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There Was an Old Woman
"Don't let him in until I'm gone."
That's what Evie's mother whispers as the EMTs are whisking her away to the hospital.
When Evie arrives to look after the house in her mother's absence, she's shocked to find the place in terrible disrepair. While she cleans and organizes, she makes puzzling discoveries: expensive liquor that's not her mother's brand, a new flat-screen TV on the wall. Where is the money coming from?
Evie will find an unlikely ally in Mina Yetner, her mother's ninety-year-old neighbor, who has noticed mysterious changes to the neighborhood herself. As the two women dig deeper into the past few months of Evie's mother's life, a larger, more sinister picture begins to emerge.
That's what Evie's mother whispers as the EMTs are whisking her away to the hospital.
When Evie arrives to look after the house in her mother's absence, she's shocked to find the place in terrible disrepair. While she cleans and organizes, she makes puzzling discoveries: expensive liquor that's not her mother's brand, a new flat-screen TV on the wall. Where is the money coming from?
Evie will find an unlikely ally in Mina Yetner, her mother's ninety-year-old neighbor, who has noticed mysterious changes to the neighborhood herself. As the two women dig deeper into the past few months of Evie's mother's life, a larger, more sinister picture begins to emerge.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
640 people are currently reading
3909 people want to read
About the author
Hallie Ephron
21 books559 followersHallie Ephron (http://hallieephron.com) is a New York Times bestselling author of suspense novels. Her last five have all been Mary Higgins Clark Award finalists.
Her (August 2019) Careful What You Wish For tells the story of a professional organizer married to man who can't pass a yard sale without stopping. In this respect, Hallie is writing from personal experience. Her husband is a champion yard sailor who's packed their basement, garage, and attic with his finds.
A STARRED review in Publisher's Weekly proclaimed it an "outstanding standalone." Reviewing it for TIME Magazine, Jamie Lee Curtis called it "thrilling and suspenseful." From Kirkus: "Ephron's tidy approach to stowing clues, arousing suspicions, keeping the chaos of the climax under control, then tying up loose ends makes her a professional organizer of this type of entertainment. In a word—neat."
Hallie's Never Tell a Lie was made into the Lifetime Movie Network film.
A book lover, she also wrote The Bibliophile's Devotional and 1001 Books for Every Mood. For twelve years she reviewed crime fiction for the Boston Globe. Her Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel (now in a revised/expanded edition) was an Edgar and Anthony award finalist. She teaches writing at writing conferences and workshops all around the world.
Hallie lives near Boston with her husband and has two fabulous daughters. She is the third of four writing Ephron sisters.
Her (August 2019) Careful What You Wish For tells the story of a professional organizer married to man who can't pass a yard sale without stopping. In this respect, Hallie is writing from personal experience. Her husband is a champion yard sailor who's packed their basement, garage, and attic with his finds.
A STARRED review in Publisher's Weekly proclaimed it an "outstanding standalone." Reviewing it for TIME Magazine, Jamie Lee Curtis called it "thrilling and suspenseful." From Kirkus: "Ephron's tidy approach to stowing clues, arousing suspicions, keeping the chaos of the climax under control, then tying up loose ends makes her a professional organizer of this type of entertainment. In a word—neat."
Hallie's Never Tell a Lie was made into the Lifetime Movie Network film.
A book lover, she also wrote The Bibliophile's Devotional and 1001 Books for Every Mood. For twelve years she reviewed crime fiction for the Boston Globe. Her Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel (now in a revised/expanded edition) was an Edgar and Anthony award finalist. She teaches writing at writing conferences and workshops all around the world.
Hallie lives near Boston with her husband and has two fabulous daughters. She is the third of four writing Ephron sisters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 575 reviews
April 21, 2013
If I can't be Grandma Mazur when I grow up, then I'd like to be Mina Yetner. People like to describe women of Mina's age (she's 91) as "spunky" or "feisty". To me those are condescending terms saved for an elderly woman who isn't necessarily as compliant as the rest of the world thinks old people should be. I pictured Mina in a purple dress and a red hat. She's got a lifetime full of experience yet doesn't rely on the past to define her present. If I knew someone like her, I'd be visiting her often and taking her with me on as many outings as she could manage. In my opinion Ms Ephron hit a homerun not only with Mina but with this whole book. She took on some rather heavy issues: dealing with an alcoholic, sister rivalry, how the elderly should live, scams, understanding relationships... And she packaged all of this in a novel of suspense. For me, the characters were well defined; so much so that I wish she'd bring them back in a sequel. The topic of reconstructing the special places or events of the past is fascinating. Seen through the eyes of a person old enough to have experienced what seems to be lost forever is precious. What I took from this book was a better understanding of the elderly, how easy it can be to believe what you think you see rather than what really is, and how caring for one another knows no age boundaries. All of this in a little suspenseful novel. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to read.
February 22, 2015
This book is not just for me.
I'm expecting a fast-paced story that makes my heart go thump-thump-thump-thump.
Well, this book just bored the life out of me..
Better luck next time.
I'm expecting a fast-paced story that makes my heart go thump-thump-thump-thump.
Well, this book just bored the life out of me..
Better luck next time.
February 27, 2013
I heard Hallie Ephron speak at The Big Book Club Getaway at Mohegan Sun as part of a mystery panel a few weeks ago. I knew the name Ephron from having read Hallie's sister Nora's books. Hallie mentions this too, almost like she's the other Ephron. Actually there are more Ephron women but that's another story. This Ephron immediately hooked me with her synopsis of her soon (April 2nd) to be published book. I had to get my hands on it quick. Thank you William Morrow for providing an e-galley.
There Was an Old Woman: A Novel of Suspenseis a mystery but not of the usual sort. It is more a look at aging and how we care-take our elders, be it relations or neighbors. It's a glimpse of mental illness, memory loss, bilking of the aged, topics that are far more serious than the light mystery presented.
Evie Ferrente is busy with the final touches on an exhibit of a historical fire in which a plane hits the Empire State Building in the 40's. Not the time to have to take care of her mother, an alcoholic, hospitalized yet again. It's Evie's turn according to her sister and Evie down right resents the responsibility. After all, it's her mother's fault she's in this predicament To make matters worse, when Evie arrives at her mother's home it is a disaster, a dirty, stinking, hard to be believed, hoarders mess. How did it get this way in a just a few months? As Evie starts to clean out the house readying it to bring her mom home, she finds some strange, completely out of place items, like a big screen tv, top shelf liquor, money, things her mother couldn't afford. Then there's the neighbor, Mina, who Evie forms a strong bond. She's a delightful older woman who is having periods of forgetfulness. Mina's nephew suggests she move to an assisted living center. Mina and we, the reader, immediately wonder at his good intentions. These are the mysteries but as originally stated there is much more going on here.
Ephron describes her setting of The Bronx neighborhood, Higgs Point as "a few facts fueling a lot of fiction". For anyone growing up in this area the book would be a winner.
I liked the background history in this novel and the characters. I'm definitely going to try another Hallie Ephron book.
There Was an Old Woman: A Novel of Suspenseis a mystery but not of the usual sort. It is more a look at aging and how we care-take our elders, be it relations or neighbors. It's a glimpse of mental illness, memory loss, bilking of the aged, topics that are far more serious than the light mystery presented.
Evie Ferrente is busy with the final touches on an exhibit of a historical fire in which a plane hits the Empire State Building in the 40's. Not the time to have to take care of her mother, an alcoholic, hospitalized yet again. It's Evie's turn according to her sister and Evie down right resents the responsibility. After all, it's her mother's fault she's in this predicament To make matters worse, when Evie arrives at her mother's home it is a disaster, a dirty, stinking, hard to be believed, hoarders mess. How did it get this way in a just a few months? As Evie starts to clean out the house readying it to bring her mom home, she finds some strange, completely out of place items, like a big screen tv, top shelf liquor, money, things her mother couldn't afford. Then there's the neighbor, Mina, who Evie forms a strong bond. She's a delightful older woman who is having periods of forgetfulness. Mina's nephew suggests she move to an assisted living center. Mina and we, the reader, immediately wonder at his good intentions. These are the mysteries but as originally stated there is much more going on here.
Ephron describes her setting of The Bronx neighborhood, Higgs Point as "a few facts fueling a lot of fiction". For anyone growing up in this area the book would be a winner.
I liked the background history in this novel and the characters. I'm definitely going to try another Hallie Ephron book.
May 1, 2013
There Was an Old Woman is labeled as a suspense novel, and I suppose that's technically true. To my mind, however, it is also a wake-up call to all of us about how easily in real life vulnerable old people, particularly women, are being taken advantage of all too often. You are old, maybe neglected, live alone and possibly have physical and/or mental issues. That makes you an easy target for unscrupulous con artists, maybe even relatives who want what little you have.
In this wonderful novel each character is so real that the reader really cares about them, or hates them and enjoys seeing their plans go awry. Evie Ferrante is our heroine. She is a curator at the Five-Boroughs Historical Society and she is shepherding a historical artifact from the Empire State Building to feature in her first exhibition. The topic is major fires in New York City, a natural for her since her beloved father had been a firefighter. It was not a good time for her sister to call and demand her help because their mother was hospitalized in bad shape.
That takes Evie back to the neighborhood where she grew up and into the middle of a terrible mess. Mom is an alcoholic and her house looks like a hoarder's. There doesn't appear to have been any maintenance done on the house in years and it is literally falling apart. Evie is sad and discouraged, but when she talks to the neighbor Mina Yetner, the woman becomes a link to the happier past and a friend.
She also meets other neighbors and the man who has taken over his father's general store down the street. He at least is good looking and intelligent, and he is very helpful in her attempts to make the house safe and clean. Mina's nephew on the other hand is obviously up to no good as he seems to spend more and more time with her, and try to keep Evie away.
I was so involved in this story I could hardly put the book down. I figured out early in the book what was happening, although I under-estimated the extent of the crimes. It was the characters who kept me turning the pages, cheering for the old women and hoping Evie could save them from the evil in their midst. It is a psychological rather than violent mystery, but there is a bit of violence involved. I guarantee you will be horrified at the damage done to the victims in the story.
I also enjoyed the history of New York City that is a large part of the story and I think you will too. This is a unique novel and I enjoyed every page of it.
Highly recommended
Source: Publisher through Partners in Crime Book Tours
In this wonderful novel each character is so real that the reader really cares about them, or hates them and enjoys seeing their plans go awry. Evie Ferrante is our heroine. She is a curator at the Five-Boroughs Historical Society and she is shepherding a historical artifact from the Empire State Building to feature in her first exhibition. The topic is major fires in New York City, a natural for her since her beloved father had been a firefighter. It was not a good time for her sister to call and demand her help because their mother was hospitalized in bad shape.
That takes Evie back to the neighborhood where she grew up and into the middle of a terrible mess. Mom is an alcoholic and her house looks like a hoarder's. There doesn't appear to have been any maintenance done on the house in years and it is literally falling apart. Evie is sad and discouraged, but when she talks to the neighbor Mina Yetner, the woman becomes a link to the happier past and a friend.
She also meets other neighbors and the man who has taken over his father's general store down the street. He at least is good looking and intelligent, and he is very helpful in her attempts to make the house safe and clean. Mina's nephew on the other hand is obviously up to no good as he seems to spend more and more time with her, and try to keep Evie away.
I was so involved in this story I could hardly put the book down. I figured out early in the book what was happening, although I under-estimated the extent of the crimes. It was the characters who kept me turning the pages, cheering for the old women and hoping Evie could save them from the evil in their midst. It is a psychological rather than violent mystery, but there is a bit of violence involved. I guarantee you will be horrified at the damage done to the victims in the story.
I also enjoyed the history of New York City that is a large part of the story and I think you will too. This is a unique novel and I enjoyed every page of it.
Highly recommended
Source: Publisher through Partners in Crime Book Tours
December 28, 2012
Unfortunately, this is a rather run-of-the-mill story - the plot follows predictable lines and the characters feel rather stiff and not very realistic. Each character has a surprising amount of backstory crammed in which does little to ground them into reality, and instead accomplishes just the opposite. As far as the suspense goes, this reads more as family/neighborhood drama than a true thriller. There are some glimmers of a tense atmosphere, but it isn’t sustained long enough - or with enough surprises - to qualify as a tense mystery. The villains - and the overall resolution - offers little justice or satisfaction and the network of actions crosses the line into the land of implausibility. It is a fast, easy read though and the line of backstory with the Empire State Building plane crash makes for an interesting aside.
December 8, 2014
This was okay. Not really what I normally read, so I wasn't expecting much. I just rolled my eyes, yawned, looked at the page number and then kept waiting for something BIG to happen. This fell flat.
August 11, 2017
Got to the half-way mark then skimmed the rest of the book. Poorly written, with poorly developed characters and a mystery that was incredibly easy to figure out. Avoid this one.
April 3, 2013
I'm not a big suspense/thriller reader, but something about Hallie Ephron's novel, There Was An Old Woman caught my eye. Maybe it was the nursery rhyme title or maybe it was the fact that one of the major characters is an independent woman in her 80s.
Either way, I'm glad I read this unique novel. The book opens with Mina reading the obituaries in the Daily News. She spies the name of one of her neighbors and adds the name and date to her notebook. (The neighbor is number 151.)
Mina hears an ambulance and discovers another neighbor being taken out on a stretcher. The neighbor tells Mina to call her daughter Ginger and then says, "Please tell Ginger. Don't let him in until I'm gone."
And with those cryptic words she is loaded into the ambulance. Mina calls Ginger, who calls her sister Evie and tells her it is Evie's turn to care for their bitter, angry, alcoholic mother. Evie reluctantly agrees and, after seeing her mother in the hospital, heads to her mother's house and is shocked by what she sees.
The house looks like an episode of Hoarders: garbage everywhere, a broken window, rotting food, dirty dishes and empty cat food tins. But her mother doesn't have a cat. And where did she get the brand new big flat screen TV on the wall?
There is a neighbor whom Evie doesn't know who has been hanging around her mother, and Evie doesn't trust him. Evie goes to visit Mina, and Mina tells her that several homes in their Higgs Point neighborhood have burned, or been sold and torn down. A developer is trying to buy up all the property on the cheap.
Evie stops in to the local neighborhood store and sees that it is run by the son of the owner. He tells her that he has formed a non-profit to try and save the neighborhood from the developers, and encourages her to join him.
Mina's nephew wants to move her into an assisted living home so that he can get his hands on her home. Strange things start happening to Mina- she loses important papers, leaves the stove on, gets knocked down by a car backing up. Is her nephew up to no good or is it too much for her to continue to live on her own?
Mina and Evie are curious to find out what is going on in the neighborhood and who is behind it. They make a great team and their characters are so appealing. Evie feels guilt about not keeping in touch with her mother (who doesn't make it easy) and I think many readers will relate to her.
But for me, Mina is the real star. I love this character! She seems like the neighbor we all know, with her fastidious ways and fierce independence. She misses her beloved sister, whom she lived with for many years, but she continues on with her life.
The mystery keeps you guessing, and although I thought I knew who did it, I didn't know the all-important why. The writing is crisp, and this is the perfect book for a rainy day read.
Either way, I'm glad I read this unique novel. The book opens with Mina reading the obituaries in the Daily News. She spies the name of one of her neighbors and adds the name and date to her notebook. (The neighbor is number 151.)
