Member Reviews
I really loved 3/4 of this book. The plotline was was thrilling. The main character was likeable and relatable. The story was interesting. The only thing that turned me off was the racial slur used to describe Orla' housekeeper around page 400 of the electronic book. It wasn't dialogue - just in the description of the woman answering the door. I've notified the publisher and I hope it's corrected in the final copy.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I have really loved everything so far, I will definitely be looking dfor more of her books in the future. Well paced, suspenseful and twisty. I really enjoyed it,
I always look forward to when this author comes out with a new book. I am a long time fan even though I find her works to be hit or miss. This one was good but it didn’t wow me. The synopsis was interesting and had me captivated but the story kind of lagged at parts and were boring.
This was a rather slow book. I tried to get engaged but it unfortunately kept losing me. The twists were mostly predictable and the characters were one dimensional. Not the best by this author at all.
I really enjoy this author's books!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. I enjoyed it tremendously!
It was an action packed, edge of my seat ride!
I highly recommend!
Set in Switzerland, renovating a gorgeous chalet, when all of a sudden her life again. Nearly seven years ago her husband was lost in a skiing accident, surely she didn’t see Him? This new novel by Miranda Rijiks was good but not my favorite by a great author I love but for mr the story never reached the Alpen height I was expecting.
My thanks to Inkubator books, Miranda Rjiks and Netgalley.
This book just wasn't good enough.
I loved the setting. Seeing the Swiss Alps would be a dream come true!
Luckily that setting was almost a character into itself!
The actual story was pretty good, but it was so predictable that I found myself rolling my eyes.
Also, Helen and get penchant for commenting on how well everyone spoke English was cringeworthy! I was happy ☺ that she was from England and not the U.S! Usually it's the American's with foot in mouth disease!
All in all, a quick read.
Miranda Rijks is one of those authors whose ARC I read on the day I get it, and as soon as the print copy becomes available, I order it and read it again before adding it to my library. She consistently writes layered, twisty thrillers that are all-consuming to the reader.
I loved that this book was mainly set in the Swiss Alps, a beautiful yet rugged landscape that claimed the life of Helen's husband Paul while they were on a ski trip. Because his body was never found, she clung to some hope, but after being assured that no one could survive the freezing, punishing night on the mountain, she accepted her loss. The marriage was unexpectedly rocky as Helen just found out she was pregnant, and Paul was not happy with the news.
Years have passed, and Helen is in a loving relationship and is a successful interior designer in England. She's just accepted her dream job remodeling a Swiss chalet, even though it's right next to the resort where Paul went missing. Putting her misgivings aside and telling herself the wonders this job will do for her resume, Helen moves forward. She anticipated limited time away from her home in England, but the job quickly becomes demanding. Determined to see the job through, she gets the shock of her life when she sees Paul in public one day. Maybe she's mistaken...but what if she's not?
The dual timelines and multiple points of view really enhance the story, and I can honestly say I didn't see the ending coming. When I'm reading thrillers, I rarely try to guess the twists as I'm usually too immersed in the story and am just enjoying the ride. You don't have to wait long to get your hands on this one as it publishes October 26, 2022.
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
a great psychological thriller that grips you from the very beginning
I always look forward to a Miranda Rijks book and this one did not disappoint. Great story. Full of suspense and twists to keep you guessing.. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Powerhouse Miranda Rijks returns following The Insomniac with her latest twisty psychological thriller —FORGET ME NOT. One woman gets caught up in a web of deceit, lies, and dark secrets in this deadly riveting cat-and-mouse game of suspense and murder.
Atmospheric and gripping with unexpected twists— a cracking mystery!
Set in the picturesque Canton of Valaris in Switzerland in ski season, the Prologue features a young woman (Noemie) skiing with her mom.
She appears a much more experience skier than her mum and advances way ahead. Then out of nowhere, another skier runs into her, leaving her for dead. The other skier never stops. A hit and run.
Told from POV Helen Now/Then and Paul Now/Then. Six years earlier and now.
Helen and Paul were married. They seemed happy; however, Paul began having an affair early in their marriage. He hid this from Helen. He was a chef and always used his work as an excuse.
Helen Sellers, an interior designer, is pretty much the family's breadwinner. She is a lovely person, and now she suspects she is pregnant. However, Paul acts strange and never wants to have a conversation. He is furious about the possibility of her being pregnant.
Then: They are on holiday in the Swiss Alps in Lanviere at a cheap hotel, and Paul tends to go off skiing without her. Their marriage is strained, and Helen does not know why unless he is afraid of being a dad and the responsibility.
Helen informs him she is indeed pregnant after the test. He storms out to go skiing and never returns. After an investigation, she is told no body was found and was in an area off-piste, which is very dangerous.
Before this, word had gotten out about the young girl who lost her life on the slopes (the one that someone ran into and did not stop). Since Paul was out skiing, Helen wondered if he was the guilty party.
NOW: Six years later, she is happy, has a daughter Emily and dating Andrew, a wonderful man who loves Emily as his daughter. They have purchased a home together and look forward to the date they can marry.
Unfortunately, they cannot get married until seven years are up due to the legal system having to wait since it has been six years since Paul went missing to declare him legally dead.
Helen is self-employed as a designer, and all is going well with their little family. Helen receives a request to design a swiss app chalet for a very wealthy client; however, located in the same area that holds nightmares for her. The same town where her husband went missing. She swore she would never return.
She talks it over with Andrew, and they decide it would be a good opportunity and her dream job, but they will be apart during this time.
She heads to the resort area of Carviez in Switzerland and meets the architect and client. She is staying in a run-down cabin/chalet they put her in that is not luxurious but comfortable. She sets out to get this job started and completed so she can return home. She also meets the older couple next door. (more mystery here)
The village is delightful, with extensive slopes, a skier's paradise. But the event that changed her life she cannot forget.
She is back and forth from home to the Alps, and things get complex on the job with many setbacks and problems. She also thinks she sees Paul at an event. Someone that walks and looks exactly like him. Is she seeing things, or could he be alive and living here?
Due to the design project having issues, she decides to bring her daughter, Emily, with her on the next trip and puts her in a daycare group, which she seems to enjoy. Andrew visits on the weekend.
Helen gets spooked when Emily starts talking about a nice strange man and then a teddy bear gift. Helen is afraid it is Paul. Then strange things start happening at the job site. Who is trying to sabotage her? She could have been killed and wound up getting her foot/leg injured.
She pulls her daughter out of daycare and hires a teen babysitter to stay at her place. Can she trust her? When Emily goes missing, Helen is afraid for her daughter, and who could be the kidnapper, Paul or someone else? Is there something more sinister going on?
What has Paul been doing all this time if he is indeed alive?
In a race against time, Helen must save her daughter and finds herself in the middle of a revenge plot (more than one). In a place, she feels unsafe, and now she must save her daughter and herself. She wants more than anything to escape this place and return to her safe life with Andrew and Emily.
WOW, you can count on Rijks to always create vivid settings and descriptions. The Swiss Alps are stunning, and being a commercial international interior designer myself for many years working with many top resorts, hotels, and architects worldwide, plus I love skiing —so I was in heaven with FORGET ME NOT!
Pulse-pounding and utterly captivating, with an unpredictable plot and perfect pacing.
I always learn something from Miranda's books and enjoy her inspiration behind the book and her author's notes.
FORGET ME NOT is a unique and clever thriller that keeps you guessing until the end, and there is always a final jaw-dropping twist. You do not get to read too many books set in the Swiss Alps, so this was a rare treat! I read this one in one sitting, and quite challenging to put down.
This fast-paced, compulsive thriller features dual timelines and multiple POVs, and the setting is both atmospheric and idyllic. I disliked Orla and Paul and loved Helen and Andrew.
Highly recommend. I am slowly making my way through her backlist between all the new ARCS on my TBR list. Also, my October reading list keeps expanding, but when you discover a Miranda Rijks book is coming out at the last minute, you drop everything and add it.
Special thanks to #InkubatorBooks and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 26, 2022
Oct 2022 Must-Read Books
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this advance reader copy of Forget Me Not.
Although this book had a slow start, the build-up of suspense and the gripping twists were quite interesting and pulled me in gradually more as a I kept reading.
I found myself having a love-hate relationship with many of the characters as they would show their different sides. The ending was definitely not something I saw coming.
This thriller almost felt more like a drama than mystery at times, especially as you learn everything (almost) that’s happened. Helen’s husband is missing and presumed dead in the Alps while they’re vacationing and she is newly pregnant. Five years later she is offered a short term job there and while there she is sure she sees him, which sets off a chain of events. The story is told through two main POVs, one of which is much more likable than the other. I was unsatisfied with the end but enjoyed feeling immersed in the Swiss mountain setting.
This was nuts. I liked this, but the thrilling aspect could have been better. While there were twists and turns I didn't see coming, the writing felt a little off at times.
When Miranda Rijks puts out a new thriller you do whatever you can to get your hands on said book..
I am a long time fan of Rijks and have read everything published to date (I believe 17 in total) so I am sure that it goes without saying that I adore her work. Now, we all have a long list of books that we plan out to read in a specific order BUT when a Rijks book pops up, I lose all self control, completely deviate from the plan, and read the book.
Forget Me Not, the perfect title for the perfect book.
The pace was set, the progressive build up had me reeling and the twist was executed with perfection. The story is narrated from multiple points of view and dual time lines. I became instantly absorbed in what was going on that I lost touch with reality. Forget Me Not was one of the fastest books I have ever read as each time I flipped my page I became addicted to the words that glittered across my screen.
If you know anything about Rijks you dont need me to sell you on Forget Me Not, you already know its going to be good but if you haven't read a book by this incredible author, then what are you waiting for?
FIVE STARS!
A sensational psychological thriller by best-selling author Miranda Rijks. Wonderful writing and a brilliant story that will keep you intrigued and glued to the novel. Filled with tension and surprise, twists and turns and an ending you will not predict. Highly recommended read and more than worthy of five stars.
Five years ago, Helen’s husband Paul went missing while skiing in the Swiss Alps. His body was never found, but he is presumed dead because no one could have survived a night on that freezing mountainside.
It took Helen a long time to get over her loss, but now she has pulled her life back together she is an acclaimed interior designer in a loving relationship with a new man.
Even better, Helen has just been offered her dream project, renovating a luxurious chalet in an idyllic location. There’s only one catch it’s right next to the resort where Paul went missing.
She decides to take the job anyway, convincing herself that a visit to the scene of her great tragedy will actually be good for her, that it will give her a chance to lay old demons to rest.
But soon after she arrives, she makes an utterly shocking discovery and finds herself caught up in a nightmarish web of treachery and deceit where nothing is as it seems.
Only one thing is certain the mountains want to claim another body…
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books
I just reviewed Forget Me Not by Miranda Rijks. #ForgetMeNot #NetGalley
Forget Me Not has a slow start but gets progressively more gripping and twisty.
Helen has pulled her life together since her husband Paul went missing, presumed dead, five years ago from the Swiss Alps while they were on holiday.
Now Helen is an interior designer with a young daughter and a fiancé. When she receives a call asking if she wants to work on a large project with an even larger budget, Helen thinks it’s too good to be true. It turns out it is because the project is at a Swiss chalet in the same area where Paul disappeared.
But it’s too good of an opportunity to pass up, so Helen makes her way to the chalet. Of course, things do not go to plan, and Helen has to remain professional while everything goes sideways.
This compulsive thriller is a quick read and has dual timelines.
Initially, I wasn’t all that interested in the story because it felt like a ho-hum domestic thriller. But after the first twist, I was hooked. However, the twist hinges on a plot device that I could do without.
Most of the characters were unlikeable, which is fine, but they were also a bit flat. I read it solely to find out how Helen and her daughter would fare.
Another thing that started to grate was Helen’s constant assessment of everyone’s English proficiency. Literally everyone. It’s Europe; it’s not uncommon for people to speak more than one language and for one of those languages to be English. Yes, do not go into a foreign country expecting everyone to speak it, but also, maybe don’t comment on how impressed you are with their fluency right when you first meet them. Wow! You speak English so well! It rings just a bit condescending. Okay, rant over. I might be nitpicking.
On another note, the setting was the shining star of this book. I could practically feel the cold seeping in and could easily envision this idyllic mountainscape.
This was my first time reading a Miranda Rijks book, and I might try another by her in the future.
3.5 rounded down.
Thank you to Inkubator Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
I could not put this book down!!
This book is a suspenseful page turner that kept me up long past my bedtime! I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to know what was going to happen next. The shifting perspectives from chapter to chapter and the moving back and forth in time revealed the plot in a slow yet tantalizing way.
Helen’s husband has gone missing, and she’s only just begun to put her life back together when things start to fall apart again. Twists, turns, and surprises kept me guessing until the end, even when I thought I had figured out what was happening. Masterful storytelling kept me curious and intrigued, with an ending I never saw coming.
Even as I’ve finished the book, a few questions linger and threads feel left unexplored. I would love to see these characters (and the breathtaking Swiss setting!) again.
This is a great read for anyone who appreciates suspense novels!
This was a very slow paced read. It took a while for the build up and the twists didn’t really seem to mesh well together. It was an overall quick and easy read. I enjoyed it but would’ve hoped for the twists to be done differently.