Buried in My Past

Cedar Lake #1

by Eva MacKenzie

She's desperate to stop the panic attacks. But the truth won't set her free...

Jamie Kendal sees life through the bottom of a bottle. After surviving assault and betrayal, she is forced back to her hometown to care for her mother. Not long after her return, she's plagued by terrifying slivers of memories from the night her twin brother disappeared forever...

Unearthing new evidence, she's shocked to learn she'd been found wandering in the woods that same night-- covered in blood. More than one person from her past hid a haunting truth that's bubbling to the surface. The deeper she digs into the horrors from her past, the more she fears anyone could be a killer, including Jamie herself.

Can Jamie expose what happened that night, or will she join her missing brother?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Adult, Crime

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2020

About the author

Eva Mackenzie writes psychological thrillers and suspense novels about good people who do bad things for complicated reasons. Originally from New York, she now lives somewhere else on the east coast with her husband and children. You can connect with her at Evamackenzie.site or email Evamackenzie.thriller@gmail.com

Reviews

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lately, I have really started enjoying psychological thrillers.  There is something about getting into your mind and many times, I wonder how or why people do the things that they do that are "out of the norm" or what I would consider normal.

Jamie had a traumatic event in her youth and her mind blocked it out.  However, her mind must have decided that now was the time for things to be revealed as to what happened that summer at camp when her brother was killed.  The book is told from multiple POV, and while it was quite a few voices, I felt like the story flowed well and I didn't have trouble keeping up.

As more details were revealed and characters introduced (after Jamie went back to her hometown), I kept wondering who was involved.  I incorrectly guessed one character, despite the slimy feeling I felt from this character.  I was very surprised when the truth was finally revealed and how it played out.  I never would have guessed who was involved and why.

This is an author to watch in m book.  She weaves a tale that kept me spellbound, wanting more.  We give this 4 paws up.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read. It centers on Jamie, a woman in her mid-30s who is suffering anxiety and memory loss from an event that happened at camp when she was a teenager, and resulted in her twin brother, Trevor, going missing. She heads back to her hometown because her mother had an accident, and ends up dealing with alot of things there, including increased anxiety about what may and may not have happened 18 years ago, reconnecting with friends and acquaintances from her childhood, and trying to figure out if someone hurt her mom on purpose. People keep dying since Jamie came to town and some think she is a suspect while others are concerned about her welfare. There are also some chapters devoted to "Brick" and "Taylor" who are ancillary characters with which the reader doesn't know the connection to Jamie.

There were a few things that bugged me about the book. One was that the synopsis starts with: "Jamie Kendal sees life through the bottom of a bottle" and I did not get that indication at all- I don't recall her drinking much in the book and certainly didn't think she had a drinking problem. My other issue was that Arlington, VA is a real city and Cedar Lake, VA does not appear to be, which seemed inconsistent to me. I also used to live in Arlington and didn't feel that the descriptions throughout the book rang true- most people who live in that area will say they live in the DC Metro area, Northern Virginia, or specific neighborhoods in the area (Clarendon, Shirlington, etc) whereas everyone in the book constantly referred to it as "Arlington". It was also made to seen like this big city when it's really not- it's one of many offsets of DC and I am not sure even people in small towns would revere it as a booming metropolis where people go when they have "made it". Maybe I am overthinking this, but it just didn't ring true to me and I wish the author would have either done more research on that area or picked another fictional city.

Rant aside, I liked the story and there was a lot of mystery. While I did figure out who the "bad guy" was, as well as Brick's true identity, there were elements to the story that continued to surprise me from beginning to end, and it was a fast paced read overall. I'd recommend the book to readers of the mystery and thriller genre. I also saw this was the author's first book and think it was an awesome effort- looking forward to seeing what she will come up with next.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ayesha (Seokjin's Version) ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

yall I devoured this in two sittings-

originally I was going to give this book a 3.5 ish stars but then the reveal at the end partially slayed and I also loved the execution.

Jaime, our main character also irritated me at times, but I don't judge her too harshly as she was going through some MESS.

I also really liked the way this book was written, I loved the distribution of chapters between different POVs, it added a layer of suspense to the story.

Overall, a fast paced thriller that will have you questioning all of the characters.

[Jody - Wicked Dark Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Kendal lost her twin brother, Trevor, long ago at summer camp. She has suppressed the memories of what happened that fateful night, along with drowning her pain and loss in bottles of booze. No matter how many therapy sessions she goes to, she cannot remember what happened at Kring Camp that night.


Jamie returns home after her mother takes a tumble down the stairs to the town she grew up in, her memories from that lost time become more frequent and intense. Is someone trying to kill her and her mother? Will she ever find out what happened to her brother at summer camp so long ago?


I look forward to reading more by Eva. I received this book from her in exchange for my honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been as emotionally involved in a psychological thriller as I was with Buried in My Past by Eva Mackenzie. The writing is rich and full of tragedy, suspense, and above all, hope.

Jamie’s story is one that needed to be told. I know it is fiction, but honestly, I could feel myself living among these people in this little town. I felt Jamie’s pain.

Jamie could not catch a break. Starting with her tragic childhood and the loss of her brother Trevor. This tragedy has bled over into every other aspect of her life. She makes terrible choices while trying to escape the reality of summer camp in July of 2000.

The worst thing for me while reading was the feeling of hopelessness I felt when I couldn’t figure out the mystery. I was hooked right to the very end, trying to figure out the whole story. I caught bits and pieces along the way, but I couldn’t crack it early. I was surprised at the end and that, my friends, is the mark of a fantastic tale.

I award Buried in My Past a full 5 out of 5 stars. Eva has done the impossible and made me fall in love with thrillers. Goodness knows I have been trying for years to find a decent one, and the big-name authors have failed me repeatedly. Ms. Mackenzie knocked it out of the park on her first try with me.

Thank you, Eva and Shannon, for providing me with a copy of Buried in My Past in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways. - Sigmund Freud

Jamie Kendal is a polygraph examiner working with three other investigators in Arlington, Virginia. She deals with criminals in her line of work, some of whom don't like her findings, plus she's being stalked by an ex-fiance who won't take no for an answer.

She is called back to her small hometown when her mother takes a tumble down her stairs. She's been having panic attacks and is drinking too much, trying to cope with her current problems plus the fact she can't remember what happened one summer at camp 18 years ago when her twin brother disappeared.

This was an exciting psychological thriller. I guessed part of the answers of what had happened and was still happening to Jamie but not all.

This was a real page-turner for me and I found myself staying awake longer than planned "to finish one more chapter."

I received this book from Craven Ink Press through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

[Hanlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She was weak, a spectator of her own life while she stood by, a captive to fear of an unseen threat."

Jamie nearly lost her life when she was adduced by a child predator. On top of this she found her fiance in bed with her best friend. She kicked him out but he is not accepting the fact that their relationship is over and keeps stalking her. Then she gets a phone call to say her mother fell down some stairs and is badly injured.
She has to go back home. I place that holds very bad memories but also a lot of blanks. What happened to her twin brother on the camping trip when they were kids? Why does she have no recognition of that night? And why are people close to her suddenly being attacked.

A brilliant and gripping book that had me hooked from the beginning to the end with a few twists you don't see coming! Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgally and Craven Inc press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, another new to me author I'm adding to my list because this book was sooo good!
Jamie despite therapy sessions cannot remember the light she lost her twin brother one summer night at Kring Camp many years ago.
Now, she is forced to return home after her mother falls down a flight of stairs, to care for her. Upon returning home she starts having flashes of her lost memories that night. Then once different people start dying around her Jamie knows she has to figure out what happened that summer night and who is trying to kill her and her mom.
A fast paced thriller that grabs your attention and keeps it!

[Joyce Stewart Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buried in My Past
by Eva MacKenzie
343 pages
Publication date: February 6, 2020
Publisher: Craven Ink Press
3⭐⭐⭐
🚦🚧 MY REVIEW 🚧🚦
The story is told from 7 different Points Of Views with two different timelines 2000 and current.

I really struggled with this one. There is just way too many characters and it starts off very slow. I was just about ready to give up on it when it started to pick up around 42 % into it.
I also felt like the characters could have used a little more developing. But for a debut novel I would have to say that it was pretty good. Once the story takes off it is gripping and intense. With all of that being said the plot was so intriguing it kept me turning the pages. I really think this author is going to be one to look out for. Looking forward to reading her next book .

As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !

Thank you NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review .

#BuriedinMyPast #NetGalley
#PublisherCravenInkPress
#EvaMacKenzie

[WHL (Bill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Loved this!

Excellent read that kept me guessing. 

It had a few "Oh $hit!" moments which is why I enjoy reading domestic & psych thrillers. 

Very well written with great character development.  My first time reading this author and I'll definitely check the next book in the series out. In fact, Eva Mackenzie included an excerpt from the next book in the series; Safekeeping: Cedar Lake Series which I thought was great. I'm already primed to read that one.

Definitely recommended!

[Dawn Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie has made a life for herself after her twin brother disappeared - but no matter how many therapy sessions she goes to she cannot remember what happened that summer at camp. She tends to bury herself in the bottle.
Her mother is injured and she returns home to care for her. She must deal with the memories and incidents that keep happening - Who is trying to kill her and her mother? Is it related to what happened that summer at camp?

[Eva MacKenzie]

Buried in My Past officially goes on sale 02/06/2020.
It will be available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
This book is the first in the stand-alone series featuring Jamie Kendal, a polygraph examinor with a troubled past.
The second book in this series will be released in early 2021.

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this not too long ago and realized that I had already read the third installment in the series, Last Known Location. At the time I read it, I thought it was a standalone. Even now, it’s not listed on GR as Cedar Lake #3, it’s listed as just Cedar Lake, like maybe it’s the first installment. I hate it when that happens. Anyway, because I really liked the third installment (sooo good), as well as being a fanatic about reading a series in order, I am now going back to read the first two installments. It might actually not a be a big deal that I read them out of order because the series doesn’t seem to be focused on a particular individual, or even a group or team of people, but rather around a place – Cedar Lake. It looks like every installment has different people in it. – sort of.

Anyway, the book summary introduces the primary storyline of Jamie who suffers from nightmares and panic attacks, and who goes back home after her estranged mother is injured and ends up in a coma. What the book summary doesn’t mention are the other MC’s: Drew, Brick and Taylor. Drew was also in the third installment that I read, which makes sense because he’s a Cedar Lake cop. Like Jamie, Drew grew up in Cedar Lake and the two of them have some “history” from back then. Brick is a mentally challenged man, who was secretly living in Jamie’s mother’s basement, unbeknownst to even Lillian (Jamie’s mother) until the day she was injured. Taylor, which the reader is told from the get-go is not his real name, likes to drive hours away from home to other towns to meet women in bars that he catfished online. He proceeds to roofie them and goes back to their place to rape them. Apparently, “Taylor” actually lives in Cedar Lake.

The story flips back and forth between Jamie and the other characters as well as back and forth between present-day and 18yrs ago at summer camp where it was that Jamie’s twin brother, Trevor, disappeared and Jamie was found in the woods covered in blood from a wound that starts on her cheek and extends down to her chest. Based on my previous experience with MacKenzie and her writing style in the third installment, my armchair detective immediately starts anticipating possible scenarios and suspects. That’s probably not fair to MacKenzie but based on how she totally caught me off guard in the third installment, I was determined for that not to happen again.

Well into the second half, the storylines begin to merge and it’s a scary and intense ending that had me worried for some of the characters. Well, MacKenzie did it again – sort of. While I wasn’t totally caught off guard and blown away like I was in Last Known Location, and did suspect one person pretty early and in the end was correct, there were still some crazy revelations that I did not figure out that made the story that much crazier and scarier.

The character development was pretty well done for most of the MC’s. I would have liked to have had a little more info on a couple of other characters, but I’m sure that was by design. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline was interesting. Having read two installments now, I can say that MacKenzie’s writing was on par for the series. I’m looking at an overall rating of a solid four for a 4star review. On to the next installment. It looks like this ended up just being a trilogy, which may explain that crazy ending in the third installment. If so, MacKenzie ended it with a bang!

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this book does some things very well. The tale blends a little of many popular genres including, crime, romance, mystery and thriller. The premise is strong and creates an air of suspense and curiosity that make it hard to stop reading. The stories of all the characters are well intertwined and come together nicely to solve the puzzle that is Jamie’s memories. The mystery gets wrapped up nicely with all the character arcs resolved and the major questions answered.

While I didn’t inherently dislike the book, I felt like there were a lot of places that it could have used more work. The characters themselves are not overly developed and present as archetypes with not much else to go on. While it is refreshing to see the male-identifying characters failing the “lamp test,” several characters didn't do much to further the story. The characters also create many side plots that do come together at the end, but either seem unnecessary or like they would have benefited from some more development. The neatness of the end works, and isn't a surprise (a good crime novel gives you all the info you need), but cut short a few subplots that could have been further examined, or even turned into books in a series.

For a debut novel this book attempts to tackle a lot of layers, and mostly succeeds. It was a bold first book and I would like to see more from this

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful…and hopeful. Buried In My Past took me on quite an emotional and psychological journey that left me wanting to read more from Eva Mackenzie!

I found the plot unique and full of suspense. I was white-knuckling the book on more than one occasion. Eva Mackenzie knows how to draw you in, dangle pieces of the mystery in your face, and then shock you in the end when you couldn’t put it all together. I love a good mystery, and that is what we have here.

Jaime is a deeply relatable main character. Her responses to the trauma she was put through are realistic, and while that trauma isn’t relatable personally, the anxiety and fear aspects are. I think her mental health was written in a very respectful and appropriate way and it just added to the story overall.

Buried In My Past is a thrill ride you want to hop on. Twists and turns galore, plus a moving story with an overall lesson in having hope is in store for you when you grab this one!

Rating:
4/5☆

*I received a free copy of this book from R&R Book Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

[Cassandra Struble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I feel like it got started right from the beginning and never stopped twisting and turning through the whole thing. Something terrible happened back at Kring Camp, but Jamie can't remember what. All she remembers is her brother and her best friend disappeared, and no one has been able to find them. Throughout the whole book, Jamie has flashbacks that show her bits and pieces of that night, but she can't quite get all of the pieces back. Then she gets a call that her mom has been hurt, and she needs to come back home. Just the act of her going back home sets more into motion. More people end up dying and her flashbacks come back faster and faster. As she gets reacquainted with her old friends, the story gets more and more tangled up. Will she ever figure out what happened? As the plot ramps up more and more, it made me keep reading long into the night. I could not put it down until I actually knew what happened. I started having my suspicions, but there were still more twists even to that! Definitely worth the read!

[Nancy Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fatally flawed

This book is good enough in the elements pertaining to the mystery. However, when the story veers into "romance" it is absurdly bad. The looks, the smells.the blushes, she looks, the smells, the blushes,etc. over and over again
- absolutely absurd. Unfortunately, about half of the pages are given to the absurdity, so overall doesn't reach even a half of the way success.

[D.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a later book in the Cedar Lake collection, and it was so well written that I had to go back and buy the first in the series. You will need to be on your toes for this story. The suspense is thick, and you will doubt yourself several times as to who is the reliable character. Narration is tight and each sentence relevant. Relatable sensory descriptions float off the pages, and it was well after four a.m. before I realized I was on the last chapter. It's that good.

[Cynthia The Starlit Pages Society · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow and Steady

I had a bit of a tough time getting into this book but once I did, I devoured it. The author did a good job of navigating us through the stages of remembering and wrapped it all up in a nice bow, which makes me very happy for books with darker content like this one. Definitely give this and her second book a read if you are looking for good thrillers!

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buried in My Past by Eva MacKenzie was way too long and dragged a lot. Jamie’s struggle was interesting at first, but the constant flashbacks and slow pacing made it hard to stay interested. The mystery was predictable, and the ending felt rushed. I wanted more action and less filler. I won't read the rest of the series.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and kept my attention. Also well written. Suspenseful without being gory.

I would recommend even though ending became obvious a bit early for my liking. Still it was a good read

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good twists

This was one of those books I had trouble putting down because I wanted to know who dunnit. I figured it out about 2/3 the way though but it was well put together and still kept me reading til the end.

[janice robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried in my Past(Jamie Kendal book one)

Five huge stars for this absolutely brilliant book first time I have read any of this authors books but I will definitely be looking out for more

[LINDA MCCAULEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeps you guessing!

What happened all those years ago ? What happened to her twin brother? Why couldn’t she remember? Was she losing her mind? Now people are dying, who is the killer?

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

All over the place

Somewhat kept me reading but I kept having to go back and check I didn't miss anything.. like the mother's cat Jax... He must have starved..stupid shit..think the plot and story through

[Joan I Standerfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

Interesting book -- twist and was good at keeping the readers interest as the story went forward. Recommended read for mystery readers.

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful

Good mystery thriller. Enjoyed it from page 1 to the end Found it hard to put down Had to just keep going and going to I was finished. Looking forward to the next book

[Kathy Berkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic !!!

Awesome read!! I finished reading in a day, lol. I’m really forward to reading future books by this author .

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I was on the edge of my seat. Couldn't wait to see how it would all turn out. I will definitely read more from this author.

[Rhonda Mcpeake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Kept me guessing.