If I had read the previous seven Lake District mysteries, perhaps I might have appreciated Martin Edwards’ The Girl They All Forgot. However, even for readers of the series, the seven year gap between books may have left them scrambling to catch up. I didn’t have too much trouble with the police team. By the end of the book, I no longer cared about any of the victims.
When Darren Lace drowns himself by walking into Morecombe Bay, the new Police and Crime Commissioner Kit Gleadall pushes for an investigation. The Cumbria Constabulary has a small Cold Case Review Team headed by DCI Hannah Scarlett, and Gleadall promises her several new team members. He wants this case investigated.
Twenty-one years earlier, Ramona Smith worked in a bar in Bowness. She left work one night, and was not seen again. Darren Lace’s father, Gerry, was the primary suspect. Although he was acquitted, he lost his business, and his family was ruined. He drowned himself, and now his son killed himself in the same spot. Hannah’s mentor was the lead detective in the case against Gerry Lace, but he’s dead, killed by a hit-and-run driver. Now, it’s up to her and her team to dig into the cold case in a community where everyone has an opinion, or knew the missing woman.
Edwards returns to England’s Lake District for this bleak, leisurely-paced mystery. However, for me, there are too many viewpoints represented. Readers who appreciate an atmospheric story with a strong sense of place may be satisfied, along with those readers who have been waiting for the next in the series.
Martin Edwards’ website is https://martinedwardsbooks.com/
The Girl They All Forgot by Martin Edwards. Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press, 2022. ISBN 9781464215520, 352p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley to review for a journal.
II sounds skipworthy.
It might have made a difference, Carolee, if I had read the previous books.
I have read the fourth book in a series without reading the others and I was totally lost.
THat’s too bad, because I liked the rest of the series. You didn’t mention Daniel Kind. Is he not in it? The relationship between him and Hannah was an important element in the series. Also, we’ve been to the Lake District many times, and I know Bowness (we’ve stayed there) and that area very well.
Oh well, I have it on hold and will read it anyway.
Jeff, I’ll look forward to your review of the book because you’re familiar with the series, and I’m not. I vaguely remember Daniel Kind’s name, but he definitely wasn’t essential in this book. Your review is going to mean much more than mine since you have the background.
So, I have never read any of them and just slapped a library hold on the first two books. I did that, despite the fact and with the full knowledge, that I currently have 48 library books here and 3 more holds awaiting pickup AND three holds in transit for me. Not to mention the 100s of books I have here from authors, publishing houses, sales, etc.
I need a 12 step program. I admit that I have a problem. I have no shame. The rest of the steps are going to be very problematic.
Oh, Kevin. I love your sense of humor.