Never Forget

DC Nina Foster #1

by Lisa Cutts

From Book 1: Few kidnap victims grow up to become police officers - but this is exactly what Nina Foster did. Following a frenzied stabbing she is drafted into her first murder investigation. With former rescuer DCI Stan McGuire as her mentor and John ('Wingsy') Wing as her partner, she thrives on the pace and banter that go with the job. As the body count increases and the force's biggest-ever manhunt gets underway, Nina is determinded to find the murderer. But when the story of her own traumatic childhood comes to light - a past she's worked hard to hide - her role on the team is threatened. Suddenly her job, her peace of mind and her safety are all in danger. And this time DCI Stan McGuire won't be there to save her. Fast-paced, and with a shocking twist, this compelling crime debut by police insider Lisa Cutts takes us to the heart of the Major Incident Room - introducing a gutsy new heroine to the crime scene.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Book Club, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

368 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2013

Reviews

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember the old mysteries, when the detective called everyone into the drawing room & then revealed the solution & told us which of the suspects actually killed Sir Roger & how? Well solutions seem almost as passé as drawing rooms these days. Very commonly now we go into thriller mode at the end; the author contrives a situation in which the villain launches a murderous attack on the detective & if the detective survives (as of course she does), the villain has been identified & ends up either dead or in custody with gobs of incriminating evidence in either case. If you read lots of contemporary mysteries, just notice how often this ending occurs, & in some of my favourite authors.

That happens in Never Forget; the appropriately named Lisa Cutts taught me some stuff about what to do if someone comes at me with a knife (fitting with what Harry Bingham's Fiona Griffiths showed me) that I hope I never have occasion to need in real life.

I point this out because it was about all I learnt of any use from Never Forget. I read mysteries for their moral examples, spirituality, & relationships, & Never Forget fails in all three. You'll not want to emulate the narrator DC Nina Foster - you'll do the opposite and forego the pizza & the wine - she has a bit of a weight problem. As for relationships, she's a 40-something stuck at the emotional level of a 16 year old & goes all gooey at the thought of her current interest Bill - also a police officer. In this book their affair barely gets beyond 1st date and 1st kiss, but then this book is supposed to be the 1st of a series so there'll be lots of room for things to develop, tho' I doubt the reading public are going to give Nina Foster so much of a future. I'm not.

Feels churlish to be so negative. Lisa Cutts has obviously put a lot of effort into writing this one, and were it one of those Kindle 99p specials it would be fairly priced. But for entertainment & even moral character I'd prefer a Richards & Parish. Still 3 stars. I'm feeling generous

The cover of my copy included a blurb from Elizabeth Haynes. What a kind person she must be! It's sort of like finding a used Toyota Corolla for sale with an endorsement from Danica Patrick.

[Linda Bakker-Zwakhals · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a debut it was a good book. The pacing was nice, the story well thought out, likable characters and the ending makes me want to read the next book.
The only thing that made it lose a star was the tendency to write unnecessary details which slowed down the story from time to time.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good intriguing read,

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read Never Forget for a while. I bought the book nearly three years ago just after it was published and it got buried on my Kindle. Then a month ago, I was sent a copy of Mercy Killing, the third in the Nina Foster series, by Simon and Schuster as part of their promos for the Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and I knew I had to start the series off. I wish I hadn't left it so long now!

Never Forget is told in the first person from Nina's perspective of life. She's a feisty detective constable, influenced by the friendship of retired policeman Stan who rescued her as a child from her kidnapper. Nina keeps her past separate from her work life, but her secondment to a major murder investigation causes her past and present collide in a totally unexpected way.

I loved the banter Nina has with her colleagues, it's the sort of atmosphere I'd expect in police ranks. There are other aspects of realism and experience to the narrative. The author makes no secret of the police isn't all excitement and catching criminals, there's the paperwork to complete, reading of lengthy files, not to mention the long days and limited social life.

Saying that, I really enjoyed meeting Nina and the team. This is a good investigation with our protagonist at the centre of the attention! I can't wait to find out what happens next to Nina. I won't leave it three years before I read Remember Remember!!

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first novel in a new series. It's a typical murder, mystery, thriller, with a few unusual twists and turns. I liked the characters, Nina and Stan were great. The new boyfriend I thought was a little creepy and I expected something odd to happen with that storyline.
My two main criticisms of the novel 1/ there were far too many characters for such a short book, it did sometimes get confusing. 2/ I really didn't like the way it ended. It left you with more questions that answers.
I will read the next one, as long as it can be found for a decent price. I probably wouldn't pay full price to read the next in the series.

