The Forgotten Ones

by Steena Holmes

A spellbinding novel about an unspeakable secret that could destroy a family, from the New York Times bestselling author of Finding Emma . Elle is a survivor. She’s managed to piece together a solid life from a childhood of broken memories and fairy tales her mom told her to explain away bad dreams. But weekly visits to her mother still fill Elle with a paralyzing fear she can’t explain. It’s just another of so many unanswered questions she grew up with in a family estranged by silence and secrets. Elle’s world turns upside down when she receives a deathbed request from her grandfather, a man she was told had died years ago. Racked by grief, regrets, and a haunted conscience, he has a tale of his own to tell about her mother, an imaginary friend, and two strangers who came to the house one night and never left. As Elle’s past unfolds, so does the truth―if she can believe it. She must face the reasons for her inexplicable dread. As dark as they are, Elle must listen―before her grandfather’s death buries the family’s secrets forever.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Contemporary, Audiobook, Psychological Thriller, Mystery Thriller

348 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2018

About the author

Steena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with nearly 3 million copies of her titles sold worldwide, including The Patient, The Forgotten Ones, and Sister Under the Stairs.

Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.

One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author

LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:

SHE TOOK MY BABY

THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)

THE TWIN

ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER

THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS

THE PATIENT

THE FORGOTTEN ONES

SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY

THE WORD GAME

Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep

The Memory Child & The Memory Journal

FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope

Reviews

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is never enough time. Never"

The Forgotten Ones is a compelling and heart-breaking novel that will suck your heart up into a million little pieces.

Oh my goodness Steena Holmes thanks to you I was glued to this on my couch all day on Sunday in my pajamas. Warning everyone... once you pick this up... forget all the plans you have for the day!!

Steena Holmes explores a novel about love, loss, and the heart-ache that mental illness can endure on a family.

Elle is a nurse who works at a hospital with her best friend Brennely. Bren has told many stories to Elle about her patient David, who is cranky old man that is dying of cancer. Bren has been consistently helping David with writing letters to his daughter and granddaughter. One day, Bren figures out that her patient is actually her best friend Elle's grandfather.

Elle has never met this grandfather and was always told by her mother Marie that her grandparents were both dead. Elle of course is mystified and wants to meet her grandfather. Elle starts to go see David on a regular basis and he starts telling her stories of her past about her mother Marie. Marie is not happy at all about Elle seeing her grandfather and repeatedly tells Elle that the stories are all lies.

Is David telling the truth about these stories? Elle is heart-broken and just wants to find out about her history....

Can, I just tell you this story was beautiful! Oh my gosh... this story is haunting and full of unexpected turns and surprises that will break your heart.

I absolutely fell in love with the characters and could not stop turning these pages. Highly recommend!!

4.5 stars for this one <3.

"Love isn't always pretty or clear cut. It can't be wrapped in a nice little box and presented with a bow. Sometimes it's ugly and hurtful and does more damage than good."

Loved this quote... so powerful and so unbelievably true!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc.
Publication date: 4/1/18
Published to GR: 3/26/18

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forgotten Ones by Steena Holmes is a compelling contemporary story with a touch of mystery to it. The book is mainly told from the point of view of two of the characters Elle and David. There are also flashes back into the past that are done by the stories that David tells of those days.

The only family that Elle had ever known was her mother who is struggling with her mental health. With the help of a caregiver Elle has been able to go to school and get a job working at the hospital which happens to be the same hospital that the elderly David lies while waiting for his disease to take him.

David’s nurse has helped him write letters to his daughter and granddaughter in hopes that the poor man will not have to die alone. When Elle receives the letter from David she’s quite taken aback finding that her grandfather has been alive her whole life but yet she’s never known. Wanting to find out more about her family Elle decides to visit David when he requests to tell her the story in which Elle hopes to find the answers she’s always wanted.

The Forgotten Ones is a story for those that just love peeling back the layers to a family drama and searching for the answers while sorting through the secrets and lies. With wonderful writing and a completely engaging story I found this one incredibly hard to put down as I waited to find the answers to the mystery of the past that David slowly unveiled. The only reason I marked this down to 4.5 stars was I had a sneaking suspicion about a certain detail but overall this was a wonderful story that I think readers will be sure to be captivated by.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really thought I had some books that were my best of this author........
until this one.

I have sat on this review for a couple of days, I needed to come clear with my thoughts.

This hit home to me, this brought out emotions in me that I didn't expect. I had someone say "don't you think some of what happened with David a bit far fetched?"

NO.

Have you ever loved someone so much that you would keep they're secrets? I have heard and read in newspapers and on media and its even been on past live news where someone would kill for love. So why not what happened within this book be just as 100% honest.

David had an impact on me. He loved strongly, he loved fast, he loved his wife so much he couldn't 'man up' to the fact as in her past there was mental health issues.

We are very good at seeing what we want to see and pushing aside what we don't want to accept, no more than David did.

His little girl was the apple of his eye.

He spent days on the road with his 'load' and when he saw a young girl with a small child he gave them a lift, except, she really had nowhere to go.
He offered to take them back where his wife could at least feed them.

They ended up remaining.

So now his little girl had another little girl to play with and share her room with.

That's all they ever wanted was a family but his wife had several miscarriages which must have been awful, devastating.

The dark side in this book was excellent, I don't want to give spoilers, you have to read this, this has shot into my top reads shelf for 2018 for when I sort them at the end of this year.

Its based on David in hospital, hes in severe pain, but as he says, if he was pain free there is no telling of hes alive or not, so he chooses to feel pain. No one can touch him without him in agony.

Davids daughter was no longer Daddy's little girl.
David's best friend was no longer in the picture.
David's granddaughter was the only connection made.

What happened? and why?

You need to read this.
I can't emphasis it enough, its an outstanding read.

Lake Union Publishing via net galley allowed me a copy which I am most grateful for.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elle and her best friend Brennley work at the same hospital together. Brennley has become attached to one of her patients. He's a grouchy old man named David and he is dying of cancer. No one ever comes to visit him and this breaks her heart. He is estranged from his daughter and granddaughter so she convinces him to write them a letter. To her surprise his granddaughter just happens to be Elle.

Elle is rocked by the news because her mother told her that her grandparents died before she was born. Why would her mother lie? So she decides to meet the grandfather she never knew existed and he tells her a tragic and heartbreaking story of why her mother is the way she is and how she came to be that way. You see her mother, Marie, suffers from mental illness something that Elle is terrified to inherit.

To be honest this started really slowly for me but once we got to the tale that David has to tell I was completely gripped. I just had to know what tragedy befell this family. Elle had so many questions and it seemed everyone was dancing around the answers and I could feel her frustration. Heck, I was frustrated for her. I wanted to yell into my kindle for someone to just be straight with this poor woman.

All of the characters were wonderful. Elle, Marie, Brennley, Grace, and David. I cared about each of them. I tend to read a lot of books where everyone is unlikable so this was such a nice change of pace for me.

Steena Holmes did a wonderful job giving you just enough information to hook you from chapter to chapter. Not until you turn the final page do all the pieces truly come together. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5 rounded up.

First of all, can I just mention how beautiful the cover of this book is?! And let me tell you, it is even prettier in person!

The Forgotten Ones by Steena Holmes is mainly told from 2 perspectives, Elle and a man named David. Elle is working as a nurse when she finds out her grandfather is on his deathbed and wishes to meet her. A grandfather she thought was dead. Cue the crazy! Her grandfather has a big secret to tell about their family, and he wants to tell the story to Elle before he dies. So many secrets are uncovered in this book, and not just from her grandfather.

The story about this family is a heartbreaking one, and while I didn't find myself relating to any of the characters, I was very frustrated for Elle's sake. It takes her a VERY long time to get answers, and even I was annoyed that no one was being straight with her.

