Forget Me Not

Claire Campbell is the 33-year-old protagonist of the novel who is debilitated by the murder of her sister Natalie in 2002. This has created a distance from her mother, Annaliese Campbell, whose own guilt over the event causes her to ignore Claire. Claire is overwhelmed by shame at not having given critical evidence to the police and blames herself for Natalie’s death. As she matures, she develops an inability to form lasting relationships, pouring herself into her job as an investigative reporter. Claire is extremely smart but her attachment issues make her hesitant to engage with Ryan, a coworker and friend who really likes her.

Annaliese’s unexpected accident sends her back home. Claire wants her mother to love her but suspects she doesn’t. Her fears that she is unlovable because of Natalie’s death drive her to re-investigate Natalie’s supposedly closed case, starting at Galloway Farm. Her work investigating domestic crime, plus the discovery of Marcia’s diary, make her rightfully suspect Mitchell of being a criminal. However, her subliminal need to save Natalie often makes her conflate other potential victims with her sister, which clouds her judgments.

As the novel progresses, she learns to confide in Ryan, who releases her from her belief she harmed Natalie by telling her it isn’t her fault because she was a child.