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Echoes from the Past #2
The Forgotten: A completely unforgettable historical novel
Some secrets span centuries. Some loves transcend death.
Dunwich, 1346. Petra’s world shattered the day the Church took her beloved Avery, forcing him into holy orders and leaving her to face a brutal arranged marriage. Twelve years later, Petra is a widow struggling to care for her three children when Father Avery returns. But religious hysteria is sweeping through their crumbling port town, and when Petra’s son’s violent seizures mark him as cursed, can she turn to the only man she ever loved for help, or will a terrible secret she hid condemn them all?
Present day. Quinn Allenby’s psychic ability to see into the past through touch feels more like a curse when skeletal remains are discovered near medieval Dunwich. The woman and child are buried face-down in unmarked graves, an iron cross between them. It’s an unheard-of practice, and Quinn knows she must uncover their story.
As Quinn witnesses Petra’s desperate fight for survival, she faces an impossible choice of her own—one that will reshape her future and teach her that sometimes the greatest love requires the greatest sacrifice…
An epic story of passion, betrayal, and the timeless power of love to triumph over tragedy, that will captivate fans of Diana Gabaldon, Barbara Erskine, and Susanna Kearsley.
Praise for the
“Hooked me from the prologue. I seriously couldn’t stop reading. I stayed up through the night and into the next morning to find out what happened… Can’t wait to read the whole series!” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Captivating… unputdownable… I completed it in one day. If you enjoy romantic suspense and historical genre, this combo is definitely for you!” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Gut-wrenching and spellbinding simultaneously. I enjoyed the seamless storylines with the modern-day events and 17th century love story. I literally could not put this one down!” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“From the very first page, I was drawn in and could not put this one down.
Would I spend my hard-earned cash on this book? Yes.
Would I recommend to friends & family? Yes!
Will I search out the next one? You bet, I’m addicted now.
Is this a Kindle Keeper (delete on pain of death)? Definitely.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I loved this book so much that it was hard for me to put down and go to bed some nights. The characters came alive and jumped off the pages. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“A captivating story… The characters felt real, and you were wanting the best for them… a book that will keep you up at night, reasoning ‘just one more chapter’… My only complaint is that the book had to end.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dunwich, 1346. Petra’s world shattered the day the Church took her beloved Avery, forcing him into holy orders and leaving her to face a brutal arranged marriage. Twelve years later, Petra is a widow struggling to care for her three children when Father Avery returns. But religious hysteria is sweeping through their crumbling port town, and when Petra’s son’s violent seizures mark him as cursed, can she turn to the only man she ever loved for help, or will a terrible secret she hid condemn them all?
Present day. Quinn Allenby’s psychic ability to see into the past through touch feels more like a curse when skeletal remains are discovered near medieval Dunwich. The woman and child are buried face-down in unmarked graves, an iron cross between them. It’s an unheard-of practice, and Quinn knows she must uncover their story.
As Quinn witnesses Petra’s desperate fight for survival, she faces an impossible choice of her own—one that will reshape her future and teach her that sometimes the greatest love requires the greatest sacrifice…
An epic story of passion, betrayal, and the timeless power of love to triumph over tragedy, that will captivate fans of Diana Gabaldon, Barbara Erskine, and Susanna Kearsley.
Praise for the
“Hooked me from the prologue. I seriously couldn’t stop reading. I stayed up through the night and into the next morning to find out what happened… Can’t wait to read the whole series!” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Captivating… unputdownable… I completed it in one day. If you enjoy romantic suspense and historical genre, this combo is definitely for you!” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Gut-wrenching and spellbinding simultaneously. I enjoyed the seamless storylines with the modern-day events and 17th century love story. I literally could not put this one down!” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“From the very first page, I was drawn in and could not put this one down.
Would I spend my hard-earned cash on this book? Yes.
Would I recommend to friends & family? Yes!
Will I search out the next one? You bet, I’m addicted now.
Is this a Kindle Keeper (delete on pain of death)? Definitely.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I loved this book so much that it was hard for me to put down and go to bed some nights. The characters came alive and jumped off the pages. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“A captivating story… The characters felt real, and you were wanting the best for them… a book that will keep you up at night, reasoning ‘just one more chapter’… My only complaint is that the book had to end.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2025
1199 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Irina Shapiro
103 books1,183 followersTo write a novel was a dream of mine since I was a child. Life, my practical nature, and self-doubt got in the way, so it was decades later that an opportunity to write finally presented itself. I honestly didn't think I had what it takes to write a full-length novel, but once I faced the blank screen and my fingers touched the keyboard, everything disappeared except my characters and their surroundings, and suddenly I knew that this was what I was born to do.
Since then, I've written many books and have enjoyed some positive reviews, but sometimes, when I stop to reflect, I'm still amazed that I'm living my dream.
Follow me on BookBub for discount deals and new release alerts.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/irina...
Since then, I've written many books and have enjoyed some positive reviews, but sometimes, when I stop to reflect, I'm still amazed that I'm living my dream.
Follow me on BookBub for discount deals and new release alerts.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/irina...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 13, 2022
Dunwich, Suffolk, England. New Year’s Day 2014. Irina Shapiro’s The Forgotten (Echoes from the Past
#2) has dual storylines, and the story begins on this day in 2014 when Dr. Quinn Allenby, newly engaged, is called to an ancient cemetery by her boss, Rhys Morgan of the BBC who heads up the television series, Echoes from the Past. Dr. Allenby, an archeologist, possesses a gift (or curse) which enables her ‘to see’ what is taken place if she touches a personal object connected to the discovery. In this case the discovery is two skeletons buried in unconsecrated ground. Quinn is also dealing with crucial discoveries of her own past. Dunwich, Suffolk, England. 1346. Meet Edwin, a child of 12 years, and his mother, Petra, who live in the busy medieval port town of Dunwich. Today most of Dunwich has fallen into the North Sea, but in 1346 it was a thriving port and town. Along with the discovery of the skeletons, a necklace is found. Will Quinn be able ‘to see’ what has happened? Her personal issues - will they be put to rest. Excellent characters, thorough description of medieval Dunwich both physically and ideas of that era. Fascinating! 4 stars.
#2) has dual storylines, and the story begins on this day in 2014 when Dr. Quinn Allenby, newly engaged, is called to an ancient cemetery by her boss, Rhys Morgan of the BBC who heads up the television series, Echoes from the Past. Dr. Allenby, an archeologist, possesses a gift (or curse) which enables her ‘to see’ what is taken place if she touches a personal object connected to the discovery. In this case the discovery is two skeletons buried in unconsecrated ground. Quinn is also dealing with crucial discoveries of her own past. Dunwich, Suffolk, England. 1346. Meet Edwin, a child of 12 years, and his mother, Petra, who live in the busy medieval port town of Dunwich. Today most of Dunwich has fallen into the North Sea, but in 1346 it was a thriving port and town. Along with the discovery of the skeletons, a necklace is found. Will Quinn be able ‘to see’ what has happened? Her personal issues - will they be put to rest. Excellent characters, thorough description of medieval Dunwich both physically and ideas of that era. Fascinating! 4 stars.
September 15, 2023
Not as. Compelling as the first
Another sad depressing mg story about a Mother and son who were murdered and buried face down by a mob of people who thought the boy possessed because he had seizures. It was tragic. It was the 1600's but still. It was sad. Then Quinn is pregnant still trying to find her birth father and dealing with Gabe and his surprise. There's something off still about her and the relationship. I feel it. And I will keep reading the series. I love the premise. And I wish there really was a show like they are making.
Another sad depressing mg story about a Mother and son who were murdered and buried face down by a mob of people who thought the boy possessed because he had seizures. It was tragic. It was the 1600's but still. It was sad. Then Quinn is pregnant still trying to find her birth father and dealing with Gabe and his surprise. There's something off still about her and the relationship. I feel it. And I will keep reading the series. I love the premise. And I wish there really was a show like they are making.
January 17, 2019
I enjoyed the first book in this series but I quit this one twice before finally getting through it.
I just really couldn't reconcile the victim blame-y, rape apologetic vibe throughout.
Let me explain: Quinn's mum Sylvia claims she was raped by three men after they drugged her. One of these three men says that Sylvia was a willing participant, while also saying that she was "so far gone, there was no need to drug her" and "She got a bit upset when Seth joined in but never asked us to stop". So basically, whether she was drugged or not, she was raped. She was incredibly drunk (drunk people can't give consent), and she showed signs that she was upset = rape.
Now Gabe, Quinns lovely (but not) fiance, views Sylvia with suspicion because she lied about being drugged. But let's be clear, the men were still in the wrong. They raped her, whether she was drugged or not. He doesn't trust her and he talks about her as if she is a scheming woman simply because she didn't provide all of the details of her own rape. He finds it so hard to trust a woman despite the fact that the very same man who raped Sylvia also tried to rape Quinn!!!!
Like, WTF. I hate the way Gabe is portrayed as this super nice guy when really he is a victim-blaming tawt. I just can't reconcile these two things. Definitely won't be reading the next book.
I just really couldn't reconcile the victim blame-y, rape apologetic vibe throughout.
Let me explain: Quinn's mum Sylvia claims she was raped by three men after they drugged her. One of these three men says that Sylvia was a willing participant, while also saying that she was "so far gone, there was no need to drug her" and "She got a bit upset when Seth joined in but never asked us to stop". So basically, whether she was drugged or not, she was raped. She was incredibly drunk (drunk people can't give consent), and she showed signs that she was upset = rape.
Now Gabe, Quinns lovely (but not) fiance, views Sylvia with suspicion because she lied about being drugged. But let's be clear, the men were still in the wrong. They raped her, whether she was drugged or not. He doesn't trust her and he talks about her as if she is a scheming woman simply because she didn't provide all of the details of her own rape. He finds it so hard to trust a woman despite the fact that the very same man who raped Sylvia also tried to rape Quinn!!!!
Like, WTF. I hate the way Gabe is portrayed as this super nice guy when really he is a victim-blaming tawt. I just can't reconcile these two things. Definitely won't be reading the next book.
January 6, 2020
Oh, Irina, you have done it again!! Written another fantastic book, spanning two time periods and personal tragedies/problems. This time Quinn and Gabe are working through the details of getting married when some personal surprises pop up. In the process of dealing with them, Quinn is also working on an episode of the BBC television series, Echoes of the Past, this time involving a pair of 'skellies' (skeletons) found face down in unconsecrated ground. They were a woman named Petra and her son Edwin who lived difficult and painful pasts in and around 1346.
I'll leave the details to the book but I found as I worried about Petra and Edwin, Quinn and her problems were on my mind. And as I worried about Quinn and her problems, Petra and Edwin's problems were on my mind. That is just a small example of how well written these books are. I do not know how Ms. Shapiro can take two incongruous points in time and sets of problems and intertwine them as she does but I would not miss these books for the world.
Once again, I was lucky enough to get to listen to the story on audio and I cannot imagine a better choice for the narrator than Wendy Wolfson. She has a true gift for making each and every character believable, interesting and full of life. She truly is a delight to listen to and I will seek out other books she has narrated.
While my personal preference between books One and Two was number One, all in all, I loved them both. I have already listened to Book three and y'all are in for a real treat with that one so stick around and watch for that review tomorrow. These books are perfect for history buffs, mystery lovers, or readers who like their drama with a lot of action and suspense. As for book Two, The Forgotten:
Overall: 5❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Narration: 5❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Story: 4❤️❤️❤️❤️
Disclaimer
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I'll leave the details to the book but I found as I worried about Petra and Edwin, Quinn and her problems were on my mind. And as I worried about Quinn and her problems, Petra and Edwin's problems were on my mind. That is just a small example of how well written these books are. I do not know how Ms. Shapiro can take two incongruous points in time and sets of problems and intertwine them as she does but I would not miss these books for the world.
Once again, I was lucky enough to get to listen to the story on audio and I cannot imagine a better choice for the narrator than Wendy Wolfson. She has a true gift for making each and every character believable, interesting and full of life. She truly is a delight to listen to and I will seek out other books she has narrated.
While my personal preference between books One and Two was number One, all in all, I loved them both. I have already listened to Book three and y'all are in for a real treat with that one so stick around and watch for that review tomorrow. These books are perfect for history buffs, mystery lovers, or readers who like their drama with a lot of action and suspense. As for book Two, The Forgotten:
Overall: 5❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Narration: 5❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Story: 4❤️❤️❤️❤️
Disclaimer
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
April 5, 2018
For me, this one was not quite as good as the first one. Although it was fairly well edited, there is one of my top pet peeves. Toward the end, Quinn goes to visit Steven Kane. Throughout the chapter, the spelling of his name goes back and forth between Steven and Stephen. Pick one - I don't care which - and stay with it. I always feel like a simple read through would catch something like this.
Again, we are presented with 2 stories in one. Quinn and Gabe are now engaged and looking forward to planning their wedding. The BBC show is one down, two to go, and Quinn is down to 2 possible candidates for her father. Rhys calls with a new show project - the bones of a woman and child buried face down just outside a cemetery near Dunwich.
The bones belong to Petra and Edwin Ordell, mother and son. As the story unfolds, we find that Petra is newly widowed, caring for her mother and three children, and in fairly dire straits. She gets a job as companion to a local Lady. While in Lady Blythe's employ, Petra is reacquainted with her son, Lord Thomas Devon. Thomas is also recently widowed, and claims to have long had feelings for Petra. He is interested in marrying her and taking on the care of her family. This should really be a no-brainer for her. Here is a great guy - kind, compassionate, and loving - who wants to love her and care for her family. However, Petra has a secret or two. The first is that Edwin is epileptic - which in that day and time was grossly misunderstood. The second is that Edwin is not the son of her first husband. Rather, he is the product of an affair with a local boy, Avery, who was sent off to become a priest. Avery has been sent to a local monastery to reflect on some radical views for the time - namely people should have personal access to scriptures. Petra is still stuck on a past, adolescent crush/love for him, so she rekindles an affair with him. Her choices have wide ranging consequences for all involved.
Meanwhile, Quinn continues her search for her birth father. She rules out yet another, while also having the bombshell dropped that there might be a fourth candidate. Things are great with Gabe until he gets the bombshell dropped that he is father to a four year old, her mother has been killed in a car accident, and he now has sole custody. Nothing like going from zero to instant family. Most of Quinn's story deals with the search for her father and the impact of Gabe's newly found daughter on their relationship.
First, I am looking forward to the conclusion in The Unforgiven. Second, I felt more for Thomas and Edwin than Petra or Avery in the Medieval story line. I had much more empathy for Elise in The Lover's than for Petra. Petra lived a hard life with her first husband. However, she put herself in a situation that required her to marry pretty much the first man she could find. She then lied to him about the paternity of her child. And while Cyril was a complete lout, Thomas, who she was prepared to do the same exact thing to, was not. Thomas was also the man that did his best to protect Edwin from the superstitions of the people. All in all, this moves the entirety of the story along and I look forward to the conclusion. Enjoy.
Again, we are presented with 2 stories in one. Quinn and Gabe are now engaged and looking forward to planning their wedding. The BBC show is one down, two to go, and Quinn is down to 2 possible candidates for her father. Rhys calls with a new show project - the bones of a woman and child buried face down just outside a cemetery near Dunwich.
The bones belong to Petra and Edwin Ordell, mother and son. As the story unfolds, we find that Petra is newly widowed, caring for her mother and three children, and in fairly dire straits. She gets a job as companion to a local Lady. While in Lady Blythe's employ, Petra is reacquainted with her son, Lord Thomas Devon. Thomas is also recently widowed, and claims to have long had feelings for Petra. He is interested in marrying her and taking on the care of her family. This should really be a no-brainer for her. Here is a great guy - kind, compassionate, and loving - who wants to love her and care for her family. However, Petra has a secret or two. The first is that Edwin is epileptic - which in that day and time was grossly misunderstood. The second is that Edwin is not the son of her first husband. Rather, he is the product of an affair with a local boy, Avery, who was sent off to become a priest. Avery has been sent to a local monastery to reflect on some radical views for the time - namely people should have personal access to scriptures. Petra is still stuck on a past, adolescent crush/love for him, so she rekindles an affair with him. Her choices have wide ranging consequences for all involved.
Meanwhile, Quinn continues her search for her birth father. She rules out yet another, while also having the bombshell dropped that there might be a fourth candidate. Things are great with Gabe until he gets the bombshell dropped that he is father to a four year old, her mother has been killed in a car accident, and he now has sole custody. Nothing like going from zero to instant family. Most of Quinn's story deals with the search for her father and the impact of Gabe's newly found daughter on their relationship.
First, I am looking forward to the conclusion in The Unforgiven. Second, I felt more for Thomas and Edwin than Petra or Avery in the Medieval story line. I had much more empathy for Elise in The Lover's than for Petra. Petra lived a hard life with her first husband. However, she put herself in a situation that required her to marry pretty much the first man she could find. She then lied to him about the paternity of her child. And while Cyril was a complete lout, Thomas, who she was prepared to do the same exact thing to, was not. Thomas was also the man that did his best to protect Edwin from the superstitions of the people. All in all, this moves the entirety of the story along and I look forward to the conclusion. Enjoy.
July 6, 2019
1346: A youthful indiscretion forces Petra Ordell to marry in haste in order to hide her growing belly. Unfortunately her husband turns out to be a tyrant who later dies, leaving her alone to provide for her three children and an elderly mother. While working as a companion for Lady Blythe, Petra is reacquainted with Lord Thomas Devon who is also recently widowed. It transpires that Thomas has always had feelings for Petra and is more than happy to take on her children if she would marry him. Petra still pines for her futile first love, the father of her son, who is now an ambitious priest. Faced with a choice, will she choose a man who can offer her financial security or a man who is married to the church?
2014: When the skeletal remains of a woman and child are found buried face down in non consecrated ground on the fringes of a leper cemetery, Dr Quinn Allenby is assigned to the case. With little to go on other than a cross and the circumstances surrounding their burial, a punishment which is usually reserved for the truly wicked and depraved of society, Quinn attempts to piece together the events that led to them ending up in their makeshift graves. As she delves deeper into a past full of hope, pain, betrayal and ultimately murder, Quinn must confront secrets closer to home, some threatening her new found happiness with Gabe while others shedding light on her parentage and possibly the source of her gifts.
The Forgotten is the second instalment of the Echoes from the Past series and spans the centuries between Medieval England and the present day. Once again the author has managed to paint an evocative picture in bringing the 14th century to life. The limited choices that many women faced in a largely patriarchal society, is once again highlighted in this instalment. However, while I had felt empathy towards the tragic Elise in The Lovers, I found myself frustrated with the choices that Petra made at times. A part of me desperately wanted her to realise that there was and never would be a future with Avery and to appreciate all that Thomas was willing to offer her. Despite this, when the moment of reckoning came as foretold in the epilogue, it was not for the reasons I was expecting. The misconceptions towards epilepsy, a condition which was woefully misunderstood at the time, unfortunately having far reaching consequences.
Quinn and Gabe really went through the wringer in this instalment, at times dominating the dual timeline story. Quinn’s search for her biological father sees her rule out another particularly nasty candidate only to learn of a possible fourth. Meanwhile Gabe learns that’s he’s the father of 4 year old Emma, whose mother has died in an car accident, leaving him with sole custody. Much of the book deals with the repercussions of this new development on their relationship as Quinn tries to piece together Petra’s life.
I received an advanced free audible copy of The Forgotten and I am voluntarily reviewing it. Again I was impressed by Wendy Wolfson’s smooth and concise narration. Her excellent pacing had me getting lost in her recitation without ever noticing the time. I recommend this series for fans of dual time mysteries, historical fiction and psychic abilities.
2014: When the skeletal remains of a woman and child are found buried face down in non consecrated ground on the fringes of a leper cemetery, Dr Quinn Allenby is assigned to the case. With little to go on other than a cross and the circumstances surrounding their burial, a punishment which is usually reserved for the truly wicked and depraved of society, Quinn attempts to piece together the events that led to them ending up in their makeshift graves. As she delves deeper into a past full of hope, pain, betrayal and ultimately murder, Quinn must confront secrets closer to home, some threatening her new found happiness with Gabe while others shedding light on her parentage and possibly the source of her gifts.
The Forgotten is the second instalment of the Echoes from the Past series and spans the centuries between Medieval England and the present day. Once again the author has managed to paint an evocative picture in bringing the 14th century to life. The limited choices that many women faced in a largely patriarchal society, is once again highlighted in this instalment. However, while I had felt empathy towards the tragic Elise in The Lovers, I found myself frustrated with the choices that Petra made at times. A part of me desperately wanted her to realise that there was and never would be a future with Avery and to appreciate all that Thomas was willing to offer her. Despite this, when the moment of reckoning came as foretold in the epilogue, it was not for the reasons I was expecting. The misconceptions towards epilepsy, a condition which was woefully misunderstood at the time, unfortunately having far reaching consequences.
Quinn and Gabe really went through the wringer in this instalment, at times dominating the dual timeline story. Quinn’s search for her biological father sees her rule out another particularly nasty candidate only to learn of a possible fourth. Meanwhile Gabe learns that’s he’s the father of 4 year old Emma, whose mother has died in an car accident, leaving him with sole custody. Much of the book deals with the repercussions of this new development on their relationship as Quinn tries to piece together Petra’s life.
I received an advanced free audible copy of The Forgotten and I am voluntarily reviewing it. Again I was impressed by Wendy Wolfson’s smooth and concise narration. Her excellent pacing had me getting lost in her recitation without ever noticing the time. I recommend this series for fans of dual time mysteries, historical fiction and psychic abilities.
June 18, 2022
(Rating 3.5) —- I dived straight into this one after finishing The Lovers as I was intrigued by Quinn and Gabe’s story as well as Quinn’s new project. However, it was Petra’s story that I ended up really loving. Like the first book it was heartbreaking knowing what her fate was as I began to really connect to her. In The Lovers Elise is young and from her often naive behaviour you can see how she would end up in the situation she does. But Petra is a grown, strong and independent woman so I was really hoping there would be a bait and switch at the end as I just didn’t want her to end that way. I also really liked learning the history of Dunwich as I haven’t heard of this before.
I do have to say that there were a few discrepancies and repetitions throughout this book that sometimes ruined the flow as they were so glaring contradictory. I feel they would have been sorted with a good edit.
Like the previous book, I have to mention the victim blaming. In this one it just seems incessant and I really struggled to see past it. It’s just so shocking to read something that goes against what we now know. It could be forgiven if it was written 30-40 years ago but this was 2014 (I think) so to think agreeing to go to someone’s hotel room means consent is baffling to me. I was willing to over look Gabe’s views on this from the first book as I thought it was just bad writing and that the author just got it wrong but it’s the same in this one and it’s really making me dislike him. And don’t get me started on Quinn’s stupidness for going to a hotel room with a known rapist!!! And this is not me being hypocritical and victim blaming, it annoyed me because it made absolutely no sense for a clever woman to put herself in that much danger. I have to admit that I think Gabe was right to be furious about that because it’s such an obviously dangerous thing to do but when arguing about it he totally lacks compassion. It’s explained away as he is just a man of fact but I just saw him as being cold and judgmental.
And don’t get me started on the friends view on having teenage boys and how girls just ‘cry rape’ - said so nonchalantly like it was a common occurrence. I’m not blind to the realities that this has happened but to say it like fact in this way really made me question if the author has an issue with rape victims as she is always shifting the blame to the victim. These issues should be acknowledged and explored but this isn’t a very deep book so why make such bold statements, especially ones that are not followed through via the plot or researched fully. After giving the author the benefit of the doubt in the first book, I just found it really hard to overlook this aspect in this book and felt I had to mention it.
I do have to say that there were a few discrepancies and repetitions throughout this book that sometimes ruined the flow as they were so glaring contradictory. I feel they would have been sorted with a good edit.
Like the previous book, I have to mention the victim blaming. In this one it just seems incessant and I really struggled to see past it. It’s just so shocking to read something that goes against what we now know. It could be forgiven if it was written 30-40 years ago but this was 2014 (I think) so to think agreeing to go to someone’s hotel room means consent is baffling to me. I was willing to over look Gabe’s views on this from the first book as I thought it was just bad writing and that the author just got it wrong but it’s the same in this one and it’s really making me dislike him. And don’t get me started on Quinn’s stupidness for going to a hotel room with a known rapist!!! And this is not me being hypocritical and victim blaming, it annoyed me because it made absolutely no sense for a clever woman to put herself in that much danger. I have to admit that I think Gabe was right to be furious about that because it’s such an obviously dangerous thing to do but when arguing about it he totally lacks compassion. It’s explained away as he is just a man of fact but I just saw him as being cold and judgmental.
And don’t get me started on the friends view on having teenage boys and how girls just ‘cry rape’ - said so nonchalantly like it was a common occurrence. I’m not blind to the realities that this has happened but to say it like fact in this way really made me question if the author has an issue with rape victims as she is always shifting the blame to the victim. These issues should be acknowledged and explored but this isn’t a very deep book so why make such bold statements, especially ones that are not followed through via the plot or researched fully. After giving the author the benefit of the doubt in the first book, I just found it really hard to overlook this aspect in this book and felt I had to mention it.
July 1, 2019
Duration: 11 hrs 18 mins.
The Forgotten, Echoes from the Past, Book 2 by Irina Shapiro is a historical romance which spans the centuries between Medieval England and the present day. Archaeologist, Dr Quinn Allenby, is a historian with a remarkable gift; she not only studies history, she can see it come alive in visions of the past when she holds personal objects belonging to the dead. As Quinn grapples with the secrets of her own history and the demands of her swiftly-changing relationship with Gabe, she becomes drawn into the story of a young woman and child who were discovered buried face-down in unconsecrated ground.
Content Warning: the protagonist was conceived during a rape and the events, perpetrators, and consequences are repeatedly referred to throughout the book.
Having enjoyed the first book in this series, The Lovers, which I reviewed earlier this year I was looking forward to catching up with Quinn and Gabe in book two. It was interesting to see their relationship grow, especially given the momentous changes that were unsuspectingly thrust upon them fairly early-on in both their relationship and the story. I thought this complication (for want of a better spoiler-free term) was fairly obvious from the moment Gabe received the phonecalls, and felt the same way about the other surprise later on in the book. It was hard to believe that Quinn had not been more proactive with regards to the second bombshell, especially considering the issues she was experiencing with Sylvia. Both surprises were a little too convenient, and not terribly consistent given how responsible and conscientious the characters generally purport to be. These developments each felt a little forced at first, but ultimately served to cement the newly affianced couple as a family by the end.
I found Gabe's vulnerability during his conversation with his mother very commendable. It was lovely to glimpse their relationship in more detail, and his sensitivity was shown to be a strength and not a weakness. Such representation is so important, and it was very sweetly done without being over the top.
Conversely, I really disliked another conversation which took place in this audiobook. I cannot expand on the context without spoilers, but was not at all comfortable with the irresponsible and unhelpful comments suggesting that women making false rape accusations are currently the biggest threat to young men. The author could have mentioned drugs, gangs, mental health struggles, or getting a girl pregnant as the life-changing and potentially devastating perils awaiting the nation's sons, but instead chose to focus on something which already recieves an inordinate amount of media coverage compared to the actual incidence of such allegations. False accusations comprise a tiny fraction of rape cases, and conviction rates for rape are still very low even with ample evidence of foul play. It could have been included for balance because of the other references to rape and sexual assault of female victims, but the very notion that false allegations warrant equal representation is an uncomfortable idea. It would have been better to leave it out entirely and would have had no impact on the story.
I felt similarly about an odd, equally unnecessary conversation between Quinn and her best friend, whose vintage clothing boutique was struggling. Their discussion about how "women want to blend in, not stand out" and all be clones of Kate Middleton felt very out of place. Quinn and Jenny ate my age, but I cannot imagine having a similar conversation with any of my peers. It was another superfluous moment which I wish the author had omitted.
At much as I disliked those minor elements of this audiobook, the good far outweighed the bad. The historical flashbacks seemed fairly well researched and painted an evocative picture of medieval life. Despite knowing from the earliest moments of the book that Petra and Edwin would meet a difficult fate, I still found myself wishing for a happier end. It was impossible not to be drawn into their heartbreak, but the hardships they endured were lightened because of the way Shapiro wove Quinn's contemporary experiences with Petra's.
The historical language was not always faithful to the period, (with a priest using the phrase "I hope we might do it again sometime" sounding more like a line from a Rom Com than the Middle Ages). But it maintained the required formality for the most-part, and was interspersed with enough period references to enhance the sense of time and place. A few of these linguistic licences were also present in Quinn's interaction with the world, as a few Americanisms crept in (such as putting her foot "on the gas pedal" not the accelerator, and calling madelines "biscuits" instead of cakes which, if it caught on, could strain European relations more than Brexit). None of this was too distracting, though, and was generally a convincing and accessible look back into the past.
The nrrator, Wendy Wolfson, once again delivered an entertaining performance. I still find Quinn's sing-song voice a little weak and wishy-washy but am beginning to notice it less as I get to know Quinn better. Wolfson coped very well with the challenge of portraying a child's voice, helping endear the listener to four-year-old Emma.
I am looking forward to seeing where Quinn's search for answers takes her next, and how the repercussions affect her nascent, fragile, family.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries with a supernatural twist, though I would urge listeners to start with Book 1, The Lovers , as it plays a very important part in setting up the series.
Read my review of Book 1, The Lovers, here
*I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
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The Forgotten, Echoes from the Past, Book 2 by Irina Shapiro is a historical romance which spans the centuries between Medieval England and the present day. Archaeologist, Dr Quinn Allenby, is a historian with a remarkable gift; she not only studies history, she can see it come alive in visions of the past when she holds personal objects belonging to the dead. As Quinn grapples with the secrets of her own history and the demands of her swiftly-changing relationship with Gabe, she becomes drawn into the story of a young woman and child who were discovered buried face-down in unconsecrated ground.
Content Warning: the protagonist was conceived during a rape and the events, perpetrators, and consequences are repeatedly referred to throughout the book.
Having enjoyed the first book in this series, The Lovers, which I reviewed earlier this year I was looking forward to catching up with Quinn and Gabe in book two. It was interesting to see their relationship grow, especially given the momentous changes that were unsuspectingly thrust upon them fairly early-on in both their relationship and the story. I thought this complication (for want of a better spoiler-free term) was fairly obvious from the moment Gabe received the phonecalls, and felt the same way about the other surprise later on in the book. It was hard to believe that Quinn had not been more proactive with regards to the second bombshell, especially considering the issues she was experiencing with Sylvia. Both surprises were a little too convenient, and not terribly consistent given how responsible and conscientious the characters generally purport to be. These developments each felt a little forced at first, but ultimately served to cement the newly affianced couple as a family by the end.
I found Gabe's vulnerability during his conversation with his mother very commendable. It was lovely to glimpse their relationship in more detail, and his sensitivity was shown to be a strength and not a weakness. Such representation is so important, and it was very sweetly done without being over the top.
Conversely, I really disliked another conversation which took place in this audiobook. I cannot expand on the context without spoilers, but was not at all comfortable with the irresponsible and unhelpful comments suggesting that women making false rape accusations are currently the biggest threat to young men. The author could have mentioned drugs, gangs, mental health struggles, or getting a girl pregnant as the life-changing and potentially devastating perils awaiting the nation's sons, but instead chose to focus on something which already recieves an inordinate amount of media coverage compared to the actual incidence of such allegations. False accusations comprise a tiny fraction of rape cases, and conviction rates for rape are still very low even with ample evidence of foul play. It could have been included for balance because of the other references to rape and sexual assault of female victims, but the very notion that false allegations warrant equal representation is an uncomfortable idea. It would have been better to leave it out entirely and would have had no impact on the story.
I felt similarly about an odd, equally unnecessary conversation between Quinn and her best friend, whose vintage clothing boutique was struggling. Their discussion about how "women want to blend in, not stand out" and all be clones of Kate Middleton felt very out of place. Quinn and Jenny ate my age, but I cannot imagine having a similar conversation with any of my peers. It was another superfluous moment which I wish the author had omitted.
At much as I disliked those minor elements of this audiobook, the good far outweighed the bad. The historical flashbacks seemed fairly well researched and painted an evocative picture of medieval life. Despite knowing from the earliest moments of the book that Petra and Edwin would meet a difficult fate, I still found myself wishing for a happier end. It was impossible not to be drawn into their heartbreak, but the hardships they endured were lightened because of the way Shapiro wove Quinn's contemporary experiences with Petra's.
The historical language was not always faithful to the period, (with a priest using the phrase "I hope we might do it again sometime" sounding more like a line from a Rom Com than the Middle Ages). But it maintained the required formality for the most-part, and was interspersed with enough period references to enhance the sense of time and place. A few of these linguistic licences were also present in Quinn's interaction with the world, as a few Americanisms crept in (such as putting her foot "on the gas pedal" not the accelerator, and calling madelines "biscuits" instead of cakes which, if it caught on, could strain European relations more than Brexit). None of this was too distracting, though, and was generally a convincing and accessible look back into the past.
The nrrator, Wendy Wolfson, once again delivered an entertaining performance. I still find Quinn's sing-song voice a little weak and wishy-washy but am beginning to notice it less as I get to know Quinn better. Wolfson coped very well with the challenge of portraying a child's voice, helping endear the listener to four-year-old Emma.
I am looking forward to seeing where Quinn's search for answers takes her next, and how the repercussions affect her nascent, fragile, family.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries with a supernatural twist, though I would urge listeners to start with Book 1, The Lovers , as it plays a very important part in setting up the series.
Read my review of Book 1, The Lovers, here
*I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
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June 8, 2018
I made a number of general comments about the series and the author in The Lovers (Echos from the Past Book 1) review so I won't repeat them here.
This series intertwines the lives of two women - a contemporary archeologist and a medieval English widow. I thought she did a better job with the first book, but this was enjoyable too. Her style of writing is easy to read and she does a good job developing empathy for her characters. I found the ending of this historical story to be too sudden, which may have been intentional but struck me as being presented prematurely. The books are easy to read and yet intelligent. She does a nice job of developing a sense of historical details while making relatable historical figures.
I've started book three of the series and looked into other titles. Her offerings seem very formulaic, so while I have enjoyed the books I read, I'm finding I have less enthusiasm for this third book and probably need to pace myself instead of burning through everything she's written like I tend to do when I find an author with a writing style that consumes easily.
This series intertwines the lives of two women - a contemporary archeologist and a medieval English widow. I thought she did a better job with the first book, but this was enjoyable too. Her style of writing is easy to read and she does a good job developing empathy for her characters. I found the ending of this historical story to be too sudden, which may have been intentional but struck me as being presented prematurely. The books are easy to read and yet intelligent. She does a nice job of developing a sense of historical details while making relatable historical figures.
I've started book three of the series and looked into other titles. Her offerings seem very formulaic, so while I have enjoyed the books I read, I'm finding I have less enthusiasm for this third book and probably need to pace myself instead of burning through everything she's written like I tend to do when I find an author with a writing style that consumes easily.
May 29, 2019
Incomplete ending
Too much is left hanging for this book to stand alone. Other than long personal reflections, the story line was interesting, but the end was anti-climatic. Disappointing.
Too much is left hanging for this book to stand alone. Other than long personal reflections, the story line was interesting, but the end was anti-climatic. Disappointing.
May 20, 2020
I can’t continue reading. I’m not interested in feeling depressed about a mother and child dead and apparently not treated well.
August 31, 2018
In 2014, Dr. Quinn Allenby’s life is falling into place in some aspects and falling apart in others. While her engagement to Gabe is like living in a dream and her newly forged relationship with her birth mother is off to a timid, yet warm start, the hunt for her biological father is still on and each candidate leaves something to be desired. But it’s not only her uncertain parentage that leaves her feeling uneasy. An accident leaves Gabe with a series of obstacles and trials that forces her to put her needs on the back burner to support him and take on a new role she wasn’t prepared for.
Despite the whirlwind of her personal life, she needs to keep working on the Echoes from the Past television series. It brings her to a pair of skeletons, a woman and a young boy who had been buried face down in unholy ground. Whatever their crimes had been, it had been bad enough to cast shame over them for all eternity. Quinn has to use her gifts to find out who they were in life and how they ended up in the makeshift graves.
In 1346, Petra has just buried her husband, who was a good provider, but an abusive man who had no kindness in his heart. She’s left to care for her son and two young daughters alone and she takes a position as a companion to a sharp, old woman she once served in her youth. Petra’s mother pushes her to remarry, but Petra had only loved one man in her youth, and he had left her pregnant and alone, leaving her to marry in haste to hide her growing belly. An eligible man now wants to marry her, but the reappearance of her first love clouds her mind and before long she’ll need to choose between a man she doesn’t love who can offer her the world, or the man she’s always loved that she can never be with, the father of her only son.
Both Quinn and Petra are strong women who want to follow their hearts and find they true paths, but when their roads intersect in two different times, Quinn finds that Petra’s tale may be too much to bear.
Shapiro has done it again. I listened to this book every spare minute and couldn’t get enough. When I was in Quinn’s car, driving through Scotland, I worried about Petra. And when I was following Petra to market in her seaside village, I wondered what Quinn was up to. It’s easy to get lost in the characters since you’re inserted so firmly into their minds. It also makes their tragedies more painful, but that’s what makes a story stick with you.
At times, I wanted to shake Petra for her choices. As a historian, I understood firmly what her life would be like without a good husband and I wanted to push her into her wealthy suitor’s arms so she could finally have some peace. I wanted her son to get a good apprenticeship and her daughters have high dowries so they might pick their husbands. But she was in love, and although I didn’t want her to suffer for it, I knew she had to live her life her own way.
This book is perfect for mystery lovers, history fans, people that want some thrills with their romance, peppered with dramatics. I’m waiting with baited breath for book three in audiobook, but since the book itself is already on Amazon, I might just jump the gun.
Despite the whirlwind of her personal life, she needs to keep working on the Echoes from the Past television series. It brings her to a pair of skeletons, a woman and a young boy who had been buried face down in unholy ground. Whatever their crimes had been, it had been bad enough to cast shame over them for all eternity. Quinn has to use her gifts to find out who they were in life and how they ended up in the makeshift graves.
In 1346, Petra has just buried her husband, who was a good provider, but an abusive man who had no kindness in his heart. She’s left to care for her son and two young daughters alone and she takes a position as a companion to a sharp, old woman she once served in her youth. Petra’s mother pushes her to remarry, but Petra had only loved one man in her youth, and he had left her pregnant and alone, leaving her to marry in haste to hide her growing belly. An eligible man now wants to marry her, but the reappearance of her first love clouds her mind and before long she’ll need to choose between a man she doesn’t love who can offer her the world, or the man she’s always loved that she can never be with, the father of her only son.
Both Quinn and Petra are strong women who want to follow their hearts and find they true paths, but when their roads intersect in two different times, Quinn finds that Petra’s tale may be too much to bear.
Shapiro has done it again. I listened to this book every spare minute and couldn’t get enough. When I was in Quinn’s car, driving through Scotland, I worried about Petra. And when I was following Petra to market in her seaside village, I wondered what Quinn was up to. It’s easy to get lost in the characters since you’re inserted so firmly into their minds. It also makes their tragedies more painful, but that’s what makes a story stick with you.
At times, I wanted to shake Petra for her choices. As a historian, I understood firmly what her life would be like without a good husband and I wanted to push her into her wealthy suitor’s arms so she could finally have some peace. I wanted her son to get a good apprenticeship and her daughters have high dowries so they might pick their husbands. But she was in love, and although I didn’t want her to suffer for it, I knew she had to live her life her own way.
This book is perfect for mystery lovers, history fans, people that want some thrills with their romance, peppered with dramatics. I’m waiting with baited breath for book three in audiobook, but since the book itself is already on Amazon, I might just jump the gun.
September 7, 2018
The Forgotten follows two separate stories - Quinn, a modern day woman with the "gift" of seeing into the past, and Petra, a woman from the fourteenth century, whose grave Quinn is called on to investigate. As an anthropologist and historian, Quinn is fascinated by the past. But she also has a gift - when she holds an object that belonged to someone, she can "see" their life, even in the distant past. The woman buried in the grave was murdered and put in an unconsecrated plot. Why? Using her gift, Quinn relives the woman's last year of life - a year full of betrayal, pain, and joy - and ultimately, murder. The author brings the fourteenth century alive - the people, their lives - and the story of Petra, the murdered woman, is fascinating. Her husband, a lout and a brute, has just died, and Petra is alone with her three children and elderly mother and must find some source of income. Petra is educated, and comes from a good family, despite falling on hard times, so she is hired by a wealthy widow to be a companion and to read to her. Petra has a secret, however. And it will ulitmately be the cause of her unhappy fate. Meanwhile, Quinn, is newly engaged to Gabe and trying to find her biological father, the man who raped her mother and then left her. Gabe doesn't believe Quinn's mother's story, but he tried to help Quinn as much as he can. Then, something happens that rocks both Quinn and Gabe's worlds.Without spoiling the story, I'll just say that Quinn and Gabe must come to grips with their new situation, and it isn't easy. I enjoyed the story, and the narrator was wonderful. Listening to it was like riding an emotional rollarcoaster. Readers who liked Anya Seton's "Green Darkness" and lovers of Barbara Erskine will definitely enjoy this book!
August 30, 2018
I love love love this series! I was captivated with the Lovers which is book 1 of the series and fell in Love with Quinn immediately. I really like the two different time periods hundreds of years apart and the unhorse does a very good job weaving in and out of the two. The story is so tragically heartbreaking that I actually cried several tikes in both this book and the first book as well. I love the detail the author provides as it makes the story so visual to me (if that makes sense) and once again I don’t think there is a more perfect narrator for this series then Wendy Wolfson. I am very picky about my narrators and don’t rate them a 5 easily but she IS the perfect choice for this book. I couldn’t wait for the next book so I bought the ebook for book 3 so I could read the series when I was unable to listen. Crazy I know but that’s how much I love the series. I would love to see this turned in to a movie and I can’t wait four more days for book 4 to come out!!!!!
July 19, 2021
Just like the first book, this one has two stories told simultaneously.
In the contemporary one, we follow Quinn as she goes on looking for her real father after having eliminated one out of the four men her birth mother told her about in the first book. She's also thrust in a new role as her fiancé learns he has a 4yo daughter he didn't know about. And of course she tries to discover the secret of the old bones unearthed outside the cemetery in a little town.
In the past we follow Petra, a young widow, and her son Edwyn who has frequent seizures in a time when it's seen as the demon's manifestation. Of course we know how it's going to end, and seeing the characters' journey was painful as Petra seems to take lots of bad decisions - but honestly with the period's narrow-mindedness, it couldn't end well.
A pleasant read even if I preferred the first volume.
In the contemporary one, we follow Quinn as she goes on looking for her real father after having eliminated one out of the four men her birth mother told her about in the first book. She's also thrust in a new role as her fiancé learns he has a 4yo daughter he didn't know about. And of course she tries to discover the secret of the old bones unearthed outside the cemetery in a little town.
In the past we follow Petra, a young widow, and her son Edwyn who has frequent seizures in a time when it's seen as the demon's manifestation. Of course we know how it's going to end, and seeing the characters' journey was painful as Petra seems to take lots of bad decisions - but honestly with the period's narrow-mindedness, it couldn't end well.
A pleasant read even if I preferred the first volume.
May 13, 2021
A good follow up
I’ve enjoyed the series and want to continue reading the story but probably because I only want to find out who Quinn’s father is. I find the common thread of the past rather sad and morbid and it would be nice if there was a better ending to the lives of those people Quinn ‘meets’ from the past. Perhaps that might come with future books in the series. Aside from the story, there are some proofreading issues in the book and the formatting of the paragraphs ie indenting as well as line breaks between new paragraphs made the initial reading difficult and off putting. The latter really needs to be addressed.
I’ve enjoyed the series and want to continue reading the story but probably because I only want to find out who Quinn’s father is. I find the common thread of the past rather sad and morbid and it would be nice if there was a better ending to the lives of those people Quinn ‘meets’ from the past. Perhaps that might come with future books in the series. Aside from the story, there are some proofreading issues in the book and the formatting of the paragraphs ie indenting as well as line breaks between new paragraphs made the initial reading difficult and off putting. The latter really needs to be addressed.
September 5, 2018
I found both this book, and its predecessor, The Lovers, hard to put down.
I really enjoyed the parts set in the past, even if I knew the outcome was sad.
I am having a harder time connecting with Quinn and Gabe.
But this series is well worth the read!
*SPOILERS*
I kept finding myself feeling anger towards Petra for thinking with her vagina rather than her brain.
Avery was a selfish user! Thomas would have taken care of her and protected her. But I have always gone for the forbidden, and I understand Petra's reasoning after having lived such a hard bitter life.
I really enjoyed the parts set in the past, even if I knew the outcome was sad.
I am having a harder time connecting with Quinn and Gabe.
But this series is well worth the read!
*SPOILERS*
I kept finding myself feeling anger towards Petra for thinking with her vagina rather than her brain.
Avery was a selfish user! Thomas would have taken care of her and protected her. But I have always gone for the forbidden, and I understand Petra's reasoning after having lived such a hard bitter life.
June 9, 2019
Audio book review
Book 2 in the series. Even though I haven’t listen to book 1 this still is a great story .
I really like the two different time periods hundreds of years apart , that touching things will bring you to see what happened during that time period past and present together. The Present day is about a woman named Quinn who is gifted with seeing the past . Once Quinn touches an object she connects to Gabe and that is when everything falls into place
The narrator Wendy was good. Her voice is clear and strong
Book 2 in the series. Even though I haven’t listen to book 1 this still is a great story .
I really like the two different time periods hundreds of years apart , that touching things will bring you to see what happened during that time period past and present together. The Present day is about a woman named Quinn who is gifted with seeing the past . Once Quinn touches an object she connects to Gabe and that is when everything falls into place
The narrator Wendy was good. Her voice is clear and strong
June 20, 2019
The second book in the "Echoes From the Past" series. The main character, Dr. Quinn Allenby has her hands full with her personal life let alone the one she is "seeing" from the past. She only needs a personal object from a subject who has passed to see their life and death. I enjoyed the first one a little more than this one but this one was still worth reading. Am going to read at least one more as there are a few details I want to see come to pass but don't think I will read the entire series.
February 25, 2022
This is the second book in the series 'Echos of the Past'
Dr Quinn Allensby, an archaeologist, is still on the case looking for her paternal father. At the same time as putting together the mystery of the cause of death of Pitra and her son Edwin in Dunwich in the 11th century, Gabe, her boyfriend has found out he is the father of Emma, a four year old who's mother has tragically died. Quinn's natural mother, Sylvia, has lied to her about the circumstances of her conception.
Already finding out 3 possible men are not her father through DNA, Quinn is adamant to find her father.
Dr Quinn Allensby, an archaeologist, is still on the case looking for her paternal father. At the same time as putting together the mystery of the cause of death of Pitra and her son Edwin in Dunwich in the 11th century, Gabe, her boyfriend has found out he is the father of Emma, a four year old who's mother has tragically died. Quinn's natural mother, Sylvia, has lied to her about the circumstances of her conception.
Already finding out 3 possible men are not her father through DNA, Quinn is adamant to find her father.
July 19, 2022
I hate to write a bad review. But this book was an absolute bore. Nothing really exciting happen except in the beginning in the past and then gave us basically like a big baby throughout the whole thing and not wanting to talk to Quinn, and Quinn acted like an idiot the whole time basically. And it’s just made me mad. I hope the next book is good like the first one was because if it’s not I’m going to stop the series and not read any more.
I hope the strong characters that I met in the book one will return in at book three because they definitely were not in the book two.
I hope the strong characters that I met in the book one will return in at book three because they definitely were not in the book two.
January 23, 2019
Irina Shapiro masterfully weaves past and present together with two stories in this Echoes of the Past series. With each book I am more in love with this series. There is no one else who writes like her pulling me in to not one story but two. There is no doubt that this is one of my all time favorites series and Irina Shapiro is by far my favorite author. I really wish this series would be made in to a Master Piece Theater movie
April 4, 2022
Lost the way
I am a big fan of Irina Shapiro. Sadly I am disappointed in this second book. I was looking forward to the "The Forgotten Series" . While I enjoy the 2 storylines, past and present, the story line of the present characters in this book, which I wanted to follow, as they had gotten together, turned me off. Too many sorted details of past history that dragged the story down.
I am a big fan of Irina Shapiro. Sadly I am disappointed in this second book. I was looking forward to the "The Forgotten Series" . While I enjoy the 2 storylines, past and present, the story line of the present characters in this book, which I wanted to follow, as they had gotten together, turned me off. Too many sorted details of past history that dragged the story down.
June 22, 2023
I really hoped I would like The Forgotten, but I actually liked it less than The Lovers. I don't think I will continue with this series.
November 27, 2023
Sina of the father
Petra and her son Edwin's burials are clearly evidence not only of foul play but their face down position speak a tale of superstition and evil. Dr. Allenby has no clue as to their identity or story except for an iron cross found by Petra a mid 14th century woman. Allenby is still on a quest to find her biological father, is pregnant with her fiance's child. A riveting read nearly as good as Book 1 in the series
Petra and her son Edwin's burials are clearly evidence not only of foul play but their face down position speak a tale of superstition and evil. Dr. Allenby has no clue as to their identity or story except for an iron cross found by Petra a mid 14th century woman. Allenby is still on a quest to find her biological father, is pregnant with her fiance's child. A riveting read nearly as good as Book 1 in the series
January 12, 2018
A good series
This is the second book in the forgotten series . It's based on past and present . Present day is about a woman named Quinn that has special powers that can see in the past when holding that object . It usually
Centers around the middle ages . The other part is another Quinn trying to find who her biological parents are and who has this gift or curse.
This is the second book in the forgotten series . It's based on past and present . Present day is about a woman named Quinn that has special powers that can see in the past when holding that object . It usually
Centers around the middle ages . The other part is another Quinn trying to find who her biological parents are and who has this gift or curse.
July 25, 2020
This book did not let me down.
Absolutely spellbinding. I found f myself thinking about it when I wasn't able to read. The author is a must read. Keep these s coming
I found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't able to read. Lost sleep reading this. Keep these stories coming. I would highly recommend these books to anyone interested in the unexplained.
Absolutely spellbinding. I found f myself thinking about it when I wasn't able to read. The author is a must read. Keep these s coming
I found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't able to read. Lost sleep reading this. Keep these stories coming. I would highly recommend these books to anyone interested in the unexplained.
October 17, 2021
This was a great second book in the series but lacked some umph
I really liked the first in the series this book however lacked the page turner element the first book did, I am under why but it just felt more sluggish. It was a very good storyline I just felt that it got really good a bit too late-night the last 10%! But worth a read as part of the series.
I really liked the first in the series this book however lacked the page turner element the first book did, I am under why but it just felt more sluggish. It was a very good storyline I just felt that it got really good a bit too late-night the last 10%! But worth a read as part of the series.
November 24, 2022
Victim Blaming
There was entirely too much talk about false accusations about sexual assault. A study done in the UK showed that a man was more likely to be sexually assaulted himself than falsely accused. This book made it sound ok to blame the victim. It isn’t. I am done with this series.
There was entirely too much talk about false accusations about sexual assault. A study done in the UK showed that a man was more likely to be sexually assaulted himself than falsely accused. This book made it sound ok to blame the victim. It isn’t. I am done with this series.
January 30, 2023
Sinful love, superstition and death
Quinn the archeologist with a gift of seeing the past is again called to uncover the truth about two recently found skeletons. As she painfully learns about their unfortunate history her own life is full of surprises and Quinn is forced to search into her own past to find the answers she is looking for. Another touching saga.
Quinn the archeologist with a gift of seeing the past is again called to uncover the truth about two recently found skeletons. As she painfully learns about their unfortunate history her own life is full of surprises and Quinn is forced to search into her own past to find the answers she is looking for. Another touching saga.
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