Mina hears an ambulance and discovers another neighbor being taken out on a stretcher. The neighbor tells Mina to call her daughter Ginger and then says, "Please tell Ginger. Don't let him in until I'm gone."
And with those cryptic words she is loaded into the ambulance. Mina calls Ginger, who calls her sister Evie and tells her it is Evie's turn to care for their bitter, angry, alcoholic mother. Evie reluctantly agrees and, after seeing her mother in the hospital, heads to her mother's house and is shocked by what she sees.
The house looks like an episode of Hoarders: garbage everywhere, a broken window, rotting food, dirty dishes and empty cat food tins. But her mother doesn't have a cat. And where did she get the brand new big flat screen TV on the wall?
There is a neighbor whom Evie doesn't know who has been hanging around her mother, and Evie doesn't trust him. Evie goes to visit Mina, and Mina tells her that several homes in their Higgs Point neighborhood have burned, or been sold and torn down. A developer is trying to buy up all the property on the cheap.
Evie stops in to the local neighborhood store and sees that it is run by the son of the owner. He tells her that he has formed a non-profit to try and save the neighborhood from the developers, and encourages her to join him.
Mina's nephew wants to move her into an assisted living home so that he can get his hands on her home. Strange things start happening to Mina- she loses important papers, leaves the stove on, gets knocked down by a car backing up. Is her nephew up to no good or is it too much for her to continue to live on her own?
Mina and Evie are curious to find out what is going on in the neighborhood and who is behind it. They make a great team and their characters are so appealing. Evie feels guilt about not keeping in touch with her mother (who doesn't make it easy) and I think many readers will relate to her.
But for me, Mina is the real star. I love this character! She seems like the neighbor we all know, with her fastidious ways and fierce independence. She misses her beloved sister, whom she lived with for many years, but she continues on with her life.
The mystery keeps you guessing, and although I thought I knew who did it, I didn't know the all-important why. The writing is crisp, and this is the perfect book for a rainy day read.
April 15, 2013
I've read Hallie Ephron before and, to be honest, wasn't much of a fan. However, after reading the description for this one I decided to give her another chance. The book features an elderly woman who holds the key to a mysterious incident involving a neighbor's sudden descent into illness. Old people? Sign.me.up. I love old people almost as I love psychotic children. So a thriller that revolves around an elderly woman who may or may not be losing her senility drew me in. And I'm so glad I gave the author a second chance, because this one was good.
Writing
There are few tropes I love in thrillers as much as a potential gaslight. You're all familiar with gaslighting, right? A character is slowly losing his or her mind...or is is all a trick? I love it most when I can't tell whether or not a character is being gaslighted. And because I'm incredibly naive, I can almost never tell. This was no exception and I spent most of the book wondering whether our elderly main character was grappling with dementia or being tormented by an outside entity. I won't let you in on the surprise, but I will let you know that it provided me with just the right amount of cozy suspense.
Entertainment Value
Well, I stayed up for half the night because I HAD to know the ending, so that certainly says something about the entertainment value. Beyond the suspense, I also appreciated a thriller/mystery that doesn't play up the gore, foul language, or sex that are frequently found in the genre. I'd recommend this to readers who wouldn't normally be interested in the genre for that reason. I think it's a great book that falls outside of the cozy mystery genre but doesn't cross all the way into thriller territory. It's a cozy thriller.
Overall
I recommend it. I'm definitely glad I gave the author another try and I'll continue to look into her books in the future because I enjoyed this one.
Writing
There are few tropes I love in thrillers as much as a potential gaslight. You're all familiar with gaslighting, right? A character is slowly losing his or her mind...or is is all a trick? I love it most when I can't tell whether or not a character is being gaslighted. And because I'm incredibly naive, I can almost never tell. This was no exception and I spent most of the book wondering whether our elderly main character was grappling with dementia or being tormented by an outside entity. I won't let you in on the surprise, but I will let you know that it provided me with just the right amount of cozy suspense.
Entertainment Value
Well, I stayed up for half the night because I HAD to know the ending, so that certainly says something about the entertainment value. Beyond the suspense, I also appreciated a thriller/mystery that doesn't play up the gore, foul language, or sex that are frequently found in the genre. I'd recommend this to readers who wouldn't normally be interested in the genre for that reason. I think it's a great book that falls outside of the cozy mystery genre but doesn't cross all the way into thriller territory. It's a cozy thriller.
Overall
I recommend it. I'm definitely glad I gave the author another try and I'll continue to look into her books in the future because I enjoyed this one.
July 30, 2019
A predictable yarn that nevertheless kept me interested until the end. Nan McNamara is the narrator.
3 stars.
3 stars.
May 3, 2025
3.5 🌟's rounded down
I believe this was my first book by Hallie Ephron. It was a good enough story that i listened to it entirely. But it wasn't very memorable. I am appalled at how so many people treat the elderly and grateful for those who are good to them. It talked about dying and getting to an age where you might want to consider moving into assisted living. Both are very difficult things. And for the persons loved ones too. Mina Yetner is kind, strong-willed, and vocalized very well, the things she wanted and didn't want. I liked her very much! And I felt bad for Evie's mother and all that she went through. I don't know what else to say about this read without giving things away. It had the potential to be a good story, but it just fell a lil short for me. I'm happy to have experienced it, but it's not a re-read for me.
I believe this was my first book by Hallie Ephron. It was a good enough story that i listened to it entirely. But it wasn't very memorable. I am appalled at how so many people treat the elderly and grateful for those who are good to them. It talked about dying and getting to an age where you might want to consider moving into assisted living. Both are very difficult things. And for the persons loved ones too. Mina Yetner is kind, strong-willed, and vocalized very well, the things she wanted and didn't want. I liked her very much! And I felt bad for Evie's mother and all that she went through. I don't know what else to say about this read without giving things away. It had the potential to be a good story, but it just fell a lil short for me. I'm happy to have experienced it, but it's not a re-read for me.
August 19, 2020
Mina's vision blurred and her throat started to close, but she refused to cry. Absolutely refused. She could hear her mother's voice: There is a little bit of good in the worst of us and a little bit of bad in the best of us.
May 29, 2023
It says "A Novel of Suspense," on the front cover which means it was supposed to be exciting, but rather than a mystery with twists, it felt like I was anxiously waiting for the main characters to grasp the situation and take action before it was too late.
April 25, 2013
3.5 There is nothing that makes me angrier than someone preying on the elderly or on children. This is not a spoiler because the reader learn early on what is happening and to a certain extent why. So if that is the case than what does the reader want t read the book for. Ninety year old Mina, who is very feisty and has a memorable past. Two daughters, Eve and Ginger, who need to forgive their mother and learn something about their past that changes their view of her. There is a twist at the end, everything is not as apparent as one thinks. I like this author, her novels are suspenseful without being gory and the plot is solid.
March 17, 2015
There was an old woman, she did not live in a shoe. She lived in this book, with other dull characters too.
I didn't like any part of this book. It was boring. I feel like I wasted 8 hours of my life.
I didn't like any part of this book. It was boring. I feel like I wasted 8 hours of my life.
September 6, 2013
The second part of the title of this novel by Hallie Ephron reads, “A Novel of Suspense.” It is aptly labeled. It is one of those books that the reader, me, had to finish before going to bed, simply because there would be no sleep until the suspense ended. Hallie Ephron knows how to entice a reader with intriguing characters and induce anxiety over what is on the next page.
Evie Ferrante is a senior curator at Five-Boroughs Historical Society in New York City and is putting the finishing touches on her first solo exhibit when she receives news that her mother is seriously ill in the hospital. Her mother’s neighbor in the riverfront neighborhood of Higgs Point, the Bronx is 91-year-old Mina Yetner, and it is Mina who calls Evie’s sister Ginger to inform them of their mother’s departure in an ambulance from the neighborhood. As Ginger has dealt with their alcoholic mother’s spells before, she insists that Evie take care of things this time, not realizing the severity of the situation. Evie has not seen her mother for four months, after yet another no-show from her mother at a lunch, and she is in shock at the condition of her mother’s house when she arrives there. Equally disconcerting is the discovery of large amounts of money and a new large, flatscreen television amidst the rubble in the house. Unfortunately, her mother is in no condition to answer any questions.
While Evie is struggling with her mother’s deterioration of both person and home, Mina is fighting her own battle to remain independent and not succumb to her nephew’s wishes to enter an assisted living facility. Evie temporarily moves into her mother’s house, and she becomes friendly with Mina, hoping that the older woman can help in the search to understand what has happened to Evie’s mother. Although Mina is beginning to wonder what is happening to herself and her neighborhood, she is still a sharp observer of human nature and her community. Evie and Mina will need each other to uncover the secrets of those around them, secrets and manipulations that have led to murder and threaten to lead to more.
One of the aspects of this novel that especially appealed to me was the historical information about the WWII bomber plane that hit the Empire State Building in 1945. Ephron smoothly integrated this historical event into the story through Evie's job and another surprising source. I always appreciate a little history with my mystery.
Evie Ferrante is a senior curator at Five-Boroughs Historical Society in New York City and is putting the finishing touches on her first solo exhibit when she receives news that her mother is seriously ill in the hospital. Her mother’s neighbor in the riverfront neighborhood of Higgs Point, the Bronx is 91-year-old Mina Yetner, and it is Mina who calls Evie’s sister Ginger to inform them of their mother’s departure in an ambulance from the neighborhood. As Ginger has dealt with their alcoholic mother’s spells before, she insists that Evie take care of things this time, not realizing the severity of the situation. Evie has not seen her mother for four months, after yet another no-show from her mother at a lunch, and she is in shock at the condition of her mother’s house when she arrives there. Equally disconcerting is the discovery of large amounts of money and a new large, flatscreen television amidst the rubble in the house. Unfortunately, her mother is in no condition to answer any questions.
While Evie is struggling with her mother’s deterioration of both person and home, Mina is fighting her own battle to remain independent and not succumb to her nephew’s wishes to enter an assisted living facility. Evie temporarily moves into her mother’s house, and she becomes friendly with Mina, hoping that the older woman can help in the search to understand what has happened to Evie’s mother. Although Mina is beginning to wonder what is happening to herself and her neighborhood, she is still a sharp observer of human nature and her community. Evie and Mina will need each other to uncover the secrets of those around them, secrets and manipulations that have led to murder and threaten to lead to more.
One of the aspects of this novel that especially appealed to me was the historical information about the WWII bomber plane that hit the Empire State Building in 1945. Ephron smoothly integrated this historical event into the story through Evie's job and another surprising source. I always appreciate a little history with my mystery.
November 16, 2017
3.5 stars. Like most thrillers, it was far fetched. But entertaining enough.
June 29, 2015
I chose this as the book club selection for our group. I based my decision off of a review by Orson Scott Card, because I find that we have similar tastes.
While my book club had problems with it (as did I), I did enjoy it and the discussion that it created.
Plot: The gist of this suspense novel is that Evie is called on to help her mother, who is quite old and who has apparently gone on a massive alcohol overdosing binge. Evie meets the nice older lady next door, who seems to be losing her memory. But someone also seems to be trying to get rid of all the old people in the area. Or is it just in the old lady's mind? The plot was fairly straightforward, with not a lot of twists or turns. My book group thought the ending was too obvious. I had to explain the difference between mystery and suspense, dramatic irony and tension. The plot, to me, wasn't a problem because this is an Idea story and that is what interested me.
Setting: The story is set in the imaginary location of Higgs Point, roughly around Clason Point in the Bronx. Most of the description was spent on the dilapidated home of Evie's mother and the contrast with the neighbor's home. Scenery was mostly just background and I felt like this could have been placed just about anywhere. The setting didn't get in the way of the story (except for the idea of a huge basement holding carnival rides on a point of land where the water table would have been fairly close to the surface).
Characters: Most of my book group felt like the characters were all really one-dimensional, with no complexity and no character arcs. There was the obvious bad guy, the jerk boyfriend, the independent and fierce protagonist, the perfect sister, and the nice old lady. While the characters are rather obviously typed, I found that I liked Evie and the old lad, Mina. And I thought that they were developed well through the story.
Conflict: The conflict of growing old and being taken care of and independence were all intertwined here in a lovely way for me. It reminded me of King Lear. The idea that old people are and can be taken advantage of, has some interesting turns. And while this kind of topic might not appeal to a younger crowd, it is relevant in the way we treat each other and the cultural expectations (or lack thereof) of respect for elders.
Text: The writing was unobtrusive and clear.
While my book club had problems with it (as did I), I did enjoy it and the discussion that it created.
Plot: The gist of this suspense novel is that Evie is called on to help her mother, who is quite old and who has apparently gone on a massive alcohol overdosing binge. Evie meets the nice older lady next door, who seems to be losing her memory. But someone also seems to be trying to get rid of all the old people in the area. Or is it just in the old lady's mind? The plot was fairly straightforward, with not a lot of twists or turns. My book group thought the ending was too obvious. I had to explain the difference between mystery and suspense, dramatic irony and tension. The plot, to me, wasn't a problem because this is an Idea story and that is what interested me.
Setting: The story is set in the imaginary location of Higgs Point, roughly around Clason Point in the Bronx. Most of the description was spent on the dilapidated home of Evie's mother and the contrast with the neighbor's home. Scenery was mostly just background and I felt like this could have been placed just about anywhere. The setting didn't get in the way of the story (except for the idea of a huge basement holding carnival rides on a point of land where the water table would have been fairly close to the surface).
Characters: Most of my book group felt like the characters were all really one-dimensional, with no complexity and no character arcs. There was the obvious bad guy, the jerk boyfriend, the independent and fierce protagonist, the perfect sister, and the nice old lady. While the characters are rather obviously typed, I found that I liked Evie and the old lad, Mina. And I thought that they were developed well through the story.
Conflict: The conflict of growing old and being taken care of and independence were all intertwined here in a lovely way for me. It reminded me of King Lear. The idea that old people are and can be taken advantage of, has some interesting turns. And while this kind of topic might not appeal to a younger crowd, it is relevant in the way we treat each other and the cultural expectations (or lack thereof) of respect for elders.
Text: The writing was unobtrusive and clear.
April 20, 2013
Evie Ferrante had broken her ties with her alcoholic mother months before, but when she received the call that she had been hospitalized, Evie left her work at the Five-Boroughs Historical Society to deal with the situation. Arriving at her childhood home, she was surprised to see that her mother had suddenly become a hoarder and "crazy cat lady". While back in the old neighborhood, she became reacquainted with their elderly neighbor, Mina. It became apparent that something doesn't add up with Mina's situation, as well as with others in the neighborhood. While Evie is busy with her mother's declining health, a web of deceit and fraud is spreading all around her. When the story comes to its explosive conclusion, will Evie and Mina survive?
There Was an old Woman is a non-stop suspenseful ride from beginning to end. The subplot of Evie's work with the Historical Society is a nice touch, with the emphasis on the 1945 B-52 crash into the Empire State Building. One small negative: I would have liked for the secondary mystery of the scar to have been resolved a bit more clearly. I can't explain it more than that without giving away too much of the plot. But it is a small negative. This novel is more suspense/thriller than mystery, with unlikeable bad guys, possible murder, and fraud. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. I look forward to more suspense thrillers from Ms. Ephron.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
There Was an old Woman is a non-stop suspenseful ride from beginning to end. The subplot of Evie's work with the Historical Society is a nice touch, with the emphasis on the 1945 B-52 crash into the Empire State Building. One small negative: I would have liked for the secondary mystery of the scar to have been resolved a bit more clearly. I can't explain it more than that without giving away too much of the plot. But it is a small negative. This novel is more suspense/thriller than mystery, with unlikeable bad guys, possible murder, and fraud. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. I look forward to more suspense thrillers from Ms. Ephron.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
July 6, 2013
I read this while on a road trip today with my husband doing all the driving. I wanted very much to like it but I found it to be dull, boring, and plodding. I didn't like the character Evie at all and found Mina to be boring.
