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Remember Me
Fifteen years ago Ellen Smith vanished from the woods near her small Welsh village. Never to be seen again.
Eight people were in the woods that eight splintered lives, eight people hiding a terrible secret. But who can remember the truth?
Now, Ellen’s best friend, Detective Ava Cole is all grown up back in the village where it all began, and everyone is asking the same question.
What really happened to Ellen?
Filled with shocking discoveries and traumatic memories this fast paced thriller is perfect for fans of Friend Request and Close to Home.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2019
360 people are currently reading
865 people want to read
About the author
D.E. White
24 books97 followersPseudonym for author Daisy White
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
December 1, 2018
Remember Me by D.E. White is a thriller about a missing girl. Ava a police detective returns to her home town when she hears that her ex husband is dying and to reconnect with her son that she has not seen since he was a small child.
Not all of her old friends and acquaintances as happy about this because of an incident when they were young that resulted in one of their friends going missing.
Ava starts to receive cryptic messages and texts, and fears for her safety.
I enjoyed parts of this story but guessed the identity of the malicious messages early on.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ Digital for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Not all of her old friends and acquaintances as happy about this because of an incident when they were young that resulted in one of their friends going missing.
Ava starts to receive cryptic messages and texts, and fears for her safety.
I enjoyed parts of this story but guessed the identity of the malicious messages early on.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ Digital for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Remember Me by D.E. White from NetGalley for my honest review.
Remember Me is a police procedural with an interesting plot and a lot of characters.
Fifteen years ago Ellen Smith vanished from the woods near her small Welsh village. Eight people were there the night she disappeared, but Ellen was never seen again. All those people there that night hold a terrible secret. What really happened to Ellen that night?
Ava was Ellen’s best friend. Now Ava, living in California is a Detective. She decides to go back to the village where she grew up and where it all started, and investigate it for herself.
This was a good book but it took a while to get into it. I'm glad I stuck with it because I did enjoy it. There are also a lot of characters that are constantly being introduced, so it was a lot to keep track of. It was very intriguing and suspenseful though as I had to know what happened. It seemed like so many characters had motive which kept you reading with so many twists and turns.
Remember Me is a police procedural with an interesting plot and a lot of characters.
Fifteen years ago Ellen Smith vanished from the woods near her small Welsh village. Eight people were there the night she disappeared, but Ellen was never seen again. All those people there that night hold a terrible secret. What really happened to Ellen that night?
Ava was Ellen’s best friend. Now Ava, living in California is a Detective. She decides to go back to the village where she grew up and where it all started, and investigate it for herself.
This was a good book but it took a while to get into it. I'm glad I stuck with it because I did enjoy it. There are also a lot of characters that are constantly being introduced, so it was a lot to keep track of. It was very intriguing and suspenseful though as I had to know what happened. It seemed like so many characters had motive which kept you reading with so many twists and turns.
May 31, 2019
There were 8 teenagers that night in the woods ... all were taking pills of some kind or another. There was laughing and flirting and maybe a little more. But something else happened that night ... Ellen Smith died. The remaining 7 made a pact to bury her body and never tell anyone.
That was 15 years ago. Today Detective Ava Cole is back in that Welsh village. She was Ellen's best friend and she's been riddled with guilt ever since then.
Most of the original gang of friends are there, as well. They all have one question ... Is Ava there to tell the police and Ellen's family what happened that night?
Actually, Ava can't do that because she was passed out at the time of Ellen's death. So what really did happen to her?
Someone is playing with all their lives. But who ... and why? It looks like Ava is being targeted ..... to keep her quiet and to stop her from asking question? Or is there more to the story?
There are twists and turns and surprising consequences for all involved in this tale. The finely drawn suspects stay true to their characters from start to finish .... and what a finish it is!
Many thanks to the author / HQ Digital / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 26, 2019
Remember Me by D E White was an interesting read, a book that I read quite quickly and enjoyed. There is a lot going on in this story, a lot of characters - all with their own secrets and lies.
This story is set in a small Welsh Village, where 15 years ago teenager Ellen disappeared without a trace. Her best friend Ava is returning to the village from her new home in LA where she is works with the LAPD. The reason for her coming back is that her ex-husband is dying of cancer and wants to see her. Her return has people asking the questions again about what happened to Ellen. Ava starts to get cryptic messages and terrible things are starting to happen to those who were in the woods 15 years ago.
Thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
This story is set in a small Welsh Village, where 15 years ago teenager Ellen disappeared without a trace. Her best friend Ava is returning to the village from her new home in LA where she is works with the LAPD. The reason for her coming back is that her ex-husband is dying of cancer and wants to see her. Her return has people asking the questions again about what happened to Ellen. Ava starts to get cryptic messages and terrible things are starting to happen to those who were in the woods 15 years ago.
Thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
February 4, 2019
Remember Me, the debut psychological thriller from D. E. White, certainly has the right title; I'll definitely remember it but for all the wrong reasons I'm afraid. The main issues were too many characters and too many different threads to the story that my way of relaxing turned into such a slog. I am not a fan of writing negative reviews and usually, there are redeeming features to help balance out my critique, but I am hard-pressed to find any here sadly.
The plot concepts were all sound and could've led to an exciting, compelling read, but there were far too many ideas and they didn't all belong in the same book. It was also rather slow in terms of pacing, which didn't exactly help. It indeed had its moments, but they were far and few between and not enough to keep me interested in finding out what happened in the end. The writing was pretty decent, so I hope the authors next book is better than this turned out to be.
Many thanks to HQ Digital for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
The plot concepts were all sound and could've led to an exciting, compelling read, but there were far too many ideas and they didn't all belong in the same book. It was also rather slow in terms of pacing, which didn't exactly help. It indeed had its moments, but they were far and few between and not enough to keep me interested in finding out what happened in the end. The writing was pretty decent, so I hope the authors next book is better than this turned out to be.
Many thanks to HQ Digital for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
December 23, 2018
Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital for the ARC.
A group of former highschool friends reunite years later when one of them is diagnosed terminally ill. The coming together digs up a long kept secret and pretty soon more people end up getting hurt.
Remember Me moves at a pleasant pace with nice enough characters. A heartwrenching story lies at the root of the mystery, but the book misses the thrill to make it an exciting read.
A group of former highschool friends reunite years later when one of them is diagnosed terminally ill. The coming together digs up a long kept secret and pretty soon more people end up getting hurt.
Remember Me moves at a pleasant pace with nice enough characters. A heartwrenching story lies at the root of the mystery, but the book misses the thrill to make it an exciting read.
May 1, 2019
My thoughts:
This book started slow and didn’t pickup until about halfway through—then ended rather disappointingly. Unfortunately, I read several good books just before this one, which may be the reason for my low impression. It could also be that I just didn’t connect to this author’s writing style, since there are many good reviews.
I didn’t feel like there was anything that really made this book unique. It was an average suspense/thriller with too many unlikable characters, that I struggled to relate to. Reading and discussing it with someone else helped me stay engaged. Otherwise I’m not sure I would have wanted to finish it.
My Rating: 3 ⭐️’s
Published: February 6th 2019 by HQ Digital Pages: 295
Thank you to NetGalley / HQ Digital / D.E. White for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review! #NetGalley #RememberMe
Book Description
Fifteen years ago Ellen Smith vanished from the woods near her small Welsh village. Never to be seen again. Eight people were in the woods that night: eight splintered lives, eight people hiding a terrible secret. But who can remember the truth?
Now, Ellen’s best friend, Detective Ava Cole is all grown up back in the village where it all began, and everyone is asking the same question.
What really happened to Ellen?
Filled with shocking discoveries and traumatic memories this fast paced thriller is perfect for fans of Friend Request and Close to Home.
This book started slow and didn’t pickup until about halfway through—then ended rather disappointingly. Unfortunately, I read several good books just before this one, which may be the reason for my low impression. It could also be that I just didn’t connect to this author’s writing style, since there are many good reviews.
I didn’t feel like there was anything that really made this book unique. It was an average suspense/thriller with too many unlikable characters, that I struggled to relate to. Reading and discussing it with someone else helped me stay engaged. Otherwise I’m not sure I would have wanted to finish it.
My Rating: 3 ⭐️’s
Published: February 6th 2019 by HQ Digital Pages: 295
Thank you to NetGalley / HQ Digital / D.E. White for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review! #NetGalley #RememberMe
Book Description
Fifteen years ago Ellen Smith vanished from the woods near her small Welsh village. Never to be seen again. Eight people were in the woods that night: eight splintered lives, eight people hiding a terrible secret. But who can remember the truth?
Now, Ellen’s best friend, Detective Ava Cole is all grown up back in the village where it all began, and everyone is asking the same question.
What really happened to Ellen?
Filled with shocking discoveries and traumatic memories this fast paced thriller is perfect for fans of Friend Request and Close to Home.
February 28, 2019
The story goes thus. Ellen disappeared 15 years ago from a tiny Welsh village, and now best friend and detective Ava is back to the same village. And the story rolls on with Ava investigating and getting to the bottom of the truth.
My first book by D. E. White, it took me time to get into the book. It is was slow and had too many characters. I put down the book a couple of times as I had to keep re-reading as keeping track of the characters was difficult. I was down with the flu and my brain just, couldn't engage to the story.
There was suspense and intrigue which I got to by skim reading the prose, the ending had a good twist.
Overall it was okay, not a chilling thriller.
My first book by D. E. White, it took me time to get into the book. It is was slow and had too many characters. I put down the book a couple of times as I had to keep re-reading as keeping track of the characters was difficult. I was down with the flu and my brain just, couldn't engage to the story.
There was suspense and intrigue which I got to by skim reading the prose, the ending had a good twist.
Overall it was okay, not a chilling thriller.
February 8, 2019
Fifteen years ago, eight teenagers went into the woods outside their small Welsh village to drink, take a few pills and have a good time. Seven came out, carrying a terrible secret.
Fast forward to today and Ava Cole is living a good life; a detective with the LAPD, she returns to Aberdyth when she gets the news that her ex-husband is dying. But it seems the past is coming back to haunt her, beginning with a series of terrifying texts and building up to a chilling climax.
I was born in a small Welsh town, and D.E. White’s writing took me straight back to my childhood, such that I could even hear my old accent resurfacing when talking with my family after finishing this read - an accent 18 years in Australia has almost erased. I guess you can take the girl out of the valleys, but you can’t always take the valleys out of the girl, a truth Ava discovers at almost the ultimate cost.
The narrative switches between Ava’s third-person PoV and first-person snippets from the villain, and the author does a fine job of slowly teasing out the story, eliminating viable suspects one by one until at last, the reader understands not only who the villain is, but why they are on their particular path.
As with many crime suspense novels, this one should come with a host of trigger warnings about domestic violence, torture, non-consensual sex and murder, but in this case you need to add child pornography and paedophilia to the usuals, in case those are problem areas for you.
Chillingly atmospheric, this one resonated particularly strongly with me, redolent as it is of the shadowed valleys and steep hills of my youth, the insularity of small communities and that strange feeling, when you go home, that maybe you never went away at all, no matter how many years removed you are.
Five stars for a read I thoroughly enjoyed.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
Fast forward to today and Ava Cole is living a good life; a detective with the LAPD, she returns to Aberdyth when she gets the news that her ex-husband is dying. But it seems the past is coming back to haunt her, beginning with a series of terrifying texts and building up to a chilling climax.
I was born in a small Welsh town, and D.E. White’s writing took me straight back to my childhood, such that I could even hear my old accent resurfacing when talking with my family after finishing this read - an accent 18 years in Australia has almost erased. I guess you can take the girl out of the valleys, but you can’t always take the valleys out of the girl, a truth Ava discovers at almost the ultimate cost.
The narrative switches between Ava’s third-person PoV and first-person snippets from the villain, and the author does a fine job of slowly teasing out the story, eliminating viable suspects one by one until at last, the reader understands not only who the villain is, but why they are on their particular path.
As with many crime suspense novels, this one should come with a host of trigger warnings about domestic violence, torture, non-consensual sex and murder, but in this case you need to add child pornography and paedophilia to the usuals, in case those are problem areas for you.
Chillingly atmospheric, this one resonated particularly strongly with me, redolent as it is of the shadowed valleys and steep hills of my youth, the insularity of small communities and that strange feeling, when you go home, that maybe you never went away at all, no matter how many years removed you are.
Five stars for a read I thoroughly enjoyed.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
February 6, 2019
I have read the Ruby Baker series by Daisy White and loved it so I was looking forward to reading this new release. This is a psychological thriller and although I love all Crime Fiction Psychological Thrillers are my favourite.
As a teenager Ava was a little on the wild side. Along with her friends they experimented with drink, drugs and relationships. One day everything went wrong and Elle died. The gang covered up her death fearing there would be too many questions. It was just a tragic accident. Wasn't it?
That wasn't the end of the problems for Ava she got pregnant and married Paul but unable to cope and being bullied she leaves the baby with Paul and moves to America to be with her parents.
Many years later she receives a letter from Paul. He is dying and wants her to return to Wales.
From that letter Ava finds her life spinning out of control. She receives messages she doesn't understand and the number is out of use. Then the past comes back to haunt her as she learns Elle didn't die in a freak accident she was assaulted and murdered.
Tasked with finding out what really happened that night Ava finds herself alone in a dangerous game with an unknown enemy, and enemy who probably killed Elle.
The characters are realistic and develop well throughout the story as we watch them grow from errant teenagers to adults each dealing with the memories in an individual way. The story itself is gripping and had me turning page after page. There are so many twists and turns I found myself changing my mind from one suspect to another and back again all the way through to the end.
A totally gripping book that ticked all my boxes and earns a very well deserved 5 stars.
I am hoping to read more about Ava in the future.
As a teenager Ava was a little on the wild side. Along with her friends they experimented with drink, drugs and relationships. One day everything went wrong and Elle died. The gang covered up her death fearing there would be too many questions. It was just a tragic accident. Wasn't it?
That wasn't the end of the problems for Ava she got pregnant and married Paul but unable to cope and being bullied she leaves the baby with Paul and moves to America to be with her parents.
Many years later she receives a letter from Paul. He is dying and wants her to return to Wales.
