Springtime Reading
Bitter Blood by Jerry Bledsoe
This non-fiction book recreates a complex case that claimed nine lives, one of the more shocking crimes of recent years. The links in all the deaths were Susan Lynch and her cousin Fritz Klenner, each from a prominent, upper-middle-class Southern family. The murders began with the shootings of Lynch's ex-mother-in-law and ex-sister-in-law in Kentucky, and continued with the slayings of her parents and grandmother in North Carolina. What connected the killings was the bitter divorce between Susie and her husband Tom, and the impending custody battle for their children, particularly since it became increasingly clear that Susie regarded the boys as pawns in a power struggle. Although this book spent many weeks as a New York Time best seller, I can't say I was particularly enthralled. I had to squeeze out the three happy faces I'm giving it in deference to the best seller list. KKK 
And Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together> It has been ten years since her youngest child, Ellie, disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. When she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away. Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. KKK
Watching You by Lisa Jewell
She's back home after four years working abroad, new husband in tow. She's keen to find a place of your own. But for now, she's crashing in her big brother’s spare room. That’s when she meets the man next door. He’s the head teacher at the local school. Twice her age. Extraordinarily attractive. heS finds herself watching him. All the time. But she never dreamed that her innocent crush might become a deadly obsession. Or that someone is watching her. KKK
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
What if you lost your memory every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love–-all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust to give you your memories back every day when you wake up may be telling you only half the story. Welcome to Christine's life. Every morning, she awakens beside a stranger in an unfamiliar bed. She sees a middle-aged face in the bathroom mirror that she does not recognize. And every morning, the man patiently explains that he is Ben, her husband, that she is 47 years old, and that an accident long ago damaged her ability to remember. This is a really well-written and intriguing mystery. I liked it a lot.KKKK
Pew by Catherine Lacey
This is a very good, and short, book. It's the best book I've read this year, I think. The story and plotting are very "Shirley Jackson," But the writing is much less "straight to the point" than Jackson's. You might have a bit of trouble with her prose, and the ending might leave your wondering. I was able to figure it all out though, at least to my own satisfaction (and maybe because of my familiarity with Shirley Jackson's novels).
Here's a brief synopsis mostly from Amazon: In a small town in the American South, a church congregation arrives for a service and finds a figure asleep on a pew. The person is genderless and racially ambiguous and refuses to speak. One family takes in the strange visitor, who remains mostly silent, and nicknames it Pew. As the town spends the week preparing for its annual Forgiveness Festival, Pew is shuttled from one family and another. As days pass, the mystery of who and what Pew is begins to unnerve the community, whose generosity erodes into menace and suspicion until Pew’s story reaches a shattering and unsettling climax at the Forgiveness Festival. KKKKK
*****
BOOKS I DIDN'T FINISH AND WHY
The Peaceable Kingdom by Jan de Hartog
This was the April and May selection for my book club. It's a very long book, near 800 pages divided into two parts--a novel based on the history, both in Europe and America of the formation of the Quaker faith. I made it through the first, the part that takes place in Europe, and then I was just burnt out. I couldn't make myself open the book again. In my defense, however, I think I was not the only person who couldn't make it through. I believe nobody finished it except Ramey, who selected the book and often attends Quaker meetings. But I'll give it two happy faces since Ramey really liked it, and she's smart. KK
Homecoming by Kate Morton
This one is pretty long too, almost 600 pages, but I don't think that was my problem. It is a story about a family's murder that takes place in Australia in 1959. Many years later, Jess, a journalist who lives in London now, is called home to Sydney when her grandmother who raised her is ill. In her grandmother's house, Jess finds a true-crime book that chronicles the murder. And she learns of her family's connection to the crime.
This story is compelling, and I hope to get back to it sometime soon. The problem for me is the writing style. Too much description, and every character has a back story. I'm bad about losing interest if the main story doesn't move along as my brain feels it should. Still I'm giving this one three smiley faces, and renewing my resolve to finish it. KKK
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On 06/07/2025, Barbara Anne said ...
Love your book reviews and just yesterday requested "Homecoming" from the library. Hope I can manage a story with that many pages and it's going to be even thicker as it's large print!
You know I don't read creepy scary thrillers so hope this isn't one. In that genre, the last one of those books I read was "The Shining" (long ago) and finished it in one sitting at 3am, with all the house lights on and Rob keeping me company because I wouldn't let him go to bed! Never again. No way, Jose!
Wishing you well!
Hugs!
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