Bad Memory by Linda Gray -- 5 Stars
Publisher: Amazon Publishing UK
ISBN: 9781542092326

Bad Memory is as enjoyable as Lisa Gray’s first book, Thin Air. It definitely deserves a five star review.

Recently novels about the guilt or innocence of a convicted prisoner, especially ones on Death Row, have been popular. Frequently they are filled with lengthy legal explanations and put forth the author’s political views about capital punishment. Unlike these, without unnecessary filler, Bad Memory used the events behind two cold cases and the complexities of life in a small town to tell the story of a woman awaiting execution. The plot never slowed and was entertaining throughout.

The story was told from the viewpoint of several characters and occurrences in different locations during several periods in time. The transition flowed well. The conclusion was exciting. The characters were believable and interesting. The settings were perfectly described.

I look forward to future books in the Jessica Shaw series.

Reviewer: Nancy

Thank you Netgalley for this book, in return for a honest review.

Although this book was good, I have only given it 3 stars because I didn't eel it was as good as the first book by Lisa Gray, In Thin Air. I really liked the books alternative timeframes and viewpoints.
The book had a great surprising ending which wasn't expected. I think if you enjoy a good crime book, you'll enjoy this.

Private investigator Jessica Shaw is leading a quiet life in a Californian desert community, where she spends her days working low-level cases. But when a former resident asks Jessica to help her sister, Rue Hunter - a convicted murderer whose execution is days away - Jessica can't resist the offer.Rue doesn't remember what happened the night two high school students were killed thirty years ago, but everybody in town is certain she's guilty. As Jessica looks for answers, she finds that local rumors point one way and evidence points another. And nobody wants to face the truth. Meanwhile, Jessica can't shake the feeling that someone is stalking her - now more than ever, she knows she can't trust anyone.As Jessica digs deeper, she encounters local secrets in unlikely places - including the police department itself. But the clock is ticking, and Jessica must find the truth fast - or Rue's bad memory may be the death of them both.

I really enjoyed this book, I thought it had a lot going on, and plenty of things I didn't see coming to keep me interested.I liked the main character and thought the story was well written.I really liked it.Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you net galley for the opportunity to read Bad Memory. I truly did not know what to expect of this book, but I can say I could not stop reading it. The small town of Hundred Acres is filled with secrets and Rue Hunter on death row for the murders of her best friend, Megan and her boyfriend, Lucas. Thirty years later and Rue’s death date approaching, Jessica is hired to investigate if Rue really is guilty, despite the confession she gave in July of 1987. Jessica is strong and smart and knows how to follow each new detail she receives of that July night, but many people in the town do not like her sticking her nose in to their past. A great surprise ending - so not expected! I haven't enjoyed a book like this in a long time and I highly recommend for other crime lovers out there!

Although not as good as In Thin Air (the first) this still was a good read.
Tasked with finding the truth behind a double killing before the accused is executed Jessica delves into the accused background and events of that night.... will the truth be discovered before the final day.

Another excellent book by Lisa. Well written and had me gripped from the start. This will definitely be a long term series for me.

In this second Jessica Shaw book, Lisa Grey provides another unique mystery that weaves the past with the present. Jess is now in a small California town working for a PI, trying to get her own license. She is approached by the sister of a woman scheduled for excursion as punishment for having killed her best friend and boyfriend when she was a teenager. A pile of evidence seemed to make it an open and shut case, but there are secrets from the past that Jess must chase down and reveal. There are few twists and sidelines in the plot; most of which are able to be resolved in the short book. However, there is a feeling of a rush at the end to tie-up loose ends that leaves one feeling unsatisfied, wanting more details and exploration. The rotation of perspectives and shifting from past to present are fairly smooth but also give away the details a bit too easily. With another closed case, Jess continues on her journey of trying to outrun her pain and commitment, but will she be successful? We will wait until the next book to find out.

BAD MEMORY initially seemed like just another hackneyed story about a PI trying to free another wrongly imprisoned person. I almost quit reading after the first few pages. But then the book really blossomed and I have to say that it has some of the best plotting in a mystery/thriller that I have seen in some time. I also really liked the protagonist's no nonsense approach in both her professional and romantic life. I will definitely read more by Lisa Gray.

I thought this book was just okay. The story line was pretty interesting and I wanted to know what happened, however I felt like it was pretty easy to figure out and I will likely forget about this plot shortly. Overall I can say that I liked it but didn't love it.

Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great read! 5*****

I didn't find this second book in the Jessica Shaw series as good as the first (In Thin Air), but it was still a good story. The set-up was unique: Jessica is hired by the sister of a convicted murderer days before the scheduled execution and asked to find out what really happened thirty years earlier. I was able to predict some aspects of the story, but not enough to ruin the ending for me. The book alternates points-of-view and timeframes, but each chapter is clearly headed to indicate character and date, so it's easy to follow.