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In the Beautiful Dark
A woman investigates a friend’s long-ago murder in a haunting and hopeful novel about the weight of secrets and regrets by the bestselling author of The Wild Road Home and A Light in the Forest.
At Sunny Pines Retirement Community, where the “Sixty-Two and Better!” share their golden years, secrets abound. Some scandalous, some haunting, and some dangerous. For Birdie Allen, a retired business owner and grandmother, her secret is the only thing she’s got left. Getting old isn’t the hardest part about life. It’s the memories from more than fifty years ago of the death of her unrequited love. And Birdie’s abandoned quest to root out the killer.
With retirement comes a lot of time to revisit old ghosts, so when Birdie ties together a string of recent murders, and a woman disappears, she’s drawn into the same chase she gave up decades earlier. But this time she has the help of an eccentric community of eager new friends. And they’re not alone. Restless souls are watching, including Birdie’s lost love, and they sense the danger that lies ahead. They’re not leaving Birdie’s side until she finishes what she set out to do. But will Birdie’s pursuit of a killer finally free her of regrets and allow her to embrace the beauty of the life she’s created?
At Sunny Pines Retirement Community, where the “Sixty-Two and Better!” share their golden years, secrets abound. Some scandalous, some haunting, and some dangerous. For Birdie Allen, a retired business owner and grandmother, her secret is the only thing she’s got left. Getting old isn’t the hardest part about life. It’s the memories from more than fifty years ago of the death of her unrequited love. And Birdie’s abandoned quest to root out the killer.
With retirement comes a lot of time to revisit old ghosts, so when Birdie ties together a string of recent murders, and a woman disappears, she’s drawn into the same chase she gave up decades earlier. But this time she has the help of an eccentric community of eager new friends. And they’re not alone. Restless souls are watching, including Birdie’s lost love, and they sense the danger that lies ahead. They’re not leaving Birdie’s side until she finishes what she set out to do. But will Birdie’s pursuit of a killer finally free her of regrets and allow her to embrace the beauty of the life she’s created?
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2025
814 people are currently reading
5953 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Payne
6 books706 followersMelissa Payne is the bestselling author of five novels, including The Wild Road Home and A Light in the Forest. After an early career raising money for nonprofit organizations, Melissa began dreaming about becoming a published author and wrote her first novel. Her stories feature small mountain towns with characters searching for redemption, love, and second chances. They have been three-time Colorado Book Award finalists and Colorado Authors League 2020 and 2023 winners for mainstream fiction. Her upcoming novel, In the Beautiful Dark, will be released April 22, 2025. Melissa lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children, a friendly mutt, a very loud cat, and the occasional bear. For more information, visit www.melissapayneauthor.com or find her on Instagram @melissapayne_writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
April 30, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
I loved this author's book A Light in the Forest and The Wild Road Home was one of my favourite reads of 2024. When I saw this title on NetGalley, I knew I HAD to have it, and it did not disappoint. Once again, Payne writes a wonderfully engaging story that mixes suspense and heart with truly amazing characters you want to cheer on and will remember for a long time. This story is about Birdie, a strong and independent woman who finds herself mixed up in a murder from the past.
Payne's writing is expressive and heartwarming. She immediately drew me into Sunny Pines and its quirky residents. The mystery itself is interesting and has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. There is also some humour within the pages, and the residents of Sunny Pines are a hoot. I loved the character development along the way and felt truly invested in Birdie and her journey to find the truth. I was especially pleased by the friendships she made along the way.
But this book is more than just a mystery, it's a celebration of life, friendship and community that isn't just heartwarming but very entertaining. It left me with a smile on my face and an appreciation for growing old(er). Overall, this book was a wonderful mix of mystery, heartwarming moments, and amazing characters. If you enjoy a mystery with a lot of heart and character-driven stories that show how friendship and community can mean a lot, this is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
I loved this author's book A Light in the Forest and The Wild Road Home was one of my favourite reads of 2024. When I saw this title on NetGalley, I knew I HAD to have it, and it did not disappoint. Once again, Payne writes a wonderfully engaging story that mixes suspense and heart with truly amazing characters you want to cheer on and will remember for a long time. This story is about Birdie, a strong and independent woman who finds herself mixed up in a murder from the past.
Payne's writing is expressive and heartwarming. She immediately drew me into Sunny Pines and its quirky residents. The mystery itself is interesting and has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. There is also some humour within the pages, and the residents of Sunny Pines are a hoot. I loved the character development along the way and felt truly invested in Birdie and her journey to find the truth. I was especially pleased by the friendships she made along the way.
But this book is more than just a mystery, it's a celebration of life, friendship and community that isn't just heartwarming but very entertaining. It left me with a smile on my face and an appreciation for growing old(er). Overall, this book was a wonderful mix of mystery, heartwarming moments, and amazing characters. If you enjoy a mystery with a lot of heart and character-driven stories that show how friendship and community can mean a lot, this is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 4, 2024
The exquisite melancholy cover art and title drew me to this novel. I was hooked from the first page. This tale of past and present is rich with drama, humor, intrigue, character development, and depth.
Welcome to Sunny Pines Retirement Community home to a hodge podge of residents from all walks of life. Be aware that this is a little darker than some of the 'seniors solving crime' books that are out there. The older a person is the more time they have to amass secrets, and some are heavy.
I liked the main character Birdie right out of the gate flaws and all. She is the kind of self-made woman who cares about others and is willing to put herself in precarious situations when she feels like she can make a difference. Fifty years ago, Birdie found her roommate and unrequited love Allison dead in their bathroom. Police judged Allison's lifestyle and ruled her death a suicide without much of an investigation. Even when it's obvious that a serial killer is active in their area, police refuse to take a harder look at the case. Birdie never accepts that she took her own life.
When a string of disturbing events begins to occur around Sunny Pines, Birdie puts her investigating skills to the test again. This time she's made friends in her community, and they lend their abilities to help uncover the truth. There is a mystery here to solve, but at its core this is a book about relationships, soul searching, and coming to terms with our mistakes to press forward. There is a wide variety of characters, and I enjoyed them all whether I was eyeing them with suspicion or laughing at their antics. I was so wrapped up in the drama and even their daily lives that I didn't want this one to end!
