Forgive Me

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Pub Date May 31 2016 | Archive Date Jun 03 2016

Description

In a heart-pounding thriller from one of the most innovative voices in contemporary suspense, a woman unravels the shocking truth about her parents, her past, and a life built upon an unthinkable lie.

At DeRose & Associates Private Investigators in Virginia, Angie DeRose strives to find and rescue endangered runaways--work that stands in stark contrast to her own safe, idyllic childhood. But in the wake of her mother's sudden death, Angie makes a life-altering discovery. Hidden among the mementos in her parents' attic is a photograph of a little girl, with a code and a hand-written message on the back: "May God forgive me."

Angie has no idea what it means or how to explain other questionable items among her mother's possessions. Her father claims to know nothing. Could Angie have a sister or other relative she was never told about? Bryce Taggart, the US Marshal working with her agency, agrees to help Angie learn the fate of the girl in the photograph. But the lies she and Bryce unearth will bring her past and present together with terrifying force. And everything she cherishes will be threatened by the repercussions of one long-ago choice--and an enemy who will kill to keep a secret hidden forever.

Praise for the novels of Daniel Palmer

Constant Fear

"An electrifying thriller with action that keeps you on the edge of your seat!" --Lisa Jackson, New York Times bestselling author

Desperate

"If you've somehow missed reading Daniel Palmer, it's time to--pardon the pun--get Desperate." --Harlan Coben

"Firmly places Palmer alongside the likes of Harlan Coben and Lisa Gardner." --The Providence Journal

Stolen

"Unrelentingly suspenseful." --Publishers Weekly

"A twisting, suspenseful chiller of a book." --William Landay

Helpless

"Warning: once you start reading this novel, you will not stop!" --Lisa Gardner

Delirious

"Not just a great thriller debut, but a great thriller, period." --Lee Child

In a heart-pounding thriller from one of the most innovative voices in contemporary suspense, a woman unravels the shocking truth about her parents, her past, and a life built upon an unthinkable...


Advance Praise

“Palmer has a gift for creating ordinary people and putting them through extraordinary situations…Forgive Me is no exception….Readers of Harlan Coben will feel right at home here.”– Booklist

“Palmer tells two separate stories in this sometimes hard to read but well-written novel. One section deals with the horrible ordeal of a teenage runaway, and the other with a woman learning that her parents have been keeping a secret since she was a little girl. The separate stories don’t really come together, but that’s okay since readers will want to follow these gripping characters to the end. Palmer knows how to convey emotion on the page, and the end result is both exhilarating and heartbreaking.”– RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Palmer has a gift for creating ordinary people and putting them through extraordinary situations…Forgive Me is no exception….Readers of Harlan Coben will feel right at home here.”– Booklist

“Palmer...



Average rating from 193 members


Featured Reviews

I''ve a have a collection of Daniel Palmer's books, having met him and his late father at a conference. One would never know by speaking with Daniel that he is so capable to writing such twisted and ever-so-good thrillers but he can and does, each and every time. Angie DeRose is a well written character and Daniel's methodical narrative pushes the reader to new heights in suspense. Unravelling this mystery was so much fun, I might have to go back and read this book again. I look forward to adding more Daniel Palmer books to my collection.

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What can I say about Daniel Palmer's Forgive Me?

Grips you from page one...check.
Builds suspense like a runaway train...check.
Twists and turns like the craziest roller coaster...check.
Keeps you awake reading until all hours because you cannot put it down...check, check, check!!!

Angie DeRose is a PI whose focus is on missing and exploited children. Years ago, one of her best college friends disappeared and was never found. Now, Angie and her associates are doing their utmost to locate the latest runaway, Nadine Jessup.

During her investigation, Angie's mother passes away suddenly. Going through her mother's things in the attic, Angie finds a photo of a young girl hidden inside a small jewelry box with the words, "Forgive Me" written on the back. Angie's father has no idea who the child is or why the photo is among his wife's belongings.

Now, Angie has TWO cases to solve--Nadine Jessup's disappearance and the identity of the child in her mother's photograph. As both cases ramp up in their intensity, Angie's obsessive search for answers unwittingly puts her in a direct line with a dangerous killer who will stop at nothing to make sure that those answers are never found!!

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This is my first Daniel Palmer, but it certainly won't be my last!!

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Angie is a successful private investigator who specializes in runaways. The current case she is working on is looking for a girl named Nadine, who ran away weeks ago from her divorced parents, an alcoholic mother and an absentee father who was more interested in living his new life than remembering he had a daughter. This quest sends Angie to Boston, where she uncovers a prostitution ring. This book is action-packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters, especially Angie and Nadine are realistic and likeable and you will be in there corner rooting for them. Definitely a must-read for all the suspense lovers out there.

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Daniel Palmer is at the top of my favorite authors list. He just keeps on nailing book after book! I can't wait for the next one!

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FORGIVE ME has everything I love in a novel. There is more than one story going on; family drama and a dangerous case to solve. The family drama is full of intriguing family secrets, and a few tragic losses. The main storyline :Angie DeRose must find a missing runaway before it is too late. This novel kept me reading all night. I hope they make a movie about this book!

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This is a compelling book, featuring intertwining stories. Yes, the strong are strong and the not-so-strong are weak, and, yes,most everything is resolved in the end. But Palmer takes stories that could have been much less interesting and makes them hard to put down. His writing brings life to his characters and suspense and thoughtful entertainment that focuses and informs about an international problem that isn't waning. Hopefully, his underlying message will resonate and result in something positive.

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Daniel Palmer has outdone himself with Forgive Me!!! This fast-paced mystery centers around Angie DeRose, who is a private investigator with a focus on finding missing/runaway youth. When a family tragedy leads Angie to makes shocking discoveries within her own family, the perfect upbringing she always believed she had is destroyed. Angie now has a million questions and no answers, but she knows a thing or two about investigating and her unwavering need to find out the truth spurs her into action.

As Angie's family-life is turned upside down, she takes on a case of a missing 16 year old, Nadine. Nadine initially runs away, but shortly after she falls prey to horrible people who take advantage of the innocent girl. Angie and her team are dedicated to finding Nadine and they will not stop the search until she is found!

Holy moly!! This book wove two mysteries into one novel. Daniel Palmer takes us back and forth between the two cases throughout the book. Forgive Me is well-paced and we get clues at precisely the perfect moments! I will not give any spoilers, but I will say there were major twists and turns that I never saw coming!! The storyline was well thought out- it's the type of book that when you finish your mind is completely blown! I give Forgive Me 5 stars and I can't wait to see what Mr. Palmer has up his sleeve next!!

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Not one great story, but two. The stories are interwoven as Angie DeRose tries to rescue a runaway from an evil sex-trafficker. Meanwhile everything she believes about her life crumbles. The plot moves like a river, with occasional tributaries feeding in at unexpected times. Characters are rich and diverse. Geographic description is minimal. My familiarity with the areas where the action takes place helped me to understand and appreciate the action. The book has ample and chilling exposition of how various malefactors are able to achieve their goals. One plot thread is an outstanding procedural, while the other is explosive, as secrets of the past are revealed. The ending was dramatic, and not one you would see coming. It is a great and compelling book from start to finish.

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Several story lines are skillfully interwoven to create a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. AS the mother of a teenage daughter, I'm not sure I will et her out on her own again - it brings deep seated, lurking fears of the evils that exist in life to the fore. Still think about it a week after finishing reading.

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I have read most of Daniel Palmer's books and his writing has gone from strength to strength. I don't want to give too much away, but there is two main story lines in this book that is designed as such to keep you on edge and curious about the book's outcome! The book was a well written offering by Daniel Palmer and I can't wait to read another read by this great author.

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​Forgive Me is really two stories in one. Angie DeRose is hired to find a runaway but there are also situations happening in her own life that she has to deal with. Forgive Me is one of those books you find yourself telling the character not to do something because you KNOW what's going to happen next. I was given an early copy to review.

