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Luce Hansen Thriller #2
Forsaken Trust
Wallace Lake, Ohio, takes care of their own. Unwelcoming of outsiders, the community closes ranks when four women are found murdered along the water’s edge. Agent Luce Hansen of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation must find a way in before another woman loses her life to the ruthless serial killer.
With the help of her new team—a hot rookie and a smart, beautiful medical examiner—Luce uncovers a ring of devotion surrounding the prime suspect. As Luce works to unearth the dark secrets of this close-knit town, she learns to what extraordinary lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. And when Luce feels forsaken, both professionally and personally, she must regain trust in her most valuable investigative tool: herself.
With the help of her new team—a hot rookie and a smart, beautiful medical examiner—Luce uncovers a ring of devotion surrounding the prime suspect. As Luce works to unearth the dark secrets of this close-knit town, she learns to what extraordinary lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. And when Luce feels forsaken, both professionally and personally, she must regain trust in her most valuable investigative tool: herself.
264 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2017
7 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Doench
7 books65 followersMeredith Doench is the author of the Luce Hansen LGBTQ Thriller series. These crime novels follow the work of Special Agent Luce Hansen of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation who specializes in tracking serial killers. Crossed, the first in the series, won Silver in the 2015 IndieFab Awards in the mystery genre. In 2017, Crossed was awarded the Mary Dasher Award for fiction from the College English Association of Ohio. The second novel, Forsaken Trust, was published in 2017 followed by Deadeye in 2019. All were mystery/thriller Goldie Award finalists in their respective years from Golden Crown Literary Society. Whereabouts Unknown, Doench’s fourth thriller and stand-alone novel, was published in 2022.
Doench’s works of short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in literary journals such as Hayden’s Ferry Review, Women’s Studies Quarterly, and The Tahoma Literary Review. She was one of the founding associate prose editors of the literary journal Camera Obscura: Journal of Literature and Photography and currently serves on the board of Mystery Writers of America, Midwest Chapter. She is a senior lecturer of creative writing, literature, and composition at the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Learn more about Meredith at www.meredithdoench.com
Doench’s works of short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in literary journals such as Hayden’s Ferry Review, Women’s Studies Quarterly, and The Tahoma Literary Review. She was one of the founding associate prose editors of the literary journal Camera Obscura: Journal of Literature and Photography and currently serves on the board of Mystery Writers of America, Midwest Chapter. She is a senior lecturer of creative writing, literature, and composition at the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Learn more about Meredith at www.meredithdoench.com
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 31, 2019
Recipe for disaster:
- 3 good looking lesbian law enforcement officers working on a new serial killer -
W, T, and F.
- 1 history between T and F and the breakup was not a pretty one.
- Add in attractions/interest between W and F.
- Throw 1 'we caught the serial killer before the last few chapters of the book' party and have W drinking like a fish gasping for air.
- Stir the plot by having T going over to W's hotel room with more rum than coke.
- Let them continue drinking, then have them staring into each other's eyes before moving to other body parts.
- Make sure W and T did not sleep it off, let them have drunken sex first.
- Let W wake up and before the hangover kicked in, make her panic.
a. What did I do?
b. It's alright, nothing happened even though both were naked.
c. Remembered some of the actions from last night's activity.
d. Oh shit!
- Have W guilt-ridden, knowing that she had to fess up to F and looking for the perfect time to do so. Perfect time?? Hahaha, no such thing.
Now to the thriller aspect, Ms.Doench wowed me in the first book - the methods of murders, motif, investigation and Luce's backstory. In the 2nd installment however, a lot of things didn't add up and the situation above didn't help whatsoever. Luce was dead on that a respectable figure in the community was the culprit but she had nothing to back up her instinct. Then, Doench began throwing in twist and turns - to make the story darker, more twisted but they were inconsistent and instead of wowing me, it made me say, really?
Disappointed? A bit, but at the end of the book, Luce seemed to be in a better place so definitely be reading the third book.
- 3 good looking lesbian law enforcement officers working on a new serial killer -
W, T, and F.
- 1 history between T and F and the breakup was not a pretty one.
- Add in attractions/interest between W and F.
- Throw 1 'we caught the serial killer before the last few chapters of the book' party and have W drinking like a fish gasping for air.
- Stir the plot by having T going over to W's hotel room with more rum than coke.
- Let them continue drinking, then have them staring into each other's eyes before moving to other body parts.
- Make sure W and T did not sleep it off, let them have drunken sex first.
- Let W wake up and before the hangover kicked in, make her panic.
a. What did I do?
b. It's alright, nothing happened even though both were naked.
c. Remembered some of the actions from last night's activity.
d. Oh shit!
- Have W guilt-ridden, knowing that she had to fess up to F and looking for the perfect time to do so. Perfect time?? Hahaha, no such thing.
Now to the thriller aspect, Ms.Doench wowed me in the first book - the methods of murders, motif, investigation and Luce's backstory. In the 2nd installment however, a lot of things didn't add up and the situation above didn't help whatsoever. Luce was dead on that a respectable figure in the community was the culprit but she had nothing to back up her instinct. Then, Doench began throwing in twist and turns - to make the story darker, more twisted but they were inconsistent and instead of wowing me, it made me say, really?
