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The Unforgotten
Love, suspicion, and heartbreak collide in an evocative debut novel which will draw you in with clever twists and turns, and enticing secrets
Fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent helps her erratic and beautiful mother run the Hotel Eden, a boarding house now besieged by reporters, keen for juicy gossip and eye-catching headlines. They are there because the Cornish seaside town has recently witnessed a string of murders, young girls stabbed to death. Among the newspaper jackals, Mr. Gallagher stands out. Quiet, serious Mr. Gallagher—Betty is fascinated by his mysterious nature and desperate to be noticed by him and not be treated as a child. As he and Betty get to know each other, through snatched conversation and illicit meetings, their feelings for each other grow. But she soon starts to realize how little she knows about the older, enigmatic journalist. With a dangerous cloud looming over the town, Betty starts to take risks to see him and hide secrets from her mother, her friends, and even herself—secrets that will echo through the years and affect the lives of many. Beautifully written with skilllfully drawn characters, evocative language, and set partially in 1956 with perfect period depiction, this is an astonishing tour de force from debut author Laura Powell.
Fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent helps her erratic and beautiful mother run the Hotel Eden, a boarding house now besieged by reporters, keen for juicy gossip and eye-catching headlines. They are there because the Cornish seaside town has recently witnessed a string of murders, young girls stabbed to death. Among the newspaper jackals, Mr. Gallagher stands out. Quiet, serious Mr. Gallagher—Betty is fascinated by his mysterious nature and desperate to be noticed by him and not be treated as a child. As he and Betty get to know each other, through snatched conversation and illicit meetings, their feelings for each other grow. But she soon starts to realize how little she knows about the older, enigmatic journalist. With a dangerous cloud looming over the town, Betty starts to take risks to see him and hide secrets from her mother, her friends, and even herself—secrets that will echo through the years and affect the lives of many. Beautifully written with skilllfully drawn characters, evocative language, and set partially in 1956 with perfect period depiction, this is an astonishing tour de force from debut author Laura Powell.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
February 20, 2018
3.5 It is 1956 and in the Cornish fishing village, women are being murdered. Reporters descend on the village, staying at the boardinghouse that fifteen years old Betty and her mother run. Events quickly spiral out of control and Betty finds herself way over her head.
Told in the narrative voice of Betty, fifty years apart, the reader pieces together an inappropriate relationship, against the murders and a descent into madness. This is a very atmospherically dark and gloomy read. It is also one of the most vivid depictions of madness I have read in recent memory. The story is complex and there are many questions of morality also apparent. The two timelines eventually blend and the murderer is revealed in the last went pages. Me, not a clue. So,not a cheerful read but for the most part well done. Did have a few unbelievable factors but for the story as a whole I was pulled into this dark atmosphere.
Reminds me a little of the strange atmospheric stories of Catriona McPherson and Ruth Dugdall
ARC from Edelweiss.
Told in the narrative voice of Betty, fifty years apart, the reader pieces together an inappropriate relationship, against the murders and a descent into madness. This is a very atmospherically dark and gloomy read. It is also one of the most vivid depictions of madness I have read in recent memory. The story is complex and there are many questions of morality also apparent. The two timelines eventually blend and the murderer is revealed in the last went pages. Me, not a clue. So,not a cheerful read but for the most part well done. Did have a few unbelievable factors but for the story as a whole I was pulled into this dark atmosphere.
Reminds me a little of the strange atmospheric stories of Catriona McPherson and Ruth Dugdall
ARC from Edelweiss.
March 18, 2018
This is a raw, emotionally charged tale of a mother and daughter living in the midst of serial killer invasion in their small town in Cornwall.
It’s difficult to believe this one is a debut, the writing is great and the story flows. It alternates between 1956 and 50 years later - the past being more fleshed out and interesting from my perspective. There are several twists and turns along the way which keep the pace going strong and keep the pages turning quickly.
I first picked this one up due to its comparison to one of my favorite BBC dramas, Broadchurch. While I don’t really get the same vibe here, I will say it’s still an intriguing mystery.
There are so many emotions here, fueled by an undercurrent of melancholy. It’s a story of love and obsession and regret, and how one decision can affect you for the rest of your life.
There are a couple triggers in this one, without going into spoilers, the first is a highly uncomfortable love scene. If you’d like to know the other, please feel free to message me as I don’t want to spoil anything for the other readers.
Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Powell, and Gallery Books for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
It’s difficult to believe this one is a debut, the writing is great and the story flows. It alternates between 1956 and 50 years later - the past being more fleshed out and interesting from my perspective. There are several twists and turns along the way which keep the pace going strong and keep the pages turning quickly.
I first picked this one up due to its comparison to one of my favorite BBC dramas, Broadchurch. While I don’t really get the same vibe here, I will say it’s still an intriguing mystery.
There are so many emotions here, fueled by an undercurrent of melancholy. It’s a story of love and obsession and regret, and how one decision can affect you for the rest of your life.
There are a couple triggers in this one, without going into spoilers, the first is a highly uncomfortable love scene. If you’d like to know the other, please feel free to message me as I don’t want to spoil anything for the other readers.
Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Powell, and Gallery Books for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
August 2, 2018
4 mysterious, dark and haunting stars!
This story revolves around fifteen-year-old Betty Broadhurst. It is 1956 and she and her highly unstable mother manage Hotel Eden which is filled with reporters who have traveled to the small seaside Cornish town to investigate a recent string of murders. Most days Betty handles the hotel responsibilities to cover for her erratic and undependable mother, all the while coddling and excusing her mothers’ lack of responsibility. Betty’s love and adoration of her mother is palpable – her unrelenting forgiveness and care for her mother is heart wrenching. John Gallagher is one of the reporters staying at the hotel. He takes an interest in young Betty as she is able to provide him insight into the locals. They develop a relationship that neither of them understands or can explain.
The characters are hauntingly real. The author, Laura Powell, does a fantastic job creating unforgettable and deeply affecting characters. I’m amazed that this is a debut novel – I was completely drawn into these characters lives.
This book was very different than what I had expected – it had a very chilling tone and was deeply disturbing at times. Regardless, I found myself glued to the pages especially in the second half, hanging on every word. The pace flowed perfectly, seamlessly shifting from each timeline, the pieces of the puzzle fitting together along the way leaving me in shock and surprise. The mystery was highly intriguing and solving it unfolded in a flawless manner.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Laura Powell for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
The Unforgotten is available now!
This story revolves around fifteen-year-old Betty Broadhurst. It is 1956 and she and her highly unstable mother manage Hotel Eden which is filled with reporters who have traveled to the small seaside Cornish town to investigate a recent string of murders. Most days Betty handles the hotel responsibilities to cover for her erratic and undependable mother, all the while coddling and excusing her mothers’ lack of responsibility. Betty’s love and adoration of her mother is palpable – her unrelenting forgiveness and care for her mother is heart wrenching. John Gallagher is one of the reporters staying at the hotel. He takes an interest in young Betty as she is able to provide him insight into the locals. They develop a relationship that neither of them understands or can explain.
The characters are hauntingly real. The author, Laura Powell, does a fantastic job creating unforgettable and deeply affecting characters. I’m amazed that this is a debut novel – I was completely drawn into these characters lives.
This book was very different than what I had expected – it had a very chilling tone and was deeply disturbing at times. Regardless, I found myself glued to the pages especially in the second half, hanging on every word. The pace flowed perfectly, seamlessly shifting from each timeline, the pieces of the puzzle fitting together along the way leaving me in shock and surprise. The mystery was highly intriguing and solving it unfolded in a flawless manner.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Laura Powell for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
The Unforgotten is available now!
March 2, 2016
The year is 1956 and fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent's life is about to change forever. There is a murderer loose in St Steele, the little Cornish fishing village where she lives with her unpredictable mother who runs a boarding house. A bunch of journalists is flocking the boarding house and one of them, John Gallagher catches her eyes. Despite him being older than her are they drawn to each other, but the decisions they make will have deep consequence's years after this.
This book turned out to be not what I expected. What I thought it would be was two unlikely people: Betty, and Gallagher, trying to figure out who the killer was. But the story is more complex than. It's a story about secrets and lifelong guilt. Betty has grown up with a mother that she has to take care of now and then. Her mother seems to be bipolar or something because she has very dark moments. Dolores Broadbent is also a woman that likes men quite much and one of the men she has been "dating" is the butcher who is now seen as a suspect for the murders. And, as we follow Betty in the past with the worry about the murders we also jump 50 years forward in time and there we follow Mary who learns that the killer is for the first time talking about the murders in St Steele. And, slowly the story unfolds as we learn the truth will reading about Ruth in 1956 and Mary 50 years later.
The book is really good, it was surprising and it interesting to read. What I really like is that the story kept on twisting and turning all the way until the end of the book. I never thought it would turn the way it did. As I wrote, in the beginning, I just thought it would be a crime novel with two unlikely partners. But the killings and the consequences of it all was not what I had expected. It's well-written, poignant, and I warmly recommend this book!
I want to thank the publisher for providing with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
This book turned out to be not what I expected. What I thought it would be was two unlikely people: Betty, and Gallagher, trying to figure out who the killer was. But the story is more complex than. It's a story about secrets and lifelong guilt. Betty has grown up with a mother that she has to take care of now and then. Her mother seems to be bipolar or something because she has very dark moments. Dolores Broadbent is also a woman that likes men quite much and one of the men she has been "dating" is the butcher who is now seen as a suspect for the murders. And, as we follow Betty in the past with the worry about the murders we also jump 50 years forward in time and there we follow Mary who learns that the killer is for the first time talking about the murders in St Steele. And, slowly the story unfolds as we learn the truth will reading about Ruth in 1956 and Mary 50 years later.
The book is really good, it was surprising and it interesting to read. What I really like is that the story kept on twisting and turning all the way until the end of the book. I never thought it would turn the way it did. As I wrote, in the beginning, I just thought it would be a crime novel with two unlikely partners. But the killings and the consequences of it all was not what I had expected. It's well-written, poignant, and I warmly recommend this book!
I want to thank the publisher for providing with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
February 5, 2018
A somewhat different mystery than the norm. For starters, it takes place in 1956 and the main character is only 15. Betty is dealing with a bipolar mother, a crush on an older man and a serial killer roaming the town murdering young women.
Flash forward 50 years and Mary is feeling guilty for sending an innocent man to prison for the murders.
There’s a bit of a Lolita feel to this mystery, as a relationship develops between Betty and Gallagher, the reporter who has come to town because of the murders.
The synopsis of the book compares it to the work of Tana French, which is why I picked it up. But I didn’t see that. The books is good, but it doesn’t achieve the depth of a Tana French mystery until the very end. Part of the problem, for me, was that most of the book wasn’t really a mystery. Yes, there’s a killer running loose, but the murders are secondary to the drama of Betty’s personal life. And as the book winds towards its ending, it’s really about how the choices she and Gallagher make play out for themselves and others.
Powell does a good job of painting Betty as a true fifteen year old. She’s the perfect mix of confidence and insecurity, of laser focused love and total indifference.
Unfortunately, the pacing of the book was inconsistent and I struggled to keep interested in the middle. But it’s got a great ending that made it worthwhile. I was convinced I knew how the story was going to come together, but I was totally off base.
My thanks to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this book.
Flash forward 50 years and Mary is feeling guilty for sending an innocent man to prison for the murders.
There’s a bit of a Lolita feel to this mystery, as a relationship develops between Betty and Gallagher, the reporter who has come to town because of the murders.
The synopsis of the book compares it to the work of Tana French, which is why I picked it up. But I didn’t see that. The books is good, but it doesn’t achieve the depth of a Tana French mystery until the very end. Part of the problem, for me, was that most of the book wasn’t really a mystery. Yes, there’s a killer running loose, but the murders are secondary to the drama of Betty’s personal life. And as the book winds towards its ending, it’s really about how the choices she and Gallagher make play out for themselves and others.
Powell does a good job of painting Betty as a true fifteen year old. She’s the perfect mix of confidence and insecurity, of laser focused love and total indifference.
Unfortunately, the pacing of the book was inconsistent and I struggled to keep interested in the middle. But it’s got a great ending that made it worthwhile. I was convinced I knew how the story was going to come together, but I was totally off base.
My thanks to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this book.
December 28, 2017
Unfortunately this one is a miss for me. Using the tired device of an alternating dual timeline, a series of murders happen during 1956 in Cornwall. Fifty years later the story unravels. It’s simplistically written, contains irritating characters with unbelievable motives. The best thing I can say about The Unforgotten is that it reads fast and I didn’t waste a lot of time with it. But it is, well, forgettable.
January 23, 2018
I award this a solid 4.5 stars.
Betty Broadbent is a 15 year old girl who helps her mother Dolores manage the Hotel Eden in St. Steele, a village on the south coast of Cornwall, England. It's 1956, and the hotel is fully booked with news reporters. There has been a slew of murders recently, all blond young girls on the cusp of womanhood. Betty's Dad died in the war, so it's just her and Mom Dolores running the hotel which the Eden family owns. Betty is mature beyond her years and precocious, forced into adulthood by her family situation. Her pretty Mom Dolores has an intermittent drinking problem which leads to a stretch of days where she may be out of commission. Mom is also flirtatious with men and always seems to dabble with the wrong sort. No matter, Betty faithfully and lovingly tends to her Mom when needed...when she's drunk and stumbling around and needs to be tucked into bed to sleep it off. So, Betty is programmed to get up early, serve the hot tea, kippers, eggs, and toast with sugar and cinnamon to their boarders. If this sounds like a cozy murder mystery, you're right...but it's much more than that.
One of the reporters is a tall, dark and handsome...but rather aloof and "stormy"...man named John Gallagher. Although Betty is 15 (but closer to 16) and John Gallagher is more than twice her age, they forge a strong attraction. He loves the very frank way Betty speaks to him and even comes up with bylines for his columns without trying. However, their age difference provides romantic angst that simmers throughout the book.
