Forbidden romance? May/December romance? I went into this one expecting and hoping for a gripping thriller and mystery to solve. What I found was neither thrilling, nor all that mysterious. The mystery of the 'Cornish Cleaver' is more side story to Betty's romance than anything else. For most of the book, the murders do little more than supply the reason for Mr Gallagher to be in this small village. So, while I didn't find the thriller I was hoping for, I can enjoy a good romance, except this one just wasn't all that good. The characters aren't at all likable, which makes it hard to invest oneself in the story, and the romance was more disturbing and pitiful than anything approaching romance. The back and forth between past and present could have added to the story, but what I found in the present was an aging woman who never got over her first love, She has plenty of regrets, but they apparently didn't bother her enough to do the right thing until she's approaching the end of her life. Sad, yes, compelling reading material, no. I almost DNF'd this one more than once, but out of sheer determination, I did finish. We do get an interesting twist in the end, but by the time I got there, it was just too little, too late to save this one for me.

A somewhat different mystery than the norm. For starters, it takes place in 1956 and the main character is only 15. Betty is dealing with a bipolar mother, a crush on an older man and a serial killer roaming the town murdering young women.

Flash forward 50 years and Mary is feeling guilty for sending an innocent man to prison for the murders.

There’s a bit of a Lolita feel to this mystery, as a relationship develops between Betty and Gallagher, the reporter who has come to town because of the murders.

The synopsis of the book compares it to the work of Tana French, which is why I picked it up. But I didn’t see that. The books is good, but it doesn’t achieve the depth of a Tana French mystery until the very end. Part of the problem, for me, was that most of the book wasn’t really a mystery. Yes, there’s a killer running loose, but the murders are secondary to the drama of Betty’s personal life. And as the book winds towards its ending, it’s really about how the choices she and Gallagher make play out for themselves and others.

Powell does a good job of painting Betty as a true fifteen year old. She’s the perfect mix of confidence and insecurity, of laser focused love and total indifference.

Unfortunately, the pacing of the book was inconsistent and I struggled to keep interested in the middle. But it’s got a great ending that made it worthwhile. I was convinced I knew how the story was going to come together, but I was totally off base.

My thanks to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this book.

Betty Broadbent is a fifteen-year-old girl who lives and works with her mother at Hotel Eden located in a small town near Cornwall, England called St. Steele. The hotel has been the home to newspaper reporters recently due to the unexplained murders of young women. Having a drunk as a mother, Betty is forced to mature at a young age.

One reporter, a John Gallagher, captures the heart of Betty. However, being more than double the age of Betty, Gallagher tries to fight the temptation of attraction that Betty presents. After one romantic afternoon between the two, Betty falls upon the supposed “Cornish Cleaver” and a future murder victim canoodling. Due to the secret shared between Betty and Gallagher, Betty can’t disclose the truth of who the killer is without putting her love in danger. When she does try to reveal the truth after her mother dies, she is considered not right in the head and sent to a hospital.

Later on, she gets the “happy ending” most people dream of with a family. However, that doesn’t seem to be enough based on the unresolved ending of her relationship with Gallagher.

This novel somewhat reminds me of The Notebook in the sense of transitioning back and forth between the present and the past. It ultimately ends with someone dying and the reader slowly realizing who the sick person is and the story to how they came to be.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It ended completely different than I thought it would and I felt fulfilled at the end. I wish they would’ve explained a little more of what the letter said, although the reader can guess based on the last conversation between Simon and Jerry. It wasn’t the typical “happy ending” and I really enjoyed that.

Will the “Cornish Cleaver” be put to justice? Or will an innocent man be sentenced for murder in order to protect loved ones?

An “Unforgettable” debut by Laura Powell. Moving back and forth between 1956 and 2006, this book is very well written, filled with complex characters and a mystery that was perfectly paced. Looking forward to reading much more from this talented new author!

2.5 disappointing stars

Sometimes a secret can control your life, make you do what you never thought you would, lose someone you love.

In this book, we have a stoy of a young girl, Betty Broadbent, who is sheltered, naive, and about to become involved with an older man, Mr Gallagher. Gallagher is one of a gaggle of reporters drawn to this Cornish village where Betty and her mother run a hotel. They have come because of crimes committed against young women. Betty and Mr Gallagher witness something, something they keep hidden between them for many years, and ultimately, this decision affects what occurs throughout their lives.

Unfortunately, for me, I did not connect with this story. Perhaps it was too atmospheric for me. The characters also behaved in a way that seemed quite unrealistic and the writing at times was hard to follow as the chapters jumped around from 1936 to fifty years later. It was a fairly quick read, but one I will not miss having completed it.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for an ARC of this nove

The Unforgotten is a corkscrew thriller that takes us on a fifty year voyage through the life of Betty. The daughter of a single mom, a drinker and keeper of an inn in Cornwall, Betty is far too responsible for her fifteen years. When girls start to be murdered in her town, she knows far too much, and tragically too little about what is going on.

I was clobbered by the ending of this story; totally surprised, but in a “you should have seen it coming” sort of way.

Thanks Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and netgalley for this ARC.

The characters really come alive in this novel. You'll feel their fear, confusion, and elation. Skips around a bit but it all comes together in the chilling and explosive conclusion.

I thought this book was confusing. Betty Broadbent is a 15 year old in a small community that is being terrorized by a murderer. The murderer is killing young blonde women. A group of news reporters are at the hotel where Betty lives with her erratic mother. Betty becomes involved with a 30+ year old reporter.
The story takes places in 1956 and also 50 years later. It is also divided in 3 parts. There are many signs pointing to the real killer, with a lot of red herrings thrown in to point you in a different direction. All along, Betty's mother's behavior is increasingly disturbing and manic.
I disliked the storyline of Betty and Gallagher. Really, a 3o+ year old man and a 15 year old girl? Disgusting. The pull of Betty's mother on Betty is unhealthy. Betty's relationship with her friends is very superficial. The relationship of Betty and her husband 50 years in the future is built on lies.
I struggled through this book.
#TheUnforgotten #NetGalley

Well done, Ms. Powell. I loved your book. I mean, I LOVED your book. I especially enjoyed your method of increasing my curiosity regarding what would be happening. Your flipping from 1956 to fifty years later was very effective in letting us, the readers, know the chain of events.

Your character development was superb. Naïve Betty, her difficult mom, mysterious Mr. Gallagher, and Mary – Mary could be a whole nother novel – were believable and complete. The story, with its untold secrets, illicit love, and murder is skillfully created. Impressive is the credibility regarding the behaviors and conditions of the ‘50s.

The descriptions throughout were explicit and just right, not too much nor too little. I particularly enjoyed ‘being with’ Betty on her trip to London as well as her arrival back home with the explosive images that were conveyed.

I’m not exactly sure what I think of Betty. Crazy? Troubled? Misunderstood? Misbegotten? Mental? Interesting, at the very least. She is a very complicated character.

And the ending. You had a lot to bring together in this complex story, and you did it superbly. I absolutely did not see the ending coming. It is outstanding.

This book was a treat to read and review. I repeat, well done, very well done. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could, and I look forward to future works. Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity.

It's 1956 and 15 year old Betty has her hands full taking care of her unbalanced mother and helping to run the hotel her mother manages. She has her hands full and yet, personally, she is unfulfilled and bored if that makes sense. Then the town is plagued by a series of murders, the hotel is filled with journalists and Betty's life is suddenly far more interesting and a bit too complicated. One of the journalists is 30 year old John Gallagher and his (inappropriate) relationship with Betty casts a ripple effect of consequences onto the town.

Fifty years later, a woman named Mary is shaken when she sees an interview with the convicted, "Cornish Killer," on the front page of a newspaper. This was the name given to the murderer all those years ago. Who is Mary and what is her connection to the events of the past?

You may figure that out early. You may piece together the truth early. I did put some of it together. It didn't take away from the book. I don't think they were meant to be complicated or meant to be the main point of the novel. This was less a mystery and more a coming of age novel, albeit a dark one. I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait to see what this author does next.

This book caught me from the beginning. The characters were well described. Betty's character was realistic as a teenage girl, wanting to have her own life, but forced to take care of her mother and help run the hotel her mother manages. Her romance with Mr. Gallagher allows her freedom to express her own personality. The book jumps between 1956 and 50 years later, when Betty is married with a daughter. The different time periods are not confusing though. The story is more complex than I originally thought it would be. It follows not only the relationship between Betty and Mr. Gallagher, but also Betty and her mother. There are a series of murders, with the hunt for suspects. The consequences of the actions taken in 1956 are eventually tied together, with many surprising twists along the way. The end irritated me though. I don't like being left hanging, and for me, the book would have ended satisfactorily without it.

With thanks to Netgalley and Freight Books for an advance copy of The Unforgotten, a debut novel by Laura Powell.

The Unforgotten revolves around a string of murders in a Cornish seaside town in the year 1956. The central character, Betty, lives in the town's hotel (rooming house really) where her alcoholic (and perhaps bipolar) mother is the manager. Young blonde woman are being stabbed, and journalists descend on the town, staying at their hotel. Betty is smitten with a reporter twice her age, Mr Gallagher. As the 1956 story line proceeds, events 50 years later are introduced. Someone had been convicted of one of the crimes, but he always denied involvement. His interview in the press triggers memories and concerns of a witness from long ago. As the events unfold, several twists keep the reader guessing and second guessing the conclusion.

This is a genuine page turner with a literary bent -I completed it in one day. I would recommend it for fans of Tana French, Patricia Highsmith and similar mystery authors.

Well written, but not the type of book i usually read.
Couldn't get a feel for the characters.

I was going to give a brief summary of what this book is about but I just can't do it. There's so much I want to say but every time i start writing it I feel like I add in a spoiler, or I make it sound so unbearably dull, I'm just not doing the book justice. Just know that its intensely interesting and if you like crime, thrillers, murder mysteries, and enjoy a little romance then I have a hard time believing you wouldn't love this book!

I absolutely LOVE books like these that can take hold of my attention and take my mind hostage for a few hours. It was almost too easy to give myself over and spend all day absorbed in Betty's world. It only took a few chapters for me to realize I wasn't going to have a very productive day but instead spend it on the emotional roller coaster this book would take me on. I felt happy when Betty was happy, upset when she was upset and equally confused as she was by the events unfolding and by grumpy-assed Mr. Gallagher. I loved her character, although young and naive and guiltily loved Mr. Gallagher as well, despite the overwhelming age difference and the wrongness of their relationship. It made me very uncomfortable at first but I let the feeling go and allowed the story to take me to wherever it was going to go.
The author did a great job of painting a vivid picture of Betty's life and this book easily read as if watching a movie. I could picture every scene in my mind.
I really don't have anything bad to say about this book except I wish i hadn't felt so devastated by the ending! Give this book a read and enjoy Laura Powell's' great storytelling abilities for yourself!

I award this a solid 4.5 stars.

Betty Broadbent is a 15 year old girl who helps her mother Dolores manage the Hotel Eden in St. Steele, a village on the south coast of Cornwall, England. It's 1956, and the hotel is fully booked with news reporters. There has been a slew of murders recently, all blond young girls on the cusp of womanhood. Betty's Dad died in the war, so it's just her and Mom Dolores running the hotel which the Eden family owns. Betty is mature beyond her years and precocious, forced into adulthood by her family situation. Her pretty Mom Dolores has an intermittent drinking problem which leads to a stretch of days where she may be out of commission. Mom is also flirtatious with men and always seems to dabble with the wrong sort. No matter, Betty faithfully and lovingly tends to her Mom when needed...when she's drunk and stumbling around and needs to be tucked into bed to sleep it off. So, Betty is programmed to get up early, serve the hot tea, kippers, eggs, and toast with sugar and cinnamon to their boarders. If this sounds like a cozy murder mystery, you're right...but it's much more than that.

One of the reporters is a tall, dark and handsome...but rather aloof and "stormy"...man named John Gallagher. Although Betty is 15 (but closer to 16) and John Gallagher is more than twice her age, they forge a strong attraction. He loves the very frank way Betty speaks to him and even comes up with bylines for his columns without trying. However, their age difference provides romantic angst that simmers throughout the book.

There are alternating time periods of 1956 and 50 years later which weave together to form a rich story of a murder mystery and tender forbidden love, all set in the background of a quaint English village. This was an unexpected gem that I highly recommend.

I'm always impressed with any book with a mystery at its center that manages to surprise me in resolving it. I read so many of these types of books that I can usually see the twists and turns coming a mile away. Well, in this book I continually found myself thinking things like, "well obviously this person is so-and-so, 50 years from now" or "clearly so-and-so is the murderer" and being totally wrong. I loved that.

This book is full of little gem moments, (for example describing what it's like in the brain of someone with dementia who is trying to have a conversation.) However, it also has some that might be off-putting for some readers. For one, its central relationship is one between a 30 year old man and 15 year old girl that turns sexual. Additionally, there is a intensely and graphically described miscarriage scene that might be super triggering for anyone who's experienced one. For me, the unsentimental way both were described merely added to the complexity and trueness of the story.

Overall, a pretty great read. Unfortunately, I will likely remember the story longer than I will the title of this book (which is ironically forgettable.) Also, (not that anyone's asking) but I like the newer cover with the red blotch and photo much better than the original one (which kind of felt like a maxi-pad ad from 1968.)

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic story! The plot was very clever, very twisty and really unpredictable .Everything I look for in a thriller, I could not read it fast enough. It made me think and kept me guessing, very well written, I can't recommend it enough. Thanks so much to the Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC.

I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly was missing from this.

Usually I don’t mind jumping back and forth in the story between past and present but I wasn’t moved by the past anymore than I was the present. I felt like I didn’t connect to either version of the narrator.

The love story had no heart and was kinda gross and considering that’s one of the main parts of the story, it kind of fails to keep the story interesting.

I also felt like the whodunnit was kind of obvious.

This is nicely written and believable but I just couldn’t invest in the story. Thank you for the chance to preview it

What will you do for love? What would you sacrifice?

Mary Sugden chose to say nothing long ago - a choice that led an innocent man to be imprisoned.  A choice that has haunted her life, and has now reared its head once more.  The novel alternates between the present and the past, her memories and her actions as she chooses to face what happened long ago.

The Unforgotten is a powerful novel, bittersweet in its portrayal of a mother daughter bond turned topsy turvy by bipolar disorder.  Betty is as much mother as daughter as she cares for her mother, whose days fly between brittle heights of frenetic activity and devastating lows made worse by broken relationships and temporary flings.  It’s 1956, and Betty’s world is unraveling at the seams.  A chain of murders is plaguing the small Cornish village, and the small hotel managed by her mother is filled with reporters hungry for news.  Amongst them is Mr Gallagher, a reporter twice her age.  Each fascinates the other and Betty dares to hope for a different life.  But actions have far reaching consequences.

The Unforgotten is devastating in its frankness.  Noone is left unchanged in the wake of the murders and the events that follow, not even the reader.

The Unforgotten is an excellent novel that will definitely be remembered by readers long after the final page is turned.

5 / 5

I received a copy of The Unforgotten from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom