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What We Forgot to Bury
Truth and deceit blur as one woman's desperation twists into another’s desire for revenge in this mind-bending psychological novel.
Charlotte Coburn has a tragically dark past. But she’s safe now. She lives in a gated community, protected from danger. When teenager Elle knocks at her door looking for shelter during a particularly severe storm, the woman can’t help but think how lucky Elle’s been to have found someone as friendly as her. Except Elle chose her door on purpose…
She knows all about Charlotte’s secrets because they ruined her family and her life. And it is time that everyone else knew. But Charlotte’s past has left a dark void in her life, so she is concocting her own vicious plan, convinced that Elle can help fill that void.
As events unfold, the truth unravels and pulls both women into a dangerous game that will leave you wondering, Who’s the villain?
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2020
6721 people are currently reading
12484 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,063 reviews
April 7, 2020
I was between 2 and 3 stars for this book. It was very readable and I was interested in how it would all play out. Unfortunately I mostly had no idea what was happening and not in a suspenseful, mysterious way, but more in a frustrating and confusing way. Parts of this story were so implausible and I found myself saying “what?!” out loud over and over. Not entirely unenjoyable but I don’t know that I’d necessarily recommend it.
July 1, 2022
Holy twists and turns, Batman.
Everybody is lying. Nobody is who she claims to be. Everyone wants something she can’t have. Nobody knows the whole story. Everyone is gaslighting somebody. Is there such a thing as righteous gaslighting?
Elle longs to free her abusive father from prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit. Charlotte lives in a world of fear, so why does she let a strange teenager into her life.
I rarely find an Amazon First Reads monthly freebie that I enjoy, and almost never as much as I loved WHAT WE FORGOT TO BURY. I will definitely check out Marin Montgomery’s other books.
I could barely pull myself away from WHAT WE FORGOT TO BURY. Montgomery’s tension-filled writing kept me thoroughly engaged from the first page to the last. The pace never let up.
Elle was a difficult character to fully embrace. Often unkind to people, her nebulous motives were questionable, yet her childhood primed her to be a survivor. Elle came by her distrust and bad attitude through a series of unfair circumstances. Even if her father was innocent of manslaughter, he was guilty of horrific domestic violence.
Charlotte didn’t make a lot of sense nor did her marriage to Noah, one of the most absent, negligent husbands I’ve ever read. Was he that busy with work, or as Charlotte suspected, seeing his old girlfriend, her former roommate and best friend. For someone as untrusting as Charlotte, she had terrible instincts regarding Elle, who did a terrible job of trying in ingratiate herself to Charlotte. I’d have called social services and run in the opposite direction if I was as traumatized with PTSD as Charlotte.
So many reveals made sense and I never considered them. WHAT WE FORGOT TO BURY ended with a big exclamation point, not a period. I highly recommend this book.
Everybody is lying. Nobody is who she claims to be. Everyone wants something she can’t have. Nobody knows the whole story. Everyone is gaslighting somebody. Is there such a thing as righteous gaslighting?
Elle longs to free her abusive father from prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit. Charlotte lives in a world of fear, so why does she let a strange teenager into her life.
I rarely find an Amazon First Reads monthly freebie that I enjoy, and almost never as much as I loved WHAT WE FORGOT TO BURY. I will definitely check out Marin Montgomery’s other books.
I could barely pull myself away from WHAT WE FORGOT TO BURY. Montgomery’s tension-filled writing kept me thoroughly engaged from the first page to the last. The pace never let up.
Elle was a difficult character to fully embrace. Often unkind to people, her nebulous motives were questionable, yet her childhood primed her to be a survivor. Elle came by her distrust and bad attitude through a series of unfair circumstances. Even if her father was innocent of manslaughter, he was guilty of horrific domestic violence.
Charlotte didn’t make a lot of sense nor did her marriage to Noah, one of the most absent, negligent husbands I’ve ever read. Was he that busy with work, or as Charlotte suspected, seeing his old girlfriend, her former roommate and best friend. For someone as untrusting as Charlotte, she had terrible instincts regarding Elle, who did a terrible job of trying in ingratiate herself to Charlotte. I’d have called social services and run in the opposite direction if I was as traumatized with PTSD as Charlotte.
So many reveals made sense and I never considered them. WHAT WE FORGOT TO BURY ended with a big exclamation point, not a period. I highly recommend this book.
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April 7, 2020Why did I read this
April 4, 2020
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
This was a thrilling read and one where I couldn’t quite predict the narrative. All of the characters had an agenda and I could not fathom who would be the most guilty. Indeed, it felt like we are on a journey with both Elle and Charlotte as truths are eventually discovered.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
This was a thrilling read and one where I couldn’t quite predict the narrative. All of the characters had an agenda and I could not fathom who would be the most guilty. Indeed, it felt like we are on a journey with both Elle and Charlotte as truths are eventually discovered.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
April 23, 2020
This book was laborious. Not one character was likable. And the story had so many points where the characters do something that seem totally out of character that you just have to wonder wtf they are doing.
The narrative switches between the two main characters as they tell their first-person tales. But when they switch, you see & learn a completely different side of the other character to make you wonder who is fooling who.
Elle, a 17-year-old, is supposedly trying to prove her father's innocence by befriending the woman who put him in jail. But the father is a bona fide alcoholic wife-beater, and Elle has witnessed his violence first-hand. Yet, she's going along with his plan so they can be a family? What?
And Charlotte, the aforementioned woman, has become a "recluse," (although it seems she leaves the house quite frequently without any issues), but she lets Elle, a complete stranger, into her house during a storm. What?
It just gets more confusing and annoying from there. There's a somewhat deadbeat boyfriend (Elle's) and a somewhat husband-type guy (Charlotte's), there's the violent dude in jail, there's snooping, there's pregnancy, there are miscarriages, there is a suicidal mother, a predictable terrible foster parent, an ex best friend, a mean girl, but there's also trips to the salon, and help given to each woman...all these weird subplots or pieces of the puzzle that were near impossible to understand that it made the "reveal" at the end almost pointless.
And what does the title even mean? I was so glad to be done with this book.
The narrative switches between the two main characters as they tell their first-person tales. But when they switch, you see & learn a completely different side of the other character to make you wonder who is fooling who.
Elle, a 17-year-old, is supposedly trying to prove her father's innocence by befriending the woman who put him in jail. But the father is a bona fide alcoholic wife-beater, and Elle has witnessed his violence first-hand. Yet, she's going along with his plan so they can be a family? What?
And Charlotte, the aforementioned woman, has become a "recluse," (although it seems she leaves the house quite frequently without any issues), but she lets Elle, a complete stranger, into her house during a storm. What?
It just gets more confusing and annoying from there. There's a somewhat deadbeat boyfriend (Elle's) and a somewhat husband-type guy (Charlotte's), there's the violent dude in jail, there's snooping, there's pregnancy, there are miscarriages, there is a suicidal mother, a predictable terrible foster parent, an ex best friend, a mean girl, but there's also trips to the salon, and help given to each woman...all these weird subplots or pieces of the puzzle that were near impossible to understand that it made the "reveal" at the end almost pointless.
And what does the title even mean? I was so glad to be done with this book.
August 25, 2020
After the energy it took to slog through this book I have none left to put into a detailed review. Part of me would love to go into a long rant about all the frustrating aspects of this book (and there are many) but I just can't give any more of myself to it! Just please take my warning and save yourself! Don't pick up this book!!
April 16, 2020
With all due respect to the author - because I really did enjoy this book, an Amazon First Reads pick - I must say there isn't a single character in it who isn't carrying around some level of crazy. In fact, the whole thing seemed like a frantic chase to discover which one is the most dangerous.
At a fairly impressionable age, Elle's father was convicted of trying to kill his then-wife Charlotte, who lost an unborn baby in the process (Elle was living with her mother at the time). Her dad has spent 10 years in jail insisting that he's innocent and that it's Charlotte's fault that he's there. Now, Elle and her father - whom she visits monthly at the prison - have cooked up a plot to get even.
Charlotte lives in an upscale neighborhood and has a part-time job teaching at a local college, but she's terrified of her own shadow. Her husband, Noah, has a job that keeps him on the road almost constantly, so she's double-locked every door and possible entryway into their home (including doors to the interior rooms).
Elle, who on her own is an almost total misfit in society and lives with a nasty foster mom, manages to arrange a "meeting" with Charlotte. After that, with chapters alternating between perspectives of Elle and Charlotte, the rest of the book deals with Elle trying to ingratiate herself with the woman she believes is responsible for her father's incarceration. Elle's boyfriend Justin even gets involved with helping to discredit Charlotte and trying to make her nervous or confused enough that she'll spill the beans about what really happened the night she was attacked.
None is this is pretty, and in some ways it drags on a little bit longer than necessary to get the point across. That's especially the case after both Elle and Charlotte find themselves dealing with a real-life "issue" - one willingly, the other not so much. But as the end approached, I couldn't swallow my need to know how it all turned out; with less than a handful of chapters to go, I put off bedtime so I could find out. And yes, there were a few interesting surprises, so overall, good job!
At a fairly impressionable age, Elle's father was convicted of trying to kill his then-wife Charlotte, who lost an unborn baby in the process (Elle was living with her mother at the time). Her dad has spent 10 years in jail insisting that he's innocent and that it's Charlotte's fault that he's there. Now, Elle and her father - whom she visits monthly at the prison - have cooked up a plot to get even.
Charlotte lives in an upscale neighborhood and has a part-time job teaching at a local college, but she's terrified of her own shadow. Her husband, Noah, has a job that keeps him on the road almost constantly, so she's double-locked every door and possible entryway into their home (including doors to the interior rooms).
Elle, who on her own is an almost total misfit in society and lives with a nasty foster mom, manages to arrange a "meeting" with Charlotte. After that, with chapters alternating between perspectives of Elle and Charlotte, the rest of the book deals with Elle trying to ingratiate herself with the woman she believes is responsible for her father's incarceration. Elle's boyfriend Justin even gets involved with helping to discredit Charlotte and trying to make her nervous or confused enough that she'll spill the beans about what really happened the night she was attacked.
None is this is pretty, and in some ways it drags on a little bit longer than necessary to get the point across. That's especially the case after both Elle and Charlotte find themselves dealing with a real-life "issue" - one willingly, the other not so much. But as the end approached, I couldn't swallow my need to know how it all turned out; with less than a handful of chapters to go, I put off bedtime so I could find out. And yes, there were a few interesting surprises, so overall, good job!
June 21, 2020
"What We Forgot to Bury" is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Charlotte, who lives a life seemingly afraid of the world, and Elle, the 17-year-old who seeks shelter at Charlotte's home in the midst of a storm. The story begins with a look back at the arrest of Elle's father ten years prior and then jumps to the present as Elle is trying to find a way to prove his innocence. Elle was a likeable character from the beginning, possessing an inner strength underneath her tumultuous life that kept me interested in reading more.
The reason Elle shows up on Charlotte's doorstep is not a coincidence but it seemed to be a long road to figure out why she did and how these two women's lives had intersected in the past. Once the connection is made, however, get ready for the whirlwind of secrets, lies and half-truths! There are so many twists and turns, and everyone has an agenda, making the reader second guess everything. This book brings to light how secrets from the past can invade the present and destroy you if you let them. Overall, this was a good read but the descriptions of domestic violence were more than I wished to read.
The reason Elle shows up on Charlotte's doorstep is not a coincidence but it seemed to be a long road to figure out why she did and how these two women's lives had intersected in the past. Once the connection is made, however, get ready for the whirlwind of secrets, lies and half-truths! There are so many twists and turns, and everyone has an agenda, making the reader second guess everything. This book brings to light how secrets from the past can invade the present and destroy you if you let them. Overall, this was a good read but the descriptions of domestic violence were more than I wished to read.
May 18, 2020
This was such an unusual book but a fantastic entertaining read. Why unusual? The author manages to blend really real, often raw characters, very flawed with a plot that flips you upside down with its reveals. It is so worth the wait as I did have moments of wondering where the "darker' element was coming into play. The only reason this didn't get five stars as I think some of that darker edge could have been slipped in earlier in the book. Teasing the reader a bit more.
I have not read this author before but absolutely will again. The way the characters are developed through the novel is great and I got that sense of satisfaction that a reader gets when you can connect with them. The book raised different emotions and thoughts in me also. I think this is a fabulous book for a book club as discussion could be really lively on this one.
It is night, its dark with heavy raining pelting down and a stranger knocks on your door. Do you let them in? It could alter your life forever. That's where the story begins. Where it ends is a whole other matter. You may or may not see it coming (I did have an inkling but still loved the surprises and twists). The book tackles some important social issues too, I won't mention them here as they will spoil things for you but I liked the way the author weaved those in. Go in with an open mind, this wasn't exactly what I imagined it to be like but it certainly did not disappoint.