Disappointed? A bit, but at the end of the book, Luce seemed to be in a better place so definitely be reading the third book.
April 28, 2017
This is the second book in the Luce Hansen series. While this is not as exciting at the first book Crossed, I still really enjoyed it. Doench, can really write. Her style is very appealing and makes for excellent mysteries. There is a few small loose ends that this book wraps up from book 1, but most of the story is contained in this book. Therefore, you could read this without reading Crossed. I'm anal about reading series in order, so I would personally recommend reading Crossed first, plus it is a good book.
In the beginning of this book, we find Luce struggling to deal with a break-up and loosing her house. She still has not made it to the FBI, and is drinking too much in frustration. When she gets called in to a new serial killer case, Luce has to get herself back together. With four bodies of women found near each other, Luce knows it is only time before the killer will strike again.
One of my small issues with book 1, was not connecting with Luce's girlfriend. I just didn't really get them as a couple, so I must admit I'm really happy with the turn of direction Doench took this. We are introduced with a much better fit, for a possible relationship. While it is still early, I could see more of a connection already.
Most of the book is dealing with the mystery. This is way more of a mystery book than a romance. The mystery had a lot of moving parts, but it didn't get convoluted. I totally understood everything going on, and it all flowed well. After a tough case of murder and crime, I really liked the ending of the book including the epilogue. It was happy, but not perfect, and just fit the series well.
I hope Doench will write a book 3. I have really gotten to like Luce as a character and I want to know what happens next. If you are a fan of a more hard hitting mystery/crime type book, then this series will be right up your alley.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
In the beginning of this book, we find Luce struggling to deal with a break-up and loosing her house. She still has not made it to the FBI, and is drinking too much in frustration. When she gets called in to a new serial killer case, Luce has to get herself back together. With four bodies of women found near each other, Luce knows it is only time before the killer will strike again.
One of my small issues with book 1, was not connecting with Luce's girlfriend. I just didn't really get them as a couple, so I must admit I'm really happy with the turn of direction Doench took this. We are introduced with a much better fit, for a possible relationship. While it is still early, I could see more of a connection already.
Most of the book is dealing with the mystery. This is way more of a mystery book than a romance. The mystery had a lot of moving parts, but it didn't get convoluted. I totally understood everything going on, and it all flowed well. After a tough case of murder and crime, I really liked the ending of the book including the epilogue. It was happy, but not perfect, and just fit the series well.
I hope Doench will write a book 3. I have really gotten to like Luce as a character and I want to know what happens next. If you are a fan of a more hard hitting mystery/crime type book, then this series will be right up your alley.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
May 6, 2017
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. At the time of requesting a review copy, I didn’t realize it was the second in a series.
The story is told in first person and from Luce’s point-of-view. The writing style is exquisite, vivid in detail, which includes some pretty dark content, so consider yourselves warned this is not a love story.
When fifteen-year-old Ava finds a body while she’s out rowing, the story takes off running. Not only is there the crime/murder to solve but a teachers ethics come into question.
There’s a slight paranormal feel to the story due to the ghost of Luce’s deceased father making a couple of brief appearances. I got the feeling his presence was more prominent in book one, something I would’ve welcomed.
Harvey was an interesting side-character, but it took many mentions of the name before it finally sunk in and stuck with me Harvey was a ‘she’. From memory, it’s not until around the 80% mark we learn Harvey’s first name is Alison?
I devoured this story and anticipated it being a solid 4.5 to 5 star read for me. That was until near the very end. I don’t understand why the last scene was thrown in, well I guess I do, but it felt rushed. The heroine, who one minute had her hands bandaged due to her fingers being worn down to the quick in the previous scene, uses her hands as though she hadn’t just suffered such trauma. In fairness, adrenaline probably factored into the situation, however even overlooking the details, it didn’t make the ending any better for me.
On a final note - the epilogue is the closest the story comes to any hint of romance and it’s all told to the reader.
5 stars for the majority of the story, 3 stars for the ending, overall rating 4.25 stars.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley
The story is told in first person and from Luce’s point-of-view. The writing style is exquisite, vivid in detail, which includes some pretty dark content, so consider yourselves warned this is not a love story.
When fifteen-year-old Ava finds a body while she’s out rowing, the story takes off running. Not only is there the crime/murder to solve but a teachers ethics come into question.
There’s a slight paranormal feel to the story due to the ghost of Luce’s deceased father making a couple of brief appearances. I got the feeling his presence was more prominent in book one, something I would’ve welcomed.
Harvey was an interesting side-character, but it took many mentions of the name before it finally sunk in and stuck with me Harvey was a ‘she’. From memory, it’s not until around the 80% mark we learn Harvey’s first name is Alison?
I devoured this story and anticipated it being a solid 4.5 to 5 star read for me. That was until near the very end. I don’t understand why the last scene was thrown in, well I guess I do, but it felt rushed. The heroine, who one minute had her hands bandaged due to her fingers being worn down to the quick in the previous scene, uses her hands as though she hadn’t just suffered such trauma. In fairness, adrenaline probably factored into the situation, however even overlooking the details, it didn’t make the ending any better for me.
On a final note - the epilogue is the closest the story comes to any hint of romance and it’s all told to the reader.
