The Unforgotten: A Novel

Laura Powell

Feb 2018 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

“A smart and gripping debut that saves its best for last.” —Chris Cleave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Little Bee

“[A] thoroughly satisfying and suspenseful debut…the final twist in the murder plot will catch many readers unaware, as will the surprising emotional heft of the narrative, which traces the damage wrought by secrets and good intentions gone awry.” —Publishers Weekly

For fans of Louise Penny and Tana French, this “unsettling…compelling” (Glamour) thriller explores the devastating repercussions of a long-ago crime as it delves into forbidden relationships, the emotional bond between mothers and daughters, and the dark consequences of harboring secrets.

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. The revelations in Powell’s haunting debut will give you chills, and her unforgettable heroine will break your heart.

Ratings and reviews

Using a dual timeline with multiple points of view, the story for Mary/Betty comes together to present a lives full of challenges and secrets, regrets and recrimination, but above all a chance to find some peace with the past. The Betty of 1956 is sheltered, naïve and constantly working to find a normalcy in her life with her mother: a woman who vacillates between frenetic and often drunken manic cheerfulness and near-catatonic depressions, leaving Betty to cajole, comfort and care for her. Add to that the fact that they live and run a small guest hotel in Cornwall, now full up with journalists seeking the story of the multiple murders of young women. Here the voice for Betty was as one would expect, although riddled with secrets and never quite able to know what she’ll wake up to from her mother: the tension within her, and her search for herself and acceptance is clearly presented and palpable. Less certain for me was the older version of Mary/Betty: the stagnant feel of her voice: the multiple self-doubts, the avoidance of situations, the constant feeling that she was in a holding pattern from the events of her childhood just didn’t allow her to forget, share or even make sense of her life. Here is where I had some difficulty with the progression – since Mary’s perspective and point of view was truly stagnant, even as she was struggling for a way to move forward, the pace of her pieces were more muddled and felt disjointed. The last major perspective is provided by John Gallagher: and his perspective is one of a man looking back on his life. He’s shuttered and used to keeping his own council, a man who never truly changed in his approach to life, or his secretive nature, in the years that have passed. When first meeting Betty in 1956, he was separate and different from the others:: alternating between friendly interactions to demanding demurral, to finding moments of connection with a child some 15 years his junior. Oh there is inappropriate behavior, and he’s more prone to running away from emotional situations, but his intentions while handled badly, were mostly skewed to the side of good. This was a story with enormous intentions: Powel’s management of the different characters: their issues and foibles managed to create a sense of being in the midst of the story, particularly in terms of young Betty. What did pose problems for me, however, was the uneven pacing of the plot: from action-fueled moments to long stretches of navel gazing, my progression with the title was prolonged: it was most certainly not something I could, or wished to read in one sitting. While I have to say that I wanted to find the big reveal of the actual murderer, and to see if Mary/Betty would ever be able to put the past behind her in some small way, I had difficulties with the construction of the story, and it’s many stalling points on the way. An ambitious debut that fell a bit short for me in the flow, but delivered a story that did, after completion, tie together in many areas while presenting a conclusion that surprised. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Forbidden romance? May/December romance? I went into this one expecting and hoping for a gripping thriller and mystery to solve. What I found was neither thrilling, nor all that mysterious. The mystery of the 'Cornish Cleaver' is more side story to Betty's romance than anything else. For most of the book, the murders do little more than supply the reason for Mr Gallagher to be in this small village. So, while I didn't find the thriller I was hoping for, I can enjoy a good romance, except this one just wasn't all that good. The characters aren't at all likable, which makes it hard to invest oneself in the story, and the romance was more disturbing and pitiful than anything approaching romance. The back and forth between past and present could have added to the story, but what I found in the present was an aging woman who never got over her first love, She has plenty of regrets, but they apparently didn't bother her enough to do the right thing until she's approaching the end of her life. Sad, yes, compelling reading material, no. I almost DNF'd this one more than once, but out of sheer determination, I did finish. We do get an interesting twist in the end, but by the time I got there, it was just too little, too late to save this one for me.

About the author

Laura Powell is a commissioning editor at The Daily Telegraph. She has written features and interviews for The Guardian, The Observer, the London Evening Standard, and various women’s magazines. Laura has won several awards, including a Scott Trust Bursary from the Guardian Media Group and a New Writer’s Bursary from Literature Wales. Originally from Wales, she now lives in London. The Unforgotten is her first novel.