap claiming damages for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A few surprises follow that are best not discussed as it would require a spoiler alert. Ending in a way that provides satisfaction and a desire for slightly more engaging next read.
A moderately intriguing story line which took some time to build. Once we got there essentially it is about a dependable sort of chap representing a less than dependable chap claiming damages for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A few surprises follow that are best not discussed as it would require a spoiler alert. Ending in a way that provides satisfaction and a desire for slightly more engaging next read.
August 13, 2011
Is Post Traumatic Stress real?
Plagued by nightmares, guilt, depression and other PTS symptoms, Tom Deacon, tries to outsmart the legal system.
His lawyer, Hugh Gwynne faces his own personal tragedy during the trial and has to withdraw from the case as he uncovers police deception and corruption
Clare Francis creates great tension that is not resolved until the end. The two story lines can be confusing at times.
Plagued by nightmares, guilt, depression and other PTS symptoms, Tom Deacon, tries to outsmart the legal system.
His lawyer, Hugh Gwynne faces his own personal tragedy during the trial and has to withdraw from the case as he uncovers police deception and corruption
Clare Francis creates great tension that is not resolved until the end. The two story lines can be confusing at times.
Want to Read
March 31, 2016#
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Hugh Gwynne arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice soon after nine thirty and made a quick intersection of the noticeboard and the location of Court 12 before stationing himself to one side of the Great Hall to wait for the rest of the team."
LS: "And in the moments when his mind wandered he would remember love and kindness, he would disallow the rest."
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Hugh Gwynne arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice soon after nine thirty and made a quick intersection of the noticeboard and the location of Court 12 before stationing himself to one side of the Great Hall to wait for the rest of the team."
LS: "And in the moments when his mind wandered he would remember love and kindness, he would disallow the rest."
June 17, 2012
I really liked the last Clare Francis book I read, but I found this one disappointing, not really gripping, the two strands of plot seemed totally separate and neither was that interesting. Oh well.
August 23, 2013
A good easy read, which one tends to dwell on after the book is finished. Clare Francis builds her plots around the sort of people one meets in everyday life and she does it very well indeed, creating interesting diversions around personality issues. Should probably be rated more than three stars.
January 26, 2016
I wasn't sure where this novel was going to take me as the early chapters were all focused on a particular court case and the murder, when it happened, was unexpected. What I liked most about this piece of crime fiction was the relationship between the lead protagonist and his family.
July 9, 2011
Poor, poor, poor I'll be leaving it on the boat!
February 3, 2013
I like Claire Francis' novels, she manages to keep the tension going and hides the twists and tunrs of the plot well.
April 3, 2013
A fine read that kept my attention from start to finish. I thought I had it sorted but was thrown a curve at the end. Well done!!
September 3, 2013
A good enough who dunnit/ thriller but i will not be rushing out to buy all her books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews