Rating: 2 stars ~ Genre: Amish Mystery ~ Pages: 294 ~ Publish Date: 5 Nov 2024
So disappointed. I had looked forward to this book. So before I write more, please know this review contains spoilers. No spoilers as far as giving the plot away. Just spoilers — aptly named — that ruined the book for me.
Immediately on page one, I was scratching my head. Bethanne Hostetler is in the stands hoping her cousin Candace will win the beauty pageant. Hun? Even though this is supposed to be an Amish story — this had Bethanne on one end and 180 degrees in the opposite direction, Candace. It didn’t make sense. Page 2, Bethanne’s brother joins her and gives Candace a wolf whistle. Hun? What!
Then the introduction of Bethanne’s panic attacks due to an event where Peter Miller was killed. If I was a Beta reader, I would have strongly urged that this as well as a fleshing out of Bethanne’s character needed to come first. AND make it easy for the reader to believe she would actually attend a public beauty pageant. Jay’s character is also introduced almost at the same time and is lost because the reader is grabbling with an Amish woman with panic attacks at a beauty pageant.
There is a mystery and not a bad one. But I felt like this was a second or third draft that still needed editing out repetitious parts and a rewrite of some sections. I flat did not like this book. The bad taste I got in my mouth on page one never left. And I was thankful when I got to the end of the DRC (digital review copy).
What surprises me is Shelley Shepard Gray is the author. I’ve reviewed some of her other books with the lowest rating being four stars. I have some in my personal Kindle library. I just feel like this book was rushed. The writing was interrupted. Some parts were good. Interesting and then some “thing” whether a person or action would just jar me. I found errors; i.e., the number of cards missing from the secretary’s desk.
I do not recommend this book. Rating: 2 stars.
I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “Unforgotten” via NetGalley from the publisher, Revell. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 2 stars
Cover: Good — conveys the book title.
Pages: 297
Publish Date: 5 November 2024
#Unforgotten #NetGalley