I have read romance books written by Jude Deveraux for 20+ years. I must say I love that she is writing suspense now. She is equally masterful in spinning a mystery. She keeps the reader guessing how the story will unfold until the very end.

A Forgotten Murder starts in Florida but moves to an English manor house. This is a fun, fast moving mystery -- fans of English manor house mysteries will enjoy.

The Forgotten Murder is the latest installment for the series and while this is the third book in the series, it is not necessary to have read the previous books as they read as stand-alones quite easily. I read and enjoyed the first installment but somehow I missed the second one but I will be checking it out here soon too. Once again we are introduced to another mystery for famous author Sara Medlar, Kate her niece and their beloved friend Jack to solve. But this time they might even be danger when the truth comes out.

Kate and Jack believe that this trip is just for a change of scenery from Lachlan Florida, but it doesn’t take them long to figure out that Miss Sara has other plans for this trip when they find themselves in England at Oxley Manor where Sara plans to write another book about a crime that took place a couple decades ago. Two young people went missing and they supposedly ran off together on the same night and no one in their “pack” has spoken of it since. Things don’t add up with what she knows because there are pieces of the story missing and Sara is determined to uncover the truth of what happened that night.

Sara has called the group of friends who were there the night the “couple” went missing to see what they know and if there is any truth to the story that has been told. Or was is something else that really happened that night. It doesn’t take long for the three of them to figure out there was a lot more was going on around the time the two went missing. This group who were teenagers then, now adult, have been harboring secrets for many years and there are some that will do anything to keep it that way. Even if it means murder.

We of course have our main three characters Sara, Kate and Jack which I just adored but we are introduced to quite a few new ones. Some were likable, some that weren’t and then there was a couple that I just wasn’t sure about at all. But it all played a part in the story so it worked rather well. Now, Kate and Jack have some chemistry just like in the first book and their banter back and forth was so much fun. I am still hoping that they will finally give in already. And overall, it was such a great cast of characters.

The mystery at the heart of the story was very well done with just enough suspense and little clues here and there that keep my attention and trying to piece them together along with the trio. But it was the re-enactment that Sara put together of that night brought the past and present together making for more suspects and more questions. It all comes together at the end with a twist that I most certainly did not see coming. Wow, was it a doozy.

A Forgotten Murder was a great cozy mystery with characters that you want to root for and a mystery that keeps you guessing and I am hoping that there will more installments for the series. Finger crossed…

I have been a devotee of Jude Deveraux for many, many years; 'Sweet Liar' was actually my introduction to the world of romance and I was drawn in by Deveraux's strong characters, her tightly woven plot lines, and how she managed to squeeze my heart in her hands the whole time, keeping me on the edge of my seat while reading a ROMANCE NOVEL.

It's of little surprise to me that 'A Forgotten Murder' would be so very suspenseful and keep me guessing from beginning to end, and it delivered at every turn.

It is amazing to see the versatility of one of my favorite authors in action and this is a 5 star read for mystery lovers.

A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is the 3rd book in her Medlar Mystery series. I have not read the first two books in this series, but I had no problem starting with this book. It was easy to get to know our heroine, Sara Medlar, a famous romance novelist, who loves to solve mysteries. I also enjoyed getting to know her cohorts in her crime solving (they solved two murders in the previous books); her niece Kate and their friend, Jack.

Sara arranges to visit an old friend in England, Bella, at her renovated hotel, Oxley Manor. A few years ago, Sara paid for much of the renovation of Oxley Manor, to help out Bella. Upon arrival, both Kate and Jack, who were planning a trip to Scotland, while Sara stayed at Oxley; but they quickly discover that Sara is up to her old tricks. Seems there was an unsolved mystery 20 years before, when two people went missing, never to be seen again. Sara takes it upon herself to invite all the living participants at the time of the incident to Oxley. Kate and Jack decide they will put their trip on hold, and stay to help Sara, since they worry about her putting herself in danger.