Sandra Ferrante has two daughters- Ginger and Evie. Both are adults. Ginger who is a mom herself and has a home of her own is the one who usually comes to the alcoholic Sandra'a aid when trouble comes (and it comes often) but this time she calls Evie and tells her she is too busy this time and Evie must go tend to their mother who was carried to the hospital by ambulance and the EMTs reported her house as filthy. While being put in the ambulance, she tells her 91 year old neighbor Mina Yetner "Don't let him in until I'm gone."
Mina has her own worries with her jackass nephew trying to shove her into a nursing home or assisted care for his own purposes and suddenly finding odd things happening that make it look like she is forgetful.
When a petulant Evie gets to her mom's home, she finds a pig pen with a new flat screen tv mounted on the wall and expensive liquor her mother could not afford. She turns to the troubled Mina to help her figure it out. There is a lot of Mina's history tossed in and I found myself bored with it all and annoyed at Evie.
If you like a lot of action and suspense in your mysteries, you won't be finding it here. This moves slower than a lame turtle. My husband said I fell asleep after reading it!
Sandra Ferrante has two daughters- Ginger and Evie. Both are adults. Ginger who is a mom herself and has a home of her own is the one who usually comes to the alcoholic Sandra'a aid when trouble comes (and it comes often) but this time she calls Evie and tells her she is too busy this time and Evie must go tend to their mother who was carried to the hospital by ambulance and the EMTs reported her house as filthy. While being put in the ambulance, she tells her 91 year old neighbor Mina Yetner "Don't let him in until I'm gone."
Mina has her own worries with her jackass nephew trying to shove her into a nursing home or assisted care for his own purposes and suddenly finding odd things happening that make it look like she is forgetful.
When a petulant Evie gets to her mom's home, she finds a pig pen with a new flat screen tv mounted on the wall and expensive liquor her mother could not afford. She turns to the troubled Mina to help her figure it out. There is a lot of Mina's history tossed in and I found myself bored with it all and annoyed at Evie.
If you like a lot of action and suspense in your mysteries, you won't be finding it here. This moves slower than a lame turtle. My husband said I fell asleep after reading it!
February 12, 2013
This book is what suspense novels should read like; building tension using everyday life and then putting one aspect askew so that you question what is real and what is imagined. No gimmicks, no car chases just disturbing incidents that feel too close to home. I’m giving There was an Old Woman 5 stars because I had trouble putting it down; reading it in two days.
Mina is an elderly widow who has lived most of her life in a cozy neighborhood overlooking a marsh with views of the Manhattan skyline. Content in her home with her cat Ivory, she spends her days making lists of friends and family who have passed away. Her biggest problem is her memory, but at her age memory loss happens, and hers isn’t as bad as her nephew thinks it is; or is it? His constant pestering about putting her into assisted living is upsetting. Then things get more complicated when her long-time neighbor is rushed to the hospital and, in the ambulance, she asks Mina to call to her daughter adding a whispered cryptic message. Elsie, one of her neighbors’ daughters, discovers things are much worse with their mother and moves home only to realize that something mysterious is happening in the old neighborhood. This one will keep you guessing. When it comes to suspense, Hallie Ephron knows her stuff. ARC Amazon Vine program.
Mina is an elderly widow who has lived most of her life in a cozy neighborhood overlooking a marsh with views of the Manhattan skyline. Content in her home with her cat Ivory, she spends her days making lists of friends and family who have passed away. Her biggest problem is her memory, but at her age memory loss happens, and hers isn’t as bad as her nephew thinks it is; or is it? His constant pestering about putting her into assisted living is upsetting. Then things get more complicated when her long-time neighbor is rushed to the hospital and, in the ambulance, she asks Mina to call to her daughter adding a whispered cryptic message. Elsie, one of her neighbors’ daughters, discovers things are much worse with their mother and moves home only to realize that something mysterious is happening in the old neighborhood. This one will keep you guessing. When it comes to suspense, Hallie Ephron knows her stuff. ARC Amazon Vine program.
September 1, 2019
Hmm. There could have been a story there. I can't really put my finger on what was missing. It was very predictable, and knowing what was going on made it drag. I did like Mina and Evie, though. Those characters felt real.
May 10, 2013
A few years ago, I helped my aunt through the last stages of her life. It was a sacrifice, but it was easy and I was happy I did it. Hallie Ephron, in THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN, captured the essence of that experience. She caught the hospital smells, the interrupted life, the feeling that suddenly you had to make decisions for someone who had always been the adult.
But Hallie added a sinister twist.
What if my aunt had been in my power, but I didn't have her best interests a heart?
Chilling.
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN lives up to its billing as a Novel of Suspense, and Hallie Ephron has become the master of turning the screws slowly tighter until you can't stop turning the pages.
But Hallie added a sinister twist.
What if my aunt had been in my power, but I didn't have her best interests a heart?
Chilling.
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN lives up to its billing as a Novel of Suspense, and Hallie Ephron has become the master of turning the screws slowly tighter until you can't stop turning the pages.
April 30, 2015
A solid suspense novel that successfully delivers on character and theme. My one frustration was my sense that the author was making it very clear to the reader what dangers were lurking for the main characters whilst keeping them oblivious even when their own observations of events seemed to lead inexorably to a realization of what was going on behind the scenes. That said, this might be something that true suspense readers (this isn't my usual genre) would actually appreciate. Certainly a worthwhile read so my rating is a reflection purely of my own enjoyment rather than a criticism of the work itself.
April 2, 2016
An intriguing mystery with well-developed characters. I almost want to call this a cozy but it isn't, not quite. The mystery was pretty easy to unravel but I found myself interested in the characters, especially the relationship between the sisters and their mother. As well as the side story of their aging neighbour. History plays a major theme throughout in many roles as main character Evie is an historical preservationist by trade and finds past places and stories crossing her path as she tries to deal with her mother's sudden terminal illness, perhaps murder. Not a thriller by any means but a pleasant page-turner, nonetheless. I'd certainly read the author again.
May 10, 2013
I wasn't so sure about this book going in. I actually downloaded it by mistake thinking it was another book. When I found out that I couldn't make an exchange I decided to give this one a shot. I am very happy about the mix-up. This is much more than a suspense novel. Don't be thrown off and think it's reading for 'has been' or cheap thrills. The character development and plot are stellar and drew me in from page one.
I will return to write a review. The author, Hallie Ephron, and her book deserve one.
I will return to write a review. The author, Hallie Ephron, and her book deserve one.
May 4, 2021
This book bummed me out because it had soooooooooo much potential. I figured out the ending within fifty pages because it was so poorly organized. I think an editor would have suggested moving some reveals to different areas, taking more time to expand on other points, and make things way less obvious.
The setting is immaculate, who doesn’t want to learn more about a historic and singular housing development on a marsh in New York City? The site of an old amusement park and a shady past to the development? Mina Yetner, an incredible 91-year-old who you wish was your grandma? Evie, a young woman with the coolest job (curator for a museum in New York) working on a jaw-dropping story on a forgotten tragedy in The Empire State Building... and Mrs Yetner might have been there? And this is only the side plot! Evie’s mother being hospitalized is what brings her back to Higgs Point in the first place, and that tale takes you down a sinister yet healing path in its own way, beautifully. However none of these threads felt developed. I really wanted more from Mina’s perspective, and almost wish it had been her story instead.
I wouldn’t necessarily say skip this book, because the story is amazing and the setting beautiful, but it’s not what it could have been.
The setting is immaculate, who doesn’t want to learn more about a historic and singular housing development on a marsh in New York City? The site of an old amusement park and a shady past to the development? Mina Yetner, an incredible 91-year-old who you wish was your grandma? Evie, a young woman with the coolest job (curator for a museum in New York) working on a jaw-dropping story on a forgotten tragedy in The Empire State Building... and Mrs Yetner might have been there? And this is only the side plot! Evie’s mother being hospitalized is what brings her back to Higgs Point in the first place, and that tale takes you down a sinister yet healing path in its own way, beautifully. However none of these threads felt developed. I really wanted more from Mina’s perspective, and almost wish it had been her story instead.
I wouldn’t necessarily say skip this book, because the story is amazing and the setting beautiful, but it’s not what it could have been.
May 14, 2025
This is the first book ive read from this author. I plan on reading more.
When Evie Ferrante learns that her mother has been hospitalized, she finds her mothers house in chaos. Sorting through her belongings she discovers items that dont quite belong there, and begins to raise questions.
Evie renews a friendship with Mina, an eldetly neighbor who might know more about her mothers activities, but Mina is havivg her own set of problems. As Evie investigates her mothers actions, a darker story of deception and madness involving Mina emerges.
When Evie Ferrante learns that her mother has been hospitalized, she finds her mothers house in chaos. Sorting through her belongings she discovers items that dont quite belong there, and begins to raise questions.
Evie renews a friendship with Mina, an eldetly neighbor who might know more about her mothers activities, but Mina is havivg her own set of problems. As Evie investigates her mothers actions, a darker story of deception and madness involving Mina emerges.
October 26, 2021
This book starts out formulaically with the nice interesting old woman, the alcoholic mysterious old woman and a streetful of “interesting” characters. The young of course attractive woman returns to the hone front to help her hospitalized mother out and with hours meets the neighborhood characters and a love interest and a mystery. It’s work to write a book. It helps to have a famous writer in the family. The book didn’t entertain or engage me.
March 18, 2017
Outstanding beginning because you get a certain feeling when you discover someone new who has a talent for creating the perfect setting - characters and environment. Just like Mina Yetner's kitchen, this book gives a dignity to age. Vintage references (icebox versus refrigerator or Subzero) give a warmth to this modern day tale. Yes, you may guess what the characters are up to early on but the writing and story-telling are worth sticking with this to the very last word.
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