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Cravings
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Expected 1 Jan 35A compelling, gripping psychological suspense from this exciting new talent.
A woman enlists a retired detective to investigate her daughter's sudden and unexplained suicide, disturbing secrets from the past that threaten to alter their lives irrevocably.
A woman enlists a retired detective to investigate her daughter's sudden and unexplained suicide, disturbing secrets from the past that threaten to alter their lives irrevocably.
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2015
21 people are currently reading
4561 people want to read
About the author
Luana Lewis
7 books47 followersS.L. Lewis is a clinical psychologist and author of two non-fiction books (written under
Sharon Lewis
): An Adult’s Guide to Childhood Trauma (1999, Cape Town: David Phillip Publishers) and Dealing with Rape (1994,Johannesburg: Maskew Miller Longman). As well as writing for several newspapers, magazines and journals, she has recently completed an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She has also attended workshops at Arvon and City Lit.
DON’T STAND SO CLOSE is her début novel, a gripping psychological thriller about a reclusive psychologist who is forced to confront trauma from her past and secrets in her marriage.
DON’T STAND SO CLOSE is her début novel, a gripping psychological thriller about a reclusive psychologist who is forced to confront trauma from her past and secrets in her marriage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 3, 2019
A very fast paced and at times emotional thriller.
Your daughter I’d dead.
Shock.
But was it suicide?
Anger.
Grief.
As a Mother, being told your daughter is dead, but suicide brings blame, also BRINGS anger at the person, at yourself. What did I not see?
How could I have prevented it?
All kinds of things.
But what Mother truly knows her daughter?
There are hidden secrets.
Lots of cul-de-sac moments (no way out) so lots of brilliant red herrings.
I’m late reading this, but if this is a book that you’ve not read, it really is a good ‘in.
Your daughter I’d dead.
Shock.
But was it suicide?
Anger.
Grief.
As a Mother, being told your daughter is dead, but suicide brings blame, also BRINGS anger at the person, at yourself. What did I not see?
How could I have prevented it?
All kinds of things.
But what Mother truly knows her daughter?
There are hidden secrets.
Lots of cul-de-sac moments (no way out) so lots of brilliant red herrings.
I’m late reading this, but if this is a book that you’ve not read, it really is a good ‘in.
December 16, 2017
THE BLURB: A tragic suicide?
When Rose’s daughter, Vivien, is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose has questions nobody can answer. Wasn’t Vivien living the perfect life? A caring husband, a sweet little girl of her own.
Or the perfect murder?
But as the police investigation develops, their findings raise new questions. Did Vivien kill herself, or was she attacked? If so, who has something to hide?
As Rose struggles to piece together the secrets of her daughter’s life, the cracks in the family begin to show. But once Rose knows the answers, there’s no going back...
MY THOUGHTS: Forget Me Not by Luana Lewis is a deceptive book on many levels.
It is simply written, and this in itself is deceptive, for it is not a simple book. It is a multi-layered book; there are layers and layers of lies and near lies, things that are hidden; more deception. And yet it is an easy read. The characters are well defined, the plot complex but simple. Nothing blurs. The author writes fluidly and with great clarity.
Set amid complex family relationships, a young woman, Vivien - a mother, a daughter, a wife - dies. Was it suicide? Was it murder? Told mainly through the eyes of Vivien's mother Rose, with occasion flashbacks from Vivien herself, this is a book that slowly drew me in until I was completely immersed in the story. It left me breathless, stunned and very, very satisfied.
Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Corgi via NetGalley for a digital ARC of Forget Me Not by Luana Lewis for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
When Rose’s daughter, Vivien, is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose has questions nobody can answer. Wasn’t Vivien living the perfect life? A caring husband, a sweet little girl of her own.
Or the perfect murder?
But as the police investigation develops, their findings raise new questions. Did Vivien kill herself, or was she attacked? If so, who has something to hide?
As Rose struggles to piece together the secrets of her daughter’s life, the cracks in the family begin to show. But once Rose knows the answers, there’s no going back...
MY THOUGHTS: Forget Me Not by Luana Lewis is a deceptive book on many levels.
It is simply written, and this in itself is deceptive, for it is not a simple book. It is a multi-layered book; there are layers and layers of lies and near lies, things that are hidden; more deception. And yet it is an easy read. The characters are well defined, the plot complex but simple. Nothing blurs. The author writes fluidly and with great clarity.
Set amid complex family relationships, a young woman, Vivien - a mother, a daughter, a wife - dies. Was it suicide? Was it murder? Told mainly through the eyes of Vivien's mother Rose, with occasion flashbacks from Vivien herself, this is a book that slowly drew me in until I was completely immersed in the story. It left me breathless, stunned and very, very satisfied.
Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Corgi via NetGalley for a digital ARC of Forget Me Not by Luana Lewis for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
March 6, 2016
This is a very enthralling psychological thriller with some great mystery thrown in. I found this book to very addictive and read it in two sittings, it is full of excitement, tension and suspense. It really is a story of what goes on behind closed doors, the interaction of family and their agenda's , secrets and desires.
Rose looses her daughter Viviene, we are not sure how her death has occurred, is it a suicide or something more sinister? Viviene and Rose have never been close and slowly the characters pasts are revealed and we begin to gain some perspective on these characters and their relationships. I found Rose quite hard to like in the beginning but did warm to her as the story moves along. She definitely has strong affection for her granddaughter Lexie and her heart is in the right place. We also learn that Viviene's life is not as wonderful and idyllic as we first thought, then add in a husband who is grieving and we end up with one heck of a good story.
Once a gain this was a new author for me and she has done a wonderful job of pulling this all together, highly recommended.
Rose looses her daughter Viviene, we are not sure how her death has occurred, is it a suicide or something more sinister? Viviene and Rose have never been close and slowly the characters pasts are revealed and we begin to gain some perspective on these characters and their relationships. I found Rose quite hard to like in the beginning but did warm to her as the story moves along. She definitely has strong affection for her granddaughter Lexie and her heart is in the right place. We also learn that Viviene's life is not as wonderful and idyllic as we first thought, then add in a husband who is grieving and we end up with one heck of a good story.
Once a gain this was a new author for me and she has done a wonderful job of pulling this all together, highly recommended.
January 11, 2016
The story starts with an intriguing premise. A dead body lies at someone’s feet but we don’t know who the person standing over the body is or whether the death is by suicide or murder.
With chapters told in the first person by Vivien’s mother Rose and also by way of flashbacks narrated by Vivien, a picture is slowly painted of the truth of Vivien’s life. Rose has never been that close to Vivien, she loved her, but as a single mother struggling with a young child and trying to build a career, Vivien was left to her own devices a lot of the time. Now Vivien is dead and Rose wants to be part of her 8 year old granddaughter, Lexi’s life, but does she deserve to be and will Ben, Vivien’s husband let her?
This is an excellent twisty story which at various stages had me suspecting everyone. As the tale progresses, more is revealed about Vivien and her seemingly ‘perfect’ life. Rose herself wasn’t instantly likeable but I felt that she genuinely had her granddaughter’s interests at heart and there were times when I feared for Lexi being part of such a dysfunctional family.
With a seemingly psychotic ex friend in the story, a grieving husband and a troubled child, Forget Me Not has all the elements of an unnerving and disturbing thriller. It is very much character, rather than action driven, but I couldn’t put this one down and there were times when the tension got too much that I was holding my breath.
Every family has their secrets and no-one really knows what goes on behind the curtains. Luana Lewis certainly has written a disturbing and engaging read. She is definitely an author I want to read more from.
With chapters told in the first person by Vivien’s mother Rose and also by way of flashbacks narrated by Vivien, a picture is slowly painted of the truth of Vivien’s life. Rose has never been that close to Vivien, she loved her, but as a single mother struggling with a young child and trying to build a career, Vivien was left to her own devices a lot of the time. Now Vivien is dead and Rose wants to be part of her 8 year old granddaughter, Lexi’s life, but does she deserve to be and will Ben, Vivien’s husband let her?
This is an excellent twisty story which at various stages had me suspecting everyone. As the tale progresses, more is revealed about Vivien and her seemingly ‘perfect’ life. Rose herself wasn’t instantly likeable but I felt that she genuinely had her granddaughter’s interests at heart and there were times when I feared for Lexi being part of such a dysfunctional family.
With a seemingly psychotic ex friend in the story, a grieving husband and a troubled child, Forget Me Not has all the elements of an unnerving and disturbing thriller. It is very much character, rather than action driven, but I couldn’t put this one down and there were times when the tension got too much that I was holding my breath.
Every family has their secrets and no-one really knows what goes on behind the curtains. Luana Lewis certainly has written a disturbing and engaging read. She is definitely an author I want to read more from.
October 24, 2015
Forget Me Not was a really good psychological thriller - one of those eminently readable clever books that really keep me involved, some intriguing if often dislikeable characters and a beautifully twisted storyline.
Rose and her daughter Vivian are estranged, for what reason we do not know. When Vivian is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose tries to piece together the minutae of her daughters life. But the police are questioning and things may not be at all straightforward - yet Rose is determined to become part of her grandaughter's life again, despite being at odds with her Son in Law.
This book was very clever when messing with your perception of things and Luana Lewis has a lovely narrative touch that makes you question everything. I did not find Rose particularly sympathetic, she annoyed me quite a bit and yet I still wanted her to find what she was looking for. Vivian, as we discover more about her, has a gorgeously drawn vulnerability but also a dark and destructive side that was extremely fascinating. Throw into the mix a friend who might be psychotic, a husband who keeps his cards close to his chest, a "driver" who Rose starts to become involved with (loved Isaac my favourite of the characters) and there is a huge scope for messed up personal relationships that the author uses to play with your mind and keep things unpredictable.
It was a fast addictive read, the mystery element intelligently done, definitively character driven and overall a really excellent novel that fans of psychological thrillers and domestic noir will love. Including me.
Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
Rose and her daughter Vivian are estranged, for what reason we do not know. When Vivian is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose tries to piece together the minutae of her daughters life. But the police are questioning and things may not be at all straightforward - yet Rose is determined to become part of her grandaughter's life again, despite being at odds with her Son in Law.
This book was very clever when messing with your perception of things and Luana Lewis has a lovely narrative touch that makes you question everything. I did not find Rose particularly sympathetic, she annoyed me quite a bit and yet I still wanted her to find what she was looking for. Vivian, as we discover more about her, has a gorgeously drawn vulnerability but also a dark and destructive side that was extremely fascinating. Throw into the mix a friend who might be psychotic, a husband who keeps his cards close to his chest, a "driver" who Rose starts to become involved with (loved Isaac my favourite of the characters) and there is a huge scope for messed up personal relationships that the author uses to play with your mind and keep things unpredictable.
It was a fast addictive read, the mystery element intelligently done, definitively character driven and overall a really excellent novel that fans of psychological thrillers and domestic noir will love. Including me.
Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
June 15, 2021
This is a tense suspense thriller.
Who is telling the truth?
The day Vivien was found dead in her house there was no sign of forced entry. Vivien and Ben had been trying for another baby, the day his wife died they had an argument. Ben went off to stay in a hotel. Or is he a suspect?
Things were difficult between Rose and her daughter Vivien, but DS Cole wants Rose to account for what she did the day her daughter Vivien died.
Will Ben let Rose see her granddaughter Lexi?
Cleo Baker used to live with Ben and Vivien in another property. Something is not right with Cleo she was attracted to Vivien. Did she kill Vivien to have Ben to herself?
Then there Isaac a friend of Ben's and Vivien. Could Isaac have killed Vivien?
Or did Vivien kill herself?
Forget Me Not keeps you guessing as it has a cast full of characters who may or may not be telling the truth.
Who is telling the truth?
The day Vivien was found dead in her house there was no sign of forced entry. Vivien and Ben had been trying for another baby, the day his wife died they had an argument. Ben went off to stay in a hotel. Or is he a suspect?
Things were difficult between Rose and her daughter Vivien, but DS Cole wants Rose to account for what she did the day her daughter Vivien died.
Will Ben let Rose see her granddaughter Lexi?
Cleo Baker used to live with Ben and Vivien in another property. Something is not right with Cleo she was attracted to Vivien. Did she kill Vivien to have Ben to herself?
Then there Isaac a friend of Ben's and Vivien. Could Isaac have killed Vivien?
Or did Vivien kill herself?
Forget Me Not keeps you guessing as it has a cast full of characters who may or may not be telling the truth.
November 2, 2015
Rose is mourning the recent death of her daughter Vivian in this psychological drama, but just how did Vivian die? For much of the read we don’t really know what happened, although we can guess, and guess again when more characters are introduced. However, we don’t find out exactly what happened to Vivian until right at the end of the read.
Rose wants to help son in law Ben bring up her granddaughter Lexie, but Ben is reluctant – after all Rose has been rather a distant mother in law and grandmother up until now. In addition he seems to have all the help he needs with his driver Isaac and old girlfriend Cleo who seems extremely willing to help.
The story does keep you guessing and is incredibly readable. You really want to get to the bottom of what happened to Vivian. Rose herself isn’t always very likeable, but she is very honest about her faults. My only real gripe about the story was that the characters, especially Rose, often come across as cold and detached, not to mention calculating, when really this is a story that should be oozing with emotion on every page. When I did find out what had happened to Vivian it really made me shudder. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the review copy.
Rose wants to help son in law Ben bring up her granddaughter Lexie, but Ben is reluctant – after all Rose has been rather a distant mother in law and grandmother up until now. In addition he seems to have all the help he needs with his driver Isaac and old girlfriend Cleo who seems extremely willing to help.
The story does keep you guessing and is incredibly readable. You really want to get to the bottom of what happened to Vivian. Rose herself isn’t always very likeable, but she is very honest about her faults. My only real gripe about the story was that the characters, especially Rose, often come across as cold and detached, not to mention calculating, when really this is a story that should be oozing with emotion on every page. When I did find out what had happened to Vivian it really made me shudder. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the review copy.
November 16, 2015
I found Forget Me Not to be an engaging and tantalising psychological thriller. Really enjoyed this book finding Luana Lewis’s writing very readable and the story well written encouraging the reader to keep going and wanting to know the truth. Definitely in my view worth a read and an author on her second novel is one to watch.
We follow Rose as she comes to terms with the tragic loss of her daughter Vivien. It seems to be a case of suicide but the police are asking questions and don’t seem totally satisfied. Rose feels she must support her son-in-law and help look after her young granddaughter now left without a mother. The author begins to draw us in early as the past is slowly revealed and we find the relationship between Rose and Vivien wasn’t so perfect and neither was Vivien’s seemingly well-ordered life. Families have their secrets and we find relationships can be twisted and broken by the most normal of emotions and perceptions of love and caring. This we find here and it creates an unnerving and believable read for us to enjoy.
Rose begins to uncover things she never knew about her daughter’s past and as the story is intricately pieced together the suspense becomes cleverly heightened. The flaws in the characters are revealed, which doesn’t make them all likeable, but it gives an edge to it that leaves the reader uncertain of who to trust. A nice mix of characters keep the interest high while their different perceptions of what is occurring and being discovered adds to the uncertainty. It’s a book that had me on the edge of my seat by the end and one I found hard to put down and needed to finish quickly. A surprisingly satisfying read that is well worth considering for readers looking for a cracking psychological thriller.
Thank you to the publishers for a review copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
January 7, 2016
The first time I saw it, I was immediately attracted to this book's cover. I like the contrasting effect the bright blue forget-me-nots have over the rest of the cover that is chiefly black. Reading the intriguing blurb, only reinforced my wish to read the book.
This is a very tense, compelling and at times emotional read that kept me on my toes throughout. Unfortunately when I started this book, I was caught up with extra hours at work and I ended up frustrated, longing to immerse myself once again in this book and learn how the story develops.
Suicide or murder?
Vivien Kaye, a beautiful young woman is found dead on the floor of her bathroom. Her death is shrouded in mystery. Did she kill herself? Or was she murdered and the deed made to look like suicide?
Anger, guilt and grief are strong themes in this book. The story is mainly told from the pov of Rose, Vivien's mother, but we have the odd chapter from Vivien's pov as well. Though we have police involvement, this is not a police procedural. Rather than concentrating only on the solution of the mystery, the story mostly revolves around the relationship and psychological tensions between Rose, Vivien, Alexandra (Lexi) and the other characters.
"Grief is a physical sensation, a pain that makes us want to search and search, until we find the person we have lost."
Rose, a career-driven woman, has been mostly absent in her daughter's life. Now it's too late, but in the midst of all the grief she wants to redeem herself and offer her support to Lexi and Ben, Vivien's husband. But her good intentions will end up in a very bumpy ride for Rose...
As past and present collide, Rose realises that Vivien was not exactly the ideal daughter she thought she had. And someone from Rose's past is back to claim what's theirs.
Rose is a very strong character. She comes across as a rather cold, strong-willed, strict individual, however as the story develops we begin to see a softer, more fragile side to this woman that makes you warm to her.
The author kept me guessing till the end and at some point or other made me suspicious of every character in the story. The suspense in this book is almost tangible and I felt as if I was there with the characters in Vivien's cold bathroom or in her gloomy basement kitchen. At the end, when the truth was finally revealed, I was taken completely by surprise. I certainly wasn't expecting that!!
This was an enjoyable, intriguing read for me and while recommending it, I would like to thank Random House, UK, Transworld Publishing and Netgalley for approving my request to read and review this book.
This is a very tense, compelling and at times emotional read that kept me on my toes throughout. Unfortunately when I started this book, I was caught up with extra hours at work and I ended up frustrated, longing to immerse myself once again in this book and learn how the story develops.
Suicide or murder?
Vivien Kaye, a beautiful young woman is found dead on the floor of her bathroom. Her death is shrouded in mystery. Did she kill herself? Or was she murdered and the deed made to look like suicide?
Anger, guilt and grief are strong themes in this book. The story is mainly told from the pov of Rose, Vivien's mother, but we have the odd chapter from Vivien's pov as well. Though we have police involvement, this is not a police procedural. Rather than concentrating only on the solution of the mystery, the story mostly revolves around the relationship and psychological tensions between Rose, Vivien, Alexandra (Lexi) and the other characters.
"Grief is a physical sensation, a pain that makes us want to search and search, until we find the person we have lost."
Rose, a career-driven woman, has been mostly absent in her daughter's life. Now it's too late, but in the midst of all the grief she wants to redeem herself and offer her support to Lexi and Ben, Vivien's husband. But her good intentions will end up in a very bumpy ride for Rose...
As past and present collide, Rose realises that Vivien was not exactly the ideal daughter she thought she had. And someone from Rose's past is back to claim what's theirs.
Rose is a very strong character. She comes across as a rather cold, strong-willed, strict individual, however as the story develops we begin to see a softer, more fragile side to this woman that makes you warm to her.
The author kept me guessing till the end and at some point or other made me suspicious of every character in the story. The suspense in this book is almost tangible and I felt as if I was there with the characters in Vivien's cold bathroom or in her gloomy basement kitchen. At the end, when the truth was finally revealed, I was taken completely by surprise. I certainly wasn't expecting that!!
This was an enjoyable, intriguing read for me and while recommending it, I would like to thank Random House, UK, Transworld Publishing and Netgalley for approving my request to read and review this book.
January 12, 2017
Forget me not by Luana Lewis is a general fiction (adult) read.
A tragic suicide?
When Rose's daughter, Vivien , is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose has questions nobody can answer. Wasn't Vivien living the perfect life? A caring husband, a sweet little girl of her own.
Or the perfect murder?
But as the police investigation develops, their findings raise new questions. Did Vivien kill herself, or was she attacked? If so, who has something to hide?
As Rose struggles to piece together the secrets of her daughter's life, the cracks in the family begin to show. But once Rose knows the answers, there's no going back...
I loved this book. Couldn't figure it out. Full of twists and plots. I loved the story and the characters. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
A tragic suicide?
When Rose's daughter, Vivien , is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose has questions nobody can answer. Wasn't Vivien living the perfect life? A caring husband, a sweet little girl of her own.
Or the perfect murder?
But as the police investigation develops, their findings raise new questions. Did Vivien kill herself, or was she attacked? If so, who has something to hide?
As Rose struggles to piece together the secrets of her daughter's life, the cracks in the family begin to show. But once Rose knows the answers, there's no going back...
I loved this book. Couldn't figure it out. Full of twists and plots. I loved the story and the characters. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
December 5, 2015
Originally posted on This Chick Reads
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* Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review *
4.5/5
One of the best things about being a book blogger is we're been given an opportunity to check out so many books, so many books which otherwise wouldn't have been caught on our radar. And that feeling when we discover a new author... simply amazing, and nothing can compare to it. There was something about this book that completely drew me in from the moment I saw it. The cover is gorgeous but at the same time so dark and for some reason makes me feel kind of uncomfortable. And then I read the blurb and saw the author is a clinical psychologist and that was it, I knew I had to read it. Certainly with a job like that, Ms Lewis has seen a lot of interesting cases in her career, which are enough of a material for a good psychological thriller. However, this is the first book by Ms Lewis I was about to read, so I didn't really know what to expect. But my gut feeling was there, and once again proved me right. This book is simply a gem, and Ms Lewis is undoubtedly one of the most talented female psychological thriller authors I've ever read.
'Forget Me Not' is the second book by Ms Lewis and is centered around Rose who's daughter is found dead. However, police is suspecting it might not be an accident, but a murder and very soon Rose becomes one of the prime suspects. But as a reader, you are never sure, not till the end what exactly happened. Rose is not a likable character and her relationship with her daughter is quite strange. At the beginning Rose seems absolutely detached, completely cold and kind of made me make all these assumptions about where the book is heading. However, Ms Lewis does like a good psychological game, and boy, it was one hell of a game. Rose works in the neonatal unit of a hospital, where we see she's not the person who she appears to be at the beginning. How can a woman that's so gentle to newborns, be so cold to her own child? Is she in a way connected to her daughter's murder (or suicide)? And also, it turns out that her daughter, Vivian was not the perfect girl, and she had some rows with her husband just a day before her tragic end.
'Forget Me Not' is definitely a gripping read, one that pulls you in from the very first page. And then it slowly starts messing with your head. And they you start assuming, and then blaming, and then... you're proven wrong! So, about half way of the book I just decided to drop my need to find out the reason for Vivian's end and let things unfold by themselves. The suspense was still killing me, and despite not being someone who judges people, I really thought Rose should be punished. If not for her daughter's case, then for neglecting her. But then I could see that deep remorse in Rose and the agony she's going through for not being able to see her grand daughter whenever she wanted. It's like she begs for a second chance to make things right his time, but no one is willing to give her one.
'Forget Me Not' is all about the characters and goes deep into exploring the relationship between Rose and Vivian, a rather strange mother-daughter relationship. It's evident, Ms Lewis understand how the human psyche works, and all the dark places one could go. And she has no problems in delivering, constructing a very clever and complex story with an ending you won't be able to predict.
After numerous leads and my assumptions, I was so shocked at the ending. But also very pleased, as it was the perfect ending and the execution was simply flawless.
You know how readers love to connect to their fictional characters? Well, that was really hard for me as both Rose and Vivian are slightly (said mildly) unlikable, however the complexity of their relationship is what made this book such a great experience for me. In a very intelligent way, Ms Lewis depicts a mother-daughter relationship in which everything goes wrong.
Overall, 'Forget Me Not' is an amazingly gripping and dark read, and one you will certainly devour in a sitting or two. Once you start reading, you simply can not stop, it's that addictive. It's such a clever and thought provoking read you won't be able to put down. I'm fascinated with Ms Lewis' writing style and her deep knowledge of the human psyche and I'm definitely reading her debut soon. I'm over the moon to discover such a brilliant author and I'll definitely be on a watch out for her next releases.
September 21, 2016
This one is a good mystery, not exactly a thriller though. More character based than action packed. Kept me interested all the way and guessing about the background of the mysterious death in question. Good plot, decent ending. 3.5 stars.
December 26, 2015
Wow. Read this book in under a day. Absolutely loved it. Full of unlikeable characters and lots of red herrings thrown in! Was totally gripped throughout and highly recommend this book.
November 8, 2015
Forget Me Not is the second novel from Luana Lewis. I reviewed her first book, Don't Stand So Close in February 2014.
Reading back through my review of Don't Stand So Close, I see that I commented on the reliability of the narrators in that story. It's clear after reading Forget Me Not that Luana Lewis excels in creating dark, disconcerting characters. Once again, the reader will struggle to know just who or what to believe. Populated by a troupe of players who confound and amaze in turn, this really is a powerful and taut tale that will have you turning the pages frantically, in the hope that the next chapter will reveal the truth.
Forget Me Not is Rose's recital of her daughter Vivian's death and the events surrounding it. It is also her explanation, sometimes her justification for why, before Vivian died, they were estranged. Everyone concluded that Vivian had taken her own life. She was found in her bathroom by her husband's driver Isaac, and although she did have head injuries, it was assumed that these happened as she fell, not long after taking an overdose.
As the police carry on with their inquiries, and Rose learns more and more about the daughter that she was so distant from, she is convinced that there is more to this than suicide. Did Vivian and her husband Ben argue angrily the night before she died? Why did Ben decide to spend that night in a hotel? How is Vivian's childhood friend Chloe involved? Why does Chloe live rent-free in a flat owned by Ben? More questions are raised when Vivian's fertility consultant betrays confidentiality and informs Rose of her concerns too.
Who to believe? None of the main characters are particularly likeable. Rose struggled to be a mother to Vivian, and in turn Vivian struggled with her relationship to her own young daughter Lexie. Why did Rose and Vivian become estranged? Did Ben and Vivian really adore each other, and what part does Isaac play in their lives? And, Lexie; eight-year-old Lexie; what has caused her night terrors and her sleepwalking?
Forget Me Not is a gripping, chilling thriller. The plot is complex and unexpected. The characters are flawed, human and totally believable. Luana Lewis is a clinical psychologist and her knowledge of the human psyche is woven into this tense and dramatic novel.
Don't try to guess the secrets, don't assume that the most innocent characters cannot also be the most guilty and don't plan to do anything else until you've turned the final page!
Reading back through my review of Don't Stand So Close, I see that I commented on the reliability of the narrators in that story. It's clear after reading Forget Me Not that Luana Lewis excels in creating dark, disconcerting characters. Once again, the reader will struggle to know just who or what to believe. Populated by a troupe of players who confound and amaze in turn, this really is a powerful and taut tale that will have you turning the pages frantically, in the hope that the next chapter will reveal the truth.
Forget Me Not is Rose's recital of her daughter Vivian's death and the events surrounding it. It is also her explanation, sometimes her justification for why, before Vivian died, they were estranged. Everyone concluded that Vivian had taken her own life. She was found in her bathroom by her husband's driver Isaac, and although she did have head injuries, it was assumed that these happened as she fell, not long after taking an overdose.
As the police carry on with their inquiries, and Rose learns more and more about the daughter that she was so distant from, she is convinced that there is more to this than suicide. Did Vivian and her husband Ben argue angrily the night before she died? Why did Ben decide to spend that night in a hotel? How is Vivian's childhood friend Chloe involved? Why does Chloe live rent-free in a flat owned by Ben? More questions are raised when Vivian's fertility consultant betrays confidentiality and informs Rose of her concerns too.
Who to believe? None of the main characters are particularly likeable. Rose struggled to be a mother to Vivian, and in turn Vivian struggled with her relationship to her own young daughter Lexie. Why did Rose and Vivian become estranged? Did Ben and Vivian really adore each other, and what part does Isaac play in their lives? And, Lexie; eight-year-old Lexie; what has caused her night terrors and her sleepwalking?
Forget Me Not is a gripping, chilling thriller. The plot is complex and unexpected. The characters are flawed, human and totally believable. Luana Lewis is a clinical psychologist and her knowledge of the human psyche is woven into this tense and dramatic novel.
Don't try to guess the secrets, don't assume that the most innocent characters cannot also be the most guilty and don't plan to do anything else until you've turned the final page!
September 29, 2016
Another psychological thriller that I just loved...and I didn't see the twist coming. The book was filled with red herrings, and because of those I had my suspicions about the underlying story, but I was wrong. This isn't a very long read, at 299 pages, but those pages definitely flew by and I was totally gripped. There was a good mix of characters to love and hate, and the overriding feeling that not everyone was always telling the truth was always there. I also thought that the novel was very well written. It's great!
December 21, 2015
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Losing your child is the most devastating thing that can happen to someone. Rose loses her only daughter, police suspect a possible suicide. Her perfect daughter had everything, perfect home, perfect husband, perfect little girl. But was that enough for happiness? Why would she want to kill herself?
Rose's only hope in life now is little Lexi. She blames herself for her daughter's suicide and taking care for the granddaughter makes her feel less guilty. But her son-in-law, Ben, doesn't think that Rose is a good person to be around Lexi. He needs time for grieving. They both do. Or maybe there is some other reason for him to keep her far away from his daughter?
Vivien was perfect. She had an amazing look, men would turn their heads after her. She always got what she wanted. She would walk over dead bodies just to get what she wanted. Her husband, Ben, used to be her best friend's boyfriend. There are no friends in war and love. She always took care of her appearance, always wondering what kind of impression she left. She had the perfect family, but was it perfect enough for her?
Rose has doubts about Vivien's death. She suspects that something is going on in that house where her daughter's family lives. Worried for Lexi's safety, she starts her own investigation. She is really surprised when she sees Cleo, Vivien's ex-best friend and Ben's ex-fiance visiting Ben lately at night. Something is going on.
But is Rose ready for the truth, the real truth about her lovely daughter? For every parent, his/hers child is perfect. Parent's love is unconditional and very often a parent can not see the real face of his/ hers child. Searching for the truth about her daughter's death, Rose is trying to cope with her own failure as a mother. Being a grandmother is just an attempt to fix the things she messed up a long time ago. She is trying to find out the truth. Was her daughter a victim? Or was her family the victim? Who is the real predator here?
This is my first book from this author, but it certainly won't be the last. The writing style captured me from the very first moment. I must admit, it reminds me a lot like the writing style of Paula Hawkins. I loved The Girl On The Train and I love Ms. Lewis'Forget Me Not. This is a brilliant story, with some very dark moments. The author created characters with masks, with two faces, one for the crowd, one that is shown when there is no one there to watch. You never know what happens behind the closed doors. We have just a few characters here, but everyone one of them has some skeleton in the closet. It is a grippy story with an ending that literary blew me off. Forget Me Not is a story you won't be able to forget. Ever!
Losing your child is the most devastating thing that can happen to someone. Rose loses her only daughter, police suspect a possible suicide. Her perfect daughter had everything, perfect home, perfect husband, perfect little girl. But was that enough for happiness? Why would she want to kill herself?
Rose's only hope in life now is little Lexi. She blames herself for her daughter's suicide and taking care for the granddaughter makes her feel less guilty. But her son-in-law, Ben, doesn't think that Rose is a good person to be around Lexi. He needs time for grieving. They both do. Or maybe there is some other reason for him to keep her far away from his daughter?
Vivien was perfect. She had an amazing look, men would turn their heads after her. She always got what she wanted. She would walk over dead bodies just to get what she wanted. Her husband, Ben, used to be her best friend's boyfriend. There are no friends in war and love. She always took care of her appearance, always wondering what kind of impression she left. She had the perfect family, but was it perfect enough for her?
Rose has doubts about Vivien's death. She suspects that something is going on in that house where her daughter's family lives. Worried for Lexi's safety, she starts her own investigation. She is really surprised when she sees Cleo, Vivien's ex-best friend and Ben's ex-fiance visiting Ben lately at night. Something is going on.
But is Rose ready for the truth, the real truth about her lovely daughter? For every parent, his/hers child is perfect. Parent's love is unconditional and very often a parent can not see the real face of his/ hers child. Searching for the truth about her daughter's death, Rose is trying to cope with her own failure as a mother. Being a grandmother is just an attempt to fix the things she messed up a long time ago. She is trying to find out the truth. Was her daughter a victim? Or was her family the victim? Who is the real predator here?
This is my first book from this author, but it certainly won't be the last. The writing style captured me from the very first moment. I must admit, it reminds me a lot like the writing style of Paula Hawkins. I loved The Girl On The Train and I love Ms. Lewis'Forget Me Not. This is a brilliant story, with some very dark moments. The author created characters with masks, with two faces, one for the crowd, one that is shown when there is no one there to watch. You never know what happens behind the closed doors. We have just a few characters here, but everyone one of them has some skeleton in the closet. It is a grippy story with an ending that literary blew me off. Forget Me Not is a story you won't be able to forget. Ever!
November 5, 2015
I have been snatching every minute possible today to read this book to its dramatic climax. Luana Lewis first book Don't Stand So Close was one of my stand out holiday reads from last year so I was always going to want to get my hands on an early copy of her second book and gobble it up!
Rose doesn't seem to react the way we expect after the death, possibly suicide, of her only daughter Vivian. Very early on in the story we realise that they did not have anything near a normal mother-daughter relationship. The distance between them is gradually uncovered but for now Rose just wants contact with Lexi, her granddaughter despite Ben, her son-in-law, not being very forthcoming. The police are asking Rose lots of questions but are they asking the right ones? An old friend from Vivians past has made an unexpected reappearance and all is not what it seems there. Rose seems to be losing everything as her life unexpectedly collapses around her.
This is a great psychological family drama, which again showcases the authors clinical psychology background. It is well thought through, with characters that aren't always likeable but realistic. Rose herself is a very difficult woman to read. We struggle to balance our knowledge of the mother who is doing all she can as a single parent, with the mother who just hasn't connected with her child. Rose isn't a bad mother, she has convinced herself that everything she has done was for her daughter's benefit. A good example of nature v nurture-does our upbringing always affect our actions or will we ultimately behave in the same way no matter what? And does our relationship with our mother affect the way that we eventually parent?
I loved this book, I found it utterly unputdownable and was able to relate to all the very strong but ultimately flawed female characters. And I loved the character of Isaac, quietly there in the background but with an important role to play.
I eagerly await more from this very talented author.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Rose doesn't seem to react the way we expect after the death, possibly suicide, of her only daughter Vivian. Very early on in the story we realise that they did not have anything near a normal mother-daughter relationship. The distance between them is gradually uncovered but for now Rose just wants contact with Lexi, her granddaughter despite Ben, her son-in-law, not being very forthcoming. The police are asking Rose lots of questions but are they asking the right ones? An old friend from Vivians past has made an unexpected reappearance and all is not what it seems there. Rose seems to be losing everything as her life unexpectedly collapses around her.
This is a great psychological family drama, which again showcases the authors clinical psychology background. It is well thought through, with characters that aren't always likeable but realistic. Rose herself is a very difficult woman to read. We struggle to balance our knowledge of the mother who is doing all she can as a single parent, with the mother who just hasn't connected with her child. Rose isn't a bad mother, she has convinced herself that everything she has done was for her daughter's benefit. A good example of nature v nurture-does our upbringing always affect our actions or will we ultimately behave in the same way no matter what? And does our relationship with our mother affect the way that we eventually parent?
I loved this book, I found it utterly unputdownable and was able to relate to all the very strong but ultimately flawed female characters. And I loved the character of Isaac, quietly there in the background but with an important role to play.
I eagerly await more from this very talented author.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
March 6, 2016
A good psychological thriller raced through the book I lost sleep reading this book because I wanted to see what happens next.
Roses daughter Vivien is found dead is it suicide or murder even the police are not sure.Vivien has a daughter who is finding it hard to understand where her mother is, Rose tries to mother the child she barely knows her.Lexi still has her dad that Rose criticises all the time.
A quite surprising ending a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley the publisher and the Author for a copy of this book.
Roses daughter Vivien is found dead is it suicide or murder even the police are not sure.Vivien has a daughter who is finding it hard to understand where her mother is, Rose tries to mother the child she barely knows her.Lexi still has her dad that Rose criticises all the time.
A quite surprising ending a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley the publisher and the Author for a copy of this book.
October 10, 2022
twas good bcs i never thought how that really happened??!! this book is making me sick 😭😔 the ending doesnt bring closure so much as i wanted. oh, dont forget about rose because she is the character i HATE the most.
December 6, 2015
Very easy read, fine thriller, satisfying ending! You can't stop guessing , you keep turning pages to find a clue! In the end it only seems that it COULD have happened!
November 17, 2015
"Forget Me Not" is the first book by Luana Lewis that I've read, but it blew me away so much that I will be keeping my eye on her next releases for sure, and am going to check her debut novel as well. From the very beginning "Forget Me Not" has just sucked me in and I couldn't put it down - I, in fact, read it in a little more than only one day - I was simply drawn in. Even though the subject of this novel doesn't belong to the most optimistic ones (what an understatement on my part), it was written in a fantastic, easy to follow and hooking way that made the reading so quick. Moreover, Luana Lewis is a clinical psychologist, and you can feel it in this story, feel that the author is comfortable with what she's writing, that she knows what she's writing about, and the deep characterisation of characters' personalities was exceptional.
So yes, I guess you already know that I adored this book. One of the strength of this novel lies in its characters. It follows stories of Vivien's family. Vivien's, who's been found dead and who has left a husband and a young daughter behind, as well as her mother. Slowly, through the chapters told mostly from Rose's point of view, the author describes the family relationships and dynamics and the whole, not the most beautiful picture, starts to emerge. It is amazing what Ms Lewis has done with her characters, and how she made me change my mind about them all, even about little Lexi - I guess you are supposed to warm to the children characters, but there was something in Lexi, something that I couldn't put my finger on, something that was holding me back from liking her. Of course I felt sorry for her, then thought that maybe it's better for her to grow up without her mother, to to look at her with disbelief. And it was the same with all the other characters, Luana Lewis portrayed them in a way that you were never sure what to think about them and what they did - and I am sure it was done with premeditation, it was like a kind of psychological game with the reader, and I really, really liked it. Rose, at the beginning, seemed so cold and estranged from her family, she struggled with motherhood, concentrated on her job as a neonatal nurse, and ultimately Vivien struggled to be a mother to Alexandra as well - but I think Vivien's reasons were different to those of Rose's. Also, you couldn't be sure how was the real relationship between Alexandra and Ben, who in fact is Isaac and what are Cleo's intentions. And what happened that Lexi is like she is - many questions, it felt like being lost in a labyrinth, but Ms Lewis has took us through the labyrinth and even though she has complicated the way even more, at the end there are no questions left open, I think.
But yes, the end. I was dead sure that I know who the killer is. So sure that I almost put the book away, stopped reading it because the guilty one was jumping out of the pages and laughed at me - so convinced I was. Fortunately, I didn't put it away, I didn't stop reading - it would be one of the biggest mistakes. Because eventually I stopped believing anybody and started to suspect everybody, even though my main suspect was still on the top. Do I need to tell you that I was absolutely wrong? No, I thought so - that you already guessed it. But I still am not so sure if I am satisfied with this end. It was certainly absolutely not this what I was expecting, which is a brilliant thing, but also I still don't know how to process, to handle it.
But back to the characters, as they can't leave my head. They all really awoke thousands of feelings in me, and I can't stop thinking about them. They were all so incredibly complex and full of question marks. How is it possible that Rose, a neonatal nurse, who loved her job so much, was so cold towards her own daughter and then her granddaughter? Was Vivien's life as perfect as she wanted us to think? Did some of the characters have a reason to murder her? Really, the plot itself becomes secondary in comparison to the characters, and the book is a brilliant, sharp analysis and exploration of Rose and Vivien's mother - daughter relationship. And I personally didn't feel the need to judge Rose for what she did - for the way she has neglected her daughter.
Even though you may find the characters unlikeable, there is something fascinating in all of them, something that keep you glued to the pages. I know that the reviewers have mostly problems with Rose, and I can understand why, but still, personally, I felt sorry for her - she was mourning in her own way, but I also think that she finally realised that she has lost her life way before her daughter's death, and she wanted to make up for this now. Vivien had such a complex personality, on the surface she was a happy mum and wife, beautiful and successful, but behind the closed doors her life looked very differently, and this dark side to her was fascinating. Then we have Cleo - psychotic or not?, and a husband that doesn't show any emotions - can relationships be more complicated?
The story is really full of tension, it was palpable through the pages and there were many moments that made me hold my breath and I waited for the worst to happen. It is a complex, full of darkness book, touching upon some taboo issues, and I am still impressed with the author's understanding of human being and human psyche. It's for sure not a predictable read. It's intelligent, challenging and high - quality novel that will have you guessing and assuming, and then surprise you like anything else. I am over the moon to be able to read this book and to discover Luana Lewis for myself.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
April 4, 2016
What this book is about:
When Vivien, mother of 8-year-old Lexi and wife of a rich businessman, Ben, is found dead in her bathroom, the investigators are not sure whether it was a suicide or a murder. Rose is devastated by the tragic death of her daughter but she is trying to keep it together for the sake of her granddaughter while Vivien's life is decomposed right before her eyes and dark secrets are slowly revealed. Vivien didn't have the perfect life that everybody thought after all.
This is my first mystery/thriller book of the year. Written in a first person perspective, we follow Rose, Vivien's mother and grandmother of Lexi. Three important characters in this book, other than the ones just mentioned, are Ben who is Lexi's father, Isaac who's the family's driver, Cleo who is an old friend of Vivien and DS Cole, one of the police investigators. Throughout the book, there are a few small parts in which we read through Vivien's eyes. This offers some insight into the situation and gets the plot moving and unravelling for the reader.
The book starts with an extremely vague prologue in which we have no idea who is narrating and what the heck just happened. This is something that we figure out at the very end of the story and something that I personally thought was pretty cool. Luana Lewis being a clinical psychologist, does a great job describing symptoms of depersonalisation which is when a person feels detached from their body as if watching things happening to them from the outside. My theories and questions about the truth started from early on. Ideally for me, when reading a good mystery book, I want to be constantly on edge, asking who, what, how, when. This was not an extremely great thriller, in my opinion, though. The plot was kind of slow in the beginning and the whole emotion of the story was too mild. I didn't feel on edge, thriller, excited, turning pages maniacally to find out the truth. I was curious to see what happened and how things will turn out but not to the degree that kept me at the edge of my seat.
One of the problems with this book is that even though it's quite well-written and meticulously paced and narrated, when you reach the end you miss the whole genius of it. In an amazing psychological thriller I would personally like to reach the ending and sit down, mind-blown, admiring the brilliance of the story and the way it all led to the enthralling conclusion. Going back and reviewing my notes, I do see the ingenuity of the plot, but was I to never write a review, I would just forget about the story-crafting and focus on my overall feel of it.
Another part of a mystery novel that is one of the most necessary and important ingredients to build the shock factor at the last page's revelations, are the characters. Again, for me, I would like to see around ten main and secondary characters that I get to "know" so at the end I can be like: "Nooo, it's impossible that X did this. Oh my God, I thought it was Y all along but it turns out that he was actually the good guy!" You know what I mean? So, my complaints about this book is that there were not many characters and I didn't get the feeling that we got to know them as much as I would have liked.
I tried to be as vague and general as possible since this is a psychological mystery and it's very easy to spoil people by going further than the first 10 pages. Overall, this was a well-written, psychological thriller with a few twists and turns that makes the reader come up with hypotheses and staying with the plot to find out more clues on what happened. The ending is very clear and straightforward, so if you want to have closure in your mystery novels, you will be satisfied with this one. I've never read from a grandmother perspective before and this is certainly not a typical grandmother character for me but it was quite enjoyable and to conclude, I liked this book. I recommend it to all people who like mystery books but, as I already mentioned, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Vivien, mother of 8-year-old Lexi and wife of a rich businessman, Ben, is found dead in her bathroom, the investigators are not sure whether it was a suicide or a murder. Rose is devastated by the tragic death of her daughter but she is trying to keep it together for the sake of her granddaughter while Vivien's life is decomposed right before her eyes and dark secrets are slowly revealed. Vivien didn't have the perfect life that everybody thought after all.
This is my first mystery/thriller book of the year. Written in a first person perspective, we follow Rose, Vivien's mother and grandmother of Lexi. Three important characters in this book, other than the ones just mentioned, are Ben who is Lexi's father, Isaac who's the family's driver, Cleo who is an old friend of Vivien and DS Cole, one of the police investigators. Throughout the book, there are a few small parts in which we read through Vivien's eyes. This offers some insight into the situation and gets the plot moving and unravelling for the reader.
After years of practice, I am able to split myself in two: the part of me that acts spliced clean apart from the part that feels. In this way, I stay quite calm while I inflict pain.
The book starts with an extremely vague prologue in which we have no idea who is narrating and what the heck just happened. This is something that we figure out at the very end of the story and something that I personally thought was pretty cool. Luana Lewis being a clinical psychologist, does a great job describing symptoms of depersonalisation which is when a person feels detached from their body as if watching things happening to them from the outside. My theories and questions about the truth started from early on. Ideally for me, when reading a good mystery book, I want to be constantly on edge, asking who, what, how, when. This was not an extremely great thriller, in my opinion, though. The plot was kind of slow in the beginning and the whole emotion of the story was too mild. I didn't feel on edge, thriller, excited, turning pages maniacally to find out the truth. I was curious to see what happened and how things will turn out but not to the degree that kept me at the edge of my seat.
DS Cole is doing everything she can to avoid using the word murder, but still, I hear it loud and clear. I see it, written on these grubby, windowless walls in capital letters.
One of the problems with this book is that even though it's quite well-written and meticulously paced and narrated, when you reach the end you miss the whole genius of it. In an amazing psychological thriller I would personally like to reach the ending and sit down, mind-blown, admiring the brilliance of the story and the way it all led to the enthralling conclusion. Going back and reviewing my notes, I do see the ingenuity of the plot, but was I to never write a review, I would just forget about the story-crafting and focus on my overall feel of it.
How bizarre it is, to know my daughter will never age.
Another part of a mystery novel that is one of the most necessary and important ingredients to build the shock factor at the last page's revelations, are the characters. Again, for me, I would like to see around ten main and secondary characters that I get to "know" so at the end I can be like: "Nooo, it's impossible that X did this. Oh my God, I thought it was Y all along but it turns out that he was actually the good guy!" You know what I mean? So, my complaints about this book is that there were not many characters and I didn't get the feeling that we got to know them as much as I would have liked.
He takes another drink, looking into the bottom of that whiskey glass as though he might find salvation there. He leaves my side to pour himself another, and once again he's generous with the Special Reserve. In all the years I've known him, I've never seen him drink more than a couple of glasses of wine. I don't like the way he's drinking, but I'm not about to antagonise him by suggesting he stop.
I tried to be as vague and general as possible since this is a psychological mystery and it's very easy to spoil people by going further than the first 10 pages. Overall, this was a well-written, psychological thriller with a few twists and turns that makes the reader come up with hypotheses and staying with the plot to find out more clues on what happened. The ending is very clear and straightforward, so if you want to have closure in your mystery novels, you will be satisfied with this one. I've never read from a grandmother perspective before and this is certainly not a typical grandmother character for me but it was quite enjoyable and to conclude, I liked this book. I recommend it to all people who like mystery books but, as I already mentioned, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2018
War okay für zwischendurch,aber irgendwie dann auch nicht wirklich was besonderes.
December 30, 2015
To Luana Lewis....please keep them coming! I absolutely loved Don't Stand So Close and was excited to see this second novel. Like the first book by the author, I BREEZED through it. It has been a roller coaster of a year of reading for me this year. I have read some great books, and then others some books that I almost abandoned. I am glad to have ended the year on a really good book.
A tragic suicide?
When Rose’s daughter, Vivien, is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose has questions nobody can answer. Wasn’t Vivien living the perfect life? A caring husband, a sweet little girl of her own.
Or the perfect murder?
But as the police investigation develops, their findings raise new questions. Did Vivien kill herself, or was she attacked? If so, who has something to hide?
As Rose struggles to piece together the secrets of her daughter’s life, the cracks in the family begin to show. But once Rose knows the answers, there’s no going back...
I didn't think I would really get into this book as much as I thought I would, especially since the main character is a grandma. I felt I would not relate. However, I loved/hated all the characters. The description of the babies in the hospital she works at made my heart ache! In then a few minutes later I'd be raging at a certain crazy ex best friend.
I had NO clue what the plot twist would and suspected everyone...except the actual person! Really surprising ending that left me wanting more books by this author. One thing I did notice, it didn't have as creepy as a feel as Don't Stand So Close and that was what I was hoping for with this one.
A tragic suicide?
When Rose’s daughter, Vivien, is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose has questions nobody can answer. Wasn’t Vivien living the perfect life? A caring husband, a sweet little girl of her own.
Or the perfect murder?
But as the police investigation develops, their findings raise new questions. Did Vivien kill herself, or was she attacked? If so, who has something to hide?
As Rose struggles to piece together the secrets of her daughter’s life, the cracks in the family begin to show. But once Rose knows the answers, there’s no going back...
I didn't think I would really get into this book as much as I thought I would, especially since the main character is a grandma. I felt I would not relate. However, I loved/hated all the characters. The description of the babies in the hospital she works at made my heart ache! In then a few minutes later I'd be raging at a certain crazy ex best friend.
I had NO clue what the plot twist would and suspected everyone...except the actual person! Really surprising ending that left me wanting more books by this author. One thing I did notice, it didn't have as creepy as a feel as Don't Stand So Close and that was what I was hoping for with this one.
November 5, 2015
The prologue of Forget Me Not is interesting, ending with the line, ‘ I am not really here, I never was,’ – the suspense is there from the beginning.
Reading about Rose, Vivian’s mother, I wondered what the hell her problem was, her daughter has just been found dead in the bathroom, and she just seems so cold, as if she is hiding something.
Even before Vivians death, you can tell the characters have not been happy. There is much to learn about them and the secrets they keep.
Rose is the narrator of this amazing and intense read, and its her that says that immortal line that I have mentioned. Her story of her daughters life and death is sad and extreme. As you can imagine, a mother losing her only child can only be gut – wrenchingly awful. Her sadness is severe and deep and it fills every page of Luana Lewis’s brilliant novel.
This tale is just one big tragedy, it is fascinating and very different from most thrillers and it is deeply unsettling. The psychology of each of the characters is fantastically portrayed, Luana has managed to ensure the reader dislikes but also feels compassion towards those involved.
Forget Me Not is a novel that I enjoyed and read in one sitting, I just could not put it down. It is absorbing and disturbing in equal measures.
Reading about Rose, Vivian’s mother, I wondered what the hell her problem was, her daughter has just been found dead in the bathroom, and she just seems so cold, as if she is hiding something.
Even before Vivians death, you can tell the characters have not been happy. There is much to learn about them and the secrets they keep.
Rose is the narrator of this amazing and intense read, and its her that says that immortal line that I have mentioned. Her story of her daughters life and death is sad and extreme. As you can imagine, a mother losing her only child can only be gut – wrenchingly awful. Her sadness is severe and deep and it fills every page of Luana Lewis’s brilliant novel.
This tale is just one big tragedy, it is fascinating and very different from most thrillers and it is deeply unsettling. The psychology of each of the characters is fantastically portrayed, Luana has managed to ensure the reader dislikes but also feels compassion towards those involved.
Forget Me Not is a novel that I enjoyed and read in one sitting, I just could not put it down. It is absorbing and disturbing in equal measures.
December 21, 2016
Good book, moves quickly and keeps you guessing.
December 31, 2018
With just a few days remaining in 2018, I wanted to read one more book before the year was out, and I chose this one on the basis that at 298 pages, it was one of the shortest on my TBR.
This was a book that offered up an intriguing premise, with a prologue that raises important questions for the rest of the story as well as providing a hint that some of the characters are not telling the whole truth until everything is revealed towards the end.
I definitely came to appreciate the book much more once I reached the end, as before then I found parts of it slightly underwhelming. The promised tension hardly materialised until late on, and the plot was generally slow moving and at times repetitive.
As well as lacking tension, this book can hardly be classed as a thriller. It is too prosaic and does not contain enough of the characteristics that you would associate with the genre. But the storytelling is good, and the hint of suspicion endures until it reaches its conclusion.
And the ending really does act as the book's saving grace, adding an extra star to my rating in the process. It suddenly becomes reasonably compelling and manages to tie up most of the loose ends, providing a good degree of closure to the story.
The book explores some interesting themes. I thought the topic of anorexia was handled well and with a degree of subtlety which certainly develops into something powerful in the later chapters, but the theme of stalking felt a little glossed over, and ended up being less relevant to the overall plot.
I have mixed feelings over the characters, who were not hugely likeable. Rose is the narrator and although she had good intentions, she was occasionally grating and it was hard to feel genuinely connected with her. I found Cleo the most interesting character, though not totally believable. The only character I truly sympathised with was Alexandra.
The writing style was engaging and made for a fast read, even allowing for the slow-moving plot. The main problem I had with the writing was the dialogue. It gets better towards the end, but it often felt clunky and forced.
Overall, the best things about this book were its enticing beginning and a powerful ending. While I liked the storytelling and the easy-to-read style, some aspects could have been better and the tension was too often missing. A decent book, but not especially memorable.
This was a book that offered up an intriguing premise, with a prologue that raises important questions for the rest of the story as well as providing a hint that some of the characters are not telling the whole truth until everything is revealed towards the end.
I definitely came to appreciate the book much more once I reached the end, as before then I found parts of it slightly underwhelming. The promised tension hardly materialised until late on, and the plot was generally slow moving and at times repetitive.
As well as lacking tension, this book can hardly be classed as a thriller. It is too prosaic and does not contain enough of the characteristics that you would associate with the genre. But the storytelling is good, and the hint of suspicion endures until it reaches its conclusion.
And the ending really does act as the book's saving grace, adding an extra star to my rating in the process. It suddenly becomes reasonably compelling and manages to tie up most of the loose ends, providing a good degree of closure to the story.
The book explores some interesting themes. I thought the topic of anorexia was handled well and with a degree of subtlety which certainly develops into something powerful in the later chapters, but the theme of stalking felt a little glossed over, and ended up being less relevant to the overall plot.
I have mixed feelings over the characters, who were not hugely likeable. Rose is the narrator and although she had good intentions, she was occasionally grating and it was hard to feel genuinely connected with her. I found Cleo the most interesting character, though not totally believable. The only character I truly sympathised with was Alexandra.
The writing style was engaging and made for a fast read, even allowing for the slow-moving plot. The main problem I had with the writing was the dialogue. It gets better towards the end, but it often felt clunky and forced.
Overall, the best things about this book were its enticing beginning and a powerful ending. While I liked the storytelling and the easy-to-read style, some aspects could have been better and the tension was too often missing. A decent book, but not especially memorable.
June 24, 2022
Von der Autorin Luana Lewis hatte ich bereits „Lügenmädchen“ gelesen und war total begeistert. Entsprechend hoch waren die Erwartungen an dieses Buch. Entsprechend groß war die Enttäuschung. Ich hatte einen Krimi erwartet und ein Krimi ist das hier sicher nicht, eher ein Familiendrama, wobei die Betonung auf Drama liegt. Dazu entwickelt es sich vor allem auch durch den zähen und farblosen Verlauf der Geschichte.
Der Tod von Vivien rückt vollkommen in den Hintergrund und ist eher eine Nebensächlichkeit, während im Fokus die schwierige Beziehung zwischen Vivien und ihrer Tochter einerseits und Vivien und ihrer Mutter andererseits stehen. Beide scheinen ihre lieben Probleme mit der Mutterschaft zu haben und für diese Rolle nicht gerade die Paradebesetzung zu sein. Sicherlich tragisch, sollte aber in einem guten Krimi -denn den hatte ich erwartet - keineswegs der Haupthandlungsstrang sein.
Der Tod von Vivien rückt vollkommen in den Hintergrund und ist eher eine Nebensächlichkeit, während im Fokus die schwierige Beziehung zwischen Vivien und ihrer Tochter einerseits und Vivien und ihrer Mutter andererseits stehen. Beide scheinen ihre lieben Probleme mit der Mutterschaft zu haben und für diese Rolle nicht gerade die Paradebesetzung zu sein. Sicherlich tragisch, sollte aber in einem guten Krimi -denn den hatte ich erwartet - keineswegs der Haupthandlungsstrang sein.
October 27, 2015
Forget Me Not, by Luana Lewis, is a psychological drama about grief, guilt and family secrets. It explores the emotional impact of upbringing, the guilt of a working mother, and the tightrope family members walk between confronting difficult issues and maintaining a comfortable home life.
Most of the story is told from the point of view of Rose, a senior neonatal nurse whose grown up daughter, Vivien, has been found dead in her bathroom. It is unclear if Vivien took her own life or if she was murdered. An injury to her head could have been the result of an attack or caused by a fall.
Rose is an emotional mess. She raised her daughter alone whilst forging her career, and now feels guilt that much of the child’s care was the responsibility of others. Money was tight and Rose felt more at home at work than in her damp, council flat with her wilful child.
Vivien married Ben, whose business acumen brought them wealth and comfort. Rose believed that they were happy together although she saw little of the family. She visited for her granddaughter’s birthdays and at Christmas, to keep up appearances, but knew little of the detail of her daughter’s life.
Now that Vivien is dead, Rose wishes to ingratiate herself with her little girl, Lexi. I found this creepy. The child still had a loving father who was perfectly capable of caring for her without his mother in law, who had shown little interest in Lexi’s well being before Vivien’s death. Rose pushes her way into the grieving family, openly criticises her son in law, and tries to mother a child she barely knows.
Another key character in the book is Chloe, a childhood friend of Vivien’s, who had a relationship with Ben before he and Vivien got together. Rose does not trust Chloe, especially when she appears to be helping Ben out, a role that Rose wants for herself.
As the police investigation uncovers details of Vivien’s life in the months leading up to her death it becomes clear just how little Rose knew about her daughter, yet still she insists that she should be the one to watch over Lexi. Rose’s instability manifests itself at work. Ben’s willingness to let her near his child can only be down to pity, although why he feels this after the way she has neglected his family over so many years is unclear.
The plot progresses, family secrets are uncovered, and it is shown just how damaged Vivien was. The denouement is satisfactory, although I remained unconvinced that Ben would be so tolerant of his mother in law given her penultimate actions in the tale.
Some of the details of the way Rose was written grated. No matter how much she ate or drank she was always described as having a dry mouth. When talking she complained repeatedly of a lump in her throat.
Perhaps it was my dislike of Rose which coloured my views of this book. I felt compassion for Ben and even more for Lexi. Amidst the twists and turns of suicide or murder, and if so who was to blame, several of the characters appeared sinister. I found it hard to focus on others when Rose was so consistently Machiavellian.
Most of the story is told from the point of view of Rose, a senior neonatal nurse whose grown up daughter, Vivien, has been found dead in her bathroom. It is unclear if Vivien took her own life or if she was murdered. An injury to her head could have been the result of an attack or caused by a fall.
Rose is an emotional mess. She raised her daughter alone whilst forging her career, and now feels guilt that much of the child’s care was the responsibility of others. Money was tight and Rose felt more at home at work than in her damp, council flat with her wilful child.
Vivien married Ben, whose business acumen brought them wealth and comfort. Rose believed that they were happy together although she saw little of the family. She visited for her granddaughter’s birthdays and at Christmas, to keep up appearances, but knew little of the detail of her daughter’s life.
Now that Vivien is dead, Rose wishes to ingratiate herself with her little girl, Lexi. I found this creepy. The child still had a loving father who was perfectly capable of caring for her without his mother in law, who had shown little interest in Lexi’s well being before Vivien’s death. Rose pushes her way into the grieving family, openly criticises her son in law, and tries to mother a child she barely knows.
Another key character in the book is Chloe, a childhood friend of Vivien’s, who had a relationship with Ben before he and Vivien got together. Rose does not trust Chloe, especially when she appears to be helping Ben out, a role that Rose wants for herself.
As the police investigation uncovers details of Vivien’s life in the months leading up to her death it becomes clear just how little Rose knew about her daughter, yet still she insists that she should be the one to watch over Lexi. Rose’s instability manifests itself at work. Ben’s willingness to let her near his child can only be down to pity, although why he feels this after the way she has neglected his family over so many years is unclear.
The plot progresses, family secrets are uncovered, and it is shown just how damaged Vivien was. The denouement is satisfactory, although I remained unconvinced that Ben would be so tolerant of his mother in law given her penultimate actions in the tale.
Some of the details of the way Rose was written grated. No matter how much she ate or drank she was always described as having a dry mouth. When talking she complained repeatedly of a lump in her throat.
Perhaps it was my dislike of Rose which coloured my views of this book. I felt compassion for Ben and even more for Lexi. Amidst the twists and turns of suicide or murder, and if so who was to blame, several of the characters appeared sinister. I found it hard to focus on others when Rose was so consistently Machiavellian.
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