When the group from the past arrives to Oxley Manor, Sara, Kate and Jack meet up with them to try and get information from that day when two people disappeared. Sara is determined to solve the case, and as things get a bit too close for comfort, someone else is murdered; with everyone beginning to fear for their own lives. Sara will then have them reenact that night, with her putting all the clues she has together, for each to play their part, and see if they can tell who the guilty one is. There are a few surprises twists, as well as other guests who arrive.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing mystery that also has a few surprise twists as we come closer to the end. Just when we discovered our surprise murderer, there is another surprise that threw us for a loop. To tell too much more would be spoilers. A Forgotten Murder was a fun well written mystery, which Jude Deveraux kept us on the edge of our seat. If you enjoy old fashion murder mysteries, then you should be reading A Forgotten Murder.

I just could not get into this book. I think the problem for me was the formatting of the e-galley. I usually read digital books using Adobe Digital Edition, but the print in this galley was too small. So I switched over to Kindle. And there the print was just kind of jumbled. The chapters ran together, and there was no line spacing between paragraphs. It had nothing to do with the story itself, just formatting that seemed to overwhelm me. It was a struggle to keep reading, and I retained little of what I read. Plus, the dialog did not flow smoothly for me. Again, it could have been the jumbling of the format.

Cozy mystery readers assemble! Everyone has something to hide in this story. The setting is ideal: a large English manor that’s been converted into a hotel? Yes, please. I didn't even see the ending coming and I'm usually pretty good at that sort of thing.

Sara, her niece Kate, and her friend Jack travel to England where Sara wants to solve an old mystery at Oxley Manor. That's the set up for this latest installment in a fun cozy series from a writer known for her romances. Sara's a mature woman who retired (really?) from writing and now spends her time solving murders. Here she gathers a number of suspects at the Manor and then, along with Kate and Jack, works through them. It reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie with, of course, more modern dialogue. The interplay between the trio is delightful. Deveraux is a practiced storyteller and this flows nicely. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one!

Loved this book so much!! Anything Jude Deveraux writes instantly becomes my favorite. She gives me a "Book Hangover" every time!

I’ve often wondered how an author can outdo themself. You know top the last novel they write. In particular during a series. Each book in a series should have the ability to stand on its own – or at least work if read out of sequence. Jude Deveraux has absolutely outdone herself with A FORGOTTEN MURDER. I pride myself on being a pseudo crime solver and never saw the ending of A FORGOTTEN MURDER. The cast of characters or perhaps we should call them suspects was astounding. The story was riveting and much unexpected.
There’s even an homage to Jude Deveraux romance novels staring knights and heroes with swords and chain mail hauling huge beasts. Any fan of Jude Deveraux is going to be enthralled with this series, which started with A Willing Murder – fabulous – then A Justified Murder that captures your interest with its angst and grit.
Now welcome to A FORGOTTEN MURDER. A murder mystery that starts with our Sara Medlar looking into some strange facts about an old English manor that she has helped a friend fix up. Actually Oxley Manor was in sad shape but with the help of Sara it was now returning to its former glory.
But alas someone discovers a skeleton on the manor grounds. This does not bode well for any plan to reopen Oxley Manor to the public.
As usual Sara has innocently bumped into a murder mystery on what was supposed to be a vacation of sorts with her two cohorts, niece Kate and Jack Wyatt. A holiday at an old English manor and now a body, well what an avalanche of material for romance writer Sara Medlar. What an interesting research project for this threesome. And of course what a gem for all of Jude Deveraux fans.
In each page and chapter A FORGOTTEN MURDER follows a dramatic relationship of what truly appears to be fools that have wound up at one point or another in their lives at this manor. If the manor walls could talk it would scandalize these characters and the manor for sure. But for some reason most of these people had turned their backs on their pack of misfits. Only returning for a funeral.
The story behind Oxley Manor is just the kind that would attract Sara Medlar’s attention. Some twenty years ago after a party at the manor two of the friends literally walked out the door never seen again. Sara thinks there is an untapped story – mystery – there. The fact that the local authorities didn’t follow through is just the impetus to whet her curiosity.
Just when I thought A FORGOTTEN MURDER had come to a somewhat satisfying conclusion Jude Deveraux decides to throw in one more wrench into the mess. Now we have a Jude Deveraux ending. And once again with A FORGOTTEN MURDER we have a winning mystery/crime novel from the master of romance novels.

Book: A Forgotten Murder
Author: Jude Deveraux
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for sending me an ARC.

I really thought that I would enjoy this one, but I just couldn’t get into the story. I mean, it did have everything that I like in a book, but for some reason it just didn’t click for me. I loved the concept of it, but there was just something to it that made it very difficult for me to get into.

I honestly forgot that I was even reading this at times. It was so easy for me to put down and walk away from. I found myself skimming parts and just not really caring about what was going on. It’s not anyone’s fault either. The book is actually pretty well done, but it just didn’t work for me. It’s just one of those deals where it’s me, not the book.

We are thrown right into the middle of things. Jude starts out with a rathe exciting beginning in the woods with a rather grim discovery. Then, we are taken to a different group and get to see something else. Honestly, I really don’t remember-again, it’s not the book’s fault. Again, this should have pulled me in, but it just didn’t. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been reading a lot of books lately that follow this set up or what.

Anyway, that’s all I’m going to say about this one.

This book comes out on March 10, 2020.

A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series. First I am glad they moved the location of this murder because I do not think their small town in Florida could handle another old death. Two was enough. Fast pace book but not as strong as the previous two books. I figured out the ending pretty fast and because we were in a new location we spent more time learning the new characters then really on the core three. Don't get me wrong there was a focus on the three it just seemed to lack that camaraderie that was in previous books. Cool setting and I really want to go visit the United Kingdom again. I am giving three stars. Originally 3.5 stars but rounded down due to the ending being abrupt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for an ARC. This is an honest review.

**3.5 Stars**

Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

The mystery genre is not something I usually read unless someone asks me and this was the case for this book except, the author’s name is so well known to me, I agreed to read and review this. Jude Deveraux used to be one of my favorite romance writers in the 1990’s! She wrote historical romance back then and now contemporary books, which I have not read at all.

I have not read any other book in this series – I believe this is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series, but I will say this did pretty good as a standalone. There is a gathering at Oxley Manor, and Sara, Kate and Jack are there to figure out what happened in a missing persons case years ago. There are suspects galore, a dead body, and an old luxury manor. It’s a great recipe for a murder mystery.

What I Liked:

*Since I jumped into this series with the third book, I liked how there was enough background of the main characters: Sara, Kate and Jack without it feeling like an info dump. I didn’t feel lost because this really felt like a new mystery.

*Kate and Jack have great chemistry. Here is when I did wish I read the previous books because I want to know how they met and got together. Jack is a wonderful, protective character. I like how he could get Puck to talk even though Puck has a reputation for being a recluse.

*There are many suspects in this story but I like the twist at the end. I love a mystery where there is some old manor or house as the setting. It just sets the tone for the story and gives me CLUE vibes.

Things That Made Me Go Hmm:

*I don’t read many mysteries so it’s not like I can compare it to many I’ve read before but I really enjoyed the characters in this story.

*It may have lost my attention a few times only because I wasn’t in the mood for a mystery (it’s rare that I am) so it’s not anything against the book, just a pure ME thing.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the setting of the story. If you like a good mystery, I think you will enjoy this one!

Sara Medlar is at it again with her companions niece Kate and friend Jack. Sara loves a good mystery, now that she is retired, and this time wants to solve a 25 year mystery that occurred on the English estate she helped restore with friend Bella. Two people disappeared from Oxley Manor in 1994 and were never seen again. Now those that were at the manor those many years ago, have been invited back to help solve the mystery of where are they now, dead or alive. Through the plot we learn details about the party life and interactions the characters had in their younger days as well as their lives since, or as much as they want you to really know. The story brings twists, turns, surprises, ongoing ‘romancing of Kate and Jack, snarky comments, investigations, singing, playwriting, and an abundance of character flaws. Through it all the main characters make you want to laugh, enjoy their wonderful friendship, and rooting for their safety as they go all out to solve the mystery. Definitely an enjoyable read.

