Forgotten Evidence: A Novel

Goodlove and Shek, Book 4

By: Al Macy

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan

Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Attorney Garrett Goodlove thought that after his firm brought in a multi-million-dollar settlement, the depression he'd been fighting would disappear. That didn't happen. Because he no longer has to struggle to keep Goodlove and Shek afloat, he has too much time to obsess over his moods.

When a new client brings in an envelope labelled "Open only if something happens to me", Goodlove puts it in the firm's safe and goes back to neglecting his practice.

But when the client disappears, Goodlove knows he must overcome his problem and take charge. But beating depression is hard.

Things get worse when the client turns up wandering the back alleys of San Francisco and is indicted for murder. Turns out the man is suffering from profound amnesia, making the case the most difficult of Goodlove's career. 

If Garrett Goodlove can't get a grip and overcome his depression, the new client might spend his life in prison for a murder he - probably - didn't commit.

Forgotten Evidence may be enjoyed as a stand-alone book or as part of the Goodlove and Shek series.

©2020 Alan Macy (P)2020 Alan Macy

Good plot, narrative, and characters

I have no problem with the narrator’s voice, but the delivery is too flippant for the story. He makes the main character appear like a buffoon.

Interesting plot but……

So much gratuitous death and mental illness that the book left me bereft and depressed.
The main characters lost loved ones to accidents, depression, mental illness, etc, And none of those losses were crucial to the plot, or the mystery. They seem to have been added to make the main recurring characters “real“. Unfortunately, when you mix in amnesia, a judge dying of cancer and then all the victims of this specific books plot,, it all becomes “unreal “. And although the main character struggles with chronic depression, there is very little sadness depicted surrounding these losses, since sadness and depression are not necessarily equivalence. Add in the fact that Garrets young wife plays almost no role whatsoever in this book, and you have A story that could’ve been great, but seem to be written for the authors own self- therapy, and not for the reader. Sorry.

Another Enjoyable "Read"!

I am enjoying this author and plan to read more from him. I SO enjoy the narrator, too!!

Great court case!

Goodlove and Shek are at it again. I really liked that this story line was unique. The murder suspect was a scientist who had been injected with his own vaccine formula that induces total amnesia. The plot thickens as another scientist comes on the scene as having faked a Covid 19 vaccine that could have been exposed. The characters have evolved from each book, but you don't have to read them in order. Looking forward to the next one!!

Okay Story ... Nonsensical Ending

From the beginning I felt the story lacked the "hook" that pulls you into a story, but because I've enjoyed Al Macy's stories in the past, and because the story had just enough interest to hold my attention, I hung in there. It dragged in places but had little twists and turns that helped me to hang with it. Narrator Nick Sullivan is an excellent performer so that helped too. Overall, it was okay. I thought the ending was nonsensical (I won't give away the ending), also a thread was left hanging (who was the father of the dead lady's baby?)... Give it a chance, you may enjoy it more than I did.

A well-titled story.........

Forgotten Evidence is the fourth entry in the Goodlove Shek Series, and I believe it is best enjoyed as part of the series. I am a legal thriller junkie, so I will listen to almost any of them, but this series has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. Each case that the law firm handles involves a more unique and sometimes bizarre set of circumstances than the last. Even more importantly, the members of Goodlove and Shek's legal team and family always prove even more interesting and unique. Garrett Goodlove is a middle-aged attorney with two grown children, one a partner at his law firm and the other a freelance photographer with severe bi-polar disorder. Garrett struggles with chronic depression, and he is the twin of a sister born deaf, so everybody in the family uses ASL. Garrett is married to his younger law partner, his legal secretary is 80+ years old, and his investigator is a retired female cop in her sixties. Can you imagine a more eclectic cast of characters? The amazing part of all of this is the seamless way they get along and support each other throughout the series, and Macy writes in such a way to make me feel a part of this dynamic family.

In Forgotten Evidence, Macy has surpassed his always dependable ability to entertain me. While struggling with depression, Garrett struggles to stay involved in his law practice when he meets his newest client, Dr. Arthur Toth. The doctor specializes in the study of amnesia, and he delivers a mysterious letter with instructions to hold it in confidence until something happens to him. Garrett instantly feels a kinship with Arthur and offers to give him surfing lessons during their conversation. Thus, Garrett begins to develop a casual friendship with this odd but brilliant doctor until Arthur suddenly disappears only to reappear days later with amnesia and charged with the murder of a colleague. The legal team of Goodlove and Shek needs to ride to the rescue, discover the secret behind the mysterious letter and save Arthur from conviction. As a final whiplash, when the trial is concluded, Mr. Macy blew me away with a surprise twist that still has me shaking my head in amazement and appreciation. I can hardly wait to see what Macy has in store for this intrepid team next.

Nick Sullivan narrates all the books in the series, and he is the perfect choice for Garrett Goodlove's irreverent personality. Sullivan is a true professional and delivers a flawless performance with perfect timing and emphasis. Sullivan has long been one of my favorite narrators, and I love that Macy and he collaborate to offer such a fun and engrossing listen.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

Another one!

I really enjoy the Goodlove and Shek series for the setting, the complex puzzlers, the legal play and dramatic courtroom action as well as more of the company of Garrett Goodlove and his crew. Nick Sullivan's narrations is wonderful. I would advise the books be read in order because in a series there tends to be an over-arching plot which works on developing characters and their relationships.

Legal Thriller? Mystery? Yes, And A Great Story.

Al Macy delivers with each book of his Goodlove and Shek series. Forgotten Evidence is a mix of legal thriller, mystery and domestic personal drama. How the author can blend all this together and give us a top notch story is a mystery to me but it is great for it. The characters of Garrett Goodlove and his family and friends feel like very real people with each fully fleshed out and all of them bring something to the story. Forgotten Evidence is about a scientist who has developed an experimental drug to help people with depression or suffering trauma by wiping their memory. The question is: why would someone give the scientist a strong dose of his own drug? Could it be the seemingly untrustworthy head of the company? Could it be someone trying to shift blame to the scientist when his close colleague and friend is found murdered. You can see where the mystery comes from in the story. It’s brilliantly written and the story weaves its way through many turns until we get to the end. I loved this addition to the series and can’t wait to see what Al Macy comes up with next for his characters.
So, does Nick Sullivan’s reading match up with the praise I’ve given the story? Absolutely. I think Nick Sullivan is one of the very best narrators I have ever heard. His reading is top class and his skill and talent shines through with every word. Each of the different characters truly comes alive with his voice. He tackles each one with the same brilliance. I could listen to him all day.