Thanks to Hobeck Books for my gifted copy of the book to join in the tour and write my honest review.
For three decades, Olivia Farnley used alcohol and drugs to try to block out the memory of the horrific murder of her mother which put her father in prison. Now she’s ready to face her past, and her hypnotherapist is sure he can help her to fill in the gaps.
During therapy, a key detail comes back to her, one that is so momentous that Liv is forced to share this new-found information with the police. When they dismiss her claims, Liv is left frustrated and furious. Then a chance encounter leads Liv to private investigator Hannah Sandlin, who, accompanied by her best friend Lottie, embarks on an investigation in the Spanish resort of Marbella.
Amid the magnificent villas and infinity pools of Puerto Banús, and the stunning beaches of Playa de la Fontanilla, dark secrets lurk. Once Hannah deploys her sharp investigative mind and shameless tenacity, she discovers what really happened to Liv’s mother, Susan, all those years ago. In the process, she uncovers some shocking secrets that the rest of the Farnley family have been trying their hardest to keep.
Can Hannah separate the lies from the truth and bring Liv the resolution she so desperately needs?
S.E. Shepherd’s brilliant new tale is a gripping story of the power of memory and the dangers of buried secrets. If you love Richard Osman and Janice Hallett, you will adore this gripping new novel from the author of Swindled and Cousin Ash. Travel this summer with best friends and colleagues, Hannah and Lottie, as they try to unravel a brand new mystery. The perfect summer read for 2024.
My Review
The third book in the Sandlin PI series. We are back with PI Hannah Sandlin. Liv asks for Hannah’s help in proving that her father didn’t murder her mother. She says it was his twin brother and is determined to prove it. Hannah and her friend Lottie make it their mission to find the truth.
As Hannah and Lottie investigate, they discover there may be a whole lot of secrets in this family’s past than they expected. Liv recalled her memories by hypnosis, but are they to be trusted? Is anything as she says correct?
This is a highly original storyline, and I was intrigued by the mystery that Hannah and Lottie found themselves attempting to unravel. The fact that it deals with memories and how reliable they actually are created a refreshing read. I was glad to be back with the main characters and be witness to the intricacies of their case.
I fine S.E. Shepherd’s books are so good to read. Each can be read alone, but why would you when you can savour each one? Her characters are easily invested in, and the book is always such an easy read.
New Memories is a great psychological thriller that has enough twists to keep the reader on their toes mentally. I highly recommend this author to anyone who enjoys intriguing stories.
Author Bio
Sue Shepherd was born in Harrow; she then spend several years living in Hertfordshire before taking a leap of faith across The Solent to the picturesque Isle of Wight. Sue lives with her two sons, and their dogs, a Standard Poodle named Forrest, and a Cavachon called Sky.
Sue has written three RomComs, ‘Doesn’t Everyone Have a Secret?’ which reached the top ten UK Kindle chart in 2015, ‘Love Them and Leave Them.’ and ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head.’ These were published under the name Sue Shepherd.
Now writing under the name S E Shepherd, Sue’s first suspense novel, Swindled, Book 1 in The Sandlin PI Series was published in September 2021 by Hobeck Books. The second in the series, Cousin Ash, was published in August 2022. The third in the series, New Memories, was published in August 2024. Sue is currently writing a fourth book in the Sandlin PI Series.
Sue’s passions in life are: her family, writing, the sea-side and all the beautiful purple things her sons have bought her over the years. Ask Sue to plan too far in advance and you’ll give her the heebie-jeebies and she’d prefer you not to mention Christmas until at least November!
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