The Setting
The setting for this book is perfect. After all, what fan of suspense can resist an unsolved mystery revolving around a large English manor that’s been converted into a hotel?

Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate, is the perfect location for old friends to gather, not just to catch up on what’s been going on for the last twenty-five years, but to solve an old mystery.

The Cast of Characters
And Sara Medlar, the instigator of the weekend, wants to encourage a romance between her niece Kate and her friend Jack. So she insists that both come along for the adventure.

Though Kate and Jack are blindsided by the other guests that Sara has invited to the old hotel, they aren’t terribly surprised.

And the Plot Thickens
Sara informs the group that 25 years ago two people ran off together from Oxley. Since that time, no one has heard from them so, bottom line: Sara wants to know what happened. Thus, she has gathered the same people who were there. She expects some help and answers.

Da Da Da DDuuhhhhh
But it seems everyone is hiding secrets.

What Concerned Me
I had a hard time with this book for several reasons.

1. There were quite a few characters to keep track of.
2. While it was understandable, the story went back and forth between what happened 25 years ago and the present.
3. I found the dialog was noticeable rather than just blending in with the story.

What I Liked Most
I really liked the setting for this story. It felt just right for this type of book.

The Bottom Line Is . . .
I think if you read this series in order and were a little more familiar with the characters it would help. (Although, I’m wondering if the guests that were invited to the manor were just introduced in this book.)

Sara is a writer who seems to have a knack for solving crimes. She comes to Oxley Manor under the guise of taking a vacation. The real reason though is to determine what happened to two people who vanished twenty years ago. It seems everyone at the manor is a suspect, and Sara along with her niece Kate and her friend Jack, tries to put the puzzle pieces together and figure out what happened. An intriguing cast of characters, a well-developed plot, and a cozy mystery that had me playing my favorite book game, whodunnit and why.
I have to confess, I must have skimmed over the last line of the book description. It clearly states: “ ….another irresistible case in her bestselling Medlar Murder series.” I mention this because I always advise starting a series from the beginning, just because you may miss out on background information. I guess I can't say always anymore since I did read and enjoy A Forgotten Murder and not the prior books. I do plan to read the others, so I can't say at this point if the book would have been a better read. If I didn't know it was part of a series( like I do now), I would have thought it was a terrific standalone.

A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series. I have not read the other two and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I would categorize this as a cozy mystery.

Sara Medlar is an author and she likes to solve mysteries in real life too. Sara has help from her niece, Kate and their friend Jack. There is reference to their backgrounds and family dynamics but it didn’t interfere with the story. It did make me want to go back and read the other books.

The mystery reminded me of clue. Sara has invited ‘the pack’ back to Oxley Manor to determine what happened to two members of their pack that has never been seen from again. Did they run off together or did something happen to them. And if something did happen to them, who in the pack was the reason.
The cast of characters is quite interesting and entertaining. As their insecurities and true personalities are revealed you realize anyone of them could have a motive. They story goes back and forth from present time to when they went missing. It was also fascinating to see how each member of the team turned out.

I enjoyed the dynamics between all of the characters. Jude is the ultimate story teller and this book did not disappoint.
Sexual content – kissing and clean banter
Violence – murder, rape(not described in detail)
Drinking – minor drinking at the manor, in the past many of the characters would get drunk and high
Language - minor

A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is the 3rd book in the Medlar Mystery series. The story takes place in an English manor, where retired novelist, Sara Medlar, has sent cash to an old friend of hers looking to restore the old estate. Sara, along with her niece Kate and and their friend, Jack, venture across the pond to Oxley Manor, a luxury hotel with a secret from the past. Upon arrival, Sara fesses up her real reason for the holiday was to look into an unsolved mystery of two people who are thought to have run from together and have never been heard from again. The people who were at the Manor the night of the incident, are invited to assist in this real life mystery theatre event, in which other secrets are exposed, many of which lead to a body discovered on the property.

Sara, Kate and Jack are again thrust into the middle of a dangerous mystery, where none of the guests are safe from the person, or persons, trying to keep the secrets of the past buried with the body in the conservation.

This is the second book in the series I have read, I also read the first installation, A Willing Murder, but I haven’t read the second book, A Justified Murder....Yet! While each book is a stand alone mystery, I do recommend reading them all , in order, to get a an idea of the backstory of each of the main characters, Sara, Kate and Jack. They are lovable characters, they each play off each other beautifully! They are each such strong characters in different ways. Can you tell I’m a huge fan of this series and Jude Deveraux? I admit, she is one of my absolute favorite authors, and this series will not disappoint. Now, I need to go back and read the second book....oh well!

I would like to thank Netgalley and MIRA Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest review.

Back in my teens and twenties, I read and loved many of Jude Deveraux’s historical romances. How excited was I to see that she now has a current-day mystery series. Not cute or kitschy, A Forgotten Murder is a sublimely classic who-done-it full of a cast of potential murderers, plenty of red herrings, and a beautiful English estate setting.

Favorite character: Jack Wyatt

He is charismatic and delightfully mischievous, not to mention a great romantic lead and mystery clue-solver. He appears to have it all, but he struggles with a father and a past that have left invisible scars. He routinely champions unnoticeable people because he does notice them, and he does care.

What I Loved

I loved the setting – a grand old English estate turned into an Inn. The romantic in me adores this perfect backdrop for the story. A beautiful house and a group of larger than life characters are both fun and intriguing, much like a game of Clue. And the reveal, a play reconstructing the events the night the murder happened, suits the setting just perfectly.

The cast of characters is all incredibly well-developed. All their insecurities and demons exposed as the mystery unfolds. There are no questions that each could commit a murder. It’s just a matter of who did.

The story within a story aspect keeps the suspense building throughout the novel. Past and present are blended seamlessly to create a wickedly suspenseful read that is witty and mind-blowing. Twisting and turning, at times upon itself, with touches of humor that delighted me.

The story contains a little bit of grit that keeps the story from becoming cutesy. I marveled at the creation of the perfect mystery in a package that was not contrived and kitschy. Trying to create a unique series has led to so many different settings and themes among the cozy genre, which eventually makes it harder and harder to believe. But, this series strips the genre down to its core elements and then, from there, builds a full, rich, and uncompromisingly developed story.

WhatI Wish

I wish that Jude Deveraux had started writing mysteries so much earlier, then I would have been able to spend all these years enjoying them.

To Read or Not to Read

The Medlar mysteries are the quintessential cozy murder mysteries, and if you only read one book in the genre, it should be one from this series. I was able to read and enjoy this novel as a stand-alone novel, though now I plan on going back and reading the other two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars

This is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series by Jude Deveraux.

To me this sort of spans the distance between what a cozy mystery is and a plain ole mystery. I am leaning toward just a mystery category. Sara is heralded as the lead but I felt like that position went more to Kate and Jack. I actually found them the most engaging in this particular story.

The story begins with a young woman falling into a hole and finding the remains of someone she knew while going to school. She takes the watch off the person which is inscribed with his name. Years later, Sara, Kate and Jack come to this estate very close to where this dead body is located. Sara, a fiction writer, has been enamored by the mysteries surrounding Oxley Manor and has gathered a whole slew of suspects to the manor in order to ferret out the killer.

This story felt like it was a little bit on the longish side and scenes could have been edited out in my opinion but the mystery does keep you totally engaged in wanting to know the why of it all.

Great story. I haven’t read much in the Deveraux line and to be honest, I didn’t realize she wrote under the mystery/cozy mystery umbrella. I remember my mother reading Deveraux romances when I was younger. And I assume the author is branching out into a new genre. I think she captured the feel of a cozy mystery very well and hope to see more in this line of books.

If you love a good mystery book, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.