Ramona Smith went missing, presumed murdered twenty-one years ago; her body was never recovered. Gerald Lace, accused, tried, and acquitted of the crime, took his own life shortly thereafter in the lovely-but-lethal waters along the Crooked Shore. In his suicide note, he blamed the police for wrongfully arresting him and ruining his life. This is another DI Hannah Scarlett mystery but reads well as a stand-alone. Well plotted with interesting characters and an involved plot, this is mystery writing at its finest. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Having read this book in 2021, under its UK title The Crooked Shore, I re-read it in advance of its 2022 US release by Poisoned Pen Press as The Girl They All Forgot. I didn't detect any variations between the two versions, as occasionally occurs on re-release.

The eighth instalment in Martin Edwards' Lake District Mystery series, The Girl They All Forgot is an enthralling mystery which reads well as a standalone or entry point to the series, for those who have not read the preceding titles.

A suicide by drowning draws Cumbria (UK) D.C.I. Hannah Scarlett into a cold case investigation related to the disappearance of local woman Ramona Smith, twenty-one years previously. The case was originally investigated by D.I. Ben Kind, Hannah's mentor and predecessor, who also happens to be her partner Daniel's late father. Kind had identified Ramona's former employer, gift shop owner Gerald Lace, as the prime suspect in her presumed murder. While Lace was acquitted at his subsequent trial, he and his family were never able to escape the stigma of his association with Ramona's disappearance. Lace later committed suicide by walking into the treacherous waters of the Crooked Shore, a tragedy
echoed in the present by the suicide of Lace's son, Darren, in the same place and manner. But could Gerald Lace have been unjustly accused, and if so what happened to the ill-fated Ramona?

Meanwhile, the man who witnessed Darren's suicide, Kingsley Melton, is preoccupied by the sudden reappearance of Logan Prentice, a charming young man whom he suspects of fraud and murder. Melton manages a plush but remote apartment development, Strandbeck Manor, and is cultivating a romantic attachment with wealthy and alluring resident Tory Reece-Taylor. He believes Prentice is targeting Tory and that her life is in danger - how can he convince local authorities of Prentice's malfeasance before it's too late?

Martin Edwards deftly weaves the two narrative threads into a complex and intriguing mystery. Meanwhile, there is added interest in the shape of D.C.I. Scarlett's personal life. She and Daniel appear happy in their relationship, but there are inevitable stressors associated with the demands of her job as a senior detective and the frequent travel he undertakes as a published author. A potential rival emerges in the shape of Alex Samaras, a beautiful and charming woman who rescued Daniel's sister Louise when she fell in a river while walking a neighbour's dog. Alex is a gushing fan of Daniel's writing and Louise can't help but wonder if romance might blossom between them.

I appreciated Edwards' more traditional style of mystery writing, but must emphasise that this is in no way a sedate or "cosy" mystery. The plot is complex and the dramatic denouement is both satisfying and unexpected. The characters are all well-developed and their motivations believable. Edwards uses the stunning setting of the Lake District to atmospheric effect, and while the eponymous "crooked shore" itself is imaginary, there are plenty of real life references to keep armchair travellers like myself satisfied!

I have no hesitation in highly recommending The Crooked Shore to all readers who enjoy well-crafted mysteries and complex plots. I'm looking forward to bringing myself up to speed with the remainder of the Lake District Mystery series.

My thanks to the author, Martin Edwards, publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

What a pleasure to find thar Martin Edwards has returned to his Lake District series featuring DCI Hannah Scarlett, now head of the cold case unit. She remains in a relationship with Daniel Kind, son of Ben Kind, a former police officer of the same department, who trained Hannah. Hannah and Daniel seem to have been apart more than together in recent months due to her busy work schedule and David’s fairly steady travel schedule because of his book writing, often having to do with crime.

As the story opens, a local man whose father was involved in the disappearance of a young woman some twenty years before, walks into the sea and dies while a local man watches from a distance, disbelieving. As it happens, he is recreating his father’s act also twenty years before. Lives were destroyed by that young woman’s disappearance and suspected death. Now Hannah will reopen the original case and try to satisfy the remaining family member.

There are parallel stories that are interesting but initially feel somewhat random. Never fear. Edwards knows exactly where he is going and has a good time getting there. Welcome back to Grasmere and the Lakes District.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Don’t worry if you have not read the other books in this series as this book stands alone. Cleverly presented from many different perspectives, you get to know the characters well as you are taken down the path towards solving the core mystery.

First of all thank you for the opportunity of accessing this book early! This story follows a woman detective in a small town. I was not aware that this book is part of a series so be on the lookout if you plan on reading this book, I would definitely recommend you read the others one before this one so you do not get confused. I did get a bit lost here and there. The story is good and intriguing. Everyone wants to know what happened to Ramona!? If you want to read a good mysterious story this is it!

It’s been long enough that Detective Chief Inspector Hannah Scarlett no longer views her assignment to head Cumbria Constabulary’s Cold Case Review Team as a demotion from regular policing. Now, with the election of new Police and Crime Commissioner Kit Gleadall, she has some hope that her overstretched team – about to be taxed further by the temporary leave-taking of two of her expectant staff members – will finally get some reinforcements after years of austerity.

Of course, not everyone in the constabulary is as optimistic regarding the new guy’s abilities. Her co-worker Les Bryant has his doubts as to the efficacy of a rich man dabbling in politics:

QUOTE
“You reckon this job is just a rich man’s fancy? Serve for four years and then bugger off to do something more exotic?”

Hannah spread her arms. “Your guess is as good as mine. He’s not your typical public servant. My hunch is that achieving things is what turns him on. Making a difference. He’s ticked all the boxes in the private sector. Now he’s strutting on a bigger stage.”

“The shine will wear off soon enough.” It never took long for Les’s inner sceptic to reassert itself.
END QUOTE

Thus, no one is very surprised when the new PCC insists that the team look into an old case that has attracted significant media attention in the wake of new developments off the Crooked Shore. A man named Darren Lace has taken his own life in the very same place his father had twenty years earlier. Gerry Lace had been accused of murdering and hiding the body of young barmaid Ramona Smith. Though he was acquitted in a court of law, the dark shadow of suspicion long lingered over him, leading to his eventual suicide. He left behind a fractured, heartbroken family.

Two decades on, Darren’s devastated ex is spearheading efforts to get the case reopened and the real culprit brought to justice, so that the Lace family can finally find some peace. To this end, Jade Hughes is happy to draw as much media attention to the topic as possible, loudly criticizing the Cumbria Constabulary’s handling of the case under Hannah’s old mentor Ben Kind. PCC Gleadall is savvy enough to know that this criticism needs to be headed off at the pass, so has Hannah prioritize re-examining what truly happened to Ramona all those years ago.

Even as Hannah is contending with the presence and attention of her charismatic new overseer, she’s also reevaluating her continuing relationship with her long-term boyfriend, former television presenter turned successful author Daniel Kind:

QUOTE
Since his return from America, she’d seemed distant, more like a passing acquaintance than a lover. His fault for going away for so long. Or maybe her quietness was due to her absorption in this latest cold case. A major enquiry put extra strain on her because she took such a hands-on role. With so much mental and physical energy committed to an investigation, there wasn’t much room to spare for fun. Or even him.
END QUOTE

Daniel tries to be understanding. Being her former mentor’s son, he’s used to the demands that the job places on police officers' families. He’s also personally invested in her quest to defend his father against the press, especially since Ben is no longer around to defend himself. Ironically, Ben fell victim to a still unsolved hit and run, leaving behind lingering questions and regrets for Daniel and Hannah both. But not even Daniel’s empathy can leave him entirely unsusceptible when an alluring figure comes into his life while Hannah is so preoccupied with her own.

Intertwined with all this is the story of Kingsley Melton, the sad sack property manager who was the last person to see Darren Lace alive. Unwilling to get involved with the police again after his own less than positive brush with them immediately after Ramona’s disappearance, he finds himself compelled to seek Daniel’s help when a homicidal figure from his past unexpectedly reappears.

The way all these stories come together had me gasping in surprise not once, as is par for any good crime novel, but twice, as the twists played out masterfully under Martin Edward’s command. The deft construction of this fair play mystery was truly a joy to experience, as the pieces laid out by several cunning minds – and I’m totally including the author himself in this number – fall into gorgeous, devastating place.

The Girl They All Forgot is one of the smartest mysteries I’ve read in a while. While it is the eighth in the Lake District mystery series, it’s a highly accessible jumping on point for newcomers to the series, and highly recommended by this newcomer herself for readers old and new.

I didn't realize that this was a part of a series of books, so some of the characters got kind of confusing. The writing style and language seemed old fashioned to me, so it kind of boring and didn't keep my attention. I just couldn't get into it past 25% of the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher to allowing me access to this ARC for my honest review.

The Girl They All Forgot is so full of twists and turns, red herrings and a surprise ending it was very hard to put down so the lights stayed on.

Although this is the eighth book in the series , I had not read any of them, it certainly can be read as a stand alone.

Now I want to go back and read them all to find out the back story of Hannah and Daniel.

I thought I had cleverly guessed the "whodunit" and the ending but I was so wrong.

Martin Edwards and Lake Mystery Series you have a new fan who can't wait to read the earlier books and I eagerly await the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for introducing me to Martin Edward's The Lake District Mystery's .

The Girl They All Forgot by Martin Edwards is a highly recommended procedural and whodunit as well as the eight book in the Lake District Series.

What happened to Ramona Smith? The man who was accused of her murder committed suicide. His son also did so on the same day twenty years late. Now DCI Hannah Scarlet, and her Cold Cases Division have reopened the investigation of Ramona Smith's death. Her body was never found, but Det. Insp. Ben Kind, father of Heather's colleague and lover Daniel, is sure she was murdered. In a small close knit community though, everyone has their own opinion. The race is on as Hannah and her team collect clues and leads on the cold case as the body count rises.

This is a well-written atmospheric whodunit that moves at a relaxed pace until the end. Since I haven't read any of the other books in this series, I did feel a bit out of sorts reading the novel at the beginning. I kept up with what was happening, but still felt for most of the beginning that I was a step behind or off to the side of the action. Once things clicked the reading was smooth and interesting but I can't help but think I should have started at the beginning of the series due to the strong sense of location in the setting.

There are a lot of characters and viewpoints presented in the complex narrative, especially with two narrative threads to follow in pursuit of the answers, but when you continue reading and focus on the plot they all sort themselves out eventually. This is set in a small community, so there are many interrelated rumors and theories swirling around in the populace and all of these must be investigated. Those who like complex mysteries will appreciate The Girl They All Forgot, but may want to start the series from the beginning.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Poison Pen Press.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

The Girl They All Forgot follows a tough female detective in a small lake town.
Thank you Poisoned Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy.

The Girl They All Forgot is the 8th book in the Lake District Mystery series, though I did not realize it until part way through this fascinating and engrossing book. Hannah Scarlett is a cold case detective and investigates the death of Ramona Smith twenty one years ago. Meanwhile, a man commits suicide in the same location and in the same way as his father did twenty years prior. The incident was observed. Not only that but a needy rental agent worries about the welfare of the woman he is besotted with as he has a few "aha" moments. However, his beloved is tenacious and has a way of getting what she wants. Twisted relationships abound which add intrigue to the mystery aspects. Though I hated the relationships themselves, the way they contributed overall is brilliant.

That first sentence, though! Beguiling and arresting, the entire book is jam packed with incredible twists. Martin Edwards truly has a way with words and is very skilled at masterfully weaving plots and subplots together. Though the characters were unlikeable (some downright despicable) in my view, the stories themselves really grew on me, particularly the layers of mystery. And one needn't like the characters to enjoy a good book.

Mystery and Thriller fans ought to seek this out. It was a bit confusing to begin with but that could be because this was the first I read in the series. Do know there are adult situations and language.

My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this utterly enthralling and original book. I feel compelled to read the other books in the series.

I’ve waited a long time for the latest installment of the Lake District Mysteries by Martin Edwards. Mr. Edwards has been doing all kinds of stuff around the world of mystery books…and, as a big fan of DCI Hannah Scarlett and her “ friend” Daniel Kind. There are a couple of mysteries going on in the narrative’s “ present” while also exploring an answer to a cold case Scarlett is assigned to figuring out. The cold case has to do with the puzzling disappearance of Ramona Smithover twenty years ago. One Darren Lace was connected to Smith’s disappearance and he walked into the local bay and…mysteriously…committed suicide.
And all sorts of twists and turns occur. There were some moments that were a bit too romance novel for my tastes; however, as the story races towards its shocking climax I was able to understand why those moments were essential to the plot. So a big ole “thanks” to Martin Edwards for returning to the Lake District series. And also I am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and make some comments on how much I enjoyed “The Girl They All Forgot.”

What really happened to Ramona? She went missing over 20 years ago, the man presumed to have killed her committed suicide, and no one's thought about her since. Well, someone has. DCI Hannah Scarlett, who works cold cases, reopens this one and finds a twisty mystery. She's terrific, btw, as is this complex tale set in the Lake District, It's part of a long running series and I very much enjoyed it even though I hadn't read any of the preceding books. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Excellent read.

The Girl They All Forgot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/7/22
Author: Martin Edwards
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Pages: 352
Goodreads Rating: 3.99

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Ramona Smith went missing, presumed murdered twenty-one years ago; her body was never recovered. Gerald Lace, accused, tried, and acquitted of the crime, took his own life shortly thereafter in the lovely-but-lethal waters along the Crooked Shore. In his suicide note, he blamed the police for wrongfully arresting him and ruining his life. On the twentieth anniversary of his father's suicide, Darren Lace has drowned himself in the very same spot. His death reopens the original investigation for cold case detective DCI Hannah Scarlett. Desperate to finally find answers, Hannah and her team chase leads as the body count rises, old scores threaten to consume those dearest to Hannah. Will she be able to unwind both mysteries before her loved ones become collateral damage?

My Thoughts: This book is part of a series. I have not read the series, only this book and it works as a standalone. The narrator of the story changes and is always told from that character’s POV. There were a lot of characters introduced early on, I had to write them down to make sure I could keep them straight. The one downfall was that the chapter could have more than one narrator, making keeping up challenging sometimes. To me, this was more of a mystery than a thriller, still a good read. The characters were developed well once the confusion wore off. The lies and mystery intertwines until it ends with a fantastic conclusion. I love the plot scheme of this novel. A very good read and I would like to read the other books in this series.

When Darren Lace drowns himself by walking into Morecombe Bay, the new Police and Crime Commissioner Kit Gleadall pushes for an investigation. The small Cold Case Review Team is headed by DCI Hannah Scarlett, and Gleadall promises her several new team members. Twenty-one years earlier, Ramona Smith worked in a bar in Bowness. She left work one night, and was not seen again. Darren Lace's father, Gerry, was the primary suspect. Although he was acquitted, he lost his business, and his family was ruined. He drowned himself, and now his son killed himself in the same spot. Hannah's mentor was the lead detective in the case against Gerry Lace, but he's dead, killed by a hit-and-run driver. It's up to Scarlett and her team to dig into the cold case in a community where everyone has an opinion, or knew the missing woman.

Seven years after The Dungeon House, Edwards returns to England's Lake District for a bleak, leisurely-paced mystery. There are too many viewpoints represented, however readers who appreciate an atmospheric story with a strong sense of place will be satisfied.

Sadly, this was a DNF for me. I just never became engaged and couldn’t stay interested.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have not read the previous books in this series, but while I found I would like to know more about Hannah and Daniels's relationship I don't think you need to read the others to understand what's going on.

We get multiple perspectives in this story and I found the transition between them to be a bit jarring and tended to take me out of the story. Most of the action takes place at the end of the book, and while it was really good action it didn't make up for how slow the rest of the book felt.

The mystery was really good, I had no idea what was happening with it until Hannah starts telling us what she has figured out, and there was an extra bit of action at the end that really made me flip through the pages to see how it was going to resolve. I think that I will read the next book in this series or start at the first one and see if I can get more used to his writing style, even though it was a slower building mystery I really liked how it all played out.

The Girl They All Forgot by Martin Edwards had a lot going on. There are various points of view, and sometimes it is hard to keep track of all the characters. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this author's writing style. This book was just not for me.

#NetGalley @PPPress

Sooo I totally started reading this and was about half way through before realizing this is actually part of a series. This was soo good though, and I would say it can be read as a standalone considering I did not even realize it wasn't. This book kept me up at night turning pages racing to the end. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be finishing this series.
Thank you to Net Galley, and Martin Edwards for an early copy!

I have not read the other books in this series but I didn’t miss them while reading. I thought it could have been paced better as all of the action took place towards the end and I was kind of bored in the middle. Good plot though and I did enjoy. Thanks to net galley for the copy!