Gone But Not Forgotten

by Iseult Murphy

When Mere agrees to keep Bill company on the first anniversary of his wife’s death, Bill thinks he might get through Halloween in one piece after all. Except Bill’s wife is back, and she’s not happy to find him with another woman.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Novella

118 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2023

About the author

Iseult Murphy started writing at a young age, entertaining her family with magazines that she wrote and illustrated as a child. In her teens, she won several local and national short story competitions, including three time overall winner of the RDS Young Science Writers competition, and had work placed in international writing competitions such as the BBC Wildlife Poetry competition.
Iseult is drawn to horror, fantasy and science fiction, as she feels that the most difficult aspects of life can be best explored through the lens of speculative fiction.
She currently resides on the east coast of Ireland with four dogs, a couple of humans and a cat. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, art and spending time with her animals.
Iseult’s speculative fiction short stories have appeared in over two dozen venues, most recently in Liquid Imagination and Frost Fire Worlds.

Reviews

[Jakob J. 🎃]

Yes, I am already compiling my shortlist for Halloween reading this year.

[Jonathan Pongratz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

What a fun, frightening novella!

In this story we follow a man Bill and his neighbor Mere. Mere stops by for Bill's assistance in booking a flight for a big vacation, but when a strange series of spooky happenings occur, she is thrust into a dangerous and perplexing situation.

So most of all, I loved the ambience of this story. It just screamed of fall and Halloween, from the firepit and wood burning to the chill wind and falling leaves. I was living for it.

The main characters were interesting. Mere was a bit simple due to her lucky circumstances in life, but she was kind and generous, which really had me rooting for her the entire time. Bill was more complex and something of an enigma. I enjoyed figuring him out.

I also enjoyed the plot. This was an intriguing mix of horror, thrills, mystery, and the paranormal, and it really worked. The pace was fast, which is my preference, and the writing flowed really well. If I had to nag at anything I would say we could draw out the scares and resolution for maximum terror, especially with the paranormal events. But overall this is a super solid read, perfect for anyone wanting to get into the spirit of the spooky season.

Don't pass this one up!

[William Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and atmospheric horror short with a final act that insisted I rated this 5 stars.

[Valinora Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky, tense and ultimately a chilling tale (with a great ending). I was hooked from the first paragraph, and devoured this novella in one sitting. It’s a short read and I don’t want to give spoilers so I’ll just say it’s an atmospheric and ultimately chilling story about the nature of evil and the choices we make. It’s very well-written and I particularly loved the ending. There is a trope in horror that I’m not fond of (but can’t say here or I would give it away). I was glad to see that the author inverted it, which made the ending both original and sad, and even more horrifying. A dark but satisfying read, highly recommended.

[Ven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an example of a book that comes together so well at the end in a way i did not expect, in terms of everything from the style of writing to the conclusion of the actual stories and the character journeys all tie together in beautiful unison.
A good quick read for spooky season that is well worth checking out.

[Autumn Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story!! Perfect for Halloween!!

[Oli Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, enthralling read filled with many twists and turns, aided by some very good illustrations. The cadence and writing style took some getting used to, but ultimately the story held my interest.

[Anik Sales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iseult Murphy's "Gone But Not Forgotten" is a chilling and captivating novella that will keep you hooked until the very end. The story revolves around Mere, a kind-hearted woman who agrees to keep her neighbor, Bill, company on the anniversary of his wife's death. However, things take a sinister turn when the deceased wife, Donna, returns with a vengeance.

Murphy masterfully creates a suspenseful atmosphere that will send shivers down your spine. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. The characters are well-developed and relatable, especially Mere, who is portrayed as a strong and independent woman despite the terrifying circumstances she faces.

One of the highlights of the book is the exploration of the supernatural elements. Murphy seamlessly blends the real and the surreal, leaving the reader questioning the boundaries between life and death. The ending is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Overall, "Gone But Not Forgotten" is a must-read for fans of suspense and the supernatural. Iseult Murphy has crafted a truly haunting tale that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

[Lee Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, atmospheric shorter read packed with some awesome description and unexpected twists

Iseult Murphy delivers a fun, atmospheric shorter read packed with some awesome description and unexpected twists. From the start, the writing succeeds in setting a scene of rural Ireland on Halloween night where several omens are sitting in plain sight for ‘Bill’ who on the anniversary of his wife passing is seemingly haunted by forces of the paranormal or perhaps beyond. His neighbour ‘Mere’ is a kindred spirit in terms of loss and their friendship dynamic is tested as the events unfold.

On the eve of a lengthy vacation ‘Mere’ plans to spend it by being company for the grieving ‘Bill’ and what follows is unexpected and a perfect atmospheric tale for those who enjoy spooky season. Just who is haunting the pair and why becomes clear and serves as a vessel for twists that make for a great mysterious read. The pace compliments the book’s shorter length along with sharp chapters that kept me turning pages.

