Gone, But Not Forgotten [Hardcover]

Phillip Margolin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993

A ten-year-old New York case involving disappearing wives, supposedly solved, returns to haunt Portland, Oregon, as feminist defense attorney Betsy Tannenbaum is hired by a wealthy developer. A first novel. 150,000 first printing. $150,000 ad/promo. Lit Guild & Doubleday.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Images of gruesome violence pervade this gripping tale of abduction and serial murder. Affluent housewives in Portland, Ore., are disappearing without a trace. In each case the only clue is a black rose and a note reading, "Gone, but Not Forgotten." Upstate New York police detective Nancy Gordon arrives to tell Portland's DA of a similar series of murders she had investigated back East. After implicating powerful local developer Martin Darius in the crimes, Gordon herself disappears. When several mutilated bodies are found at a construction site owned by Darius, police take him into custody. Darius's newly retained attorney, criminal lawyer Betsy Tannenbaum--a zealous advocate of women's rights and a successful defender of battered wives--begins her own search, which leaves her wondering if Darius is a psychotic killer on the loose, or the victim of a government cover-up involving the President's nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Margolin ( The Last Innocent Man ) writes with breakneck pacing and just the right injection of lurid detail to make chills race down readers' spines. If his narrative is a bit choppy and some of the plot twists are telegraphed too clearly, he nonetheless delivers a top-notch whodunit with an explosive and satisfying conclusion. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selection; major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Four women disappear from Hunter's Point, New York, before the murdered bodies of Sandra Lake and her six-year-old daughter are found. Next to Mrs. Lake are a black rose and a note that reads, "Gone, but not forgotten." Ten years later women are vanishing from Portland, Oregon. In each of their homes is a black rose and a note identical to that found in Hunter's Point. After hearing about the New York case and its possible connection to his, Portland's district attorney, Alan Page, arrests wealthy Martin Darius for the torture and murder of the people whose bodies are found on his property. Meanwhile, Betsy Tannenbaum, a rising star in the legal profession and Darius's lawyer, discovers incriminating evidence against him. Margolin combines the riveting suspense of the traditional thriller with the current legal thriller to create a first-rate novel containing all the best elements of a mystery as well. The pat denouement is the only negative in this thoroughly enticing book. Essential for all fiction collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/93.
- Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385470029
• ISBN-13: 978-0385470025
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars gripping procedural, August 10, 2002

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gone, but Not Forgotten (Mass Market Paperback)

This was my first book by Phillip Margolin as well as my first mystery in the lawyer-as-detective genre. I thought the story was immediately interesting. The author introduced a lot of characters quickly but usually did so in a nonconfusing way while still writing the kind of details that make a fictional character come to life. I felt I knew a lot about them within a few paragraphs. Everything was written in the third person, and the action jumped around a lot; that made things move fast and it was interesting to read the experiences of several lawyers and detectives, a killer, a private detective etc. Characters were complex but in general I liked the good peple and didn't like the bad ones, and I like that. The story also moved around in time and this was done well.

In the book, we learn that a serial killer had murdered in New York state ten years prior. The killer always left a black rose and a note -- "Gone, But Not Forgotten". (One disappointing aspect to the book is that this idiosyncracy is never explained.) A decade later, the same M.O. is being used in a series of crimes in Portland, Oregon. This story is about how the people in Portland are looking for the killer and how people from the earlier investigation become involved.

This was an intelligent read and enjoyable. I will definitely read other books by this author.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new fan, March 7, 2005

By 

Dianna "Sullynation" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gone, but Not Forgotten (Mass Market Paperback)

I am now a fan of Mr. Margolin, and will seek out his other books to read (I went out and purchased Sleeping Beauty this weekend.)

This was my first book by him, and noted that it has been compared to The Firm. I consider this much better, here's why. For me, I prefer thrillers to be thrilling. I prefer a little mystery with the horror that goes along with it. I really liked that he didn't make any part of this a romance and the characters were likeable (except for the killer of course!)

One thing that really struck me about this story is something that I cannot mention in the review so as not to give away a twist or the end, but there is a part of the tale that will shock you.

I highly recommend this book, and look forward to more by Mr. Margolin!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Margolin proves worth his mettle, February 13, 2001

By 

Mark S. Winger (Wood Dale, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gone, but Not Forgotten (Mass Market Paperback)

Margolin does an excellent job of combining the legal thriller with the suspense thriller. You feel that Margolin stands on his own and doesn't become an imitation of other popular authors. If you are like me you have probably read all too many books that center around serial killings. You may feel that it's been written way too many times. Don't let any sentiment like that deter you from reading this book. Margolin does a very good job of portraying his characters and keeps you entertained throughout. The rewarding thing about this book is that it has a different twist to the killer concept. If you are a fan of Grisham or Cornwell you should like this book, so give it a try.