The Unforgotten
by Laura Powell
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Pub Date 17 Mar 2016 | Archive Date 17 Mar 2016
Description
It's 1956 and fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent has never left the Cornish fishing village of St Steele or ventured far beyond the walls of the boarding house run by her erratic mother. But when the London press pack descends to report on a series of gruesome murders of young women, Betty's world changes. In particular she is transfixed by mysterious and aloof reporter, Mr Gallagher.
As the death toll rises, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Betty and Gallagher. But as their bond deepens, they find themselves entangled with the murders and each is forced to make a devastating choice, one that will shape their own lives - and the life of an innocent man - forever.
A Note From the Publisher
Laura Powell grew up in South Wales and studied at Warwick University. She completed an MA at Goldsmiths, University of London, for which she was granted a Scott Trust Bursary from the Guardian Media Group, and is a graduate of the Faber Academy novel writing course. Several of her poems and short stories have been published in literary magazines and anthologies, and she was awarded a New Writer's Bursary from Literature Wales in 2013. She has worked for a range of national newspapers as a journalist, and is now Commissioning Editor at Daily Telegraph, Telegraph Mag and Stella.
Advance Praise
'Gripping from the first page, this is a remarkable debut. I highly recommend it.' Katie Fforde, author of Going Dutch
'A quirky, vivid, original writer who catches the strangeness of time passing.' Maggie Gee, author of The White Family
'An eerie and sorrowful tale, beautifully-told: a hugely impressive debut.' Joanna Kavenna
'An unforgettable tale of love and loss.' Richard Skinner, author of The Mirror
'The Unforgotten takes the classic murder mystery novel and gives it a contemporary makeover. Laura powell, with her unique style and intricately-developed characters, is certainly an exciting new voice on the contemporary literature scene.' Jade the Obscure blog
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781910449592 |
| PRICE | £8.99 (GBP) |
Featured Reviews
Rosemary S, Librarian
15 year old Betty Broadbent has never left her mother’s boarding house, let alone the small Cornish village where she was born. But in 1956, a series of gruesome murders attracts national attention and a pack of reporters descends on the little town. Betty becomes fascinated with one of the reporters, Mr. Gallagher and the two strike up an unconventional friendship as they learn more about the murders. At what point does the truth matter more than a by-line? And how much is the life of an innocent man worth? A beautifully complex story about coming of age and learning what really matters
Elaine T, Reviewer
I would like to thank Netgalley and Freight Books for an advance copy of The Unforgotten, a debut novel by Laura Powell.
The Unforgotten tells of how 15 year old Betty Broadbent and 30 year old John Gallagher met and fell in love in 1956 in the small Cornish village of St Steele against the background of the hunt for a serial killer, The Cornish Cleaver. The fallout from these events spans many years and much heartache. It is told from two points of view, the 15 year old Betty in 1956 and 65 year old Mary in the present day. Betty's story is told in flashback to show how it influences Mary's actions.
The Unforgotten is a beautifully written novel with more than a few surprise twists in the tale. I'm not sure if this is a spoiler but the description of Betty's breakdown is a wonderful piece of writing and deserves a mention for excellence and understanding. It is not, however, my normal fare as I prefer novels which concentrate on the investigative side of crime rather than the repercussions and I found my interest flagging in the middle - the beginning is intriguing and the ending compulsive with all the revelations but the middle is not my kind of thing and I found myself a bit reluctant to pick it up and plow on at times although I'm glad I did because the ending is well worth the effort.
I have awarded The Unforgotten 4 stars as it is a quality novel with charm and insight and will suit many readers.
Beverley C, Educator
I have to be honest, initially I was very unsure about this book and almost gave up on it. So glad I didn't, as it turned out to be an exquisitely written gem - full of quirky characters and atmosphere. Absolutely loved it!
Annie S, Librarian
Most mysteries focus on the detective or the criminal and reveal who done it, why they done it, and how they done it. The Unforgotten, by Laura Powell, does something completely different. It tells the story of two bystanders who got caught up in a series of murders and end up carrying the guilt for their actions for fifty years. There are layers of mystery in The Unforgotten. While the protagonists investigate the actual crime, we readers investigate the protagonists to find out what secrets they’ve kept and why.
The Unforgotten is set in two time periods. In 1954, in a small Cornish village, Betty Broadbent helps her bipolar mother to run a hotel. The hotel has just been invaded by a horde of journalists, all trying to scoop each other about the Cornish Cleaver. Betty is curious and very observant. She might have become a precocious detective if she hadn’t fallen in love with John Gallagher.
Fifty years later, Mary Sudgen is breaking under the weight of her secrets. They’re making her absentminded and anxious. She’s making her family very worried. It takes several chapters for Mary to drop enough hints for us, the readers, to figure out who she really is and what she’s hiding. Her secret has to do with the man everyone thought was the Cornish Cleaver. Mary knows he was innocent, but she never spoke up in his defense. It will take the rest of the book for us to figure out why Mary kept her silence.
The Unforgotten moves back and forth from 1954 to the early 2000s. As we learn more about Betty/Mary and John, we see more of the consequences of guilt. Their dilemmas are the kind of stories I relish, but am very grateful to have never lived through anything that takes such an emotional toll. The novel, especially the ending, hit me a lot harder than I expected when I read the description on NetGalley. The Unforgotten is absolutely the kind of story that will leave readers wondering what they would have done.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration. It will be released 17 March 2016.
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