The mystery is S.T.R.O.N.G. with The Forgotten Ones, and the big secret had me devouring it exceptionally fast. I don't know if fast-paced is the correct term for this book, but the story sure kept me turning those pages.

I found myself swearing at characters and calling them names, so Holmes definitely knows how to evoke a bunch of emotions! I teared up, wanted to pull my hair out, and laughed all in the 337 pages this book offered.

My biggest issue with this book was the ending. I know it will wow a lot of people, but it felt rather anticlimactic to me and I have no idea why. It apparently just wasn't the kind of big reveal I was hoping for. And I was very irritated at times with many of the characters, but that may have been intentional.

Final Thought: Steena Holmes definitely knows how to write, and obviously has a lot of talent. Just because the ending wasn't quite what I was hoping for, I still highly recommend reading this one. I would say it would be good for someone that likes a good mystery and some intense (slightly creepy) family secrets. I will also definitely be reading more of Holmes' books!

The Forgotten Ones in 3-ish words: Meaningful, Beautifully-Written & Mysterious

[Magdalena · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Forgotten Ones is the first book I have read by Steena Holmes and I can't say that this was an enjoyable experience.

It's a hard thing writing a review without spoiling the story, especially since the things that frustrated me the most are events that I can't write about. I will say this, I felt really, really sorry for Elle's mother. She's definitely the victim in this story and I was furious that her father didn't do more for her. Speaking of her father. David should be ashamed of what he did or rather did not do. His action or lack of action gave Marie scars for life.

I struggled with the story quite badly because like Elle did I get fed up with questions not being answered. I mean come one, I would have been furious if I had been Elle and found out that everyone has been lying around me. Also, the story is pretty predictable, right up until the end when the author did a u-turn and abruptly ended the book.

I listened to the audio version and that was a blessing because I'm not sure I would have finished the book if I had read it. But, I liked the narrators. I gave the book 2 stars at first, but the more I think about the story the more ludicrous it becomes.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

Truth be told, I’ve been ready to greet death for a while now. But there’s a difference between greeting death and accepting it.

They say life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die. I tend to believe the memories of the life you miss surround you until that’s all you see.

I guess in the end… you start thinking about the beginning.

I look at Mom in shock. The disdain in her voice is unexpected. Like finding out the sweet little puppy you adopted is really a snarling, ankle-biting, rabid wolf.

How are you doing? Do you need anything? Some water? Wine? A time machine so we can start this day over?

My Review:

I quickly tumbled into this divinely written and evocative tale that was so lushly detailed, I felt like a spectator rather than a reader. This was my first exposure to the remarkably talented scribe known as Steena Holmes and I was an instant convert to her cult. Ms. Holmes is a master storyteller with major word voodoo. I was enthralled, appalled, completely engaged, and immediately drawn to the character of Elle, as I well know the chill of looking down your family tree and seeing the deeply diseased roots of mental illness. My long-standing joke is that “stupid and crazy is everywhere in my family forest.” The storylines were ingeniously crafted, cleverly honed, and held taut at a cunning and maddening pace to the very end. I was a quivering mess and consumed with curiously to unravel the multiple layers of devious secrets Ms. Holmes had ruthlessly taunted me with, secrets that had been literally and figuratively buried for over sixty years. It was exquisite torture. Sigh, I’ve added her entire listing to my TBR.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle and her best friend, Brennley, were both nurses at the same hospital. They also roomed together. Elle's life had been one of upset and grief, knowing that her grandparents died when she was young, and it was only Elle and her Mum, Marie, and Grace who'd cared for her Mum as long as she could remember. Marie was a painter, quite famous, but she had mental health problems, a hereditary issue from her mother and grandmother. When Brenn told Elle of a patient she was caring for, a man who was in the last days of his life, who she'd sit with to give him some company, Elle was stunned to find the man was her mother's father, her grandfather, the man she'd been told was dead. Marie begged her not to see him, but Elle was determined. And so, the days of the past opened up, the secrets which had been hidden for years, the stories of Marie and her grandfather, David. Was it true, or was David fabricating the past?

The Forgotten Ones was a brilliant psychological thriller by Steena Holmes which I thoroughly enjoyed. Elle was a strong character, totally supported by Brenn in her search for answers, while Marie was fragile and Grace was amazing. I've always enjoyed this author's stories, and I'm glad I've finally read this one, which has been on my kindle for some time. Highly recommended.

[Brittany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. This book was so frustrating. I have lots of spoilers but I couldn't write this review without them. First of all, this book was extremely predictable. I thought the big twist at the end was going to be that Marie was Bella. Throughout the book, there were comments that when I read them I thought to myself "ok so they are setting this up to be the twist". Such as Marie being an artist, changing her name from "Anna" to "Marie", etc. But then at the very end, it was revealed as an "almost twist" before Marie supposedly confirmed through her writing that she was herself? It would have been a much better ending if it was not made as obvious and then it really did end up being Bella and her and Elle could have met her grandparents that were still alive as have a more concrete ending.

Besides the anti-climactic ending, I was very annoyed with the fact that it was even a question of which girl was which. As if a parent would not be able to recognize their child with someone else's child, not even a real twin. That was a bit far-fetched for me. Also, we never find out how or why both girls fell down the hill in the first place, was Anna trying to kill Bella or vice versa? Or was it the mother? And another thing that infuriated me was how Elle thought for so long that Bella and Judy were made up despite everything she kept unveiling. I felt as the reader that it was obvious they were real people and it annoyed me that she was even still contemplating it.

It was also infuriating how long it took for Elle to drag out answers of everybody. I wanted to yell at her to just ask someone already! The mystery quality of it made me kept reading but I did not really enjoy this at all. All the characters made me angry and the plot had a good story but it could have been executed better. At first, I had two stars but then I had to change it one star because it really did just annoy the crap out of me. I'm not sure why I'm not on the same page as all of the people who loved it but this was not a win for me. Ok, I can end my rant now.

[Rhonda Ruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! What a book! A granddaughter visits a dying grandfather she never knew she had! Secrets twists and turns on every page! I could not read this fast enough! Just when you think you had some of it figured out another twist is thrown In! I will be thinking about this book for awhile! After I take a few breaths that is!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are secrets in books ever not interesting?! If a blurb even alludes to secrets from the past I’m adding it to Mount TBR and from the very first chapter I had a feeling that I would like The Forgotten Ones. Spoiler alert, I was right! This was a super addictive, engaging read from an author who really knows how to draw the reader in, pulling you in closer and closer until you aren’t putting the book down until the truth is revealed.

This is told from dual perspectives, Elle and David. Elle’s chapters are in the present day and David’s are a mix between the fifties and today. Poor Elle, she just wants answers and everyone in her life is SO evasive, it frustrated the hell out of me, I can’t imagine being her! When she finds out her grandfather that she thought was already dead years ago is actually on his deathbed now, she figures she may finally get some answers about her mother’s past. It’s not that easy, even though he wants to speak with her his relationship with the truth is tenuous at best. Or is it? So many questions, no answers and who is reliable? This one most definitely kept me on my toes and had me making guesses only to change my mind within pages, I just love when a book makes me do that!

This is an emotional read and Holmes managed to drag a variety of feelings out of me, I ranged from being angry and frustrated to heartbroken and sad. Anytime an author can make me feel something I’m ecstatic and she surely did that a few times over. Mental health issues play a huge role in the storyline and she handled it with grace and care all written in a beautifully fluid manner. I do think the ending may be polarizing but I loved it and found it to be a breath of fresh air. If you’ve read it and want to chat about this ending please let me know, I’m dying to know what everyone else thinks!

