3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.
Victor Lessard and Jacinthe Taillon are Montreal Police detectives who are investigating the death of a woman found in a warehouse. More deaths occur and they do eventually find who is responsible.
Pros: I liked the characters and the way the plot is developed. The translation is excellent. This is the 1st book in the series translated into English. There are vivid descriptions of car chases in bitter cold winter in Montreal.
Cons: The murders are connected to a conspiracy theory about the "real killers" behind President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. These conspiracy theories are numerous and far fetched. The book hangs a major element in the plot upon a thin conspiracy description.
There are some elements of truth in the plot. There are connections to CIA experiments in mid control drugs in the 60s, some of which took place in Canada.
One quote, by a Medical examiner thinking about a body: "Pearson had noticed long ago that when life departed a body, the remaining husk no longer seemed quite real, as though it were stripped of its essence. He had that impression now at the Jane Doe's ashen face, which, at first glance, he didn't recognize."
Thanks to Dundurn Press and the author for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

Love a good detective story. Love a story set in Canada. Love a book that keeps me on the edge of my seat reading until all hours of the morning. Love a book in a series that makes me order every other book that I can get my hands on.

Beyond that, I love a detective book that makes me want to re read it as soon as I know how they did it. Some detective novels either solve based on information that wasn't in the narrative, or try to hide it in such a way that it's obvious as to what the author is doing. IMO a good detective novel is one that I want to read again as soon as I know how it ends so I can see all the different layers in the story and see if maybe I could figure things out if only I had seen the clues properly.

A good mystery/thriller that starts with several story lines that will all roll up into one big surprise in the end. The characters are realistic, trying to sort through personal problems while maintaining focus on their jobs is a story we all are familiar with. The back story is extended, covering 30+ years, so you'll see huge changes in the characters but it all sums up to a good read.

I wish to extend my thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for this gripping, fast-paced police procedural with its ingenious, but very complicated plot.

I see that this is the 3rd book in the Victor Lessard series, but the first to be translated from French into English. This intense, thrilling mystery can be read as a standalone and references have been made to previous situations and events. It is apparent that Lessard and his partner have a working history in past criminal investigations, and I was happy to see that the first two books in the series are being translated for publication in English. Martin Michaud, the author, has won awards for his mysteries in French, and a TV series has been popular in Quebec. I am glad that the publisher has introduced me to a new, compelling series and look forward to the new translations.

Adding to the complexity of the plot were the names of so many characters. They would be described by either their first name or family name initially. Once I thought I had them all straightened out in my mind, there would be a switch from their first or last name by which they were originally introduced, leaving me to figure out to which character was now being named in the narrative. There were some uncomfortable descriptions of torture, violence and a few sex scenes I thought unnecessary. However, these problems did not detract from my enjoyment of the very intelligent plot which kept me riveted.

Detective Sergeant Victor Lessard has returned to the Major Crimes unit in Montreal, after leaving in disgrace. He has sustained a leg injury and has been treated for anxiety and depression. He is struggling with the urge to drink alcohol. He is a relentless, intelligent, gruff police officer, determined to restore his reputation. His partner is a junk food-loving, loud, brash policewoman with a sarcastic, annoying sense of humour.

A mentally disturbed, homeless man jumps off a rooftop to his death. Wallets belonging to a retired female psychiatrist and a prominent male attorney are found on his person. The psychiatrist is found murdered in a bizarre ritual, and the lawyer has gone missing.

The bodies begin to pile up. Two have been killed with a medieval torture device, adapted to make it even more deadly, and two others have been shot by bow and arrow. As Lessard and other police officers try to find a connection between victims, they begin to discover other killings in the past which may be related. There may be some involvement by mental health officials, lawyers and a much-admired Senator. The path leads to some scandalous, unorthodox experiments secretly carried out upon mental patients decades earlier, and finally leads Lessard to the USA for answers and hears some shocking revelations and theories.

In the meantime, as Lessard attempts to untangle what may be a conspiracy, he is facing personal problems. His son has been arrested for his involvement in a terrorist plot. His loving girlfriend, Nadja, has a brother in law enforcement and he and Lessard dislike each other.

