Book Review: Forget Me Not

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Forget Me Not     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Susan Bowden
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Psychological Suspense
Signet, Dec 1999, $6.99, 384 pp.

Thirty-one year old Winnipeg artist Lisa Cooper suffers from a deep-rooted trauma involving a fear of running water. When her phobia really hits home, she paints the night away in a terrorized trance. The city's Red River is rising and nearing flood levels, which sends Lisa into a deeper panic than her usual fears of even crossing a bridge.

When Lisa's adopted mother Meg dies, her psychiatrist encourages her to seek the truth by questioning her adopted father Jim about her childhood, especially her trauma. Her business partner also urges her to unravel the mystery that is destroying her. Jim gives his beloved Lisa the letter that Meg left for her. Lisa learns that she comes from Charnwood, England where her biological family is the aristocratic Kingsleys. Lisa flies to England to finally put to rest the nightmare that has haunted her since childhood. However, at least one person will not provide the Canadian with a warm homecoming, as that individual prefers family secrets to remain buried.

FORGET ME NOT is an intimate psychological mystery that will haunt readers due to the depth of the characters. Though the solution to the story line is obvious early on, the entertaining plot works because the readers can see the many-layered souls of much of the cast. Thus, the audience will empathize with many of the players especially Lisa as motivations ring genuine and all too human. Best selling author Susan Bowden has written another character-driven hit that will immensely please her fans.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner