This debut thrilling mystery, The Forgotten Keychains by American author Julian Kennedy, is a gripping page turner. I was privileged to read their book as my first ARC read and therefore, this is my first Arc Review. Danni is a non-binary photographer who has left her family behind, as they are unsupportive and dismissive of Danni’s identity.

Danni and Rosa are besties and understand each other. Ashlin is Danni’s colleague who works in the estate agents, where Danni is the company’s hired photographer, taking pictures of the properties available reside in. Danni and Ashlin became friends and Ashlin’s dickhead boyfriend whom they nick name ‘Prince Eric’, who also lives with Ashlin, becomes jealous of their friendship.

On another note, lots of women have been found murdered within the city of Chicago, and only one thing connects all of these murders together. And, that is that all of the victims, have been found with their mobile, purse and keys missing. But when Danni goes to a property to take photos for work, with Ashlin, they find something strange.

Danni can’t shrug off this feeling that this is not the first time that she has been at that property, but can not connect the dots. As time ticks on, things get uglier, but can Danni connect the dots? What is the connection?

This book hits on a host of themes, from drug and alcohol addiction, rape and assault, being a part of the LGBTQ+ and the stigma that comes from ignorance or unacceptance, trauma, and more. What makes this book work even better again, are real life characters that have been carefully woven into the story.

This fantastic first book, in Julian’s trilogy has definitely the potential to be turned into at least a TV series on Netflix or some mainstream service. But even better, I would love to see Danni, Ashlin and Rosa, (to name just three of some of the fascinating characters that have been written into this story), fill cinema screens around the globe in this chilling mystery. I am only miserable that I have finished the book, and now have to wait until the next one is written.

Julian Kennedy has like myself had the dream from childhood to write their own book, and now they have. I am so happy that I got to read this book, and it certainly won’t be the last that we hear from Kennedy. It is available now on Amazon, since August 4^th 2022.