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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Great ending to a great series. I love how much the characters have grown since the first book. This book wasted no time starting the action. I might have lost a little sleep because I couldn’t stop reading. Do yourself a favor, and read this series!

Bad Memory is a good book that I could not put down. This was the first I have read by the and I will read more. Great characters and storyline.

I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were a little predictable, but, there was enough suspense that the book kept my attention. I was extremely satisfied with the ending and will recommend to others. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

This is the second book of the series that i read, her storylines are interesting but am looking for more character development and sharper writing. So i enjoyed it as a light read

I read this book without having read the first book in the series, but about halfway through this book I decided that I wanted to read the first book, and any subsequent ones. I also feel that even though I didn’t read the first book I was confused about very little in the story, and nothing relating to the main plot.

The main character, Jessica Shaw, is obviously flawed which makes her that much more relatable. I really liked seeing not only her character flaws but also her weaknesses, it was refreshing to have a main character who wasn’t perfect, and who accepted help.

The plot immediately sucked you in, and the resolution was something that you will never see coming, but which makes perfect sense once it is revealed. I dislike when authors add twists into their story that don’t fit with everything else that has happened, but that isn’t the case in this book.

My one problem with this book is that there was a second crime investigation going on at the same time as the main one, and at first they seemed unrelated and I was confused about why it was occurring. However, as you read the book all the pieces fall into place. In the beginning I was also confused about which character was offering their point of view and whether I was reading something from the past or present. but this also resolved itself as I continued reading and began to recognize the names of the characters.

Just like any other crime series, the plot is wrapped up nicely within this book, but there is promise for another book with another crime investigation which I look forward to.

This review can also be found on my blog at https://forthestarlightreader.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/review-bad-memory-by-lisa-gray/

This is the first time I have read a title by Lisa Gray, I wasn't disappointed. One thing I wish I'd done before reading Bad Memory, was to read the previous titles in the series, so I had some background on the characters. Living in the UK I have always been interested in the death penalty in the USA, without 100% proof of guilt, how they can proceed with execution.

30 years ago Rue Hunter was convicted of the murders of her best friend, Megan and her boyfriend Lucas. Rue confessed, open and shut case! That is until Rue's sister, some 30 years later and days before Rue's scheduled execution, hires Jessica Shaw pi to investigate whether Rue really is guilty. This book has lots of twists and turns, leaving you guessing throughout. A small community harbours lots of secrets, secrets that Jessica Shaw is determined to uncover. The guilty party is not what you expect, perfect for a crime story. I do feel the ending was a little rushed and the culprits story not fully explained.
I'm sure I lost a sleep reading, I couldn't put the book down. Overall a great read for crime thriller readers.

Bad Memory was a really interesting 2nd book in the Jessica Shaw Series. In this one, Jessica is asked to try to solve a murder that occurred over thirty years earlier. She has only a few days to figure out what really happened, as the woman, Rue Hunter, who was convicted of the double murder when she was a teenager is due to be put to death in a few days. When Jessica visits Rue in prison, she finds that Rue doesn't remember what happened that night. It is up to Jessica to determine what really happened before a possibly innocent women is executed.

I thought that the most compelling aspect of this book was that Rue really didn't remember if she killed her boyfriend and best friend or not. She had not appealed her conviction earlier, but as her execution date draws near, she starts to wonder if it's possible that she didn't commit the murders.

I liked seeing Jessica again and seeing her work on this case. I'm enjoying her character and empathize with the struggles she has over her own past.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Jessica Shaw. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy.

This is the second book in the Jessica Shaw series, following Thin Air which I enjoyed earlier in the year. It was fun to be reacquainted with Jessica, still working mundane investigations when an intriguing case pops up - a woman named Rue is due to be executed for a murder on a night where she can’t recollect a thing. Our Jessica drops everything and gets far too involved in the investigation and all hell breaks loose. As Jessica pursues justice you can’t help wondering what the next twelve books will bring as this is a really great series and could go on for ever!

This was a fantastic book! Bad Memory by Lisa Gray centers around a private investigator named Jessia Shaw. I typically don’t love series but there is something about Lisa Gray’s writing that I really enjoy and this was a very good suspense novel. I really liked Thin Air which was the first in this series.

Synopsis:

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.

Excellent writing, the author did a really good job of keeping me guessing. The plot was strong enough that I kept reading because I really had a desire to know the truth! I will be looking forward to the next in this series.

Due out October 24.

A great story of friends, secrets and tragedy.

