I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nevada Barr breaks away from her park ranger novels and writes about an older woman who is put into a nursing home. Rose, mourning her husband, awakens to find herself in a home. She discovers that she is being drugged and finds a way to avoid taking the medication. Once lucid, she embarks on a hilarious search for the person trying to kill her.

This book was very confusing for the first few chapters and then it got to be more enjoyable. This is the usual type of book that I read but I did end up enjoying it. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest read.

Know up front that this is very different from the Anna Pigeon novels- there's no park for one thing- but that it's got a dynamic trio of female characters who will equally engage you. Rose, a 67 year old widow, wakes up in a snarl of brush and discovers she's escaped from the care home where her family put her after she appeared to have a psychotic break when her husband died. She knows something's not right, doesn't take the pills she's been given, and escapes from the facility. Her 13 year old granddaughter Mel and her sister Marion come to her aid as she tries to figure out what to do next. AND then someone breaks into her house and tries to kill her! The roof scene, btw, is awesome. Rose is an old hippie, for want of a better word, who is somewhat out of her element in the North Carolina town where she's living but she's incredibly resourceful, as is Mel. This is one big adventure as this trio, aided by a couple of Lyfft drivers, the man who tried to kill her, and a teen aged boy, untangle the reasons why and who wanted her dead. I'll admit I prefer the Anna Pigeon novels, in part because I always learn something and because she's a character I'm very fond of, but Barr has done a great job here. There's a twisty mystery (no spoilers) and a fair amount of action - and I did learn something thanks to Marion. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Barr fans- give this one a chance and you'll be rewarded with a good read.

What Rose Forgot is the newest thriller from Nevada Barr – so you just know that this novel is full of action and chilling events. This novel is a standalone piece, so even if you’ve read nothing else by Nevada Barr, you’re safe to pick this one up and start reading.
Rose is not your ordinary grandmother. For one thing, the last few years have been…different for her. Until one day she woke up in a hospital gown, with no idea of where she was or how long she had been held there. She just knew that she had been drugged – and that she needed to get out. And fast.
What follows is a whirlwind of an adventure, as Rose uncovers who did this to her, along with the how’s and why’s. She makes friends and enemies along the way, and in general, has to be the most quirky little old lady you’ll ever read about.

“Here’s the thing, since I’ve stopped taking the red capsules, my mind has gotten much clearer. I think I’m being intentionally drugged.”


Warnings: What Rose Forgot touches upon some heavy subjects. But most of this you can guess from the description alone. There’s elder abuse, drugging and holding people against their will, and other elements that fit this general theme.

What Rose Forgot was a fun and thrilling read – the perfect escape when you’re looking for something completely new and different. I hadn’t read anything by Nevada Barr before now – but I’ve heard plenty of her work before. And thus knew that this unique read was worth checking out.
I originally picked up this novel because I loved the idea of Rose – an atypical protagonist with a lot to tell us. And frankly, Rose was hilarious, though the trials she went through were significantly less so. Rose went through so much during this novel – more than the average person could hope to deal with and come out on top. Yet she persevered.
I want to emphasize that this was a fun read; there are several occasions in this novel that require you to suspend your disbelief. So it won’t be a good fit if you’re looking for a highly detailed thriller novel. But it is charming, in its own way. I think Rose gets most of the credit there.
The whole plot ended up being something much larger than I expected – which is saying something, given the premise. There was a lot of meat hiding behind the darker tones, and it allowed for some freedom and experimentation on the writer’s part. And it certainly gave Rose more to deal with!
I’m glad that I picked up What Rose Forgot. I won’t say that it was my favorite novel of this year, but it was an enjoyable and quick read. And I’m still utterly charmed by the main character. I almost wish she’d get her own mystery series…

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.

3.5 stars

Well written and witty, this book is an enjoyable read despite the plot being pretty unbelievable, it is worth
the read. Glad to see Nevada Barr expanding her repertoire.

An entertaining, yet slightly scary read. Rose wakes up dazed and confused in the locked Alzheimer's unit of a nursing home. Something feels "off" to her and she suspects she may have been drugged. Rose has a strong will and is a fighter- she fights for a clear mind so that she can find answers. After that a series of events happen on her quest for answers with the help of her sister and her granddaughter. The book was pretty funny at times and although many events were unrealistic it was still an entertaining read. What makes it scary is the thought of what if that happens to you- being locked up in a nursing home and drugged? What would you do? Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely delightful! I truly couldn't put this one down. At the start of the book Rose has excaped from a Memory Care Unit but feels she shouldn't have been there. She is found and taken back. She plans her escape. The events that follow and the situations she finds herself in are both scary and funny. Rose is a charming character who is very artistic and it seems she has always done yoga so, even after her incarceration in the MCU seems to be strong and resilient for a woman in her sixties. Her granddaughter Mel is adorable.

This was such a fun read! I will be looking at more of Nevada Barr's books because I really loved the character and the way she was portrayed. This story was set in Charlotte, North Carolina - I always enjoy books set in the state where I live because I enjoy recognizing some of the places and landmarks in the book.

Many thanks to Nevada Barr and St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a kick! I could relate, as Rose was in my age group. It was a good mystery, hilariously funny, and great characters. I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it. Light and enjoyable reading that’s hard to put down.

Imagine waking up in the woods, disoriented and wearing nothing but a hospital gown. You have no recollection of the immediate past and find out that you escaped from the Senior Living community that you’ve been calling home for the last several weeks. To your surprise, you were recently diagnosed with dementia that has been hitting hard and fast – you aren’t expected to live until the end of the week. The only concept that you can hold onto is that something is wrong, very wrong and you don’t believe anything you’re being told. That’s the premise of What Rose Forgot by Nevada Barr.

Overall, this novel surprised me. I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley and, based on the summary, was expecting something a little a little darker/ more sinister and what I got was a light-hearted mystery. After the initial setup, the plot flowed at a perfect pace. I really enjoyed how the mystery was unpacked – the timing of details and revelations was perfect. You would learn just enough information to keep you hooked and I found myself repeatably saying “Ok, just one more chapter!” The characters were likeable and easy to relate to but some of the more tertiary family members were hard to keep straight (I thought about making a family tree at one point to help keep everyone organized). There was also some humor sprinkled throughout that also added to the light atmosphere.

This was my first, and most definitely not my last, book by Nevada Barr. It was engaging, funny and enjoyable. I would absolutely recommend this book to mystery fans who don’t like anything too heavy or intense or to someone who’s looking to slowly branch out into that genre. I couldn’t help drawing parallels to the Stephanie Plum series but Janet Evanovich. 3.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up due to a hilarious line about a “terrifying mask” worn by one of the characters later in the book).

**I received this book for free, from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

I was drawn to the book by the author. I enjoyed her Anna Pigeon series and have tried some of her other books.

This book is scary as it is plausible. During my research of nursing homes and assisted living facilities Memory Care units have been mentioned. I couldn’t help but think “what if …” throughout the story.
The characters are richly developed. I found a lot of food for thought while turning the pages. At times I felt as if I wee on a roller coaster ride of emotions and feelings.

Well done Ms. Barr!

It gave me a chance to enjoy a book from Ms. Barr outside of the Anna Pigeon series. I am not required to leave a positive review.

The premise of this book had me interested from the beginning, that shocking knowledge of waking up in a nursing home dazed, incoherent but with the trepidation of something gone wrong. Rose Dennis a 68 year old woman, a grandmother is in an Alzheimer's unit in a Nursing home but she has no clue how she got there and worse she is sure she doesn't belong here. Rose is smart, she is determined; she fights to clear her hazy, foggy mind as she suspects she has been drugged. Rose is on a mission to find out who put her here. She enlists the help of her Grand Daughter Mel, and her sister Marion. The story involves numerous action escapades which are quite unrealistic however truth be told, ridiculously hilarious at the same time. I found myself laughing out loud and loving the scenes in the Play House with Mel. At times the book seemed to drag on with the involvement of many characters and it did become a bit tedious to follow. I did enjoy this book, and thought it was well written, with many interesting turn of phrases.

Rose Dennis has been admitted to a nursing home memory care unit with no memory of how she got there. She doesn’t believe that she has dementia and after overhearing people say she won’t last the week, she stops taking her meds and escapes. As her memory clears, she begins trying to figure out what happened to her and who wants her dead.

I had somewhat mixed feelings about this book. It’s well written and did hold my interest, but in so many respects was just too unbelievable. Rose is a 68 year old woman who often is described in terms that lead you to believe that she is frail and ‘elderly’, yet she’s doing things that a young person might struggle to do. I am always willing to suspend belief when I read, but some things that Rose did were just too far out there.

I’m sure that there are many people who will really enjoy this book. It is a good read, but not one of my personal favorites from Nevada Barr.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

While this book is a thriller it is also humor and a bit unrealistic. I found some things (the constant reference to Buddhism for one) to be annoying and off putting. Overall it was an okay read but I wouldn't rrecommend.

I have to say this is the first time I have read anything by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. It was full of mystery and suspense (and even a few little humorous bits mixed in). I flew through this book very quickly and intend to pick up another title by this author in the near future.

*I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

I am so glad this was a stand alone, A mystery from old, once solved no going back. Loved the concept of the book and will be reading more from this author.

What a hoot! What Rose Forgot is an outrageous, rip-roaring good time! I expected a dark, scary thriller and while there're certainly some spooky scenes, there are many more that are over-the-top, laugh out loud hilarious. Rose awakens in a foggy, dream-like haze, surprised to find herself confined in the lock down section of a Alzheimer's elderly care facility. As she struggles to clear her muddy mind and figure out what's going on, she overhears a conversation saying she won't last out the week. She would know if she was "dying", wouldn't she? Why can't she remember how she ended up committed to a place for people who have lost their memories - as well as most of their marbles? Rose isn't crazy . . . or is she?

The story that unfolds follows the antics of Rose as she escapes and begins a stint on the lam as an amateur sleuth, hiding out from unknown villains and participating in hand-to-hand combat with professional killers. She's aided in her investigation by a great support team - her granddaughter Mel and her long distance sister Marion. Rose is lovable, preposterous, flamboyant, and on-the-run from the law, nursing home, and most of her family as she follows the clues to solve the mystery of who wants her dead. What follows is a comedy of errors - a story that borders on slapstick comedy while exploring some serious issues faced by aging seniors. It touched my heart even as it tickled my funny bone. I laughed loud and often as I read this book mostly in one sitting. The story is paced to flow quickly from one hilarious scene to the next and while I figured out the bad "guy" before the big reveal near the end, it was an absolute hoot getting there. A little old lady super-heroine wreaking havoc on the bad guys! You've got to love it! Well-written and delivered, I consider What Rose Forgot more of a funny, cozy mystery than a thriller, but no matter how you shelf it, it's a fantastic read!

Strange story of a woman who wakes up in an asylum, tries to escape once, but is caught and returned. Then, she figures out that she needs to not take the meds in order to think and plan a better escape. She does, and with the help of some family and friends, tries to figure out what's going on...

What Rose Forgot is an entertaining novel packed with full-on action and suspense, with splashes of humour that make this a wonderful read. What struck me was just how quickly this novel had hold of me and totally consumed the hours until I finished reading. The writing is very perceptive and paints wonderful scenes, a mysterious plot and clever witty dialogue, while the story moves at a great momentum.

Rose Dennis awakens in a wood, confused, disorientated and wearing just a hospital gown. Her first thoughts are, is this a dream? Then very slowly she regains some perspective although her memories are scrambled, fractured and missing. Two young boys find her and assume she has wandered from the nearby Nursing Home. They inform the facility, who have been searching for Rose and manage to have her returned. During this period Rose is gradually regaining memories and trying desperately to piece together, who, when, why and how she has been committed to the Memory Care Unit at Longwood.

I loved the careful development with the situation Rose finds herself in. Does she suffer from dementia, as the facility suggests, and this is just a moment of lucidity or is she actually rational and somehow a mistake has been made? Her questioning of her state of mind and quizzical searching for how and why she has arrived at this place surely isn’t the thinking from someone living with dementia.

Rose makes a decision that she will not ingest the drugs offered to her anymore and covertly hides the tablets and continues to act out her assumed mental state while she gathers information and plans her escape. Regardless of plot plausibility, the believability of Rose’s mental turmoil is very well delivered and the reality as it comes into focus is really heartening.
‘ “Here’s the thing, since I’ve stopped taking the red capsules, my mind has gotten much clearer. I think I’m being intentionally drugged.”
“For how long?”
“Yesterday, of course. Before that . . .” There is no before that. Not yet.’

Rose escapes again but this time with a clearer mindset and a plan which involves her granddaughter Mel and her sister Marion. There are some other strange relationships developed as Rose navigates the sinister machinations that seem intent on causing her death. Who would want her dead and of course following the money leads to the family? Although it’s not just as obvious as that.

The story is gripping and the adventure Rose goes on with Mel, is enthralling and builds with us eagerly straining to find out who is behind the conspiracy. The plot credibility issues and convenience, are masked by the entertaining scenarios and witty moments that are maintained at a relentless pace.

I would recommend reading this book and I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.

Rose Dennis wakes up in a hospital gown, her brain in a fog, only to discover that she's been committed to an Alzheimer's Unit in a nursing home. With no memory of how she ended up in this position, Rose is sure that something is very wrong. When she overhears one of the administrators saying about her that she's "not making it through the week," Rose is convinced that if she's to survive, she has to get out of the nursing home. She avoids taking her medication, putting on a show for the aides, then stages her escape.



Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. This book was a amazing read the woman is stuck and having to find out everything she needs to worry of how she was put in the nursing home, its like a race but a very good read.

Rose Dennis has always been quirky if that is what you call a woman who takes astral journeys and paints wild paintings that sell for big money. She married Harley later in life and when he died she was all of a sudden crazy.

But it takes Rose the entire book to figure out why. She wakes up from a drug-induced fog after suffering a severe case of the flu only to find out she is in some kind of mental institution. It's really a Memory Care Unit for people with early-onset dementia or full Alzheimers. But why is she here? Now that the drugs keeping her compliant are out of her system and she has no intention of taking any more. Especially after hearing voices in the hall outside of her room saying she won't last out the week.

Rose is a very self-sufficient woman. It doesn't take long for her to sneak out and disappear into the woods. Unfortunately, she is found rather quickly and returned.

This only makes her more determined to get out and find out who put her here. So she's faking taking her meds and stockpiling them. After a daring escape, she ends up back at her house. Just as she is doubting her own sanity, a man breaks into her house trying to kill her.  Okay, so not crazy. But how is she going to prove that? And what about all of the other people left behind. Are they just drugged too?

Along with her 13-year-old granddaughter, Mel and her reclusive, cat-obsessed sister, Marion, who by the way is NOT a hacker (right) and Mel's friend Royal they are determined to find out the truth. Is someone killing people for profit? And could Mel and Rose be next? Who is willing to kill to get their hands on Rose's millions?

I thought this was a really good read. The characters were interesting and fun. I've seen some reviews talking about Rose and an elderly woman climbing a roof. First, 68 is not elderly. 88 may be elderly but the lady I box with is 68 and she can get on her roof and install new shingles! 

Well Done!

NetGalley/September 17th, 2019 by Minotaur Books