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been sitting on my kindle for ages and to be honest I don't know why I haven't read it sooner. If you love a police procedural book which is both authentic and engaging and a feisty female detective with a wicked sense of humour then you must read this book. Nina Foster is a fascinating character who despite having a deeply troubled past doesn't let that define her (unlike other fictional female detectives ). Lisa Cutts obviously knows her stuff and the occasional flashes of her wicked humour made this book stand out from all the others. I loved it and now I'm off to download book 2 as I need to know what happens next.

[Caroline Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read from an author who knows police process inside out, having lived and worked it as a serving police officer. Usually I read police procedure and get very frustrated at the inaccuracies, but as you would expect, Lisa got it spot on. From the detailed description of a dead body to the banter that goes on behind closed doors, this book hits the nail on the head. I look forward to reading more of Lisa's work and I know she will go from strength to strength.

[RAECHEL THOMAS · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really enjoy reading books where the main character is a woman in police work. I liked this book but I had some difficulty keeping up with all the different police officers, suspects, witnesses etc. I found Laura and Wingsy to be the most likable characters.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Forget is a really original and highly entertaining British crime procedural. It is written by an actual police officer, and that showed. The investigative work is described in great detail. The plot was logical and totally believable, and the characters were realistic. I couldn't believe that this was really the first book written by Lisa Cutts. The other thing I really appreciated was the fact that although the main character had suffered traumatically in her childhood, she was not being portrayed as the stereotypical troubled sufferer. Ok, she drinks and has boyfriend issues, but who doesn't. Still, she appears a lot more "ordinary" than your average fictional crime fighter. That made it different, and I really liked it. Another nice touch was the humor and witty banter between the characters. My one criticism would be the amount of people that were involved in the intricate plot. At times, it became confusing to keep up with the different relationships. But as this is the first in a series, I can see that it made sense to introduce all the recurring characters in depth.
The audiobook version is competently narrated by Deryn Edwards. When I finished it, I bought book 2 straightaway.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! this is a gripping crime novel. Packed with crime for all fans of crime books like myself. A brutal serial killer is stalking the streets. Amanda Bell who worked as a prositute is found dead at an old hospital site. She is found by a dog walker but is cleared of any involvement. Jason Holland is found naked with stabs wounds by Dc Nina Foster and James Hamilton. The same knife seem's to have been used on Amanda and Jason. The hunt is on to find the killer. Lots more crime happens. This story is fast paced with shocking twists and turns. I highly recommend readers to read Never Forget.

[Tom Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Cutts
Never Forget.
This is the first time I've read any of this authors work, rest assured it won't be the last. The book is very well written and had me guessing to the very end. Follow DS Nina Foster in her quest to solve the murders and other crimes committed. You'll love this book and it will keep your attention all the way to the end.
5* 17 February 2017

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

An involved and disjointed crime investigation; unfortunately the author while crafting an interesting plot created key characters lacking in substance.

[Zoe Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book one in the DC Nina Foster Series. It kept me interested throughout as Nina navigates investigating a serial killer with her team and we learn of what happened to Nina as a child where her and her sister were abducted, this then set her on the path to join the police force as an adult.

As the death toll increases and the puzzling evidence is sending the team everywhere, Nina becomes a target, whilst balancing her friendships, work and love life Nina is determined to stop the killer in his tracks. The only problem I had with this book is there are far, far too many named characters, it became impossible to remember who was who and that was quite off putting for me, to the point when names were mentioned I struggled remembering who they were or their relevance. The main character build ups were great and the writing excellent too, all in all a good story however I personally wouldn’t continue with the series based on the amount of characters.

[Karen's World · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of Lisa's books but the last one I have read, trust me to do it backwards! Anyway it is brilliant so no wonder it won an award. Nina is a brilliant character with a bit of Lisa popping out now and then that made me laugh. There is a lot going on but you sort of solve the crime with Nina as you read through the book. I really liked the way it was written and it really did just flow through so even I did not get confused. I liked the fact that all the way through you was thinking that something might happen to Nina but then towards the end you stop thinking that as it all becomes clear and then bang it happens when your not thinking about it.

Spectacular writing from a very talented author.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a great read - to the extent that I fell asleep with the light on over it last night as I just couldn't put it down. The plot, multiple murders and the search for a motive and perpetrator, is not anything that hasn't been done before but the way it is done makes the book gripping. This must be one of the few police procedurals I have read where there is no lone wolf - every bit of information is shared as soon as it becomes available and it is a team effort. I liked that and think it is probably very realistic. I also liked the characters and their banter which you can imagine in countless offices up and down the country. I think this is a very good read and it's hard to believe it is a first novel.

[Bill Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me. Enjoyable read and interesting debut from Lisa Cutts. A working police officer and from a family of police, she strives for authenticity and presenting the challenges of a woman officer, Nina Foster. It's a page turner, easy read, short paragraphs and lots of dialogue. I will revisit to see how her writing develops. Got me through a couple of tedious train journeys - quickly.

[Sarah Rayner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw an article about the author on a local news programme and decided to buy her first two novels. This was the first one and I loved it from start to finish. Great storyline lots of twists and turns which had you guessing right to the end. So glad I’ve got the next one and will definitely be buying the others too.

[S.M. Jenkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this, an easy read. I found the dry humour worked well, I liked the easy relationship between characters, especially the bond between Nina and her mentor, Stan.
I did find it hard to keep track of the characters.
I liked the procedural aspect of this, had the ring of authenticity to it. I'll read her other books, as I enjoyed reading this one.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, but no. Not for me. Entirely unappealing MC. Too many unnecessary, boring, everyday details, too many names, all indicating lack of trust in reader's intelligence. And lack of writing experience which a better editor should have spotted.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed "Buried secrets" so I decided to read some of the author's earlier books. This is a police procedural set in the south east of England and the story is told from the viewpoint of Detective Constable Nina Foster. This is a decent read about an investigation into several murders.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok read, a lot of characters to keep track of so got a little compliant times

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

excellent! Eagerly awaiting the next installment!

[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received my copy from Myriad Editions through Nudge

The investigation starts when the body of a woman is found. She’s been stabbed several times and has been dead for a few days at least. Detective Constable Nina Foster is one of many officers recruited to help with the investigation into the death of the woman who turns out to have been a prostitute with an eight year old son.

It’s not long after that a second body is discovered. Although there is no known connection between the woman and the second victim, his wounds seem to indicate a link between the two deaths.

As the investigation progresses the body count continues to rise and for a long time any connection between the victims remains obscure. When a link is at last established it also reveals a connection to a traumatic event in Nina’s past. Now she has to add worrying about being allowed to stay on the investigation to all the investigative threads running through her head.

But even with evidence slowly pointing the investigators in the right direction, it will take a violent confrontation and a surprising rescuer to bring the investigation to a close and a rather surprising ending to the book.

This book is Lisa Cutts’ first novel and mystery. Drawing on her own experience as a police officer she writes a realistic yet deeply layered mystery. In fact, this is a book that requires attention from the reader. There are multiple characters with complicated connections between them to keep track of. And, since this is the first book in a planned series, a lot of attention is also paid to establishing Nina Foster as a well-rounded and realistic protagonist.

Initially Nina seemed a bit of a stereo type, with her habit of viewing every single man she met as a possible date or partner and her constant preoccupation with wine. Taking into account Nina’s background though I can only applaud the author for not making her main character a lot more neurotic than she was. Many authors I can think of would have taken this character and made her appear far more disturbed than Mrs. Cutts did, just to add drama to the story. With the story-line being what it is this book didn’t need that extra dimension and I’m delighted she resisted what must have been a rather tempting opportunity.
The mystery is well plotted, the investigation realistically described and the resolution both exciting and believable. I had a bit of a problem keeping the various characters involved in the investigation separated in my mind. While it is completely realistic that an investigation as described in this book would involve numerous police officers, and it also makes sense to introduce the characters that will play a role in what is to be a series of mysteries in the very first book, I did find myself getting a bit confused at times. On the other hand, there were a few characters who I imagine will make return appearances in future Nina Foster mysteries, and those were described in such a way that I got a good impression of who they were and what role the play in Nina’s life without taking any pace out of the thrilling story-line. I’m impressed with the balance the author managed to strike; she gave me enough information about her characters to keep me interested yet left me curious about future books with everything that hasn’t yet been revealed.

The short of it is that I really enjoyed this book. It is wonderful to find a new series with an interesting and realistic protagonist, a well written story and a complex and well executed mystery. I’m going to keep an eye out for future Nina Foster mysteries. If this debut is anything to go by, the world is one very talented mystery author richer.