5 stars for the majority of the story, 3 stars for the ending, overall rating 4.25 stars.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley
July 18, 2017
When I requested to review this book I honestly did not realise it was the second in a series. But I am pleased to say you do not need to read book one to enjoy this one. I requested it because I am a sucker for a good mystery and never having read this author before I thought I'd give her the chance to impress me. And she did and then some. The author has a wonderful writing style which grabs you at once. The story is told by the main character Luce.
The beginning has you floating down the river in a canoe enjoying the sunshine and blue skies. OMG I was in heaven. Then we meet the bodies. The story also takes on a new speed.
Luce is a detective and assigned to the case. You learn that Luce has just split from her girlfriend, I guess this is where book one would come in handy. Luce is a troubled soul and often speaks to her father ( who is dead) to solve cases. She uses him as a sounding board and if you didn't know you would think who was there. You could argue that Luce lacked the confidence to solve a case without her fathers input but honestly I get it I talk to my mum all the time its kind of comforting.
What I really liked about the book is Doench had me fooled. I thought it was going way and then it went another. I didn't see that coming. I am seriously hoping there is a book three. A few unanswered questions need answering. I would recommend this definitely especially if you love a good mystery.
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
The beginning has you floating down the river in a canoe enjoying the sunshine and blue skies. OMG I was in heaven. Then we meet the bodies. The story also takes on a new speed.
Luce is a detective and assigned to the case. You learn that Luce has just split from her girlfriend, I guess this is where book one would come in handy. Luce is a troubled soul and often speaks to her father ( who is dead) to solve cases. She uses him as a sounding board and if you didn't know you would think who was there. You could argue that Luce lacked the confidence to solve a case without her fathers input but honestly I get it I talk to my mum all the time its kind of comforting.
What I really liked about the book is Doench had me fooled. I thought it was going way and then it went another. I didn't see that coming. I am seriously hoping there is a book three. A few unanswered questions need answering. I would recommend this definitely especially if you love a good mystery.
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
September 21, 2020
I too am like some other reviewers and found the first book in the series more tight and concise regarding the plot and crime. This one was a little messy and didn't quite add up for me. However the writing was strong and I truly like Luce's character. Her heart and attention to detail drew me in, rather than many of the detached/cold women MCs in other crime books. Her new relationship made way more sense than her coupling with Rowan in book 1, even though it takes a turn. I enjoyed the wrap up as well. Good read, but I hope the next one wow's me a little more.
May 1, 2017
Forsaken Trust is the sequel to Doench's excellent debut crime novel Crossed. While it is possible to dive into this book directly and skip the first, you wouldn't want to do that. For two reasons: starting with the second book will of course, totally spoil the first. But more importantly, you don't want to spoil the first book, because it is better. Much better. In almost every aspect--more emotional, more suspenseful, tighter plot. It's not that this book is bad. On the other hand, it's an absorbing and intelligent page-turner. But it doesn't carry the same emotional punch. If Crossed was a knockout, this would be a split decision.
Much of Crossed's appeal rests on not knowing what's going to happen to the lead characters, so if you intend to pick that one up (and I highly recommend that you do), don't read any further, as the rest of my review contains major spoilers to the first book and will take all the fun out of that read.
Book 2 picks up with Detective Luce Hansen eight months after the events of Crossed. She's in a serious funk. Long-time love Rowan has walked away and taken everything--the furniture, the house, even the dogs. With no girlfriend, no home and no promised promotion, she spends her days off locked up in a rented apartment feeling sorry for herself. An unexpected visit from her boss and division chief, Sanders, and his mention of the magic words "serial killer" wakes Luce up from her self-imposed stupor.
While there is no doubt the murders in small town Wallace Lake are related, the case is far from clear cut. We follow Luce through her first-person narrative in her quest to unmask the murderer and the motive. But Luce is up against more than just a wily killer. She has to contend with the small-town mindset that likes to keep things in, and outsiders out.
Luce's first person POV was very effective in Crossed because she had a direct and very personal connection to the case, the investigation and the killings. Getting inside her head was critical to the story because everything was connected to her and her unresolved issues. It showed a very damaged Luce, a slightly unhinged Luce. Talking to ghosts, reliving her past, that sort of thing.
On the other hand, the Luce here is strictly in investigation mode so this is more of a police procedural than anything else. Even the romance takes a back seat. Way back in the last row. :) While that is to be expected in a serious crime book, I felt terrible that Rowan and Luce Maybe in the next life? ;) And speaking of next life, I was a little annoyed at Luce's seeming dependence on her father's "ghostly" advice. I was fine with it in the first book. It was an interesting device. Luce was either clairvoyant or it was all just in her head. It didn't matter which because Luce wasn't "well". But now that she is... hmm... Come to think of it, I don't actually mind the supernatural stuff as much as what seems like Luce's inability to think for herself. And she wants to work for the FBI? LOL. And speaking of that FBI thing, Luce's constant griping about Sanders not helping her get that FBI job seems a bit childish. I wonder if she realizes that jobs aren't awarded strictly on merit (need and budget trump that). Anyway, those are just minor annoyances but when you spend so much time in the lead character's head and she thinks like that all the time, it does get annoying and not a few times, I wanted to get out of her head more. :) There is another reason for that. In this book, there are a few intriguing characters who could either be victims, accessories or more. I would have liked to get to know them better. What are their stories? Even if they didn't get their own POVs, at the very least, more interactions with Luce might have produced more emotional impact for these characters.
My favorite parts of the book? The investigation and the understated romance. It's what kept me turning the pages. I liked the pacing of both and the way the author deftly interspersed the case developments with Luce's personal relationships. The murder mystery started off really promising. From the initial presentation to the intriguing clues thrown up by the investigation, it was a pretty strong classic whodunit. I liked the attention to detail and protocols and the exhaustive steps they took to investigate the crime. However, there is a disconnect between the initial crime spree and what eventually turned up. I struggled to reconcile those heinous crimes with the underlying motive. What is the whole point of all that posing? I'm all for complex mysteries but perhaps this was a bit too much? Let's see.
3.9 stars
ARC from Netgalley & BSB
Much of Crossed's appeal rests on not knowing what's going to happen to the lead characters, so if you intend to pick that one up (and I highly recommend that you do), don't read any further, as the rest of my review contains major spoilers to the first book and will take all the fun out of that read.
Book 2 picks up with Detective Luce Hansen eight months after the events of Crossed. She's in a serious funk. Long-time love Rowan has walked away and taken everything--the furniture, the house, even the dogs. With no girlfriend, no home and no promised promotion, she spends her days off locked up in a rented apartment feeling sorry for herself. An unexpected visit from her boss and division chief, Sanders, and his mention of the magic words "serial killer" wakes Luce up from her self-imposed stupor.
While there is no doubt the murders in small town Wallace Lake are related, the case is far from clear cut. We follow Luce through her first-person narrative in her quest to unmask the murderer and the motive. But Luce is up against more than just a wily killer. She has to contend with the small-town mindset that likes to keep things in, and outsiders out.
Luce's first person POV was very effective in Crossed because she had a direct and very personal connection to the case, the investigation and the killings. Getting inside her head was critical to the story because everything was connected to her and her unresolved issues. It showed a very damaged Luce, a slightly unhinged Luce. Talking to ghosts, reliving her past, that sort of thing.
On the other hand, the Luce here is strictly in investigation mode so this is more of a police procedural than anything else. Even the romance takes a back seat. Way back in the last row. :) While that is to be expected in a serious crime book, I felt terrible that Rowan and Luce Maybe in the next life? ;) And speaking of next life, I was a little annoyed at Luce's seeming dependence on her father's "ghostly" advice. I was fine with it in the first book. It was an interesting device. Luce was either clairvoyant or it was all just in her head. It didn't matter which because Luce wasn't "well". But now that she is... hmm... Come to think of it, I don't actually mind the supernatural stuff as much as what seems like Luce's inability to think for herself. And she wants to work for the FBI? LOL. And speaking of that FBI thing, Luce's constant griping about Sanders not helping her get that FBI job seems a bit childish. I wonder if she realizes that jobs aren't awarded strictly on merit (need and budget trump that). Anyway, those are just minor annoyances but when you spend so much time in the lead character's head and she thinks like that all the time, it does get annoying and not a few times, I wanted to get out of her head more. :) There is another reason for that. In this book, there are a few intriguing characters who could either be victims, accessories or more. I would have liked to get to know them better. What are their stories? Even if they didn't get their own POVs, at the very least, more interactions with Luce might have produced more emotional impact for these characters.
My favorite parts of the book? The investigation and the understated romance. It's what kept me turning the pages. I liked the pacing of both and the way the author deftly interspersed the case developments with Luce's personal relationships. The murder mystery started off really promising. From the initial presentation to the intriguing clues thrown up by the investigation, it was a pretty strong classic whodunit. I liked the attention to detail and protocols and the exhaustive steps they took to investigate the crime. However, there is a disconnect between the initial crime spree and what eventually turned up. I struggled to reconcile those heinous crimes with the underlying motive. What is the whole point of all that posing? I'm all for complex mysteries but perhaps this was a bit too much? Let's see.
3.9 stars
ARC from Netgalley & BSB
April 15, 2017
This was the second book in a series featuring Special Agent Luce Hansen. I did not read the first book. It did not impact my ability to thoroughly enjoy this one. At the beginning of this book, Luce has to pull herself back from the brink after the emotional case she just finished and the breakup with her partner Rowan. She is plunged headfirst into another serial killer case. Luce is a trained profiler and quietly, a badass with a really big heart. While this book was not the most harrowing nor the greatest mystery. However, I really enjoyed the writing style of this author and I really liked the characters. I couldn't put it down once I started it. I will definitely look forward to the next Luce Hansen sequel.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2019
I enjoy a well written mystery and this read is just that. A multifaceted story with bad uncaring people creating some hideous crimes. Luce Hansen is at the center of it all with a caring heart always working to seek justice for the victims. She is not perfect and somewhat of a loner but that makes her all the more appealing. The crime detail although unsettling is very well written as is the investigation. Luce's self talk provides reasons and rationale for why she does what she does. Some of her decisions made this reader internally shout, no, don't do it! Wait for back-up.
July 31, 2017
This book was fantastic! Had me on the edge of the seat many times over.
Read
June 19, 2020It occurs to me—not for the first time—that there are currently no original lesbian mysteries published by traditional publishing housing n the U.S. By “original,” I mean first published by American houses. Anne Holt—very popular in her native Norway—is being republished in the U.S., partly because of her great success in her home country and partly because of the success of other Scandinavian mystery writers like Jo Nesbo, Stieg Larsson, and Henning Mankell. Gone are the days when you might find lesbian mysteries by Katherine V. Forrest (Berkley), Sandra Scoppettone (Ballantine), and Laurie R. King (Bantam) in mass-produced editions at your local bookstore.
And what a shame that is. Every once in a while I read something that seems to cry out for a larger audience. Paulette Callen’s Command of Silence is one of those. Meredith Doench’s Forsaken Trust, which continues the adventures of profiler Luce Hansen, is another. Although I do not read the major thriller writers like Lisa Gardner, Tana French, Tess Gerritsen and the like, it’s hard to believe that their books could be as exciting and well-populated as Doench’s.
A year or more has passed since the first book in this series ended. Luce’s romance with Rowan has ended badly and Luce is on the rocks—drinking too much, eating badly, and not exercising. She is angry when her supervisor calls on her at her dumpy apartment during what was supposed to be a short vacation. She nearly growls when he tells her she needs to pull herself together. But when he says that there is a new serial killer on the loose, her eyes light up. Well, to each her own.
It seems that four women—past middle age, either prostitutes or drug addicts—have been found murdered along the Powell River in Wallace Lake, Ohio. In addition, they all have two red hearts tattooed on the inside of their wrists. But what do the hearts mean, and why have these woman been singled out? Luce, along with rookie Detective Allison Harvey land Medical Examiner Harper Bennett, tries to ferret out the truth despite the fact that this triumvirate becomes a love triangle.
Those of you who, like me, enjoyed the first book in the series, will appreciate the fact that the author has brought back several motifs used in that book. Luce’s safety valve—water—is discussed a bit less than in Crossed, but it is still there. “Those rolling waters anchored me, a lifelong companion that sometimes saved me, sometimes threatened me, but remained the constant element in my life and had never forsaken me.” And the irony of the bodies being found in the river will not be lost on an astute reader. Another recurring motif is Luce’s “Berlin Wall,” that she puts up to shut herself away from others—even those she loves. And a motif that I was unsure about in Crossed—Luce’s father’s ghost—is also back. She honestly seems to feel that he is real, appearing in her direst need to help her think. Now don’t get me wrong; I like ghost stories. I don’t even mind them in detective novels with one caveat: they can’t help the detective solve the crime. Otherwise, the book would not be a mystery, but a ghost story and would be removed from my list of lesbian mysteries. Luckily, Luce’s father does not give her clues, but mostly gets her to think more closely about what she is doing. Still, we may be seeing the last of him as he tells Luce late in the novel, “You don’t need me anymore, Luce,” he said. “You’ve always known exactly what to do.”
I generally don’t like prologues in lesbian mysteries. They are almost always superfluous. They also tend to be jarring when they are written from an alien point of view, such as the killer’s. But Doench shows us how it is done. In fact, the prologue in Forsaken Trustis so well done that she actually adds a second, similar section midway through the novel. And speaking of point of view, Doench has made a change from the first book. Instead of first-person present, which is difficult for an author o work with and often confusing to readers, Luce now speaks to us from the past—a small change—because she used the present tense well—but a good one.
My main concern about Forsaken Trust is the fact that, despite great plot development, the solution to the crimes is confusing. A major red herring is not explained, while both motive and the actual ability to carry out the crimes seem forced. This is not unusual in run-of-the-mill lesbian mysteries; in fact, it is the norm. Doench, I think, has her sights set on something higher. With a little tighter denouement, she will succeed.
Note: I read a review copy of this book that was kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley in electronic form.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
And what a shame that is. Every once in a while I read something that seems to cry out for a larger audience. Paulette Callen’s Command of Silence is one of those. Meredith Doench’s Forsaken Trust, which continues the adventures of profiler Luce Hansen, is another. Although I do not read the major thriller writers like Lisa Gardner, Tana French, Tess Gerritsen and the like, it’s hard to believe that their books could be as exciting and well-populated as Doench’s.
A year or more has passed since the first book in this series ended. Luce’s romance with Rowan has ended badly and Luce is on the rocks—drinking too much, eating badly, and not exercising. She is angry when her supervisor calls on her at her dumpy apartment during what was supposed to be a short vacation. She nearly growls when he tells her she needs to pull herself together. But when he says that there is a new serial killer on the loose, her eyes light up. Well, to each her own.
It seems that four women—past middle age, either prostitutes or drug addicts—have been found murdered along the Powell River in Wallace Lake, Ohio. In addition, they all have two red hearts tattooed on the inside of their wrists. But what do the hearts mean, and why have these woman been singled out? Luce, along with rookie Detective Allison Harvey land Medical Examiner Harper Bennett, tries to ferret out the truth despite the fact that this triumvirate becomes a love triangle.
Those of you who, like me, enjoyed the first book in the series, will appreciate the fact that the author has brought back several motifs used in that book. Luce’s safety valve—water—is discussed a bit less than in Crossed, but it is still there. “Those rolling waters anchored me, a lifelong companion that sometimes saved me, sometimes threatened me, but remained the constant element in my life and had never forsaken me.” And the irony of the bodies being found in the river will not be lost on an astute reader. Another recurring motif is Luce’s “Berlin Wall,” that she puts up to shut herself away from others—even those she loves. And a motif that I was unsure about in Crossed—Luce’s father’s ghost—is also back. She honestly seems to feel that he is real, appearing in her direst need to help her think. Now don’t get me wrong; I like ghost stories. I don’t even mind them in detective novels with one caveat: they can’t help the detective solve the crime. Otherwise, the book would not be a mystery, but a ghost story and would be removed from my list of lesbian mysteries. Luckily, Luce’s father does not give her clues, but mostly gets her to think more closely about what she is doing. Still, we may be seeing the last of him as he tells Luce late in the novel, “You don’t need me anymore, Luce,” he said. “You’ve always known exactly what to do.”
I generally don’t like prologues in lesbian mysteries. They are almost always superfluous. They also tend to be jarring when they are written from an alien point of view, such as the killer’s. But Doench shows us how it is done. In fact, the prologue in Forsaken Trustis so well done that she actually adds a second, similar section midway through the novel. And speaking of point of view, Doench has made a change from the first book. Instead of first-person present, which is difficult for an author o work with and often confusing to readers, Luce now speaks to us from the past—a small change—because she used the present tense well—but a good one.
My main concern about Forsaken Trust is the fact that, despite great plot development, the solution to the crimes is confusing. A major red herring is not explained, while both motive and the actual ability to carry out the crimes seem forced. This is not unusual in run-of-the-mill lesbian mysteries; in fact, it is the norm. Doench, I think, has her sights set on something higher. With a little tighter denouement, she will succeed.
Note: I read a review copy of this book that was kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley in electronic form.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
October 26, 2023
3.5
the romance in this book comes out of nowhere what the hell was the author doing???
the romance in this book comes out of nowhere what the hell was the author doing???
August 1, 2017
I'd give this book a solid 2 1/2 stars, if halves were an option. This is the second title of a series, which I did not know when I began reading. I hadn't read the first title, but luckily this story is written in such a way that reading the first book isn't required; just enough detail is included from the first to give the reader a pretty good background on previous events and where the main character's head is. The storyline is dark and sucks the reader in immediately with a serial killer preying upon a small town, which seems hellbent on protecting its secrets. This was an interesting take on things--a town protecting even the heinous of acts. However, other than an interview or two with suspicious looks, there wasn't a whole lot of time developing or showing this conspiracy. For a procedural, there really wasn't even much investigation. Part of the fun of these books is to try to solve the crime along with the investigator. It felt though that this particular crime just more or less solved itself and other than telling the reader about a small town conspiracy, there was really no exploration of that theme. Other than the main character Luce, whose eyes the story is told through, none of the other investigating characters are well described or fleshed out, other than describing their hair and relative fitness levels. Throw in visions of a dead ghost father who spouts advice like Obi-Wan Kenobi, a far-fetched ending, and an out of no where tacked on all tell no show epilogue, and this lost several points with me. Interesting story concept but poor execution.
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
April 18, 2017
This is a sequel and I didn't read the first book. Luce is a very well written character. She has compassion, strength and vulnerability. And she can be funny as well. The author has a great feel for the character.
This is not really a romance in pure sense of the word, so if you believe there is going to be a big romance between characters you might want to adjust your thinking to a mystery novel. It has overtones of romance, and certainly the recovery from a bad breakup, but not a direct romance.
Still I really enjoyed the building of the relationship with the medical examiner. The mystery seemed sort of weak and a lot was spoken about the trauma of Luce's last case. I would of like to of known more about that since it was mentioned often in this book.
This is an easy enjoyable read and Luce has some much depth. There is a lot of depth of and I was surprised at the levels in the town of abuse and neglect. I thought the ending was a good twist, not one I was expecting, so that was a pleasant surprise.
I look forward to reading the next took and the blossoming romance that is starting to take place.
ARC provided by netgallery for an honest review.
This is not really a romance in pure sense of the word, so if you believe there is going to be a big romance between characters you might want to adjust your thinking to a mystery novel. It has overtones of romance, and certainly the recovery from a bad breakup, but not a direct romance.
Still I really enjoyed the building of the relationship with the medical examiner. The mystery seemed sort of weak and a lot was spoken about the trauma of Luce's last case. I would of like to of known more about that since it was mentioned often in this book.
This is an easy enjoyable read and Luce has some much depth. There is a lot of depth of and I was surprised at the levels in the town of abuse and neglect. I thought the ending was a good twist, not one I was expecting, so that was a pleasant surprise.
I look forward to reading the next took and the blossoming romance that is starting to take place.
ARC provided by netgallery for an honest review.
June 12, 2019
I finished Doench’s first book, Crossed, and was concerned about diving so fast into book 2. Sometimes follow ups can be disappointing, but not in this case! I loved book 2 and thought Forsaken Trust does a great job of developing Luce Hansen even more. She is complex, and I loved that we saw a little of her humorous side here! No spoilers, but the ending was fantastic and so touching. Kudos to Doench! I’m looking forward to reading Deadeye!!
