⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 stars for me.
(rounded up to 4)
this was an interesting and entertaining read. personally, it was a little hard to dive into at first as to get an idea of the writing style. i've never read anything by this author, so their style was new to me. there are moments of past mixed with present, which did make it confusing at times. the structure of the dialogues were different, but not at all difficult to understand. despite of all that, the premise and storyline was good, and why i had to finish it to the end.

the author did well in giving us a little something to keep reading. there are bits and pieces to keep you intrigued, and characters who pique your interest outside of the main cast. it keeps a reader wanting to solve the mystery and figure out where it's all headed. all in all, it's a decent read.

i got drawn in from the start because i've volunteered at a nursing care home, including spending a lot of free time there in the past to visit my grandparents. i have close family members and friends who are actively working in nursing homes, so i get to hear stories--funny, sad, and/or creepy. nonetheless, it posed some of the questions i always thought about the patients there. "who were they before their memories faded? what are some things they've done?"

it gets dark and twisty the deeper you dive in, but it's also humorous. i love books that has dark humor, and i think that was the cherry on top for me. despite my rating, i think others will find it more suitable to them. if you give it a chance, i'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised the thrilling ride this takes you on.

would i recommend it? oh, absolutely! yes, it'll take some time to get an idea of what you're going into. but it's still worth the read. i'm definitely going to recommend this to someone who works in a nursing home. i think they'd get a kick out of it. haha!


thank you to One More Chapter of HarperCollinsUK for allowing me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC via NetGalley. i leave this review voluntarily. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book completely surprised me—in the best way. I went in expecting a quirky mystery, but what I got was something much darker and more layered, without ever losing its sharp sense of humour. The care home setting is both oddly comforting and deeply unsettling, and I found myself flipping between laughing at the absurdity and genuinely questioning what was real. Gilbert’s unsettling confession, the offbeat staff, the strange little details—everything pulls you in, slowly and cleverly. It felt like reading a thriller through a funhouse mirror, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished.

A serial killer who forgets he's a serial killer? Such a unique way to do a thriller. Unfortunately I did find it kind of slow and confusing at times. There were honestly just too many points of view with other things going on. Which was disappointing with how intrigued I was by the premise. Overall I did enjoy the core story and the unreliability of the narrators kept it interesting. But in the end I was still confused to much of the who and why.

I didn't vibe with this book at all. I thought it was an exciting thriller but it was very slow and boring. I DNFed it at 78%. Couldn't get through the book...

When Will, a patient care worker in a nursing residence, hears a resident remark that "no one will ever find her body",
he immediately suspects him of being a killer. Another aide, Jolene, who has a missing person in her past, also starts researching unsolved disappearances.
Two different people on a similar quest for answers but for very different reasons.
Strange story of mystery, murder and mayhem.
Too much back looking with, at tines, confusing detail.
The characters are well defined but the story line is a little shaky at times..

Remember Where You’ve Buried the Bodies by new to me author Julie Lancaster, published by Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter is an intriguing story.
Dark-ish and twisty, gripping and suspenseful, but it took me a while to get in the author's writing style. The storyline had me confused sometimes, but all in all an ok read, 3,75 stars.

Remember Where You’ve Buried the Bodies by Julie Lancaster is a very fun and dark murder mystery.

I was drawn to the book by the title, and the artwork on the cover. I thought the goldfish and shovel was a rather fun image in the fishbowl. And the fun streamline: What happens when a serial killer forgets they’re serial killer - really sold the book to me.

The book centres on the Sunset House residential home and on two care assistants Jolene and Will. Neither of the care assistants really likes one another and both think they are the better carer. Will overhears one of the residents, Gilbert, mention that he’s murdered someone. At first he’s not sure whether It really happened or whether it’s Gilbert’s dementia and perhaps a case of confusing something he saw on TV. When he hears something similar again, he launches his own investigation after alerting the police. Jolene herself is the sister of a young woman who long ago disappeared and takes an interest in Will’s and the police investigation.

The story unfolds from the perspective of these two perhaps unreliable narrators. There were so many twists and turns and complete curveballs that left me saying “What!”. It’s a book that completely hooked me and as I was inching closer to the end of the book, I just didn’t know how it was going to end. I stayed up into the wee hours to finish the book, because I know if I didn’t I wouldn’t be able to sleep wondering.

I absolutely loved reading this book and will definitely look out for future books by Julie Lancaster.

Dark humor? ✔ Serial Killer? ✔ 5 stars? ✔✔✔✔✔ This book kept me on my toes. I was entertained, stressed, scared, and happy all at the same time!

Gilbert has dementia...he couldn't be serious when he claims to killing people...could he? Gilbert is a resident of a nursing home. His caregiver, Will, has overlooked and shrugged off is claims that he ever killed someone. Afterall, the man has dementia. He could be confused and imagining things. But what is isn't....?

Let me tell you, I LOVED THIS BOOK! The setting, the characters, the plot, and even the ending...I just could not put this one down. Filled with humor and thriller vibes, this is this years MUST Summer read.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Julie Lancaster for the eArc.

At Sunset House the tea is barely introduced to a teabag, the carpets are permanently flecked with glitter and care assistant Jolene would rather be watching daytime television than caring for the elderly – but someone might just have confessed to murder.

Most think Gilbert’s sudden claim – ‘When I killed her’ – is likely to be the dementia talking. But soon he is suspecting that it might be true...
This was a fast and easy read . Solid three stars

I really wanted to enjoy this book but I have struggled with it. I’m feeling confused and I’m finding it slow to get going. I’m not sure if I’m in a slump and now isn’t the right time.. I’m sorry..

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with this book. For some reason, I found it difficult to follow the plot and often felt lost in the narrative.

The premise was genuinely intriguing, which makes me all the more disappointed that it didn’t quite work for me.

Remember Where You’ve Buried the Bodies is a twisted, genre-blending novel that mixes dark humor, mystery, and psychological drama with an offbeat narrative voice. Julie Lancaster clearly has a knack for sardonic wit and morally gray characters, which makes for some delightfully biting moments—but the novel doesn’t quite deliver consistently.

The premise is intriguing: secrets, guilt, and buried truths (literal and metaphorical) come bubbling up through a non-linear storyline. At its best, the book is clever and unsettling, keeping readers off-balance in a good way. The protagonist is messy and deeply flawed, which works well for a story about the weight of what we hide.

However, the pacing is erratic, with stretches that feel meandering or overly introspective. The dark tone occasionally overshadows emotional depth, and while the prose is stylish, it sometimes veers into trying too hard to be edgy or profound. Supporting characters come and go without much weight, making some plot threads feel underdeveloped.

Overall, Remember Where You’ve Buried the Bodies is an ambitious and original read with sharp writing and flashes of brilliance—but its uneven structure and emotional detachment may leave some readers wanting more. A solid read if you're drawn to dark, unconventional narratives, but not quite the standout it could have been.

I wanted to love this, but I was so confused most of the time

The concept? Incredible. A serial killer who forgets he’s a serial killer? I was so in. I expected a twisty, darkly funny mystery with maybe some emotional depth, but I ended up spending most of the book trying to figure out what was actually happening.

The structure jumps around a lot with past/present, multiple POVs, unreliable narrators which could have been brilliant, but instead just left me disoriented. I kept hoping it would all click into place, but even by the end, I still wasn’t totally sure who did what or why.

I wish the storytelling had been a little clearer so I could’ve appreciated it more.

As I come across unlikable characters I often try to remember that art imitates life and there are unlikeable people in life, so why not art? This said, I just could not engage with Jolene and Will enough to persevere in their story- despite the great title and enticing cover.

What really goes on inside the minds of the residents at Sunset House, the care home where elderly Gilbert now lives? Each of them has a past, but some may be darker than others.

When carer Will forms a friendship with Gilbert, he’s unsettled by the older man’s chilling confessions—mentioning the names of girls he claims to have killed. Is Gilbert simply confusing fiction with reality, or is there a disturbing truth behind his words?

If you're into serial killer thrillers with a touch of dark humor, this book is right up your street. I was intrigued by the idea of a frail, elderly man possibly having led a secret life as a serial killer, managing to keep it hidden for decades. (Of course, it’s a terrifying concept in real life—but it makes for a compelling story.)

A thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing read.

This book started out kinda dry, with 2 characters doing a lot of describing of their days. The middle picked up when the detectives were added and the story truly became a mystery. The ending was confusing. I don't feel like all the storylines were wrapped up well and I still don't feel like I know who did it.
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley.

This book had me HOOKED from page one! 😱 Meet Gilbert Williams — your not-so-typical sweet old man… he’s actually a SERIAL KILLER pensioner 😳💀
One little secret slips out at the care home, and suddenly Will (his carer) is thrown into a dark, twisty investigation 🔍🧠

I LOVED the characters — quirky, flawed, fascinating 🙌 especially Will, who was written with so much depth and heart ❤️ The dark setting? Chef’s kiss 🌒✨ Julie Lancaster knows how to set the mood — creepy, suspenseful, but also hilarious in the darkest ways 😂🕷️

There were SO many twists and turns, I never knew what was coming next! 🎢 I laughed, I gasped, and I couldn’t put it down until the very end 📖🔥

If you’re into dark comedy, murder mysteries, and unpredictable thrillers, this one’s for YOU 💣💀🖤

Review of ‘Remember Where You Buried the Bodies’ by Julie Lancaster, due to be published on 19 September 2025 by HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter.

Set in a care home, there are multiple character angles, from staff to residents whose storylines may or may not be the truth, interlaced with humour and plot twists.

I found this a hard read, purely because of the dementia arc, having experience of a close family member in just such a care home. The depiction of the residents was spot on especially when they can’t recall what they have said or done, which stirred up some sad memories.

A decent twisty book that keeps you guessing, until the end.

I was highly intrigued by the premise which is what led me to want to read the book.

Although I have to admit I felt very confused, I couldn't really figure out who was meant to have done what. Some parts did catch my attention, like the care home scenes. I did find the added humour a nice touch but I just felt it was lacking something. Maybe there was too many characters to keep up with.

Not sure it was for me however im sure there are lots of other people who will have been able to follow it better and will enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy.