I liked the first part of the book a lot, the dropping of clues and secrets. I didn't care for the second part as much, the killer's motivations became unclear and it felt like there were too many murders. I guessed who it was. There is a lot about domestic abuse in the book, in case that is a trigger for anyone. So mixed feelings for me 3.5 rounded up

I LOVED this book! It was well written, it kept me turning the pages to figure out who was torturing Ruby. I did have a hunch as to who it was early on but was still shocked when it was revealed. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone and looking forward to follow up novels from Rea!

When a body is found, everyone assumes it’s Ruby’s husband who has been missing and of course she’s the obvious suspect. Only Ruby doesn’t believe it’s him and is more focused on finding her missing daughter.

This was a short and sweet read with a good mystery. There were a few twists I wasn’t expecting at all. I loved the parts with the neighborhood chat group and wish I could figure out who was who! It takes some time to understand what is going on, but don’t worry it will all unravel quickly.

“You see, my dear girl, there’s always a motive and it usually boils down to one of three things: revenge, money, or sex.”

Don’t Forget Me comes out 3/1.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A well-written, exciting mystery from an author I had not read previously (one that I will watch for offerings from in the future).

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, give this novel a read, the action and surprises are frequent, and you will be holding on tight as you navigate through this roller coaster ride of a story (and your emotions follow each twist and turn).

I loved particularly enjoyed the "murderlings" the neighborhood group that would get together every week to see which of them could solve either fictional or cold murder mysteries (now THAT sounds like my idea of a GREAT time, I think I will consider setting up such a group in my own neighborhood.

Minor/possible trigger warning ⚠️: Although the novel does go into torturous details concerning the issue, the main character on this novel is subject to repeated physical domestic violence, which actually causes her to temporarily "lose time".

Hmmm... Leads one to wonder, when one of the abusers is found murdered, did the main character have a hand in causing the man's premature demise?

Dear readers, you will need to pick up a copy to find out this and other "spoilers".

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Don't Forget Me by Rea Frey, an author who is now at the top of my TBR list. This was clever, chilling, and filled with jaw-dropping twists.

Ruby has gone from a traumatic childhood to an abusive marriage, and her life becomes increasingly complicated when she discovers a dead body floating in the water near her home. Her neighbors are convinced that it's her estranged husband Tom but Ruby isn't so sure. She's convinced that he's still alive but as more members of their community are murdered and there's only one common thread, the investigation takes many unexpected turns. The big reveal is guaranteed to leave you stunned....

A great read! Finished it on vacation at the beach in just a couple of days! Perfect mix of small town, family secrets, and suspense! I will be looking for more from this author!

This book opens with Ruby who is out rowing and finds a body in the lake, everyone is sure the body belongs to her husband…everyone except Ruby, the residents start pointing fingers at her, and Ruby thinks she is being set up. as more people get murdered, it becomes clear there is a serial killer in the neighborhood, meanwhile, the neighbors are playing Solve the Murder games for fun. She needs to prove to the police and the neighbors that it isn't her. This is a fast-turning page story with many twists and turns that will have you guessing until the end. I have to admit that this book exceeded my expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was invested in the story and the characters from the first page all the way through until the last page. There is a then-and-now timeline was easy to follow, which makes the story more meaningful, and the ending surprising, choking, and just more amazing.

There's also the neighborhood online community gossip page, that brings a little humor. that sounds all too familiar.

A fantastic domestic thriller that kept me interested and guessing. I was hooked from start to finish. Highly recommend!

Another great thriller from Rea Frey! 5 Stars! After reading “The Other Year”, I wasn’t sure how it could get any better!
Told in two parallel timelines “then and now” kept me anxiously awaiting what would happen next!

“Don’t Forget Me” is about Ruby, a wife, mother, daughter and neighbor, who is currently trying to figure out her new life in a new town after so many life changing things are happening.
* she left her job as an ER nurse
* her daughter, Lily, is missing
* her husband, Tom leaves
She reaches out to the only people left, her neighbors, who invite her to a “murder club” where they solve cold cases and the leader, Daisy, has her own crime podcast.
But then…. A body is found in the Lake by Ruby’s home . The neighbors all think it’s, Tom, Rubys husband. It turns the neighbors upside down wondering if there is a serial killer amongst them, they assume it’s Ruby. Now Ruby has to dig in to get to know her neighbors and prove her innocence, despite what they find out about her past.
A novel filled with secrets, shame, silence and danger will keep you on the edge of your seat!

A few “gasping” surprises kept me reading! Especially the last sentence, “don’t peak”.
I highly recommend this thriller as your next read!
Thank you @netgalley @reafrey @amazonpublishing Thomas & Mercer for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was not able to finish the book and therefore do not feel that I can give an unbiased review about the book, its plot, characters, or the author's work. I might revisit this book at a later time and finish it then, but not right now.

I like this one a lot it was creepy hood and I felt it was plotted and rich with intrigue that keep my interest throughout . I will read more by this author

Great recommendation for a fall read - any mystery and suspense reader will love. There were times I was fully invested and some moments that were slower moving for me, but overall I really enjoyed.

This was a great mix of a domestic and psychological thriller.

- Two missing people- one now presumably dead
- an online neighbourhood chat group
- a neighbourhood murder club where they try to solve cold cases
- a then / now timeline

In the opening chapters a dead body is found and is presumed to be Ruby’s husband. All the neighbours think it is him, but Ruby doesn’t.

Ruby must face the realities of her past and present. The reader is brought along as Ruby steps through this process. As she does, more sinister events happen and her neighbours become more and more entangled in the mess.

Whose body is it and who is guilty?

This had me gripped and I loved the different spaces for trying to work out what was going on, as well as how the past linked to the present.

There were a lot of plot lines happening and sometimes the revelations just happened too fast and I would have liked some of these to have been fleshed out more.

Great ending!

Overall, a great thriller read! I look forward to Rea’s next book!

My appreciation goes to author @reafreyauthor and @netgalley for this advanced copy of Don’t Forget Me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I stayed up late to finish this one! It kept my mind spinning on “oh I bet it’s this person; no now it’s this person”! I suspected the person who was the actual killer a few times but the author kept spinning a weave that always had me doubting and guessing. A great who done it read! Two five star books by this author from me this year. Please keep on writing Rea Frey! Love your work!
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC. All comments are my own.

It took me a while to get into this book but after the first third I was HOOKED. This was a great whodunit. The twists and quick pace of the writing kept me engaged. I correctly guessed the identity of the murderer around halfway through but the author kept me second guessing myself until the end. I look forward to reading more by the author.

Don't Forget Me by Rea Frey is a great read from a new to me author. The characters are all flawed with the exception of Ryan perhaps, who is simply a cute painter/artist. Otherwise, no one is perfect here and that really made me like them even more. Good description of the surroundings, the neighborhood, and the initial mystery happens quickly. Love the murder club get-togethers, as well as the neighborhood chat proving how rumor-driven people can be. There might have been one too many murders here, it seemed a little improbable, but nonetheless, I didn't figure out whodunit until well into the book. Overall, a solid read.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC of Don’t Forget Me by Rea Frey. Ruby finds a body in the lake. She lives in a community with lots of gossiping neighbors. As soon as they find out about the body they start pointing fingers at Ruby. Is Ruby the killer, has Ruby killed before? Whose body is it? Great domestic thriller that has many twists and turns and secrets.

A really good page turner. Rea Frey always writes the best books. Ruby just wanted a fresh start for her family but she got way more than that. Her husband and child disappear and she must find out why. This whole thing unlocks lots of other things.

I really enjoyed this book, a lot more than the other thrillers I have read recently. There were good twists and turns. I loved the characters, and the setting. The author did a really good job at showing how trauma can affect someone in the long term. I would definitely recommend this book to other thriller lovers.

Title: Don’t Forget Me
Author: Rea Frey
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: January 9, 2024
My Rating: Rounded up to 4 Stars
Pages: 268

Story alternates between then and now

Ruby Winslow is in her early 40s and is a retired ER nurse; her husband Tom is a criminal defense attorney and their daughter Lily is a very bright high school senior. They move to the country from Nashville, however not long after moving in, Lily disappears, then a few months later Tom disappears. Hmm why did they both leave?

Ruby is trying to cope with this situation. Since the neighbors are close in this small community her neighbor suggests getting involved in a hobby. Perhaps the neighborhood club “The Murderlings” which is a true crime club where neighbors get together have food, drinks and try to solve cold cases. (Hmmm my neighborhood only has Block Parties and tries to figure out get rid of a pesky raccoon)
One early morning soon after sunrise Ruby was out rowing and while on her way back to the dock, a body floated to the lake’s surface then settled like a buoy. She, of course, was startled but had her cell with her so immediately called 911. Soon the quiet neighborhood was full of flashing police car lights.
The neighbors immediately believe it is Tom. Ruby states it isn’t her husband as she doesn’t recognize the body.
As the story proceeds between then and now we learn that Tom was abusive which makes us suspicious of Ruby. She is not happy that Tom left her with a big mortgage but she is quick to go back to her maiden name Ruby Knight. She tells the detective that her husband isn’t missing as he packed up and left.
Is the story moves on. Lily has return and Ruby isn’t as much of a person of interest as there are now two others who have been killers.

Most of this story in fact ¾ of it was a 3 but the Wow ending definitely had me rounded up to 4 Stars.

. This was my third novel by Rea Frey; I especially liked "Until I Find You", which was an emotional, domestic drama.

Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 9, 2024.

Really enjoyed this book. The plot pulled me in right away. The characters are all well developed and I definitely had favorites. I didn't find the twist(s) predictable and it had me hooked and devouring the pages to find the end.