DON'T EVER FORGET

3.5 stars

I really had trouble "getting into" this book, an Amazon

Prime Reads selection; at one point fairly early on, I nearly called it quits. But I hung in there, and by somewhere around the halfway point, I had at least some idea of what was going on and was able to keep the considerable cast of characters straight. Now that I've finished, I can't say I truly enjoyed it. The highlight for me, in fact, is that while it's described as a "mind-bending page-turner," it offers a sad, but accurate, portrayal of the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease.

This is the first in a new "Adler and Dwyer" series, although the author explains that some characters and situations are taken from other of his books (none of which I've read). The primary character here is state police investigator Susan Adler; Liam Dwyer - a forensics specialist with the Philadelphia Police Department who's recovering from injuries - makes a few appearances around the mid-point that no doubt set the stage for the next book, but otherwise his contribution is virtually nonexistent. For me, more's the pity; I liked him far more than I liked Adler.

The plot, which centers around what appears to be the kidnapping of a man believed to be a serial killer, is complicated - made more confusing as scenes shift from that to Adler's investigation of a murdered state trooper to recollections of the presumed serial killer to events that apparently led up to the disappearance of individuals years ago that now languish as cold cases. Eventually, all of those begin to merge - with a few twists - as Adler and her team get closer to the truth.

The verdict? Not bad, but if this is to be a series with two main characters - as indicated in the description - my hope is that the next one will put the spotlight on both of them. Fewer characters and a less convoluted plot would help as well. 

Don't Ever Forget by Matthew Farrell (Thomas & Mercer, September 2020); 348 pp.