Good to catch up with these characters in another complex mystery.Lots of red herrings in a really good plot.

This is book 2 in the Jesica Shaw series. While it’s not really necessary to have read the first book in the series, it does help provide some background on Jessica as a person.
‘Bad Memory’ has Jessica living and working in a small town in California, trying to her hours done in order to get her private investigator license in the state. She’s doing better than she was in book 1. She has a new boyfriend, an ok job and is kind of fitting into the town.
One night while closing up the office Jessica is approached by the sister of a death row inmate who asks for her help. Rue Hunter was convicted of killing her two best friends almost 30 years ago and is due to be executed within weeks. Rue has memory issues and doesn’t remember exactly what happened the night her friends were killed.
Both Rue and her sister Rose just want to find out the truth of what happened the night of the murders, whatever that truth may be.
But when Jessica starts digging into what happened the night of the murders she begins to discover inconsistencies between the evidence and what everyone believes happened that night. And there are people in town who don’t want Jessica to discover the truth and will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn’t get to expose it.
I love a good mystery/thriller and ‘Bad Memory’ didn’t disappoint. It had me guessing right up until the end. Can’t wait to read more books featuring Jessica Shaw. 4 Stars

This started out well, but as I read on I got bored.I'm not sure why it didn't hold my interest. Sorry.

An interesting murder mystery…

This is the second book in the Jessica Shaw series that can be read as a stand-alone.

Private Investigator Jessica Shaw is at a transitional point in her life, not wanting to return to New York State where she’s licensed she’s temporarily working for a small California detective agency in Hundred Acres while she waits to be licensed in the state. The assignments are routine but when her boss is out of the office a case comes in that intrigues her and she takes it, she needs the challenge.

Returning to the town she grew up in, Rose Dalton, the sister of a convicted murderer wants Jessica to look at her sister’s case. Thirty years ago the teenage Rue Hunter confessed to killing two of her friends and is scheduled to be executed in a week. Yet Rue isn’t sure that she’s guilty having no memory of the fatal act. Memories can be tricky, the mind can hide things to protect us from what it cannot cope with. Could that be the reason why there is vagueness in recollection or were certain drugs involved that can affect memory? It won’t be the first time Jessica has investigated years-old cold cases but can she find answers in the short timeframe? The clock is ticking down and this small town has dark secrets that certain people don’t want to see the light of day, Jessica’s poking soon rattles someone’s cage. Rue might not remember the fateful events that landed her in prison but someone does and they’ll do anything to protect themselves.

Having recently gone through much in her personal life Jessica was an intriguing character, events that occurred previously are alluded to here, and she’s mentally and emotionally processing a lot, this case was a needed distraction. Jessica’s a strong, intelligent, determined woman who is also very human in her flaws, she learns about herself as she continues to grow. This reader really liked where she headed at the end. The storyline was an interesting murder mystery that kept this reader engaged throughout and had more than one point of view. This was a good follow up to the first book in the series though I did like that one better and I do look forward to Jessica’s next undertaking.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

I never read Thin Air, Lisa Grays first book featuring P.I. Jessica Shaw , but I intend to. I would like to know more about Jessica's life as she is a brilliant character. Bad Memory is an excellent read. It's got plenty of twists that kept me guessing. I didn't realise who had done what to who until the ending. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I voluntarily read this ARC for an honest review - All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a first time author for me and this is part of a series. However, I don't feel I've missed out on anything
Really really enjoyed this - would love to read the others in the series

I found this well written, great characters and plot - lots of unpredictable twists - kept me on the edge of my seat - couldn't put this down - had to know what happened next


A great read - highly recommend

I found the first 50% to be quite dull and predictable. As the whole premise is based around a woman on death row being proven innocent, it's fairly obvious what direction the book is going to move in, which spoiled it for me. I loved how we were given more information by POV from the past and how these linked well with what was currently happening in the text. Overall it was okay, but I thought it was quite similar to other books that I have read within this genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This. Is the second book in the Jessica Shaw series.
Synopsis;
Jessica arrives at a seemingly sleepy remote town called Hundred Acres and thanks to the help of a friend, Detective Pryce, she starts a new job in the small detective office in the town. She is asked by a new client called Rose Dalton to look in to a crime that took place 30 years ago which left her sister Rue Hunter incarcerated for the murders of her boyfriend Lucas and her best friend Megan. Rue is due to be executed In a week's time for the murders so there is huge pressure to make progress quickly but Jessica is intrigued and keen to take on a case that doesn't involve marital desputes, and agrees to help.

I really enjoyed this book. While the story was somewhat far fetched in places (it turns a bit 'Midsummer Murders' at some points, leaving you wondering how much crime can really happen in one small town!) the story did unfold quickly. Unlike other crime stories where action doesn't take place until half way through the book, Gray had the story developing from the first chapter so it flowed really well and had me gripped. The story is told from various character points of view as well as from different time periods so there was no question left unanswered which I loved - Gray tied it all together really well. The central character is also flawed which makes her a lot more relatable - she clearly comes with baggage and isn't physically as strong as other hero characters in similar novels.

I can't wait to read the first book in the series and also see where Jessica Shaw ends up next! A huge thanks to #negalley for sending me a copy. #badmemory #lisagray

This was an enjoyable procedural with an interesting plot regarding a death row inmate. I do not like predictable books and this one definitely had twists and turns. I enjoyed the character of Jessica Shaw and look forward to reading more about her.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK, the author, and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great mystery. Kept me guessing throughout. Was very unpredictable!
Jessica moved to Hundred Acres, California a few years ago to forget her past. She is working as a PI for a local man. Jessica gets an offer from a former resident of Hundred Acres, Rose, to look into the death of two local teenagers, Lucas and Megan, whom her sister, Rue, has spent the past 30 years in jail for killing and is about to be executed. The problem is that Rue confessed to the murders, the weapon was found in her room, and she was found the night of the murder covered in Lucas and Megan's blood. So could she be innocent? Locals aren't happy that Jessica is poking around in something they all want forgotten. But, what Jessica uncovers will shock everyone, including the reader!!

This book took me awhile to get into. I almost felt like I needed to go re read the first book in the series to catch myself back up. I thought it was a little confusing how she was in a new town and had been there for several months and the book talked like I should already know this. But it wasn't mentioned in the previous book. Needless to say I was LOST for a good long while trying to keep up, but I did eventually hita Rhythm and enjoyed the book. I don't' think it was as good as the first book, but that was a hard one to top! I am looking forward to book 3 in this series. I hope it involves her quitting smoking. :)

This is the second book in the Jessica Shaw series and can be read as a stand-alone. Lisa Gray does a great job at providing contextual information relevant to characterization as she continues to develop her main character, Jessica. While some of the narrative held familiarity and was overly foreshadowed, it did not impact the overall story line or feel of the book. A modest read. More in line with a mystery/police-procedural than a suspense/thriller. 4 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC, which I read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thanks to Netgally and Amazon Publishing UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Private investigator, Jessica Shaw is approached by Rose, a woman whose sister, Rue, is on death row and going to be executed for a double murder she supposedly committed over 30 years ago when she was 17. Rose wants Jessica to take one last look at the case and see if there is any way to clear Rue before her execution.

I love a good detective story with an investigation that keeps turning up new info until the truth finally comes to light. I thought this book was great. It was a good procedural and it had some suspense and tension. I read and enjoyed the first Jessica Shaw book and I liked this one even better. I like the Jessica and Pryce characters and I like the author's writing style. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

What an incredible story! Murder mystery novels are my absolutely favourite of all book genres, if they are done right! Recently, I have been disappointed with the novels I have read in this genre that have been recommended to me, but when I accepted this ARC on NetGalley, I had no idea that I would be reading a book that would keep me on the edge of my (car)seat until the very last page. I read this book whilst on a journey to Birmingham, and I didn’t even notice the time passing, as my nose was fully lodged in my kindle!

When I’m reading a book, I love a fast pace, and the short time limit within the novel kept this book fast-paced and continuously built suspense. I usually don’t like flashbacks in novels as I feel that they can sometimes slow the pace of the book down and they can make the book disjointed and detached. However, the use of flashbacks by Lisa Gray did not hinder the progress of the book, but enhanced it. They provided vital information that was essential for the ending.

The twists throughout kept me guessing and changing my mind over who I believe had done it. I was wrong at every turn and I loved it. I hate it when a book is too predictable, as to me, it seems like a waste of time reading it. What is the point in reading a book when you already know the ending! When I went back and reread the book for a second time, knowing the end result, I could see how every bit of information, no matter how small and insignificant they seemed when I first read it, pieced together. It really is a spectacularly written novel.

I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a brilliant murder mystery that will suck them in completely. I had a severe case of the book blues after finishing this novel. Knowing that I couldn’t reread it without knowing the ending again was really upsetting as it was so incredible.

My second encounter with Jessica Shaw, and unusually fascinating story line which really keeps the reader guessing to the very end. It begins with a double murder from 30 years previously. Jessicas skill and determination gradually brings the truth to light.

This book was just ok for me. Good premise but a little bit to easy to work out but a good ending redeemed it so 3 stars from me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

Ok, I love a strong female lead and Jessica Shaw is definitely a bada$$ for sure. Bad Memory is the second book in the series. The beginning was a bit confusing even though I had read book one just a week or two prior. I was expecting her to be in the same town where the previous story took place and it wasn't really clear how/why she ended up in Hundred Acres right away. Jessica is approached by the sister of a death row inmate scheduled to be executed in less than a week and asked to please look into the murder she was convicted of. Basically a one last ditch effort to clear Rue for the murders of her best friend and boyfriend 30 years ago. The book is filled with small town scandal and juicy secrets that people are desperate to keep covered. I look forward to reading more of Jessica Shaw!

I really enjoyed Thin Air, the first book in this series, so had high expectations for this follow-up thriller.
A heart-thumping prologue sets the clock running - Rue is on death-row with only 10 days before her execution for double murder in 1987.
Rue's sister Rose asks private investigator Jessica Shaw to prove Rue's innocence before it is too late.
Jessica's journey to the truth takes her into the dark heart of the small desert town of Hundred Acres, where the memory of the murders is still powerful, especially for those who will kill to keep their secrets. She pays a heavy price for digging where she is not wanted.
The Pryce storyline did not work for me and his character never felt developed or real, but the story threads were neatly woven together.

Jessica Shaw is back! I was very excited to see a sequel because I absolutely loved the first book in this series.. Jessica is on the hunt again but this time she has traveled to Hundred Acres a small town with many secrets. Rue Hunter is on death row for killing her best friend and boyfriend even confessing to their murders! BUT as Jessica looks into this case she quickly unravels some secrets that have been long buried.Is Rue a killer or was she an innocent teenager with a bad memory of that night? You will have to read to find out! Suspense, thrills and a great female lead character.. perfect mystery! Loved this book and hoping there is a next.

Bad Memory which is the follow up to Lisa Gray's Thin Air follows the main character Jessica Shaw work a 30 year old double murder. While reading the first book in the series is not necessary to understand this sequel, it will bring deeper understanding of Jessica's actions. The multiple view points used to tell the story keeps the pace quick as you race through the pages. After reading Thin Air I was very excited to see where the series would go and this book did not disappoint!