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Full of twists and turns that all make sense in the end. I really think that while the two major plots were handled really well, each one could have been its own book. Nevertheless I really enjoyed the read and best of all, I didn't guess the endings of any of it. I hope for more Angie De Rose.

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Forgive Me By Daniel Parker This is my first Daniel Parker book I've read, but will be by no means my last! He grabs you from the first few pages and keeps you turning!!
With a title like Forgive Me you start off thinking from the first few pages this book will be about a young teen runaway Nadine. As you get into the story it becomes a series of intergrated storylines that all tie together in a terrifying teen sex trafficking heartbreaking way. Angie DeRose, the PI that searches for missing and runaway teens is searching for Nadine who ends up as 1 in the 21 million people involved in sex trafficking around the world.
Angie is also searching for answers of her own after her mothers death. Coming up with more questions than answers.
Isabella Conti, who is she? What happened to her? How is she tied to Angie's mother?
Real life isn't neat and tidy and neither is this story. It's dirty and gritty. But we all know that word HOPE. That precious light inside of us all. It's what gets those young girls and young boys through each day in the trafficking world. Well, that and the drugs so they don't have to think about what is happening to them.

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DISCLAIMER #1: This story may be "triggering" for some people. Among other things, this story deals in the sexual trafficking of women (including a minor). While there are no graphic sexual scenes mentioned it may still be uncomfortable for some readers.

This was a gritty no-holds barred kind of novel that keeps you glued to the edge of your seat. In fact, I was so caught up in this story that I finished it in one day - I just could not put it down! The characters were all complex, but somehow seemed to mesh well together (even the characters who were portrayed as the nastiest sort of people still were highly developed - no two "bad guys" were the same). This story was both heart-breaking as well as inspirational as you find characters whose worlds have been destroyed beyond belief find peace again.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this story was that the two different story-lines were so seamlessly woven together that instead of distracting from one another, they added to each other. On one hand we have Nadine - the runaway - turned victim - that Angie is so relentlessly perusing. You get her story by reading her diary pages (which worked amazingly well for this story) as well as the snippets of others related to her story via interactions with Angie. On the flip side of that you have Angie's personal drama. A photograph (among other things) that she cannot explain and no one can give her answers to. Two entirely different stories that should have been confusing or off-putting to the reader instead blended together to make one completely satisfying novel.

Overall, I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a well written psychological thriller. This story not only kept me guessing, but kept me reading. This may have been my first story from this author, but it definitely will NOT be my last!

DISCLAIMER #2: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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I was provided an ARC by NetGalley.

Good, solid read. While there seemed to be lots of several overlapping stories wrapped up in one book, they did finally come together. I can definitely see Angie becoming a recurring character in future books.

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Angie DeRose is the owner of a detective agency. She specializes in finding runaways. Her latest case takes her into the dark world of the sex trade business. When Angie's Mother dies suddenly she finds a photo with a note and a code on the back in her Mothers writing. Angie wants to know what the photo and the note means but the more she looks the more questions she has. The answers to her questions could have serious repercussions for Angie. This book is two stories that are intertwined. The twists and turns in the story will make your head spin! I didn't see the ending coming. A great book by Mr Palmer that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.

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A real page turner couldn't put it down

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Loved this book! I hope Mr. Palmer turns this into a series. My customers love his books and he's a good author to turn people on who need a new Harlan Coben book.

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The book moves along quickly & without any excess wordage. The ending is suspenseful & the stunning revelation is unexpected. Terrific read!

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If you love a book that will keep you reading up all night this book is for you! Liked the mystery of Kathleen's past (didn't expect the outcome at all) and loved the mystery of finding Nadine. I liked that the book had a couple of story lines to keep you interested. The end was very unexpected and loved it! Great read for all mystery lovers!