All mixed in with the emotive subject of the death penalty.

I really enjoyed the story and also the way it makes you consider death row inmates and the legal system. I also found it emotive that it dealt with childhood trauma and how it changes your life in a really sensitive manner.

Good story with lots of twists and turns. Character interaction plays an important role, and the author worked hard on that aspect as well

WOW!!! This book was great! I even liked (most of) the characters.

Rue Hunter, in prison for a double murder, is to be executed in one week. Her sister, Rose, offers Jessica Shaw - a PI in California for 6 months - $25,000 to dig back into the case from 1987. Also for an acquittal Rose will pay Jessica $150,000. Of course the boss, Ed Crozier, stands to profit, too.

Lots of drama and suspense! The further Jessica digs into the case the more people we meet and the more involved Jessica becomes in the small town: Dylan her kinda boyfriend, Pryce ( a friend and a cop), and Sylvia - her landlord. Jessica finds things that were never brought up by the police department of Hundred Acres when Rue was sentenced with the murders.

A fast-paced superb read! Highly Recommend!!!

Many Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for a fine read!

I received a free, advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. I read thr author's first Jessica Shaw book recently, but if you hadn't read it, it wouldn't be too confusing. Jessica is a PI, and stumbles into another murder mystery in which the convicted felon is about to be executed. Her memory is unreliable. This particular story was interesting, but interspersed with chapters with Pryce's POV as he decided to look into his former partner's murder was a little frustrating. I knew it would be connected to the murder that Jessica was investigating from 1987. However, it was a quick read and the ending wasn't predictable. There would have been a lot better ways to handle the crisis that the murderer came upon; of course it ended tragically. I would recommend this book if it was free or under $5.

I really enjoy mysteries and action books.. This book was just that. This is the second book in her Jessica Shaw series. I didn’t have to read the first book to pick this book up and enjoy it.

The main character,Jessica, is a female private investigator. She is hired by Rue Hunter’s sister to investigate the case Rue was being sentenced to death row because of. With a short deadline, Jessica got to work.

Rue was being sentenced to the death penalty for killing her two friends up on Devils Drop, a local Make out place for teens. She wasn’t sure she did it, but since everyone seemed sure she had she admitted to it.

Jessica used her resources in the town to gather information and discovered a lot of the secrets in Hundred Acres were starting to come out. She determined that Rue was innocent just in time of the crime she committed. Jessica’s trailer got broken into, because she was getting too close.

Jessica has it pretty much figured out who was covering up what in this town, and she gets to the point of confrontation and almost loses her own life because it.

This is a book that keeps you reading. There’s a few different points of view, but it is easy to follow.

Thanks @lisagreywriter

A good mystery with several twists and turns. A PI is hired to investigate a 30 year old murder . The convicted murderer is on death row and time is running out . The PI takes the case and begins to dissect the case and it's impact on the victims families, the detectives that worked on the original case and the small town where the murders took place. What the PI discovers changes everything , including her.

Loved this book and it’s plot also was very engaged with main characters and setting
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Bad Memory which is the follow up to Lisa Gray's Thin Air follows the main character Jessica Shaw work a 30 year old double murder. While reading the first book in the series is not necessary to understand this sequel, it will bring deeper understanding of Jessica's actions. The multiple view points used to tell the story keeps the pace quick as you race through the pages. After reading Thin Air I was very excited to see where the series would go and this book did not disappoint!

I really enjoyed Thin Air, the first book in this series, so had high expectations for this follow-up thriller.
A heart-thumping prologue sets the clock running - Rue is on death-row with only 10 days before her execution for double murder in 1987.
Rue's sister Rose asks private investigator Jessica Shaw to prove Rue's innocence before it is too late.
Jessica's journey to the truth takes her into the dark heart of the small desert town of Hundred Acres, where the memory of the murders is still powerful, especially for those who will kill to keep their secrets. She pays a heavy price for digging where she is not wanted.
The Pryce storyline did not work for me and his character never felt developed or real, but the story threads were neatly woven together.

Jessica Shaw is back! I was very excited to see a sequel because I absolutely loved the first book in this series.. Jessica is on the hunt again but this time she has traveled to Hundred Acres a small town with many secrets. Rue Hunter is on death row for killing her best friend and boyfriend even confessing to their murders! BUT as Jessica looks into this case she quickly unravels some secrets that have been long buried.Is Rue a killer or was she an innocent teenager with a bad memory of that night? You will have to read to find out! Suspense, thrills and a great female lead character.. perfect mystery! Loved this book and hoping there is a next.

This book was just ok for me. Good premise but a little bit to easy to work out but a good ending redeemed it so 3 stars from me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

Ok, I love a strong female lead and Jessica Shaw is definitely a bada$$ for sure. Bad Memory is the second book in the series. The beginning was a bit confusing even though I had read book one just a week or two prior. I was expecting her to be in the same town where the previous story took place and it wasn't really clear how/why she ended up in Hundred Acres right away. Jessica is approached by the sister of a death row inmate scheduled to be executed in less than a week and asked to please look into the murder she was convicted of. Basically a one last ditch effort to clear Rue for the murders of her best friend and boyfriend 30 years ago. The book is filled with small town scandal and juicy secrets that people are desperate to keep covered. I look forward to reading more of Jessica Shaw!

What an incredible story! Murder mystery novels are my absolutely favourite of all book genres, if they are done right! Recently, I have been disappointed with the novels I have read in this genre that have been recommended to me, but when I accepted this ARC on NetGalley, I had no idea that I would be reading a book that would keep me on the edge of my (car)seat until the very last page. I read this book whilst on a journey to Birmingham, and I didn’t even notice the time passing, as my nose was fully lodged in my kindle!

When I’m reading a book, I love a fast pace, and the short time limit within the novel kept this book fast-paced and continuously built suspense. I usually don’t like flashbacks in novels as I feel that they can sometimes slow the pace of the book down and they can make the book disjointed and detached. However, the use of flashbacks by Lisa Gray did not hinder the progress of the book, but enhanced it. They provided vital information that was essential for the ending.

The twists throughout kept me guessing and changing my mind over who I believe had done it. I was wrong at every turn and I loved it. I hate it when a book is too predictable, as to me, it seems like a waste of time reading it. What is the point in reading a book when you already know the ending! When I went back and reread the book for a second time, knowing the end result, I could see how every bit of information, no matter how small and insignificant they seemed when I first read it, pieced together. It really is a spectacularly written novel.

I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a brilliant murder mystery that will suck them in completely. I had a severe case of the book blues after finishing this novel. Knowing that I couldn’t reread it without knowing the ending again was really upsetting as it was so incredible.

My second encounter with Jessica Shaw, and unusually fascinating story line which really keeps the reader guessing to the very end. It begins with a double murder from 30 years previously. Jessicas skill and determination gradually brings the truth to light.

This is the second book in the Jessica Shaw series and can be read as a stand-alone. Lisa Gray does a great job at providing contextual information relevant to characterization as she continues to develop her main character, Jessica. While some of the narrative held familiarity and was overly foreshadowed, it did not impact the overall story line or feel of the book. A modest read. More in line with a mystery/police-procedural than a suspense/thriller. 4 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC, which I read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thanks to Netgally and Amazon Publishing UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Private investigator, Jessica Shaw is approached by Rose, a woman whose sister, Rue, is on death row and going to be executed for a double murder she supposedly committed over 30 years ago when she was 17. Rose wants Jessica to take one last look at the case and see if there is any way to clear Rue before her execution.

I love a good detective story with an investigation that keeps turning up new info until the truth finally comes to light. I thought this book was great. It was a good procedural and it had some suspense and tension. I read and enjoyed the first Jessica Shaw book and I liked this one even better. I like the Jessica and Pryce characters and I like the author's writing style. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

This book took me awhile to get into. I almost felt like I needed to go re read the first book in the series to catch myself back up. I thought it was a little confusing how she was in a new town and had been there for several months and the book talked like I should already know this. But it wasn't mentioned in the previous book. Needless to say I was LOST for a good long while trying to keep up, but I did eventually hita Rhythm and enjoyed the book. I don't' think it was as good as the first book, but that was a hard one to top! I am looking forward to book 3 in this series. I hope it involves her quitting smoking. :)

Great mystery. Kept me guessing throughout. Was very unpredictable!
Jessica moved to Hundred Acres, California a few years ago to forget her past. She is working as a PI for a local man. Jessica gets an offer from a former resident of Hundred Acres, Rose, to look into the death of two local teenagers, Lucas and Megan, whom her sister, Rue, has spent the past 30 years in jail for killing and is about to be executed. The problem is that Rue confessed to the murders, the weapon was found in her room, and she was found the night of the murder covered in Lucas and Megan's blood. So could she be innocent? Locals aren't happy that Jessica is poking around in something they all want forgotten. But, what Jessica uncovers will shock everyone, including the reader!!

This. Is the second book in the Jessica Shaw series.
Synopsis;
Jessica arrives at a seemingly sleepy remote town called Hundred Acres and thanks to the help of a friend, Detective Pryce, she starts a new job in the small detective office in the town. She is asked by a new client called Rose Dalton to look in to a crime that took place 30 years ago which left her sister Rue Hunter incarcerated for the murders of her boyfriend Lucas and her best friend Megan. Rue is due to be executed In a week's time for the murders so there is huge pressure to make progress quickly but Jessica is intrigued and keen to take on a case that doesn't involve marital desputes, and agrees to help.

I really enjoyed this book. While the story was somewhat far fetched in places (it turns a bit 'Midsummer Murders' at some points, leaving you wondering how much crime can really happen in one small town!) the story did unfold quickly. Unlike other crime stories where action doesn't take place until half way through the book, Gray had the story developing from the first chapter so it flowed really well and had me gripped. The story is told from various character points of view as well as from different time periods so there was no question left unanswered which I loved - Gray tied it all together really well. The central character is also flawed which makes her a lot more relatable - she clearly comes with baggage and isn't physically as strong as other hero characters in similar novels.

I can't wait to read the first book in the series and also see where Jessica Shaw ends up next! A huge thanks to #negalley for sending me a copy. #badmemory #lisagray

This was an enjoyable procedural with an interesting plot regarding a death row inmate. I do not like predictable books and this one definitely had twists and turns. I enjoyed the character of Jessica Shaw and look forward to reading more about her.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK, the author, and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I found the first 50% to be quite dull and predictable. As the whole premise is based around a woman on death row being proven innocent, it's fairly obvious what direction the book is going to move in, which spoiled it for me. I loved how we were given more information by POV from the past and how these linked well with what was currently happening in the text. Overall it was okay, but I thought it was quite similar to other books that I have read within this genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This started out well, but as I read on I got bored.I'm not sure why it didn't hold my interest. Sorry.

An interesting murder mystery…

This is the second book in the Jessica Shaw series that can be read as a stand-alone.

Private Investigator Jessica Shaw is at a transitional point in her life, not wanting to return to New York State where she’s licensed she’s temporarily working for a small California detective agency in Hundred Acres while she waits to be licensed in the state. The assignments are routine but when her boss is out of the office a case comes in that intrigues her and she takes it, she needs the challenge.

Returning to the town she grew up in, Rose Dalton, the sister of a convicted murderer wants Jessica to look at her sister’s case. Thirty years ago the teenage Rue Hunter confessed to killing two of her friends and is scheduled to be executed in a week. Yet Rue isn’t sure that she’s guilty having no memory of the fatal act. Memories can be tricky, the mind can hide things to protect us from what it cannot cope with. Could that be the reason why there is vagueness in recollection or were certain drugs involved that can affect memory? It won’t be the first time Jessica has investigated years-old cold cases but can she find answers in the short timeframe? The clock is ticking down and this small town has dark secrets that certain people don’t want to see the light of day, Jessica’s poking soon rattles someone’s cage. Rue might not remember the fateful events that landed her in prison but someone does and they’ll do anything to protect themselves.

Having recently gone through much in her personal life Jessica was an intriguing character, events that occurred previously are alluded to here, and she’s mentally and emotionally processing a lot, this case was a needed distraction. Jessica’s a strong, intelligent, determined woman who is also very human in her flaws, she learns about herself as she continues to grow. This reader really liked where she headed at the end. The storyline was an interesting murder mystery that kept this reader engaged throughout and had more than one point of view. This was a good follow up to the first book in the series though I did like that one better and I do look forward to Jessica’s next undertaking.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

I never read Thin Air, Lisa Grays first book featuring P.I. Jessica Shaw , but I intend to. I would like to know more about Jessica's life as she is a brilliant character. Bad Memory is an excellent read. It's got plenty of twists that kept me guessing. I didn't realise who had done what to who until the ending. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I voluntarily read this ARC for an honest review - All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a first time author for me and this is part of a series. However, I don't feel I've missed out on anything
Really really enjoyed this - would love to read the others in the series

I found this well written, great characters and plot - lots of unpredictable twists - kept me on the edge of my seat - couldn't put this down - had to know what happened next


A great read - highly recommend

I’ve received this ARC from Netgalley, the author and it’s publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and are completely unbiased.

While this book is part of a series ( I have not read the previous book) you do not need to read the first book, It was well written and flowed conveniently.

I found this to be a pretty cozy read, just enough suspense, twists and turns.

“There’s always something interesting happening in small towns. You just need to know where to look.”

The quote is utterly suitable with the book. Hundred Acres all of a sudden become an interesting small town for Jessica Shaw, the Private Investigator in the local agency. Rose Hunter paid her to investigate the old murder case which involved her only sister, Rue Hunter. The case, ladies and gentleman, happened thirty years ago.

I didn't know this is series. I happened to suspect it when in the middle of finishing the book. This proves that you don't have to read the prequel to understand the book. The story flows really well, the writing is great, and I didn't hate Jessica. I even want to cheer for her to solve the case, she's a hard worker girl and not belong to hypocrite type. So Jessica is fine main character for me.

How a long time ago murder case opened again is the one that attracted me. Yes, it does seem strange and weird the Hunters want to investigate the case again thirty years later. Does it not seem too late? But eventhough I doubt the premise, the situation is strange enough to make me curious of who's done what. The mystery itself is complicated, the characters are not few, it seems the new one always pops up and make a new connection to the case. And it all happened in a week. Is it really possible in the investigation world though?

Nonetheless, I like the complicated story that solve itself in the end. I like Lisa Gray's writing and how she brings the feeling of small town in this book makes me like it even more. If only she made it a little bit more eerie. The conclusion is great and the ending is good too. Looking forward to read next book in this fine series.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me a copy of this ARC.

Very well written story of a PI uncovering the events that happened three decades earlier. Since I haven’t read the previous book I could not get an idea of the life of the protagonist. But the main story is different and could be followed easily. Suspenseful story and a good climax. Recommended book.

California has not executed a prisoner since 2006, and a woman has not met her end in the death chamber since 1964. But this is about to change – after more than 20 years on death row Rue Hunter must pay for a brutal double murder.

Rue
Still, after all these years, her dream is the same. After confessing to the double murder, she has lived with her deed in the confines of her six-by-eleven-foot cell. Now though, at the point of facing the finality of her death sentence, she wishes she could remember the actual deed of plunging a knife into the bodies of the people she loved most. Her dream brings her to the edge of Devil’s Peak – but she was high, and the disconnect between the vivid image of the man in a plaid shirt and her blood-soaked dress keeps haunting her.

Rose
Hundred Acres has not seen her since her sister’s trial, but now Rose returns to her childhood town. She feels responsible for Rue’s destroyed life and wants to fix it. With her life’s savings in her handbag, she hopes to persuade the newly appointed investigator to find any new evidence in Rue’s favour. Rue is no killer, even though the town was quick to accuse the disturbed teenager.

Jessica
It is not her choice to be stuck in the sleepy community of Hundred Acres, sixty miles north of LA. With her peroxided blonde hair and brightly tattooed arm, she is not a regular cop. Rose Hunter’s thick wad of cash prompts Jessica to go through the motions of looking over the evidence – everyone knows that Rue Hunter is guilty. However, she is intrigued by Rue’s dream and its mismatch to the evidence file. When she realises that some evidence has been omitted from the file, she is drawn into the case.

Lisa Gray’s novel is a detailed narrative of the intrigue and drama around a crime investigation. Her depiction of small-town community life and the ripple effect of a brutal act will keep the reader engaged.

Ange

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Good to catch up with these characters in another complex mystery.Lots of red herrings in a really good plot.

This is book 2 in the Jesica Shaw series. While it’s not really necessary to have read the first book in the series, it does help provide some background on Jessica as a person.
‘Bad Memory’ has Jessica living and working in a small town in California, trying to her hours done in order to get her private investigator license in the state. She’s doing better than she was in book 1. She has a new boyfriend, an ok job and is kind of fitting into the town.
One night while closing up the office Jessica is approached by the sister of a death row inmate who asks for her help. Rue Hunter was convicted of killing her two best friends almost 30 years ago and is due to be executed within weeks. Rue has memory issues and doesn’t remember exactly what happened the night her friends were killed.
Both Rue and her sister Rose just want to find out the truth of what happened the night of the murders, whatever that truth may be.
But when Jessica starts digging into what happened the night of the murders she begins to discover inconsistencies between the evidence and what everyone believes happened that night. And there are people in town who don’t want Jessica to discover the truth and will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn’t get to expose it.
I love a good mystery/thriller and ‘Bad Memory’ didn’t disappoint. It had me guessing right up until the end. Can’t wait to read more books featuring Jessica Shaw. 4 Stars