From that letter Ava finds her life spinning out of control. She receives messages she doesn't understand and the number is out of use. Then the past comes back to haunt her as she learns Elle didn't die in a freak accident she was assaulted and murdered.
Tasked with finding out what really happened that night Ava finds herself alone in a dangerous game with an unknown enemy, and enemy who probably killed Elle.
The characters are realistic and develop well throughout the story as we watch them grow from errant teenagers to adults each dealing with the memories in an individual way. The story itself is gripping and had me turning page after page. There are so many twists and turns I found myself changing my mind from one suspect to another and back again all the way through to the end.
A totally gripping book that ticked all my boxes and earns a very well deserved 5 stars.
I am hoping to read more about Ava in the future.
February 6, 2021
I think the best way to sum up my thoughts is to say that it was gripping but not memorable. In the way that it was well-developed but not shocking enough for this kind of plot - this is, after all, a very popular scenario, in the tradition of Agatha Christie, where you are basically given all the suspects and only need to figure out their backstories to guess what happened.
But I liked it. I will look out for more from D.E. White.
Big thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
But I liked it. I will look out for more from D.E. White.
Big thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 27, 2019
I really hate not finishing a book. Even if it doesn't click with me, I will slog through to the end so I can give a complete review, but every now and then, I read one that I can't find anything nice to say about, and "Remember Me," is one of those.
Brief synopsis: Years ago, in Wales, Ava and her teenage friends drag too much, did drugs, as you do, apparently, in Wales. And one night, as always happens in these books, they went too far, and one of them ended up dead. Rather than reporting her death, they hid her body, then went back and buried it, telling the girl's poor parents she ran away, even though she had no earthly reason for wanting to.
Now, in the present, Ava returns to her village because her ex-husband, one of the former friends is dying of cancer, and Ava is requested by his second wife, another of the former friends to say goodbye, and to, oh yeah, say hello to her now teenage son that she abandoned when she left Wales because she was just too broken to deal with all the crap.
Ava is now, if you can believe it, a successful LAPD detective, but you wouldn't know it by the way she starts bumbling around, putting herself in danger, even though she knew ahead of time that some psycho is messing with her. This psycho started sending her disturbing text messages while she was still back in LA.
So who is it? Is it the person who murdered Ellen years ago? Is it someone who saw what the kids did?
Don't ask me. I could not get emotionally invested in any of the characters, so I never bothered to find out.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review
Brief synopsis: Years ago, in Wales, Ava and her teenage friends drag too much, did drugs, as you do, apparently, in Wales. And one night, as always happens in these books, they went too far, and one of them ended up dead. Rather than reporting her death, they hid her body, then went back and buried it, telling the girl's poor parents she ran away, even though she had no earthly reason for wanting to.
Now, in the present, Ava returns to her village because her ex-husband, one of the former friends is dying of cancer, and Ava is requested by his second wife, another of the former friends to say goodbye, and to, oh yeah, say hello to her now teenage son that she abandoned when she left Wales because she was just too broken to deal with all the crap.
Ava is now, if you can believe it, a successful LAPD detective, but you wouldn't know it by the way she starts bumbling around, putting herself in danger, even though she knew ahead of time that some psycho is messing with her. This psycho started sending her disturbing text messages while she was still back in LA.
So who is it? Is it the person who murdered Ellen years ago? Is it someone who saw what the kids did?
Don't ask me. I could not get emotionally invested in any of the characters, so I never bothered to find out.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review
February 17, 2019
Fabulous mystery which kept me entertained throughout. I did figure it out early on but was still enthralled and it kept me turning those pages right until the end. Loved it! #NetGalley
February 6, 2019
So I’m already a huge fan of this author’s Ruby Baker series, which is written under the name Daisy White, so I jumped at the chance to read Remember Me.
Of late, I’ve been falling out of love with the whole psychological thriller thing but then Remember Me came along to remind me why I love this genre!
I really warmed to Ava, she’s strong, independent but she’s not perfect, making mistakes that she deeply regrets. As a teenager, suffering from post natal depression and stuck in a doomed relationship she abandons her young son to go back to America. She rises through the ranks of the police becoming a detective. Only when her ex husband Paul is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he asks her to return to Wales. She sees this as a chance to reconnect with her son but it brings bad memories of her missing friend Ellen and a trauma she’d rather forget.
Things get much worse when she arrives in Wales, with someone is waging a campaign of intimidation against Ava. Who is out to get her?
This is a lot grittier than I’m used to from this author with a lot darker themes, like toxic relationships, abuse and depression but I absolutely loved it!
I also liked the addition of the threatening and cryptic messages written in Welsh, then translated into English, I don’t know why but I felt it added to that air of menace about them.
I will say it is a little slow burn at the beginning. Also I did have an inkling early on who the baddie of the book might be but with all the secrets and lies, it ended up being a whole lot more complicated than just a simple ‘this person is evil and that’s why the do what they do’.
