The Forgotten Cottage

Annie Graham #3

by Helen Phifer, Claudia Whiteman (narrator)

The chilling third book in the Annie Graham crime thriller series

Things finally seem to be looking up for police officer Annie Graham. After a tumultuous couple of years, she is settling into a normal, happy life. Her wedding is fast approaching, and her fiancé Will has found a forgotten but beautiful little cottage for them to make their own.

But as Annie begins to have increasingly vivid nightmares, she realises their new home may not be as unoccupied as it first seemed. Her arrival has stirred up the ghosts of a tragic past, and she needs to put them to rest once and for all.

But while Annie’s distracted, another threat is emerging from the shadows. And if she doesn’t act fast, her days may be numbered…

Look out for more from the

The Ghost House Secrets of the Shadows The Forgotten Cottage The Lake House The Girls in the Woods The Face Behind the Mask

6 hours and 44 minutes

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Paranormal, Amazon

7 pages, Audible Audio

First published October 31, 2014

Reviews

[Jessica Redland]

I loved Helen's previous two Annie Graham books so was very excited to read her third and find out what would happen next for Annie and Will. The story joins them preparing for their wedding and new life together, a key component of which will be their very own cottage. Only it has an occupant already and the dead aren't going to respond to an eviction notice!

One of Helen's clear strengths in her previous two novels is in writing the back story and the story of Betsy Baker explored in The Forgotten Cottage was just as brilliantly written. Another two present-day threads run alongside this but are really effectively inter-woven into the story.

Another great read.

[Julia]

4/5

[Maddie]

Annie Graham is back and yet again the poor woman can't catch a break. It's like she's this living magnet attracting supernatural beings.
I love how much more the other characters are now part of the investigating and helping Annie with the seemingly impossible cases. That's one of my favourite things abot that series - its characters.
Annie Graham books are just perfect reads for those long dark January nights and I'm really enjoying this series.

[Carrie]

I have really enjoyed this series. I like the supernatural element and love the characters. I am a very character driven reader and this satisfies that need. This installment did not disappoint. I was concerned that it had a lot of plot points as I was reading at first, but now I understand it was a set up for the next book. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Jeanine]

Loved it!

[Gina Britten]

Thoroughly enjoyed the third book in this series / yet again detective mixed with supernatural elements work so well and kept me hooked throughout - so many different characters and storylines but all linked together - can’t wait to get the next in the series !

[Becky Mayes]

This was really good, but not as good as the first two. There were a few questions left unanswered.

[Jessica]

I'm not finished with this book yet but so far I can say that I like the plot (mostly) and there are other elements that I like a lot.

I hate to be overly-critical but I have to say that I have several issues with this book and feel that it isn't well-crafted; the writing skills are not that great, the flow is choppy, the voice is a little to chatty (for me, at least), the characterization for many of the characters is flat and one-dimensional (especially the villains), some of the story lines are not believable for the time period (a young, unmarried woman living with an eligible man in the 1700s would NOT be allowed unless they were married!), there is a lot of "telling" rather than "showing" (show, don't tell) and the copy-editing is sloppy.

To me, this book reads like a first or second draft rather than a final copy. I like the story but I wish that it had been written better.


Update: I unfortunately had to return this book as it was quite awful, imo. Some of the plot lines just got too ridiculous and didn't add to the story and the writing was sub-par. I liked the author's previous book WAY better. I'm sad about this because I really was looking forward to reading this one.

[Kelly]

Why do I torture myself? Meh main story. Subplot #1 was crap. Subplot #2 ended up being a set up for book four which I will NOT be reading when it comes out. Once again, nothing is really set up and explained, and nothing is wrapped up in a satisfactory fashion (excepting subplot #2 which I'm SURE will be dealt with at some point in the next story). Sentence structure leaves something to be desired, in particular the dialogue between characters which is stilted and formal. It reminds me of watching Japanese anime which has been translated by non native English speakers, then voiced by said translators with amazingly fake American accents.

Also, FYI - a patient with a head injury who has been in a coma for three days DOES NOT get out of bed the next day to find her sweetheart. Especially not with a fractured rib and punctured lung.

[Cancis Lino-Diaz]

I really wish I would have paid attention that this was book 3!!! I hate starting in the middle of a series. However, this book was great! Adventure... suspense...drama... murder... sooo much! I could barely put the book down. A nice quick read, but still a lot packed in there.
Love the characters and plot.

[Cindieslibrary]

💍 Wedding planning, a vengeful 18th-century ghost, and a secret heiress...

​I just finished this 5-star installment and wow—this series keeps getting better and better! Combining romantic milestones, ancient dark secrets, and high-stakes family drama, this book was an absolute page-turner from start to finish. 5/5 stars! 💍👻

​The Setup: Newly engaged to Will, Annie is thrilled as her generous future stepmother-in-law Lily takes charge of planning their dream wedding. But after Will's father suffers a stroke, the couple decides to move closer to his parents, purchasing an abandoned village cottage. The moment Annie steps inside, she senses a spirit—unaware of the dark history attached to the property. 🏡🍷

​The Plot: The story weaves back to 1782, where the ruthless Betsy Baker used arsenic to poison her mother before targeting a local widower and his twin boys. In the present, the ghost haunting Annie's new home terrorizes the renovation crew with scratching nails and choking hands. Meanwhile, a dark family secret emerges when Will's wealthy father receives a letter from a long-lost daughter born from a brief affair—and she’s plotting to kidnap Will for her share of the family fortune. 🧪✉️

​The Catch: When Annie confronts the angry spirit to claim the cottage as her own, the entity retaliates—causing a horrific car crash that leaves Annie fighting for her life in a coma. With Annie incapacitated, a sinister kidnapping plot closing in on Will, and an unwelcome villain making a shocking return, the couple's dream wedding hangs in the balance. ⏳⚡🩸

​A thrilling 5-star blend of historical dark folklore, ghost hunting, and suspense that will leave you gasping! 👏✨

​⭐ Rating: 5/5 stars
​📌 Tropes: Haunted House, Historic Crime, Engaged Couple, Secret Sibling / Kidnapping Plot, Paranormal Thriller, Race Against Time

My full review on this book can be found here; https://cindieslibrary.com/the-forgot...

[Mae]

Sunnie is really involved in the mystery of the Hazel family. After she found the secret room she has been obsessed with finding answers of what happened after the baby died. It’s like the mother just disappeared & nobody knows nothing. The town wants to keep it quiet & doesn’t want to talk about it. Sunnie called her realtor that sold her the house when she discovered the secret room & everything in the room. She didn’t want to talk to her about & told her to get rid of & pretend it never happened. Now what must she do? She can’t just throw the stuff away. Sunnie’s curiosity just get worse. She goes & talks to Mrs. Dalloway, her neighbor to see what she can find out. They decide to go to the festival they have every year. Maybe she can talk to some other people & find out some more information. Sunnie is determined she is going to solve this mystery. Do you think she will or will someone stop her?

I received this book from Booksprout for free & I’m giving my honest opinion of this book for free without any coaching from the author or Booksprout. If you like mysteries you are going to like this one.

[dawn nelson]

This was number 3 in the Annie Graham series and while really enjoying the book it just got way too busy for me. How can so much happen to one person? The 1st book in the series was excellent, the 2nd one I also enjoyed, but this one had too many storylines in the one book. I love the characters, Annie and Will are great , and the continuing story of their romance and moving to the cottage, coupled with the ghost and the story going back in time would have been enough for the book and could have been elaborated on, however the serial killer and the kidnapping, it was all too much. I don't think i will read another Annie Graham book but might delve into another Helen Phifer series from the beginning again.

[Anita]

I continue to get hooked by this series! Third in series about Annie Graham, a British police officer with ability to connect with spirits. Annie, fiancé Will and the rest of their team continue to get mixed up in difficult situations. Annie and Will are trying to redo their dream house and get married. But there is a nasty spirit haunting the house, Will gets kidnapped by a jealous half sister and their arch enemy serial killer is plotting revenge.

[Wen]

Read this in three days...could not put this one down. The only thing about being sick is a good book. This one was an edge of the seat thriller...so engrossed, however I did have to smile when I would come upon misspelled words. There were many, but I am not sure if the words are spelled that way in England but I digress---I still smiled. Kudos to Helen on this one.

[SarahRobins_reads]

When will Annie and Will catch a break! There is something about these books that just draw you in. Are they believable? No. Does that matter? No. Will I read the next one? Yes!! I love a good police thriller and ones I can read in a day are even better. If you like to read books that are far fetched but get you gripped then read these!

[Kiri]

Great read. As with the other books in the series, I find the conversation parts a little lacking. One person has a long monologue, then the next person responds to the first part of the monologue and then the end - that’s not realistic to me, but it is the only part of the books that I don’t like. I enjoyed this book very much, and it had me staying up reading way past my bedtime.

[Dan Davies]

Absolutely devoured this book although I regret not doing the research as this is book 3 in the Annie Graham series. This was a mix between a gritty crime thriller and a physiological spooky horror with excellent character build up where you loved the main characters and hated the villains. I have already ordered the other 5 books and look forward to reading more from this author

[Kez_After_Dark]

Really enjoy these books.

For me, another great book in this series. I love Will, Annie, Jake and Alex.
A great mix of suspense, drama, creepy ghouls and humour...
I am about to start the next book in the series... so chow for now 😊

[Joyce]

Annie Graham has to be the unluckiest policewoman going, but her stories are certainly very gripping, can't wait to read what happened to poor Annie next and to see if she has gotten rid of her ghost in her cottage.

[Miss Louise Charalambos]

Enjoyable third book

I really enjoy reading what Annie is getting up to in this series of books. I like the crime and supernatural crossover. I didn't give it 5 stars because there were quite a few spelling and grammatical errors which I find off putting.

[Ivana Richards]

A quick read. The back story was much more interesting than either of the other 2 plot strands, one of which only serves to set up the next in the series, and the other is completely pointless. Not sure I'm bothered enough to carry on.

[Monique]

This one was a little slow for me. There wasn't really any case being solved.

I had to switch over to audio in order to finish it

I still like the characters and the paranormal elements so I will continue on with the series

[Sue Wynette]

#3 of the Annie Graham series, I just love reading these! I love the characters, the crime meets ghost past and present stories. Such an easy read! This one was a bit more fast paced than the other 2 and has left part of the story unfinished to continue in #4. I have the 4,5 & 6 ready to continue.

[Lara]

Third in the series of hauntingly good fiction. Annie, soon to be husband Will, sidekick Jake and partner Alex along with Father John to the rescue. In 1798, Betsy Baker a female serial killer gets her cumuppence for crimes committed but not truly laid to rest as Annie finds out.

[M Waller]

Wow

Absolutely fantastic read, thank you so much.
The Annie Graham series is so refreshingly different and such a pleasure to read.

[Linda Jewell]

I guess the ending means there is more...

[Geraint griffiths]

Page turner .

Finished this book in two days couldn't put it down.Absolutely brilliant series downloading book number 4 as soon as I have written this review

[Sarah Menzies long]

The unluckiest couple ever?

[Angela Klenk]

Not bad. Quick read.