A recommended read from me. It will appeal to both psychological thriller fans especially those who love damaged goods characters. 4 stars from me. I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy of What We Forgot to Bury. All opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
I have not read this author before but absolutely will again. The way the characters are developed through the novel is great and I got that sense of satisfaction that a reader gets when you can connect with them. The book raised different emotions and thoughts in me also. I think this is a fabulous book for a book club as discussion could be really lively on this one.
It is night, its dark with heavy raining pelting down and a stranger knocks on your door. Do you let them in? It could alter your life forever. That's where the story begins. Where it ends is a whole other matter. You may or may not see it coming (I did have an inkling but still loved the surprises and twists). The book tackles some important social issues too, I won't mention them here as they will spoil things for you but I liked the way the author weaved those in. Go in with an open mind, this wasn't exactly what I imagined it to be like but it certainly did not disappoint.
A recommended read from me. It will appeal to both psychological thriller fans especially those who love damaged goods characters. 4 stars from me. I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy of What We Forgot to Bury. All opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
July 8, 2020
For the most part, while reading this book, I found it a bit hard to keep track of what exactly was happening and where the plot was headed....it was only the last 100 pages that made up for the mostly implausible and elongated plot line with a climax that I did not guess at and which managed to tie everything up together.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Thomas and Mercer and the author Marin Montgomery for the e-Arc of the book.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Thomas and Mercer and the author Marin Montgomery for the e-Arc of the book.
April 7, 2020
Waste of time
Boring, predictable for the most part. Thriller is definitely not the right category for this book. Thankfully it was free
Boring, predictable for the most part. Thriller is definitely not the right category for this book. Thankfully it was free
May 3, 2020
This was the first book I have read by Marin Montgomery but it will certainly NOT be the last. I absolutely loved this book.
In What We Forgot to bury everyone has secrets. This is a story of love, lust, jealousy, redemption and forgiveness. It was a truly thrilling read that kept me guessing right until the end. Will you be able to tell who is lying? Who is guilty? They sure had me fooled!
The chapters alter in narration between Charlotte and Elle. Charlotte has a tragic and dark past. Elle is a teen who has been tragically let down by the system.
For years the character's have been weaving webs of lies, lies that have already cost lives and may cost them even more. There is so much I want to say about this book but I dont want to risk giving ANYTHING away!!
If you are looking for a true page turner or a book that isnt predictable I highly recommend that you give this book a try. I promise that you will not be disappointed.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In What We Forgot to bury everyone has secrets. This is a story of love, lust, jealousy, redemption and forgiveness. It was a truly thrilling read that kept me guessing right until the end. Will you be able to tell who is lying? Who is guilty? They sure had me fooled!
The chapters alter in narration between Charlotte and Elle. Charlotte has a tragic and dark past. Elle is a teen who has been tragically let down by the system.
For years the character's have been weaving webs of lies, lies that have already cost lives and may cost them even more. There is so much I want to say about this book but I dont want to risk giving ANYTHING away!!
If you are looking for a true page turner or a book that isnt predictable I highly recommend that you give this book a try. I promise that you will not be disappointed.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2020
While reading the book, I did it to be a little far-fetched. Why did Charlotte let Elle in her house when she was afraid of her own shadow
Sure it all came together at the end. However since there were so many lies and stories, I almost did not make it to the end. The ending seemed to be more of a fairy tale.
Sure it all came together at the end. However since there were so many lies and stories, I almost did not make it to the end. The ending seemed to be more of a fairy tale.
May 22, 2020
This book needs a serious resurrection. The book is boring. I keep having to push myself and I just can’t get interested. Both characters are flawed and need medication. I don’t even care what happens and I am relieved that I have escaped. Too many good books out there to waste time on this one. I do not recommend unless you like slow, tedious books.
May 3, 2020
This review will contain spoilers.
I am not sure why I pressed on through this book to the finish, but as I did, all I can do now is voice my horror that a book with a plot that presents a 'happy ending' as a vulnerable pregnant teenage girl returning to live with a male with a history of domestic violence is not a book that ever should be presented to the reading public.
Anyone who reads my reviews knows how much I usually despise the psychological thriller genre. This books just adds to my reasons why the genre just does not work for me. The women are either gaslit or presented as unstable, hysterical or somehow unhinged. The plot twists were so far-fetched as to be unbelievable and the unreliable narrator device was used to such an extent that it was impossible to miss the fact that you could not trust either one of the two voices the reader was presented with.
But for me, the fact that a man with a history of violence against women somehow becomes the innocent fall guy, the good guy in disguise.... just no. NO.
Awful book, awful plot, awful outcome. Two stars only because the sheer awfulness of it kept me reading.
I am not sure why I pressed on through this book to the finish, but as I did, all I can do now is voice my horror that a book with a plot that presents a 'happy ending' as a vulnerable pregnant teenage girl returning to live with a male with a history of domestic violence is not a book that ever should be presented to the reading public.
Anyone who reads my reviews knows how much I usually despise the psychological thriller genre. This books just adds to my reasons why the genre just does not work for me. The women are either gaslit or presented as unstable, hysterical or somehow unhinged. The plot twists were so far-fetched as to be unbelievable and the unreliable narrator device was used to such an extent that it was impossible to miss the fact that you could not trust either one of the two voices the reader was presented with.
But for me, the fact that a man with a history of violence against women somehow becomes the innocent fall guy, the good guy in disguise.... just no. NO.
Awful book, awful plot, awful outcome. Two stars only because the sheer awfulness of it kept me reading.
May 15, 2020
Elle, an underprivileged teenager, living in a squalid foster home, finds herself pregnant and abandoned by the father of her baby. Elle meets Charlotte, a sophisticated, wealthy woman and they soon become friends. Something from both their pasts is tying them together. I hadn't heard of Marin Montgomery before but have to say I loved this book and will be reading more of her Thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my digital copy.
June 1, 2020
4 stars audio
2.5 stars story because it was unnecessarily drawn out.
2.5 stars story because it was unnecessarily drawn out.
May 5, 2020
I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. The premise is really interesting but it relies too much on luck and odd circumstances that something is holding me back.
The narration verges on "telling" rather than "showing" a bit too much for my taste, and the dialogue between the high school characters feels rather trite and not like high school in reality. It also felt like it dragged a bit and could have been condensed in some places.
I did appreciate that the reader floats between two unreliable narrators and get two perspectives on the issue and aren't sure of who to trust. The characters' psyches--and the more complicated reasons revealed for them from the twist--are pretty well fleshed out and creates some interesting dynamics.
The twist at the end is interesting but not as satisfying as I like from suspense novels--some loose ends were tied up, but I don't feel like everything adds up enough for the "I should have seen that coming" ending that is what make suspense novels great.
The narration verges on "telling" rather than "showing" a bit too much for my taste, and the dialogue between the high school characters feels rather trite and not like high school in reality. It also felt like it dragged a bit and could have been condensed in some places.
I did appreciate that the reader floats between two unreliable narrators and get two perspectives on the issue and aren't sure of who to trust. The characters' psyches--and the more complicated reasons revealed for them from the twist--are pretty well fleshed out and creates some interesting dynamics.
The twist at the end is interesting but not as satisfying as I like from suspense novels--some loose ends were tied up, but I don't feel like everything adds up enough for the "I should have seen that coming" ending that is what make suspense novels great.
April 11, 2020
the first ~200 pages were intriguing, vaguely tense, and i wondered if this would actually diverge from my expectations of what the mystery/thriller genre has become known for - but that expectation was wholly met as everything unraveled near the end, in a way that felt messy and disorganized, as if the author was scrambling for a twist that would 'surely' surprise you. and to a degree, i was surprised, because the setup didn't feel right for the ending, beyond the scope of both narrators being unreliable; it just felt unrealistic, and to an extent, frustrating. this is another thriller that relies on a woman being "broken" and unhinged due to the loss of a child, seeming to infer - like so many in this genre - that women are incomplete without a child, that without them, they're shattered, and that's just so exhausting to read. i'm also incredibly disgusted at how jonathan seems to get a happy ending, living with his daughter and her child, free, as if the abuse he did inflict on the women in his life is somehow negated by the fact that he wasn't the one to push charlotte and kill the baby. it feels like he got off easy, like he was somehow forgiven, and i don't think he deserved that.
good writing isn't enough for me to forgive these annoying tropes.
good writing isn't enough for me to forgive these annoying tropes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2021
I really don't know what compelled me to stick with this book until the end. I think I just needed to see the train-wreck through to its natural conclusion, but god knows I didn't enjoy one minute of it. The writing style was stilted an awkward from start to finish. One of the POV characters, Charlotte, is an English teacher and her passages in particular tend to read like the author had a thesaurus open next to her the whole time she was writing and often used words she didn't fully understand in an attempt to make the character sound more educated.
The other POV character is a teenage girl, Elle, who never sounds like a teenager. One particular passage I don't want to quote in its entirety because I'm trying to avoid spoilers, but it involved the phrase "you're off your rocker," and seems pretty exemplative of the weird tone of her chapters. Has Marin Montogmery been around any teenagers in recent years? It seems not.
The awkward, fumbling attempts at creating distinct voices for each of the POV characters are far from the only issue. The characters are wildly inconsistent and the events strain the limits of credulity. Elle's entire character motivation is nonsensical to me. She connects with Charlotte because she's determined to get close to her to exonerate her father for some crime which remains unnamed for a good chunk of the book, so I won't reveal here. But his guilt in that regard seems like it should be beside the point. Elle's father was a physically and emotionally abusive person and she bears the scars to prove it. Why does she care so much whether or not he committed this specific act?
I understand she's a traumatized kid and people, particularly those who have endured trauma, certainly don't always behave rationally. That's fine. But you need to make the reader buy into the character's irrational behavior. Elle seems pretty cognizant of the fact that her father is a scumbag while simultaneously being willing to destroy the life of a total stranger based just on his word. Why? The author seems to want us to believe that Elle thinks her father being in prison is the root of her life being ruined, but her only memories of living with him involve being abused.
And, god, the ending. I won't relay it here because spoilers, but uh.... I have a lot of questions about why Elle's situation at the end seems to be framed as a happy ending in the narrative. Yeah, I don't see that going well for her.
The other POV character is a teenage girl, Elle, who never sounds like a teenager. One particular passage I don't want to quote in its entirety because I'm trying to avoid spoilers, but it involved the phrase "you're off your rocker," and seems pretty exemplative of the weird tone of her chapters. Has Marin Montogmery been around any teenagers in recent years? It seems not.
The awkward, fumbling attempts at creating distinct voices for each of the POV characters are far from the only issue. The characters are wildly inconsistent and the events strain the limits of credulity. Elle's entire character motivation is nonsensical to me. She connects with Charlotte because she's determined to get close to her to exonerate her father for some crime which remains unnamed for a good chunk of the book, so I won't reveal here. But his guilt in that regard seems like it should be beside the point. Elle's father was a physically and emotionally abusive person and she bears the scars to prove it. Why does she care so much whether or not he committed this specific act?
I understand she's a traumatized kid and people, particularly those who have endured trauma, certainly don't always behave rationally. That's fine. But you need to make the reader buy into the character's irrational behavior. Elle seems pretty cognizant of the fact that her father is a scumbag while simultaneously being willing to destroy the life of a total stranger based just on his word. Why? The author seems to want us to believe that Elle thinks her father being in prison is the root of her life being ruined, but her only memories of living with him involve being abused.
And, god, the ending. I won't relay it here because spoilers, but uh.... I have a lot of questions about why Elle's situation at the end seems to be framed as a happy ending in the narrative. Yeah, I don't see that going well for her.
June 11, 2021
This was such an unusual book but a fantastic entertaining read. Why unusual? The author manages to blend really real, often raw characters, very flawed with a plot that flips you upside down with its reveals. It is so worth the wait as I did have moments of wondering where the "darker' element was coming into play. The only reason this didn't get five stars as I think some of that darker edge could have been slipped in earlier in the book. Teasing the reader a bit more.
I have not read this author before but absolutely will again. The way the characters are developed through the novel is great and I got that sense of satisfaction that a reader gets when you can connect with them. The book raised different emotions and thoughts in me also. I think this is a fabulous book for a book club as discussion could be really lively on this one.
It is night, its dark with heavy raining pelting down and a stranger knocks on your door. Do you let them in? It could alter your life forever. That's where the story begins. Where it ends is a whole other matter. You may or may not see it coming (I did have an inkling but still loved the surprises and twists). The book tackles some important social issues too, I won't mention them here as they will spoil things for you but I liked the way the author weaved those in. Go in with an open mind, this wasn't exactly what I imagined it to be like but it certainly did not disappoint.
A recommended read from me. It will appeal to both psychological thriller fans especially those who love damaged goods characters. 4 stars from me. I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy of What We Forgot to Bury. All opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
I have not read this author before but absolutely will again. The way the characters are developed through the novel is great and I got that sense of satisfaction that a reader gets when you can connect with them. The book raised different emotions and thoughts in me also. I think this is a fabulous book for a book club as discussion could be really lively on this one.
It is night, its dark with heavy raining pelting down and a stranger knocks on your door. Do you let them in? It could alter your life forever. That's where the story begins. Where it ends is a whole other matter. You may or may not see it coming (I did have an inkling but still loved the surprises and twists). The book tackles some important social issues too, I won't mention them here as they will spoil things for you but I liked the way the author weaved those in. Go in with an open mind, this wasn't exactly what I imagined it to be like but it certainly did not disappoint.
A recommended read from me. It will appeal to both psychological thriller fans especially those who love damaged goods characters. 4 stars from me. I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy of What We Forgot to Bury. All opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
January 8, 2021
3.5 stars This was a long drawn out process of a story. It was crazy twisted and if you got up to go to the bathroom or stopped to respond to a text or sat down to eat dinner, etc. you might come back to reading where you left off and not know where or what or how you got there.
Characters fooling each other and fooling themselves and fooling outsiders. At times the read was labor intensive and strangely, I felt like I really had to try so hard to keep my game on, my wits functioning super high to get through or try to make sense (or what I thought was making sense) as to what was occurring in that moment.
I’ll admit it was a good plot, confusing at times (meaning to be confusing or not meaning to be confusing but still was confusing).
Gosh, now even my review is starting to sound twisted and perplexing. Reading this story will do that kind of number on your brain. Some may like it, others not so much. Believe it or not.
Characters fooling each other and fooling themselves and fooling outsiders. At times the read was labor intensive and strangely, I felt like I really had to try so hard to keep my game on, my wits functioning super high to get through or try to make sense (or what I thought was making sense) as to what was occurring in that moment.
I’ll admit it was a good plot, confusing at times (meaning to be confusing or not meaning to be confusing but still was confusing).
Gosh, now even my review is starting to sound twisted and perplexing. Reading this story will do that kind of number on your brain. Some may like it, others not so much. Believe it or not.
May 1, 2020
Why do I do this to myself! The idea of the plot was good, but the story was written so poorly!I don't know if I can say I really read this book since I skimmed so much of it, just to get to he end. Spare yourself the trite dialogue and stupid characters. I vow to no longer download free or discounted books!
May 10, 2020
Is SHE crazy? No, SHE's the crazy one! No--wait a minute--maybe HE's the crazy one! While the book had some definite flaws, it kept me guessing and turning the pages.
May 15, 2020
3/5 ⭐️
It was good in the beginning l, kinda boring in the middle and then picked back up against the end
It was good in the beginning l, kinda boring in the middle and then picked back up against the end
April 28, 2021
3.5 stars. This story started out very promising. Kept my interest until the last quarter of the book. I felt like the ending was just kind of thrown together. 🤷🏻♀️
June 26, 2020
A story full of secrets, some to deceive, others for less nefarious reasons.
At the heart of the mystery is what really happened to Charlotte Coburn and her baby years prior.
Was she pushed down the stairs by her boyfriend, Jonathan, who was convicted of the attack?
Or did Charlotte lie and fall on her own?
My opinions on the questions above varied throughout the book, as Jonathan's daughter, Elizabeth "Elle" attempts to clear her dad's name. And my thoughts on the two main characters flipped from the beginning of the story to the end.
As we get POVs from Elle and Charlotte, I knew what Elle was up to, and her methods of obtaining information didn't win me over. On the flip side, Charlotte seems way too trusting. But what surprised me the most, was how much she did to help Elle. It went above and beyond what most people would do, and it didn't make sense to me. That is until the secrets each character hides, begin to reveal themselves. A game changer!
And what Charlotte seems to forget is that you can bury lies for only so long before the truth surfaces.
To avoid spoilers, I won't get into the details of the secrets within. I thought I had it all figured out, but clearly was off base on some of my predictions, which I love. Who wants predictable? Not me.
If you enjoy a good mystery that takes time to unravel, check this one out!
For more reviews, visit
At the heart of the mystery is what really happened to Charlotte Coburn and her baby years prior.
Was she pushed down the stairs by her boyfriend, Jonathan, who was convicted of the attack?
Or did Charlotte lie and fall on her own?
My opinions on the questions above varied throughout the book, as Jonathan's daughter, Elizabeth "Elle" attempts to clear her dad's name. And my thoughts on the two main characters flipped from the beginning of the story to the end.
As we get POVs from Elle and Charlotte, I knew what Elle was up to, and her methods of obtaining information didn't win me over. On the flip side, Charlotte seems way too trusting. But what surprised me the most, was how much she did to help Elle. It went above and beyond what most people would do, and it didn't make sense to me. That is until the secrets each character hides, begin to reveal themselves. A game changer!
And what Charlotte seems to forget is that you can bury lies for only so long before the truth surfaces.
To avoid spoilers, I won't get into the details of the secrets within. I thought I had it all figured out, but clearly was off base on some of my predictions, which I love. Who wants predictable? Not me.
If you enjoy a good mystery that takes time to unravel, check this one out!
For more reviews, visit
May 1, 2020
This book is told between the alternating viewpoints of the two lead characters. Elle is a troubled teen, close to flunking out her senior year of high school. She has a terrible home life, living in a filth-infested apartment with a drunk foster parent who gambles away her assistance checks. Elle’s father, a man with a history of domestic abuse, is in prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit.
Charlotte has a beautiful home in a gated community. Her workaholic husband is often absent, and her own dark past has left her wary of others. During a horrible storm, Elle knocks on Charlotte’s door for shelter. She knows all about Charlotte’s past, convinced that it contributed to ruining her life. Once Charlotte allows Elle into her house and her life, the reader is treated to both sides of the coin, and no one is who they seem.
Charlotte and Elle dance around each other, never fully trusting, while maintaining all the earmarks of a growing friendship. Soon Elle is left questing everything she thought she knew. In addition, she finds herself in an unexpected situation that leaves her vulnerable, her future uncertain. Again, Charlotte is there to help, solicitous, while still maintaining an underlying edge of distrust.
Occasionally, the behaviors of both characters require a stretch of the imagination, but the plot is twisty and engaging. There are HUGE surprises in store at the end. My only quibble is that when the revelations come, they strike like a thunderbolt—quick and done. I wish there had been a bit more build up to the final cards being played. It all happens so fast. That aside, this was an inventive and suspenseful read and the ending was jaw-dropping. Well done!
Charlotte has a beautiful home in a gated community. Her workaholic husband is often absent, and her own dark past has left her wary of others. During a horrible storm, Elle knocks on Charlotte’s door for shelter. She knows all about Charlotte’s past, convinced that it contributed to ruining her life. Once Charlotte allows Elle into her house and her life, the reader is treated to both sides of the coin, and no one is who they seem.
Charlotte and Elle dance around each other, never fully trusting, while maintaining all the earmarks of a growing friendship. Soon Elle is left questing everything she thought she knew. In addition, she finds herself in an unexpected situation that leaves her vulnerable, her future uncertain. Again, Charlotte is there to help, solicitous, while still maintaining an underlying edge of distrust.
Occasionally, the behaviors of both characters require a stretch of the imagination, but the plot is twisty and engaging. There are HUGE surprises in store at the end. My only quibble is that when the revelations come, they strike like a thunderbolt—quick and done. I wish there had been a bit more build up to the final cards being played. It all happens so fast. That aside, this was an inventive and suspenseful read and the ending was jaw-dropping. Well done!
December 6, 2020
I'm so tired of reading books that are absolutely senseless. It seems to be a trend I'm on. They're under the genre of domestic thriller which, if done well is a favorite of mine. But the last few books I've read are as if the authors tried too hard to be unique and the efforts have come up short. This story was over four hundred pages of a convoluted mess! The characters were forced and fake. They acted like morons and the storyline was implausible. It truly made very little sense! I finished it hoping all would come together and make some kind of sense in the end, but it didn't. I began skimming because I just began not caring and wanted the experience done with. I've enjoyed Montgomery's novels in the past, but this ones a nightmare. She threw in multiple characters, linking them in unusual ways, and even she got confused it seemed like. There are plot holes left unexplained. The ones she wrapped up make little sense, and people's motives were just bizarre!! Especially Noah. WTH?? Such a disappointment!
May 24, 2020
Alot of Unanswered Questions
This isn't a short book and yet it feels a bit rushed and incomplete. The two main protagonists drive around in circles until the last third of the book when the author decides to take them offroading.
I will say though, my bookclub seemed to love it. I'll have to try to understand why at our next meeting.
This isn't a short book and yet it feels a bit rushed and incomplete. The two main protagonists drive around in circles until the last third of the book when the author decides to take them offroading.
I will say though, my bookclub seemed to love it. I'll have to try to understand why at our next meeting.
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