There are alternating time periods of 1956 and 50 years later which weave together to form a rich story of a murder mystery and tender forbidden love, all set in the background of a quaint English village. This was an unexpected gem that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Gallery Books who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley in return for my honest review.
Betty Broadbent is a 15 year old girl who helps her mother Dolores manage the Hotel Eden in St. Steele, a village on the south coast of Cornwall, England. It's 1956, and the hotel is fully booked with news reporters. There has been a slew of murders recently, all blond young girls on the cusp of womanhood. Betty's Dad died in the war, so it's just her and Mom Dolores running the hotel which the Eden family owns. Betty is mature beyond her years and precocious, forced into adulthood by her family situation. Her pretty Mom Dolores has an intermittent drinking problem which leads to a stretch of days where she may be out of commission. Mom is also flirtatious with men and always seems to dabble with the wrong sort. No matter, Betty faithfully and lovingly tends to her Mom when needed...when she's drunk and stumbling around and needs to be tucked into bed to sleep it off. So, Betty is programmed to get up early, serve the hot tea, kippers, eggs, and toast with sugar and cinnamon to their boarders. If this sounds like a cozy murder mystery, you're right...but it's much more than that.
One of the reporters is a tall, dark and handsome...but rather aloof and "stormy"...man named John Gallagher. Although Betty is 15 (but closer to 16) and John Gallagher is more than twice her age, they forge a strong attraction. He loves the very frank way Betty speaks to him and even comes up with bylines for his columns without trying. However, their age difference provides romantic angst that simmers throughout the book.
There are alternating time periods of 1956 and 50 years later which weave together to form a rich story of a murder mystery and tender forbidden love, all set in the background of a quaint English village. This was an unexpected gem that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Gallery Books who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley in return for my honest review.
April 2, 2018
A complex novel that deals with mental illness and emotional suffering.
I liked the dual timeline that changed from 1956 to present day. When I read that part of the story took place in a boarding house along the Cornish coast, I was instantly intrigued. Betty Broadbent is fifteen and she lives with her unstable mother in the Hotel Eden. After some brutal killings of young woman in the area, London’s press corps show up in the village and many lodge at their hotel. Betty becomes involved with one of the older reporters and things take a dark turn.
An atmospheric read that is both haunting and unsettling. This is the author’s debut novel and this one certainly gave me chills.
I don’t want to include any spoilers but be aware that this book deals with some uncomfortable subject matter.
Fans of atmospheric, darker reads may enjoy this complex mystery.
Thank you to Gallery books for my copy.
I liked the dual timeline that changed from 1956 to present day. When I read that part of the story took place in a boarding house along the Cornish coast, I was instantly intrigued. Betty Broadbent is fifteen and she lives with her unstable mother in the Hotel Eden. After some brutal killings of young woman in the area, London’s press corps show up in the village and many lodge at their hotel. Betty becomes involved with one of the older reporters and things take a dark turn.
An atmospheric read that is both haunting and unsettling. This is the author’s debut novel and this one certainly gave me chills.
I don’t want to include any spoilers but be aware that this book deals with some uncomfortable subject matter.
Fans of atmospheric, darker reads may enjoy this complex mystery.
Thank you to Gallery books for my copy.
February 21, 2018
2.5 somewhat disappointing stars
Sometimes a secret can control your life, make you do what you never thought you would, lose someone you love.
In this book, we have a stoy of a young girl, Betty Broadbent, who is sheltered, naive, and about to become involved with an older man, Mr Gallagher. Gallagher is one of a gaggle of reporters drawn to this Cornish village where Betty and her mother run a hotel. They have come because of crimes committed against young women. Betty and Mr Gallagher witness something, something they keep hidden between them for many years, and ultimately, this decision affects what occurs throughout their lives.
Unfortunately, for me, I did not connect with this story. Perhaps it was too atmospheric for me. The characters also behaved in a way that seemed quite unrealistic and the writing at times was hard to follow as the chapters jumped around from 1936 to fifty years later. It was a fairly quick read, but one I will not miss having completed it.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for an ARC of this novel.
Sometimes a secret can control your life, make you do what you never thought you would, lose someone you love.
In this book, we have a stoy of a young girl, Betty Broadbent, who is sheltered, naive, and about to become involved with an older man, Mr Gallagher. Gallagher is one of a gaggle of reporters drawn to this Cornish village where Betty and her mother run a hotel. They have come because of crimes committed against young women. Betty and Mr Gallagher witness something, something they keep hidden between them for many years, and ultimately, this decision affects what occurs throughout their lives.
Unfortunately, for me, I did not connect with this story. Perhaps it was too atmospheric for me. The characters also behaved in a way that seemed quite unrealistic and the writing at times was hard to follow as the chapters jumped around from 1936 to fifty years later. It was a fairly quick read, but one I will not miss having completed it.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for an ARC of this novel.
February 16, 2016
This novel begins in the small, seaside town of St Steele, where Betty Broadbent spends her time helping her mother manage the Hotel Eden. Usually, there are a mere handful of guests, but the murder of two young women lead to a press invasion of the town and the journalists head to the local hotel. It is 1956 and Betty is a young girl whose life, even before the murders, is fairly precarious. Her mother suffers depression, drinks heavily and berates her daughter to do her best to ensnare the rich, young George Paxton. To be fair, George is interested, but Betty finds herself recoiling whenever he comes near. Her interest, though, is piqued by one of the journalists, John Gallagher. He is not liked by the other men (journalism in 1956 being pretty much a male reserve) and is seen as a snob and somewhat apart from the press pack.
As the novel progresses, we have two time lines; one seen from the view of Betty as a young girl and the other from her as a older woman, suffering illness and indecision as the story comes again to light. For the man known as “the Cornish Cleaver” is about to publicly speak and Betty knows a secret about the killer…
I really liked a lot about this novel. Like so many of these dual time line books though, one works better than the other and it is now a bit of a tired plot device. The story set in 1956, I felt, had much more of interest that the parts set in the present. Also, Betty herself, was an often infuriating character and, although sympathetic, I did feel for her childhood friend, who accuses her of being indifferent and driving the men to distraction. So often, Betty has things happen to her, rather than driving the plot forward herself. You just long for her to be a little more proactive and then, when she does try to do something, it is so often too little, too late.
This is far more a literary mystery; with the emphasis on the characters and the damage done to them by events as they unfold. Still, there are a lot of positives and I did enjoy the book very much – even if I was left wanting to give Betty a bit of a shake! Lastly, I read a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
As the novel progresses, we have two time lines; one seen from the view of Betty as a young girl and the other from her as a older woman, suffering illness and indecision as the story comes again to light. For the man known as “the Cornish Cleaver” is about to publicly speak and Betty knows a secret about the killer…
I really liked a lot about this novel. Like so many of these dual time line books though, one works better than the other and it is now a bit of a tired plot device. The story set in 1956, I felt, had much more of interest that the parts set in the present. Also, Betty herself, was an often infuriating character and, although sympathetic, I did feel for her childhood friend, who accuses her of being indifferent and driving the men to distraction. So often, Betty has things happen to her, rather than driving the plot forward herself. You just long for her to be a little more proactive and then, when she does try to do something, it is so often too little, too late.