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What a surprise there book is! Everything imaginable is in here. Love, hate, secrets, lies, murder and so much more. Great characters. Amazing detail. Edge of your seat all the way through. Lots of surprise twists and turns! I loved it!! 5 stars

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Nadine was just a 16 year old girl trying to cope with an alcoholic mother and father that didn't care about anything but his new young wife, and no room in his life for her. One night after one of her mothers drunken outburst she decided she had had enough, time to leave and teach them a lesson. She holds up in a cheap hotel and during one of her outings she meets Stephan, a man who will make her famous and feel like she has arrived. Or will he? Her life becomes hell as she is thrown into the world of sex trafficking. Angie is a private investigator who specializes in finding missing children. She is contacted by Carolyn, Nadine's mother, hoping Angie can held find her daughter. Angie agrees to take the case when suddenly her mother dies. While going thru her mothers belongings she finds a picture of a little girl with a series of Numbers written on the back and the words Forgive me. While trying to locate Nadine she sets out to find out who the little girl is. And, in doing this uncovers lies, corruption and her world turns upside down.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy

Daniel Palmer wrote another fabulous book. This book has twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end!!

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A special thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. BTW, Great cover. The book, 10 Stars!!

Totally A M A Z I N G !

FORGIVE ME, without a doubt "Top Books" of the Year. Movie-Worthy "Big Screen." Daniel Palmer's BEST yet!

Palmer's (2015) Constant Fear and Trauma both landing on my Top Books of 2015. Once again . . .

Highly Impressive: The author has produced two more "out of the park" hits, landing again on my Top Books of 2016: Mercy Coming May 17, and Forgive Me, Coming May 31. Palmer must have superman qualities to crank out two extraordinary bestsellers in the same month, for two consecutive years. Your dad would be proud.

As the book opens we learn of a woman, with tear stained eyes, writing a check and a note. She whispers the same phrase she has spoken every year on this day, at this exact moment. “May God forgive me.” Some dreams come at a price.

Set in Virginia (parts in Maryland and Washington), Angie DeRose is a Private Investigator at DeRose & Associates. She had gone into business with a purpose, but had been naïve about the depth of human cruelty. Each case was like turning over a rock to see what sort of horror might slither out. She took it all to heart, carried with her the emotion of what she saw every day.

From runaways or child custody cases, she went overboard to get results, to get proof in order to protect the child. From abuse, neglected, drug addicted parents- the world, a broken place.

Her best friend Sarah had vanished without a trace her senior year of college. Missing. She longed to do something to honor her memory and her spirit. Her mission to find the runaway kids and take them back home.

Nadine, a sixteen-year- old caught in world between divorced parents, living with an alcoholic and abusive mother, and an absentee wealthy father-- with a new life and family. Often no food in the refrigerator, and her mom drunk most of the time. She decides to leave. A runaway with no plan. Just to escape, and hopefully someone would notice. Innocent and vulnerable, the perfect candidate (victim) for an evil monster---a master manipulator. Lurking to find runaways, like Nadine.

She is naïve and trusts this man, and soon finds herself in a prison, a nightmare, which she cannot escape. Soon she is drugged, locked in – her phone and wallet gone. No escape. Each day she writes in a journal and hides it in slot in her mattress. She will do anything to escape being put in the hole. Tortured, drugged, abused, locked in with men watching her every move along with the other girls—how will she ever escape?

The DeRose family was well-respected, her dad ran DeRose Financial a financial service firm specializing in investing in high net worth individuals, and Kathleen, her mom, a big fund raiser. Her mom always wanted Angie to meet a man, but Angie was too busy with her business to have time for dating. She was on call 24/7. Her only other extended family-- her stand in, aunt and uncle-friends of her parents.

Soon Angie is hired to help find Nadine. While she is busy with the case tracking down leads with her employees, Angie receives some tragic news. Her mom dies unexpectedly and when cleaning out her things she comes across a photo of a little girl around four years old missing an ear. There is a code on the bottom with letters and numbers. On the back is a message, “May God forgive me.”

Angie, with her keen detective skills, has to crack this code. How was her mom connected with this child? Between the intense case of Nadine, suspecting sextrafficking, and the ongoing mystery surrounding this photo, Angie is surrounded by danger. What dark family secrets could her parents be hiding? Her mom was one of the most caring and giving women she knew.

Bao, a former runaway Angie had found, and was later adopted. A few years later after he turned twenty, he went to work for Angie as a certified computer forensic consultant. He provided incredible assets—not only with his only skills and expertise at the keyboard, but also because he knew how runaway kids thought. She also works with Mike (another former client in a custody case), who also runs another business and helps with her overflow. (A great team).

When Nadine’s case becomes top priority, the FBI is now involved and Bryce Taggart, the US Marshal is working with Angie. She connects with him to help her with answers of the haunting little girl in the photograph. However, she has no clue the dangerous past they are about to uncover. There are enemies who will stop at nothing to protect their secret.

Angie, a tenacious, unstoppable PI. A family secret. A mysterious photograph. A little girl without an ear. A code. A missing teen. Witness protection. Angie is haunted by Sarah, and Nadine haunted by Jade. Both victims, they have to save.

OMG, the suspense and intensity is at an all time high. Nothing plays out as you think. Fast-paced, non-stop action-- adrenaline fueled, readers will be page-turning to find answers to this riveting mystery.

What made this book so unforgettable (more than one thing). The heart wrenching journal entries. I loved Girls Like Me by Nadine Jessup). Palmer gets inside a sixteen year old girl's mind. From the dialect, social media, the innermost sensitive thoughts.

“There’s just different experiences we can choose to learn from, to grow from, or choose to let define us. Not everything happens for a reason, but there is reason everything happens. Real life isn’t neat and tidy like that. It doesn’t get tied up in a cute little bow. That’s for fairy tales, right? We know those fairy tale endings aren’t real, but we can still dream. We can still believe. Hope."

Next, the two separate storylines. Brilliant! Both stories will keep you glued to the pages (like a book inside a book); Shocking twists you do not see coming --how the photograph plays out. Masterminds.

Beautifully written, powerful, explosive, skillfully developed, impeccably researched; A highly-charged inter-generational mystery suspense thriller of dark evil secrets. "A must read" for every teen and adult, worldwide.

Emotional, complex, suspenseful, highly-innovative, and "jaw-dropping," edge of your seat thriller. A double whammy--two books in one. From twists and turns, shockers, missing and exploited teens, runaways, drugs, sextrafficking, alcoholism, greed, corruption, and murder, to age-old crimes; an ongoing mystery--Connects. Told from different POVs.

Please, please, please . . let this be the beginning of a series! These characters HOOK you from page one, and "hang" long after the book ends. They are way TOO good to end. More Angie, Nadine, Bryce, Bao, Mike (Jade, Sarah, Sasha). After finishing the book at 5 am this morning (no, you cannot put it down)-- the vivid characters continue to haunt me, running through my mind constantly, during my 50 mile bike ride today.

Daniel, words cannot adequately express my thoughts and strong feelings for this "talented work of art". I am speechless. You, sir have outdone yourself. #Amazeballs (taking a page from your book). You ARE cool, like that. Evocative journal entries Award-winning! Would love to hear more about the inspiration behind this intriguing book (both stories) with an author Q&A.

Informative & enlightening—21 million people, just like Nadine. Forced labor takes different forms, including debt bondage, sextrafficking and other forms of modern slavery. The victims are the most vulnerable – women and girls forced into prostitution.

This is a big one. Epic! Move FORGIVE ME to the top of your list and Pre-Order Now.

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Two stories interwoven into one. Both plotlines are intriguing and suspenseful. Interesting characters, a bit of a twist at the end which was a little unexpected. All in all a very good entertaining read.

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Great read. You'll be up all night!

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I have never read Daniel Palmer before “Forgive Me,” but wow! There are a few uncomfortable themes in this book, but it is a compelling and exciting read! There are some great twists!

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