[Angelika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manche Geschichten enthalten einfach zu viele Charaktere. So empfand ich es auch in diesem Thriller. Die Geschichte um Nina Foster beginnt wirklich spannend. Sie war selber einmal Opfer einer Straftat in ihrer Kindheit. Um ein möglichst normales Leben als Polizistin zu führen, hat sie ihre Vergangenheit vor ihren Kollegen verschwiegen. Nur ganz wenige in ihrem Umfeld wussten darüber bescheid. Erst als sie auf ein paar brutale Morde angesetzt werden und Nina in den Fokus des möglichen Mörders kommt, kann diese nicht mehr verheimlicht werden. Doch ist der Mörder wirklich hinter Nina her?
Die Autorin schickt den Leser von einer möglichen bedrohlichen Situation zur nächsten. Doch wirklich voran kommt man mit den Ermittlungen nicht. Die Handlungen ziehen sich recht in die Länge und durch die vielen Charaktere - wie bereits im Eingang erwähnt - fehlte mir oft Lesefluss, weil ich immer wieder nachdenken musste welche Person jetzt wieder gemeint ist.
Über Ninas Vergangenheit erfährt man nur Bruchstückhaft. Man weiß zwar, was ihr passiert ist, aber sie als Person blieb mir bis zum Ende ein Rätsel. Da "Never Forget" der Auftakt einer Serie ist, wird man aber sicherlich noch einen besseren Einblick in Nina Fosters Vergangenheit bekommen.
Das Ende war ok, aber auch recht vorhersehbar.

Mein Fazit:

Ein recht solider Ladythriller mit vielen Charakteren, allerdings mit wenigen AHA-Momenten.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book featuring D.C. Nina Foster - written by a serving police officer, this was a gripping police procedural. Not as good as some similar ones I have read - can't put my finger on exactly why but would read more by this author. 8/10.

[Aunty Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable police procedural thriller.
''Few kidnap victims grow up to become police officers – but this is exactly what Nina Foster did. Following a frenzied stabbing she is drafted into her first murder investigation. With former rescuer DCI Stan McGuire as her mentor and John (‘Wingsy’) Wing as her partner, she thrives on the pace and banter that go with the job. As the body count increases and the force's biggest-ever manhunt gets underway, Nina is determinded to find the murderer. But when the story of her own traumatic childhood comes to light – a past she's worked hard to hide – her role on the team is threatened. Suddenly her job, her peace of mind and her safety are all in danger. And this time DCI Stan McGuire won’t be there to save her. Fast-paced, and with a shocking twist, this compelling crime debut by police insider Lisa Cutts takes us to the heart of the Major Incident Room – introducing a gutsy new heroine to the crime scene.''

[Chantelle Hazelden · Rating 4 out of 5]

As debut novels go this one rates quite highly in my opinion. Written by an actual police officer you get a real sense of reality as you read, plenty of facts amongst the fiction and this detail really helped with the suspense within the story.

The protagonist came across as someone who many could relate to, I mean who doesn't like a good drink and I can't think of many who haven't got life issues such as boyfriend troubles. As the read I really began to get drawn into what she was feeling and thinking.

Between the storyline itself and the wit and conversation between the characters, it made for a great read, one not to tricky to follow but the twists still managed to remain a surprise.

An original piece of crime fiction with an edge of realness that makes it stand out from others in its genre.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina Foster is a detective with a past. As a child she and her sister were kidnapped and it was the rescue by Stan McGuire that made her decide to go into the police force. She is transferred onto the serious crimes team to investigate the murder of Amanda Bell, a local prostitute. It isn't long before more bodies are discovered and the team must discover whether he murders are related. Personally, Nina has problems in her personal life. She is serially unlucky with her relationships and her frien and mentor Stan McGuire has some bad news for her.

This is an excellent first novel by Lisa Cutts who is currently a serving police officer. She has drawn on her own experiences and produced a fast moving story with good, believable characters.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of crime procedure books & this is the most authentic one I have read in a very long time. I understand that the author is in the Police Force, so it makes utter sense that it would be totally authentic. The comradery and the way the characters interact with each other, it feels so real, it could be in any workforce. I loved the character of Nina, a single young woman in such I high pressure job, no wonder she likes a drop of wine ;o)
The story had so many twists & turns, read edge of your seat stuff. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.