This is far more a literary mystery; with the emphasis on the characters and the damage done to them by events as they unfold. Still, there are a lot of positives and I did enjoy the book very much – even if I was left wanting to give Betty a bit of a shake! Lastly, I read a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
February 19, 2018
Wow... just wow. Complex and an amazing read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t give a five star reviews easily. However this one certainly deserves one and I am happily offering it.
This book is a complex story that bridges a 50 year span. It’s the story of love, passion, mystery, murder, and huge secrets that change the life of many people.
Complex with threads that wind through so many years of one’s life. The weight the burden of the secret is so big it’s crushing to one’s soul. It’s Crazy…Madness. Rich with sweet young love.
I had to reread several sections, especially the end so I could grasp the enormity of the meaning of the story. It’s powerful and sad because of all that was lost and missed. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about that.
But yet we are left with hope that all is not lost. And maybe in the future there can be peace, a calm soul, and even happiness.
This book is very powerful in so many ways. The author has given us a gift of insight into the complexity of the human psyche. Haunting and even painful to read in points, this novel will touch you long after you close the cover.
I still ask myself was it all about the ultimate love or was it all about guilt and self-preservation? I guess the answer is up to you.
To My Betty… Those three words changed the whole outlook of this book for me.
* Copy received for review consideration
full review - http://amidlifewife.com/the-unforgott...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t give a five star reviews easily. However this one certainly deserves one and I am happily offering it.
This book is a complex story that bridges a 50 year span. It’s the story of love, passion, mystery, murder, and huge secrets that change the life of many people.
Complex with threads that wind through so many years of one’s life. The weight the burden of the secret is so big it’s crushing to one’s soul. It’s Crazy…Madness. Rich with sweet young love.
I had to reread several sections, especially the end so I could grasp the enormity of the meaning of the story. It’s powerful and sad because of all that was lost and missed. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about that.
But yet we are left with hope that all is not lost. And maybe in the future there can be peace, a calm soul, and even happiness.
This book is very powerful in so many ways. The author has given us a gift of insight into the complexity of the human psyche. Haunting and even painful to read in points, this novel will touch you long after you close the cover.
I still ask myself was it all about the ultimate love or was it all about guilt and self-preservation? I guess the answer is up to you.
To My Betty… Those three words changed the whole outlook of this book for me.
* Copy received for review consideration
full review - http://amidlifewife.com/the-unforgott...
October 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book so much more then I expected! St Steel is a dark, captivating place. The characters felt so real & so “whole.” The good, the bad, and the complicated.. The insecurities, excitements, frustrations, love, guilt.. As I read the book I could just feel it. The relationship between Betty & Mr Gallagher made me think. I’d love to talk to someone who’s already read this, because I don’t want to leave any spoilers. I personally love a book that can take me out of my comfort zone & make me feel some thing, even better if it’s something totally different then what I expected going in.. Now just a heads up. There is a killer.. It’s a big part of the book, but I was just as enthralled with the various relationships (in both the past & present.) So if you’re looking for a fun quick moving thriller, this may not be it. But man was I hooked, I couldn’t put it down. It’s only taken me this long to review because the way it ended left me flailing & I needed time to get my thoughts together & come back to it.
Actually in the mean time I discovered the genre “historical fiction” & read 1 I really didn’t enjoy. Imagine my surprise when I come back to review this book & see “historical fiction” listed on it. Now for my confusion.. I thought that genre was when books retold (& embellished) a true story or event, so why would this be in that category? Is it simply because of the parts set in the “past?”
Speaking of the past, I don’t always pick up books that go way back but this author just wrote it so well. I could “see” & feel St Steel, their actions & reactions, it was heart wrenching. I also loved living in Bettys “current” life & seeing how her younger years stayed with her and made her who she was. I saw this book usually got lower ratings then what I’m giving, & I’m surprised by that! I’m curious if it’s that taboo relationship or if the entire book just genuinely effected me differently.. Sometimes it’s hard to put into words but I won’t soon forget Betty!
Actually in the mean time I discovered the genre “historical fiction” & read 1 I really didn’t enjoy. Imagine my surprise when I come back to review this book & see “historical fiction” listed on it. Now for my confusion.. I thought that genre was when books retold (& embellished) a true story or event, so why would this be in that category? Is it simply because of the parts set in the “past?”
Speaking of the past, I don’t always pick up books that go way back but this author just wrote it so well. I could “see” & feel St Steel, their actions & reactions, it was heart wrenching. I also loved living in Bettys “current” life & seeing how her younger years stayed with her and made her who she was. I saw this book usually got lower ratings then what I’m giving, & I’m surprised by that! I’m curious if it’s that taboo relationship or if the entire book just genuinely effected me differently.. Sometimes it’s hard to put into words but I won’t soon forget Betty!
January 30, 2018
3.5 Stars. Rounding up to four as I felt it veered more that way.
It's 1956 and 15 year old Betty has her hands full taking care of her unbalanced mother and helping to run the hotel her mother manages. She has her hands full and yet, personally, she is unfulfilled and bored if that makes sense. Then the town is plagued by a series of murders, the hotel is filled with journalists and Betty's life is suddenly far more interesting and a bit too complicated. One of the journalists is 30 year old John Gallagher and his (inappropriate) relationship with Betty casts a ripple effect of consequences onto the town.
Fifty years later, a woman named Mary is shaken when she sees an interview with the convicted, "Cornish Killer," on the front page of a newspaper. This was the name given to the murderer all those years ago. Who is Mary and what is her connection to the events of the past?
You may figure that out early. You may piece together the truth early. I did put some of it together. It didn't take away from the book. I don't think they were meant to be complicated or meant to be the main point of the novel. This was less a mystery and more a coming of age novel, albeit a dark one. I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait to see what this author does next.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance copy.
It's 1956 and 15 year old Betty has her hands full taking care of her unbalanced mother and helping to run the hotel her mother manages. She has her hands full and yet, personally, she is unfulfilled and bored if that makes sense. Then the town is plagued by a series of murders, the hotel is filled with journalists and Betty's life is suddenly far more interesting and a bit too complicated. One of the journalists is 30 year old John Gallagher and his (inappropriate) relationship with Betty casts a ripple effect of consequences onto the town.
Fifty years later, a woman named Mary is shaken when she sees an interview with the convicted, "Cornish Killer," on the front page of a newspaper. This was the name given to the murderer all those years ago. Who is Mary and what is her connection to the events of the past?
You may figure that out early. You may piece together the truth early. I did put some of it together. It didn't take away from the book. I don't think they were meant to be complicated or meant to be the main point of the novel. This was less a mystery and more a coming of age novel, albeit a dark one. I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait to see what this author does next.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance copy.
October 8, 2017
I usually stay away from books that are compared to other books by authors I love but a comparison of Laura Powell's debut mystery to Tana French's works was too tempting to pass by.
And I'm so glad I read it. Atmospheric (it takes place in Cornwall) with vividly drawn characters, the story is well written and absorbing. I loved Betty Broadbent, the 15 year old protagonist who falls in love with an older man. The story itself is an old one but here it is made fresh by the portrait of young Betty.
The first half was riveting. Then, maybe because I've read too many mysteries for too many years, I guessed who the killer was. The story continued to engage me (it has other levels in addition to the mystery itself) and I hoped I was wrong. Sadly, I was not. I hate knowing who the murderer is but this may be my fault; as I said, too many mysteries for too many years.
Nevertheless, I deeply enjoyed this story. I felt about it the way I did about books when I was younger, as though I were inside the text, that it was real, the people were real, and I couldn't stop reading.
I want to thank NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Laura Powell for the opportunity to read this lovely book.
And I'm so glad I read it. Atmospheric (it takes place in Cornwall) with vividly drawn characters, the story is well written and absorbing. I loved Betty Broadbent, the 15 year old protagonist who falls in love with an older man. The story itself is an old one but here it is made fresh by the portrait of young Betty.
The first half was riveting. Then, maybe because I've read too many mysteries for too many years, I guessed who the killer was. The story continued to engage me (it has other levels in addition to the mystery itself) and I hoped I was wrong. Sadly, I was not. I hate knowing who the murderer is but this may be my fault; as I said, too many mysteries for too many years.
Nevertheless, I deeply enjoyed this story. I felt about it the way I did about books when I was younger, as though I were inside the text, that it was real, the people were real, and I couldn't stop reading.
I want to thank NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Laura Powell for the opportunity to read this lovely book.
February 6, 2018
2.5 stars I have a wide-range of conflicting emotions about this one. I kept calling it The Unforgiven and then I quipped that it was The Unmemorable. There are a wide-range of pros and cons to this one, more cons for me though. :-(
"For fans of Louise Penny" this is not. I am baffled that this would be included in the description.
"For fans of Louise Penny" this is not. I am baffled that this would be included in the description.
June 9, 2016
In 1956, Betty Broadbent lives in the small seaside village in St. Steele helping her alcoholic mother, Delores run a boarding house. Reporters have converged on the town and filled the boarding house. They are in town to cover the brutal murders of several young women. Betty finds herself mysteriously drawn to a reporter named Gallagher and they've soon forged a strained friendship. As Betty's relationship with Gallagher unfolds, they find themselves caught in a lie that condemns an innocent man.
Decades later in a different city, a woman named Mary picks up a newspaper to find that "The Cornish Cleaver" otherwise known as the man condemned of the murders in St. Steele, has been released from prison. Mary's guilt over the part she played years ago in condemning an innocent man is much worse than the diagnosis of cancer she has just received.
I was taken in by the mystery and Betty's story immediately. The story wound from the past to the present seamlessly and the mystery held through to the final pages. This book is heart-wrenching and very beautifully written. I will definitely be looking to read more from Laura Powell.
I want to thank the publisher (Freight Books) for providing me with the ARC through Netgalley for an honest review.
Decades later in a different city, a woman named Mary picks up a newspaper to find that "The Cornish Cleaver" otherwise known as the man condemned of the murders in St. Steele, has been released from prison. Mary's guilt over the part she played years ago in condemning an innocent man is much worse than the diagnosis of cancer she has just received.
I was taken in by the mystery and Betty's story immediately. The story wound from the past to the present seamlessly and the mystery held through to the final pages. This book is heart-wrenching and very beautifully written. I will definitely be looking to read more from Laura Powell.
I want to thank the publisher (Freight Books) for providing me with the ARC through Netgalley for an honest review.
December 29, 2017
3.5 stars. A murder mystery set in Cornwall, 1956. I really enjoyed all of this, but was particularly taken in by a very promising start and the hunt for a violent village killer. Unfortunately, somewhere around the middle, the plot took a few directions I wasn't quite as thrilled by, . My interest did pick up again towards the end and I did really like both the exploration of Betty and her mother's relationship and how Powell presented Mary's difficulties in dealing with her traumatic past fifty years later. I have to say I felt the killer was pretty predictable (maybe I've just read too many mysteries at this point!) but I did like the rest of the conclusion. So despite a few misgivings, which mean I can't rate this 4 stars, The Unforgotten was an enjoyable, riveting read that I recommend for crime/mystery fans. Especially great during the holidays, curled up with a steaming hot drink!
September 25, 2018
Absolutely riveting. This is a really well developed mystery which will leave you asking yourself 'what would I have done' and not just from one character's perspective but several. The author does an amazing job of unspooling a complex mystery and the twists are astounding (but so perfect!) There is a terrific sense of rural Cornwall in the 50's and a touching glimpse of some characters 50 years later. All in all a really great mystery. I was unable to stop reading until I had devoured this whole book. Can't wait to read more by this very talented author!
January 22, 2018
I received an advance copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I made it to 77% before giving myself permission to let go of Betty Boo-Boo and her troubles. Time to move on.
I was excited to read this one. Comparisons to Tana French are compelling inducements. This is NOT Tana French, by a long shot.
Cycling between 1956 and 2006 could have been interesting. It was tedious.
We have the Cornish Cleaver and at least 8 or 9 dead blonde girls with slashed throats. This was supposed to be an exciting thriller.
Instead, we never even learn the names of the dead girls, except one, who is only ever Miss Hollinghurst. This is a small town being terrorized by a slasher serial killer, but instead, all anybody does is make out with everybody else.
This is a 1950s treatise on the importance of getting and keeping a man, at all costs, no matter how boring, unattractive and flubby he may be.
It is also about 15-year-old Betty who hasn't got the sense God gave a cow, bless her, and her disgusting alcoholic mother who calls her Betty Boo-Boo. They love each other in a stifingly codependant way.
But it's okay, Betty gets a man, in the end, though he is not the man she loves. No, that's the creepy 30-year-old reporter who's just a weird plot device. But in 2006, in a home for rich people suffering from dementia, he'll know Betty instantly. It was true love, of course.
During the course of this book, we are treated to graphic depictions of Betty Boo-Boo peeing, vomiting and a particularly colorful miscarriage. Her little "giblet."
Some disclaimers, so you can forge ahead and read this masterpiece for yourself, knowing that my review is biased: I was the daughter of an alcoholic mother, I suffered a toxic codependent marriage and also a miscarriage.
NONE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CORNISH CLEAVER!!!!!
I just can't summon enough energy or excitement to get to the end and determine if Betty Boo-Boo's killer theory is correct.
As far as I'm concerned, the Cornish Cleaver didn't slash the right throats to shut this one up.
Really, the lackluster apathy was bad enough, but it was the "giblet" that did me in.
I made it to 77% before giving myself permission to let go of Betty Boo-Boo and her troubles. Time to move on.
I was excited to read this one. Comparisons to Tana French are compelling inducements. This is NOT Tana French, by a long shot.
Cycling between 1956 and 2006 could have been interesting. It was tedious.
We have the Cornish Cleaver and at least 8 or 9 dead blonde girls with slashed throats. This was supposed to be an exciting thriller.
