This is a really unique book that successfully blends many different genres into one story. Set in the 1930s, we have historical fiction, mystery, romance and after reading the author notes, I realize we also have true crime as this is based on an actual crime. I loved the connection between the two main characters, from their first meeting through the end of the book. Malone is a hardened cop, closed off to people and only interested in solving his assigned case. Dani is orphaned and living with her elderly aunts when Malone reenters her life unexpectedly. Together they work to solve the case of a serial killer while they also slowly begin to establish a relationship with each other. I know the term "atmospheric" is overused in the book reviewing world, but this book was truly atmospheric. I could see this unfold on screen in black & white.

I had high hopes for this book, but the story ended up not grabbing me at all. When I put it down, there was nothing thing drawing me back to it. It ended up as a DNF for me. I appreciate the opportunity to check it out, it just wasn’t a good match for me.

The Uknown Beloved was a great book, I like the story the characters, and how everything was evolving. In the beginning, I had a little hard time getting to the stories but then started to take shape and I was already immersed.

In the story of Dani Flanagan, she lost everything in her world her parents were murdered and she was left behind now is time for her to rebuild her life living with her aunts but meanwhile, she is here to help Michael someone from her childhood he is in charge of a case that it can bring so much light to the city and the people that have been suffering so much from this terrible unsolved murders.

but without giving the whole story away let me tell you what I liked about this book, the "magic" element for lack of a better word, the ability Dani had to be able to sense things others didn't. this is something I've seen in previous books of Amy when she adds the "magic" ingredient. again I'm calling it magic but it is not magic it is only a way to describe the feeling or the way Dani uses her "Abilities" to help others, especially Michael.

it is a story that brings angst, mystery, and suspense, you will get to enjoy the other characters that brought so much to the story, especially Dani's aunts, they're hilarious there is always a laughable tension between them and Mike whenever he is around, they always give him a hard time lol.

Overall the story was good I really enjoy it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of The Unknown Beloved in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for the chance to preview this novel for our store! Amy Harmon has become a must buy author for our store. This story was tough to read at times, but oh so wonderfully written! Can't wait to see what she rights next!

4.5 Stars!

“𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙸𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚏𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚋𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚋 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎’𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚜.”

As always with Amy Harmon, what a beautiful story about love and sacrifice. If follows Dani Flanagan whose parents are murdered when she is 10 years old, and Michael Malone who is the young cop who helps Dani at the time.

Dani was an amazing heroine and I loved her ability to care and to really SEE people. Michael was totally the grump to Dani’s sunshine. In the 15 years since he last saw her, life and his job have hardened him.

This book transcended several genres. It was historical fiction, it was a thriller, it was a mystery, it was romance. It had everything.

The writing was art and the story kept me hooked the whole time! Highly recommend!

Amy Harmon has once again blown me away with another stunning and poignant read. I was captivated from the first chapter and devoured The Unknown Beloved. Dani and Michael's story has left me speechless, it's beautiful and full of mystery and murder. Dani's compassion and respect for the unknown are heartbreaking and show so much humanity. While it is more grisly than her other novels, the fact that she can write something so different and so incredible is a testament to how fantastic of an author she is. Amy Harmon did an amazing job mixing fact with fiction, keeping the realities of the crimes but weaving in a perfect hea for Michael. I always know her books are going to destroy me in the best way possible or send me down a rabbit hole searching for truth. Like all of her other books, I definitely recommend this one.

This book is not like Amy Harmon's other books in subject matter, but like her others, the journey is amazing and hard to put down.

Dani Flanagan is a child when both of her parents are found dead. Michael Malone is the patrol officer assigned to supervise her and make sure she gets to her new home safely.

Many years later, Michael is told to go to Cleveland to help in the hunt for a murderer that has eluded police for a long time. Even Eliot Ness, the person who helped put Al Capone away hasn't been able to find the person responsible for all of these deaths.

In Cleveland, Dani and Michael cross paths. This time, Dani is not a child and Michael cannot quit thinking about her. He soon realized she could help him solve the case but the consequences could be too much for her. When Dani realizes herself that she could help Michael, she convinces him to let her help. The result is a race to catch a killer before it is too late.

This novel has a little bit of everything in it. Mystery, suspense, romance, magic, and history. The hunt for the killer is full of suspense and details that will have you guessing for a while who the actual guilty party is. In addition to all of this is the growing relationship between Dani and Michael.

This book kept me reading late into the night and unable to put the book down to read other books in progress. I don't usually read books with magic in them and I am so glad I read this one. I love a good historical fiction and also love mystery and suspense. This book checked all the boxes for me along with keeping me guessing until the end. I felt so many emotions while reading this book and while I know this is different from the author's usual style, I will be reading other books of hers I haven't yet.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Amy Harmon. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Unknown Beloved is historical fiction, romance, true crime, mystery with a dash of magical realism all beautifully blended together by Amy Harmon into a fascinating story. Like many of her other books, Amy Harmon blends real people/events into a fictional story so well. Set mostly in the late 1930s in Cleveland, investigator Michael Malone is summoned to help solve the "Torso Murders" - a series of murders of unknown people left in pieces throughout the city. Malone cross paths with Dani Flanagan who he had a brief but meaningful encounter with when he was an officer on the scene after her parents' deaths.

If you like true crime and historical fiction this is definitely one to put on your list.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

I typically love Amy Harmon, but I unfortunately found this story not engaging enough to finish. The characters and storyline did not pull me in the way some of her other books have done and while I am typically a big fan of her work, I decided not to finish this title.

The Unknown Beloved had a great start. I was instantly sucked into the story from the prologue. The idea of the story is a first for me and the mystery kept me on my toes. I, however, felt that some of the murder details were a little too graphic and I had to stop reading. Also, around 75% into the book, it veered off the plot a little. All in all, this was an interesting read.
3.5/5 stars.

Amy Harmon storytelling is amazing and she has such talent. Brilliant story! I loved everything about it! This story reminds me of old timey black and white movies. The time, the place, the dress, the atmosphere is so real I could feel it. Its gritty with the murder details, which is unlike Harmons particular writing aesthetic, but I actually enjoyed that a lot!

I hadn't read an Amy Harmon book in a while, but I am so glad I read this one. It takes place in the late 30's, when there is a Depression and a brutal serial killer called The Butcher terrorizing the city. I loved Dani and how selfless and sweet she was. I also liked the supernatural powers she had, though I would have liked even more from that. I thought she was a great balance to Michael, a tough man still dealing with the loss of his wife and child and who has thrown himself into his work and going undercover to help catch the Butcher. The author did a great job with slowly building the relationship between Dani and Michael, knowing that it wouldn't make sense for either character if they went too fast. I would have liked a little more with the mystery, but there was some suspense there too. All in all, a very good read.

Amy Harmon has done it again! What an incredible story during a very interesting and intriguing time in history. It was so compelling and kept me hooked from page 1.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read another masterpiece by the master!

Amy Harmon does it again. I swear this woman can write anything and make you escape to whatever world she dreams up. She’s always a fave and one of the authors I know I can count on to bring a great book to the table.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

What a book...a mixture of all my favourite genre's (crime, thriller, romance) and Elliot Ness! Loved Michael and his utter devotion to both Ness and Dani.

In the 1920s, Dani Flanagan finds her life turned upside down. With the loss of her parents, Dani is sent to Cleveland to live with her aunts. During the ordeal, Dani was helped with her new transition by officer Michael Malone. What neither would know is how their paths would ultimately cross again.

Fast forward fifteen years and Michael Malone finds himself headed to Cleveland to help investigate a serial killer that is terrorizing the city. Malone has been requested to infiltrate the lower class in the city since they seem to be the targets of the killer. Needing a place to call ‘home’ during his stay, Malone finds himself seeking housing from Dani and her aunts.

Time hasn’t exactly been kind to Malone. The death of his wife and children has hardened the officer and made him a bit rough around the edge. Dani recognized Malone instantly and the two began a somewhat hesitant friendship. With the squeeze of the economy affecting everyone, Dani and her aunts are looking for anything to help supplement the family’s tailoring business. What Malone discovers is the unique way that Dani brings in money to help the aunts. A task that would bring the duo into the heart of the mysteries surrounding the killings in Cleveland.

The Unknown Beloved is the latest release by Amy Harmon. If you have never had the pleasure of diving headfirst into a novel written by Harmon, let me assure you that you are missing out. Typically – I steer away from historical fiction, but I couldn’t resist a novel that was penned by Amy Harmon. The writing transported me to a time of hardship that can only be imagined through the descriptive words that Harmon pens to paper. Discover the journey that is both captivating, intriguing, and surrounded in mystery.

Amy Harmon was a new author to me but I didn't hesitate to request The Unknown Beloved because it was billed as a historical mystery and two of the characters were Eliot Ness and Michael Malone. I was not disappointed - from start to finish. The romance was a very nice thread to balance the serial killer thread.
In 1923 Dani's parents were murdered and Malone was the young policeman on the case. Fast forward fifteen years and their paths cross when Malone joins forces with Eliot Ness to track down a serial killer. Malone realizes that Dani has special abilities that would be a great help with the case. Their growing relationship is a good balance,
My thanks to the publisher Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Amy Harmon can do no wrong! I love her writing style so much! This was a fascinating story and also a lovely and tender love story, I just loved it!

The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon. Pub Date: April 19, 2022. Rating: 3 stars. Amy Harmon is a fabulous writer and I have enjoyed her writing in the past, but this book felt different from her normal. The story connects two individuals, Dani and and Michael Malone. It starts in the 1920s when Dani's parents are murdered and Malone is the detective investigating. Travel 15 years later and they are once again connected based on a suspected serial killer on the loose. Their lives are intertwined and Dani may be able to help solve the case. At times, this book was long and drawn out and I felt it could have been a little bit shorter. I love Amy Harmon's historical fiction novels and this was a fresh spin on the genre. I liked it, but did not love it. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Amy Harmon is an incredible author and she is without a doubt an auto-read author for me. This book had so much going for it. The mystery, the thrill, the romance. One of Amy's biggest talents is being able to write a love story with so much passion and sensuality without being steamy and raunchy. I loved Michael Malone and Dani Flanagan together and this will undoubtedly make my top ten books of the year!