The Girl They All Forgot is the 8th Lake District thriller/mystery by Martin Edwards. Released 7th June 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook
format has a handy interactive table of
contents as well as interactive links. I've
really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a long-running series with established characters which are so well fleshed out at this point that they really seem to have a life of their own. The author is adept at his craft and the plotting and settings are well rendered and believable. Despite being book 8, the plot is self-contained in this book, so it can be read as a standalone. The entire series is well written and would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read, but it's not strictly speaking necessary to read them in order.
This volume's plot turns on a very old cold case mystery disappearance (presumed murder), trial, acquittal, and suicide of the man acquitted of the presumed crime. Precisely 20 years later, on the anniversary of his father's suicide, the son is found also drowned, reopening the original disappearance.
The story is more a psychological thriller than strictly a mystery, and I found much of the book quite melancholy and steeped in nostalgia. It's very well and subtly written; the author has a deft touch with characterizations and settings especially. The denouement and resolution are well written and satisfying.
Four stars. A good addition to the series and highly recommended. Definitely one for fans of Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves, and Peter May.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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