This was my 2nd Rea Frey book, and I have to say - I think I’m a fan! This initially seemed like the typical murder mystery, but things started to get twisty and turny almost immediately. I had a hard time putting this one down - full of well-developed, flawed characters, each seeming to be hiding their own secrets, it seemed like nobody could be trusted and any one of this cast could have been the murderer. Very good! Looking forward to more from Rea Frey!

I received an ARC of Don't Forget Me by Rea Frey through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had an intriguing premise, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Ruby Knight, a retired trauma nurse, relocates with her husband, Tom, and their troubled daughter, Lily, to the cutesy community of Cottage Grove. Their fresh start quickly unravels when Lily and then Tom disappears without a trace. Grief-stricken and desperate, Ruby turns to her neighborhood friends and joins a murder club that solves cold cases. Her life takes a darker turn when a body surfaces in the nearby lake, and everyone believes it to be Tom—everyone except Ruby. Determined to uncover the truth, Ruby delves into her neighbors' secrets and her own past, raising more questions than answers. This book starts with a strong and suspenseful setup, drawing readers into Ruby's turmoil and the mystery surrounding her family's disappearance. However, as the story progresses, some plot twists feel predictable, and the pacing occasionally falters. Ruby's character is well-developed, showcasing her resilience and determination, but other characters, including Tom and the neighbors, could have been fleshed out more. Despite these shortcomings, Don't Forget Me offers an engaging read with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. It's a decent thriller that fans of domestic suspense might enjoy, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of the genre's best. #netgalley #don'tforgetme

Slow burn with lots of twists. Finished this in one sitting. A body surfaces in an hoa community lake. Who’s connected? Who’s hiding secrets? Who’s got motive? Can the locals who done it mystery club figure this one out??

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also to Rea -- I would read anything you write!

Rea's first thriller did not disappoint! The opening scene is that of a gruesome, bloated, unrecognizable body found in the water while Ruby was out rowing -- the neighbors are convinced it's her husband. But wouldn't Ruby know that?? We come to discover that her daughter is also missing (not a spoiler). So Ruby befriends neighbors that throw "true crime podcast" parties to determine real killers (they call themselves the murderlings - so fun!). I loved this unique concept to the book.

I enjoyed the fast-paced plot and certain characters in this book -- online forum banter as well, always a fave. The storyline was unique and while I predicted most of it, there was a final twist. Love!

Really happy with the diversity of this author's varied concepts for each novel

Don't Forget Me, Rea Frey's first thriller, is a psychological thriller that will NOT be soon forgotten. Frey creates distinct, memorable characters with communities and settings that are detailed, descriptive and always relevant to the plot. Ruby was hoping her new exclusive neighborhood, outside of Nashville, will be a fresh start for her husband and their 17 year-old daughter Lily. She made friends with neighbors, who are part of a true-crime fan club, The Murderlings, and participates in some of their game nights. However, they have their most difficult crime to solve yet as Ruby's family disappears. Her daughter takes off after school one day and then her husband. Thinking he has left her after their daughter disappeared, Ruby tries to move on quietly-until a body is discovered in the lake several months later. While the neighbors are convinced it's her husband Tom, Ruby does not recognize the body. Knowing she is missing an important clue, Ruby begins her own investigation-into both her neighbors and herself. Law enforcement seems to be closing in and Ruby will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her family, risking it all for the truth. Told in alternating timelines, Frey has crafted a twisty debut thriller and proves she is talented in multiple genres.

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

Very fun quick read! Took me 4 hours to get through and I really hated putting it down. It was just fun to get into. I loved that the neighbourhood hosted murder mystery type parties of cold cases and called themselves the murderlings. Even though the plot was somewhat predictable it had me second guessing a few times! Definitely would recommend.

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by author Rea Frey. It was a pretty good novel filled with suspense that kept me engaged from the very beginning. It would go back in time to then and back to the current "Now" with each chapter. Centered around the main character, Ruby, the author tells Ruby's story of her life dealing with domestic abuse of her mother and later with her own domestic abuse by her husband Tom. She becomes the main suspect in her husband's death which takes an unexpected twist in the end. Is it really over?

Great story. Give it a try.

Rea Frey’s Don’t Forget Me is a gripping thriller that keeps readers guessing until the final page. The story follows Ruby, a retired nurse, who finds her peaceful life shattered when her husband and daughter mysteriously vanish. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that lead to a shocking truth.

Frey masterfully builds suspense through a dual timeline narrative that gradually reveals the chilling details of the past. The characters are complex and flawed, adding depth to the story. Ruby’s determination to find her family is both admirable and heartbreaking.

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

Ruby has just moved to a new lake community with her family when she finds a dead body in the lake. She’s shocked to see the body, but more shocked everyone thinks it’s her husband. Everyone, but Ruby.

This fast and furious page turner had tons of twists. One of those novels when you can’t believe ranch person because there’s another secret hiding. I found the relationship between Tom and Ruby to be fascinating- Tom was so controlling and Ruby just let it happen. She found work arounds to continue to live her life, but why would she keep doing that?

My favorite part was the neighborhood Murder Parties. They would gather and try to solve murder mysteries. Who wants to join one with me?

Don't Forget Me is a thrilling, fast paced mystery by Rea Frey. The main character, Ruby, is complicated. One minute you're rooting for her, the next, you're wondering why she's so determined to sabotage herself and, by extension, those around her. But overall it's an enjoyable read that was impossible to put down.
Ruby's taken early retirement and moved to the close knit community of Cottage Grove with her husband and teenage daughter. Her life hasn't been easy and her and her family sure could do with a fresh start. Sadly, that's not to be.
First her daughter vanishes and then her husband. So, she turns to the friendly neighborhood murder club for help. She's determined to learn everything she can about what could have happened to them no matter where it leads her.

What a great domestic thriller! The plot and characters kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading to find out what happens.

Eine Leiche, eine verschwundene Tochter und schon ist sie die Hauptverdächtige. Aber in dem kleinen Dorf gibt es mehr Leute mit dunklen Geheimnissen. Deswegen noch mehr Tote. Die Story ist fesselnd und das Ende nicht absehrbar.

Thank you for an e-arc!

I wanted to start reading thriller books, so this was my first one that I've tried reading. I enjoyed the writing, characters, and short chapters, but it wasn't for me. So, I had to dnf.

This was a fun domestic thriller that was entertaining but fell short in the shocking me department.

This took me so long to read and to get into. I didnt love the plot but overall It was ok. I was able to guess the ending.

Don’t Forget Me by Rea Frey is a domestic thriller novel. The story in Don’t Forget Me is told by changing the timeline back and forth between a current time and one from the past. This is also one with an unreliable narrator but has small updates from a neighborhood chat involved too.

Ruby’s husband, Tom, had thought it was time for their little family to get out of the city and finally into their dream home. Ruby agreed and before long Tom, Ruby and their daughter, Lily, moved to Cottage Grove.

Not long after moving to this new peaceful neighborhood though Lily goes missing then shortly after so does Tom. Ruby being left alone in the new home joins a true crime group as a distraction to her own troubles but trouble shows up very close to home when a body is found in the lake nearby.

Rea Frey is an author that I continue to return to time and time again and have yet to find a book in her catalog that I didn’t like. Don’t Forget Me had that same pull that I’ve found in the author’s books before that I pick them up and simply do not want to put them down. This was yet again another twisty ride that while you may need to suspend disbelief a bit it certainly kept me guessing until the very end.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I’m a fan of Rea Frey and completely fascinated by her ability to write across multiple genres. Don’t Forget Me is her first true thriller and it definitely had me turning the pages quickly. However, there were some plot holes that were hard to overlook, which is the only reason I lowered my star rating. If you are willing to suspend some disbelief for a bit, this is an entertaining read.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Read if you like:
Alternating timelines
Short chapters
Complicated family dynamics
True Crime podcasts

Thank you Thomas Mercer for a digital ARC.

I liked this story and figured out the killer just before the end. I found it too secretive….everyone had something to hide and I don’t believe the woman would have put up with the abuse for so long. Some timelines seemed a bit off to me.

Another new to me author, and another winner! Told in duel timelines of now and then, secrets are slowly revealed in this wild and twisty thriller. A cleverly written plot full of subterfuge, we slowly become aware of the neighbourhood drama and family secrets - throw in a few dead bodies, some domestic abuse and a gasp out loud ending and ta da!

This one is best going into blindly, trust me, you’ll catch on - it’s that addictive.

Many thanks to @netgalley and #thomasandmercer for an advanced e-arc 💌