It all started with an obscure book that came in my mailbox. I didn’t even know it was coming and it’s already been published…
When you finally sit down to read said book and when you finally close cover at the end and all you can say is WOW – somehow it doesn’t seem very profound. Until you realize the depth and complexity of this novel.
I don’t give five star reviews easily. A book has to truly touch me and make me think WOW- just like this one did.
Was it true, undying love or self-preservation and guilt?
That to me is the question that comes to mind when I think about this review. Just released, from a first time author, you must experience this book for yourself.
The Unforgotten by Laura Powell
Publisher: Gallery Books (February 6, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1501181221
It is the summer of 1956, and fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent has never left the Cornish fishing village of St. Steele or ventured far beyond the walls of the Hotel Eden, the slightly ramshackle boarding house run by her moody, unpredictable mother. But Betty’s world is upended when a string of brutal murders brings London’s press corps flooding into the village, many of whom find lodging at the Hotel Eden. She is instantly transfixed by one of the reporters, the mysterious and strangely aloof Mr. Gallagher—and he, fully twice her age, seems equally transfixed by her.
The unlikely relationship that blooms between Betty and Mr. Gallagher is as overlaid with longing and desire as it is with impropriety and even menace. And as the shocking death toll rises, both Betty and Mr. Gallagher are forced to make a devastating choice, one that will shape their own lives—and the life of an innocent man—forever.
With narratives that shift from 1956 to the present day and back, The Unforgotten is a mesmerizing and eerie portrayal of two people bound to each other by a secret that has the power to shape, and destroy, lives.
Review of The Unforgotten by Laura Powell
As I said in the beginning I don’t give a five star reviews easily. However this one certainly deserves one and I am happily offering it.
This book is a complex story that bridges a 50 year span. It’s the story of love, passion, mystery, murder, and huge secrets that change the life of many people.
Complex with threads that wind through so many years of one’s life. The weight the burden of the secret is so big it’s crushing to one’s soul. It’s Crazy…Madness. Rich with sweet young love.
I had to reread several sections, especially the end so I could grasp the enormity of the meaning of the story. It’s powerful and sad because of all that was lost and missed. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about that.
But yet we are left with hope that all is not lost. And maybe in the future there can be peace, a calm soul, and even happiness.
This book is very powerful in so many ways. The author has given us a gift of insight into the complexity of the human psyche. Haunting and even painful to read in points, this novel will touch you long after you close the cover.
I still ask myself was it all about the ultimate love or was it all about guilt and self-preservation? I guess the answer is up to you.
To My Betty… Those three words changed the whole outlook of this book for me.
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free book so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.