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Every Seven Years
Elsa finds a book with strange powers and must face her tortured past.
It’s been seven years since Else visited her tiny hometown on an isolated island off the coast of Scotland. After years of suffering bullying at the hands of the few other residents, she left to make a new life. But now that her mother has passed, Else has returned. And when her old tormentor Karen Little hands her the very book that sent her running all those years ago, the cruelties of her past have Else seeing red.
The Bibliomysteries are a series of short tales about deadly books, by top mystery authors.
It’s been seven years since Else visited her tiny hometown on an isolated island off the coast of Scotland. After years of suffering bullying at the hands of the few other residents, she left to make a new life. But now that her mother has passed, Else has returned. And when her old tormentor Karen Little hands her the very book that sent her running all those years ago, the cruelties of her past have Else seeing red.
The Bibliomysteries are a series of short tales about deadly books, by top mystery authors.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
39 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Denise Mina
109 books2,534 followersDenise Mina was born in Glasgow in 1966. Because of her father's job as an Engineer, the family followed the north sea oil boom of the seventies around Europe
She left school at sixteen and did a number of poorly paid jobs, including working in a meat factory, as a bar maid, kitchen porter and cook.
Eventually she settled in auxiliary nursing for geriatric and terminal care patients.
At twenty one she passed exams, got into study Law at Glasgow University and went on to research a PhD thesis at Strathclyde University on the ascription of mental illness to female offenders, teaching criminology and criminal law in the mean time.
Misusing her grant she stayed at home and wrote a novel, 'Garnethill' when she was supposed to be studying instead.
She left school at sixteen and did a number of poorly paid jobs, including working in a meat factory, as a bar maid, kitchen porter and cook.
Eventually she settled in auxiliary nursing for geriatric and terminal care patients.
At twenty one she passed exams, got into study Law at Glasgow University and went on to research a PhD thesis at Strathclyde University on the ascription of mental illness to female offenders, teaching criminology and criminal law in the mean time.
Misusing her grant she stayed at home and wrote a novel, 'Garnethill' when she was supposed to be studying instead.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 1, 2024
4 stars
short review for busy readers:
An excellently written instalment of the Bibliomysteries series with an impressive 1st person narrative voice. Good, solid characters and a wonderfully tangible Scottish setting, both as regards nature and humans. The “deadly book” theme is seamlessly woven into the narrative.
Unfortunately, the plot wobbles towards the end, and the reveal is somewhat fumbled and abrupt. On the whole, a rather fine addition to this series. This is the first work from this author I’ve read and I’m looking forward to reading more in the future!
short review for busy readers:
An excellently written instalment of the Bibliomysteries series with an impressive 1st person narrative voice. Good, solid characters and a wonderfully tangible Scottish setting, both as regards nature and humans. The “deadly book” theme is seamlessly woven into the narrative.
Unfortunately, the plot wobbles towards the end, and the reveal is somewhat fumbled and abrupt. On the whole, a rather fine addition to this series. This is the first work from this author I’ve read and I’m looking forward to reading more in the future!
December 19, 2015
3.5 I fell in love with Denise Mina's writing when I read Garnethill. I have fallen behind on a few but hope to catch back up next year. In this short, a woman returns to a Scottish Island after the death of her mother. The title has much to do with the story because so many things can change in seven years, even our cells rejuvenate in that time period. At first the atmosphere is very hostile as she meets the woman who had bullied her at school. But in a seven year absence much can change, even people and all is not as it appears.
Does a great job in a few pages, creating a shifting atmosphere and shifting perspectives. What one left behind is not necessarily why one finds on their return. Worthy, quick read.
Arc from Netgalley.
Does a great job in a few pages, creating a shifting atmosphere and shifting perspectives. What one left behind is not necessarily why one finds on their return. Worthy, quick read.
Arc from Netgalley.
April 24, 2023
Most of us nowadays are part of the transient population that are born in one place, grow up in a different place, marry and move a third place, and then retire possibly where we grew up or where we were born. In Every Seven Years by Denise Mina, the MC Elsa has become a well-known actress. She currently lives in London, but has her hometown on one of the Scottish islands where she was bullied as a child by a Karen named Karen. Her former tormentor asks her to return to receive an acknowledgment of her accomplishment. Since her mother still lives on the island and it's been over seven years since she has visited, Elsa decides that she should go. I won't say more so that you can experience where this goes organically. The story is very short as these Bibliomysteries all seem to be. This is my first experience with these novelettes. It strikes me that this was a common refrain from most of the other reviewers. This clearly is a very good gateway into the Bibliomysteries. This may be my first but it will not be my last.
September 25, 2024
A Tartan Twist - Bibliomysteries #28
Review of the Mysterious Press/Open Road eBook (December 15, 2015) of the Mysterious Press hardcover & paperback (October 1, 2015).
Actress Else returns home to an unnamed Scottish island ("famous for whisky and sweaters") after seven years. The journey is due to the death of her mother, who had been an outcast in the community, but who had never left it. Else meets the bully from her past school days and is presented with a library book containing an evil message. Else vows revenge but she may be the target of manipulation.
The book itself (a collection of prints by American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)) is really inconsequential here and therefore the story doesn't quite measure up to the Bibliomysteries theme topic of "deadly books". The actual story was still well done with a twist that you will likely see coming.
Trivia and Links
Denise Mina (1966-) is a Scottish writer of over 20+ mystery & crime novels, often labelled as Tartan Noir due to their Scottish settings. She is the author of several series including Anna and Fin (2019-2022) of which Conviction (2019 - Anna and Fin #1) is her most popular book (based on the number of GR ratings and reviews). Other series include the graphic novel adaptations of Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy (2012-15) i.e. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. Other work in comics includes writing for the Hellblazer series.
The Bibliomysteries series are short stories commissioned by Otto Penzler's The Mysterious Press to be written around the theme of deadly books. They are individually published in limited edition hardcovers, paperbacks and ebooks, and periodically collected in anthology editions such as Bibliomysteries (2013, containing stories 1-15) and Bibliomysteries: Volume Two (2018, containing stories 16-30). There does not appear to be a Goodreads Listopia for them, but on Library Thing the current listing (as of late-September 2024) includes 40 short stories.
Review of the Mysterious Press/Open Road eBook (December 15, 2015) of the Mysterious Press hardcover & paperback (October 1, 2015).
Actress Else returns home to an unnamed Scottish island ("famous for whisky and sweaters") after seven years. The journey is due to the death of her mother, who had been an outcast in the community, but who had never left it. Else meets the bully from her past school days and is presented with a library book containing an evil message. Else vows revenge but she may be the target of manipulation.
The book itself (a collection of prints by American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)) is really inconsequential here and therefore the story doesn't quite measure up to the Bibliomysteries theme topic of "deadly books". The actual story was still well done with a twist that you will likely see coming.
Trivia and Links
Denise Mina (1966-) is a Scottish writer of over 20+ mystery & crime novels, often labelled as Tartan Noir due to their Scottish settings. She is the author of several series including Anna and Fin (2019-2022) of which Conviction (2019 - Anna and Fin #1) is her most popular book (based on the number of GR ratings and reviews). Other series include the graphic novel adaptations of Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy (2012-15) i.e. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. Other work in comics includes writing for the Hellblazer series.
The Bibliomysteries series are short stories commissioned by Otto Penzler's The Mysterious Press to be written around the theme of deadly books. They are individually published in limited edition hardcovers, paperbacks and ebooks, and periodically collected in anthology editions such as Bibliomysteries (2013, containing stories 1-15) and Bibliomysteries: Volume Two (2018, containing stories 16-30). There does not appear to be a Goodreads Listopia for them, but on Library Thing the current listing (as of late-September 2024) includes 40 short stories.
December 11, 2015
It took me a little while to get into this one - the narrative drops you right into the perspective of a woman who's forced to give a public appearance while she's still in shock after learning of her mother's death - and the feeling is a bit offputting.
However, soon enough, the story hits its stride. Else, our protagonist has returned to her childhood home, a Scottish island, after attaining minor fame as an actress on the 'mainland.' However, her childhood memories are less than happy - she and her mother were treated as pariahs, and it was only out of stubborness that her mother refused to move house.
Now, after her mother's death, Else wonders what really happened all those years ago - as she meets up with both the bully of her school days, and her long-ago first crush.
A short mystery with a few nice twists and turns.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
However, soon enough, the story hits its stride. Else, our protagonist has returned to her childhood home, a Scottish island, after attaining minor fame as an actress on the 'mainland.' However, her childhood memories are less than happy - she and her mother were treated as pariahs, and it was only out of stubborness that her mother refused to move house.
Now, after her mother's death, Else wonders what really happened all those years ago - as she meets up with both the bully of her school days, and her long-ago first crush.
A short mystery with a few nice twists and turns.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
November 12, 2020
With an atmospheric Scottish island setting, the story was about Else, a London actress who returns to her Scottish island home when her mother dies. She ‘escaped’ from the island when she was in her teens when she could no longer abide the way her mother ‘soldiered on’ despite the ostracization she endured at the hands of the insular islanders. Her Mum brought her up alone, she never really knew who her father was. This stigma and the fact that her Mum had killed a local man in an automobile accident, turned the island residents against her in a subliminal vendetta of hostility. Now Else, raw with grief, returns to the inhospitable place where she was born…
Although “Every seven years” is just a short novella, it is packed with more twists and turns than a book of average novel length. I read it in one sitting – but would have done if it had been 300 pages longer. It was just that absorbing. Reminiscent of the best of Ruth Rendell – or indeed Denise Mina – this tiny story will remain with me for a long time.
Highly recommended! My rating: 5 stars
For my complete review visit: FICTIONOPHILE
Although “Every seven years” is just a short novella, it is packed with more twists and turns than a book of average novel length. I read it in one sitting – but would have done if it had been 300 pages longer. It was just that absorbing. Reminiscent of the best of Ruth Rendell – or indeed Denise Mina – this tiny story will remain with me for a long time.
Highly recommended! My rating: 5 stars
For my complete review visit: FICTIONOPHILE
March 14, 2016
A bibliomysteries - short tales about deadly books by top mystery writers. I had not heard of this series before but am very glad to have started. Denise Mina is an author I've enjoyed. I read Garnethill which I thought was great. So, a short tale by her was an easy choice.
In this story, the deadly book is a school book with an inscription. To say more would give away too much of the story. But I will add a quote from the movie Jaws which I think sums up some of this story's premise - "if you're not born on the island, you can never be an islander". Highly recommend.
In this story, the deadly book is a school book with an inscription. To say more would give away too much of the story. But I will add a quote from the movie Jaws which I think sums up some of this story's premise - "if you're not born on the island, you can never be an islander". Highly recommend.
November 10, 2015
REVIEW: EVERY SEVEN YEARS by Denise Mona
Every installment in Mysterious Press's wonderful BIBLIOMYSTERIES Series fascinates. In EVERY SEVEN YEARS, London actress Else returns to the Scottish island of her birth and upbringing. Her mother has died, and the identity of her father has always been an unknown element. The title refers to human physiology: in seven years, every cell rejuvenated, so each of us is actually different every seven years. Each person she knew as a child or adolescent now shows a new aspect, so to what emotional or psychological foundation can Else now cling?
Every installment in Mysterious Press's wonderful BIBLIOMYSTERIES Series fascinates. In EVERY SEVEN YEARS, London actress Else returns to the Scottish island of her birth and upbringing. Her mother has died, and the identity of her father has always been an unknown element. The title refers to human physiology: in seven years, every cell rejuvenated, so each of us is actually different every seven years. Each person she knew as a child or adolescent now shows a new aspect, so to what emotional or psychological foundation can Else now cling?
October 9, 2024
2.5 stars
Me until the final pages of this book
Me until the final pages of this book
January 12, 2016
When her mother falls ill, Else returns home to the small town and small minds that drove her away seven years previous. But she's a different person now, stronger, a mildly successful celebrity and ready to let go of past emotions. She's even agreed to give a talk at the local library held by none other than her biggest childhood bully, Karen. But after receiving a gift from Karen that opens old wounds Else realizes there's only one true way for her to sever ties with the past... eliminate Karen.
Interesting short with good twists that make this an enjoyable light read.
*Thank you Open Road Media and Netgalley for this review copy
Interesting short with good twists that make this an enjoyable light read.
*Thank you Open Road Media and Netgalley for this review copy
May 20, 2018
Upon her mother's death, minor actress Else returns to her childhood home on a Scottish isle where she comes face to face with her past. The book involved reminds Else of the torture she endured at the hands of bullies. The writing style did not work for me and made it difficult for me to care what happened to Else or anybody else.
November 12, 2015
This is a short story... approximately 30 pages.
Else left her small Scottish hometown seven years ago. For years, she was bullied and tormented by all the residents, as was her mother. Her mother has passed from cancer and Else has now returned.
Karen Little, the town's librarian, was Else's meanest tormentor when they were in school. Having talked Else into speaking at the library about her career as a London actress, she is now presenting Else with the very last book she checked out of the library.
Taking the book and fleeing to her mother's home, she has one thought and one thought only .... Kill Karen Little.
There's a lot packed into this very short story. Emotions are heightened by the death of her mother. As Else put it ... her mother was an unfinished song. Resentment crops up remembering all those young years when they were treated as outcasts. Running into an old boyfriend, now a policeman .. bringing back the softer feelings she had. Learning that he's gay and has a boyfriend. Yep .. lots of emotional upheaval piled one on top of another.
If you're looking for a short mystery, let it be this one. Quite entertaining.
My thanks to the author / Open Road Integrated Media / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Publication Date: December 15, 2015
Else left her small Scottish hometown seven years ago. For years, she was bullied and tormented by all the residents, as was her mother. Her mother has passed from cancer and Else has now returned.
Karen Little, the town's librarian, was Else's meanest tormentor when they were in school. Having talked Else into speaking at the library about her career as a London actress, she is now presenting Else with the very last book she checked out of the library.
Taking the book and fleeing to her mother's home, she has one thought and one thought only .... Kill Karen Little.
There's a lot packed into this very short story. Emotions are heightened by the death of her mother. As Else put it ... her mother was an unfinished song. Resentment crops up remembering all those young years when they were treated as outcasts. Running into an old boyfriend, now a policeman .. bringing back the softer feelings she had. Learning that he's gay and has a boyfriend. Yep .. lots of emotional upheaval piled one on top of another.
If you're looking for a short mystery, let it be this one. Quite entertaining.
My thanks to the author / Open Road Integrated Media / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Publication Date: December 15, 2015
January 15, 2016
My introduction to the writing by Denise Mina - a short novella loaded with mystery. Compelling reading. Enjoyed the setting and the characters, and of course the suspense.
September 18, 2024
Read for Buzzword challenge 2024-every
February 3, 2020
From another special project that approached authors to write short stories on the same theme.
Like some school homework set for the class. Star pupil for me has to be Denise Mina and althoughI have had this ebook for a few years I have finally got round to reading it. It is also the first one from this series that I have read.
Set in a small closely knit island community , it is the story of outsiders, local resentments and tradition. But for Elsa who’s Mum was drawn to the Island to teach before she was born it is about bullying, exclusion and a sense of isolation. Her Mum felt it before her but had more determination to see it through; in the end she dies there and Elsa returns to sort out her Mother’s affairs.
Elsa having left the island made some fame and fortune as an actress and she needs all those skills to overcome her sense of being mocked and hated still after 7 years away.
But the presenting of a book which first drove her away tips her over the edge. Her nemesis Karen has played her one time too many and now Elsa is set on a path that will threaten Karen’s life. With courage fuelled by alcohol she is met by local police officer Tam and he gets her to admit her intention to kill Karen.
How can a book so upset someone? Karen is a librarian - is it really a high risk job? How will Elsa escape from the Island one last time when she has confessed to murderous intent.
Elsa believes that humans have the capacity to change every seven years but presented with the same book seven years apart seems to send her life spiralling out of control.
Denise Mina is economic with her words in this story told from Elsa’s point of view. A wonderfully woven tale of insular communities and why incomers might not always be welcome. Elsa goes through a range of emotions which the author makes real and believable. The only whisper of sleight of hand are the references to her average acting prowess. But can bitterness so transform anyone that they can kill?
Like some school homework set for the class. Star pupil for me has to be Denise Mina and althoughI have had this ebook for a few years I have finally got round to reading it. It is also the first one from this series that I have read.
Set in a small closely knit island community , it is the story of outsiders, local resentments and tradition. But for Elsa who’s Mum was drawn to the Island to teach before she was born it is about bullying, exclusion and a sense of isolation. Her Mum felt it before her but had more determination to see it through; in the end she dies there and Elsa returns to sort out her Mother’s affairs.
Elsa having left the island made some fame and fortune as an actress and she needs all those skills to overcome her sense of being mocked and hated still after 7 years away.
But the presenting of a book which first drove her away tips her over the edge. Her nemesis Karen has played her one time too many and now Elsa is set on a path that will threaten Karen’s life. With courage fuelled by alcohol she is met by local police officer Tam and he gets her to admit her intention to kill Karen.
How can a book so upset someone? Karen is a librarian - is it really a high risk job? How will Elsa escape from the Island one last time when she has confessed to murderous intent.
Elsa believes that humans have the capacity to change every seven years but presented with the same book seven years apart seems to send her life spiralling out of control.
Denise Mina is economic with her words in this story told from Elsa’s point of view. A wonderfully woven tale of insular communities and why incomers might not always be welcome. Elsa goes through a range of emotions which the author makes real and believable. The only whisper of sleight of hand are the references to her average acting prowess. But can bitterness so transform anyone that they can kill?
November 2, 2018
4.5 second text from this author and her writing is outstanding - must read more
December 15, 2015
Denise Mina's "Every Seven Years" is a worthy addition to the Bibliomysteries series of short stories about deadly books, all written by top authors for the Mysterious Press. In it the main character reminds us that "the human body renews itself every seven years." Lo and behold, it's been seven years since Else last visited the remote island off the coast of Scotland on which she spent such a miserable childhood. Has she renewed herself?
Now an actress in London, Else is making an appearance on the island when her old nemesis hands her a library book that triggers terrible memories. It's the very same book that made her leave all those years ago, and the only reason why Karen Little gave it to her was to remind her of all the bullying Else had to endure. Or is it?
Mina has written a very quiet, very menacing story in which the reader will definitely side with Else after all the misery she's gone through. Else has a memorable voice, fierce emotions, and the determination never to be bullied again. But the problem with strong emotions and indelible memories is that they can be misleading. Nothing is quite what it seems in "Every Seven Years," and that makes for one very enjoyable ride.
Now an actress in London, Else is making an appearance on the island when her old nemesis hands her a library book that triggers terrible memories. It's the very same book that made her leave all those years ago, and the only reason why Karen Little gave it to her was to remind her of all the bullying Else had to endure. Or is it?
Mina has written a very quiet, very menacing story in which the reader will definitely side with Else after all the misery she's gone through. Else has a memorable voice, fierce emotions, and the determination never to be bullied again. But the problem with strong emotions and indelible memories is that they can be misleading. Nothing is quite what it seems in "Every Seven Years," and that makes for one very enjoyable ride.
September 25, 2024
Very strange story...
May 16, 2023
A quick free read for Kindle from Amazon.
Supposedly every seven years all of our cells are re-produced so we're basically a "new" person. Certainly the seven years after graduating high school makes everyone different from the person they were.
Lesson from this--don't do anyone's dirty work for them.
Supposedly every seven years all of our cells are re-produced so we're basically a "new" person. Certainly the seven years after graduating high school makes everyone different from the person they were.
Lesson from this--don't do anyone's dirty work for them.
May 22, 2017
Short. Sharp. Classic Mina.
June 9, 2017
Another very quirky short story
February 5, 2020
Great little afternoon read on a cold day
November 21, 2020
Mina is a great writer but this was a rare miss for me.
October 3, 2021
Great short story, with a classic mystery/thriller twist. All suspense and drama you get in longer novels in a tight, short story package 📦😀
December 14, 2021
Atmospheric. Beautifully written.
December 22, 2022
Good read but felt slightly the ending was a wee bit of a let down
March 26, 2023
This is a great short story, full of twists and turns; which is not surprising with something by Denise Mina. I was caught off guard many times in this short work.
April 19, 2023
This is a good twisty short story. It deals with a young woman returning home upon the death of her mother. Nice surprises as well as a look at how communities work or don't work.
July 24, 2023
This novella was a wonderful distraction -- and just the perfect length -- for a day at the doctor's office.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews