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A review by clearmind_clearheart
The Forgotten Child by Melissa Erin Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book is a crossover per-se; a murder mystery and a ghost story/paranormal investigation in one. Reluctantly accompanying her friend to a haunted ranch where a serial killer once lived, Riley finds that the paranormal sensitivities she had as a kid are still there, and growing. After meeting the ghost of a child, Riley begins to investigate his death and use her skills as a medium to find information others would not know.
There is a bit of romance thrown in as Riley meets a really understanding young man who listens and supports her as she learns what being a medium is like and how it affects her day to day. Said man is also fabulously weird in what he likes, and real with his reactions- for example at moments of the MC doing some medium stuff or investigative work, he's like 'oh cool, your gonna make a bad decision. Well, at least you told me and I got to remind you how bad a decision it was. Oh and did I mention I'm coming too'.
All in all, the pace of the book was realistic; the plot wasn't centered around a few days and jam packed with action. Rather it was more of a true crime feel, where investigation took time, bureaucratic red tape was realistically halting progress, and other factors set boundaries for how fast the plot moved. You see the romantic relationship grow stronger, friendships grow, and interactions with the antagonist escalate in a believable manner.
I think what I loved most was that its Riley's origin story as a medium, but it doesn't fully focus on that; she has a life outside of her abilities and she doesn't rely on those abilities to get answers. She does some good old fashioned newspaper and internet searching, facebook stalking, and makes smart decisions to include friends and significant others in facing her troubles. As an MC, Riley wants to do good, is realistically freaked out by things, and is properly angry at other times, making her feel like a rounded character and someone you might know.
There is a bit of romance thrown in as Riley meets a really understanding young man who listens and supports her as she learns what being a medium is like and how it affects her day to day. Said man is also fabulously weird in what he likes, and real with his reactions- for example at moments of the MC doing some medium stuff or investigative work, he's like 'oh cool, your gonna make a bad decision. Well, at least you told me and I got to remind you how bad a decision it was. Oh and did I mention I'm coming too'.
All in all, the pace of the book was realistic; the plot wasn't centered around a few days and jam packed with action. Rather it was more of a true crime feel, where investigation took time, bureaucratic red tape was realistically halting progress, and other factors set boundaries for how fast the plot moved. You see the romantic relationship grow stronger, friendships grow, and interactions with the antagonist escalate in a believable manner.
I think what I loved most was that its Riley's origin story as a medium, but it doesn't fully focus on that; she has a life outside of her abilities and she doesn't rely on those abilities to get answers. She does some good old fashioned newspaper and internet searching, facebook stalking, and makes smart decisions to include friends and significant others in facing her troubles. As an MC, Riley wants to do good, is realistically freaked out by things, and is properly angry at other times, making her feel like a rounded character and someone you might know.