‘The figure flashed in and out of existence as it fitted across the patches of gray twilight between the inky dark pillars of the trees, before disappearing completely against the thick Leylandii hedge that ran along the side of the garden facing the road…‘

[Leonids · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read a copy of this book as a judge for the SFINCS (Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship). This review is a reflection of my opinion and not directly of the book's performance in the competition.

I'll open this review by saying that the description of this book as presented is misleading regarding the contents of the book. This isn't really about a haunting and includes graphic descriptions of violence against women.

Descriptions in this book are relatively straightforward, and the characters don't have a ton going on. Their opinions or attitudes flip in a moment to support where the narrative needs to take them, and I didn't really get a strong sense of them as people.

There were elements of this book that were nauseating. I'm very much fine with reading works where terrible things happen or are described, but this one goes over the line for me in terms of detail and the deliberate brutality of a narrator. It skipped past feeling enjoyable or clever and was more gratuitous than anything.

I know this book has an audience - the audience just couldn't be further from my preferences. If you read this review and go "it sounds like this book fucking rocks", it may well do so for you!

[Annette Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gone But Not Forgotten by Iseult Murphy is a perfect slice of Halloween horror, and packs a huge amount of atmosphere into a relatively small number of pages.
Bill is not looking forward to Halloween, it is the first anniversary of his wife's death and his only consolation is that his kind neighbour Mere has agreed to come and keep him company on the long and lonely night. Bill never expected that his wife would come back, and it seems that she is less than happy to see him spending the evening with another woman.
I don't want to say much about the plot of this story as the less you know going in, the more you will enjoy it as it unfolds, but if you like books with a creepy setting , an air of menace and tension that keeps ratcheting upwards, this is definitely a book for you. I loved the remote rural setting and seeing the Halloween traditions I know from childhood being brought into the story. For a short book we get a lot of character exploration and I continue to be impressed every time I pick up a book by this author .
Expect the unexpected and enjoy the ride !

[Jim Scriven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky little horror ghost story that begins one direction, but ends up quite another. This is really more a novella, just over 100 pages, and I consumed it over just a couple of hours. The pacing was crisp and kept me entertained. The writing was a bit basic, but there were no errors or issues. I enjoyed the bouncing back and forth between the POV of the two main characters, with the author slowly revealing more and more to us through the perceptions and thoughts of these individuals.

It was a quick read, and I was entertained. And primarily, that’s what I come for. But it’s not particularly memorable or groundbreaking, just a basic little story that was a pleasant distraction for a couple of hours. In that light, my 3-star rating is saying this is an average tale, perfectly fine, but nothing particularly exceptional either.

[Robert Appleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a winning blend of vivid scene-setting, well-drawn characters, and a fairly clever plot that unfolds with ghoulish elan. I enjoyed the spooky first half, but there's a twist that hikes the remainder into a really compelling short horror read. Very good writing from Iseult Murphy. Fans of horror/ghost stories will lap this up. Recommended.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, satisfyingly-chilling read! I couldn't put down my Kindle, until I got to "The End"!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick novella with a pretty decent twist. Spooky not scary. I recommend reading it in one sitting if you can - I couldn’t and I think my rating would have higher if I didn’t have to step back into the atmosphere again after each pause.

[Rosé Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering the length of this story, I won't be able to provide too many details in this review. Otherwise, I risk spoiling it. What I will say is, it throws you for a loop. Couple that with the fact that it takes place on my favorite holiday, and you've got yourself a great story. Check it out.

[Samantha Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short

This story was pretty short. It left me wanting alittle more, like what happened to the ghost? Did they find peace or still roam the earth watching over her?

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabe this a go after reading 'Hedgehogs' and was not disappointed. Various possibilities had my guessing right up to the end.

[Lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent little horror novella.

[Joshua Antcliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featuring a dark and gloomy atmosphere, Gone But Not Forgotten is an excellent short read which leaves common horror themes spinning! A great read for someone craving those classic scary reads!

[Bryony · Rating 5 out of 5]

At just over 100 pages, which includes illustrations, this really packed a punch. I loved the illustrations in this, and how it shows what the author is imagining for her story.

There were so many twists and turns, when you think you have just figured something out in one chapter the next chapter turns that on its head.This is a master of a horror novella, the suspense and mystery that surrounds the characters, the alive and dead ones. It's atmospheric and dark, and a real page turner. I loved the supernatural elements to this and it was interwoven with reality with such conviction.

This is perfect to be read under your cosy blanket with dimmed lighting, a candle going with your favourite hot drink on Halloween night. The author's note on this one is well worth the read, with an explanation of how she came up with the concept and the influences into this story.

[Priscilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simple, straightforward read. Short story of about 105 pages. Predictable bit it still keeps your attention. I'd likely give her other reads a chance.