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Quem Matou a Avozinha?
Cover artist: Manuel Dias
198 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
About the author
Fredric Brown
825 books367 followersFredric Brown was an American science fiction and mystery writer. He was one of the boldest early writers in genre fiction in his use of narrative experimentation. While never in the front rank of popularity in his lifetime, Brown has developed a considerable cult following in the almost half century since he last wrote. His works have been periodically reprinted and he has a worldwide fan base, most notably in the U.S. and Europe, and especially in France, where there have been several recent movie adaptations of his work. He also remains popular in Japan.
Never financially secure, Brown - like many other pulp writers - often wrote at a furious pace in order to pay bills. This accounts, at least in part, for the uneven quality of his work. A newspaperman by profession, Brown was only able to devote 14 years of his life as a full-time fiction writer. Brown was also a heavy drinker, and this at times doubtless affected his productivity. A cultured man and omnivorous reader whose interests ranged far beyond those of most pulp writers, Brown had a lifelong interest in the flute, chess, poker, and the works of Lewis Carroll. Brown married twice and was the father of two sons.
Never financially secure, Brown - like many other pulp writers - often wrote at a furious pace in order to pay bills. This accounts, at least in part, for the uneven quality of his work. A newspaperman by profession, Brown was only able to devote 14 years of his life as a full-time fiction writer. Brown was also a heavy drinker, and this at times doubtless affected his productivity. A cultured man and omnivorous reader whose interests ranged far beyond those of most pulp writers, Brown had a lifelong interest in the flute, chess, poker, and the works of Lewis Carroll. Brown married twice and was the father of two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 24, 2018
From 1952, this is really a book about amnesia. And the heavy psychology that was so popular in the mid 20th century. Popular for plots. The main character in this contracts amnesia from shock. No bump to the head, as I always thought, from fiction, was what led to amnesia. I have never known, or even heard about, anyone who ever had amnesia. There are parts of this which are good.
August 28, 2012
We all killed Grandma is a decent, light-hearted mystery with a somewhat unrealistic plot and an entertaining execution. The protagonist, Rod, an irreparably nice guy, suffers from amnesia, and is convinced that he has murdered his own grandmother. Amid general sympathy mingled with indifference, he does his best to find the murderer, determined to surrender himself to the police if it comes to that.
It's not particularly suspenseful nor groundbreaking in anyway, but it's a nice little evening read.
It's not particularly suspenseful nor groundbreaking in anyway, but it's a nice little evening read.
March 10, 2018
I suppose we should all be thankful that amnesia is not as prevalent in real life as it is in mystery fiction, where it is more common than headcolds. Rod Britten, the nicest guy around, has amnesia, ever since he came across his grandmother's body with a bullet hole in her head. Rod called the police and in the middle of the call, he realized that he no longer remembered his name or anything else about his life. There was no gun at the murder scene and a friend of Rod's, who happens to be a police officer, was with him at the time of the murder, so the police don't consider him a suspect. However, Rod wonders if he might somehow be the killer.
Even aside from the amnesia, a lot of this book is silly. Rod was a copywriter for an advertising firm; he goes back to work, still with no memory of his previous life, and instantly does his old job well.
Rod finds out that he had been married but had very recently been divorced. He goes to his former wife to find out more about himself and instantly falls deeply in love with her. His ex-wife seems to be afraid of him and refuses to discuss the reasons for their divorce. Rod subsequently turns down an offer of sex with a very attractive woman because he loves his ex-wife so much, even though he hardly knows her.
I read this book years ago and remember thinking it was very poor, one of Fredric Brown's worst novels. This time around I somewhat enjoyed it, even while I realized how far-fetched much of it is. And the last paragraph is lovely.
Even aside from the amnesia, a lot of this book is silly. Rod was a copywriter for an advertising firm; he goes back to work, still with no memory of his previous life, and instantly does his old job well.
Rod finds out that he had been married but had very recently been divorced. He goes to his former wife to find out more about himself and instantly falls deeply in love with her. His ex-wife seems to be afraid of him and refuses to discuss the reasons for their divorce. Rod subsequently turns down an offer of sex with a very attractive woman because he loves his ex-wife so much, even though he hardly knows her.
I read this book years ago and remember thinking it was very poor, one of Fredric Brown's worst novels. This time around I somewhat enjoyed it, even while I realized how far-fetched much of it is. And the last paragraph is lovely.
December 31, 2023
2/5 La verdad me decepcionó. Solo había leído un libro del autor hace años y terminó por gustarme en su tiempo. Y este título me llamó la atención, pero no me gustó casi nada.
SPOILERS:
El protagonista es muy dejado, infinitamente. Lo único bueno de él es el hecho que no apoya la cacería y que es bondadoso, humilde, trabajador, etc. Pero me cayó remal el Arch, un hermano que no lo merece, ambicioso y egoísta. La abuelita siento que nadie la lloró, ni tuvo un papel protagónico a pesar de ser la víctima. Y el final fue sacado de la manga, fumado... Hubiera preferido que fuera el Arch. Pésimo.
En fin, este es el último libro que leo del autor, no es para mí. Tal vez es muy antiguo para mí, pero ni así, porque hay varios clásicos de esas épocas que me gustan.
SPOILERS:
El protagonista es muy dejado, infinitamente. Lo único bueno de él es el hecho que no apoya la cacería y que es bondadoso, humilde, trabajador, etc. Pero me cayó remal el Arch, un hermano que no lo merece, ambicioso y egoísta. La abuelita siento que nadie la lloró, ni tuvo un papel protagónico a pesar de ser la víctima. Y el final fue sacado de la manga, fumado... Hubiera preferido que fuera el Arch. Pésimo.
En fin, este es el último libro que leo del autor, no es para mí. Tal vez es muy antiguo para mí, pero ni así, porque hay varios clásicos de esas épocas que me gustan.
February 5, 2025
A Mundane Thriller
The best thing about this book, in my opinion, is the title. The story is told by a man who has amnesia and is trying to figure out what happened the night his grandmother was murdered, which is when the amnesia started. He tells us about meeting with his ex-wife, his former girlfriend, his coworkers and friends, and his half brother to get information on his past, hoping to get his memory back. It is, I’m sad to say, a fairly dull recitation of his activities in the days following grandma’s murder. The discovery of what really happened is somewhat satisfying, but for me it wasn’t really worth the trip. Brown is a good writer and the book does move along at a nice pace, but it’s definitely one of his lesser novels.
The best thing about this book, in my opinion, is the title. The story is told by a man who has amnesia and is trying to figure out what happened the night his grandmother was murdered, which is when the amnesia started. He tells us about meeting with his ex-wife, his former girlfriend, his coworkers and friends, and his half brother to get information on his past, hoping to get his memory back. It is, I’m sad to say, a fairly dull recitation of his activities in the days following grandma’s murder. The discovery of what really happened is somewhat satisfying, but for me it wasn’t really worth the trip. Brown is a good writer and the book does move along at a nice pace, but it’s definitely one of his lesser novels.
March 8, 2026
Rod Britten has completely lost his memory. The first thing he remembers is waking up staring at a dead body on the floor. It's his grandmother, but he doesn't recognize her. Did he kill her? Surprisingly, the police say he didn't - but, then, who did? And what caused him to lose his memory?
A "new" Fredric Brown is always a delight, and this one is quite absorbing (and quite involved) - with one of his inevitable surprise twists at the end that explains the title.
A "new" Fredric Brown is always a delight, and this one is quite absorbing (and quite involved) - with one of his inevitable surprise twists at the end that explains the title.
October 20, 2022
Nem todo mundo que é bom acerta sempre. Eu amo Fredric Brown, mas esse livro não me pegou. O final é interessante, mas a jornada não vale a pena.
November 17, 2022
This is the first book I've read by Frederic Brown and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very entertaining and slightly unusual.
October 10, 2013
The author was born in 1906 and died in 1972, but his book read like it was written yesterday,not outdated at all. There are words that probably arent used today,but not too many. Im interested in reading more books by this author to see if his writing style is as timeless and ageless as this one was. This book was good,short and sweet.
May 12, 2014
Sometimes Fredric Brown's premises are a little far-fetched. But, if you buy into them you're generally rewarded with a good read. We All Killed Grandma is a classic example. A man discovers the body of his murdered grandmother and immediately lapses into amnesia leaving him to try to solve a murder of which he himself might be guilty.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews