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Twisted Cedar Mysteries #2
Forgotten
After a shocking secret is uncovered in Twisted Cedars, Oregon, fresh trouble surfaces.
Sheriff Wade MacKay is fishing on the Rogue River when he comes across a cargo truck crashed off the side of a winding mountain road. The driver is dead. The sole passenger, a woman in her early thirties, is unconscious with a severe head injury. When she comes to the next day at the hospital, she is suffering from amnesia. Since she carried no ID, there is no clue to her identity.
Judging by the woman’s bruises, which pre-date the accident, Wade suspects she was running from danger when she hitched a ride with the truck driver. But how can he protect her, when he doesn’t even know who she is? Wade’s office is already working overtime, investigating the death of one of his former school friends. While true crime writer, Dougal Lachlan, is avoiding writing a book that would force him to confront his inner demons.
Sheriff Wade MacKay is fishing on the Rogue River when he comes across a cargo truck crashed off the side of a winding mountain road. The driver is dead. The sole passenger, a woman in her early thirties, is unconscious with a severe head injury. When she comes to the next day at the hospital, she is suffering from amnesia. Since she carried no ID, there is no clue to her identity.
Judging by the woman’s bruises, which pre-date the accident, Wade suspects she was running from danger when she hitched a ride with the truck driver. But how can he protect her, when he doesn’t even know who she is? Wade’s office is already working overtime, investigating the death of one of his former school friends. While true crime writer, Dougal Lachlan, is avoiding writing a book that would force him to confront his inner demons.
228 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2015
1132 people are currently reading
1122 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Carmichael
107 books831 followersUSA Today bestselling author C. J. Carmichael has written over 50 novels, including two mystery series, as well as romance and women’s fiction. Three of her novels have been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, including A Bramble House Christmas. A film version of A Bramble House Christmas premiered as a Hallmark Mystery movie in 2017.
Married, with two grown daughters and some adorable grandchildren, C. J. and her husband and their Welsh Springer Jazz divide their time between their home in Calgary, Alberta and the family cottage on Flathead Lake, Montana. C.J. enjoys giving workshops to aspiring authors--her talk on writing a Christmas story is a favorite.
Visit C.J.'s website at http://CJCarmichael.com
For information on C. J.’s new releases and giveaways please sign up for her newsletter.
https://cjcarmichael.com/contact/#sub...
Married, with two grown daughters and some adorable grandchildren, C. J. and her husband and their Welsh Springer Jazz divide their time between their home in Calgary, Alberta and the family cottage on Flathead Lake, Montana. C.J. enjoys giving workshops to aspiring authors--her talk on writing a Christmas story is a favorite.
Visit C.J.'s website at http://CJCarmichael.com
For information on C. J.’s new releases and giveaways please sign up for her newsletter.
https://cjcarmichael.com/contact/#sub...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 3, 2016
Argh another cliffhanger! I knew but still would like the 3rd book to be available NOW. LOL. Am enjoying this series.
July 13, 2017
This is a typical second book in a trilogy. The storylines that started in book one are continued, but nothing really reaches a resolution. More details are revealed, but again, the mystery really isn't solved. Everybody's love life is still up in the air, although at this point you may have a favorite couple you are cheering for. The set up for the third book occurs.
In Forgotten, Dougal, the main character from book one, moves back to his hometown in Oregon from New York after discovering that the old guy who was cat sitting for him was, cue suspenseful music, actually his ex-con father. That little tidbit right there moved the entire series from somewhat believable if formulaic contemporary romance solidly into soap opera territory. Continue reading at your own risk. As book two continues, despite being in the same town, instead of thousands of miles away, Dougal still can't decide whether he should commit to a relationship with the librarian. He spends most of this book waffling about it, in between sex scenes.
Meanwhile, the main storyline of the first book, the cold case murders of the librarians, takes a back seat to a fourth storyline, prominently featuring the town sheriff, another one of Dougal's high school buddies. The sheriff, Wade, has had a crush on Dougal's sister, Jamie, since high school and has done absolutely nothing about it in fifteen years despite the fact that they have both lived in the same town together for practically the whole time. He continues to do nothing about it in book two and, instead, spends his time trying to unravel the mystery of a young woman who has amnesia following a suspicious motor vehicle accident. In fact, the whole town gets wrapped up in this mystery of the young woman and the issue of whether Jamie's now husband, Kyle, will get shipped off to prison for the accidental murder and illegal burial of his first wife, whose grave was discovered in book one, gets shoved to the back burner. As usual, the kids get caught in the crossfire, and Kyle's poor twins spend book two getting fought over by various relatives until they are shipped off to summer camp.
The third storyline from book one, Dougal's father and his background, also takes center stage in book two as the characters try to figure out if everything that is going on can somehow be connected. I won't spoil what mystery there is and say whether or not they figure it out. Suffice it to say that the soap opera vibe continues. There was, however, just enough authentic mystery left that I decided to risk book three, just to see how things would turn out.
In Forgotten, Dougal, the main character from book one, moves back to his hometown in Oregon from New York after discovering that the old guy who was cat sitting for him was, cue suspenseful music, actually his ex-con father. That little tidbit right there moved the entire series from somewhat believable if formulaic contemporary romance solidly into soap opera territory. Continue reading at your own risk. As book two continues, despite being in the same town, instead of thousands of miles away, Dougal still can't decide whether he should commit to a relationship with the librarian. He spends most of this book waffling about it, in between sex scenes.
Meanwhile, the main storyline of the first book, the cold case murders of the librarians, takes a back seat to a fourth storyline, prominently featuring the town sheriff, another one of Dougal's high school buddies. The sheriff, Wade, has had a crush on Dougal's sister, Jamie, since high school and has done absolutely nothing about it in fifteen years despite the fact that they have both lived in the same town together for practically the whole time. He continues to do nothing about it in book two and, instead, spends his time trying to unravel the mystery of a young woman who has amnesia following a suspicious motor vehicle accident. In fact, the whole town gets wrapped up in this mystery of the young woman and the issue of whether Jamie's now husband, Kyle, will get shipped off to prison for the accidental murder and illegal burial of his first wife, whose grave was discovered in book one, gets shoved to the back burner. As usual, the kids get caught in the crossfire, and Kyle's poor twins spend book two getting fought over by various relatives until they are shipped off to summer camp.
The third storyline from book one, Dougal's father and his background, also takes center stage in book two as the characters try to figure out if everything that is going on can somehow be connected. I won't spoil what mystery there is and say whether or not they figure it out. Suffice it to say that the soap opera vibe continues. There was, however, just enough authentic mystery left that I decided to risk book three, just to see how things would turn out.
January 10, 2016
CJ Carmichael has done it again. I signed up to read this book through Lola's blog tours and my only regret is that I have to wait a month for the conclusion of the series.
The second installment in the Twisted Cedars series, Forgotten follows Dougal Lachlan as he is drawn into the powerful mystery surrounding his hometown. This time, a new comer is thrown into the mix and Dougal is on a path he would rather not head down. Refusing to give the emailer feeding him information the power to force a story out of him, Dougal stays in his cottage, but decides to derail his non-fiction by proposing to his agent to write something a little less true and (in his mind) a lot more compelling. But, as he ventures away from his true calling, things in Twisted Cedars begin to go awry and Sheriff Wade MacKay is left with more work than he knows what to do with.
Then comes the pretty, but banged up Jane Doe to town and the course is set for the perfect amount of mayhem to draw Dougal back into the world of investigative writing. With the details piling up against his former friend and brother-in-law Kyle Quinpool, Dougal develops a theory, one he prays is wrong and leaves him with no choice but to reestablish a relationship with the sister he barely tolerated as a child.
I can't say more without ruining the end, but OMG, the plot twists, the subtle turns, the added layers of mystery with the turn of every gripping page... AMAZING! Again, this is a cliff-hanger, but I find myself excited about the month before the release of Exposed. I want to mull this story over a bit and re-read it again in a few days (YEP. IT'S THAT GOOD) just to catch the things I know CJ Carmichael stuck in that I might have missed.
This is one for the read many times shelf. I cannot say enough how I enjoyed this book and cannot wait for Exposed! This is a true 5 star read as it is a well-crafted mystery that will leave you wanting more!
The second installment in the Twisted Cedars series, Forgotten follows Dougal Lachlan as he is drawn into the powerful mystery surrounding his hometown. This time, a new comer is thrown into the mix and Dougal is on a path he would rather not head down. Refusing to give the emailer feeding him information the power to force a story out of him, Dougal stays in his cottage, but decides to derail his non-fiction by proposing to his agent to write something a little less true and (in his mind) a lot more compelling. But, as he ventures away from his true calling, things in Twisted Cedars begin to go awry and Sheriff Wade MacKay is left with more work than he knows what to do with.
Then comes the pretty, but banged up Jane Doe to town and the course is set for the perfect amount of mayhem to draw Dougal back into the world of investigative writing. With the details piling up against his former friend and brother-in-law Kyle Quinpool, Dougal develops a theory, one he prays is wrong and leaves him with no choice but to reestablish a relationship with the sister he barely tolerated as a child.
I can't say more without ruining the end, but OMG, the plot twists, the subtle turns, the added layers of mystery with the turn of every gripping page... AMAZING! Again, this is a cliff-hanger, but I find myself excited about the month before the release of Exposed. I want to mull this story over a bit and re-read it again in a few days (YEP. IT'S THAT GOOD) just to catch the things I know CJ Carmichael stuck in that I might have missed.
This is one for the read many times shelf. I cannot say enough how I enjoyed this book and cannot wait for Exposed! This is a true 5 star read as it is a well-crafted mystery that will leave you wanting more!
December 13, 2021
Another great yet quirky mystery that leaves me anxious for book 3!
March 7, 2016
Enjoyed this book as well. This one had a lot of typos. Probably needs to be proofed again, hopefully it is just the Kindle version.
December 25, 2017
Hm, a little redundant because the author seemed to be trying to make it extra clear what was going on. Not sure why I like this book so much. I guess because it's easy to read and leads me right along. I'm no good at solving mysteries. ^^; I do like the bulid up in this series. At first I was a little annoyed that the first book didn't wrap everything up, but I'm really enjoying this series anyway.
November 14, 2019
What a story.. You all need to read the 3 book series about Twisted Cedar. It was an eye opener for sure.
June 3, 2017
Excellent!
Good story. I enjoyed every bit of it. I'm not sure if I want to spend anymore money on this mystery tho. Maybe later.
Good story. I enjoyed every bit of it. I'm not sure if I want to spend anymore money on this mystery tho. Maybe later.
January 2, 2025
Enjoyed - just bought #3 in the series - can't wait to find out all the secrets!
February 5, 2018
Picking up a couple weeks after the first book, something still doesn't sit right with Dougal. Is his father still out there? What really happened the night Daisy died and who is to blame? And where in all of this do the murdered librarians fit in?
June 21, 2017
Can't believe I paid $$ for this... it was rereading the first book over and over with just a small addition of a new story... I will not pay MORE $$ to find out the ending that continues in the 3rd book- because I'm sure it'll recap the first 2 books over and over... very disappointed. I liked the characters and the beginning storyline - maybe should've combine the 3 books in one and just told the story once!
January 3, 2018
Forgotten the second trilogy was every bit as good as Buried the first. I love the fact that the book doesn’t reach a conclusion at the end The characters are still believable,complex and strangely comforting and homely. I’m looking forward to starting the next and final one. I’ve a feeling there’s more of a twist at the end, and who were are being led to believe isn’t who it is.
December 11, 2015
FORGOTTEN
I can see this going two different ways. I only hope Dougal is who and what I want him to be. If not I'm gonna be upset. Waiting for next book.
I can see this going two different ways. I only hope Dougal is who and what I want him to be. If not I'm gonna be upset. Waiting for next book.
October 17, 2020
As is often the case, book two is not as good as gook one. Stories fell like they are being dragged out to push the characters into a specific direction and that’s exactly what happens. Dougal could have decided to write about his father after book one, making this installment essentially unnecessary. However, we are getting to see Dougal further invested into a new life and the people around him, something he’s purposely avoided, making the stakes so much higher.