The Forgotten Ones in three words: Evocative, Engaging and Haunting.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, it’s always the sign of a good book when it evokes a range of strong emotions. The Forgotten Ones certainly managed to do that! One minute I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails in shock and trepidation, the next I wanted to fling the book across the room in anger and horror. There were also many teary moments as the characters live through horrible ordeals, and some frustrating ones due to secrets, secrets, SECRETS! I wanted to yell at some of the characters and simply shake the truth out of them, but they were very slow in coming clean, and I hung on their every word. In summary, this book really grabbed me by the throat and kept me interested, to a point where it interfered with my activities of daily living, as I walked around the house with my headphones on listening to the audio-version 24/7 (and getting labelled as “anti-social” by my family).

I have hinted at this already, but I will say it again: The Forgotten Ones is all about family secrets, and you need to expect quite a few skeletons in the family closet with this one (quite literally). Young Elle has no idea what she is in for when she finds out that a dying stranger at the hospital she works at is in fact her grandfather, a man her mother has claimed died a long time ago. Then again, her mother is not the most reliable person, suffering from dissociative personality disorder and refusing to tell Elle anything about the childhood trauma that is believed to have triggered the condition. Elle has grown up in an environment where questions can’t be asked for fear of tipping her mother over the edge, triggering a psychotic episode that may last for days. She has become so accustomed to taking everything she has been told with suspicion that she initially doubts the “stories” her dying grandfather tells her about her mother’s past, even though she is desperate to get the answers she has always wanted, before it is too late. But is it better to know a truth so terrible it will shake your whole world, or to stay ignorant?

I love stories about dark family secrets – who doesn’t? We have quite a few in our own family’s closet, but a lot of people who could have shed light on them have taken those secrets to the grave with them, and I will never know now. But oh – the possibilities! The imagination runs riot! Holmes did an excellent job in drawing me deeply into Elle’s search for the truth very early on, and from then on I was totally at her mercy. I could not put this book down, and it touched me deeply on many levels. There are a lot of emotional triggers in this book, from childhood trauma, to mental illness, to loss, grief, loyalty and doing unthinkable things in the name of love. Holmes tells her story so well that I found empathy even for the most disturbed characters (whilst being terrified of them at the same time).

I only had one little quibble: as we were nearing the end, and I had formed and discarded several theories, I realised that with the few chapters left I would not get all the answers I had longed for, and this proved to be correct. After the nail-biting tension, the final reveal tied together a bit too quickly and neatly for me, which didn’t quite tie in with the characters’ previous actions. It did not mar the pleasure I got from reading the book, but did give me the tiniest pang of disappointment.

In summary, The Forgotten Ones was the perfect read for me, the type of mystery that contains everything I look for in a good story: true-to-life characters, secrets galore and a constant edge-of-your seat tension that made it nearly impossible to tear myself away for long. If you are fan of stories revolving around dark family secrets and dysfunctional relationship, then this is a must-read – you won’t be disappointed!


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[Sherri Thacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to write a review on this one. Mental illness is a real thing I know but I got “lost” in this book about 3/4 in. It kept me interested until then.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️&#x1f3a7;&#x1f4da; Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio 4 Stars
Story....3 Stars

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing thrilling book; it kept me gripped till the end. Just 3 main characters, their memories and secrets with one granddaughter caught in the center of it all, wanting to know the truth. But what is truth?

A grandfather David who is dying, his version of the past, his view of the truth?

A mother Marie, an artist with mental health problems, identity disorder, paints from her traumatised past, unwilling to reveal her childhood, her color of the truth?

A helper/friend of family Grace who knows it all, yet does not appear to know, her allusions of truth?

David, dying from cancer, wants to meet his daughter, Marie, to apologize and to make amends, meets his granddaughter Elle who is a nurse in the same hospital and the story of the past starts from David's point. Now it is up to Elle to decipher the truth from illusion. Trace the murky past, retrieve the thread of reality, and hopefully find a closure.

I have always loved Steena Holmes, but this book is just far superior, according to me. I loved every line from this book. The characters had so many grey colors weaved into their tapestry that traversing through it all, is the most fun I have had in a thriller in a long, long time. The suspense and intrigue starts from the get go. I was confused by the events and stories which unfurled in front of me. Everytime I thought I guessed the truth, the author would leave statements which would make me doubt myself. Have I guessed or haven't I? And I loved this guessing game which went through practically all the way to the end.

Steena Holmes usually writes emotional books, at least the ones I have read are. To see her writing this kind of book, a swirling vortex of truth and lies and illusions was simply awe inspiring. Every beat of the heart raised with the turn of the pages. The thrum of my pulse, hitch in my breath, and my constant need to be connected with this story —Isn't this what a book supposed to do?
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Lake Union Publishing, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steena Holmes has once again given her readers an unforgettable story that will keep them turning pages until the end. Warning - don't make any plans for the day that you start reading this book because you won't put it down until the last page is read.

Elle is a nurse and grew up in a dysfunctional family. Her mother has mental illness and Elle has worried about taking care of her mom for her whole life. Elle has been told that she has no other family - that her grandparents died before she was born. Imagine her surprise when she finds out that her grandfather is dying at the same hospital she works at. As she tries to get her family secrets answered, it is very upsetting for her mom and very confusing for Elle who doesn't know who to believe - someone is lying - it is her grandfather or her Mom?

This is a complex family drama with characters that are so well written that you feel like you know them. The family secrets are revealed slowly and we don't know the total family story until the end which makes it an even more intriguing. This is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forgotten Ones is an utterly compelling book, as startling family secrets are unraveled piece by piece. Elle is a nurse, and her family has always consisted of just her and her mother...until the day she discovers that her grandfather, a man she thought was dead, is a patient at her hospital. He starts telling her stories, stories her mother says are lies...but Elle doesn’t know who to believe. This story is haunting, full of unexpected revelations; a story of love, and madness, and a man who must make the most difficult choice of his life.

[Lesley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me because this was predictable and too much did not make sense. Wont go into detail because it is spoilers but read other reviews and see how heartfelt and wonderful others think it is.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS - The Forgotten Ones is a compelling, complex and haunting family drama that has a wonderful tension throughout, well-drawn characters and emotionally charged issues such as tragedy, loss, secrets and a family dealing with generations of mental illness. Steena Holmes has set her story within her childhood hometown of Kincardine, Ontario and I enjoyed the local touches she sprinkled throughout the story.

This was a highly addicting read as Holmes slowly unravels the secrets of this complicated family and fills the pages with wonderful tension making readers just as eager as Elle to find the truth about her family - their secrets, lies and omissions. I had my guesses about what really happened, and, in the end, I was correct but the journey to get the answers was wonderfully suspenseful and expertly paced. The only reason I shaved off half a star from my rating is due to the ending because it didn't feel as strong as the rest of the book. I was hoping for one last twist.

This is a compulsive, hard-to-put-down, wonderfully Canadian read that is filled with tension and illustrates how mental illness impacts entire families. I'm so glad I've found this new-to-me author and look forward to reading more of her work.

Note: Due to the issues raised, as well as the complicated bonds between the characters, The Forgotten Ones would make an excellent book club selection.

[Bette Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful until the very last page. Forget thinking you will know the outcome, because you won't. I didn't either. Steena Holmes is a master at finding the inner core of a dysfunctional family and creating a story that is filled with both tension and pathos. Highly recommended.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 mind=fucked stars

One of the biggest things that this book forced me to ask was “Can a parent not recognize his own child?”

The Forgotten Ones by Steena Holmes is a powerful novel. Allow me to be cliched and say that from the very first page it had gripped me, and forced me into the mystery it was weaving- slowly and steadily. This is the first book I’m reading by Holmes, and I have to say, she’s a very compelling author. It was very evident from the first page that this book was masterfully written, and not until the last page did I think otherwise.

The story of The Forgotten Ones is told from the POV of two characters- Elle (the grand daughter) and David (the grandfather)- but despite that, it becomes very clear who the story is truly centered around-

Marie (the generation in between).

Elle grew up with a mother with mental issues and thinking her grandparents were both dead; but one day when she receives a letter from a man who calls himself her grandfather, her entire life is thrown off rails and she enters into a story where a family destroys itself for the sake of family.



I know what you’re thinking- what?! But seriously that’s correct. At the beginning when you see the world from the POV of David, you think/ at least I thought, that he’s being a tab bit too dramatic, and that’s warranted, what with him being cancer ridden and on a death bed. But as the story progresses, you realize just how insane mental issues can be, and what insanities a man could go to for the sake of the woman he loved.

If you just want my judgement on this book then let me say that it was brilliant. I loved how deep this story was- ridden with so many layers and truths hidden in every nook and cranny of the book. I promise you, this is going to be a read worth the time you give to it.

I theorize about this book here on my blog. If you've read this book then you definitely have some questions and some theories, lets see if they match!

[Deborah Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I guess in the end, you start thinking about the beginning." " Love isn't always pretty or clear cut. It can't be wrapped in a nice little box and presented with a bow. Sometimes it's ugly and hurtful and does more damage than good." "Family is everything." These are a few of my favorite quotes in this book. This book is heart wrenching and I had to wait for the tears to stop so that I could write this review. This is a book about family drama, loss and mental illness. It also encapsulates so much more. This book made me cry, sob actually. You will need tissues. You will think you know answers to questions, but you will not. This book kept me turning page after page, wanting answers, no, needing answers and yet not wanting it to end. This is a well written portrayal of a dysfunctional family who does the unthinkable. The characters are deeply complex and the dialogue is moving to say the least. Your heart will break, I know that mine did on several occasions. I found this to be Steena Holmes best work to date. It is extremely well written and the flow of the story is exquisite, alternating between characters, it simply said, just works. I will not soon forget this story. My heart is still breaking and I still want to cry. I can not imagine what it must have been like for David, or for the other characters. This is a book that you simply have to read. You must savor every word, every little detail. The ending threw me for a loop, it was quite unexpected. I thought I knew the answers, I did not. I highly recommend this phenomenal book. You will not have an ounce of regret. I am grateful for the privilege to have read it. Thank you to Steena Holmes for another blockbuster of a story. You write with your heart and soul poured into every single word.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting novel about dark secrets and untreated mental illness. I read this slowly to enjoy the gradual reveal of what really happened before Elle was born, and I'm glad I did, because the story is still marinating in my brain… Wow.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle had led a pretty sheltered childhood remembering her mother playing with her as a best friend would and telling her stories. She wasn’t surrounded by family, being told that they were either dead or had left. That is the thing about being told where you came from and about family that you never met, you may never know if what you hear is the truth. For Elle a whole new unbelievable world was about to unravel but which is real?
Oh wow this is a pretty amazing story that you just fall deeper into the further you read. Imagine working in a hospital to be told your grandfather is a dying patient and he would like to see you. Now imagine that your mother had told you that this grandfather had died years ago. Why would someone do that? There was only one way to find out and oh boy did this send shivers round my body and raise the little hairs that come with an adrenaline rush!
I really didn’t know what to make of David when I first heard him. One thing was for sure and that was he didn’t like himself very much. He was a determined man who wanted to hang onto life just that little bit longer to tell his granddaughter the truth about their familys past way back before she was born. If he didn’t then it would all die with him.
Talk about suspense! The thing is, was this all the ramblings of an old dying man because wow it some story! The chapters jumped from the past and present day being told by David and other characters too. Elle’s mum had been clearly affected by events in her own childhood. There are so many truly sad stories from the past where protecting the one person you loved the most just blinded common sense. How far would someone go?
There is a real build in intensity throughout the story as events spiral out of control and bad decisions lead to worse ones and I am thinking don’t let this be real. Let these ramblings be that of a sick man confused as he battles his guilt for walking out on his family. I was emotionally drained, as only that perfect connection with an author can do to a reader.
I really don’t want to disclose anything about the story David tells except to say that this is one that made my cry for so many reasons. A story that will stay with me for a very long time. Just stunning!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is never enough time. Never."
An intense family secret is the theme of this moving, heartwrenching novel.
A young woman amazingly finds her grandfather in the very same hospital where she works as a nurse. She had been told he was dead from the time she was young and now on his deathbed, he has a story to tell to try to right the wrongs of years passed.
I loved and savored this book of love, mental illness, and family.
The details and writing of this story are amazing and I believe this is Steena Holmes’s best work yet!

