The Unforgiven

Echoes from the Past, Book 3

By: Irina Shapiro

Narrated by: Wendy Wolfson

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

2014. Pregnant and alone, Dr. Quinn Allenby finds herself detained in New Orleans, tasked with obtaining footage for the finale of the Echoes from the Past series.

As she delves deeper into the mystery of Madeline Besson, whose very existence seems to have been erased from history, Quinn finally gets closer to finding out the truth about her own psychic gift, and to a secret that had remained buried for over a century. 

As Quinn prepares to share Madeline’s story with the world, she fails to recognize the danger she’s walking into and is helpless to stop the chain of events her inquiries have set in motion.

©2018 Irina Shapiro (P)2018 Merlin Press LLC

Another Emotional Story!

This author certainly takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride with every book of this series. In this instalment Quinn travels to New Orleans to delve into her past and unintentionally gets more than she bargains for. This was another emotional and heartbreaking story with many twists and turns for both Quinn and Gabe. Each book in this series leaves the listener anxious for the next! Wendy Wolfson once again does a wonderful job with the narration. I received a free copy of this audiobook and have voluntarily provided an unbiased review.

Intriguing

Fascinating story with plenty of twists. Certainly makes one ponder the ways we have treated each other in some dark parts of history. I was disappointed at the inclusion of some graphic sex and feel the story could have been told without that.

Another Hit!

Irina Shapiro has graced us with another audiobook that has left me wanting more. Narrated by Wendy Wolfson, I listened to The Unforgiven, book three in the Echoes From The Past series nonstop since downloading it. I really wish I could tell you all the gritty details, but if you haven't paid attention and haven't picked up this series yet, I'll keep my review as spoiler free as I can.

Quinn is back on the hunt for her father, and hopefully the truth about where her gift comes from. Her clues lead her to New Orleans, Louisiana and a family that seems to welcome her with open arms. What begins as a weekend away from Gabe turns into several weeks as a new story unfolds before her eyes.

Madeline is a monied young lady from Louisiana in 1858. She's adored by her father, as an only child. But when he dies and the estate is sold to pay his debts, she's sent to live at the Arabella Plantation with a grandmother she never knew and a cousin who welcomes her fully. While initially excited to learn more about the family her father never spoke of, she finds that he had been banished years before and her grandmother hates her in place of him. But no one will tell her what terrible sin he committed.

There's no record of Madeline in the history books or in the family grave. Quinn longs to know more about the young woman and uses her gift to unravel a life cut short. But her own life is turned on it's head, and as she comes to terms with her own heritage, she'll find that alligators and voodoo are not the only dangers in Nola.

I think I've said this every time I review this book...it deserves to be a TV series. The time hopping adventure Shapiro creates are completely enthralling and deserves a wider platform. I've become emotionally involved in these characters, something that usually wears off after a few books. But these have such backstories that I have to know more!

There was a small teaser in the books end that gave me hope that the series will never end. I could red about, and listen to, Quinn's adventures forever. Each story is so different and compelling, one could never get bored of her glimpses into the past. The fact that her personal life is full of wild twists and turns doesn't hurt anything either!
I highly, highly, highly recommend this book series too all book lovers, but especially those who love some mystery and history in their reads.

a chilling and enthralling tale!

Although it is book 3 in the series, this book can easily stand alone! I was hooked beginning to end! It was like reading two books at the same time! Each story as good as the other! I could not stop listening as I just had to know how the stories ended! I was caught off guard by plot twists that were unexpected to the very end! I loved the combination of author and narrator! Wendy truly helped to bring this work of art to life for me! I would definately reccomend this book to all!

It was a slow start for me, but I loved the story!!

Although this one started slow for me, I ended up really enjoying the storyline! I am a mystery fan, as well as a historical fiction fan.. so this reached out to me in both levels! The history was well written and true to life. I loved the characters and how they come to be a part of each other’s lives!!! Irina Shapiro is a wonderful writer! This is awesome!

Very good book!

This book brings the past and present together. I was hung up on wanting to know what happens to Maddie. It’s a great book. It’s sad to know that this probably happens in that time era. It’s such a good book!

A fascinating paranormal tale

I loved the previous books in this series, so I didn't hesitate to grab this one. It didn't disappoint. Quinn is an archeologist and a psychic. If she touches an object that belonged to someone long dead, she can "see" their life as if she's the one living it. She has no idea where the gift came from because she was adopted. She managed to track down her birth mother but can't find her birth father because the woman claims she was raped by three men, and doesn't know which is the father. Ms Shapiro does an amazing job on several levels in this story. Quinn finally finds her real father, but he turns out to be from the deep south. New Orleans, to be exact. Quinn wants to learn more about the family, and her new-found father gives her an object, in this case, a fan supposedly belonging to her great-grandmother. But the object he gives her belongs to a women who is not on any historical document. It's as if she had been erased from history - and of course Quinn wants to find out why. This story deals with racism, because it looks at life during the 1800's on a plantation with slaves. It also deals with family secrets, and how they can destroy the people they were supposed to protect. Highly recommended!

The best yet

This is the best book of the 3 so far. When the mysteries involve within Quinn's newly found family things heat up. This story kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. It's a must listen. The narration is superb, I can't wait for the next book!

Well done.

Both storylines were well thought out and engaging. I appriciated the details included around the culture clashes of the 1800s. The author did a good job of capturing the rising tensions surrounding states rights and the pending war; without compromising the flow of the story. Quinn's inner struggles in the modern timeline are relatable and her reactions genuine. As always Wendy Wolfson did an excellent job with the narration, and she nailed the southern drawl.

Loved this series...

I absolutely love this book series. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

Love the story

I love this series of books but I do wish the narrator would change her intonation occasionally.
Most of the time it sounds like she's reading from a shopping list. I'd love her to raise the intonation at the end of sentences sometimes.
It's a shame because she has such a lovely voice.
The story is worth persevering for.

When it feels so real

Irina Shapiro is One of the best authers of historical romance. She doesnt just write a story. She creates a time travel portal to a different time in historie. Its like you can smell and feel the place She takes you to. I WAS in NOLA. I WAS on that plantation. I was in the swamps. I get so caught up in her books, that I forget where I am and what I do.
These books are so heartbreaking and desperat and sad. That if not for the parts of Quinns life. This would be so so sad. I Really love it.

Another fantastic book!

Book 3 sees Quinn’s story in the present progress at a dangerous rate. The present and past timelines are intertwined in this book.
I love how Irina Shapiro’s mind works, such clever, intriguing, compelling, evoking story lines ...
Awesome narration once again by Wendy Wolfsen.

Book 3 does not drop the ball.
Highly recommended book and series!

🎧AudiobookObsession
🎧AudiobookHeaven

Compelling instalment. Completed in a day!

Louisiana 1858: Following the sudden death of her father, fifteen year old Madeleine Besson is sent to live with his estranged family at the Arabella Plantation after his estate is sold off to pay his debts. Despite a frosty reception from her grandmother, Madeleine is welcomed by her cousin George and his pregnant wife Amelia. Grieving for her father and faced with an uncertain future, Madeline is unprepared when long buried secrets and resentment rear their ugly head leading to tragic consequences for Madeleine.

Louisiana 2014: A now pregnant Quinn travels to New Orleans to meet Seth Besson and ascertain whether or not he is her father. When a DNA sample confirms that he is, Seth is keen to have a relationship with the daughter he never knew he had and introduces her to his son Brett and the rest of his family. Quinn’s desire to learn the source of her psychic gifts sees her delving into the mystery of Madeleine Besson, whose very existence has been erased from history. But what is her connection to Quinn?

The Unforgiven is the third engaging instalment of the Echoes of the Past series. Quinn’s successful search for her biological father sees her delving in to the past of an ancestor who died a couple of years prior to the American Civil War, when slavery was becoming a central source of political tension. The author has once again managed to paint an evocative picture of what life was like on a plantation. Madeleine has led a sheltered life and is terribly naive, her treatment at the hands of her family all the more abominable with an outcome that leaves the reader enraged and wanting some semblance of justice on her behalf.

Quinn’s trip to Louisiana, while pleasant and informative at first, soon sees the life of her and her unborn baby in danger when certain family secrets are unearthed. Gabe is going through a crisis of his own and omits to tell Quinn for fear of causing her stress and worry. When he decides to pay Quinn a surprise visit with Emma in tow, will he be too late?

Once again the author has managed to weave an intriguing tale of love, loss, secrets and betrayal which ultimately end in heartbreak and tragedy. By the third book, it’s easy to become emotionally invested in recurring characters and Quinn and Gabe were no exception which is a testament to the authors characterisation skills.

I received an advanced free audible copy of The Unforgiving and I am voluntarily reviewing it. Once again narrator Wendy Wolfson really outdid herself in this instalment, masterfully bringing the story and characters to life. Her use of accents was exceptional, perfectly capturing the traditional Southern/Creole drawl. I recommend this series for fans of historical fiction, dual time mysteries and psychic gifts.

Great storyline

Enjoyed this audio from start to finish hopefully more books to come well written too

Wow

Wow what a story it was gripping from start to finish storyline was awesome and narrated awesome

Correcting an ancient wrong

This book involves the telling of the story of wrongs done to her ancestor who was removed from her genealogy

It involves the historical misdeeds in the past with were covered up with murder and misdirection to cover things up.

Quinn finds members of a family she did not know existed and also finds that they do not want their secrets known to the world.

The story is well written with lots of suspense and danger. The narration is outstanding and easy to understand.

This book was provided free of charge in expectation of an honest review..

Oh wow!

After traveling to New Orleans in search of the forth and final candidate for her birth father Seth, Quinn in barks on an adventure that could literally take her life.
After meeting Seth and finally confirming that he is in fact her birth father Quinn sets out with her step-brother to learn about her family’s history.
Unfortunately for Quinn, sometimes history and sometimes even people aren’t quite what they seem.

Loved the book and I can’t wait to get book four in the series.