I figured out who Birdie/Joelle was as soon as Dougal’s name was found in her pocket at the accident, although the author did a good job of making the reader wonder if it was Liz for just a moment. What I didn’t figure out right away was who killed her daughter. My brain hadn’t initially conceived of that kind of evil when we are told an infant is missing.
Jamie is in big trouble and I cringe in every scene she’s in just waiting for it to happen. At least it won’t be at Kyle’s hands, I don’t think. There is more to learn about his wife’s case, and I’m anxious to find out what it is. Has Jamie told the police about the box of Daisy’s things that she found then went missing? Will the children be interviewed to see if they ever overheard the adults discussing the cover up? Why did Muriel leave Jim? We better not be left hanging!
It’s pretty clear that when Ed finds out about Charlotte, she’s the next librarian to meet with a red scarf. And what about the Librarian Conference? Wasn’t that supposed to have happened by now? Charlotte hasn’t heard from her mother’s librarian friend from the first book in a long time, but I had initially considered her a suspect, having been at all the conferences, or at least involved some how. I think that her character needs to be brought back in in the last book.
Amos knows more than he’s letting on, and so does Stella. There’s lots to be tied up in the last book. Even if the plot and character development weren’t as strong in this installment of the trilogy, I still enjoy the writer’s style and hope I’m not disappointed by how it all comes together.
I figured out who Birdie/Joelle was as soon as Dougal’s name was found in her pocket at the accident, although the author did a good job of making the reader wonder if it was Liz for just a moment. What I didn’t figure out right away was who killed her daughter. My brain hadn’t initially conceived of that kind of evil when we are told an infant is missing.
Jamie is in big trouble and I cringe in every scene she’s in just waiting for it to happen. At least it won’t be at Kyle’s hands, I don’t think. There is more to learn about his wife’s case, and I’m anxious to find out what it is. Has Jamie told the police about the box of Daisy’s things that she found then went missing? Will the children be interviewed to see if they ever overheard the adults discussing the cover up? Why did Muriel leave Jim? We better not be left hanging!
It’s pretty clear that when Ed finds out about Charlotte, she’s the next librarian to meet with a red scarf. And what about the Librarian Conference? Wasn’t that supposed to have happened by now? Charlotte hasn’t heard from her mother’s librarian friend from the first book in a long time, but I had initially considered her a suspect, having been at all the conferences, or at least involved some how. I think that her character needs to be brought back in in the last book.
Amos knows more than he’s letting on, and so does Stella. There’s lots to be tied up in the last book. Even if the plot and character development weren’t as strong in this installment of the trilogy, I still enjoy the writer’s style and hope I’m not disappointed by how it all comes together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2017
This is a compelling read in the 1st book. You get interested in the characters and the mystery but as the 1st book ends there are a lot of loose ends. I enjoyed the series less as I reached the 3rd book. Basically you have to buy the whole Twisted Cedars Trilogy to learn the entire story and the original 1st book "Buried" mystery isn't solved until the last book. This trilogy should have been published as one book. I'm getting really tired of paying $16.00 (trilogy) or more for substandard stories. The last books are always repetitive and slow. I'd love it if the authors that publish like this would put their story(s) in one book, develop the characters by giving each one their own identity instead of them all looking so flat that one "face & voice" blends into the other. The only character in this series worth reading about is Dougal but even he falls flat by book 3.
September 8, 2024
After reading and enjoying Buried, I was eager to read Forgotten. Crime writer Dougal Lachlan returned to his hometown, Twisted Cedars, looking for information on four murdered librarians in the 1970s. Then he discovered Daisy Hammond-Quinpool's remains. Did his sister Jamie's new husband kill Daisy, who was his first wife and the mother of his twins? Now Dougal's girl friend Charlotte Hammond is the caregiver to the twins since she is their aunt and next of kin. While Sheriff Wade MacKay is busy dealing with Daisy's murder, he comes across a truck accident. The driver is dead and the woman in the passenger seat has amnesia. Dougal seems to think that his estranged father is somehow involved in the tragedies happening in Twisted Cedars. Forgotten kept me entertained from start to finish. Now I am ready for the conclusion to be revealed in the last book in this trilogy!
July 29, 2021
Writer has lots of good ideas but his end goal is to get you to buy his next book which will then get you to buy his next book. Why not combine all three books and leave out some of the wine, sex, and fluff. The three books themselves are not that long. Too many authors are doing the same thing. Three or four books of 180 to 225 pages that are tied together when they should be one 350 to 450 page one volume. The Ebooks may be the reason for this style of trying to interest a person with a freebie that doesn’t really end. Then to have closure you need to buy two or three more books. If I want a 150 page book I’ll buy a western. They always end with the villain full of 45 slugs and the hero riding off with the damsel. No wine just beer and whiskey of an unknown brand.
March 19, 2017
Very good!
As this tale picks up where the first volume left off, it continued to hold my interest, enough so that I will be reading the 3rd and final "chapter." But whereas the first book of this trilogy ended in such a way that if I had chosen not to continue by reading this second volume, I could easily have left it at that, and just made up an ending in my mind and been perfectly satisfied. That is not the case with "Forgotten." This part of the story does not stand alone. It truly is a "cliff hanger" to anyone that likes their ends nice and tidy and their flowers all in a row. So as a warning, more than likely if you continue into Book 2- "Forgotten," you might just as well buy Book 3 - "Exposed" while your at it. You're going to be wanting it anyway.
After all is said an done, I have very much enjoyed this tale so far. The characters are very well written and the lovely little town sounds like a delightful place to live, other than having a serial murder in it's midst. But I'm sure that eventually our "hero" Dougal Lachlan will figure it all out and deliver the villain to the authorities one way or another. Can't wait to find out. :)
As this tale picks up where the first volume left off, it continued to hold my interest, enough so that I will be reading the 3rd and final "chapter." But whereas the first book of this trilogy ended in such a way that if I had chosen not to continue by reading this second volume, I could easily have left it at that, and just made up an ending in my mind and been perfectly satisfied. That is not the case with "Forgotten." This part of the story does not stand alone. It truly is a "cliff hanger" to anyone that likes their ends nice and tidy and their flowers all in a row. So as a warning, more than likely if you continue into Book 2- "Forgotten," you might just as well buy Book 3 - "Exposed" while your at it. You're going to be wanting it anyway.
After all is said an done, I have very much enjoyed this tale so far. The characters are very well written and the lovely little town sounds like a delightful place to live, other than having a serial murder in it's midst. But I'm sure that eventually our "hero" Dougal Lachlan will figure it all out and deliver the villain to the authorities one way or another. Can't wait to find out. :)
January 8, 2018
The second in the series opens with the Sheriff coming upon a gruesome accident. The driver is dead and a mysterious young woman in a coma but when she awakens, she can't remember anything about her life. As she struggles to regain her memory, and the sheriff tries to find out who she is, Doughal Lachlan tries to distance himself from his disturbed, manipulative father. His father came back into Doughal's life, claiming to have killed four librarians and wanting Doughal to write his story. When Doughal refuses to cooperate, his father takes steps to send him a gruesome incentive. Another amazing page burner. I know I won't get any sleep until I finish this series!
September 4, 2024
I’m really enjoying this series. Engaging; solid plot; good balance between the overall arc and the self-contained mystery in this volume, which isn’t necessarily easy to do. But: why can’t authors get someone to read their works for continuity issues? In BURIED, a character has purportedly committed suicide. The first date given is 1976; the second date given is 1975; in this novel, the date given is 1974, although in all cases the plot elements do in fact demand that the date be 1975. Didn’t the author create a plot graph? A narrative timeline? Especially in a multivolume series, one would think that essential.
Nonetheless worth reading.
Nonetheless worth reading.
September 19, 2017
Book 2 of 3 of a relatively interesting murder mystery series. Emphasis is on series as one must read all three to resolution. Or my recommendation is to just read book #3 "Exposed" as the storylines from book 1 and 2 are covered through heavy use of exposition and the questions are answered and mysteries solved at the end. I did enjoy the story, but if her other series are structured like this one, I'll be hesitant to invest in three books when I could have done just as well with one purchase.
November 24, 2017
It´s an easy read. Quite entertaining and enjoyable. But i can´t stop feeling this is story a bit forced, specially when i wanna know more about the main characters, and this new girl keep being the most important thing, seeming completely unrelated to the main story until the end. I feel it would be better if i get to know more about the kids, charlotte, flashbacks from stella or even Kyle´s state of mind after murdering Daisy.
Previous book was way better. Having said that, i´ll probably read the third as well. But to be honest, this was a bit disapointing.
Previous book was way better. Having said that, i´ll probably read the third as well. But to be honest, this was a bit disapointing.
June 25, 2017
Overall I found the Twisted Cedar's book to be interesting with a good plot. I've downgraded my rating though, because I read the three related books and very much felt that the three books should've only been one or two. It felt as though the books had been stretched to make into three and the excess was annoying as I was reading them. If the books had been edited and published as one or two books, I probably would've given a 5 star rating - good plot.
August 31, 2018
Dougal and Charlotte
Double Lachlan is a world famous author of suspenseful murders left unsolved. He moved back to Twisted Cedars and hooks up with the local librarian named Charlotte.
The librarian murders was supposed to be the next book for Dougal but after he did his research he finds out his father is probably the murderer. He wants nothing to do with him so he decides not to write the book.
A myster
Double Lachlan is a world famous author of suspenseful murders left unsolved. He moved back to Twisted Cedars and hooks up with the local librarian named Charlotte.
The librarian murders was supposed to be the next book for Dougal but after he did his research he finds out his father is probably the murderer. He wants nothing to do with him so he decides not to write the book.
A myster
April 8, 2021
#2
CJ Carmichael knows the great secrets of spinning a tale! She also breaks some invisible rules of the degrees of shock for her readers!
The speed that is in your ability to "turn the page" is challenged!
CJ consistently twists and churns the story line until you have to stop and regroup!
Watch out Stephen King... there's a "new
Kid that's kicking ass and taking names... and she's just upped the ante!"
Pick this book!
Read this series!
CJ Wilson
CJ Carmichael knows the great secrets of spinning a tale! She also breaks some invisible rules of the degrees of shock for her readers!
The speed that is in your ability to "turn the page" is challenged!
CJ consistently twists and churns the story line until you have to stop and regroup!
Watch out Stephen King... there's a "new
Kid that's kicking ass and taking names... and she's just upped the ante!"
Pick this book!
Read this series!
CJ Wilson
November 24, 2017
Not quite as compelling as the first in the series
As soon as I finished the first, I immediately downloaded this one, and was a little disappointed. I guessed the "twist" very early, and the story felt unfinished, apparently by design. These are clearly installments in a series and are not meant to be standalone novels.
As soon as I finished the first, I immediately downloaded this one, and was a little disappointed. I guessed the "twist" very early, and the story felt unfinished, apparently by design. These are clearly installments in a series and are not meant to be standalone novels.
March 6, 2018
This is the second book in the Twisted Cedar Mystery anthology. I feel they need to be reviewed as a whole because each book doesn't really stand on its own. Overall I enjoyed the story and the characters. I figured out many plot points before they were revealed but not all. I think the story would be better as one book so a lot of the repetitive narrative could be avoided.
May 24, 2018
This is the 2nd of a 3-part mystery series reminiscent of Nancy Drew and other mysteries I read in grade school. They are a quick read and predictable, but I'm going to have to read all 3 to see how the author wraps it up the story. I do enjoy the Oregon scenery descriptions, which is the reason I decided to read the first book.
September 28, 2018
Gripping
How do you deal with the fact that your father murdered his second wife, that a former friend killed his first wife and buried the body in the garden of where you now live? All this and so much more happens in this series of books that are certainly page turning and hard to put down even at the end.
How do you deal with the fact that your father murdered his second wife, that a former friend killed his first wife and buried the body in the garden of where you now live? All this and so much more happens in this series of books that are certainly page turning and hard to put down even at the end.
November 14, 2018
The book was great, however the only thing I didn't like was that the author kept repeating what happen in book one. For the readers reading in order, that was really annoying to be reminded of what happen before. That may be just my issue though, lol. But nonetheless I still couldn't put the book down at all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews