Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie

A Novel (Holland Family Series, Book 5)

De: James Lee Burke

Narrado por: Amanda Stribling

Bestselling author James Lee Burke tells his most thrilling and insightful story yet through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Bessie Holland.

At the beginning'' of the 20th century, as America grapples with forces of human and natural violence more powerful than humanity has ever seen, Bessie Holland yearns for the love that she has never known. She finds a soulmate and mentor in a brilliant but tormented suffragette English teacher, who inspires Bessie to fight the forces of evil that permeate her world.

Watching the vast Texas countryside being destroyed by an oil company and a menacing figure with a violent past, Bessie is prepared to defend her home and her family. But when she accidentally kills an unarmed man to defend her father Hackberry, she must flee to New York. There, her older brother introduces her to boys who will grow into gangsters, but as children admire and respect Bessie’s spirit and fortitude as she is cast into a gangland that yearns for justice and mercy.

A welcome return to the beloved Holland series and populated with characters both radiant and despicable, Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie is an epic story of a remarkable young girl who fights against potentially overwhelming forces.

©2025 James Lee Burke (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

The Best of the Holland Family

I loved the Audible version from the beginning to the very last sentence! I was enamored with Bessie and her wonderful, honesty. She’s courageous and open and loving without holding back anything. Her intelligence and insight will draw you in and make you love her. I have read over 40 Burke books and this is my favorite!

masterful coming of age tale

Hack Hollands daughter wonderful narration set in early Texas oil days. great story arc and conclusion

Always Mystifying, Always Amazing!

JLB never fails to take you on the journey to some place that you didn't expect to go. it always never fails that when you travel with him on the journey he brings you back changed but better in many ways. this novel is another example of exactly that and you won't regret having taken this journey with him also.

A Recorded Book That Needs Subtitles

I've read and lisened to everything that James Lee Burke has written. He's a national treasure. A new Burke book fills me with joy. But I've been spoiled, over the years, by the amazing narrative skill of the great Will Patton. He brings every character to life. He makes me believe I'm iistening to Dave Robichaux speaking, and to the various members of the Holland Family. I understand that Little Bessie is a girl/woman, and needs a girl/woman's voice. But the normally skilled Amanda Stribling goes too far, giving her a Texas accent so strong, there are whole paragraphs I found incomprehensible. The accent may be technically correct. But it needed to be toned down for Northern Ears. A great story, diminished (for me) by a problematic reading.