Forget Me Not

A Novel

By: Stacy Willingham

Narrated by: Helen Laser, Karissa Vacker

A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after 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.

"The two narrators, [Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker], are perfectly matched, and their combined performance creates a suspenseful and immersive listen" — AudioFile

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

Critic reviews

“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

Narrator was so good

Loved the story but also the narrator was so good, some twist and turns nothing too shocking but a very good story

Great story!

This is a wonderful story of love, persistence, and courage! And knowing that family is what you make it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 Stars round up— Atmospheric, but a Slow-Burn

Forget Me Not pulled me in with its moody Southern setting and rich, atmospheric writing. The vineyard backdrop, the family secrets, and that small-town tension? All done beautifully. Stacy Willingham knows how to create a haunting vibe that lingers.

That said, this one’s definitely more of a slow burn than a heart-pounding thriller. The pacing in the first half dragged a bit for me, and I found myself wanting the story to move faster. Some of the character choices didn’t always land either — not bad, just not as layered or compelling as her previous books.

By the time I reached the final act, things picked up, and I did enjoy the reveals and emotional payoff. It’s a solid mystery that delivers on atmosphere more than adrenaline.

If you like your thrillers slow, moody, and character-driven, this one’s worth the listen/read. Just don’t go in expecting nonstop twists — it’s more of a steady simmer than a sharp gasp.

🎧 Audiobook note: The narrator is one of my absolute favorites and as usual, she did a great job! She brought the Southern tone to life — it definitely enhanced the experience.

📖 Final Thoughts: Though not my personal favorite Willingham book, it’s still a solid, well-written read that fans of domestic suspense will appreciate.

Great!

This book kept my interest the whole time! I could not put it down! Great book!

Nonstop intrigue

4.5 STARS

I’m so glad I discovered Stacy Willingham. Each of her books entertained and intrigued.

Journalist Claire hasn’t resolved her feelings that something doesn’t sit right with her sister’s disappearance and murder years ago. Though a man sits in jail, Claire still has questions. When the opportunity to work the summer in the winery where her sister Natalie worked before her death, she jumps on the opportunity to learn more about what happened. Claire finds the old diary of one of the winery’s owners and she begins to worry about her own safety.

The twists and turns don’t stop until the last page of FORGET ME NOT.