Forget Me Not
- Judith D Collins
- Aug 24
- 5 min read
By: Stacy Willingham
Narrators: Helen Laser, Karissa Vacker
ISBN: 9781250887979
Publisher: Minotaur Books | St. Martin's Press
Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: 08/26/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
From the queen of Southern suspense and the New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark comes Stacy Willingham’s pulse-pounding new thriller, a story about the power of sisterhood and the haunting grip of secrets buried deep.
Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared on her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew.
With the entire summer now looming ahead—a summer spent with nothing to do in her childhood home, with her estranged mother—Claire decides on a whim to accept a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina less than an hour away from where she grew up. At first glance, Galloway is an idyllic escape for Claire. A scenic retreat full of slow-paced nostalgia, as well as a place where her sister seemed truly happy in that last summer before she vanished, it feels like the perfect plan to pass the time. However, as soon as Claire starts to settle in, she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, and what at first seems like a story of young rebellion and love turns into something much more sinister as it begins to describe details of various unsolved crimes. As the days stretch on, Claire finds herself becoming more and more secluded as she starts to obsess over the diary's contents… as well as the lingering feeling that her own sister's disappearance may be somehow tied to it all.
Galloway was supposed to be a place to help her move forward, but instead, Claire quickly finds herself immersed in her own dark and dangerous past.
My Review
Get ready to dive into the latest thriller from the queen of Southern suspense and New York Times bestselling author, Stacy Willingham!
Known for her gripping novels like "A Flicker in the Dark", "All the Dangerous Things", and "Only If You Are Lucky", Stacy is back with a page-turner that unravels a shocking mystery decades in the making, FORGET ME NOT.
Imagine a world where old secrets and fresh lies collide, and a past refuses to stay hidden. With her stunning prose and a captivating tale of sisterhood, this story will pull you in and keep you on the edge of your seat.
So, what’s the story about?
Meet Claire Campbell, a journalist who traded her Southern roots for the hustle and bustle of Manhattan years ago. But when tragedy strikes—her mother is in an accident—Claire knows it’s time to confront the ghosts of her past, including the murder of her sister Natalie, who was murdered by her secret older boyfriend Jeffrey Slater twenty-two years ago.
Now, Claire's journey takes her back to Claxton, SC, a small fishing town that holds both cherished memories and painful reminders. As she grapples with her career setbacks and personal grief, she finds herself drawn back to her childhood home. There, in the familiarity of her old room, she stumbles upon a treasure trove of forgotten photos and a roll of undeveloped film that could hold the key to understanding her sister’s tragic fate.
Determined to uncover the truth, Claire takes a job at Galloway Farms, where he sister worked, a picturesque vineyard that seems to hold more than just grapes. It’s here that she meets an intriguing cast of characters: Mitchell, the quirky owner with a wealth of herbal knowledge; Liam, the enigmatic caretaker; and Marcia, a woman haunted by her past. As Claire digs deeper, she uncovers a hidden diary in the guesthouse vent that reveals dark secrets and hints at a cult-like atmosphere surrounding her sister’s life.
What happens next?
As Claire develops the mysterious film, she realizes that nothing is as it seems, and the truth about her sister’s murder may be far more chilling than she ever imagined. Did the justice system convict the wrong person? Trust no one.
Now, let me tell you what I thought.
Stacy Willingham is an absolute genius at weaving suspense into her narratives, and this book is no exception! Claire is a tenacious protagonist, using her investigative skills to navigate through a labyrinth of secrets. The author expertly alternates between past and present, creating a thick atmosphere of tension and danger that keeps you guessing and captivated until the satisfying Epilogue.
As a long-time fan of Stacy’s work, I can confidently say that each of her novels is a thrilling adventure, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
If you’re an audiobook lover, you’re in for a treat!
I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version narrated by the dynamic duo Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker. (favorites) Their performance perfectly captures the Southern essence, the intensity of the plot, and the unique voices of each character, bringing the story to life in a truly immersive way. Top audiobooks of 2025!
My recs
If you’re looking for a gripping read, FORGET ME NOT is a must for fans of Stacy Willingham and those readers who enjoy true crime vibes, family dramas, sisterhood, Southern fiction, and chilling settings. Also for those who enjoy authors like Mary Kubica, Heather Gudenkauf, Sally Hepworth, Lisa Jewell, Samantha Downing, Alice Feeney, Kate Alice Marshall, and B.A. Paris.
A huge thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, SMPInfluencers, and #MacAudio2025 for providing advanced reading and listening copies via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. Happy reading!
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 26, 2025
Top Audiobooks 2025
Stacy Novels:
Praise
“Once again, Willingham (Only If You’re Lucky) delivers a gripping thriller packed with twists that will keep readers on edge until the final page… Fans of Sally Hepworth and Kate Alice Marshall will enjoy the novel’s Southern heat, slow-burning tension, and suspense.”
–Library Journal
“[This is a] compelling suspense ride, full of twists and turns avid followers of her couldn't even imagine. Much like the diary in Willingham's current book, Forget Me Not is hard to put down after you've read the first few chapters. Totally consume yourself in this southern suspense novel.”
“Absolutely riveting. Simmering tension and genuine shocks make Forget Me Not a thriller I’ll remember for a long, long time.”
― Riley Sager
“Stacy Willingham beguiles with her magnetic writing and atmospheric setting, drawing readers easily into a decades-old mystery where a constant sense of danger and unease brews beneath the surface. Shocking and totally twisted. Totally unique, I've never read anything like it.”
― Mary Kubica
“Stacy Willingham does not miss! I was immediately drawn into this eerie and captivating story, and could not put it down. A perfect thriller for summer reading.”
– Samantha Downing
About the Author
Stacy Willingham is the New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark, All the Dangerous Things and Only If You're Lucky.
Her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, was a 2022 finalist for the Book of the Month's Book of the Year award, Goodreads Choice Best Debut award, Goodreads Choice Best Mystery & Thriller award, and ITW's Best First Novel award. Her work has been translated in more than thirty languages.
Before turning to fiction, she was a copywriter and brand strategist for various marketing agencies. She earned her B.A. in magazine journalism from the University of Georgia and M.F.A. in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
She currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, Britt, and Labradoodle, Mako.