September 12, 2019
Good read!
I really enjoyed this second book in the Luce Hansen series. Well written and the character development was excellent. The case was gripping and kept me guessing.
I really enjoyed this second book in the Luce Hansen series. Well written and the character development was excellent. The case was gripping and kept me guessing.
June 18, 2017
Forsaken Trust was a breath of fresh air in the mystery/ thriller genre. I just wish I had known it was a sequel before I picked it up. That being said, I probably didn't need to read the first book as Forsaken Trust explained a few things that happened previously and painted a picture for you.
The novel begins with four women's bodies being found on the shore of a lake in a small town. The town is known for it's addictions to opiates so you would think the deaths would be kind of open and shut, but not in this case. This is where Luce Hansen comes in. Luce is a tough detective battling her own demons and she comes onto this case introducing a whole host of new characters. I must admit I thought this novel was going one way and was going to be quite predictable, however it switched tones and took me by pleasant surprise. I won't go into it however as it would spoil it for you, but definitely pick this one up if you like a twisty small town tale.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The novel begins with four women's bodies being found on the shore of a lake in a small town. The town is known for it's addictions to opiates so you would think the deaths would be kind of open and shut, but not in this case. This is where Luce Hansen comes in. Luce is a tough detective battling her own demons and she comes onto this case introducing a whole host of new characters. I must admit I thought this novel was going one way and was going to be quite predictable, however it switched tones and took me by pleasant surprise. I won't go into it however as it would spoil it for you, but definitely pick this one up if you like a twisty small town tale.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2017
Netgalley
The most curious thing about this book is that I have no recollection of the first one. I know I read it, I know I liked it. Beyond that, nothing. I was glad the author chose to close some of my memory gaps (I wonder if I'd feel it was too much repetition, if I'd remember anything), but even this information didn't jog my memory.
Maybe because I was trying to remember, I had a hard time finding my way into this or even wanting to pick it up again once I had started. Just the foggy memory of really liking the first one made me pick it up again.
And I liked it. Still like the main character, liked the case even though I think I'm really done with trafficking storylines. I think I've also had my fill of serial killers, but I take either in a book I otherwise enjoy.
It was definitely more investigation than romance, which I always appreciate, but I didn't mind the romance bits and enjoyed that it didn't take a straight line.
I wouldn't mind reading more about Luce in another book.
The most curious thing about this book is that I have no recollection of the first one. I know I read it, I know I liked it. Beyond that, nothing. I was glad the author chose to close some of my memory gaps (I wonder if I'd feel it was too much repetition, if I'd remember anything), but even this information didn't jog my memory.
Maybe because I was trying to remember, I had a hard time finding my way into this or even wanting to pick it up again once I had started. Just the foggy memory of really liking the first one made me pick it up again.
And I liked it. Still like the main character, liked the case even though I think I'm really done with trafficking storylines. I think I've also had my fill of serial killers, but I take either in a book I otherwise enjoy.
It was definitely more investigation than romance, which I always appreciate, but I didn't mind the romance bits and enjoyed that it didn't take a straight line.
I wouldn't mind reading more about Luce in another book.
May 23, 2017
This is a great suspenseful mystery/ thriller with a lot of unexpected turns but it is not a romance in any way. There are hardly any scenes that would be considered romantic. It is very well written and the characters are well developed. I have not read the first book in this series (I honestly did not realize until now that it was a series) but it didn't hinder me from understanding any of the plot. There were a few hints of another case, which I assume is the case of the first book but it is not really relevant in this story and so it can be read as a stand alone.
The only thing that was kind of strange about the book was her not only talking to her dead dad but also full on seeing him. I feel like the ghost thing was taken a bit too far.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The only thing that was kind of strange about the book was her not only talking to her dead dad but also full on seeing him. I feel like the ghost thing was taken a bit too far.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 22, 2017
I really enjoyed the first Luce Hansen book by Meredith Doench and eagerly awaited the next. I wasn't disappointed. There is much to the story here - it is complex, well thought through and demands a fair amount of attention. The new characters are excellent and I particularly liked Harper. If I was so inclined, the descriptions of kayaking would make me want to take to the water immediately. The changes in Luce (no spoilers here) are well handled and sympathetic to her behaviour in the first book. And the solution to the murders of several women is unexpected and yet credible. There are moments when you are anticipating Luce's behaviour and it was almost tempting to jump ahead and see what she actually did. Ms Doench grows better with each book and I look forward to more about Luce.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
March 9, 2025
First: this was such an awesome book. An incredible follow-up to Crossed, the first Luce Hansen novel.
Second: make no mistake, Meredith Doench is a master storyteller. She keeps the tension just right throughout the novel. Her characters are rich and superbly 3-dimensional, flawed and redeemable. Luce Hansen is not a perfect character, but she is perfectly written. She is someone you can root for and empathize with.
Third: the pacing is fantastic the overarching story is interesting and catches you from the first page.
Please do yourself a huge favor and read this book!
Second: make no mistake, Meredith Doench is a master storyteller. She keeps the tension just right throughout the novel. Her characters are rich and superbly 3-dimensional, flawed and redeemable. Luce Hansen is not a perfect character, but she is perfectly written. She is someone you can root for and empathize with.
Third: the pacing is fantastic the overarching story is interesting and catches you from the first page.
Please do yourself a huge favor and read this book!
July 22, 2023
At first reading this book, I felt really uncomfortable with the fact that the main character wasn’t in the same relationship that had frame the previous one. I think I’ve been reading purely romances for too long and forgot the beauty of a good book that focuses on a single characters growth and the different relationships and people they encounter along the way. I really liked the way the heroine grew and developed but also stubbornly remained the same. The mystery was really well written.
May 5, 2017
Special agent Luce Hansen jumps in with both feet. When a serial killer begins dumping bodies in Wallace Lake, Ohio she puts her recent break up behind her to find the killer. The big city things that go on in small towns doesn't surprise her.
Thanks NetGalley for providing a copy for me to review.
Thanks NetGalley for providing a copy for me to review.
June 9, 2020
I love the Luce Hansen series, but I wasn’t so keen on Hansen’s partner in Crossed. I absolutely loved the relationship between Luce and Harper Benson in this book. I’m a sucker for any book crime related, but this one held my attention and wouldn’t let go! One thing I loved in this book was that Luce and Harper has to work together to solve the crime. You can’t go wrong with this series!!
September 26, 2018
Another great read featuring Detective Luce Hansen in this second instalment. I concur with the other reviews made about this book. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this well written police procedural, detailing the mystery as it unfolds. It has left me guessing right to the end.
March 21, 2021
Really good new mystery, again with a full cast of very interesting and multidimensionnal characters that are all mixed up into a truly interesting murder spree.
But once again, pretty chilling at the end and not sure I would pick it up again for a reread.
But once again, pretty chilling at the end and not sure I would pick it up again for a reread.
April 18, 2017
Does every creative writing course have a module (or at least a short course) on giving your stellar detective a bizarre hook? Luce Hansen has the fiction standard traumatic past as well as the ability to talk to ghosts, although that primarily features in the first book in the series Crossed. By the time this second novel comes along she's only chatting to her dead dad and talking through cases with him.
Despite this fairly obvious exposition device, the rest of the novel is extremely well written. Luce is a lot of fun and very likeable, despite her myriad issues and occasional inability to see the wood for the trees. Characters from Crossed flit in and out and we get some closure on some of the loose threads that were left after the first novel.
About three-quarters of the way through I began to wonder if this was a bit too far fetched but it the ending and epilogue were very well worked and left me both satisfied and really hoping for a third in the series.
Despite this fairly obvious exposition device, the rest of the novel is extremely well written. Luce is a lot of fun and very likeable, despite her myriad issues and occasional inability to see the wood for the trees. Characters from Crossed flit in and out and we get some closure on some of the loose threads that were left after the first novel.
About three-quarters of the way through I began to wonder if this was a bit too far fetched but it the ending and epilogue were very well worked and left me both satisfied and really hoping for a third in the series.
May 9, 2017
Let me be honest from the start and state that I, personally, didn't like this book.
I will try to outline why in a constructive and honest way, because the reasons I didn't like this book might very well be the reasons you adore it.
This book is written in the first person perspective (I saw / I did/ I said…). Books written that way are, for some reason, very difficult for me to read. I find it takes all the enjoyment out of reading. That being said, many people love first-person POV.
I am not a native English speaker. Some of the things I did not like were the heavy, dense paragraphs, lots of repetitive descriptions, telling rather than showing and dialogue that does not convey useful information. These are the things that makes me lose focus, and general interest. For many readers it won't be an issue at all, I am looking out for you fellow non-native English readers!
These are the main reasons why my read of Forsaken Trust wasn't enjoyable. As you can see, the plot has nothing to do with it. It's a classic cop thriller story, and fans of the genre will undoubtedly like it. The intrigue was good enough to win the book 3 out of 5 stars, but not outstanding enough to overcome my personal pet peeves, and make me want to recommend this book to everyone.
This is a book for you if you:
- like the first one in the series,
- like crime case/cop/mystery/cop story,
- enjoy reading in first person,
- like reading a classic portrayal of woman loving woman.
I will try to outline why in a constructive and honest way, because the reasons I didn't like this book might very well be the reasons you adore it.
This book is written in the first person perspective (I saw / I did/ I said…). Books written that way are, for some reason, very difficult for me to read. I find it takes all the enjoyment out of reading. That being said, many people love first-person POV.
I am not a native English speaker. Some of the things I did not like were the heavy, dense paragraphs, lots of repetitive descriptions, telling rather than showing and dialogue that does not convey useful information. These are the things that makes me lose focus, and general interest. For many readers it won't be an issue at all, I am looking out for you fellow non-native English readers!
These are the main reasons why my read of Forsaken Trust wasn't enjoyable. As you can see, the plot has nothing to do with it. It's a classic cop thriller story, and fans of the genre will undoubtedly like it. The intrigue was good enough to win the book 3 out of 5 stars, but not outstanding enough to overcome my personal pet peeves, and make me want to recommend this book to everyone.
This is a book for you if you:
- like the first one in the series,
- like crime case/cop/mystery/cop story,
- enjoy reading in first person,
- like reading a classic portrayal of woman loving woman.
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