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The Night in Question
A lyrical and emotionally engaging novel infused with mystery and wisdom about love, friendship, and the power of forgiveness.
Florrie Butterfield—eighty-seven, one-legged, and of cheerful disposition—believes there can't be any more adventures or surprises in life to experience. Yet one midsummer’s evening, there’s an accident at Babbington Hall—the adult residence where she lives—so shocking and strange that Florrie is suspicious; is this really an accident? Or is she being lied to? Is she, in fact, living alongside a potential murderer? In her efforts to learn the truth, Florrie is forced to look back on her own life, with all its passions and regrets; she must confront her own bloody secret—and, at last, forgive herself. Above all, Florrie learns, through the help of her new friend, Stanhope, that you’re never too old to have the life you’ve always dreamed of. When it comes to love, it’s never too late.
Readers of moving fiction about late-in-life second chances such as Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove and Rachel Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will love this un-putdownable book.
Florrie Butterfield—eighty-seven, one-legged, and of cheerful disposition—believes there can't be any more adventures or surprises in life to experience. Yet one midsummer’s evening, there’s an accident at Babbington Hall—the adult residence where she lives—so shocking and strange that Florrie is suspicious; is this really an accident? Or is she being lied to? Is she, in fact, living alongside a potential murderer? In her efforts to learn the truth, Florrie is forced to look back on her own life, with all its passions and regrets; she must confront her own bloody secret—and, at last, forgive herself. Above all, Florrie learns, through the help of her new friend, Stanhope, that you’re never too old to have the life you’ve always dreamed of. When it comes to love, it’s never too late.
Readers of moving fiction about late-in-life second chances such as Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove and Rachel Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will love this un-putdownable book.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2024
298 people are currently reading
10890 people want to read
About the author
Susan Fletcher
8 books576 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Susan Fletcher is a British novelist. She was born in Birmingham and studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, Eve Green, won the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, and the Society of Authors Betty Trask Prize; it was also picked for Channel 4's (UK) Richard and Judy Summer reading list. Subsequent novels have been shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the Writers’ Guild fiction award, and longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year award. Her novel Witch Light won France’s 2013 Saint-Maur en Poche award. Fletcher is a former Fellow at the University of Worcester, as part of the Royal Literary Fund's fellowship program, and is the author of The Night in Question.
source: Amazon
Susan Fletcher is a British novelist. She was born in Birmingham and studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, Eve Green, won the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, and the Society of Authors Betty Trask Prize; it was also picked for Channel 4's (UK) Richard and Judy Summer reading list. Subsequent novels have been shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the Writers’ Guild fiction award, and longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year award. Her novel Witch Light won France’s 2013 Saint-Maur en Poche award. Fletcher is a former Fellow at the University of Worcester, as part of the Royal Literary Fund's fellowship program, and is the author of The Night in Question.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
May 11, 2024
“So walk into your life. Do what you want to do, Florrie, always – because a timid, obedient woman is quite the tragedy… Life. What a shame we only get one shot at it.”
Ah, if only there were more Aunt Pips in this world! Those words, spoken to Florrie as a young woman, gave her the freedom to live a life of adventure. And love. Florrie is now in her late eighties, missing part of a leg, and living in an assisted living facility.
“… how on earth had it come to this; how was she looking at care homes for the elderly when she still felt twenty years old inside, still believed she could do headstands, and when there was still so much that she wanted to do with her life – like swim the English Channel or ride across plains with proper cowboys, learn the trumpet or walk the Camino de Santiago with all her belongings on her back. How might she do these things now? Where had the time gone? What was left of her one, brief life?”
Some of you will already know that I’m Susan Fletcher’s biggest fan! Yes, I am! (Any other would-be contenders for the title should be prepared to admit defeat.) This book is a bit of a detour from the others I’ve read by her thus far, however. What she’s done here is evident – she’s trying to reach a wider audience by inserting a mystery into the real story she wants to share. Mysteries sell books and that’s not a bad thing. I do hope it brings more readers to her backlist, because those novels are so worth reading! So, what did she want to tell us then? Well, Aunt Pip says it best. And so does Florrie. Susan Fletcher’s true gift is getting into the hearts and minds of her characters. She’s a keen observer of human nature.
“… there’s such a sadness in Renata these days that Florrie would love to dismantle her, to take this sadness out of her as if it were an actual, tangible thing like a swallowed button or a kidney stone.”
Renata, the quiet, unassuming manager of the care facility, approaches Florrie with a wish to learn more of Florrie’s life and love stories. Renata, newly in love, has decided that she too wants to live a fuller life. She wants to see Paris. The plot of the novel then alternates between the sharing of Florrie’s past and the death of a resident and a mysterious accident. Florrie, however, isn’t entirely convinced of this so-called accident. While the untangling of the mystery is a bit of fun, what I really wanted was Florrie’s backstory. What would have been the most effective for me, a reader that craves the character above all else, would have been a novel just about Florrie, following her throughout her unconventional life. I wanted to stay in the moment with her, rather than waiting for the next flashback to fill in more of the blanks. Still, it’s an effective method and most readers will likely appreciate this approach. We learn about the six loves of her life, as well as the endearing and lost-lasting friendship between Florrie and Pinky.
“Hadn’t they had their own love story – two awkward schoolfriends, one short and one tall? Who’d tumbled through life in their own different ways but never far from each other? Like a pair of mismatched shoes with their laces tied together. Like a pair of odd socks in the wash… Love? Magic? The proper, lasting kind? Then let me tell you all about the girl from Pepper Street.”
This is about the solving of a mystery… sort of. Mostly though, it’s a celebration of the different stages of our lives. It’s a reflection on the nature of the various sorts of loves one may be fortunate enough to encounter throughout a lifetime. It’s a reminder to grab hold of life and make the most of it. It’s the gift of friendship and love that may surprise us at a time when we least expect it. I think a lot of readers are going to truly love this story. It’s not my favorite by this author – Corrag and Let Me Tell You About a Man I Knew take the prize, but I adore Susan Fletcher and can feel her spirit at the heart of this story. I have three of her backlisted books sitting on my shelf. I will read them. And you should, too!
“… she thinks of how, sometimes, this life has seemed to be bordered by the thinnest of cloths – a gauze, a veil – through which one can see the other lives that one might have lived, if one had chosen differently.”
Ah, if only there were more Aunt Pips in this world! Those words, spoken to Florrie as a young woman, gave her the freedom to live a life of adventure. And love. Florrie is now in her late eighties, missing part of a leg, and living in an assisted living facility.
“… how on earth had it come to this; how was she looking at care homes for the elderly when she still felt twenty years old inside, still believed she could do headstands, and when there was still so much that she wanted to do with her life – like swim the English Channel or ride across plains with proper cowboys, learn the trumpet or walk the Camino de Santiago with all her belongings on her back. How might she do these things now? Where had the time gone? What was left of her one, brief life?”
Some of you will already know that I’m Susan Fletcher’s biggest fan! Yes, I am! (Any other would-be contenders for the title should be prepared to admit defeat.) This book is a bit of a detour from the others I’ve read by her thus far, however. What she’s done here is evident – she’s trying to reach a wider audience by inserting a mystery into the real story she wants to share. Mysteries sell books and that’s not a bad thing. I do hope it brings more readers to her backlist, because those novels are so worth reading! So, what did she want to tell us then? Well, Aunt Pip says it best. And so does Florrie. Susan Fletcher’s true gift is getting into the hearts and minds of her characters. She’s a keen observer of human nature.
“… there’s such a sadness in Renata these days that Florrie would love to dismantle her, to take this sadness out of her as if it were an actual, tangible thing like a swallowed button or a kidney stone.”
Renata, the quiet, unassuming manager of the care facility, approaches Florrie with a wish to learn more of Florrie’s life and love stories. Renata, newly in love, has decided that she too wants to live a fuller life. She wants to see Paris. The plot of the novel then alternates between the sharing of Florrie’s past and the death of a resident and a mysterious accident. Florrie, however, isn’t entirely convinced of this so-called accident. While the untangling of the mystery is a bit of fun, what I really wanted was Florrie’s backstory. What would have been the most effective for me, a reader that craves the character above all else, would have been a novel just about Florrie, following her throughout her unconventional life. I wanted to stay in the moment with her, rather than waiting for the next flashback to fill in more of the blanks. Still, it’s an effective method and most readers will likely appreciate this approach. We learn about the six loves of her life, as well as the endearing and lost-lasting friendship between Florrie and Pinky.
“Hadn’t they had their own love story – two awkward schoolfriends, one short and one tall? Who’d tumbled through life in their own different ways but never far from each other? Like a pair of mismatched shoes with their laces tied together. Like a pair of odd socks in the wash… Love? Magic? The proper, lasting kind? Then let me tell you all about the girl from Pepper Street.”
This is about the solving of a mystery… sort of. Mostly though, it’s a celebration of the different stages of our lives. It’s a reflection on the nature of the various sorts of loves one may be fortunate enough to encounter throughout a lifetime. It’s a reminder to grab hold of life and make the most of it. It’s the gift of friendship and love that may surprise us at a time when we least expect it. I think a lot of readers are going to truly love this story. It’s not my favorite by this author – Corrag and Let Me Tell You About a Man I Knew take the prize, but I adore Susan Fletcher and can feel her spirit at the heart of this story. I have three of her backlisted books sitting on my shelf. I will read them. And you should, too!
“… she thinks of how, sometimes, this life has seemed to be bordered by the thinnest of cloths – a gauze, a veil – through which one can see the other lives that one might have lived, if one had chosen differently.”
June 11, 2025
This is a charming novel full of cozy feels and quick wit. I loved the mystery that surrounds Florrie as she tries to solve a mysterious accident.
Florie is an older resident and has lost a leg as a girl but that doesn’t stop her. I enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook as the narrators voice was incredibly soothing and perfectly matched how I expected the FMC to sound.
I appreciated the depth to this but felt it was a little slow at times, not quite as quick paced and attention grabbing as I would have preferred. If you like a more literary fiction novel, this may be more up your alley.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review!
Florie is an older resident and has lost a leg as a girl but that doesn’t stop her. I enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook as the narrators voice was incredibly soothing and perfectly matched how I expected the FMC to sound.
I appreciated the depth to this but felt it was a little slow at times, not quite as quick paced and attention grabbing as I would have preferred. If you like a more literary fiction novel, this may be more up your alley.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review!
May 7, 2024
I got my name on the library list as soon as I could, so got to read this one early. I've read several by Susan Fletcher and all her books are different. Gothic, or introspective or family saga have been past genres. This time she adds a mystery to the mix.
87 year old Florrie Butterfield is a role model for living well and aging. Even having to be wheelchair bound and moved into Temple Beeches, a well run care home, doesn't lessen her enthusiasm and sunny disposition or her sense of humor. But of course, there's a darker side to her life, secrets she's kept and things she's ashamed of. We are treated to that story in drips and dabs as she tries to unravel what happened the night that Renata, the manager of the home, tried to kill herself by jumping from a 3rd floor window. But did she really, or was she pushed? She and her new friend Stanhope Jones try to ferret out the truth.
Along the way, we get to meet some of the people populating this rather closed environment. Other residents, their children and visitors, the Vicar, the caretakers; everyone has a story. Lest you think this sounds like a rip-off of The Thursday Murder Club, let me assure you it's not. That series is a lot of fun to read, but this book is much more thoughtful, with some wisdom about aging and living life to the fullest, and several love stories woven throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend when you just need something good to read.
87 year old Florrie Butterfield is a role model for living well and aging. Even having to be wheelchair bound and moved into Temple Beeches, a well run care home, doesn't lessen her enthusiasm and sunny disposition or her sense of humor. But of course, there's a darker side to her life, secrets she's kept and things she's ashamed of. We are treated to that story in drips and dabs as she tries to unravel what happened the night that Renata, the manager of the home, tried to kill herself by jumping from a 3rd floor window. But did she really, or was she pushed? She and her new friend Stanhope Jones try to ferret out the truth.
Along the way, we get to meet some of the people populating this rather closed environment. Other residents, their children and visitors, the Vicar, the caretakers; everyone has a story. Lest you think this sounds like a rip-off of The Thursday Murder Club, let me assure you it's not. That series is a lot of fun to read, but this book is much more thoughtful, with some wisdom about aging and living life to the fullest, and several love stories woven throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend when you just need something good to read.
July 17, 2024
You know how when you really like a book, you’ll take it everywhere with you, even carrying it around the house as you clean or whatever? (Adjust this just a bit for ebooks and audios.) Yeah, this is not one of those books.
I’ve read 100 pages, and it’s taken me days to do so. Seeing this book on my nightstand just reminded me I still have to finish reading it. And I can’t. It’s been such a slog.
There is a very lovely story here, but I think the author could’ve paced the novel better.
I’m not up for obligation reading, which is what I’d be doing here if I continued.
I know other people love this book, and I’m glad it’s found an audience.
I’ve read 100 pages, and it’s taken me days to do so. Seeing this book on my nightstand just reminded me I still have to finish reading it. And I can’t. It’s been such a slog.
There is a very lovely story here, but I think the author could’ve paced the novel better.
I’m not up for obligation reading, which is what I’d be doing here if I continued.
I know other people love this book, and I’m glad it’s found an audience.
July 22, 2024
This book is a loving look at one woman’s life- Florrie Butterfield, who has carried a huge secret for 70 years that is known by only one person, her best friend, Pinkie. Florrie has had a life of adventures; she has experienced sorrows but has always remained positive and now here at age 87, she lives in an assisted living community.
When tragedy strikes their manager, Renata, Florrie is a witness to it. Just that day, Florrie had been connecting with Renata. They were planning to get together to discuss love- Florries’s past loves, but Renata’s “accident” derailed that.
The mystery at the heart of this novel is whether Renata’s fall was intentional. Florrie doesn’t think so, so she decides to investigate with the help of a new friend, Stanhope.
As Florrie pursues the truth, she reflects back to all the people in her life and all the men for whom she had felt love. The relationship that I especially loved was the one with her best friend, Pinkie. Everyone needs a best friend of that calibre in their lives.
I loved much about this book, but I especially loved visiting a senior’s resident in which seniors are still valued. I loved getting to know Florrie, whose thought processes were still very sharp for an 87 year old. I know that not all senior’s have that privilege but I know many that do.
Though there is a mystery at the heart of this novel, this book is more a character study of Florrie Butterfield, her life and loves and her caring nature. It is about living life to the fullest, regardless of age. It is about remaining positive. A life affirming book.
I listened to this book. The narrator, Jenny Funnell, was excellent.
My thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Publishers and the author, Susan Fletcher for allowing me a free audio for an honest review.
Published : 2024
When tragedy strikes their manager, Renata, Florrie is a witness to it. Just that day, Florrie had been connecting with Renata. They were planning to get together to discuss love- Florries’s past loves, but Renata’s “accident” derailed that.
The mystery at the heart of this novel is whether Renata’s fall was intentional. Florrie doesn’t think so, so she decides to investigate with the help of a new friend, Stanhope.
As Florrie pursues the truth, she reflects back to all the people in her life and all the men for whom she had felt love. The relationship that I especially loved was the one with her best friend, Pinkie. Everyone needs a best friend of that calibre in their lives.
I loved much about this book, but I especially loved visiting a senior’s resident in which seniors are still valued. I loved getting to know Florrie, whose thought processes were still very sharp for an 87 year old. I know that not all senior’s have that privilege but I know many that do.
Though there is a mystery at the heart of this novel, this book is more a character study of Florrie Butterfield, her life and loves and her caring nature. It is about living life to the fullest, regardless of age. It is about remaining positive. A life affirming book.
I listened to this book. The narrator, Jenny Funnell, was excellent.
My thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Publishers and the author, Susan Fletcher for allowing me a free audio for an honest review.
Published : 2024
April 21, 2024
I was initially enchanted by this novel. Fletcher's ability to draw characters is excellent and I enjoyed the humorous no-nonsense narrative voice of Florrie.
But whilst I could see the plot has serious themes at times, the cozy old people's home crime investigation took up too much space in the book. I would have enjoyed more detail and to have spent more time looking back at Florrie's past. This does happen but it's written in a fragmentary way and often skips around in a way that left me feeling less engaged. This combined with the large cast of characters in the present time line diluted the impact of this book for me.
In the end the pace was just too slow and I grew tired of it. There are real strengths in this novel, but I grew impatient with the parts I was less interested in and wanted to journey in the more engaging themes more.
DNFd at 41%.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
But whilst I could see the plot has serious themes at times, the cozy old people's home crime investigation took up too much space in the book. I would have enjoyed more detail and to have spent more time looking back at Florrie's past. This does happen but it's written in a fragmentary way and often skips around in a way that left me feeling less engaged. This combined with the large cast of characters in the present time line diluted the impact of this book for me.
In the end the pace was just too slow and I grew tired of it. There are real strengths in this novel, but I grew impatient with the parts I was less interested in and wanted to journey in the more engaging themes more.
DNFd at 41%.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
April 17, 2024
The Night in Question is a captivating novel that revolves around the life of eighty-seven-year-old Florence (Florrie) Butterfield who is living in a care home called Babbington Hall after she had to have her leg amputated and she is now wheelchair-bound.
When one of the residents dies, Florrie and the care home manager Renata find comfort in each other’s company. Renata asks Florrie if she can confide in her about her life but before she can do so, Renata dies, and the police rule it as suicide. Florrie isn’t convinced and neither is new care home resident Stanhope Jones, they believe that someone in the care home is a killer and they are determined to find out the truth.
The Night in Question is an intriguing and enthralling novel that takes place within a care home for the elderly. It was fantastic to see an octogenarian as the lead in a book and it works so well and has you rooting for Florrie and hoping that she is right and that no harm comes to her in her search for the truth.
The pace after the initial slow chapters, is spot on, and the plot is enjoyable. I loved the wit and humour that are ever present and that even at eight-seven Florrie wasn’t a woman to be messed with, she certainly was feisty. I also felt that the author did a fab job in portraying the older residents as humans who have thoughts, feelings, and emotions and not just some afterthought because of their ages.
This is a truly amazing mystery/amateur sleuth novel that I enjoyed the whole way through. It is a great read and leaves the reader feeling uplifted, although there are moments of sadness, especially when Florrie looks back on her life.
When one of the residents dies, Florrie and the care home manager Renata find comfort in each other’s company. Renata asks Florrie if she can confide in her about her life but before she can do so, Renata dies, and the police rule it as suicide. Florrie isn’t convinced and neither is new care home resident Stanhope Jones, they believe that someone in the care home is a killer and they are determined to find out the truth.
The Night in Question is an intriguing and enthralling novel that takes place within a care home for the elderly. It was fantastic to see an octogenarian as the lead in a book and it works so well and has you rooting for Florrie and hoping that she is right and that no harm comes to her in her search for the truth.
The pace after the initial slow chapters, is spot on, and the plot is enjoyable. I loved the wit and humour that are ever present and that even at eight-seven Florrie wasn’t a woman to be messed with, she certainly was feisty. I also felt that the author did a fab job in portraying the older residents as humans who have thoughts, feelings, and emotions and not just some afterthought because of their ages.
This is a truly amazing mystery/amateur sleuth novel that I enjoyed the whole way through. It is a great read and leaves the reader feeling uplifted, although there are moments of sadness, especially when Florrie looks back on her life.
May 8, 2024
87 year old Florence Butterfield is the focus of this story. A horrific accident lost her a leg and and living in her home is no longer possible with a wheelchair. So that she has her independence but also support she moves into Babbington Hall, which offers residential and assisted living near Oxford.
Florrie was a wonderful character and I adored her. Hers was a life well lived – and loved. Despite her travels and adventures not to mention the men who had been enthralled by her, she had her sadness in life. The loss of her older brother Robert had never left her and inspired her to live her life to the full for the both of them, but something which caused her the most anguish was ‘the Hackney business’ which resulted in her hands being badly scarred. Although often alluded to, the reader does not immediately know the background, but is just aware that it is something that has shaped Florrie’s life and caused the most pain. Only one person knew Florrie’s secret and she cannot tell.
Despite its peaceful and unassuming setting, Babbington Hall is a hotbed of mystery. Two incidents, neither of which are officially regarded as suspicious unsettle Florrie. Using the limited means available to her, she becomes an amateur sleuth, quietly determined to discover the truth and to right wrongs. After all, she is a policeman’s daughter.
Florrie’s life is told alongside the mystery at Babbington Hall. The book is beautifully written and there are so many fabulous characters, both in Florrie’s past and her present. Her childhood friend Pinky Topham, was fun but most importantly loyal; friendship, and the need for it, was very much a theme in the story. Everyone needs a Pinky in their life. Magda the Polish carer with her skull tattoos and Stanhope Jones, a cultured and charming man were just a few of my favourites. I even had a soft spot for the gossipy Ellwood sisters.
It would have been easy to dismiss Florrie as being of no consequence and thus invisible. She may have been disabled in body but her mind was as sharp as a tack and it would be a big mistake to underestimate this cheerful octogenarian.
The Night in Question is just a wonderful story. It has heart and warmth with characters that I cared for. Reflective, mysterious and captivating, I loved it and It will be one of my favourite books of the year.
Florrie was a wonderful character and I adored her. Hers was a life well lived – and loved. Despite her travels and adventures not to mention the men who had been enthralled by her, she had her sadness in life. The loss of her older brother Robert had never left her and inspired her to live her life to the full for the both of them, but something which caused her the most anguish was ‘the Hackney business’ which resulted in her hands being badly scarred. Although often alluded to, the reader does not immediately know the background, but is just aware that it is something that has shaped Florrie’s life and caused the most pain. Only one person knew Florrie’s secret and she cannot tell.
Despite its peaceful and unassuming setting, Babbington Hall is a hotbed of mystery. Two incidents, neither of which are officially regarded as suspicious unsettle Florrie. Using the limited means available to her, she becomes an amateur sleuth, quietly determined to discover the truth and to right wrongs. After all, she is a policeman’s daughter.
Florrie’s life is told alongside the mystery at Babbington Hall. The book is beautifully written and there are so many fabulous characters, both in Florrie’s past and her present. Her childhood friend Pinky Topham, was fun but most importantly loyal; friendship, and the need for it, was very much a theme in the story. Everyone needs a Pinky in their life. Magda the Polish carer with her skull tattoos and Stanhope Jones, a cultured and charming man were just a few of my favourites. I even had a soft spot for the gossipy Ellwood sisters.
It would have been easy to dismiss Florrie as being of no consequence and thus invisible. She may have been disabled in body but her mind was as sharp as a tack and it would be a big mistake to underestimate this cheerful octogenarian.
The Night in Question is just a wonderful story. It has heart and warmth with characters that I cared for. Reflective, mysterious and captivating, I loved it and It will be one of my favourite books of the year.
May 13, 2024
Pure reading pleasure! I loved every page...
June 19, 2024
TRUE CONFESSION:
I am an impatient reader.
And this impatient reader lost patience listening to a "lyrical and emotionally engaging novel" about an "accident" in an adult residence, love, friendship, and the power of forgiveness.
WHY DID I LOSE PATIENCE?
The pacing was waaaay too S-L-O-W!
Yes, "The Night in Question" was well-written and received glowing reviews from other GR members.
I listened to the audiobook read by Jenny Funnel, one of my favorite narrators.
Even though the book was well-written with a fabulous narrator, I lost patience early on; making it very tough to pass the finish line.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2025
It was a slow start and rambling in places, but it was easy to read at the same time. The story is of one-legged wheelchair user 87 year old Florence (Florrie) Butterfield, her past loves interspersed with a murder mystery. The house manager Renata falls from a third story window, but Florrie believes she was pushed. I liked how it reminded me that age is just a number and to live each day to the fullest. Although this is murder mystery for me, it was more about friendship and love.
February 29, 2024
My heart! What an utterly enchanting novel about second chances later in life and what a wonderful FMC. I need a minute to recover
Oke, Florrie is that type of octagenarian old lady that does not give a fluff and you really don't want to mess with. She is living in a retirement facilitiy and faced with a tragedy on the grounds, she buckles up and gets her sleuth on! The truly heartwaming (and heartbreaking) factor in this book is how Florrie looks back on her life in order to move ahead. Reflection on a whole new level
The book is written with grace, dignity, humour and a wit sharper than cut glass. Being aged is not a stumbling block for Florrie, it's an excuse for a whole new lease of life! Florries reflections frame the mystery well and flesh out a truly wonderful cozy
Flipping loved this book!
Thank you to Netgalley, Union Square & Co and Susan Fletcher for this truly beautiful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Oke, Florrie is that type of octagenarian old lady that does not give a fluff and you really don't want to mess with. She is living in a retirement facilitiy and faced with a tragedy on the grounds, she buckles up and gets her sleuth on! The truly heartwaming (and heartbreaking) factor in this book is how Florrie looks back on her life in order to move ahead. Reflection on a whole new level
The book is written with grace, dignity, humour and a wit sharper than cut glass. Being aged is not a stumbling block for Florrie, it's an excuse for a whole new lease of life! Florries reflections frame the mystery well and flesh out a truly wonderful cozy
Flipping loved this book!
Thank you to Netgalley, Union Square & Co and Susan Fletcher for this truly beautiful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
June 18, 2024
Florence Butterfield at 87 and recently bereaved of one of her legs is not a woman to sit back in God's waiting room watching telly all day, although she is currently in an old people's home. When one of the fellow residents dies under what Florrie feels are suspicious circumstances, she is determined to investigate! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook which was very enjoyable and well read.
June 13, 2024
What a beautifully written book and the main character of Florrie is a role Dame Judi Dench was born to play! Florrie is the resident of an assisted living facility where a patient recently died and the facility manager is comatose after a fall. Florrie does not believe that either of these instances were accidental. Her investigation of these cases is interspersed with vividly descriptive passages about her past life and loves. This is truly a literary mystery that is both emotionally engaging as well as entertaining. It is also a deeply moving saga on the subject of aging and how it changes and physically limits people while depicting how others view the elderly as deteriorating and mindless. There is superb character development and an expertly constructed plot that is charming, funny, heartbreaking, poignant and enchanting. Susan Fletcher is a new author for me and I am grateful to have found her and wish to thank her for a story that made me laugh, cry and care about the unforgettable and inspirational Florrie. Highest of recommendations for this gem.
March 25, 2024
I think this book is being marketed wrong. This is not a big mystery thriller. Sure there is a death (two actually) and there is a mystery to uncover, but this book doesn't have the pacing and focus that a reader expects from books considered thrillers. Instead, this is another story of an older person reflecting on the life they've led and what there is still to come. The mystery really just provides a reason for the main character Florrie to start considering all this. For a mystery, it was much too slowly paced and too long and meandering. For a book about a woman giving herself a second chance at life it was much better! Had I started it with that expectation in mind, I would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
April 6, 2024
"Florrie learned, long ago, that society forgets an old person was ever young."
Florrie was a remarkable old lady. She has seen much in her eighty-seven years. She has loved many, travelled afar, and experienced many losses. Also... Florrie holds a secret which she has kept from everyone for over seven decades.
Now, after a tragic accident, she has lost her left leg and is confined to a wheelchair. She leaves her beloved home and moves to Babbington Hall, a care home and assisted living facility in the Oxfordshire countryside. She takes everything life doles out to her with equanimity and positivity.
Renata Green, the manager of Babbington Hall, has expressed a wish to confide in Florrie which gives added optimism to the old lady. Finally, a friend who 'sees' her as a viable and able person. The following day, when they were meant to meet up, Renata falls from her third storey window.... Florrie witnessed the fall from her unit in the old apple store. The police deem the fall a suicide attempt. Florrie, after the brief talk she had with Renata, disagrees.
Distraught about Renata, Florrie seeks solace in the garden - where she encounters Stanhope Jones, a fellow resident. Stanhope hasn't lived at Babbington Hall for very long, but he proves to be an intelligent, kindly, like-minded, man. He too thinks that there is more to Renata's fall than they are led to believe...
The two elderly amateur sleuths put their considerable brains together to solve the mystery.
"We don't leave the children we were. We simply grow around them like a tree will, in the end, grow around a bicycle that's been left against them..."
Yes, this is indeed a mystery novel - but it is also a poignant and empathetic portrayal of aging - as we examine Florrie's life via her reminiscences. It is these very reflections on her own life that aids Florrie in solving the mystery surrounding Renata's fall. Her life was richly portrayed and had many highs and lows - as life always does.
The story shows how many people are patronizing of the elderly - deeming them 'lesser than'. It speaks to love and friendship in all their myriad permutations. How one love does not diminish another. How secrets can wound. Sometimes they wound the secret holder most of all.
A mystery story that is more 'Uplit' than mysterious, it nevertheless kept me engrossed. I admired Florrie and Stanhope and immensely enjoyed my time spent in their company.
Florrie was a remarkable old lady. She has seen much in her eighty-seven years. She has loved many, travelled afar, and experienced many losses. Also... Florrie holds a secret which she has kept from everyone for over seven decades.
Now, after a tragic accident, she has lost her left leg and is confined to a wheelchair. She leaves her beloved home and moves to Babbington Hall, a care home and assisted living facility in the Oxfordshire countryside. She takes everything life doles out to her with equanimity and positivity.
Renata Green, the manager of Babbington Hall, has expressed a wish to confide in Florrie which gives added optimism to the old lady. Finally, a friend who 'sees' her as a viable and able person. The following day, when they were meant to meet up, Renata falls from her third storey window.... Florrie witnessed the fall from her unit in the old apple store. The police deem the fall a suicide attempt. Florrie, after the brief talk she had with Renata, disagrees.
Distraught about Renata, Florrie seeks solace in the garden - where she encounters Stanhope Jones, a fellow resident. Stanhope hasn't lived at Babbington Hall for very long, but he proves to be an intelligent, kindly, like-minded, man. He too thinks that there is more to Renata's fall than they are led to believe...
The two elderly amateur sleuths put their considerable brains together to solve the mystery.
"We don't leave the children we were. We simply grow around them like a tree will, in the end, grow around a bicycle that's been left against them..."
Yes, this is indeed a mystery novel - but it is also a poignant and empathetic portrayal of aging - as we examine Florrie's life via her reminiscences. It is these very reflections on her own life that aids Florrie in solving the mystery surrounding Renata's fall. Her life was richly portrayed and had many highs and lows - as life always does.
The story shows how many people are patronizing of the elderly - deeming them 'lesser than'. It speaks to love and friendship in all their myriad permutations. How one love does not diminish another. How secrets can wound. Sometimes they wound the secret holder most of all.
A mystery story that is more 'Uplit' than mysterious, it nevertheless kept me engrossed. I admired Florrie and Stanhope and immensely enjoyed my time spent in their company.
March 16, 2024
I have so much love for this book. Right from the first page to the last it was an utter privilege being caught up in Florries world.
Now 87 with one leg and nearing the end of a packed life, Florrie Butterfield is resident in Babbington Hall home. When a serious incident happens at the home, she is determined to find out the truth.
Enlisting the help of various residents and friends (particularly the wonderful Stanhope) Florrie begins to untangle the truth. While she begins to uncover what really happened, she also has time to consider and reflect on her own life, decisions she has made and the people who have made it.
This is so wonderfully done and she is such a fabulous character - curious about the world, positive and kind - that I was more invested in her than the mystery! Though her life has been far from plain sailing, as she reflects Florrie discovers it’s never too late to live and definitely never too late to love.
I would absolutely love to sit down with Florrie over a gin and tonic and listen to more about her amazing life. What a character! What a book!
Now 87 with one leg and nearing the end of a packed life, Florrie Butterfield is resident in Babbington Hall home. When a serious incident happens at the home, she is determined to find out the truth.
Enlisting the help of various residents and friends (particularly the wonderful Stanhope) Florrie begins to untangle the truth. While she begins to uncover what really happened, she also has time to consider and reflect on her own life, decisions she has made and the people who have made it.
This is so wonderfully done and she is such a fabulous character - curious about the world, positive and kind - that I was more invested in her than the mystery! Though her life has been far from plain sailing, as she reflects Florrie discovers it’s never too late to live and definitely never too late to love.
I would absolutely love to sit down with Florrie over a gin and tonic and listen to more about her amazing life. What a character! What a book!
April 12, 2024
I thought this book had such potential!! I was immediately drawn in by the great cover and the fact that the protagonist is an older, disabled wheel chair user who lost her leg and is determined to help solve the mystery surrounding her friend's death. While parts were great, this book was really slow moving and I had a hard time keeping interested right to the end. Possibly a me thing and it might have been a better read in print versus audio. Still worth a read in any case.
May 1, 2024
The main character in The Night in Question is Florrie, an elderly lady living in a residential home. When a couple of "accidents" happen, Florrie is convinced there's something fishy going on, and together with some of the other trustworthy residents, she seeks to discover the truth.
Interspersed between playing detective, we have flashbacks to Florrie's younger life - her family as a young girl, her partners over the years, and her travels around the world. What a life she had!
I listened to The Night in Question on audio and it is brilliantly narrated by Jenny Funnell. I found Susan Fletcher's story absolutely riveting, at times both funny and emotional. We learn much about Florrie's past and the secret she has held on to for so many years. And it all comes to a shocking conclusion as Florrie pieces the clues together. There was a moment when I was listening to it in the gym and had a moment staring into space when there was a big reveal!
Big recommend from me!
Interspersed between playing detective, we have flashbacks to Florrie's younger life - her family as a young girl, her partners over the years, and her travels around the world. What a life she had!
I listened to The Night in Question on audio and it is brilliantly narrated by Jenny Funnell. I found Susan Fletcher's story absolutely riveting, at times both funny and emotional. We learn much about Florrie's past and the secret she has held on to for so many years. And it all comes to a shocking conclusion as Florrie pieces the clues together. There was a moment when I was listening to it in the gym and had a moment staring into space when there was a big reveal!
Big recommend from me!
August 2, 2024
Thanks to @reading.with.kristen for singing the praises of this book and prompting me to pick it up!
The story revolves around 87 year old Florrie Butterfield. We find her living at Babbington Hall, a senior care facility because of an unfortunate accident that’s left her wheelchair bound after a leg amputation. When Florrie witnesses a tragic fall from her window one stormy night, Florrie’s detective instincts go into overdrive- was it a suicide as others are saying or was it murder? Florrie is determined to find out.
As Florrie digs for clues, her own story begins to be told, little by little. And what a story it is! Each chapter peels back another layer of her incredible life… and secrets. Florrie has lived a life of adventure, love and loss. There are some heavier themes but I found it to be uplifting, full of depth and entertaining!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It is warm, charming and full of heart. Its unique. It’s a contemplative look back at life and the choices made, full of rich metaphors and analogies. There are unexpected friendships and richly written characters.. It shines a light on overlooked people in society such as seniors living in a care facility and shows us how much more they have to offer! It’s not a fast paced thriller but more like a meandering, scenic walk in the park on a sunny day.
Content: little to almost zero language but there is one taking of God’s name in vain. War injury/PTSD. Biblical worldview considerations: gay side character/marriage not for love, premarital sex (mentioned not described). Please pm for more context if needed. There are a couple other potential trigger warnings from Florrie’s past that are spoilers to plot.
The story revolves around 87 year old Florrie Butterfield. We find her living at Babbington Hall, a senior care facility because of an unfortunate accident that’s left her wheelchair bound after a leg amputation. When Florrie witnesses a tragic fall from her window one stormy night, Florrie’s detective instincts go into overdrive- was it a suicide as others are saying or was it murder? Florrie is determined to find out.
As Florrie digs for clues, her own story begins to be told, little by little. And what a story it is! Each chapter peels back another layer of her incredible life… and secrets. Florrie has lived a life of adventure, love and loss. There are some heavier themes but I found it to be uplifting, full of depth and entertaining!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It is warm, charming and full of heart. Its unique. It’s a contemplative look back at life and the choices made, full of rich metaphors and analogies. There are unexpected friendships and richly written characters.. It shines a light on overlooked people in society such as seniors living in a care facility and shows us how much more they have to offer! It’s not a fast paced thriller but more like a meandering, scenic walk in the park on a sunny day.
Content: little to almost zero language but there is one taking of God’s name in vain. War injury/PTSD. Biblical worldview considerations: gay side character/marriage not for love, premarital sex (mentioned not described). Please pm for more context if needed. There are a couple other potential trigger warnings from Florrie’s past that are spoilers to plot.
January 10, 2025
Every book its reader, unfortunately this one wasn't for me. Despite really liking Florrie as a character, I found this book incredibly slow paced and boring. I was expecting more of an active mystery. I did read that this author is known for character sketches and quirky writing and that this is her first stab at a mystery. Honestly, if I had not been reading this for a book club, I would not have finished it. I have too many other books that I am more excited to get to, and this felt like a parking lot full of speed bumps.
July 11, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Night in Question was entertaining from start to finish. In this, you will meet Florence, aka Florrie, and she is around eighty-seven years old. She is currently living in a care home called Babbington Hall after she had her leg amputated. Even though she's wheelchair-bound now, it doesn't mean life will ever stop surprising her. For example, a recent death (or two) within the home.
Life can throw you some curveballs and boy did Florrie get her fair share. Not only does one of the residents die, but the manager of the home does too! And right before she was going to spill some necessary tea to Florrie! Tea about her own life, but dang - tea is tea!
Anyways, long story short - the police suck at doing their job and Florrie is convinced she can out sleuth them with one leg and both arms tied behind her back. She's not alone though, oh no, she has help from Stanhope Jones. Together, they are unstoppable.
Now while I enjoyed this book, the pace did seem a bit off here and there. And yet, I still continued on with the audiobook because I did enjoy the characters. The wit and humor throughout the book definitely put a smile on my face.
In the end, I'm not surprised that I ended up liking this book one bit. Give me amateur sleuths any day of the week and I'll be a happy reader.
"So walk into your life. Do what you want to do, Florrie, always – because a timid, obedient woman is quite the tragedy… Life. What a shame we only get one shot at it.”
The Night in Question was entertaining from start to finish. In this, you will meet Florence, aka Florrie, and she is around eighty-seven years old. She is currently living in a care home called Babbington Hall after she had her leg amputated. Even though she's wheelchair-bound now, it doesn't mean life will ever stop surprising her. For example, a recent death (or two) within the home.
Life can throw you some curveballs and boy did Florrie get her fair share. Not only does one of the residents die, but the manager of the home does too! And right before she was going to spill some necessary tea to Florrie! Tea about her own life, but dang - tea is tea!
Anyways, long story short - the police suck at doing their job and Florrie is convinced she can out sleuth them with one leg and both arms tied behind her back. She's not alone though, oh no, she has help from Stanhope Jones. Together, they are unstoppable.
Now while I enjoyed this book, the pace did seem a bit off here and there. And yet, I still continued on with the audiobook because I did enjoy the characters. The wit and humor throughout the book definitely put a smile on my face.
In the end, I'm not surprised that I ended up liking this book one bit. Give me amateur sleuths any day of the week and I'll be a happy reader.
December 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this book - a gentle detective story set in an elderly care home. Florrie Butterfield an octogenarian isn't convinced by "an accident" that takes place. Florrie sets out to investigate and unearths so much more. Her own back story simmers under the surface too and we know from early on that something terrible happened to her when she was young. This theme threads through the book as we are treated to stories of Florrie's travels abroad as she tries to leave her past behind. We hear of the "loves" of her life including her best friend Pinky who was the only one who knew Florrie's secret and Victor her husband in her very unconventional, yet happy marriage. The characters are portrayed so well and Florrie is joined in her quest by another inmate of the care home Stanhope. a real feel good story that makes you realise that even at 87 years old there's chance for adventure and fun!
May 1, 2024
Title:
The Night in Question
Author: Susan Fletcher
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Doubleday Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Witty • Heartfelt • Comforting
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Florrie Butterfield has lived a life full of unexpected travel and adventure. But at eighty-seven, she isn’t expecting many more surprises to come her way.
Then, one midsummer’s night, something terrible occurs—so shocking and strange that Florrie grows wary. Is it really an accident, or is she being lied to? Is she living alongside a would-be murderer?
The only clue is a magenta envelope, discarded earlier that day.
With her suspicions overlooked and her abilities underestimated, Florrie is determined to uncover the truth. But as she turns detective, she finds herself looking back on her own life . . . and a long-buried secret, traced in faded scars over her knuckles, becomes ever harder to ignore.
Will she discover what really happened that night? Or will much more come to light than even she had imagined?
💭 T H O U G H T S
As soon as I saw 'octogenarian' in the description, I added The Night in Question to my list of 2024 anticipated releases. I am always interested in reading late-in-life second chance stories and this one certainly fit the bill.
Florrie is one of those rare characters, similar to Ove, that will stick with me for years to come. She is so full of life with a wise beyond her years personality. Having suffered a reason mishap, resulting in the amputation of one of her legs, she now finds herself living in an assisted living facility. She has lead an unconventional life, and we get to meet six of the men who influenced her life. Through flashbacks, we get to know her past, the places she has been, and the secret she holds. Along the way, I was introduced to a host of other endearing characters, yet it is Florrie that carries the narrative.
Told in a gentle and quiet manner, there is so much compassion and empathy found within this books pages. The pacing in definitely on the slow side as Susan offers the pieces of the puzzle bit by bit. This novel allows for beautiful reflection on the notion of the choices we make and how they shape out life and/or how life would be different if we had made alternate choices. It also paints a picture of the process of aging - exploring both the positive and negative aspects. It's just a beautiful depiction of knowing one is never too old to make a difference.
The Night in Question is definitely not a mystery/thriller. Rather it has cozy mystery vibes, while also having so much depth and space for reflection. With themes of love and loss, of the importance of friendship, of forgiveness, and of just living life to the fullest, Susan Fletcher delivers a comforting novel that feels like a hug. It surprised me just how much this book found a way into my heart.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• older MCs
• amateur sleuths
• slow paced character studies
⚠️ CW: death, murder, grief, infidelity, sexism, misogyny, toxic relationship, physical abuse, injury/injury detail, blood, medical content, suicide attempt, pregnancy, alcohol, sexual content, terminal illness, homophobia, mental illness, PTSD, medical trauma, war, ageism, adoption
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Florrie learned, long ago, that society forgets an old person was ever young."
"But good looks, she knows, do not mean that they know only good deeds."
Author: Susan Fletcher
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Doubleday Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Witty • Heartfelt • Comforting
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Florrie Butterfield has lived a life full of unexpected travel and adventure. But at eighty-seven, she isn’t expecting many more surprises to come her way.
Then, one midsummer’s night, something terrible occurs—so shocking and strange that Florrie grows wary. Is it really an accident, or is she being lied to? Is she living alongside a would-be murderer?
The only clue is a magenta envelope, discarded earlier that day.
With her suspicions overlooked and her abilities underestimated, Florrie is determined to uncover the truth. But as she turns detective, she finds herself looking back on her own life . . . and a long-buried secret, traced in faded scars over her knuckles, becomes ever harder to ignore.
Will she discover what really happened that night? Or will much more come to light than even she had imagined?
💭 T H O U G H T S
As soon as I saw 'octogenarian' in the description, I added The Night in Question to my list of 2024 anticipated releases. I am always interested in reading late-in-life second chance stories and this one certainly fit the bill.
Florrie is one of those rare characters, similar to Ove, that will stick with me for years to come. She is so full of life with a wise beyond her years personality. Having suffered a reason mishap, resulting in the amputation of one of her legs, she now finds herself living in an assisted living facility. She has lead an unconventional life, and we get to meet six of the men who influenced her life. Through flashbacks, we get to know her past, the places she has been, and the secret she holds. Along the way, I was introduced to a host of other endearing characters, yet it is Florrie that carries the narrative.
Told in a gentle and quiet manner, there is so much compassion and empathy found within this books pages. The pacing in definitely on the slow side as Susan offers the pieces of the puzzle bit by bit. This novel allows for beautiful reflection on the notion of the choices we make and how they shape out life and/or how life would be different if we had made alternate choices. It also paints a picture of the process of aging - exploring both the positive and negative aspects. It's just a beautiful depiction of knowing one is never too old to make a difference.
The Night in Question is definitely not a mystery/thriller. Rather it has cozy mystery vibes, while also having so much depth and space for reflection. With themes of love and loss, of the importance of friendship, of forgiveness, and of just living life to the fullest, Susan Fletcher delivers a comforting novel that feels like a hug. It surprised me just how much this book found a way into my heart.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• older MCs
• amateur sleuths
• slow paced character studies
⚠️ CW: death, murder, grief, infidelity, sexism, misogyny, toxic relationship, physical abuse, injury/injury detail, blood, medical content, suicide attempt, pregnancy, alcohol, sexual content, terminal illness, homophobia, mental illness, PTSD, medical trauma, war, ageism, adoption
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Florrie learned, long ago, that society forgets an old person was ever young."
"But good looks, she knows, do not mean that they know only good deeds."
Read
June 11, 2025I DNF’d. Just wasn’t my cup of tea. No objectionable content.
June 4, 2024
Eighty-seven year old Florrie Butterfield is wheelchair bound and missing part of her leg when she becomes suspicious that there is a would-be murderer roaming the corridors of her care home. Together with fellow resident Stanhope Jones, Florrie sets out to investigate the truth behind recent events at Babbington Hall, excavating secrets from her own life as she does so.
📚
I am not normally one for murder mysteries or for feel-good stories of any description so The Night in Question is a bit of a departure from my usual choice of reading material. However, after thoroughly enjoying everything else that I've read by Susan Fletcher, I decided to give The Night in Question a chance, and I'm really glad that I did.
📚
While The Night in Question masquerades as a murder mystery, the story at the heart of the book is much deeper and more profound than first impressions might suggest. At eighty-seven, Florrie is able to look back on her life with the perspective that only distance can bring, resulting in a thoughtful meditation on love, friendship, the different people who walk in and out of our lives, and the scars they leave in their wake. As Florrie explores her own scars, the central mystery unravels, leading Florrie to newfound self-compassion and, ultimately, hope for a different kind of future.
📚
Fletcher has a talent for finding joy and magic in the kind of mundane moments that largely go unnoticed by others, and this is evident in Florrie's story as much as in any of Fletcher's other works. The Night in Question is touching and wise, looking at the ways in which loss and trauma can alter a person's understanding of the world, and the role of love and friendship in healing these wounds. At its core is an uplifting tale of a human life with all its messy sadness, regrets, delight and magic. In a world of increasing disconnection, Florrie's story is an enchanting reminder of how fleeting, and how beautiful, life can be.
📚
"Life...What a shame we only get one shot at it."
📚
📚
I am not normally one for murder mysteries or for feel-good stories of any description so The Night in Question is a bit of a departure from my usual choice of reading material. However, after thoroughly enjoying everything else that I've read by Susan Fletcher, I decided to give The Night in Question a chance, and I'm really glad that I did.
📚
While The Night in Question masquerades as a murder mystery, the story at the heart of the book is much deeper and more profound than first impressions might suggest. At eighty-seven, Florrie is able to look back on her life with the perspective that only distance can bring, resulting in a thoughtful meditation on love, friendship, the different people who walk in and out of our lives, and the scars they leave in their wake. As Florrie explores her own scars, the central mystery unravels, leading Florrie to newfound self-compassion and, ultimately, hope for a different kind of future.
📚
Fletcher has a talent for finding joy and magic in the kind of mundane moments that largely go unnoticed by others, and this is evident in Florrie's story as much as in any of Fletcher's other works. The Night in Question is touching and wise, looking at the ways in which loss and trauma can alter a person's understanding of the world, and the role of love and friendship in healing these wounds. At its core is an uplifting tale of a human life with all its messy sadness, regrets, delight and magic. In a world of increasing disconnection, Florrie's story is an enchanting reminder of how fleeting, and how beautiful, life can be.
📚
"Life...What a shame we only get one shot at it."
📚
January 9, 2025
I don’t leave a 1-star review lightly - but I could barely finish this one. If it wasn’t for a friend telling me to get to the last 60 pages (which are great!), I’m not sure how long this would have taken me to finish. The flashbacks were chaotic and at the end I still don’t understand the purpose of all the details. Such a sweet main character but I really dreaded reading this one overall.
May 2, 2024
In The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher we meet Florrie Butterfield, who is eighty-seven, and lives in Babbington Hall Residential Home. She is disabled having lost her leg in an accident quite recently. She is shocked one night when she witnesses the apparent attempted suicide of Renata Green, the manager of the home. However, Florrie is not convinced Renata would kill herself having spoken to her just the day before about love and plans to travel to Paris.
Along with fellow resident Stanhope Jones, they investigate if indeed Renata did attempt to kill herself or if someone pushed her from her window and why. Alongside the investigations, we also hear about Florrie’s remarkable life. The tragedy and the love and all the travels she went on around the world means she has had a rather extraordinary life.
I absolutely loved Florrie. She is just the most lovely lady who reminds you that old people have often lived interesting lives. She has had her fair share of heartbreak but had a lovely family and good friends and still seems to look on the bright side. Despite loosing her leg which in her eighties would be a huge adjustment, she has just adapted to her disability without fuss.
I enjoyed hearing about her travels and the men in her life. I enjoyed the way the author wove the tales of their investigation in with Florrie’s memories. I also loved Stanhope and some of the other characters, who weren't especially likable but were entertaining nonetheless!
A must for anyone who loves the cosy crime genre. The Night in Question made me shed a few tears but left me with a warm fuzzy feeling. The story is wrapped up nicely but I'm hoping we’ll hear from Florrie and the residents of Babbington Hall again!
Along with fellow resident Stanhope Jones, they investigate if indeed Renata did attempt to kill herself or if someone pushed her from her window and why. Alongside the investigations, we also hear about Florrie’s remarkable life. The tragedy and the love and all the travels she went on around the world means she has had a rather extraordinary life.
I absolutely loved Florrie. She is just the most lovely lady who reminds you that old people have often lived interesting lives. She has had her fair share of heartbreak but had a lovely family and good friends and still seems to look on the bright side. Despite loosing her leg which in her eighties would be a huge adjustment, she has just adapted to her disability without fuss.
I enjoyed hearing about her travels and the men in her life. I enjoyed the way the author wove the tales of their investigation in with Florrie’s memories. I also loved Stanhope and some of the other characters, who weren't especially likable but were entertaining nonetheless!
A must for anyone who loves the cosy crime genre. The Night in Question made me shed a few tears but left me with a warm fuzzy feeling. The story is wrapped up nicely but I'm hoping we’ll hear from Florrie and the residents of Babbington Hall again!
April 14, 2024
The Night In Question without doubt is one of the easiest five-star reviews I've given this year. I absolutely adore everything about this beautiful, wholesome story.
Florrie is 87 years old and lives in an assisted living accommodation called Babbington Hall. She has only one leg and scars that tell a life of love and loss and doesn't think life has any more adventures for her. She plans to see out her days surrounded by people who care for her and a lucky few that are her friends. When she loses a friend Arthur who dies a sudden death in unfortunate circumstances, she's at a loss of how it could have happened. That's not going to be the only mysterious thing that happens at Babbington Hall, and Florrie is going to get to the bottom of it all. She's going to become a detective.
I think Florrie has cemented herself as one of my all-time favourite characters. Her cheerful disposition and her positivity made me fall in love with her. As we look back on her life and her loves, we learn that she really has experienced so much in her years. I love how she describes getting older, and she has so much wisdom. Susan Fletcher has captured her personality flawlessly along with Stanhope, who I also loved. I hope they spend the rest of their lives together because they really do make the best of teams.
From the first page, I was completely captivated. Not only is it a mystery, but it's like a hug in a book! The characterisation, the whodunit style of plot, gosh, I absolutely loved this book! I've already recommended it to so many people but if you haven't read it, please do! It just sparks so much joy. It reminded me why I love reading so much.
Florrie is 87 years old and lives in an assisted living accommodation called Babbington Hall. She has only one leg and scars that tell a life of love and loss and doesn't think life has any more adventures for her. She plans to see out her days surrounded by people who care for her and a lucky few that are her friends. When she loses a friend Arthur who dies a sudden death in unfortunate circumstances, she's at a loss of how it could have happened. That's not going to be the only mysterious thing that happens at Babbington Hall, and Florrie is going to get to the bottom of it all. She's going to become a detective.
I think Florrie has cemented herself as one of my all-time favourite characters. Her cheerful disposition and her positivity made me fall in love with her. As we look back on her life and her loves, we learn that she really has experienced so much in her years. I love how she describes getting older, and she has so much wisdom. Susan Fletcher has captured her personality flawlessly along with Stanhope, who I also loved. I hope they spend the rest of their lives together because they really do make the best of teams.
From the first page, I was completely captivated. Not only is it a mystery, but it's like a hug in a book! The characterisation, the whodunit style of plot, gosh, I absolutely loved this book! I've already recommended it to so many people but if you haven't read it, please do! It just sparks so much joy. It reminded me why I love reading so much.
July 19, 2024
I just finished this last night, and I have mixed feelings, to be honest. I really enjoy a crime/mystery read, and there are elements to enjoy here, but the crime/mystery aspect of this novel are not amongst them. Florrie and Stanhope are really interesting characters; I very much enjoyed how Susan Fletcher layered Florrie's backstory and built her character. Stanhope didn't get as much attention, but I still found myself drawn to his character.
The crime/mystery element just didn't work, feeling a little too much like an attempt at a "Thursday Murder Club" vibe for me. The initial setup up with Renata Green just didn't ring true at all. The main draw here is Florrie, and I think a different scenario and setting (not a mystery in a nursing home) would have served her character better. I also did not like the constant body comments - dozens of times throughout the novel, Florrie speaks of her huge bum, or her ungainly bosom, or some aspect of her physical appearance that makes her unattractive. It really grated on me.
Would I recommend this novel? I would not actively discourage anyone from reading it, but it wouldn't be a must-read for me.
The crime/mystery element just didn't work, feeling a little too much like an attempt at a "Thursday Murder Club" vibe for me. The initial setup up with Renata Green just didn't ring true at all. The main draw here is Florrie, and I think a different scenario and setting (not a mystery in a nursing home) would have served her character better. I also did not like the constant body comments - dozens of times throughout the novel, Florrie speaks of her huge bum, or her ungainly bosom, or some aspect of her physical appearance that makes her unattractive. It really grated on me.
Would I recommend this novel? I would not actively discourage anyone from reading it, but it wouldn't be a must-read for me.
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