I have not read any of the previous titles in Martin Edwards Lake District Mystery series, but I enjoyed reading the book. I didnt know it was part of a series. The book does read as a stand alone. The first sentence in the book hooks you into reading til the end. It was hard to put the book down. I couldnt wait to find out what the end was going to be. The book starts who killed Ramona? Kit Gleadall, asks Hannah to reopen the case of Ramona Smith. It turns out that the prime suspect was Ben Kind, who everyone believed was guilty. But he was found not guilty, but he commits suicide. Further in the investigation, she talks to Ben Kind's son, Daniel Kind. There are many pieces to this story, to find the clues, she will need to reexamine the past. This book is very good and so many twist to a shocking conclusion.

Thank you to the publisher for this awesome murder mystery, I was totally pulled into the story trying to figure out who had done it
Can’t wait for a new one in this series !

This book just felt like a mess from start to finish. Many reviews said this could be read/understood as a standalone and not part of a series, but the author introduced too many characters too quickly, with no real characterization to distinguish anyone. The characters were both flat and completely unlikeable, to the point where I wasn't rooting for anyone and just wanted to be finished with the book. The plot was very disjointed and while I suppose it did come together at the end, the journey to get there was muddled and confusing. Also, while not as important, the setting was equally as confusing as the plot, as the author didn't do a great job at explaining the actual town(s?) the story took place in. There were descriptions of where scenes took place, but not about how far they really were in relation to one another/where they were in general. Overall a very disappointing and tiring read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Girl They All Forgot by Martin Edwards is a mystery book involving a cold case, which pops up again when a son dies in the same manner as his father from many years ago.
This book switches points of view regularly & in the beginning, it gives you quite a few names & stories to obviously set the foundation of the novel. I have to admit I was a bit confused trying to keep track of everything going on & who was who. As soon as I would understand, it would switch to a snippet from a different person. Despite my confusion, I enjoyed getting all the different bits of information & I feel like it moved the story along with a quick pace. I would also like to add that I have chronic illnesses & I read this during a particularly mental brain foggy week, so this could just be my own problem.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series as well. The practice of switching the primary character being discussed multiple times per chapter is something I struggled with. Perhaps if I had already known some of the characters from previous books, I wouldn’t have struggled as much.
I will give this book props for putting so much crime into this book it felt like I was reviewing at least two books. It is a very interesting cold case along with parallel types of crime. I feel like fans of this series will enjoy this book very much.
The Girl They All Forgot comes out June 7, 2022!
Massive thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me the opportunity to read an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: This book mentions and/or contains suicide, abuse, violence, murder, mental health struggles, sexual assault & gore.

This book has a perfect opening and a good premise to draw the reader in. The author doesn’t disappoint with the plot though the conclusion brought everything together in a rush. I had no difficulty with the characters though I haven’t read the previous books, so it would work out as a stand-alone. I definitely like to read the series. 5 stars

So this was an other of those books that I was reading and half way through realized was part of a book series! how smart am I? but one thing I have to say first is that this book does perfectly fine as a standalone. the opening sentence makes sure that you are hooked all the way till the end.
"So, you want to know why I killed Ramona Smith?" how captivating is that! and from what I have read about this series afterwards, the whole series ( 8 titles) is really good and well written. the writer has a magical way with his words that makes you ache to read more, I was anxious and desperate to know what was going to happen in the end. no issues with the story what so ever. I'm really eager to read the previous books as soon as possible. and I have to say this is my honest opinion. One of the best reads of this past couple of weeks.
this review will be published on NetGallery and Goodreads.
thanks to net gallery for providing my copy.

If you like a good mystery, you will want to read this book. Ramona Smith went missing. Is she dead and if so who killed her, and why. The author weaves a tale the intertwines the lives of many in the Lake District. Who’s innocent and who has guilty secrets. You’ll want to find the answers.

I’ve been following Martin Edwards’ Lake District series since the beginning, and was happy to see book 8 being published long after book 7 was, in 2015. DCI Hannah Scarlett, head of a cold case unit, is tasked with reopening a 20 year old case when the son of the main suspect, who committed suicide, kills himself in the same place and manner his father did. The original case was handled by Ben Kind, who died in a hit and run after he retired. He was both a mentor to Hannah, and the father of her partner. A separate story line involves a potential crimes a rental agent thinks has happened, and may happen. While I didn’t like his character at all, I couldn’t wait to see how the stories would end, and did they ever, with some twists I didn’t see coming.
I appreciated this advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley, and recommend the entire series to anyone who enjoys English crime writing that isn’t of the cozy variety, but isn’t full of blood and gore.

Impeccably Drawn..,
The eighth Lake District mystery from Martin Edwards and another meeting with DCI Hannah Scarlett as a cold case is re-opened. Atmospheric and deep in plot and sub plots with credible and impeccably drawn characters, this is a murder mystery, a tense suspense and a whodunnit in traditional vein rolled into one superlative package.

Let me preface this review by saying that I have not read any other books in this series., which might make my review a bit unfair. I have no prior investment in these characters.

Detective Hannah Scarlett is smart, thoughtful and independent. She is a strong female character that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was not intrigued by her relationship with Daniel (having not read the previous books), but I’d imagine those that have, would’ve been on edge throughout this story.

There was A LOT going on in this book. There were multiple side stories and mysteries. Lots of murder and questionable behavior (check trigger warnings.) While everything came together in a neat little package at the end, the rest of the book felt rather “muddy”. It was hard to keep track of all the schemes and lies. The original death, that started all the investigations, gets lost along the way.

If you’re a fan of mysteries, this could be a great book for you. There was certainly a lot to unfold. Everything just came together way too perfectly in the end for my taste, but my opinion is just that - my opinion.

I have read the previous books in the series and enjoyed them so I was looking forward to reading this. It didn't disappoint and I found it to be a great addition to the series.

Good book! This book has suspense, intrigue, action and a few who done it! The storyline was interesting and flowed nicely! It was a great thriller! I will definitely recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

DCI Hannah Scarlett works in the cold case section and has to work on a disappearance investigated by her former mentor and father of her current partner.
The author manages to create an absorbing narrative with a perfect pace and above all with a main character and some very well profiled secondary characters.
Although the book belongs to a series, it is not necessary to have read the others although I am sure that once you start with this one, you will have to read the rest.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Poisoned Pen Press and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Poisoned Pen Press has another hit on the way! I do enjoy their catalog.

This was a banger from the start.

I was enraptured as soon as I began. The characters were well thought out and perfectly developed.

The way the story unravels, it’s crafted by a brilliant mind.

This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley…murder and intrigue…innocent or guilty?…friendship and family…themes running through this book…it does move slowly at times but worth keeping on…

This is the last book in an excellent mystery series, a mix of police procedural and classic whodunnit that kept me turning pages as it’s a gripping and atmospheric story.
What happened in the past is affecting what is happening in the present, a cold case is being reopened as the son of the supposed culprit took his life as his father did.
This is the main plot, a supposed murder without a corpse. A supposed culprit who took his life.
There are a lot of secrets in this story, there a lot of what if and you follow the investigation trying to understand if everything was done to discover the truth.
There’s a subplot involving other characters who seems loosely related to the main story. I didn’t like them at the beginning, but it grew on me and became another fascinating part of the story.
The plot is well crafted, Martin Edwards is a talented storyteller, and this story always kept my attention alive.
Hannah and her teams are well thought and likeable, clever and interesting. Tori is a fascinating character: a mysterious woman who is able to manipulate and get what she wants, even if I didn’t like her, I couldn’t help being fascinated.
There are some slow moments in the middle, but the last part was a rollercoaster, fast paced and action packed.
This book starts and end with a bang.
An excellent, gripping and highly entertaining story that I strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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This gripping and intriguing thriller grabbed me from the beginning and never let up!
This book held a wonderful surprise, the writing was great and for me to have not ever read a book by Edwards and I was hanging onto his every word.
The characters were so well drawn and developed.
The Girl They All Forgot is a heart-thumping, fast paced plot with compelling characters.
Leaving me unable to put down the book.
It was just a really good story!

Poisoned Pen Press
Thank you for this eARC!

#TheGirlTheyAllForgot #NetGalley
Wow.
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 meandering as the shoreline. 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?
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an advanced copy.