This is an intense, compelling thriller about what is remembered and what one is forced to forget. It deals with regrets, revenge, retribution, guilt, and past abuse within the mental health system. Recommended to readers who like a complex police procedural set in Montreal, Quebec. Awaiting more English versions of the Victor Lessard crime series. 4.5 stars

Quickly I realized this book is not for me.I had a really tough time following this story. I did not connect with the characters or the story line for that matter. It’s a really really long book, over 500 pages. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this complimentary book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Written in the style of Scandinavian novels, with a long story interspersed with clues from the beginning. The suspense was very well maintained. I would like the author to give a brief outline of the local history to help readers from other countries. This is the third book in the series and the previous two are yet to be released. Would have preferred in the correct sequence . Waiting for the other two.

#VictorLessardThriller #NetGalley
A dark and disturbing and twisty police procedural. It made me jump from my seat. Characters are good and suits the story.

Nicely written detective thriller. The story kept me involved and guessing (and a bit grossed out). I wish they had started translating this series with book 1 rather than book 3, I'd like to read the back story but do t read french!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to experience this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book in the near future with an honest rating and review.

Never Forget by Martin Michaud is the third book in the Victor Lessard Series. It is the first one translated to English I believe. The series also forms the basis for a television series. Of course, when choosing thrillers on Netgalley I sometimes get a little excited and chose books I know nothing about, taking no notice If they are stand alone or in a series. This is one of those times and it was quite fortuitous for me, I really enjoyed this book.

Victor Lessard is a middle aged detective in the Montreal Major Crimes Squad. As with any main character he’s got a history of personal struggles and interpersonal relationship difficulties. Lessard is likeable though - tries hard to be a good cop, knows his own weaknesses, seems pretty loyal, and tries to make amends. He has an inquiring mind, might do things a little unorthodox, and is generally respected for getting results. He’s had his share of procedural drama and the reader expects it won’t be the last.

This book has a complex plot with a lot of moving parts. There are concurrent story lines that are detailed and time consuming, and not immediately apparent. On this occasion I found the book engrossing and stayed with it, wherever it was going to take me. Mental health, spies, torture, murder, intrigue it’s all here.

There were a couple of story lines including one in relation to Lessard’s son Martin that some readers may wonder what the point - for me it provided insight into Lessard, gave his character more depth, procedurally looked at what might occur in the circumstances, but I also believe it formed the basis of a challenge to Lessard’s relationship with his much younger girlfriend that was sailing along nicely (because it’s never all good, right?).

Thank you to Netgalley, Martin Michaud and Dundurn Publishing for an eARC of this book.

Pub date 11 February 2020.

The first thing I noticed about this book was 'no one is having a good day'. I mean, honestly, most thrillers feature people that aren't, but at the sliding scale of 'this is bad' to 'OMG', this is closer to OMG, especially for Judith.
It's probably terrible too, but I kept changing the character's name to Lestrade, which though amusing to me, probably kept me slightly more engaged than I expected to be.
Diverse strings that all tie up, conspiracy, ritualistic killings. This is a good book, and I'm hoping more are translated into English so I can explore them more.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dundurn Press for an advance copy of Never Forget, the third, but first published in English, novel to feature Montreal based Detective Sergeant Victor Lessard and his parter Detective Jacinthe Taillon.

When a homeless man commits suicide he is found to have left two wallets behind, one belonging to a lawyer and one to a psychiatrist. When the psychiatrist is found murdered in a ritualistic manner and the lawyer to be missing Lessard and Taillot are unsure what to do but painstakingly investigate.

I thoroughly enjoyed Never Forget although it is not what I thought it would be. Having read that it has been turned into a French language television series based on the character of Victor Lessard I assumed it would be a fairly straightforward police procedural but early mentions of Lee Harvey Oswald soon hinted that I might be voyaging into conspiracy theory territory. To be fair the solution is a hit parade of U.S. conspiracy theories from the sixties and while it is ingenious and neatly done this reader’s jaw did drop at the audacity of it, especially as we’re in Canada. The journey to this point is, however, more of a procedural which I found addictive and interesting. I enjoyed the contentious relationship between Lessard and Taillot where they agree on nothing, especially not the direction of the investigation, but still have a strong bond, often leavened with sly humour, and a high degree of trust and caring. I liked the investigation which is full of hard work, determination and the occasional piece of luck. It seems realistic and compelling.

I like trying new series and characters so I was happy to be offered the chance to read Never Forget. I struggled a bit at the beginning, not just with foreboding about the Lee Harvey Oswald mentions but also because it constantly switches point of view and timeline. I found it difficult to identify the characters and their relevance to the plot but I soon settled in and would have finished it in one sitting if I hadn’t had to sleep. I came to find it gripping and compulsive.

The novel is perhaps longer than many in the genre but not marathon long, just enough to allow the author to develop his characters as well as his plot. Each investigator (there are five) has their own story so the novel is as much about their dynamic as the plot. I always enjoy a novel about a close team so this added to my enjoyment. Lessard is the thinker, Taillot is the bull in the china shop and the others are the smart, hard working supporters. I’m looking forward to meeting them again.

Never Forget is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This series has been adapted into a TV show that is hugely popular in Quebec but the books were only available in french. Now they’re being translated, beginning with book #3. The MC’s are detectives Victor Lessard & Jacinthe Taillon, partners in the Major Crimes Unit in Montréal. As the story opens, we learn Victor has just returned to work after being demoted. HIs last case left him a changed man & his physical/psychological fitness is about to be tested.

It all begins when an elderly woman’s body is discovered in a warehouse. There’s not much to go on…just some very odd marks on her skin. But she is soon identified as Judith Harper, a retired psychiatrist.

Across town, a respected lawyer has received some disturbing mail. Not to worry. Nathan Lawson prepared for this day a long time ago & quickly puts his plan in motion.

Meanwhile, a beat cop in another part of the city is struggling to find family of an elderly man who jumped 10 stories to his death. It’s not like he didn’t have ID. In fact, he had 2 wallets….one belonging to someone named Judith Harper, the other to a Nathan Lawson.

Oh, Victor. You might want to see if you have any vacation time left. The story begins with several diverse plot lines following separate characters. Initially the only common denominator is none of them are having a good day (especially Judith 😱). As more characters are introduced & the body count rises, it’s clear Victor & his team have a big, snarly murder spree on their hands.

The plot is like a labyrinth that twists in a multitude of directions, some of which reach back to seminal moments in the province’s political past. Canadians in particular will recognize references to the FLQ & October Crisis (see link below). It’s impossible to summarize & better to go in blind anyway. The cast is large & some of the chapters feature characters in different decades so you need to pay attention to the time lines. There are a lot of moving parts but instead of getting lost, I quickly found myself in “Damn it, I need to know what’s going on” territory.

Interspersed with all the chaos are subplots that expand on the characters’ personal lives, mostly in regard to Victor. He’s a flawed man whose recent experience has him reflecting on the mistakes he’s made. Despite dealing with PTSD, he’s a smart & intuitive cop given to poking around wherever his gut feeling leads.

So you’re probably wondering why 4 stars. Well, there are a couple of nitpicky procedural things that don’t ring true but unfortunately my main issue was with Jacinthe. Her character is crude, offensive & belligerent. Think Roberta Steel minus any humour. Her only obvious talent was an ability to navigate the snow covered streets of Montréal at high speed & I’m still pondering the author’s goal behind how she is portrayed. Perhaps as a foil for Victor? I don’t have to like a character but I do need to feel they’re adding a particular element or fulfilling a necessary role. In his notes, the author states “everything, always, must serve the story” so it feels like I missed something as her contribution to the investigation is negligible.

It’s all down to personal taste & luckily for me, a number of compelling characters & the intricate plot made up for it. The present day investigation takes place during the Xmas season & the interminable snow fall lends a claustrophobic feel that effectively adds to the building tension.

Just a heads up: there’s a fair amount of sexual content & the killer’s MO will have you googling a certain medieval torture device. The title is fitting & plays off the motto “Je me souviens” featured on Quebec license plates. It’s a well written & ambitious procedural that is all about memories….whether they be cherished, forgotten or tweaked.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_de_lib%C3%A9ration_du_Qu%C3%A9bec

A woman murdered with abrasions on neck and wrists and the suicide of a homeless man; the homeless man had two wallets in his possession that were connected with other crimes under investigation.

Nathan Lawson, Principal of law firm Baker Watson Watkins, receives a sinister note “Let’s Play Hangman” in his morning mail. Nathan hurriedly requests some files of Northern Industrial Textiles from storage and vanishes.

Montreal police Detective Victor Lessard, partner Jacinthe Taillon and led by Paul Delaney, Head of the Major Crimes Unit lead the investigation into various crimes that appear to be isolated incidents.

A thriller with a dramatic storyline that takes time to build. Well thought out plot with many twists and turns leading to a shocking ending.

Review: Never Forget (A Victor Lessard Thriller) by Martin Michaud

My thanks to Dundurn Press via NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

The reason that I requested this book was mainly due to the fact that Victor Lessard is a recurring character in Mr. Michaud’s novels. This is the first Victor Lessard Thriller translated into English. Considering all of the raves about these Victor Lessard Thrillers, I was excited about reading this book. My excitement quickly turned to disappointment. At first, I tried to blame the translation, but I came to realize that the translation was not to blame. Quite frankly, I spent the majority of my reading time confused. I was confused by two things...the characters and the story.

First, I will address the characters. There are lots and lots of characters. I could not keep track of them or how they impacted the story. Several times, I considered starting the book over or maybe just taking handwritten notes. Both options are annoying to me. Just be ready to categorize characters into these major groups: law enforcement, law firm, mental health facility, children, and random others. The law enforcement characters were the most confusing to me. This was a problem, since the book is really about how law enforcement proceeds through the story to solve the crimes. The main problem for me and these characters was how they are referred to throughout the book. Most law enforcement characters have three names...first, last, and a nickname. Once this is mentioned, I would prefer that ONE name was used going forward. I spent way too much time reading a name and stopping to stare at it and saying, “Who is that?” It took me about halfway through the book before I had a clue about who was who. Thinking back, I should have just taken notes.

Now to the story: do not get me wrong, it is a good story for the most part (the tie-in to the Kennedy assassination is just dumb). Due to the complexity of the story, it is hard to follow. I am not an ignorant reader, and I do like interesting and complex stories. I do not tolerate simple, fluffy stories. This story moves both forward and backward. The book begins with a death. That is always a positive start for me. More gruesome deaths follow as the story unfolds (also very good). At the same time, the detectives and other law enforcement are forced to try to solve the crimes by piecing together the facts by moving backwards. Although this is normal for a police drama, for some reason, I had an incredibly difficult time keeping it all straight. In fact, I never got it all straight. Just when I would be frustrated enough to think about putting the book down forever, I would get to a chapter that made enough sense to keep me going. This is not the way I prefer a book to move. I want it to be a page-turner. This one certainly was not for me.

The best part of the book for me was the end. No no...not because it was finally over but because the story was finally confessed by one of the killers in a nice, clear wrap-up. Thank goodness!

My star rating: 3 stars for the story

Montreal detective Victor Lessard becomes a target as he tries to unravel a complicated quest for revenge that takes him back decades, across 1,500 miles, and into conspiracy theories with ominous implications. As he struggles to put his personal life back together, he and his partner, Jacinthe Taillon, must decide whether they trust each other.

This gritty police procedural, the third in a five-book series, drops clues like breadcrumbs. Michaud’s presentation cleverly provides just enough information to keep the action rolling along but never enough to break the mood of suspense. Readers are cut loose in time and space and largely ignorant of the underlying significance of events; they have to piece everything together just as Lessard does.

The first thing I noticed when I started reading is that this book is not for the faint of heart. From the first gruesome death (which readers experience from the victim’s point of view) to the last, insanity and violence rule the lives of the characters. Alcoholism and drug addiction run rampant, death and abuse are everyday events, forgotten people languish on the streets and in rundown buildings, and friends, family, coworkers, and lovers seem to have little affection for each other.

As the book opens, characters are dehumanized, lacking names and described only vaguely: “the woman with the frizzy grey hair,” “the weather girl,” “the young [female] punk,” “the man [in his seventies.” The process of murder seems inhuman, too; the primary murder weapons are mechanical devices set to discharge when conditions are met, so no killer is present.

The constant slippage in time, space, and point of view becomes dizzying, even overwhelming at times. Nor do the characters provide stability: Lessard is wounded emotionally and physically; Taillon is crude, loud, gluttonous, and deliberately provoking. Nearly all of the detectives have something in their past that makes them act unprofessionally on occasion, which places others at risk.

Yet their dogged persistence, flashes of brilliance, and willingness to place themselves in harm’s way eventually solve the puzzle. Whether they have a life to return to once the work is done is another question.

Because this is a translation, apparently the first in the series to be translated from Quebec French to English, some of the wordplay in the plot may have been lost, and the narrative occasionally seems to have almost but not quite the right word. Still, the story flows smoothly and makes for a good thriller.

Never Forget: A Victor Lessard Thriller by Martin Michaud is a fabulous, gripping, gritty murder/thriller/crime novel that is part police-procedural part conspiracy theory stunner. This is apparently translated from French to English, however I never could tell.

I enjoyed the twists and turns and Mr Michaud kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I flew through this book...it was that good.

This is the first book I have read from this author and I will make sure to find more. He has created a fan out of me.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR account immediately and it will be posted to my Amazon and, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Wow …I think I just found my new favorite author! I stayed up till 3:00 in the a.m. to finish reading this novel … I had to know how this played out! This book rates a solid 5 stars …and I will admit, I don’t give those out too readily! I have huge respect for an author who is able to entertain us with his imagination …to put his creativity into such story telling …I am quite envious! There were lots of twists and turns that kept the story entertaining and fresh! There was a great job done in the development of the main character and the seconds! I particularly enjoyed the interaction between Lessard and Taillon. She has this personality that says “I can talk the talk …and, if I have to, will walk the walk” and will take no prisoners along the way! I did look into other stories from this author, only to find that this was the only English speaking book available. I do hope he does continue writing in English. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

On a side bar: I was born and raised in Montreal so the settings of this novel were very familiar to me! Sherbrooke Street, St. Catherines Street, Lachine Canal, Lake Massawappi …wow, memory lane! I also lived in Montreal during the October Crisis and the FLQ so it was interesting to get a different perspective of those troubling events through a different sort of lens!

I would like to thank Mr. Michaud, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest and unbiased opinion of his book

When I begin a well written book, there is a rhythm that the language takes on as it introduces the plot and the characters. This mystery set in Montreal did not offer me that entry. It was disjointed and confusing. Taillon was a particularly annoying caricature. Her constant eating habits that were detailed detracted from the narrative. I could not imagine why the author made her so unappealing. Was it comic relief from the murder and gore? If so, it did not work. Picking Cheetos out of her teeth at the crime scene was off putting. Victor, the main detective, lacked substance, and I could not relate to him. When I lose interest in the outcome of a murder mystery I know the book has failed. Montreal, as a backdrop, was interesting as there are not many detective novels written about this city, but Louise Penny does it with more elan and finesse.

I seem to be in the minority’s on this one, but I was hugely disappointed by Never Forget. As you’ll see by the description, this is the third book in a popular Canadian series, and the first to be translated into English. It stars police detective Victor Lessard as a troubled, struggling alcoholic with a girlfriend and two children. The story starts with a homeless man who commits suicide and is found in possession of two wallets. The two wallets belong to individuals who turn up dead, killed by arrows after being bound in a bizarre antique torture device.

If this had been a more straightforward quest to find a fiendish killer, I think I would have enjoyed the book. I liked the police characters, but I think it would have helped if I had been introduced to them in the first and second novels in the series. The story stands alone, but I felt I was missing some deeper character understanding by starting with book three. So the bones of the story were there, and I liked many of the central characters, why didn’t I enjoy this book? I think with Never Forget we have a talented author with a very weak editor. The book was overly long (560 pages) and the plot so convoluted that reading it felt more like work than pleasure. For example, there was a subplot involving Lessard’s son that was completely unnecessary and, frankly, boring. Also, there were passages about Quebec governance in the ‘70s that were intermittent, short, unedifying, and obscure to any non-Québécois reader. Third, there were too many central characters to grasp, worsened by constant switches between use of first name, last name, and/or nicknames. And finally, the plot was too convoluted with secret medical trials and even conspiracy theories about JFK’s assassination. It was all just too much, and unnecessary as it could have been so good with a stronger editor.

Once translated, I think I would read book one in the series because I’m sure I’ve missed something given its popularity, but I was unimpressed by this outing. Two and a half stars rounded up to three. My thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn for providing me an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.