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Helen Thorpe #2
A Meditation on Murder
A Meditation on Murder has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
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First published February 6, 2024
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About the author
Susan Juby
20 books313 followers(from her website)
I was raised in Smithers, BC, Canada and lived there until I moved to Toronto at age 20. I had a brief and unsuccessful career as a fashion design student and, after I worked at a series of low paying jobs, such as server, record store employee, etc., I began a degree in English Literature at University of Toronto, which I finished at the University of British Columbia. After graduating I became an editor at a self-help/how-to book publishing company based in Vancouver. Later, I did a master’s degree in publishing.
When I was a kid I wrote fiction but gave it up for a life of crime. Okay, that’s not true, but I did get seriously sidetracked. That time in my life is the subject of my memoir, "Nice Recovery". When I was twenty, until I got myself together and when I was about 26 I started writing, in the morning before work, first on the bus, then in a coffee shop. This writing became my first novel, "Alice, I Think", which was published by Thistledown Press in 2000.
When I first started writing my intention was to write a book about a teenager who doesn't fit in, but doesn't allow that fact to crush her. The Alice MacLeod series is my homage to oddballs. I wanted to create a character who has the courage and integrity to find her own way and define herself independently of other people. I've always admired people who can do that.
After finishing three books about Alice and her family, I decided that my goal is to write every kind of book I love to read. I’ve always loved horse books. I was a lunatic for horses when I was younger. I owned several horses over the years (for a time when I was quite young I was convinced I was a horse, but let's keep that between us) and I became obsessed with an equestrian sport called dressage. I quit riding when I left home to go to college, but part of me always thought I could have been a "contender". (In retrospect, I'm not sure why I would have thought that.) Anyway, I got a nice pay day when Alice, I Think was made into a TV series, and the first thing I did was rush out a buy a horse and start working on a book about two young dressage riders. The story was initially about two girls, but soon I fell in love with a secondary character, a boy named Alex, and the book became mainly about him. That one is called "Another Kind of Cowboy".
I’m also a maniac for detective novels, which led to "Getting the Girl", a comedy about an inept detective and a high school conspiracy he is determined to stop. Book number six is my memoir. I developed a bit of a substance abuse problem when I was thirteen and I ended up getting clean and sober when I was twenty. Nice Recovery is about that time. The book includes information for people with addiction problems and interviews with amazing young people in recovery. My love for satire and the End Is Nigh novels led me to write "Bright’s Light", which is that rarest of things: a funny dystopian novel about young dunderheads in the last fun place on earth and the alien who wants to save them.
"Home to Woefield", as it’s known in the U.S. and "The Woefield Poultry Collective" as it’s known in Canada, is a comedy about a young woman from Brooklyn who inherits a derelict farm on Vancouver Island. It’s the first of my novels published specifically for adults, though I’d say at least half the readers of my other books have been adults. I hope all my readers will like it. (It does contain quite a bit of swearing. Just be forewarned!) I’ve always wanted to be self-sustaining and able to grow my own food. All I lack is land and skill. The sequel, "Republic of Dirt", is scheduled to be published January 2015 by HarperCollins.
My next teen novel is called "The Truth Commission". It will be published March 2015 by Penguin Canada and Viking U.S. The story is about a group of teens who attend an art high school who start a truth-telling club with consequences both dire and funny.
In addition to my writing, I teach creative writ
I was raised in Smithers, BC, Canada and lived there until I moved to Toronto at age 20. I had a brief and unsuccessful career as a fashion design student and, after I worked at a series of low paying jobs, such as server, record store employee, etc., I began a degree in English Literature at University of Toronto, which I finished at the University of British Columbia. After graduating I became an editor at a self-help/how-to book publishing company based in Vancouver. Later, I did a master’s degree in publishing.
When I was a kid I wrote fiction but gave it up for a life of crime. Okay, that’s not true, but I did get seriously sidetracked. That time in my life is the subject of my memoir, "Nice Recovery". When I was twenty, until I got myself together and when I was about 26 I started writing, in the morning before work, first on the bus, then in a coffee shop. This writing became my first novel, "Alice, I Think", which was published by Thistledown Press in 2000.
When I first started writing my intention was to write a book about a teenager who doesn't fit in, but doesn't allow that fact to crush her. The Alice MacLeod series is my homage to oddballs. I wanted to create a character who has the courage and integrity to find her own way and define herself independently of other people. I've always admired people who can do that.
After finishing three books about Alice and her family, I decided that my goal is to write every kind of book I love to read. I’ve always loved horse books. I was a lunatic for horses when I was younger. I owned several horses over the years (for a time when I was quite young I was convinced I was a horse, but let's keep that between us) and I became obsessed with an equestrian sport called dressage. I quit riding when I left home to go to college, but part of me always thought I could have been a "contender". (In retrospect, I'm not sure why I would have thought that.) Anyway, I got a nice pay day when Alice, I Think was made into a TV series, and the first thing I did was rush out a buy a horse and start working on a book about two young dressage riders. The story was initially about two girls, but soon I fell in love with a secondary character, a boy named Alex, and the book became mainly about him. That one is called "Another Kind of Cowboy".
I’m also a maniac for detective novels, which led to "Getting the Girl", a comedy about an inept detective and a high school conspiracy he is determined to stop. Book number six is my memoir. I developed a bit of a substance abuse problem when I was thirteen and I ended up getting clean and sober when I was twenty. Nice Recovery is about that time. The book includes information for people with addiction problems and interviews with amazing young people in recovery. My love for satire and the End Is Nigh novels led me to write "Bright’s Light", which is that rarest of things: a funny dystopian novel about young dunderheads in the last fun place on earth and the alien who wants to save them.
"Home to Woefield", as it’s known in the U.S. and "The Woefield Poultry Collective" as it’s known in Canada, is a comedy about a young woman from Brooklyn who inherits a derelict farm on Vancouver Island. It’s the first of my novels published specifically for adults, though I’d say at least half the readers of my other books have been adults. I hope all my readers will like it. (It does contain quite a bit of swearing. Just be forewarned!) I’ve always wanted to be self-sustaining and able to grow my own food. All I lack is land and skill. The sequel, "Republic of Dirt", is scheduled to be published January 2015 by HarperCollins.
My next teen novel is called "The Truth Commission". It will be published March 2015 by Penguin Canada and Viking U.S. The story is about a group of teens who attend an art high school who start a truth-telling club with consequences both dire and funny.
In addition to my writing, I teach creative writ
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
March 24, 2024
If you've gobbled up both books in The Maid (Nita Prose) series, you'll love Susan Juby's Helen Thorpe.
Helen Thorpe herself is quite a delight. She's a former Buddhist monk trained as a butler and employed by an ultra wealthy couple. Add to that, a penchant for encountering odd murders and solving them.
In this book, she's loaned out to sort out the daughter of her employers' friend, a young wealthy influencer whose life has gone off the rails. Helen is supposed to help Cartier learn to balance her life and step back from toxic social media friends, but that quest is complicated by a series of murders.
Glam lifestyles, influencer culture and high fashion are held up in stark contrast to Helen's meditative nature, making this an entertaining read.
I haven't read book #1, Mindful of Murder, but had no problem beginning with this novel, which is book #2 in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. As with all of Juby's novels, this one reads like a confection but there are life lessons that will stick with you long after the murder is solved.
Helen Thorpe herself is quite a delight. She's a former Buddhist monk trained as a butler and employed by an ultra wealthy couple. Add to that, a penchant for encountering odd murders and solving them.
In this book, she's loaned out to sort out the daughter of her employers' friend, a young wealthy influencer whose life has gone off the rails. Helen is supposed to help Cartier learn to balance her life and step back from toxic social media friends, but that quest is complicated by a series of murders.
Glam lifestyles, influencer culture and high fashion are held up in stark contrast to Helen's meditative nature, making this an entertaining read.
I haven't read book #1, Mindful of Murder, but had no problem beginning with this novel, which is book #2 in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. As with all of Juby's novels, this one reads like a confection but there are life lessons that will stick with you long after the murder is solved.
October 15, 2024
Susan Juby is really good at creating complete little worlds populated with quirky, sympathetic characters. I liked Helen Thorpe (current butler and former Buddhist nun) from the previous book, Mindful of Murder, and was happy to revisit her world. This time, Helen is buttling for an unrealistically nice, very wealthy pair of philanthropists when she is seconded (with her reluctant permission) to their very not-nice billionaire businessman friend. Archie Hightower’s daughter Cartier has fallen in with a superficial, backstabbing crowd of influencers, and he wants Helen to get her away from these people and help her develop into an independent human being. Archie wants Cartier to be capable of looking after herself and managing the immense amount of wealth she is set to inherit from him.
Cartier and her influencer “friends” are highly annoying, but I feel like Juby manages to avoid the easy trap of being super preachy and condescending in a “the entire internet is bad” kind of way. Rather, she asks: how does social media mediate our relationships with others? How does it encourage the worst of human traits? What are people missing out on if they are extremely online? In different hands, these questions, and Helen herself, could be highly annoying, but the book’s humour and self-awareness go a long way towards mitigating that. Also, I appreciated learning more about Buddhism and its tenets and practices through Helen’s internal monologue.
Another thing I liked a lot about the book was Juby’s use of familiar-to-me geography. At first the book is set on Vancouver’s North Shore and downtown Vancouver, and then the action moves to BC’s interior, between Kamloops and Merritt. She references a lot of landmarks and issues (for example, wildfires) that will be instantly familiar to British Columbians. Charmingly, she also name-checks a real flower shop in Telkwa, a tiny community near Smithers, where Juby grew up. (Yes, I looked it up.)
I really enjoyed the first 70% of this book, but as soon as I figured out who the murderer was (and much to my frustration, Helen did NOT) I enjoyed it less.
All in all, I did like this book, but not as much as the previous one. It’s not a particularly mysterious mystery, but it rollicks along for at least the first while before it loses some steam at the end. Still, I’ll always be up for reading whatever Susan Juby writes, and I’ll definitely read the next Helen Thorpe book if there is one.
Cartier and her influencer “friends” are highly annoying, but I feel like Juby manages to avoid the easy trap of being super preachy and condescending in a “the entire internet is bad” kind of way. Rather, she asks: how does social media mediate our relationships with others? How does it encourage the worst of human traits? What are people missing out on if they are extremely online? In different hands, these questions, and Helen herself, could be highly annoying, but the book’s humour and self-awareness go a long way towards mitigating that. Also, I appreciated learning more about Buddhism and its tenets and practices through Helen’s internal monologue.
Another thing I liked a lot about the book was Juby’s use of familiar-to-me geography. At first the book is set on Vancouver’s North Shore and downtown Vancouver, and then the action moves to BC’s interior, between Kamloops and Merritt. She references a lot of landmarks and issues (for example, wildfires) that will be instantly familiar to British Columbians. Charmingly, she also name-checks a real flower shop in Telkwa, a tiny community near Smithers, where Juby grew up. (Yes, I looked it up.)
I really enjoyed the first 70% of this book, but as soon as I figured out who the murderer was (and much to my frustration, Helen did NOT) I enjoyed it less.
All in all, I did like this book, but not as much as the previous one. It’s not a particularly mysterious mystery, but it rollicks along for at least the first while before it loses some steam at the end. Still, I’ll always be up for reading whatever Susan Juby writes, and I’ll definitely read the next Helen Thorpe book if there is one.
November 5, 2025
I want to commend myself for finishing this book. Plot was insane and boring and culminated into a pointless ending. So stupid:
March 30, 2024
Buddhist butler Helen has a temporary assignment as a life coach to a wannabe influencer. This is the second book in the series - I haven’t read the first but it didn’t impact my enjoyment. A fun to read story with engaging characters. Kindness is a key value at the heart of this novel and it was uplifting. I would have liked more focus on the mystery.
July 22, 2024
Helen is happily working for a wealthy, philanthropic couple, Bunny and Benedict Levine, when she meets Archibald Hightower and his influencer daughter Cartier. Archibald is an unpleasant, very wealthy man, and despairs that his daughter will ever be able to live a real life.
The Levine's decide to load Helen to Archibald so that Helen can teach Cartier a few life skills, and separate her from her small group of influencers, The Deep State, who, once Helen meets them, don't appear to even like Cartier. The group has recently lost two of its members, a fellow influencer, Blossom, and Cartier's personal assistant, Trudee, in freak accidents recently, with millions blaming Cartier for the women's deaths. (Cartier has received mostly negative attention, often bullying, with little reason, from people who follow the Deep State. But, this is the internet.)
After a shocking incident in a club, Helen (and Nigel, whom Helen calls for help) spirits Cartier away to a ranch that caters to wealthy people who want a western experience. Helen manages to convince management to revoke internet access for their stay, and things become more stable, with Cartier gaining a bit of an appreciation for the hard work it takes to cook and clean.
Then, unfortunately, the Deep State follows Cartier to the ranch, then someone reconnects access to the internet, with new vitriol leveled at Cartier for a video showing Cartier supposedly pushing Blossom to her death. All the good Helen had achieved prior to the Deep State's arrival is blown away, with Helen beginning to realize that someone in this group is likely the one harassing Cartier. Helen's calm demeanor also helps other members of the Deep State confess of past actions that could cast them in a poor light.
I love Helen and her approach to the world. Nigel has gained a lot from her mentorship, as we see when he rejoins Helen to help her manage Cartier.
Despite Cartier's initial resistance to Helen's help, Helen's kindness and gentle attitude chips away a bit of Cartier's self-centred attitude. She's not miraculously different by the time the person harassing her is revealed and the story wraps up, but it's clear that Cartier has grown a little. Along the way, we get author Susan Juby's quiet humour, as well as some commentary on the pitfalls and of influencer culture and online bullying.
This was an entertaining second entry in this series, and I hope Helen returns to solve more mysteries.
The Levine's decide to load Helen to Archibald so that Helen can teach Cartier a few life skills, and separate her from her small group of influencers, The Deep State, who, once Helen meets them, don't appear to even like Cartier. The group has recently lost two of its members, a fellow influencer, Blossom, and Cartier's personal assistant, Trudee, in freak accidents recently, with millions blaming Cartier for the women's deaths. (Cartier has received mostly negative attention, often bullying, with little reason, from people who follow the Deep State. But, this is the internet.)
After a shocking incident in a club, Helen (and Nigel, whom Helen calls for help) spirits Cartier away to a ranch that caters to wealthy people who want a western experience. Helen manages to convince management to revoke internet access for their stay, and things become more stable, with Cartier gaining a bit of an appreciation for the hard work it takes to cook and clean.
Then, unfortunately, the Deep State follows Cartier to the ranch, then someone reconnects access to the internet, with new vitriol leveled at Cartier for a video showing Cartier supposedly pushing Blossom to her death. All the good Helen had achieved prior to the Deep State's arrival is blown away, with Helen beginning to realize that someone in this group is likely the one harassing Cartier. Helen's calm demeanor also helps other members of the Deep State confess of past actions that could cast them in a poor light.
I love Helen and her approach to the world. Nigel has gained a lot from her mentorship, as we see when he rejoins Helen to help her manage Cartier.
Despite Cartier's initial resistance to Helen's help, Helen's kindness and gentle attitude chips away a bit of Cartier's self-centred attitude. She's not miraculously different by the time the person harassing her is revealed and the story wraps up, but it's clear that Cartier has grown a little. Along the way, we get author Susan Juby's quiet humour, as well as some commentary on the pitfalls and of influencer culture and online bullying.
This was an entertaining second entry in this series, and I hope Helen returns to solve more mysteries.
March 26, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Having a Buddhist butler as a POV character is honestly about 75% of the charm of this mystery series. Helen doesn't set out to solve these murders, and in fact, doesn't do any investigating, per se. She just observes and listens, and the mystery kind of gets solved around her. Her POV is very refreshing, and as kind and calm as she is, there's still a lot of humor here.
The pacing here got weird in the last quarter of the book; everything came together pretty abruptly, in a way that didn't feel entirely earned. Still a really enjoyable read though, and the mystery takes solid aim at influencer culture without going totally episode of L&O about it, if you know what I mean.
The pacing here got weird in the last quarter of the book; everything came together pretty abruptly, in a way that didn't feel entirely earned. Still a really enjoyable read though, and the mystery takes solid aim at influencer culture without going totally episode of L&O about it, if you know what I mean.
October 9, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Susan Juby's 'A Meditation on Murder' in exchange for an honest review.
No plot spoilers!
Butler Helen Thorpe is back and finds herself in unfamiliar territory as she is thrown into the world of online influencers and internet bullying. The calm and clearheaded butler is appointed to help Cartier Hightower, a rich social media influencer whose life is far from straight forward, find some grounding and purpose in life. Cartier is a member of an influencer group called the Deep State, a group who have recently lost a member in a tragic accident which Cartier live-streamed on her channel. Facing mounting abuse and struggling to cope with the negative attention for their so-called fans, Cartier needs a lot of help. Teaming up with the ever loyal Nigel (from Mindful of Murder) Helen must find a way to help Cartier find purpose beyond her social media presence while contending with the antics of the Deep State, the fallout from a second murder, and a sinister plot to pin everything on Cartier.
I liked:
- The development of Helen and Nigel's characters and the personality and realness of the supporting characters (mainly Lou Ellen and Wallace)
- The writing style which allows me to vividly picture the scenery and environments in which the characters are interacting (helped by the fact I also live in B.C.).
- I love that this book is set in B.C. Not enough books are set in western Canada or in Canada for that matter.
Contains spoilers for here to the end!!
My thoughts:
I think the ending was a bit rushed after all the build up. This is a problem with a lot of murder mysteries where your are nearing the end and have to wrap everything up in a few pages. After Helen escapes (at the 97% completed mark on my kindle) everything happens so fast. The murderer is caught within 4 pages with no problem. Cartier's dad arrives within those four pages on a helicopter with a bunch of men who don't really serve any purpose and there is some dialogue that seems unnecessary about the helicopter. Cartier is given a puppy, her Dad immediately leaves in the helicopter with her other dog that needs medical treatment. Then you have the wind down where Helen explains to the others why the murderer did what they did. As Nigel says "What was the point of doing all those things?" And that is the question I am left with. None of it really seemed necessary because the motive wasn't built up enough. The introduction of Sweet Connections happened too late in the book and felt too much like a plot device.
To end on a positive note. I love the character of Helen Thorpe and it is refreshing to read a murder mystery with such an unlikely 'detective' character. She is, to use the word again, refreshingly kind and I find it very enjoyable to follow Helen through the story as she navigates an environment she is not familiar with such grace and professionalism. Helen makes everyone around her feel calm and happy, including her readers. I very much hope Susan Juby has more adventures in mind for Helen. If you haven't yet I strongly recommend reading 'Mindful of Murder' as your introduction to Helen. It is one of the best debut novels I have had the pleasure of reading.
No plot spoilers!
Butler Helen Thorpe is back and finds herself in unfamiliar territory as she is thrown into the world of online influencers and internet bullying. The calm and clearheaded butler is appointed to help Cartier Hightower, a rich social media influencer whose life is far from straight forward, find some grounding and purpose in life. Cartier is a member of an influencer group called the Deep State, a group who have recently lost a member in a tragic accident which Cartier live-streamed on her channel. Facing mounting abuse and struggling to cope with the negative attention for their so-called fans, Cartier needs a lot of help. Teaming up with the ever loyal Nigel (from Mindful of Murder) Helen must find a way to help Cartier find purpose beyond her social media presence while contending with the antics of the Deep State, the fallout from a second murder, and a sinister plot to pin everything on Cartier.
I liked:
- The development of Helen and Nigel's characters and the personality and realness of the supporting characters (mainly Lou Ellen and Wallace)
- The writing style which allows me to vividly picture the scenery and environments in which the characters are interacting (helped by the fact I also live in B.C.).
- I love that this book is set in B.C. Not enough books are set in western Canada or in Canada for that matter.
Contains spoilers for here to the end!!
My thoughts:
I think the ending was a bit rushed after all the build up. This is a problem with a lot of murder mysteries where your are nearing the end and have to wrap everything up in a few pages. After Helen escapes (at the 97% completed mark on my kindle) everything happens so fast. The murderer is caught within 4 pages with no problem. Cartier's dad arrives within those four pages on a helicopter with a bunch of men who don't really serve any purpose and there is some dialogue that seems unnecessary about the helicopter. Cartier is given a puppy, her Dad immediately leaves in the helicopter with her other dog that needs medical treatment. Then you have the wind down where Helen explains to the others why the murderer did what they did. As Nigel says "What was the point of doing all those things?" And that is the question I am left with. None of it really seemed necessary because the motive wasn't built up enough. The introduction of Sweet Connections happened too late in the book and felt too much like a plot device.
To end on a positive note. I love the character of Helen Thorpe and it is refreshing to read a murder mystery with such an unlikely 'detective' character. She is, to use the word again, refreshingly kind and I find it very enjoyable to follow Helen through the story as she navigates an environment she is not familiar with such grace and professionalism. Helen makes everyone around her feel calm and happy, including her readers. I very much hope Susan Juby has more adventures in mind for Helen. If you haven't yet I strongly recommend reading 'Mindful of Murder' as your introduction to Helen. It is one of the best debut novels I have had the pleasure of reading.
February 6, 2024
I'm such a huge fan of Susan Juby and this series is *chef's kiss*. Helen is a complex character and I found it so interesting to see some of my own concerns and emotions reflected in the way other characters saw/thought about her.
Cartier, an influencer more popular for being unpopular, really grew on me and I ended up very invested in her (and those little dogs!).
A Meditation on Murder is a fun, twisty journey. I can't wait for the next one!
Cartier, an influencer more popular for being unpopular, really grew on me and I ended up very invested in her (and those little dogs!).
A Meditation on Murder is a fun, twisty journey. I can't wait for the next one!
January 26, 2024
I found the premise of internet influencers with secrets and tragedies and trolls very intriguing as it is something I don't know a lot about. While I know negative comments can be devastating, it's interesting to see how influencers might handle it. And, how about when they get "unplugged"?
I digress.
While this is a second Helen Thorpe mystery, I did not read the first. It was alluded to several times in this book but I don't think lack of knowledge of book 1 affected my enjoyment of this one.
Cartier Hightower belongs to an influencer collective called "Deep State" in which members post items individually with their own "gimic" but they also collaborate for group projects. Cartier's PA dies in kiteboarding accident which Cartier films in its entirety. The public are outraged that she didn't stop filming. She claims she was in shock. Later, a member of the collective falls to her death. Cartier is having difficulty coping and the Levine's lend their butler, Helen, to Cartier. Helen's job is to help her become more aware of many things so she can one day take over her father's business. Helen is "offline" and doesn't really understand the influencer way of life. Most of this story was interesting and I read it rather quickly.
I found the reference to cowboys oddly placed. There is a warning about bears but no bears show up. A lot happens in a short period of time at the end as though the author ran out of time.
I still give it 4 stars as it was well written for the most part. I was able to envision the scenes. I love how Helen is able to breathe, remain calm and works to stay in the moment. Good advice!
I just reviewed A Meditation on Murder by Susan Juby. #AMeditationonMurder #NetGalley
I received an advanced copy (ARC) for free and give this review voluntarily
I digress.
While this is a second Helen Thorpe mystery, I did not read the first. It was alluded to several times in this book but I don't think lack of knowledge of book 1 affected my enjoyment of this one.
Cartier Hightower belongs to an influencer collective called "Deep State" in which members post items individually with their own "gimic" but they also collaborate for group projects. Cartier's PA dies in kiteboarding accident which Cartier films in its entirety. The public are outraged that she didn't stop filming. She claims she was in shock. Later, a member of the collective falls to her death. Cartier is having difficulty coping and the Levine's lend their butler, Helen, to Cartier. Helen's job is to help her become more aware of many things so she can one day take over her father's business. Helen is "offline" and doesn't really understand the influencer way of life. Most of this story was interesting and I read it rather quickly.
I found the reference to cowboys oddly placed. There is a warning about bears but no bears show up. A lot happens in a short period of time at the end as though the author ran out of time.
I still give it 4 stars as it was well written for the most part. I was able to envision the scenes. I love how Helen is able to breathe, remain calm and works to stay in the moment. Good advice!
I just reviewed A Meditation on Murder by Susan Juby. #AMeditationonMurder #NetGalley
I received an advanced copy (ARC) for free and give this review voluntarily
October 12, 2024
Susan Juby has a unique and enthralling narrative voice… in the real sense of the word: when I get into her books, I find them hard to put down. A Meditation on Murder deals with deeper social issues than Mindful of Murder—I have to admit, issues I would generally choose to avoid—yet protagonist Helen Thorpe manages to bring a bit of sanity into the world of influencers and online bullying and abuse.
January 14, 2025
For a novel that I couldn't seem to put down, I ended up being disappointed. The first book in this series was so good that I guess my expectations were too high. It all starts with the title: A Meditation on Murder, which was actually absent from this book -- it was a meditation on social media addiction and living online, with the murder aspect seeming like background to me. Feels like a rushed second entry in a series to meet a publisher's deadline. Not recommended.
May 22, 2024
Had me hooooked as hell! I aspire to be as calm and at peace as Helen when met with constant obstacles like she is real as hell. A zennnn baddie on g in the face of adversity like wow! If you looking for a modern murder mystery book and a “who done it?” Moment tied with social media, this is a goood book for ya. Also didn’t know this was a series??? Will have to check out the book prior lol
September 6, 2024
Ultra rich internet social influencer's father borrows a butler to set his daughter straight amongst a few murders. I hoped to have liked it more, as I read the first in the series.
August 21, 2025
This was a fun book set in a part of the country I know pretty well. I enjoy reading Canadian authors. Helen finds her comfort zone being stretched considerably, which was interesting. Most of the characters were unpleasant, though became a little less so when we got to know them. It was interesting to see the comparison between Buddhist values and Internet "influencer" values. I liked the bits of humour that showed up now and again. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
November 5, 2024
Love the cozy murder mystery with Buddhist nun butler. A commentary on social media influencers too.
July 15, 2024
The original murders receded into the background, and the next murder took awhile to appear, and then was resolved quickly. It’s nice to read a mystery in a setting I recognize, and with a key character that I really like. I did not realize that this was the second in a series, but the references made to the first book make me want to go and read it!
January 13, 2024
I did not read the first book by Susan Juby where Butler Helen Thorpe is introduced.
While I liked her quirky character and her assistant Nigel, I could not garner any interest in the characters that she was trying to help out in this novel. I also found the story to evolve slowly and the ending to come to a conclusion quite quickly with a silliness to it that was a little over the top.
I will go back, however, and read the debut of Helen's character and will look forward to reading any new instalments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins through the Killer Crime Club for the ARC of Susan Juby's 'A Meditation on Murder' in exchange for an honest review.
While I liked her quirky character and her assistant Nigel, I could not garner any interest in the characters that she was trying to help out in this novel. I also found the story to evolve slowly and the ending to come to a conclusion quite quickly with a silliness to it that was a little over the top.
I will go back, however, and read the debut of Helen's character and will look forward to reading any new instalments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins through the Killer Crime Club for the ARC of Susan Juby's 'A Meditation on Murder' in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2024
This is my first Susan Juby and Helen Thorpe book. I liked the premise of a Buddhist butler with the knack of finding herself in the middle of murder mysteries.
But after reading this book, I wish I hadn't. The main protagonist (in her own words) doesn't really want to solve any crime, but ends up "solving" it. No investigation, no connecting the dots. No dots were provided throughout the book, btw.
This story doesn't engage the reader to solve the mystery with clues, the kind of crime mysteries I like. Instead it is more of a behind-the-scenes kind of story of the influencers, a couple of deaths that happened in their circle, and then a suddenly confession out of the blue, for no particular reason.
The author tries real hard to set up the premise that ordinary people are dying to confess their deep secrets to the Buddhist butler because of her aura. Which, to be frank, is already a bit over the top, considering there is barely any interaction between the butler and the confessing parties to develop that trust. But when the murderer did the same, I lost my mind! There was no rhyme or reason for a calculating, evil, can-do-anything-for-money-and-fame kind of a person to just blurt out their entire plan to her. And it definitely isn't because they were drawn to her aura; they are about to violently kill her. This confess-before-you-kill is such a flawed, boring, and dated premise. And it was so forced! Without the "confession" monologue that takes place, the story would have just hung in air with no conclusion. Because none of the characters was searching for this murderer, no one was even really thinking the murders were murders.
What I found "Pleasant" and"Unpleasant" about this book:
•POV of Buddhist, stoic butler- Pleasant and unusual
•POV of attention- and money-craving social media influencers with no brains- Pleasant and relevant to today's time
•Little Pekingeses- Pleasant, coz they are cute little doggos!
•Murder plotline- Unpleasant and random
•Motive for murders- Unpleasant and absolutely batshit crazy, a non-motive
•Unprovoked confession by the murderer out of the blue- Unpleasant and confusing
•Murderer becoming a murderer by mistake and then continuing to murder more people for no real reason- Unpleasant and baffling
•~70% of the book not having much to do with the final plot- Unpleasant and waste of time
•Butler mentioning "Unpleasant! Unpleasant!" on repeat- Unpleasant and just weird
This review turned out to be way longer than I intended. Thank you if you read all the way.
But after reading this book, I wish I hadn't. The main protagonist (in her own words) doesn't really want to solve any crime, but ends up "solving" it. No investigation, no connecting the dots. No dots were provided throughout the book, btw.
This story doesn't engage the reader to solve the mystery with clues, the kind of crime mysteries I like. Instead it is more of a behind-the-scenes kind of story of the influencers, a couple of deaths that happened in their circle, and then a suddenly confession out of the blue, for no particular reason.
The author tries real hard to set up the premise that ordinary people are dying to confess their deep secrets to the Buddhist butler because of her aura. Which, to be frank, is already a bit over the top, considering there is barely any interaction between the butler and the confessing parties to develop that trust. But when the murderer did the same, I lost my mind! There was no rhyme or reason for a calculating, evil, can-do-anything-for-money-and-fame kind of a person to just blurt out their entire plan to her. And it definitely isn't because they were drawn to her aura; they are about to violently kill her. This confess-before-you-kill is such a flawed, boring, and dated premise. And it was so forced! Without the "confession" monologue that takes place, the story would have just hung in air with no conclusion. Because none of the characters was searching for this murderer, no one was even really thinking the murders were murders.
What I found "Pleasant" and"Unpleasant" about this book:
•POV of Buddhist, stoic butler- Pleasant and unusual
•POV of attention- and money-craving social media influencers with no brains- Pleasant and relevant to today's time
•Little Pekingeses- Pleasant, coz they are cute little doggos!
•Murder plotline- Unpleasant and random
•Motive for murders- Unpleasant and absolutely batshit crazy, a non-motive
•Unprovoked confession by the murderer out of the blue- Unpleasant and confusing
•Murderer becoming a murderer by mistake and then continuing to murder more people for no real reason- Unpleasant and baffling
•~70% of the book not having much to do with the final plot- Unpleasant and waste of time
•Butler mentioning "Unpleasant! Unpleasant!" on repeat- Unpleasant and just weird
This review turned out to be way longer than I intended. Thank you if you read all the way.
July 15, 2024
This is the second book in the Helen Thrope mystery series, in which former Buddhist nun turned professional butler, Helen is finally working the dream job she spent the entire first book being hyped about. For about two chapters anyway, before her new 'perfect' employers the Levine's decide to 'give' Helen to the troubled influencer daughter of their long-time friend. Yes, the employers actually say "So we decided to give you to her" in both the book and back cover and Helen is surprisingly okay with this idea and phrasing. Soon, Helen finds herself dealing with the mind-numbing world of influencers and the suspicious accidents plaguing the influencer group/ "friends" Cartier is working with.
What did I like about this book? Namely, the setting as it takes place in British Columbia and it's always refreshing to read a book set in my home country. I also enjoyed the exploration of the insanity of influencing through Helen's fish-out-of-water viewpoint. I like that this book took the main character Helen out of her comfort zone for a while. A good chunk of the young characters Helen interacts with are unlikable but I thought they were a good foil for Helen. In the first book, there are few sections about "clean" eating that read as moralizing and I was glad that this book didn't use that phrase to describe the food but that's just a personal quibble.
What did I dislike? The villain's monologue where they reveal why they committed the murders near the end. The ultimate confession is a staple in mysteries and it can feel clunky but this one felt especially clunky. In the first book, it made sense why the murderer confessed to Helen but in this book, the same style of confession didn't work. It didn't make sense why the confession happened the way it did other than the fact that the author had to let the reader know why the villain committed the murders. This is why I dropped my rating down to 2 stars because it was a letdown.
Would I recommend it? Maybe, if you want a mystery book set in Canada and like the mindfulness theme. However, I would recommend checking out the first book, Mindful of Murder because that book does a lot of setup for Helen Thrope, Nigel, and the circumstances of this story.
What did I like about this book? Namely, the setting as it takes place in British Columbia and it's always refreshing to read a book set in my home country. I also enjoyed the exploration of the insanity of influencing through Helen's fish-out-of-water viewpoint. I like that this book took the main character Helen out of her comfort zone for a while. A good chunk of the young characters Helen interacts with are unlikable but I thought they were a good foil for Helen. In the first book, there are few sections about "clean" eating that read as moralizing and I was glad that this book didn't use that phrase to describe the food but that's just a personal quibble.
What did I dislike? The villain's monologue where they reveal why they committed the murders near the end. The ultimate confession is a staple in mysteries and it can feel clunky but this one felt especially clunky. In the first book, it made sense why the murderer confessed to Helen but in this book, the same style of confession didn't work. It didn't make sense why the confession happened the way it did other than the fact that the author had to let the reader know why the villain committed the murders. This is why I dropped my rating down to 2 stars because it was a letdown.
Would I recommend it? Maybe, if you want a mystery book set in Canada and like the mindfulness theme. However, I would recommend checking out the first book, Mindful of Murder because that book does a lot of setup for Helen Thrope, Nigel, and the circumstances of this story.
June 23, 2025
I'll just let Helen say it best in her own words:
"Unpleasant, thought Helen, noting her feelings, or vedena, in that moment. The practice of paying attention to feelings of pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral in response to experience was one of the four foundations of mindfulness in which she'd been trained as a monastic. She also found it useful to keep her present in her life as a butler. Noticing feeling tone, as it was sometimes called, helped people avoid getting lost in mental stories about what was going on. Noting unpleasant allowed one to avoid sliding down the steep and slippery slope to disliking, aversion, and even hatred. She had the suspicion that anyone who spent considerable time around Archibald Hightower would get plenty of exposure to unpleasant."
Welp, Helen's not wrong! And the unpleasant vedena extends far beyond Archibald's character. His daughter Cartier is unpleasant in her own oblivious, self-absorbed, social media addicted way, as are ALL her "friends" in Deep State, a not at all ironically named group of influencers who are quite shallow at their base state.
Amina's brand is basically beautiful mean girls.
Dixon makes appallingly tacky clothes and sells them for obscene amounts of money which makes them covetable and therefor... popular? Desirable? Unfathomable...
Keithen's schtick is researching people, unearthing dirt, and then just confronting people in public and shining a floodlight on their worst moments. He unleashes his rants in a judgmental and evangelical sermon of sorts, films it, and then unleashes the "content" for the righteous social media commentators to attack his targets mercilessly as some form of egomaniacal justice...
Where to even begin? The names are all terrible and probably accurate and on point. We don't get to know the characters really, just have to spend a painful amount of time with Cartier as she has them in her orbit. Or vice versa. It's clear to everyone but Cartier that she's desperately needy for love and attention (which she seems to have confused for affection?) and that they are all using her for her money. Well that, and as a common enemy to unite their fans in savage ridicule of her and making them all seem cooler by comparison. While she bankrolls all their adventures of course.
And all the while Deep State then ropes Helen into their shennanigans as they mock her relentlessly on social media and in real day to day life and she just channels her inner Buddhist nature to try to rise above it all.
Oh geesh it was painful to spend time with these characters. We get warned that it's going to be 'unpleasant.'
So were the characters / suspects in the first book. But Helen got them at the retreat from the get go and the beauty of the first book was watching her work her magic and the slow evolution of each, or almost all, of them. The crucial and deal breaking difference in the second book is that we don't get to the retreat until the last quarter or so of the book and by then Helen herself needed her own retreat to regroup and recenter. For a couple peaceful days it's just Helen and Cartier and Wallace and Lou Ellen (the delightful house manager and Michelin starred chef from Cartier's family home before they gave their notice to her father, the last of the staff to do so). And then the jerks of Deep State show up. Right, necessary because that's how the murderer eventually gets revealed and the big end of book denouement. However, I would have enjoyed 100+ pages LESS of Cartier making social media videos and content with her douchebag "friends" and 150+ pages MORE of them all having self revelations at the ranch with a Wifi detox. I don't need the commentary on the corrosive effects of social media. I get it. We are all living it. I don't need Helen or Susan Juby to prove that these folks need a deep and spiritual wake up call, not one you can achieve with a value pack of essential oils. They need a retreat not a retweet. And that's what I was hoping for with this book, unfortunately it was woefully lacking in it.
Even the murder mystery took so long to even get to the first victim Trudy and who knew her and who would want to kill her, or Blossom in her bathing suit in the waterfall. Archie Hightower is a millionaire / billionaire. You would think he would make it a priority to clear his daughter of these accusations as she's a prime suspect, at least in the court of public opinion, which can be the most damning of them all. He can't hire a PI to investigate while Helen does her spiritual stuff? And then they could eventually work together? So many different / better ways this could have gone.
I still love Helen and I will still read the third book, just hope it's not so "Unpleasant."
"Unpleasant, thought Helen, noting her feelings, or vedena, in that moment. The practice of paying attention to feelings of pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral in response to experience was one of the four foundations of mindfulness in which she'd been trained as a monastic. She also found it useful to keep her present in her life as a butler. Noticing feeling tone, as it was sometimes called, helped people avoid getting lost in mental stories about what was going on. Noting unpleasant allowed one to avoid sliding down the steep and slippery slope to disliking, aversion, and even hatred. She had the suspicion that anyone who spent considerable time around Archibald Hightower would get plenty of exposure to unpleasant."
Welp, Helen's not wrong! And the unpleasant vedena extends far beyond Archibald's character. His daughter Cartier is unpleasant in her own oblivious, self-absorbed, social media addicted way, as are ALL her "friends" in Deep State, a not at all ironically named group of influencers who are quite shallow at their base state.
Amina's brand is basically beautiful mean girls.
Dixon makes appallingly tacky clothes and sells them for obscene amounts of money which makes them covetable and therefor... popular? Desirable? Unfathomable...
Keithen's schtick is researching people, unearthing dirt, and then just confronting people in public and shining a floodlight on their worst moments. He unleashes his rants in a judgmental and evangelical sermon of sorts, films it, and then unleashes the "content" for the righteous social media commentators to attack his targets mercilessly as some form of egomaniacal justice...
Where to even begin? The names are all terrible and probably accurate and on point. We don't get to know the characters really, just have to spend a painful amount of time with Cartier as she has them in her orbit. Or vice versa. It's clear to everyone but Cartier that she's desperately needy for love and attention (which she seems to have confused for affection?) and that they are all using her for her money. Well that, and as a common enemy to unite their fans in savage ridicule of her and making them all seem cooler by comparison. While she bankrolls all their adventures of course.
And all the while Deep State then ropes Helen into their shennanigans as they mock her relentlessly on social media and in real day to day life and she just channels her inner Buddhist nature to try to rise above it all.
Oh geesh it was painful to spend time with these characters. We get warned that it's going to be 'unpleasant.'
So were the characters / suspects in the first book. But Helen got them at the retreat from the get go and the beauty of the first book was watching her work her magic and the slow evolution of each, or almost all, of them. The crucial and deal breaking difference in the second book is that we don't get to the retreat until the last quarter or so of the book and by then Helen herself needed her own retreat to regroup and recenter. For a couple peaceful days it's just Helen and Cartier and Wallace and Lou Ellen (the delightful house manager and Michelin starred chef from Cartier's family home before they gave their notice to her father, the last of the staff to do so). And then the jerks of Deep State show up. Right, necessary because that's how the murderer eventually gets revealed and the big end of book denouement. However, I would have enjoyed 100+ pages LESS of Cartier making social media videos and content with her douchebag "friends" and 150+ pages MORE of them all having self revelations at the ranch with a Wifi detox. I don't need the commentary on the corrosive effects of social media. I get it. We are all living it. I don't need Helen or Susan Juby to prove that these folks need a deep and spiritual wake up call, not one you can achieve with a value pack of essential oils. They need a retreat not a retweet. And that's what I was hoping for with this book, unfortunately it was woefully lacking in it.
Even the murder mystery took so long to even get to the first victim Trudy and who knew her and who would want to kill her, or Blossom in her bathing suit in the waterfall. Archie Hightower is a millionaire / billionaire. You would think he would make it a priority to clear his daughter of these accusations as she's a prime suspect, at least in the court of public opinion, which can be the most damning of them all. He can't hire a PI to investigate while Helen does her spiritual stuff? And then they could eventually work together? So many different / better ways this could have gone.
I still love Helen and I will still read the third book, just hope it's not so "Unpleasant."
October 10, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Susan Juby's 'A Meditation on Murder' in exchange for an honest review.
No plot spoilers!
Butler Helen Thorpe is back and finds herself in unfamiliar territory as she is thrown into the world of online influencers and internet bullying. The calm and clearheaded butler is appointed to help Cartier Hightower, a rich social media influencer whose life is far from straight forward, find some grounding and purpose in life. Cartier is a member of an influencer group called the Deep State, a group who have recently lost a member in a tragic accident which Cartier live-streamed on her channel. Facing mounting abuse and struggling to cope with the negative attention for their so-called fans, Cartier needs a lot of help. Teaming up with the ever loyal Nigel (from Mindful of Murder) Helen must find a way to help Cartier find purpose beyond her social media presence while contending with the antics of the Deep State, the fallout from a second murder, and a sinister plot to pin everything on Cartier.
I liked:
- The development of Helen and Nigel's characters and the personality and realness of the supporting characters (mainly Lou Ellen and Wallace)
- The writing style which allows me to vividly picture the scenery and environments in which the characters are interacting (helped by the fact I also live in B.C.).
- I love that this book is set in B.C. Not enough books are set in western Canada or in Canada for that matter.
Contains spoilers for here to the end!!
My thoughts:
I think the ending was a bit rushed after all the build up. This is a problem with a lot of murder mysteries where your are nearing the end and have to wrap everything up in a few pages. After Helen escapes (at the 97% completed mark on my kindle) everything happens so fast. The murderer is caught within 4 pages with no problem. Cartier's dad arrives within those four pages on a helicopter with a bunch of men who don't really serve any purpose and there is some dialogue that seems unnecessary about the helicopter. Cartier is given a puppy, her Dad immediately leaves in the helicopter with her other dog that needs medical treatment. Then you have the wind down where Helen explains to the others why the murderer did what they did. As Nigel says "What was the point of doing all those things?" And that is the question I am left with. None of it really seemed necessary because the motive wasn't built up enough. The introduction of Sweet Connections happened too late in the book and felt too much like a plot device.
To end on a positive note. I love the character of Helen Thorpe and it is refreshing to read a murder mystery with such an unlikely 'detective' character. She is, to use the word again, refreshingly kind and I find it very enjoyable to follow Helen through the story as she navigates an environment she is not familiar with such grace and professionalism. Helen makes everyone around her feel calm and happy, including her readers. I very much hope Susan Juby has more adventures in mind for Helen. If you haven't yet I strongly recommend reading 'Mindful of Murder' as your introduction to Helen. It is one of the best debut novels I have had the pleasure of reading.
No plot spoilers!
Butler Helen Thorpe is back and finds herself in unfamiliar territory as she is thrown into the world of online influencers and internet bullying. The calm and clearheaded butler is appointed to help Cartier Hightower, a rich social media influencer whose life is far from straight forward, find some grounding and purpose in life. Cartier is a member of an influencer group called the Deep State, a group who have recently lost a member in a tragic accident which Cartier live-streamed on her channel. Facing mounting abuse and struggling to cope with the negative attention for their so-called fans, Cartier needs a lot of help. Teaming up with the ever loyal Nigel (from Mindful of Murder) Helen must find a way to help Cartier find purpose beyond her social media presence while contending with the antics of the Deep State, the fallout from a second murder, and a sinister plot to pin everything on Cartier.
I liked:
- The development of Helen and Nigel's characters and the personality and realness of the supporting characters (mainly Lou Ellen and Wallace)
- The writing style which allows me to vividly picture the scenery and environments in which the characters are interacting (helped by the fact I also live in B.C.).
- I love that this book is set in B.C. Not enough books are set in western Canada or in Canada for that matter.
Contains spoilers for here to the end!!
My thoughts:
I think the ending was a bit rushed after all the build up. This is a problem with a lot of murder mysteries where your are nearing the end and have to wrap everything up in a few pages. After Helen escapes (at the 97% completed mark on my kindle) everything happens so fast. The murderer is caught within 4 pages with no problem. Cartier's dad arrives within those four pages on a helicopter with a bunch of men who don't really serve any purpose and there is some dialogue that seems unnecessary about the helicopter. Cartier is given a puppy, her Dad immediately leaves in the helicopter with her other dog that needs medical treatment. Then you have the wind down where Helen explains to the others why the murderer did what they did. As Nigel says "What was the point of doing all those things?" And that is the question I am left with. None of it really seemed necessary because the motive wasn't built up enough. The introduction of Sweet Connections happened too late in the book and felt too much like a plot device.
To end on a positive note. I love the character of Helen Thorpe and it is refreshing to read a murder mystery with such an unlikely 'detective' character. She is, to use the word again, refreshingly kind and I find it very enjoyable to follow Helen through the story as she navigates an environment she is not familiar with such grace and professionalism. Helen makes everyone around her feel calm and happy, including her readers. I very much hope Susan Juby has more adventures in mind for Helen. If you haven't yet I strongly recommend reading 'Mindful of Murder' as your introduction to Helen. It is one of the best debut novels I have had the pleasure of reading.
November 22, 2025
Title:
A Meditation on Murder
Author: Susan Juby
Series: Helen Thorpe #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: February 6, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from HarperCollins 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
Chaotic • Quirky • Modern
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Buddhist butler Helen Thorpe is loaned out to help Cartier Hightower get her life in order, Helen finds herself working for a young woman entirely unbound by the fetters of good taste or sound judgment. One of Cartier’s fellow content creators has recently died in a strange accident. Soon after Helen arrives, another is killed in an equally bizarre way. Cartier begins to drag Helen around on the influencer circuit, where neither of them is particularly welcome. Then comes the terrible incident at the EDM nightclub that turns Cartier into a global pariah, at least according to social media.
Helen hopes a period of simplicity and reflection and an internet detox will help Cartier find her true nature and maybe acquire some social graces. But Helen’s job gets much harder when Cartier’s friends show up at the lavish ranch where Cartier and Helen have retreated. Soon, Helen finds herself trying to avoid becoming Instafamous while bringing some peace to a girl who very much needs it. This task turns out to be even more impossible when it becomes clear that they have been followed to Weeping Creek Ranch by a murderer.
💭 T H O U G H T S
A Meditation on Murder wasn't a book I intended to pick up until I was graciously gifted an eARC from the publisher. It was my second read from Canadian author Susan Juby and I went into it expecting to get a funny and entertaining mystery of sorts, which it delivers. However, it isn't the type of read that will stick with me long term.
The story starts out strong by setting the stage for what is to come, and introducing the characters, whom are crafted with care. I particularly was drawn to Helen's character and would have liked a little more development, however, I understand I likely missed some of that in book one since this is a series.
The whole concept of the culture behind social media influencers is where it lost me. I don't have an interest in that particular element, which resulted in me simply not caring about the outcomes. This is more of a me thing than an issue with the book. Additionally, the ending felt rushed without it needing to be.
A Meditation on Murder was fun while it lasted, although it's not one of those books that will stick with me. Before picking it up, I didn't realize it was the second book in a series, and it's quite possible I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read Mindful of Murder beforehand. I appreciate Susan's writing style, but I don't think I am necessarily the right audience for her books.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• murder mysteries
• Canadian settings
• influencer culture
⚠️ CW: murder, death, death of parent, toxic friendship, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, suicide
Author: Susan Juby
Series: Helen Thorpe #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: February 6, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from HarperCollins 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
Chaotic • Quirky • Modern
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Buddhist butler Helen Thorpe is loaned out to help Cartier Hightower get her life in order, Helen finds herself working for a young woman entirely unbound by the fetters of good taste or sound judgment. One of Cartier’s fellow content creators has recently died in a strange accident. Soon after Helen arrives, another is killed in an equally bizarre way. Cartier begins to drag Helen around on the influencer circuit, where neither of them is particularly welcome. Then comes the terrible incident at the EDM nightclub that turns Cartier into a global pariah, at least according to social media.
Helen hopes a period of simplicity and reflection and an internet detox will help Cartier find her true nature and maybe acquire some social graces. But Helen’s job gets much harder when Cartier’s friends show up at the lavish ranch where Cartier and Helen have retreated. Soon, Helen finds herself trying to avoid becoming Instafamous while bringing some peace to a girl who very much needs it. This task turns out to be even more impossible when it becomes clear that they have been followed to Weeping Creek Ranch by a murderer.
💭 T H O U G H T S
A Meditation on Murder wasn't a book I intended to pick up until I was graciously gifted an eARC from the publisher. It was my second read from Canadian author Susan Juby and I went into it expecting to get a funny and entertaining mystery of sorts, which it delivers. However, it isn't the type of read that will stick with me long term.
The story starts out strong by setting the stage for what is to come, and introducing the characters, whom are crafted with care. I particularly was drawn to Helen's character and would have liked a little more development, however, I understand I likely missed some of that in book one since this is a series.
The whole concept of the culture behind social media influencers is where it lost me. I don't have an interest in that particular element, which resulted in me simply not caring about the outcomes. This is more of a me thing than an issue with the book. Additionally, the ending felt rushed without it needing to be.
A Meditation on Murder was fun while it lasted, although it's not one of those books that will stick with me. Before picking it up, I didn't realize it was the second book in a series, and it's quite possible I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read Mindful of Murder beforehand. I appreciate Susan's writing style, but I don't think I am necessarily the right audience for her books.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• murder mysteries
• Canadian settings
• influencer culture
⚠️ CW: murder, death, death of parent, toxic friendship, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, suicide
Read
October 1, 2024Book two of the popular Helen Thorpe series, once more finds Helen trying to help the human condition as well as solve crime. She has come a long way from being a Buddhist nun, to attending butler school. She has found the best of all possible worlds, and now has come up with a most interesting challenge. Billionaire shipping magnate Archie Hightower is having a most difficult time with his precocious daughter Cartier.
After the death of her mother, life sort of spiraled out of control thanks to Cartier being charmed by influencers most notably a collective of influencers known as Deep State. She is running with this fast crowd, throwing caution to the wind, her main goal being one of those people who hogs the spotlight and is loved by as many fans on the Internet. Helen is hired to reign her in, and make sure that she grows up grounded and with some sense of humility.
In the midst of all this, one of the members of her inner circle dies kiteboarding. The kiteboarding accident was being live-streamed, but Cartier has fingers pointed at her, threatening her influencer standing with her countless fans. She did not stop filming the death, which has many fans quite hostile toward her. Another person close to her dies, and it becomes a question of accident or murder?
While Helen is out more to help Cartier get back to the straight and narrow, in the back of her mind are the deaths that are not mere coincidence. If someone was part of the deaths of her two close friends, then is it possible Cartier is also in the line of fire? Helen takes Cartier to an isolated ranch, to free her from the irate crowd watching her every move. There is no Internet allowed, and Cartier must actually do chores she finds beneath her. She is now in a regular routine like most average people do, which Cartier rebels against, but Helen does not let he shirk her duties.
Helen does have the assistance of Nigel a friend first seen in MINDFUL OF MURDER, who also does his best to make sure civility rules on the ranch. But Deep State arrives there, about to unleash their influence and potential chaos, undoing what Helen has accomplished.
Although this is a murder mystery of sorts, that is downplayed and we don’t mind that. The interactions between Helen and Cartier and their banter is what makes the book work, the crimes earlier almost secondary to the person Cartier is becoming.
Those who enjoy a character driven mystery, will find the book most enjoyable, making us anticipate what Helen Thorp will be up to next.
After the death of her mother, life sort of spiraled out of control thanks to Cartier being charmed by influencers most notably a collective of influencers known as Deep State. She is running with this fast crowd, throwing caution to the wind, her main goal being one of those people who hogs the spotlight and is loved by as many fans on the Internet. Helen is hired to reign her in, and make sure that she grows up grounded and with some sense of humility.
In the midst of all this, one of the members of her inner circle dies kiteboarding. The kiteboarding accident was being live-streamed, but Cartier has fingers pointed at her, threatening her influencer standing with her countless fans. She did not stop filming the death, which has many fans quite hostile toward her. Another person close to her dies, and it becomes a question of accident or murder?
While Helen is out more to help Cartier get back to the straight and narrow, in the back of her mind are the deaths that are not mere coincidence. If someone was part of the deaths of her two close friends, then is it possible Cartier is also in the line of fire? Helen takes Cartier to an isolated ranch, to free her from the irate crowd watching her every move. There is no Internet allowed, and Cartier must actually do chores she finds beneath her. She is now in a regular routine like most average people do, which Cartier rebels against, but Helen does not let he shirk her duties.
Helen does have the assistance of Nigel a friend first seen in MINDFUL OF MURDER, who also does his best to make sure civility rules on the ranch. But Deep State arrives there, about to unleash their influence and potential chaos, undoing what Helen has accomplished.
Although this is a murder mystery of sorts, that is downplayed and we don’t mind that. The interactions between Helen and Cartier and their banter is what makes the book work, the crimes earlier almost secondary to the person Cartier is becoming.
Those who enjoy a character driven mystery, will find the book most enjoyable, making us anticipate what Helen Thorp will be up to next.
January 13, 2026
Really a 3.5 star read, but rounding up for the Canadian-ness. The first few chapters realllly were not great - focused on Helen Thorpe's wonderful, perfect, such very good and nice billionaires and their very luxurious and wonderful and wealthy but also deeeep and good Buddhist employers. It was actually kind of icky, the insistence on somehow neeeeding to establish that obscenely rich people really can be good. I believe they probably can, of course, but it reeked of trying too hard.
But once the chaotic kids came into the picture and Helen and her...student? mentee? were away from the fantasy billionaires it was all much better. Helen doesn't so much "solve" a mystery as happen to be around when things fall apart, but I didn't actually mind that so much. I was also happy to see Helen actually be off-balance and less than perfectly equanimous because that makes for a much more interesting (not to mention real) character.
I got this as a library book and am going on to book 3, and although I enjoyed this I feel no need to own it.
But once the chaotic kids came into the picture and Helen and her...student? mentee? were away from the fantasy billionaires it was all much better. Helen doesn't so much "solve" a mystery as happen to be around when things fall apart, but I didn't actually mind that so much. I was also happy to see Helen actually be off-balance and less than perfectly equanimous because that makes for a much more interesting (not to mention real) character.
I got this as a library book and am going on to book 3, and although I enjoyed this I feel no need to own it.
March 21, 2024
Absolutely entertaining!
Helen Thorpe, former Buddhist nun, current butler is back in action! It is a few years since she solved her last murder and she has secured a wonderful position working for a couple she admires. But, then her employers feel bad for their friend's daughter and lend her Helen's services for a month.
The butler guidebook had not prepared Helen for this eventuality. While she suffers a moment of panic, she quickly grounds herself and plans to be of service. Cartier Hightower, Helen's new charge, is one of a group of social media content creators known as the Deep State. Two members of this group have recently died in mysterious circumstances.
Helen finds herself in a whirlwind of activities filmed for social media. How is she to help Cartier who rarely looks up from her phone?
There is little time to meditate here, but there is non-stop action and tongue-in-cheek humour to propel the story to its startling conclusion.
Helen Thorpe, former Buddhist nun, current butler is back in action! It is a few years since she solved her last murder and she has secured a wonderful position working for a couple she admires. But, then her employers feel bad for their friend's daughter and lend her Helen's services for a month.
The butler guidebook had not prepared Helen for this eventuality. While she suffers a moment of panic, she quickly grounds herself and plans to be of service. Cartier Hightower, Helen's new charge, is one of a group of social media content creators known as the Deep State. Two members of this group have recently died in mysterious circumstances.
Helen finds herself in a whirlwind of activities filmed for social media. How is she to help Cartier who rarely looks up from her phone?
There is little time to meditate here, but there is non-stop action and tongue-in-cheek humour to propel the story to its startling conclusion.
March 22, 2024
Highly recommend this book. I'm looking forward to a third volume in this series, if Juby is contemplating a longer series. I've read & enjoyed Juby's "Woefield Farm/Poultry Collective" books in the past. It's not necessary to read the first book in this series ("Mindful of Murder") featuring Helen Thorpe, a former Buddhist nun and now certified butler, who features in "Meditation on Murder". However, it would be helpful, since it's the backstory to this new book, and snippets come up in this book. There are a number of significant events & plot details in the first book (Mindful of Murder), which aren't brought forward in the 2nd book, and it's useful to have that information. When I read the first book I had already read the second book, so knew some of the characters and general themes, but not the history & detail in the first book. I wasn't aware of a first book in the series until I finished this current 2nd book, and read it after.
May 7, 2024
I am so glad that Susan Juby has a three book contract for this series. Book 2 finds our Buddhist butler Helen loaned to the daughter of a business associate of her new employers. Cartier Hightower is a little rich girl mess and has fallen in with suspicious influencers. Her wealthy father reacts to everything with unhelpful rage and Helen feels out of her depth with these self-absorbed poseurs. Juby has a lot to say about the vacuous influencer life in general as Helen tries, mindfully, to tempt Cartier into a more meaningful life. I was glad to see that Helen asks for the help of young Nigel from Book 1 to dog sit Cartier's untrained Pomeranians. Things get serious quickly, two fellow influencers in the group die suspiciously and Helen takes Cartier to a healthy ranch in the BC interior. This book has a lot of the humour of the first book with a side helping of dark internet. Helen is a wonderful creation and I look forward to Book 3.
March 6, 2024
A butler/nun is lent to a friend of her employer's.
The butler is to help ground and develop life skills for the daughter where the mother died and the father is verbally abusing to their staff while they both grieve.
Both are rich families where money is not a problem. The daughter is working as an influencer with her friends doing wild stunts. However, one of the friends dies in a freak accident, which adds more grief, and the daughter is blamed online by trolls.
The butler/ nun is not online much, so she learns about how the young group is living online. The story is more about what kind of things influencers do to gain more popularity online, the impacts, the downsides, the violence, and how quick things change.
Dogs, an online-detox farm, and murders are all included in the many twists in this story.
The butler is to help ground and develop life skills for the daughter where the mother died and the father is verbally abusing to their staff while they both grieve.
Both are rich families where money is not a problem. The daughter is working as an influencer with her friends doing wild stunts. However, one of the friends dies in a freak accident, which adds more grief, and the daughter is blamed online by trolls.
The butler/ nun is not online much, so she learns about how the young group is living online. The story is more about what kind of things influencers do to gain more popularity online, the impacts, the downsides, the violence, and how quick things change.
Dogs, an online-detox farm, and murders are all included in the many twists in this story.
April 28, 2024
This is a fast moving story that kept me completely engaged. "Who done it?" It seems everyone was a suspect except Helen! Helen is the butler who was asked by her employers to help a young woman get centred, learn social skills, spend less time on the net, etc. The young woman had become mixed up with a group of influencer's. However someone is murdering the members of the group and it could be anyone in the group. The story takes you to waterfalls, nigh clubs, tropical islands, high end stores on shopping sprees and finally to a ranch in the Caribou. The character's in this story are well drawn, they come alive on the page. There is the mystery to be solved but while that is happening you learn if you didn't already know how these trolls on the internet draw young people in and how hard it is, if not impossible for them to escape these predators.
November 7, 2024
I enjoyed the heck out of this. I picked it up on a whim on Indie bookstore day/weekend/whatever it was, and ended up really enjoy it. It's a solid cozy. Helen the Buddhist butler is an excellent amateur detective/protagonist because she's such a unique voice. I do think I might have preferred this if Helen was the only POV, but the others at least all sounded unique and were used sparingly. Also liked all the BC references. I will say, the culprit was really obvious, really early. That's not generally a problem for me, but this was quite obvious. I was enjoying the narrative voice enough that I didn't care. The secondary cast is a mix of likeable and obnoxious in a way that makes sense. Helen is really the centre though. Which works. I will say, there is the odd awkward sentence/word choice, but not enough to be an issue.
Overall, just a fun read.
Overall, just a fun read.
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