Instead, we never even learn the names of the dead girls, except one, who is only ever Miss Hollinghurst. This is a small town being terrorized by a slasher serial killer, but instead, all anybody does is make out with everybody else.
This is a 1950s treatise on the importance of getting and keeping a man, at all costs, no matter how boring, unattractive and flubby he may be.
It is also about 15-year-old Betty who hasn't got the sense God gave a cow, bless her, and her disgusting alcoholic mother who calls her Betty Boo-Boo. They love each other in a stifingly codependant way.
But it's okay, Betty gets a man, in the end, though he is not the man she loves. No, that's the creepy 30-year-old reporter who's just a weird plot device. But in 2006, in a home for rich people suffering from dementia, he'll know Betty instantly. It was true love, of course.
During the course of this book, we are treated to graphic depictions of Betty Boo-Boo peeing, vomiting and a particularly colorful miscarriage. Her little "giblet."
Some disclaimers, so you can forge ahead and read this masterpiece for yourself, knowing that my review is biased: I was the daughter of an alcoholic mother, I suffered a toxic codependent marriage and also a miscarriage.
NONE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CORNISH CLEAVER!!!!!
I just can't summon enough energy or excitement to get to the end and determine if Betty Boo-Boo's killer theory is correct.
As far as I'm concerned, the Cornish Cleaver didn't slash the right throats to shut this one up.
Really, the lackluster apathy was bad enough, but it was the "giblet" that did me in.
October 10, 2018
3.5 stars
Narrated by Katy Sobey
Narrated by Katy Sobey
January 19, 2018
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
It’s hard to review a book like this. A book that crawls its way around your heart and shakes it around in your chest.
Laura Powell’s debut novel The Unforgotten is entangled with a shot of crazy, a dash of fear, a love so pure and innocent, and characters so gripping, you scratch your head wondering if it was real or if it was all just a story after all.
Betty Broadbent and her mother Dolores live in a small seaside village in the 1950’s and as small town life goes, they are exactly what you would expect. Betty is a young fifteen year old who helps her mother run the Hotel Eden who is soon booked full with reporters, specifically one that she regards as different from the rest. Dolores, as good a mother as she sounds to be at first, she comes with her own load of instabilities and her way of dealing with it. Both these women’s lives are at the forefront in this book and then they still have to survive the possibility of being targeted by a madman who is killing young girls in and around their small town.
“To my Betty.”
Being nearly sixteen, Betty is very mature for her age and she and Mr. Gallagher, one of the reporters in town to cover the murders, form a deep friendship and with the days going by their time spent together and the decisions they make would resolve in a story that stretches fifty years later, scattered with secrets that are sometimes better left buried.
What catches you is as things start getting both better and worse is that you feel a connection to the young Betty and how you wish you could climb into her world and help her somehow or just be part of it.
The setting and progress of the characters and story itself between the then and now keeps you glued and you need to constantly know what happens next. It’s certainly a book that needs to be taken in bits by bits, but just like a good slice of chocolate cake, you’ll end up swallowing it whole. Certainly worth five unforgettable stars.
It’s hard to review a book like this. A book that crawls its way around your heart and shakes it around in your chest.
Laura Powell’s debut novel The Unforgotten is entangled with a shot of crazy, a dash of fear, a love so pure and innocent, and characters so gripping, you scratch your head wondering if it was real or if it was all just a story after all.
Betty Broadbent and her mother Dolores live in a small seaside village in the 1950’s and as small town life goes, they are exactly what you would expect. Betty is a young fifteen year old who helps her mother run the Hotel Eden who is soon booked full with reporters, specifically one that she regards as different from the rest. Dolores, as good a mother as she sounds to be at first, she comes with her own load of instabilities and her way of dealing with it. Both these women’s lives are at the forefront in this book and then they still have to survive the possibility of being targeted by a madman who is killing young girls in and around their small town.
“To my Betty.”
Being nearly sixteen, Betty is very mature for her age and she and Mr. Gallagher, one of the reporters in town to cover the murders, form a deep friendship and with the days going by their time spent together and the decisions they make would resolve in a story that stretches fifty years later, scattered with secrets that are sometimes better left buried.
What catches you is as things start getting both better and worse is that you feel a connection to the young Betty and how you wish you could climb into her world and help her somehow or just be part of it.
The setting and progress of the characters and story itself between the then and now keeps you glued and you need to constantly know what happens next. It’s certainly a book that needs to be taken in bits by bits, but just like a good slice of chocolate cake, you’ll end up swallowing it whole. Certainly worth five unforgettable stars.
April 3, 2016
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would do it, or even 7, that's how good it is.
It starts with a serial killer in the little and calm town of St Steele, in Cornwall. When reporters from all around the UK descend massively to cover the story, they all room at Hotel Eden, where 15 year old Betty Broadbent and her crazy, alcoholic mother manage and live.
Betty becomes friends with John Gallagher, one of the reporters. This friendship will shape the rest of their lives. The promise Betty makes to Gallagher will still affect her 50 years on.
The story is narrated in 2 different time levels: one during the summer-autumn of 1956, when the killer struck, and another one 50 years later.
Even if this is a crime-mystery book, the story behind it, of the choices people make and how they define their lives (and of those around them) is more important. The book has an air of sadness and of lost love. Of decisions having been made against people's wills.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
It starts with a serial killer in the little and calm town of St Steele, in Cornwall. When reporters from all around the UK descend massively to cover the story, they all room at Hotel Eden, where 15 year old Betty Broadbent and her crazy, alcoholic mother manage and live.
Betty becomes friends with John Gallagher, one of the reporters. This friendship will shape the rest of their lives. The promise Betty makes to Gallagher will still affect her 50 years on.
The story is narrated in 2 different time levels: one during the summer-autumn of 1956, when the killer struck, and another one 50 years later.
Even if this is a crime-mystery book, the story behind it, of the choices people make and how they define their lives (and of those around them) is more important. The book has an air of sadness and of lost love. Of decisions having been made against people's wills.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 16, 2018
It’s really 3.5 stars but I’m rounding down. Initially I got very wrapped up in the life of the small village, but toward the end the story just kind of derailed for me. And the surprise reveal (if it was meant to be a surprise) was quite unimaginative I thought. In the end, an ok read. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read it ahead of publication, although I was a bit late in finishing it.
February 24, 2016
The Unforgotten is a nice little mystery that takes place in the sleepy town of St. Steele where a string of gruesome murders has brought in an abundance of reporters. They are all staying at the town's only inn, the Hotel Eden, where 15 year old Betty Broadbent lives and works with her beautiful, mentally ill mother.
Betty meets John Gallagher, one of the reporters, and quickly becomes interested in him. He doesn't seem to be like the other reporters, he is quieter, more serious. Betty herself is not like most girls her age, she is very mature, as she has to take care of her mother and the hotel when her mother becomes "the black snowman," as she calls her mother when she is suffering from bouts of depression. Betty and Gallagher slowly develop a secret relationship which culminates with him leaving in the middle of the night without an explanation.
The story is told alternately in two separate times, the story of Betty in 1956 and then the story of Mary, 50 years later. The story really focuses on how the mystery behind the murders affected the characters and their lives as a result of guilt, secrets and wrong-doing.
I really enjoyed The Unforgotten, the only reason I didn't give it five stars was that it was slightly predictable. I really enjoyed the characters, I loved reading about their struggles with balancing morality and doing what was expected. They were flawed, but realistically so.
Thank you very much to NetGalley, and Freight books for making this available to me!
Betty meets John Gallagher, one of the reporters, and quickly becomes interested in him. He doesn't seem to be like the other reporters, he is quieter, more serious. Betty herself is not like most girls her age, she is very mature, as she has to take care of her mother and the hotel when her mother becomes "the black snowman," as she calls her mother when she is suffering from bouts of depression. Betty and Gallagher slowly develop a secret relationship which culminates with him leaving in the middle of the night without an explanation.
The story is told alternately in two separate times, the story of Betty in 1956 and then the story of Mary, 50 years later. The story really focuses on how the mystery behind the murders affected the characters and their lives as a result of guilt, secrets and wrong-doing.
I really enjoyed The Unforgotten, the only reason I didn't give it five stars was that it was slightly predictable. I really enjoyed the characters, I loved reading about their struggles with balancing morality and doing what was expected. They were flawed, but realistically so.
Thank you very much to NetGalley, and Freight books for making this available to me!
February 8, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
This book alternates between 1956 and fifty years later. Betty is the daughter of the local boarding house owner. Her mother suffers with mental illness and is unpredictable and flighty. The house is inundated with reporters covering some local brutal murders. Fast forward fifty years and we have the story of Mary who is tortured by the knowledge of an innocent man committed for someone else's crimes.
This was an OK read for me, not enthralling and unfortunately quite forgettable. This is one of those books that in a couple of years I could read the synopsis and think "oh that looks interesting" because it isn't memorable. The middle seemed to be very long and I started to lose interest. It did pick up towards the end hence three stars from me.
This book alternates between 1956 and fifty years later. Betty is the daughter of the local boarding house owner. Her mother suffers with mental illness and is unpredictable and flighty. The house is inundated with reporters covering some local brutal murders. Fast forward fifty years and we have the story of Mary who is tortured by the knowledge of an innocent man committed for someone else's crimes.
This was an OK read for me, not enthralling and unfortunately quite forgettable. This is one of those books that in a couple of years I could read the synopsis and think "oh that looks interesting" because it isn't memorable. The middle seemed to be very long and I started to lose interest. It did pick up towards the end hence three stars from me.
February 8, 2018
I am sorry to say that I've already forgotten this book (although I love the cover!).
The story shifts from 1956 to the present day and back, and I got lost more than once not knowing if I was in the past or present. The Unforgotten has a great plot but it never fully developed - and the writing lacked emotion. Overall, this reminded me of bad "noir" book.
Thanks NetGalley and Gallery/Threshold Books for the advance digital copy!
The story shifts from 1956 to the present day and back, and I got lost more than once not knowing if I was in the past or present. The Unforgotten has a great plot but it never fully developed - and the writing lacked emotion. Overall, this reminded me of bad "noir" book.
Thanks NetGalley and Gallery/Threshold Books for the advance digital copy!
February 8, 2018
Book Description
It's 1956 and fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent has never left the Cornish fishing village of St Steele or ventured far beyond the walls of the boarding house run by her erratic mother. But when the London press pack descends to report on a series of gruesome murders of young women, Betty's world changes. In particular, she is transfixed by a mysterious and aloof reporter, Mr. Gallagher. As the death toll rises, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Betty and Gallagher. But as their bond deepens, they find themselves entangled with the murders and each is forced to make a devastating choice, one that will shape their own lives - and the life of an innocent man - forever.
My Thoughts
Betty lives in a small village with her mother who suffers from “black moods” that have thrust Betty into the role of mother more often than a child. When bodies are discovered, the town is gripped by fear and a swarm of reporters descends, hoping to be the first with an exclusive story. The murders are of course paramount to the story, but often are secondary to what I felt was the main story, Betty's life, hopes, and fears. Mr. Gallagher is one of the reporters, but unlike the others, Betty is drawn to him and ultimately, it is the choices they make that propels the story to its conclusion.
The timeline shifts from 1956 to 2006, revealing what happened in St. Steele as well as how those choices and the reasons for them impact Betty. Mostly, we see and feel the events from Betty's perspective, though we do get information from others as well. The murders never really took center stage for long, the story really revolves around Betty. There were several instances when I thought Betty might indeed wind up happy and for every bad thing that kept coming her way, it was my hope for her that kept me invested in the story. This was a book that didn't provide easy answers but did intrigue me and provide an intimate look into what life was like in this small village.
I thought the author did an excellent job with the character of Betty. I didn't grow up in the 1950s, but I did grow up in a small town, where gossip was believed as much as fact and I do recall being young and naive and not always making choices based on logic or fact. There were many twists and turns along the way, but this wasn't a fast paced action packed mystery, it was slow and steady and to me satisfying. The ending surprised me and I have to say I look forward to Laura Powell's next book.
Thank you, Ms. Powell, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to read and review.
It's 1956 and fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent has never left the Cornish fishing village of St Steele or ventured far beyond the walls of the boarding house run by her erratic mother. But when the London press pack descends to report on a series of gruesome murders of young women, Betty's world changes. In particular, she is transfixed by a mysterious and aloof reporter, Mr. Gallagher. As the death toll rises, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Betty and Gallagher. But as their bond deepens, they find themselves entangled with the murders and each is forced to make a devastating choice, one that will shape their own lives - and the life of an innocent man - forever.
My Thoughts
Betty lives in a small village with her mother who suffers from “black moods” that have thrust Betty into the role of mother more often than a child. When bodies are discovered, the town is gripped by fear and a swarm of reporters descends, hoping to be the first with an exclusive story. The murders are of course paramount to the story, but often are secondary to what I felt was the main story, Betty's life, hopes, and fears. Mr. Gallagher is one of the reporters, but unlike the others, Betty is drawn to him and ultimately, it is the choices they make that propels the story to its conclusion.
The timeline shifts from 1956 to 2006, revealing what happened in St. Steele as well as how those choices and the reasons for them impact Betty. Mostly, we see and feel the events from Betty's perspective, though we do get information from others as well. The murders never really took center stage for long, the story really revolves around Betty. There were several instances when I thought Betty might indeed wind up happy and for every bad thing that kept coming her way, it was my hope for her that kept me invested in the story. This was a book that didn't provide easy answers but did intrigue me and provide an intimate look into what life was like in this small village.
I thought the author did an excellent job with the character of Betty. I didn't grow up in the 1950s, but I did grow up in a small town, where gossip was believed as much as fact and I do recall being young and naive and not always making choices based on logic or fact. There were many twists and turns along the way, but this wasn't a fast paced action packed mystery, it was slow and steady and to me satisfying. The ending surprised me and I have to say I look forward to Laura Powell's next book.
Thank you, Ms. Powell, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to read and review.
February 12, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Freight Books for an advance copy of The Unforgotten, a debut novel by Laura Powell.
The Unforgotten tells of how 15 year old Betty Broadbent and 30 year old John Gallagher met and fell in love in 1956 in the small Cornish village of St Steele against the background of the hunt for a serial killer, The Cornish Cleaver. The fallout from these events spans many years and much heartache. It is told from two points of view, the 15 year old Betty in 1956 and 65 year old Mary in the present day. Betty's story is told in flashback to show how it influences Mary's actions.
The Unforgotten is a beautifully written novel with more than a few surprise twists in the tale. I'm not sure if this is a spoiler but the description of Betty's breakdown is a wonderful piece of writing and deserves a mention for excellence and understanding.
It is not, however, my normal fare as I prefer novels which concentrate on the investigative side of crime rather than the repercussions and I found my interest flagging in the middle - the beginning is intriguing and the ending compulsive with all the revelations but the middle is not my kind of thing and I found myself a bit reluctant to pick it up and plow on at times although I'm glad I did because the ending is well worth the effort.
I have awarded The Unforgotten 4 stars as it is a quality novel with charm and insight and will suit many readers.
The Unforgotten tells of how 15 year old Betty Broadbent and 30 year old John Gallagher met and fell in love in 1956 in the small Cornish village of St Steele against the background of the hunt for a serial killer, The Cornish Cleaver. The fallout from these events spans many years and much heartache. It is told from two points of view, the 15 year old Betty in 1956 and 65 year old Mary in the present day. Betty's story is told in flashback to show how it influences Mary's actions.
The Unforgotten is a beautifully written novel with more than a few surprise twists in the tale. I'm not sure if this is a spoiler but the description of Betty's breakdown is a wonderful piece of writing and deserves a mention for excellence and understanding.
It is not, however, my normal fare as I prefer novels which concentrate on the investigative side of crime rather than the repercussions and I found my interest flagging in the middle - the beginning is intriguing and the ending compulsive with all the revelations but the middle is not my kind of thing and I found myself a bit reluctant to pick it up and plow on at times although I'm glad I did because the ending is well worth the effort.
I have awarded The Unforgotten 4 stars as it is a quality novel with charm and insight and will suit many readers.
September 18, 2018
The Unforgotten is not a good book. It's not terrible, or offensive, and Laura Powell's writing, outside of some very odd choices of nouns, is fine. But the plot, which in able hands could have been a real page-turner, and in the hands of someone like Megan Abbot or Gillian Flynn could have been, well, unforgettable, here sinks under the weight of false suspense and overwrought and underdeveloped characters.
Betty is fifteen in 1956, where she helps her mother run a small guesthouse in a beach community. Her mother is a mentally unstable alcoholic, whose cycles of mania and depression are growing ever shorter. A group of reporters has taken over the guesthouse because there is a murderer in the area, the "Cornwall Cleaver," who targets young women. Betty longs for escape and so becomes infatuated with the odd and off-putting Mr. Gallagher, who is, it becomes quickly evident, is very bad at his job, and his only articles come from things Betty tells him.
There's a parallel story taking place in the present, with a mentally unstable older woman who becomes overwrought upon seeing a newspaper article about the man imprisoned for the murders decades ago. She flails and weeps herself around to finding Mr. Gallagher again, burdened by a terrible secret.
As the two stories converge, the answers were always the most predictable, and much of the suspense derived from characters not revealing identities or important information, even in their private thoughts. There are a series of salacious murders, but only two of the women are deemed important enough to name and the final reveal - the murderer's motivation - applied only to the final murder, leaving the reader to wonder who killed all those girls. There was a great deal of drama, weeping, running away in the night and general emotional turmoil for one book to hold and it soon became annoying. I do think that this book does provide a series of examples of what not to do, so it is not entirely a waste of time to read.
Betty is fifteen in 1956, where she helps her mother run a small guesthouse in a beach community. Her mother is a mentally unstable alcoholic, whose cycles of mania and depression are growing ever shorter. A group of reporters has taken over the guesthouse because there is a murderer in the area, the "Cornwall Cleaver," who targets young women. Betty longs for escape and so becomes infatuated with the odd and off-putting Mr. Gallagher, who is, it becomes quickly evident, is very bad at his job, and his only articles come from things Betty tells him.
There's a parallel story taking place in the present, with a mentally unstable older woman who becomes overwrought upon seeing a newspaper article about the man imprisoned for the murders decades ago. She flails and weeps herself around to finding Mr. Gallagher again, burdened by a terrible secret.
As the two stories converge, the answers were always the most predictable, and much of the suspense derived from characters not revealing identities or important information, even in their private thoughts. There are a series of salacious murders, but only two of the women are deemed important enough to name and the final reveal - the murderer's motivation - applied only to the final murder, leaving the reader to wonder who killed all those girls. There was a great deal of drama, weeping, running away in the night and general emotional turmoil for one book to hold and it soon became annoying. I do think that this book does provide a series of examples of what not to do, so it is not entirely a waste of time to read.
February 1, 2018
Well done, Ms. Powell. I loved your book. I mean, I LOVED your book. I especially enjoyed your method of increasing my curiosity regarding what would be happening. Your flipping from 1956 to fifty years later was very effective in letting us, the readers, know the chain of events.
Your character development was superb. Naïve Betty, her difficult mom, mysterious Mr. Gallagher, and Mary – Mary could be a whole nother novel – were believable and complete. The story, with its untold secrets, illicit love, and murder is skillfully created. Impressive is the credibility regarding the behaviors and conditions of the ‘50s.
The descriptions throughout were explicit and just right, not too much nor too little. I particularly enjoyed ‘being with’ Betty on her trip to London as well as her arrival back home with the explosive images that were conveyed.
I’m not exactly sure what I think of Betty. Crazy? Troubled? Misunderstood? Misbegotten? Mental? Interesting, at the very least. She is a very complicated character.
And the ending. You had a lot to bring together in this complex story, and you did it superbly. I absolutely did not see the ending coming. It is outstanding.
This book was a treat to read and review. I repeat, well done, very well done. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could, and I look forward to future works. Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity.
Your character development was superb. Naïve Betty, her difficult mom, mysterious Mr. Gallagher, and Mary – Mary could be a whole nother novel – were believable and complete. The story, with its untold secrets, illicit love, and murder is skillfully created. Impressive is the credibility regarding the behaviors and conditions of the ‘50s.
The descriptions throughout were explicit and just right, not too much nor too little. I particularly enjoyed ‘being with’ Betty on her trip to London as well as her arrival back home with the explosive images that were conveyed.
I’m not exactly sure what I think of Betty. Crazy? Troubled? Misunderstood? Misbegotten? Mental? Interesting, at the very least. She is a very complicated character.
And the ending. You had a lot to bring together in this complex story, and you did it superbly. I absolutely did not see the ending coming. It is outstanding.
This book was a treat to read and review. I repeat, well done, very well done. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could, and I look forward to future works. Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity.
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