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing look at inside mental illness. A haunting story of one man's struggle between his strong love for his mentally ill wife while at the same time trying to protect his daughter, and others around her. Now a dying man is full of painful secrets, regrets and seeks redemption. To write the wrongs.

Highly recommend the audiobook! Beautifully rendered. Angela Dawe and Arthur Morey provided an award-winning performance. I was drawn into this web of secrets and read in one sitting. Stenna Holmes is definitely at the "top of her game!" Her best yet. More to follow.

[MissSusie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy a book with family secrets, unreliable narrators and a guessing game of what’s true and what isn’t, this book is for you! This was my first book by this author, the writing is excellent, it will definitely not be my last!

This book is hard review because I don’t want to give anything away because the whole premise is secrets. So I will just leave this saying this is a great book and I highly recommend it!!

I listened to this on audio and the narration by Arthur Morey & Angela Dawe was very well done I really thought that Morey's narration as Grandpa really helped feel for the man! and Dawe had a few More voices to do of the women in the family but both narrations melded nicely.

In other words
Just Read It!

4 ½ Stars

[Christine Nolfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping portrayal of a family’s dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end.

[Picky_Book_B1tch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forgotten Ones is compelling family drama with a thriller edge that had me turning each page with anticipation. The writing, the words, the emotion…GAH….I flippin loved it all. Talk about layers! Even the layers had layers.

Keep in mind; things were different in 1950’s rural America. Family history, mental illness and unsavory events were hidden, pushed to the far corners of an unused closet, never to be brought out again. What happened in the family, stayed in the family. It was a simpler time but also a less understanding time and things could happen then that wouldn’t be possible today.

David’s death bed confessions has Elle, his estranged granddaughter, scrambling to figure out if he could possibly be telling the truth or if it's just the mixed up memories of an old man, altered by time and age. After all, it can’t be true, nothing this horrific could possibly be…..or could it. Mental illness does run in the family but this….no, not this. One person’s version of the truth is never the whole story and finding the answers she needs is an exercise in frustration for Elle. Especially since most everyone who could provide them is unwilling or unable to talk about the family history.

This is Elle’s journey to unlocking the secrets of her family’s past and it’s full of twists, turns and shocking revelations. This book, like life, is messy and doesn’t come delivered in a pretty package and I wouldn't have loved it as much if it had been.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Well written with well-developed characters, this was a hard-hitting story that explored the buried secrets of a broken family. The story included some very heavy subject matter, including miscarriage and mental illness, which were sensitively handled. Weaving together themes of grief, regret and death, the novel had a dark tone with a emotionally triggering storyline.

While this book was marketed as a psychological thriller, I would personally consider it to be more of a dark contemporary. The story was quite slower paced, lacking the sense of danger required to build suspense. Despite having potentially unreliable characters, this story simply did not read like a modern psychological thriller.

While this one was lighter than the books I normally read, I still found the story fairly compelling, drawing me into the tangled secrets of this broken family. The story had enough unanswered questions and mystery to keep me intrigued throughout the narrative.

So even I am not quite the target audience, I would still recommend this emotional story to anyone who enjoys dark, character-driven fiction. This would be an good selection for a book club.

I receive a copy of this book from the publicist Creative Edge.