All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
| All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker | |
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| Category: Thrillers | |
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Reviewer: Zoe Morris
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| Summary: An utterly original story, this is a dark tale that will keep you guessing long into the night | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 384 | Date: February 2017 |
| Publisher: HQ | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0008203481 | |
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After a brutal attack, you might be forgiven for thinking losing her memory is the best outcome for Jenny. Without being able to recall the facts from the night in question, she can't dwell too much on her attack and her attacker. But what if she wants to? What if she needs to work through her emotions so she can move past things? What if she is still obsessing, day in and day out, about what did or didn't happen to her, imagining all sorts of scenarios and hating herself for not knowing the truth?
Following an experimental drug treatment, Jenny's memory is wiped or, as her therapist would say, refiled in such a way the memories cannot be retrieved. And it's giving her grief. It's one thing to have secrets, but when others know so many things about you that you cannot recall, it's heart-breaking and infuriating all at the same time. As the story progresses, Jenny tries to come to terms with what she knows, tries to fit together what she sort of remembers, and tries to be at peace with all that is left. But it's easier said than done.
This is a brilliant read with so many unknowns, including the identity of the narrator for quite a few chapters. This alone kept me on the edge of my seat, after all, who could possibly know the innermost thoughts and secrets of the family, without being one of them? The detachment was incredibly intriguing, and set the story up so well. Beyond this, we have the interesting premise of a victim and their family telling their stories, some of which can be corroborated and some of which are wildly off. What happened in the woods that night is not the only secret that will see the harsh light of day by the final page, and I was left gobsmacked by the ending.
This is a dark and gritty psychological thriller than makes you second guess yourself as well as the characters and their versions of events. It was unlike anything I've read in years, and I cannot wait to read it again and enjoy it in a different way, now I know which clues to pay more attention to. The ending is, as I said, unexpected, but fully understandable and it's only as the final words lie on the page that everything finally clicks into place.
I'd like to thank the publishers for supplying this truly excellent book. Watching Edie by Camilla Way is also worth a look if this is your genre.
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You can read more book reviews or buy All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker at Amazon.com.