Stick around for the author's note her inspiration for the novel was touching. This one was engaging and tugged at my heartstrings.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an Advance Readers Copy
Welcome to Sunny Pines Retirement Community home to a hodge podge of residents from all walks of life. Be aware that this is a little darker than some of the 'seniors solving crime' books that are out there. The older a person is the more time they have to amass secrets, and some are heavy.
I liked the main character Birdie right out of the gate flaws and all. She is the kind of self-made woman who cares about others and is willing to put herself in precarious situations when she feels like she can make a difference. Fifty years ago, Birdie found her roommate and unrequited love Allison dead in their bathroom. Police judged Allison's lifestyle and ruled her death a suicide without much of an investigation. Even when it's obvious that a serial killer is active in their area, police refuse to take a harder look at the case. Birdie never accepts that she took her own life.
When a string of disturbing events begins to occur around Sunny Pines, Birdie puts her investigating skills to the test again. This time she's made friends in her community, and they lend their abilities to help uncover the truth. There is a mystery here to solve, but at its core this is a book about relationships, soul searching, and coming to terms with our mistakes to press forward. There is a wide variety of characters, and I enjoyed them all whether I was eyeing them with suspicion or laughing at their antics. I was so wrapped up in the drama and even their daily lives that I didn't want this one to end!
Stick around for the author's note her inspiration for the novel was touching. This one was engaging and tugged at my heartstrings.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an Advance Readers Copy
August 22, 2025
A sweet, endearing, slightly suspenseful story. I went into this read completely blind and was not at all disappointed. I’m not quite sure what genre to place this under- a little bit of cozy mystery/domestic thriller, a little bit of a love story, some spiritual/paranormal intermixed, a lot of life lessons and touching moments. Add in some sweetness, humor and oh such a great story!
The book starts off with the back story of two women working their way through life in the best they know how in 1972. There is a death- is it a murder or a suicide? You find out this answer as the story unfolds in present time.
Present time is 52 years later… we hear from Birdie and her crazy crew at the retirement village she’s moved into. Each character the reader encounters is well developed throughout the story. Each has a bit of mysterious air surrounding them. They work together to solve a few mysteries along with resolving some guilt each has stored up in their many years on earth. By the end of the story you will find yourself loving almost all of them. And the ones you don’t, you learn why as part of this cozy mystery. Friendships are made, old wounds are healed, youth is restored. There are a lot of conversations with Birdie and her adopted son Felix- this could have been a bit less. So many emotions and feelings tied into this story! Birdie has so much to say and you learn so much as if she is your own grandmother passing down words of wisdom.
Mixed into this story are mini one page chapters where we hear from Allison. Felix’s mother. Speaking to the reader from another realm- cryptic messages with hidden meaning- giving the reader some pieces to the puzzle that will be solved by books end.
Without giving too much away this story is worth your time. I really enjoyed the characters, the plot, the intro and the conclusion. I’m so glad I took a chance on this read!
Available via kindle unlimited with audio.
The book starts off with the back story of two women working their way through life in the best they know how in 1972. There is a death- is it a murder or a suicide? You find out this answer as the story unfolds in present time.
Present time is 52 years later… we hear from Birdie and her crazy crew at the retirement village she’s moved into. Each character the reader encounters is well developed throughout the story. Each has a bit of mysterious air surrounding them. They work together to solve a few mysteries along with resolving some guilt each has stored up in their many years on earth. By the end of the story you will find yourself loving almost all of them. And the ones you don’t, you learn why as part of this cozy mystery. Friendships are made, old wounds are healed, youth is restored. There are a lot of conversations with Birdie and her adopted son Felix- this could have been a bit less. So many emotions and feelings tied into this story! Birdie has so much to say and you learn so much as if she is your own grandmother passing down words of wisdom.
Mixed into this story are mini one page chapters where we hear from Allison. Felix’s mother. Speaking to the reader from another realm- cryptic messages with hidden meaning- giving the reader some pieces to the puzzle that will be solved by books end.
Without giving too much away this story is worth your time. I really enjoyed the characters, the plot, the intro and the conclusion. I’m so glad I took a chance on this read!
Available via kindle unlimited with audio.
April 13, 2025
When I read the description of this one, I knew I wanted to read it. I tend to enjoy stories about seniors in retirement communities joining together to solve crimes. Our main character Birdie lives at Sunny Pines retirement community. Birdie is still haunted by the loss of her love Allison that she is pretty sure was murdered. But it was ruled it a suicide. Birdie just cannot seem to get over this. She knows in her heart that she was murdered and has always thought about getting to the bottom of it.
Well, when strange things start to happen at Sunny Side, Birdie and her group of senior friends come together to try and figure out what it's going on. I truly enjoyed Birdie's character so much. She was so quirky and fun. I loved her delightful bunch of friends as well. Melissa really did a great job of creating these characters. They felt so real. I also loved how you got the perspective of Allison, from beyond. That was such a unique way to read about how Birdie and Allison were together in the past!
The mystery of Allison's death, the love and found family between Birdie and her new friends really pulled at my heart. Such a lovely read. I can't wait to add more of Melissa's books to my list.
Thank you Getred PR books, the publisher , and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Well, when strange things start to happen at Sunny Side, Birdie and her group of senior friends come together to try and figure out what it's going on. I truly enjoyed Birdie's character so much. She was so quirky and fun. I loved her delightful bunch of friends as well. Melissa really did a great job of creating these characters. They felt so real. I also loved how you got the perspective of Allison, from beyond. That was such a unique way to read about how Birdie and Allison were together in the past!
The mystery of Allison's death, the love and found family between Birdie and her new friends really pulled at my heart. Such a lovely read. I can't wait to add more of Melissa's books to my list.
Thank you Getred PR books, the publisher , and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
April 30, 2025
This was a fantastic read! I absolutely loved Birdie! She is a fabulous main character! She is strong, determined, willing to help those who need and she is far from perfect but that just makes you like her even more! The antics of the other characters were hilarious at times and I really couldn't help but truly enjoy all of them! The story has a great mix of the past, present, humor and drama! I really hope that there will be ALOT more of Birdie to come! Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours and Melissa Payne for sharing this book with me!
May 17, 2025
Book Title: In the Beautiful Dark
Author(s): Melissa Payne
Publisher(s): Lake Union Publishing/Brilliance Audio
🤔 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝔻𝕚𝕕 𝕀 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕥: I have been reading Melissa Payne since her debut which actually came out while I was living near her. I have been a huge fan ever since and picked up In the Beautiful Dark without even reading the synopsis.
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I knew from the beginning I was going to love this book and there wasn’t a moment I doubted that. I was wondering what kind of story it would end up becoming, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
👏🏼 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈: First of all, a ghost vibe?! I do say that it is one of my favorite parts and I loved that it added even more of an air of mystery to the storyline. The characters were some of my favorites, and I especially loved Birdie. Having this set so many years after Allison’s death when Birdie is finding it harder to get around somehow added a ton of tension to story. She is such a kind soul, and I completely understood her drive and even when it came to pushing away the people she loves. I love that Payne makes her writing so accessible and this book was all-consuming the entire time I was reading it.
🙃 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙳𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚎: My only struggle with this book was the audiobook which I will dive into next.
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Oh the audio… There are two narrators with Bahni Turpin as Birdie and Jeremy Carlisle Parker as I will let you find out 😉 and it was a bit of a shame that Turpin was the star of the show narration wise. I will say I love her voice and normally do love her narration, but she killed my vibe this time. When she was on a roll, she was great, but she had the LONGEST pauses that distracted from the storyline big time. I found myself getting incredibly frustrated with her and this seems like a major editing error. To be fair I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next and that could have added to my irritation just a touch. 😵💫 Jeremy on the other hand was perfect, and I loved her parts of the book the most as far as audio goes.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: There are so many red herrings in this book, and I found myself constantly changing my mind about who the killer was. Sunny Pines is a place I would totally live if I got to spend my days with this group of people, and it is impossible not to love the characters. The big reveal at the end was mind blowing and the road to get there was paved with just the right amount of emotion, mystery, and humor.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🚙🛁👀🐶🖌️
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐💫
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author, and publishers for my complimentary book and advance listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author(s): Melissa Payne
Publisher(s): Lake Union Publishing/Brilliance Audio
🤔 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝔻𝕚𝕕 𝕀 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕥: I have been reading Melissa Payne since her debut which actually came out while I was living near her. I have been a huge fan ever since and picked up In the Beautiful Dark without even reading the synopsis.
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I knew from the beginning I was going to love this book and there wasn’t a moment I doubted that. I was wondering what kind of story it would end up becoming, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
👏🏼 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈: First of all, a ghost vibe?! I do say that it is one of my favorite parts and I loved that it added even more of an air of mystery to the storyline. The characters were some of my favorites, and I especially loved Birdie. Having this set so many years after Allison’s death when Birdie is finding it harder to get around somehow added a ton of tension to story. She is such a kind soul, and I completely understood her drive and even when it came to pushing away the people she loves. I love that Payne makes her writing so accessible and this book was all-consuming the entire time I was reading it.
🙃 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙳𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚎: My only struggle with this book was the audiobook which I will dive into next.
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Oh the audio… There are two narrators with Bahni Turpin as Birdie and Jeremy Carlisle Parker as I will let you find out 😉 and it was a bit of a shame that Turpin was the star of the show narration wise. I will say I love her voice and normally do love her narration, but she killed my vibe this time. When she was on a roll, she was great, but she had the LONGEST pauses that distracted from the storyline big time. I found myself getting incredibly frustrated with her and this seems like a major editing error. To be fair I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next and that could have added to my irritation just a touch. 😵💫 Jeremy on the other hand was perfect, and I loved her parts of the book the most as far as audio goes.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: There are so many red herrings in this book, and I found myself constantly changing my mind about who the killer was. Sunny Pines is a place I would totally live if I got to spend my days with this group of people, and it is impossible not to love the characters. The big reveal at the end was mind blowing and the road to get there was paved with just the right amount of emotion, mystery, and humor.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🚙🛁👀🐶🖌️
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐💫
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author, and publishers for my complimentary book and advance listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 10, 2025
In the Beautiful Dark takes place at Sunny Pines Retirement Community, where the “Sixty-Two and Better!” share their golden years, and secrets abound. Some scandalous, some haunting, and some dangerous. For Birdie Allen, a retired business owner and grandmother, her secret is the only thing she’s got left. Getting old isn’t the hardest part about life. It’s the memories from more than fifty years ago of the death of her great love.
This is such a heartfelt book! The cast of characters was as quirky as it was fascinating. Birdie was the star with her refusal to give up on a long-unsolved mystery. Some of the other residents were bound and determined to break down the walls Birdie had built around herself. As soon as they would nearly succeed, then Birdie would push them away and build those walls back up. There were some laugh-out-loud parts, as well as others that were quite suspenseful. I loved the wee bit of supernatural, too.
I would love to see this made into a series!
Thank you, #LakeUnionPublishing, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#MelissaPayne
This is such a heartfelt book! The cast of characters was as quirky as it was fascinating. Birdie was the star with her refusal to give up on a long-unsolved mystery. Some of the other residents were bound and determined to break down the walls Birdie had built around herself. As soon as they would nearly succeed, then Birdie would push them away and build those walls back up. There were some laugh-out-loud parts, as well as others that were quite suspenseful. I loved the wee bit of supernatural, too.
I would love to see this made into a series!
Thank you, #LakeUnionPublishing, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#MelissaPayne
August 26, 2025
This book is a haunting, slow burn that also highlights the needs and thoughts of the elderly. I’m a young mind in an old person’s body. I read that once and never forgot it. So often books will give us a preface on an event that happened years before. It’s not just told here; it is truly felt! The author does a beautiful job setting up this tragedy that drives this book. Between that and the characters being elderly, I knew I’d love it. And I did. The title is so fitting. The story is beautiful but also dark. And having the dead “speak” takes it over the top!
April 26, 2025
4.25⭐
Combining a cold case story with one about the residents at a senior living community reaching out of isolation, using life skills and forging friendships. Birdie is a fantastic lead character fierce, smart, empathetic and persistent. Fifty some years ago her roommate and unrequited love supposedly committed suicide. Definitely a little darker in tone than other recent books featuring seniors in crime solving, but filled with heart. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Combining a cold case story with one about the residents at a senior living community reaching out of isolation, using life skills and forging friendships. Birdie is a fantastic lead character fierce, smart, empathetic and persistent. Fifty some years ago her roommate and unrequited love supposedly committed suicide. Definitely a little darker in tone than other recent books featuring seniors in crime solving, but filled with heart. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2025
I fell in love with this book's characters from the beginning. The story is set in a senior retirement village where Birdy dwells on the loss of her one love to murder many years ago. The police say it was suicide, but Birdy will never believe that is true. She is haunted by the guilt of never seeing the killer brought to justice. As the story develops, we meet other seniors and their families, and through their eyes we experience heartache, friendship, and healing. The scenes put a lump in my throat, and made me laugh out loud. A very good book.
January 10, 2026
3⭐️
It took me a while to figure out what to say. It was so hard for me to connect with the story and get into it, but after the first 20% of the book, well, yeah it was amazing.
Birdie, the main character, is so enjoyable. She’s determined, caring, and just plain cool.
While this book is about uncovering the truth and solving the mystery, there is a lot of soul searching, coming to terms with past grievances or mistakes one has made, and friendships.
It was an enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley, and LakeUnion Publishing for proving me with an ARC in exchange for a an honest review!
It took me a while to figure out what to say. It was so hard for me to connect with the story and get into it, but after the first 20% of the book, well, yeah it was amazing.
Birdie, the main character, is so enjoyable. She’s determined, caring, and just plain cool.
While this book is about uncovering the truth and solving the mystery, there is a lot of soul searching, coming to terms with past grievances or mistakes one has made, and friendships.
It was an enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley, and LakeUnion Publishing for proving me with an ARC in exchange for a an honest review!
May 4, 2025
3.25. Over 50 years prior, Birdie lost her love to what she believes was murder and it still hasn’t been solved. Now in her older age, she’s noticing a pattern of suspicious events around her retirement community that look a lot like what happened in the past. She has some new friends in the community who are more than willing to help with this mystery she’s focused on.
I did enjoy this story, especially getting to know the characters in this retirement community. There was a mystery aspect but the majority of the story was a detailed portrait of ordinary life, with a focus on the rhythms and routines. I really felt for Birdie and what she was going through when no one else seemed to. Some of the dialogue between characters feel more like telling than organic conversation which made it difficult for me to really believe in this story, I just don’t feel that an elderly woman would be telling the police to take over because she’s tired when they’re arriving to a crime scene etc so expect a dated tv feel at times. Overall I loved the heart and sincerity of this story.
Thank you so much to GetRed PR and Melissa Payne for providing this physical ARC. This is my honest review! This published on April 22nd.
I did enjoy this story, especially getting to know the characters in this retirement community. There was a mystery aspect but the majority of the story was a detailed portrait of ordinary life, with a focus on the rhythms and routines. I really felt for Birdie and what she was going through when no one else seemed to. Some of the dialogue between characters feel more like telling than organic conversation which made it difficult for me to really believe in this story, I just don’t feel that an elderly woman would be telling the police to take over because she’s tired when they’re arriving to a crime scene etc so expect a dated tv feel at times. Overall I loved the heart and sincerity of this story.
Thank you so much to GetRed PR and Melissa Payne for providing this physical ARC. This is my honest review! This published on April 22nd.
April 5, 2025
First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and GetredPR for the ARC of In the Beautiful Dark.
This is a beautiful mystery that spans over a lifetime.
Birdie is living during a time where being open about loving the same sex is shameful. She is close friends with Alison and Alison has a son. In the beginning Alison is ready to share her feeling with Birdie, but Birdie still feels the weight of the shame so she does not want to admit her feelings towards Alison.
When Birdie gets home one day, she finds Alison’s body in their bathtub. The case is closed after sometime, deeming Alison took her own life. But Birdie never believes that.
When Birdie is much older and living in a retirement home, she becomes infatuated with figuring out what happened to Alison again. With her friends at the nursing home, they all become a force to reckon with.
This story shows what a lifetime of grief and regret can do to us. But also how love can help us persevere.
I loved how Alison was still included in this with her own chapters here and there.
This was a great mystery that held all sorts of emotions.
Definitely recommend.
This is a beautiful mystery that spans over a lifetime.
Birdie is living during a time where being open about loving the same sex is shameful. She is close friends with Alison and Alison has a son. In the beginning Alison is ready to share her feeling with Birdie, but Birdie still feels the weight of the shame so she does not want to admit her feelings towards Alison.
When Birdie gets home one day, she finds Alison’s body in their bathtub. The case is closed after sometime, deeming Alison took her own life. But Birdie never believes that.
When Birdie is much older and living in a retirement home, she becomes infatuated with figuring out what happened to Alison again. With her friends at the nursing home, they all become a force to reckon with.
This story shows what a lifetime of grief and regret can do to us. But also how love can help us persevere.
I loved how Alison was still included in this with her own chapters here and there.
This was a great mystery that held all sorts of emotions.
Definitely recommend.
April 22, 2025
A Genuine Delight and Surprise:
My 5* review synopsis - read this if you love mysteries that are about the people rather than the case, if you love moving and heartfelt writing and if you enjoyed the aging chosen family set up of The Thursday Murder Club and Marlow Murder Club series'
Reminiscent of The List of Suspicious Things - this is a story first and foremost about people, finding identity, growing up (growing old in this case) and coming to terms with the situations life throws at you. The mystery is there but it's not the most important part of the narrative, though it does have a very satisfying conclusion.
I loved this book from page one and thought the cast of characters were lovable and incredibly human. I connected with their desire to find out who they are now that they are in the last phase of their life and the desire to find joy even whilst facing the challenges of old age. The story is strong and the slightly supernatural elements aren't overplayed and rather enhance it.
A surprise hit for me and I'll definitely be searching out more from Melissa Payne.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital review copy of "In The Beautiful Dark" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
My 5* review synopsis - read this if you love mysteries that are about the people rather than the case, if you love moving and heartfelt writing and if you enjoyed the aging chosen family set up of The Thursday Murder Club and Marlow Murder Club series'
Reminiscent of The List of Suspicious Things - this is a story first and foremost about people, finding identity, growing up (growing old in this case) and coming to terms with the situations life throws at you. The mystery is there but it's not the most important part of the narrative, though it does have a very satisfying conclusion.
I loved this book from page one and thought the cast of characters were lovable and incredibly human. I connected with their desire to find out who they are now that they are in the last phase of their life and the desire to find joy even whilst facing the challenges of old age. The story is strong and the slightly supernatural elements aren't overplayed and rather enhance it.
A surprise hit for me and I'll definitely be searching out more from Melissa Payne.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital review copy of "In The Beautiful Dark" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
April 21, 2025
This book showed promise at first, but man it just dragged on and on in the middle. The author just kept repeating the same thoughts and story lines over and over again. I found myself skimming about 60% of the way thru just to get to the mystery solved. I love the idea of the seniors creating a club to solve the murders, but it took so darn long to get there! I enjoyed the writing as this is my first time reading this author. I even enjoyed the senior care home setting and the quirky characters. I didn’t quite understand the “ghost” chapters, it didn’t seem like it took the story to any better more interesting place. And I have to say the ending was pretty predictable. I guessed the killer pretty early on. I would like to say I’d recommend this book, but honestly, it’s just mediocre and there are so many other books more gripping and interesting. Thanks for netgalley for an advanced copy!
March 23, 2025
I immediately fell into Birdie & Allison’s worlds, both sad for all the years they missed together. The cast of lovable characters Birdie brings into her life made it more enjoyable for all they brought to the plot. The mystery surrounding Allison’s death & the string of bodies in similar circumstances gave Melissa Payne’s latest novel the perfect element of suspense.
In The Beautiful Dark is a heart wrenching, yet hopeful novel that will stay with me.
In The Beautiful Dark is a heart wrenching, yet hopeful novel that will stay with me.
May 15, 2025
I enjoyed this book. I love Birdie and her struggle as a young woman and how her lie had become as she fought with getting older. I also loved Allison the voice from beyond death. However the last 1/4 of the book dragged a little. I feel it told have concluded a lot earlier as the ending was obvious. I did enjoy the last few pages o Birdies lie post finding the killer of her much loved Allison. A good read but could have been 5 stars if not for the dragging out of the ending. Definitely still worth reading.
dnf
March 14, 2025Two best friends work together in the 1970s. 50 years later, one is in a retirement village obsessed with solving the murder of her best friend. The other is a ghost haunting her.
This was a great set up and I did want to solve the mystery. But unfortunately I just couldn't get through this. There was something about the writing style that was just very off-putting.
This was a great set up and I did want to solve the mystery. But unfortunately I just couldn't get through this. There was something about the writing style that was just very off-putting.
January 14, 2025
Ever since my parents have died, I'm fascinated with the thought that they are looking down on me and helping me through life. It is what attracted me to this book. In The Beautiful Dark by Melissa Payne is a mysterious and moving story at the same time. Sometimes my heart was racing. Other times, I wanted to reach out and hug the seniors that live at Sunny Pines Retirement Community.
About The Book:
Birdie fell in love with another woman, Allison, who was murdered at an early time in their relationship. Birdie ended up raising Alison's son. This happens early in the book. The majority of the story takes place at the retirement community where a host of lovable characters live. Birdie is struggling with being retired and spends most of her time trying to solve the murder of Allison.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "...retirement is hard. You go from being important and needed to..." She swallowed. "Adrift." I think many people that are retired can relate to this. Birdie struggles to find new friends and would rather spend her time trying to track down a serial killer. However, the people in the community finally break down Birdie's walls. She learns to become an important part of their group. They set out on helping Birdie to solve the case of the serial killer.
Another point of view is the story of Allison, who watches Birdie "from above." I found this part interesting as well. It was a great way to add in a third person point of view. She could give some background on the other characters in the story. A quote from Allison that I loved was, "Funny thing about promises and the dead: we don't have the same attachment to them as the living." Have you ever made a promise to someone that has passed away?
My Thoughts On The Book:
I loved so many parts of this book. I wish I had a Birdie in my life that I could visit weekly. I loved how spunky she was, and she had a heart of gold. I spent a lot of time thinking about how that later stage in life affects people. But this book was also a mystery. I thought I had the serial killer figured out early on, but I needed to keep reading to see if I was right. I was never totally sure.
Melissa Payne does a wonderful job of characterization. I felt like I knew the characters well. I had wondered, while reading, if she had a lot of experience at a retirement community. So many events and dialogue made me laugh out loud. Her author's notes does answer my question. Make sure you don't skip this section at the end of the book.
In The Beautiful Dark deals with a lot of real-life issues. Payne deals with these issues well. I like how she crossed realistic fiction with mystery throughout the story. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends. I loved the book. However, I gave it a four star because I felt the story was a little repetitive in the middle. Don't let this stop you, though. It is worth reading!
Extra Info:
Here are some books that reminded me of this one:
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple
You can buy this book at: https://amzn.to/3E4LVhk
*If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
*If you missed my post about my Top Books of 2024, you can find it at: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-th...
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Melissa Payne for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
About The Book:
Birdie fell in love with another woman, Allison, who was murdered at an early time in their relationship. Birdie ended up raising Alison's son. This happens early in the book. The majority of the story takes place at the retirement community where a host of lovable characters live. Birdie is struggling with being retired and spends most of her time trying to solve the murder of Allison.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "...retirement is hard. You go from being important and needed to..." She swallowed. "Adrift." I think many people that are retired can relate to this. Birdie struggles to find new friends and would rather spend her time trying to track down a serial killer. However, the people in the community finally break down Birdie's walls. She learns to become an important part of their group. They set out on helping Birdie to solve the case of the serial killer.
Another point of view is the story of Allison, who watches Birdie "from above." I found this part interesting as well. It was a great way to add in a third person point of view. She could give some background on the other characters in the story. A quote from Allison that I loved was, "Funny thing about promises and the dead: we don't have the same attachment to them as the living." Have you ever made a promise to someone that has passed away?
My Thoughts On The Book:
I loved so many parts of this book. I wish I had a Birdie in my life that I could visit weekly. I loved how spunky she was, and she had a heart of gold. I spent a lot of time thinking about how that later stage in life affects people. But this book was also a mystery. I thought I had the serial killer figured out early on, but I needed to keep reading to see if I was right. I was never totally sure.
Melissa Payne does a wonderful job of characterization. I felt like I knew the characters well. I had wondered, while reading, if she had a lot of experience at a retirement community. So many events and dialogue made me laugh out loud. Her author's notes does answer my question. Make sure you don't skip this section at the end of the book.
In The Beautiful Dark deals with a lot of real-life issues. Payne deals with these issues well. I like how she crossed realistic fiction with mystery throughout the story. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends. I loved the book. However, I gave it a four star because I felt the story was a little repetitive in the middle. Don't let this stop you, though. It is worth reading!
Extra Info:
Here are some books that reminded me of this one:
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple
You can buy this book at: https://amzn.to/3E4LVhk
*If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
*If you missed my post about my Top Books of 2024, you can find it at: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-th...
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Melissa Payne for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
April 22, 2025
~4 stars~
What if you held on to a lifetime of grief and guilt, because you think you could have done something to save your loved one from a gruesome death? You make everything about avenging your friend’s death, sacrificing other life experiences and relationships along the way. It turns out getting older isn’t the tough part of aging, but living with regrets is.
That’s exactly what our main FMC has done over the last 50 years. The stage of In the Beautiful Dark opens up with Birdie in her young days, making the best of friends and finding family with Allison and her young son. They work together at a risque establishment providing entertainment and live in a time where loving the same sex is shameful yet they still hold on to feelings for each other that are more than friendly, hesitating to bring them to life.
After a catastrophic event, Birdie loses Allison and is left to raise her young son alone with a determination to find out who killed Allison. After becoming obsessive, she is forced to give up the search.
Fast forward many years later, Birdie resides at Pines Retirement Community and a string of recent murders and incidents that seem very familiar, and she is drawn back into the mystery as she just knows they are connected. This time though, she has some very eccentric friends at the retirement that helps her.
We have restless souls that are watching as they sense the danger that is coming but they will not leave her side until things are solved.
The characters had a lot of heart and personality. I really enjoyed that this book had an older FMC and there were a lot of different layers to the story. I was rooting for all of the retirees in this book and I had a good time reading this.
What if you held on to a lifetime of grief and guilt, because you think you could have done something to save your loved one from a gruesome death? You make everything about avenging your friend’s death, sacrificing other life experiences and relationships along the way. It turns out getting older isn’t the tough part of aging, but living with regrets is.
That’s exactly what our main FMC has done over the last 50 years. The stage of In the Beautiful Dark opens up with Birdie in her young days, making the best of friends and finding family with Allison and her young son. They work together at a risque establishment providing entertainment and live in a time where loving the same sex is shameful yet they still hold on to feelings for each other that are more than friendly, hesitating to bring them to life.
After a catastrophic event, Birdie loses Allison and is left to raise her young son alone with a determination to find out who killed Allison. After becoming obsessive, she is forced to give up the search.
Fast forward many years later, Birdie resides at Pines Retirement Community and a string of recent murders and incidents that seem very familiar, and she is drawn back into the mystery as she just knows they are connected. This time though, she has some very eccentric friends at the retirement that helps her.
We have restless souls that are watching as they sense the danger that is coming but they will not leave her side until things are solved.
The characters had a lot of heart and personality. I really enjoyed that this book had an older FMC and there were a lot of different layers to the story. I was rooting for all of the retirees in this book and I had a good time reading this.
April 27, 2025
Melissa Payne is an author that I enjoy reading and I always buy and read all of her books. In the Beautiful Dark is a novel that has a little bit of everything to keep the reader engaged. What I was most attracted to about this book is that it centers around a bunch of senior citizens from all walks of life who live in a senior retirement community called Sunny Pines. The personalities of these retired folks were all very different, but they all had one thing in common, they were all kind and caring. The antics and conversations that happened between them at times was extremely funny which made the story entertaining to read. Birdie, the main character, who was once a stripper, suffered the loss of someone she loved at a very young age and her death which she believed was murder has bothered her her entire life. The police said it was a suicide but Birdie knows different so her entire life is spent trying to prove otherwise. This story centers around a serial killer and because of this the story is very suspenseful. I thought this was a really good book and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries with a touch of comedy and magical realism thrown in. I’d like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I’m giving this story a 4 star rating and I look forward to reading more by Melissa Payne very soon.
April 30, 2025
When I read that this story takes place in a senior retirement facility, I jumped at the chance to read IN THE BEAUTFUL DARK by Melissa Payne. For those of us quickly approaching those golden years of our lives, this story is for us. The characters are endearing, and the story blends suspense and tenderness that draws the reader. I love Birdie. She a strong, independent woman, who has a murder from the past to solve. Who’s going to help her.
Sunny Pines community and its slightly-off-center “sixty-two and better” residents bring smiles and sighs throughout the book. The mystery itself is interesting, but the day-to-day interactions among the seniors themselves give the narrative its heart. The author is a master at character development, and I am still invested in my new friend Birdie.
This story isn’t just a cozy mystery; it's a salute to humanity, to life…every single day of it, to friendship, to family ties, and to living well all the way to the end. The moments that touch me most are the occasions when Birdie’s son asks her, “Are you happy?” Birdie makes me smile, and I already feel a little excitement about entering my final stage of life, and one more chance to shine my light.
“We are the shadows.
And we are the light in the beautiful dark.”
Sunny Pines community and its slightly-off-center “sixty-two and better” residents bring smiles and sighs throughout the book. The mystery itself is interesting, but the day-to-day interactions among the seniors themselves give the narrative its heart. The author is a master at character development, and I am still invested in my new friend Birdie.
This story isn’t just a cozy mystery; it's a salute to humanity, to life…every single day of it, to friendship, to family ties, and to living well all the way to the end. The moments that touch me most are the occasions when Birdie’s son asks her, “Are you happy?” Birdie makes me smile, and I already feel a little excitement about entering my final stage of life, and one more chance to shine my light.
“We are the shadows.
And we are the light in the beautiful dark.”
April 22, 2025
Birdie Allen is a flawed yet lovable grandmother and retiree holding onto a secret and dark past she cannot let go. But when a string of recent murders along with a missing person hits the news, she is immediately drawn back to the mysterious death from fifty years ago that still haunts her today.
Birdie and the quirky tenants at Sunny Pines Retirement Community do more than share their lifelong stories and golden years together. The self-proclaimed “sixty-two and better” are determined to solve a decades old mystery, but will they succeed with danger looming overhead? Will Birdie free herself from the ghosts of her past and find closure?
This isn’t your bland run-of-the-mill seniors solves a mystery club. It’s slightly darker but there’s good humor and a strong sense of camaraderie at Sunny Pines. I also appreciate how the author connect themes of community, aging, same-sex love, regret and loss - making it a stirring and fiercely rich read. It’s heartwarming and unsettling in the same vein. There is surly something for everyone here and 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 doesn’t disappoint!
Thank you Get Red PR and NetGalley for my advance readers copy.
Birdie and the quirky tenants at Sunny Pines Retirement Community do more than share their lifelong stories and golden years together. The self-proclaimed “sixty-two and better” are determined to solve a decades old mystery, but will they succeed with danger looming overhead? Will Birdie free herself from the ghosts of her past and find closure?
This isn’t your bland run-of-the-mill seniors solves a mystery club. It’s slightly darker but there’s good humor and a strong sense of camaraderie at Sunny Pines. I also appreciate how the author connect themes of community, aging, same-sex love, regret and loss - making it a stirring and fiercely rich read. It’s heartwarming and unsettling in the same vein. There is surly something for everyone here and 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 doesn’t disappoint!
Thank you Get Red PR and NetGalley for my advance readers copy.
May 10, 2025
In The Beautiful Dark centers around Birdie, an aging woman living decades in the past still trying to solve her friends death, which she believes was a murder. She lives in a retirement home, but struggles to make friends because she has spent her whole life distracted by her friend's death. When odd things occur and someone else disappears, Birdie is in the case again.
The story is full of themes of forgiveness and letting go underscoring how much more you hurt yourselves and others by living in the past. You miss out on the present and can't anticipate the future.
Birdie is a great character and her gang at the retirement home is full of great characters. Birdie's pursuit to do the right thing and help others was so encouraging.
I enjoyed the author's note and acknowledgements. I appreciated her sharing herself with us in such a personal and funny way (the last sentence of the acknowledgements😂)
This is available on Kindle Unlimited INCLUDING AUDIO. I listened for a bit and the narrator really brought the MC, Birdie to life.
The story is full of themes of forgiveness and letting go underscoring how much more you hurt yourselves and others by living in the past. You miss out on the present and can't anticipate the future.
Birdie is a great character and her gang at the retirement home is full of great characters. Birdie's pursuit to do the right thing and help others was so encouraging.
I enjoyed the author's note and acknowledgements. I appreciated her sharing herself with us in such a personal and funny way (the last sentence of the acknowledgements😂)
This is available on Kindle Unlimited INCLUDING AUDIO. I listened for a bit and the narrator really brought the MC, Birdie to life.
January 10, 2026
Payne is a great author. She writes books that grab your attention and address real issues. There is a usually a big twist at the end and a bit a tragedy before a happy-ish ending. Unfortunately, this book is not as good as A Light in the Forest or The Night of Many Endings. The plot is so obvious I kept speeding up the audiobook to get there. From the first time Glen "forgets" something you know who he is. When Joseph is introduced as a former boxer you know his skills will come to play in the end. At the center of the story there is a Birdie, a woman struggling with a tragedy that occurred when she was in her 20's. This is a common theme for Payne books; there is always a young woman in distress. Birdie is over the top. She is obsessed to the point of being unlikeable. I was worried the author was going to validate all of Birdie's crazy theories but she didn't. I appreciated the diversity of the characters and the use of ghosts and flashbacks as part of the storytelling. Hoping this is just a blip and Payne will return to form in her next book.
April 22, 2025
What a delightful story!
I absolutely loved all the characters, but Birdie was definitely my favorite.
This book blends heartfelt and heartwarming moments with a touch of mystery, making it a truly compelling read. Suspenseful, nostalgic, fast-paced, and memorable—this one’s a great read from start to finish.
I absolutely loved all the characters, but Birdie was definitely my favorite.
This book blends heartfelt and heartwarming moments with a touch of mystery, making it a truly compelling read. Suspenseful, nostalgic, fast-paced, and memorable—this one’s a great read from start to finish.
April 17, 2025
I wasn’t too sure about this book as I started reading it.
It ended up being much better than I expected.
Taking place at an assisted living center it was full of interesting characters. It was a slow build and ended with a bang. I was surprised by the ending. Definitely recommend
It ended up being much better than I expected.
Taking place at an assisted living center it was full of interesting characters. It was a slow build and ended with a bang. I was surprised by the ending. Definitely recommend
June 18, 2025
I was completely delighted by this heart-warming and suspenseful story–with mystery/thriller undercurrents–about a woman who enters a retirement community near Denver, still grieving over a decades-old loss. She dares to connect with neighbors, and together with her found family, she seeks to solve a serial killer mystery that has spanned over fifty years. Highly recommend!
March 23, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for introducing me to this new-to-me author and soon to be released book!
Welcome to Sunny Pines Retirement Community where we meet Birdie Allen, ex 'exotic dancer', former business owner, grandmother and mother-by-default, or mother by choice. Things aren't quite as sunny as the rather clueless staff at hand would have everyone believe; secrets are abound - things resurfacing from the past as well as disturbing current events... Birdie has spent her life chasing down the 'Vampire Killer' who she believed also killed her dearest friend Allison (and mother to her son, Felix)... but maybe he's coming out of retirement? Can Birdie really go on bus outings and go to book clubs when she might be closer to finding out the truth about Allison than she's ever been? Or is she just going senile?
With some unexpected help from her Sunny Pines neighbours, Birdie goes back to being full-on investigator. She's so close! But at what cost? When her son asks her to stop, when she makes mistakes, and people think she's a doddery old fool - can Birdie put Allison's spirit to rest?
I enjoyed this book a lot - partly because I went in with virtually no expectations! I've never heard of Melissa Payne before, and I've read quite a few 'retired people turn detective' type novels - but be warned, this is nothing like Richard Oseman and the like. This is quite a lot darker...
Birdie is a very likeable character, as are her 'gang', who I quickly came to love. I genuinely cared about all the characters here, and found it hard to put down because I wanted it happy endings for everyone, so I just had to keep reading!
Highlights for me:
- the central theme of loneliness and relationships; although this is a plot-heavy book, it's definitely more about the people we surround ourselves with and the way a community can come together... or not
- the very real treatment of police overlooking certain victims because of race, occupation etc. This isn't a funny 'haha' book (although there are lighter moments, where I did find myself chuckling). Payne has tapped into some very poignant problems with society, and the injustices highlighted are frustrating (too weak a word!) because they're real. It does make you think.
- this had the perfect balance (for me) of keeping you guessing, but allowing you, as the reader, to get it justbefore the MCs, which always makes you feel good about yourself! It's a difficult balance to strike - well done Melissa Payne!
- Allison's chapters. Interspersed, Allison (Birdie's old roommate, mother of the child she's brought up, Felix) leads the chapters in first person, accompanied by other spirits that are unable to let go. This was a clever and very well employed device; I enjoyed it immensely. Overall, they were my favourite parts, which is saying a lot considering I enjoyed the antics of Birdie and her gang so much!
What didn't work as well for me:
- the beginning felt at odds with the rest of the novel; I understand that Allison and Birdie's background needed setting up, so to speak, but it felt quite disjointed. Once the 'introductory' part was over, the writing flowed much more easily. I'm not quite sure what would have been better, but it felt awkward to me, which was a real shame.
Essentially, a very good read! A fast-paced drama with humour and intrigue, but also genuine character development and depth.
Welcome to Sunny Pines Retirement Community where we meet Birdie Allen, ex 'exotic dancer', former business owner, grandmother and mother-by-default, or mother by choice. Things aren't quite as sunny as the rather clueless staff at hand would have everyone believe; secrets are abound - things resurfacing from the past as well as disturbing current events... Birdie has spent her life chasing down the 'Vampire Killer' who she believed also killed her dearest friend Allison (and mother to her son, Felix)... but maybe he's coming out of retirement? Can Birdie really go on bus outings and go to book clubs when she might be closer to finding out the truth about Allison than she's ever been? Or is she just going senile?
With some unexpected help from her Sunny Pines neighbours, Birdie goes back to being full-on investigator. She's so close! But at what cost? When her son asks her to stop, when she makes mistakes, and people think she's a doddery old fool - can Birdie put Allison's spirit to rest?
I enjoyed this book a lot - partly because I went in with virtually no expectations! I've never heard of Melissa Payne before, and I've read quite a few 'retired people turn detective' type novels - but be warned, this is nothing like Richard Oseman and the like. This is quite a lot darker...
Birdie is a very likeable character, as are her 'gang', who I quickly came to love. I genuinely cared about all the characters here, and found it hard to put down because I wanted it happy endings for everyone, so I just had to keep reading!
Highlights for me:
- the central theme of loneliness and relationships; although this is a plot-heavy book, it's definitely more about the people we surround ourselves with and the way a community can come together... or not
- the very real treatment of police overlooking certain victims because of race, occupation etc. This isn't a funny 'haha' book (although there are lighter moments, where I did find myself chuckling). Payne has tapped into some very poignant problems with society, and the injustices highlighted are frustrating (too weak a word!) because they're real. It does make you think.
- this had the perfect balance (for me) of keeping you guessing, but allowing you, as the reader, to get it justbefore the MCs, which always makes you feel good about yourself! It's a difficult balance to strike - well done Melissa Payne!
- Allison's chapters. Interspersed, Allison (Birdie's old roommate, mother of the child she's brought up, Felix) leads the chapters in first person, accompanied by other spirits that are unable to let go. This was a clever and very well employed device; I enjoyed it immensely. Overall, they were my favourite parts, which is saying a lot considering I enjoyed the antics of Birdie and her gang so much!
What didn't work as well for me:
- the beginning felt at odds with the rest of the novel; I understand that Allison and Birdie's background needed setting up, so to speak, but it felt quite disjointed. Once the 'introductory' part was over, the writing flowed much more easily. I'm not quite sure what would have been better, but it felt awkward to me, which was a real shame.
Essentially, a very good read! A fast-paced drama with humour and intrigue, but also genuine character development and depth.
April 8, 2025
Beautiful Execution Of LGBT / Elderly Story Wrapped In Murder Mystery. This was an excellent and beautiful story of several different types of people who don't often play lead roles in stories coming together to create a particularly powerful one.
You've got women loving women - in 1972. You've got a whole group of elderly people living in a retirement community in 2024... along with a much younger recluse living in an RV she parks near the community. And yes, you've even got both cameo and more expansive scenes with different dogs and even a cat.
Payne handles all aspects of this tale with remarkable care and a particular penchant for showing that no matter our backgrounds or where we find ourselves, we all strive for community and family... and often times, we can be our own worst enemies in having them if we aren't careful.
The fact that she was able to bring so much near psychological horror level tension into the tale, and even a brief sprint of (somewhat comedic, though this may have been unintentional) action late in the tale truly shows just how well Payne knows her craft, as everything was done pretty damn close to perfectly.
Yes, this is a slow tale - it moves along at about the pace of the elderly people using walkers that so many of the characters are. But it is also a particularly beautiful one in both the characters it chooses to use and the story being told here.
For those looking for more elderly people in books or more naturally LGBT - without feeling forced or preachy at all - this is absolutely a book you should check out, and I genuinely believe you'll enjoy. If you're a reader that, for whatever reason, *doesn't* want to read about either of those types of characters... eh, this really isn't your book. Just move on in peace rather than one starring it because it has such characters.
Ultimately this really was yet another strong tale from Payne, who has done a phenomenal job throughout her career of creating just such tales.
Very much recommended.
You've got women loving women - in 1972. You've got a whole group of elderly people living in a retirement community in 2024... along with a much younger recluse living in an RV she parks near the community. And yes, you've even got both cameo and more expansive scenes with different dogs and even a cat.
Payne handles all aspects of this tale with remarkable care and a particular penchant for showing that no matter our backgrounds or where we find ourselves, we all strive for community and family... and often times, we can be our own worst enemies in having them if we aren't careful.
The fact that she was able to bring so much near psychological horror level tension into the tale, and even a brief sprint of (somewhat comedic, though this may have been unintentional) action late in the tale truly shows just how well Payne knows her craft, as everything was done pretty damn close to perfectly.
Yes, this is a slow tale - it moves along at about the pace of the elderly people using walkers that so many of the characters are. But it is also a particularly beautiful one in both the characters it chooses to use and the story being told here.
For those looking for more elderly people in books or more naturally LGBT - without feeling forced or preachy at all - this is absolutely a book you should check out, and I genuinely believe you'll enjoy. If you're a reader that, for whatever reason, *doesn't* want to read about either of those types of characters... eh, this really isn't your book. Just move on in peace rather than one starring it because it has such characters.
Ultimately this really was yet another strong tale from Payne, who has done a phenomenal job throughout her career of creating just such tales.
Very much recommended.
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