new building, old murder
Lila Shaw has lost almost everything. She was married, with a nice house. Her daughter Bea was in a private school. Lila got to spend her time shopping, spending time with friends, and helping at the school. But then her husband was accused of defrauding the government and stealing millions of dollars for his wealthy lifestyle. He left the country, leaving Lila with nothing but a request for a divorce. The government took their house and many of the creature comforts in it. Lila had to sell her designer clothes and jewelry to keep Bea and herself afloat.
But when she loses her job and Bea gets kicked out of school, Lila has only one option left. She calls her mother.
Lila’s mother is dating a man who owns an apartment in a building called the Primrose. It’s a building for retired adults, but Lila and Bea can stay there while they clean out the apartment. Lila agrees because she needs a place for them to stay, but she has no idea before she gets there that the apartment is full. Clearly, the man’s mother had been a hoarder, but Lila is determined to make this work while she tries to find another job.
Bea is upset about having to move, but she is excited about the Primrose. Twenty years ago, a woman was murdered there, and the case was never solved. Even though Bea is only ten, she is a longtime fan of Murder, She Wrote, and she wants to solve a mystery. Bea enlists a couple of the other residents, Evelyn and Jasper. Evelyn is an overly opinionated former socialite, but Jasper is a retired detective with a knack for baking. And they both take an immediate liking to Bea and Lila.
Bea had been struggling since her father had left, and Lila couldn’t find a way to connect with her. But the idea of solving the cold case lights her up, so Lila agrees to help them look into in. But when they start asking questions and making progress, another resident is murdered and someone breaks into their apartment. Lila has to decide how to keep Bea happy but also keep them safe. Continuing to investigate will mean they could be in danger, but when the police set their sights on Lila as the murderer, they don’t have much of a choice. They have to find the killer to keep Lila out of prison. They just have to work smart and work fast, or it could be too late.
The Primrose Murder Society is a charming mystery that blends a family in need of a fresh start with a cold case mystery. The story of Lila and Bea finding a new home and making new friends is such a delight, and the added mystery of two murders to solve and Lila’s knack for getting information out of people is a breath of fresh air. I was sorry to see this story end. I am hoping this turns out to be the start of a series because Lila and Bea are so much fun to hang out with.
I listened to The Primrose Murder Society on audio, narrated beautifully by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. She brought the right amount of warmth and humor, adding that bite to Evelyn’s voice and the childlike excitement to Bea’s and the determination to Lila’s. This story does have a large cast, but Nemeth-Parker’s range made it easier to keep them all straight. I loved this novel, and listening to it on audio made me think that Nemeth-Parker enjoyed reading it just as much as I enjoyed hearing it.
Egalleys for The Primrose Murder Society and an early copy of the audio book were provided by William Morris through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