Overall Remember Me is a dark, gritty, well written psychological thriller with intriguing characters and a gripping story line.
Of late, I’ve been falling out of love with the whole psychological thriller thing but then Remember Me came along to remind me why I love this genre!
I really warmed to Ava, she’s strong, independent but she’s not perfect, making mistakes that she deeply regrets. As a teenager, suffering from post natal depression and stuck in a doomed relationship she abandons her young son to go back to America. She rises through the ranks of the police becoming a detective. Only when her ex husband Paul is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he asks her to return to Wales. She sees this as a chance to reconnect with her son but it brings bad memories of her missing friend Ellen and a trauma she’d rather forget.
Things get much worse when she arrives in Wales, with someone is waging a campaign of intimidation against Ava. Who is out to get her?
This is a lot grittier than I’m used to from this author with a lot darker themes, like toxic relationships, abuse and depression but I absolutely loved it!
I also liked the addition of the threatening and cryptic messages written in Welsh, then translated into English, I don’t know why but I felt it added to that air of menace about them.
I will say it is a little slow burn at the beginning. Also I did have an inkling early on who the baddie of the book might be but with all the secrets and lies, it ended up being a whole lot more complicated than just a simple ‘this person is evil and that’s why the do what they do’.
Overall Remember Me is a dark, gritty, well written psychological thriller with intriguing characters and a gripping story line.
December 7, 2018
A good mystery thriller about a missing girl that held my interest throughout. The book was well written and the characters interesting especially Ava Cole who has returned from her stint as a detective with the LAPD . A story of twists and turns That is fast paced and addictive making it a quick read and very enjoyable. I can recommend this if you enjoy mystery thrillers.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 18, 2022
Well written! Fast paced with twists! Was surprised at the final twist! Highly recommend and will be reading more by this author!
January 27, 2019
what a story Ava Cole returns back to Aberdyth from Los Angeles after getting word that her ex husband Paul is dying, its only a matter of time and her son Stephen needs her. its been fifteen years since she left after what happened to Ellen. going back means catching up with old friends and a lot has changed. this book i could not put down, it has so many twists and turns. "COFIWCH FI" Remember Me is a dark thriller, i got a lot of goosebumps and shivers while reading. i will definitely recommend this book to fellow readers
January 15, 2019
This book is a thriller that was missing something to take It to the next level. It had it's moments of engagement and thrill, but midway I found myself a bit bored. The characters were developed well. I was invested in the main character Ava and genuinely wanted to solve the mystery at the end. Despite this I felt the story was repetitive and I just checked out for a good portion. This made the ending not entertaining or exciting. The big reveal was unexpected but it took so long for the "villain" to reveal their true plan and motivations that by the end I didn't care, and wanted the story to end. Everything just moved slowly. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher HQ digital for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2018
I loved this. It's about a detective named Ava who returns to her home town to see her dying ex. But they've been hiding a dark secret and someone knows. I liked Ava's character and the story is well written, full.of twists and surprises. Recommend to anyone who likes pyschological thrillers.
March 27, 2019
This book
Excellent couldn't put this book down
I can not think of any further words to add other than a great read
Excellent couldn't put this book down
I can not think of any further words to add other than a great read
December 17, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In a Welsh town 15 years ago Ellen Smith disappeared in the woods and has never been seen again. There had been 8 people in the woods that night and they are now all hiding a secret.
Detective Ava Cole had been Ellen's best friend and she's asking the same question that everyone else in the village has been asking for 15 years, what happened to her friend Ellen?
Ava has returned to the village because her ex-husband is dying and also to re-connect with her estranged son whom she has not seen since he was a child.
The pace of the book could have been a lot faster and then it might have been easier to connect with the characters and feel for them.
In a Welsh town 15 years ago Ellen Smith disappeared in the woods and has never been seen again. There had been 8 people in the woods that night and they are now all hiding a secret.
Detective Ava Cole had been Ellen's best friend and she's asking the same question that everyone else in the village has been asking for 15 years, what happened to her friend Ellen?
Ava has returned to the village because her ex-husband is dying and also to re-connect with her estranged son whom she has not seen since he was a child.
The pace of the book could have been a lot faster and then it might have been easier to connect with the characters and feel for them.
February 10, 2019
This book was a little slow at first but I enjoyed it overall.
I enjoyed the overall plot and setting.
The characters were flaws and believable.
Thanks for allowing me to read and review this book
I enjoyed the overall plot and setting.
The characters were flaws and believable.
Thanks for allowing me to read and review this book
January 2, 2019
*Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* I absolutely love reading thrillers and discovering the secrets they hold in their intricate plots. However, I did not love 'Remember Me'. I found that there were too many characters of whom to keep track and I did not feel emotionally invested enough in any of the characters' fates. Detective Ava Cole returns from the US to the Welsh village in which she grew up. The village holds secrets from the past, but also from the present. This should have been precisely the kind of plot to draw me in... but alas, the book did not grab me. However, to each their own and I would not let my review put you off reading the novel if it sounds like it may interest you.
October 5, 2019
[Disclaimer: e-ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
I had really mixed thoughts on this thriller. While I really enjoyed the setting, I didn't find the mystery its self particularly engaging, and overall I found the story fairly predictable.
If you are looking for a thriller with a great setting the Welsh countryside, definitely check this one out.
Check out my BookTube channel for more bookish content.
I had really mixed thoughts on this thriller. While I really enjoyed the setting, I didn't find the mystery its self particularly engaging, and overall I found the story fairly predictable.
If you are looking for a thriller with a great setting the Welsh countryside, definitely check this one out.
Check out my BookTube channel for more bookish content.
November 24, 2018
i so enjoyed this book a very good psycalogical read ava comes back to her home town where she ran from her best friend ellen died. there where 8 people in the wood that night and all have things to hide this book is very gripping adictive and twisty. highley recomend
May 3, 2019
Daisy White has delighted me with this clever and gripping contemporary psychological thriller. I haven’t read any other books by this author and so I had no real expectations other than the reviews I had seen and the very brief plot synopsis. I was not prepared for the exciting and intense roller-coaster read this book inflicted on me!
“Remember Me” was cleverly written, and so full of drama and suspense that it had my heart racing. I was absorbed in the story from the start.
The book is mostly told from the point of view of Ava, who is now a fit LAPD detective but has a past full of dark secrets. She returns to her home-town of Aberdyth at the request of her ex-husband.
I didn’t really like Ava. As the main character, she was not easy to relate and warm to, though I could empathise with her about the depression that turned her life upside-down and changed the direction of her life and that of her son.
Set in Wales, the author has added some nice little touches which I really liked, such as the Welsh texts that the killer regularly sent to Ava, These were included at the end of each chapter, making me feel the need to keep on swiping the pages on my kindle so I could keep on reading!
Daisy White created a set of characters with such complexity and depth, and though all of them were, well, frankly evil and alarming, it helped to make this thriller quite something.
There were so many twists and turns that I found myself changing my mind from one suspect to another and back again. Not only did it have a gripping and brilliantly thought-out plot-line, but I was equally confused as the lead character as to who could be trusted. The penny only dropped for me when I had exhausted all suspects.
I loved where Daisy White took her chilling story, right through to its fulfilling conclusion.
I know I have found another author to add to my ever-growing list of favourites and I was lucky enough to participate in a buddy read for this book.
I thoroughly recommend “Remember Me” as it is definitely worth a read, especially if you enjoy a good thriller with plenty of atmosphere and a noir feel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
“Remember Me” was cleverly written, and so full of drama and suspense that it had my heart racing. I was absorbed in the story from the start.
The book is mostly told from the point of view of Ava, who is now a fit LAPD detective but has a past full of dark secrets. She returns to her home-town of Aberdyth at the request of her ex-husband.
I didn’t really like Ava. As the main character, she was not easy to relate and warm to, though I could empathise with her about the depression that turned her life upside-down and changed the direction of her life and that of her son.
Set in Wales, the author has added some nice little touches which I really liked, such as the Welsh texts that the killer regularly sent to Ava, These were included at the end of each chapter, making me feel the need to keep on swiping the pages on my kindle so I could keep on reading!
Daisy White created a set of characters with such complexity and depth, and though all of them were, well, frankly evil and alarming, it helped to make this thriller quite something.
There were so many twists and turns that I found myself changing my mind from one suspect to another and back again. Not only did it have a gripping and brilliantly thought-out plot-line, but I was equally confused as the lead character as to who could be trusted. The penny only dropped for me when I had exhausted all suspects.
I loved where Daisy White took her chilling story, right through to its fulfilling conclusion.
I know I have found another author to add to my ever-growing list of favourites and I was lucky enough to participate in a buddy read for this book.
I thoroughly recommend “Remember Me” as it is definitely worth a read, especially if you enjoy a good thriller with plenty of atmosphere and a noir feel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
December 17, 2018
From the publisher: Fifteen years ago Ellen Smith vanished from the woods near her small Welsh village. Never to be seen again. Eight people were in the woods that night: eight splintered lives, eight people hiding a terrible secret. But who can remember the truth? Now, Ellen’s best friend, Detective Ava Cole is all grown up back in the village where it all began, and everyone is asking the same question. What really happened to Ellen?
Told as Ava's story in the third person, there were chapters interspersed in the first-person point of view of the villain. Ava has returned to Wales because her ex-husband Paul is dying, and she wants to reconnect with her son Stephen who was still a toddler when she left him with Paul. Another of their childhood friends, Penny, married Paul and believes that Stephen will need Ava in his life once Paul dies. With Ava's return comes a lot of anxiety over what happened to Ellen back when Ava and her friends were all teenagers.
There were a lot of characters in this story, which made it difficult to see a lot of character development -- even with the key eight, especially since the current day deals with their children and how the events in the past come full circle in the present. As an LAPD detective, Ava finds herself embroiled in a missing persons case in Wales that seems to be tied to Ellen's disappearance in the past.
This story had me guessing until about halfway through when I figured out the villain, but then it had me second-guessing if I was actually correct. The author does a good job of pointing the reader in a specific direction. I think Ava makes some moves that she shouldn't as a detective, but we can pass them off as her being too emotionally invested in the case.
Definitely an interesting read. Just make sure you pay close attention to the characters as you get started.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is scheduled for publication on February 6, 2019.
Told as Ava's story in the third person, there were chapters interspersed in the first-person point of view of the villain. Ava has returned to Wales because her ex-husband Paul is dying, and she wants to reconnect with her son Stephen who was still a toddler when she left him with Paul. Another of their childhood friends, Penny, married Paul and believes that Stephen will need Ava in his life once Paul dies. With Ava's return comes a lot of anxiety over what happened to Ellen back when Ava and her friends were all teenagers.
There were a lot of characters in this story, which made it difficult to see a lot of character development -- even with the key eight, especially since the current day deals with their children and how the events in the past come full circle in the present. As an LAPD detective, Ava finds herself embroiled in a missing persons case in Wales that seems to be tied to Ellen's disappearance in the past.
This story had me guessing until about halfway through when I figured out the villain, but then it had me second-guessing if I was actually correct. The author does a good job of pointing the reader in a specific direction. I think Ava makes some moves that she shouldn't as a detective, but we can pass them off as her being too emotionally invested in the case.
Definitely an interesting read. Just make sure you pay close attention to the characters as you get started.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is scheduled for publication on February 6, 2019.
February 18, 2019
In the midst of this vicious game of murder, pain and self-gratification the author has incorporated an important aspect of women’s mental health as part of the plot. It is done in a way that ensures the reader has to wade through a bunch of twists and lies to perhaps recognise what it is. I actually think it was a smart move because in a real life scenario it is often mistaken for other issues or swept under the rug.
I am talking about the postpartum depression that turned Ava’s life upside down and changed the direction of her life and that of her son. It has taken her many years to come to terms with why she was so overwhelmed after the birth of her child. She had no support from Paul and his family, who were only too happy to promote the myth that she was a bad mother with no interest in raising a child. They certainly had no problem alienating mother and child from each other.
Ava has been called back to the roost by the man who hates her with a passion for leaving him in the first place. A man with a penchant for controlling behaviour and an abusive personality. All of that pales in comparison to the crime of abandoning a child though, right? Now he wants Ava back in the fold to help raise and support their child and his new wife.
Simultaneously Ava has to deal with someone who is threatening to reveal not just her secrets, but also the secrets of her group of friends. Many years ago they were all involved in the disappearance of their friend Ellen.
Only one person knows the whole truth and they are doing their best to manipulate the situation and get rid of any threats to their existence. It’s the cat and mouse game that makes this a vindictive play for power and revenge, although perhaps revenge is the wrong word, because this perpetrator has a passion for pain.
It’s a psychological thriller with a vicious sting and a terrible secret. The nefarious personality of the culprit and the insidious nature of the plot is what makes this a riveting read.
*I received a copy via NetGalley*
I am talking about the postpartum depression that turned Ava’s life upside down and changed the direction of her life and that of her son. It has taken her many years to come to terms with why she was so overwhelmed after the birth of her child. She had no support from Paul and his family, who were only too happy to promote the myth that she was a bad mother with no interest in raising a child. They certainly had no problem alienating mother and child from each other.
Ava has been called back to the roost by the man who hates her with a passion for leaving him in the first place. A man with a penchant for controlling behaviour and an abusive personality. All of that pales in comparison to the crime of abandoning a child though, right? Now he wants Ava back in the fold to help raise and support their child and his new wife.
Simultaneously Ava has to deal with someone who is threatening to reveal not just her secrets, but also the secrets of her group of friends. Many years ago they were all involved in the disappearance of their friend Ellen.
Only one person knows the whole truth and they are doing their best to manipulate the situation and get rid of any threats to their existence. It’s the cat and mouse game that makes this a vindictive play for power and revenge, although perhaps revenge is the wrong word, because this perpetrator has a passion for pain.
It’s a psychological thriller with a vicious sting and a terrible secret. The nefarious personality of the culprit and the insidious nature of the plot is what makes this a riveting read.
*I received a copy via NetGalley*
April 22, 2019
Ava Cole, an LAPD dectective returns to her childhood town in Wales to visit her ex-husband who is terminally ill, Ava ran off to LA back to her parents when her son Stephen was only a toddler, this will also be the first time she has seen Stephen since so Ava has a lot of personal issues to deal with. Along with that, her best friend Ellen died in an accident in the woods 15 years ago, 8 friends were in the woods that night doing what teenagers do (which is quite scary when you read what they got up to!) following a date, Ava believes Ellen died and the 7 remaining friends for some mad reason bury her as they were drunk and on drugs and didn’t want her death being a blight on their lives!
Returning to Wales, Ava has to deal with someone taunting her… Remember Me Ava Cole, someone is playing with her, who can she trust? What did happen to Ellen that night in the woods, was it actually an accident or something more sinister? Ava has to play the game to get to the bottom of it but can she escape intact?
A great psychological thriller, I love a who dunnit scenario and this was definitely that, making ask more questions than are answered as the web of deceit unfolds, with a twist that will shock!! Definitely will be recommending this.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Returning to Wales, Ava has to deal with someone taunting her… Remember Me Ava Cole, someone is playing with her, who can she trust? What did happen to Ellen that night in the woods, was it actually an accident or something more sinister? Ava has to play the game to get to the bottom of it but can she escape intact?
A great psychological thriller, I love a who dunnit scenario and this was definitely that, making ask more questions than are answered as the web of deceit unfolds, with a twist that will shock!! Definitely will be recommending this.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 11, 2019
Fifteen years after the disappearance of her best friend on what seemed like a regular night of partying, Ava Cole returns to the small Welsh village she grew up in to finally share the truth about what happened that fateful night. Now a police detective living in California, Ava is determined to find justice for her friend. Forced to face the son she left behind and the friends she broke ties with many years before, Ava finds that her presence is less than welcome in the tight-knit community, especially by a mysterious individual set on running her out of town before she can unveil the truth.
Remember Me is a promising police procedural that falls slightly short of gripping. While driven by a smart, interesting plot and a compelling main character, the book is a little too long to hold the readers’ attention and a little too ambitious to feel fully cohesive and straightforward. Side plots involving reality television shows and shaky romantic relationships take away from the central mystery and concise writing style.
Steadfast procedural readers will enjoy Remember Me, finding it similar to other whodunnit novels involving friend groups like She Lies In Wait and female-driven crime stories like Sweet Little Lies. Remember Me is entertaining, enjoyable, and original enough to not fall flat in comparison to the thousands of other crime novels on the market. The plot holds up and the loose ends are neatly tied, and even with the many distractions White introduces throughout the story, readers will feel driven to finish the book and uncover the truth.
The one real pitfall of Remember Me is how White never takes full advantage of the scenery and atmosphere at her disposal. The snowy countryside of Wales is the perfect setting for a crime story, but its’ description feels disjointed and confusing, and it will be hard for readers to create a real image in their minds of what Ava’s backdrop looks like.
Remember Me’s many characters can be difficult to keep track of at some points, especially as suspects wrack up and Ava begins to reintroduce herself to the people of the small town she once left behind. That being said, if you read carefully and pay close attention, you’ll find the book to be filled with interesting people and many potential clues. It’s the kind of book where you’ll find yourself constantly adding new names to the top of your suspect list only to discover later on it has to be someone else.
The ending of the novel is quite satisfying, and offers the right tone and conclusion for a crime novel. Overall Remember Me is a strong story.
Remember Me is a promising police procedural that falls slightly short of gripping. While driven by a smart, interesting plot and a compelling main character, the book is a little too long to hold the readers’ attention and a little too ambitious to feel fully cohesive and straightforward. Side plots involving reality television shows and shaky romantic relationships take away from the central mystery and concise writing style.
Steadfast procedural readers will enjoy Remember Me, finding it similar to other whodunnit novels involving friend groups like She Lies In Wait and female-driven crime stories like Sweet Little Lies. Remember Me is entertaining, enjoyable, and original enough to not fall flat in comparison to the thousands of other crime novels on the market. The plot holds up and the loose ends are neatly tied, and even with the many distractions White introduces throughout the story, readers will feel driven to finish the book and uncover the truth.
The one real pitfall of Remember Me is how White never takes full advantage of the scenery and atmosphere at her disposal. The snowy countryside of Wales is the perfect setting for a crime story, but its’ description feels disjointed and confusing, and it will be hard for readers to create a real image in their minds of what Ava’s backdrop looks like.
Remember Me’s many characters can be difficult to keep track of at some points, especially as suspects wrack up and Ava begins to reintroduce herself to the people of the small town she once left behind. That being said, if you read carefully and pay close attention, you’ll find the book to be filled with interesting people and many potential clues. It’s the kind of book where you’ll find yourself constantly adding new names to the top of your suspect list only to discover later on it has to be someone else.
The ending of the novel is quite satisfying, and offers the right tone and conclusion for a crime novel. Overall Remember Me is a strong story.
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