Finding Laura

by Kay Hooper

Struggling artist Laura Sutherland finds herself a suspect in the murder of a scion of the wealthy Kilbourne clan, a dynasty founded on secrets

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Fiction, Suspense, Paranormal, Contemporary

370 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Kay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.

The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.

Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.

Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.

Reviews

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**On Christmas Eve in 1954, Catherine and her husband had an argument about faith. She gets upset, takes off in her car in the rain and dies in a fiery crash. Her husband tried to save her but there was nothing he could do.**

Fast forward to the present time.

Plain and simple: Laura Sutherland loves mirrors. And not because she is vain. Oh, no. She doesn't understand it herself; when she looks into a mirror she seems to waiting for an unseen force to pull at her. Over the years she has learned to keep her compulsion for mirrors and her confusing feelings to herself. No one knows that she has OCD behavior; she can't let a mirror go by without looking into it just once.

Laura's best friend, Cassidy, encourages her to go to an estate sale outside of Atlanta at the Kilbourne home. While there she purchases a hand mirror, not realizing how it will change her life.

Long story short, this is an older contemporary gothic style murder-mystery. Laura is initially accused of murdering Peter Kilbourne. She is eventually able to prove her innocence but not before being drawn into this family's squabbles. There are plenty of twists and turns. I had to admit I didn't know who was the killer until the murderer was revealed. There are also elements of reincarnation but Ms. Hooper wrote it in an acceptable fashion.

I dropped it one star because of some slow reading. I thought the author could have successfully resolved everything about 75 pages sooner than she did. Also, I found the words 'child' and 'sweet' overused and it drove me a little crazy. Still, Ms. Hooper neatly tied up all the unresolved issues and kept me interested until the end. For me, it was a solid four-star romance.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever people give me that side-eye, you've-gotta-be-kidding me look (you know the one) when I say that I proudly and without an ounce of shame love-love-love romance novels, I think back to this one, and (in my head at least) stick my nose in the air. I scoff at those shuttered people because I know what they're missing by writing off an entire genre - no matter how sometimes maligned by popular culture it might be.

I love this book. I love it so, so much. And I think it's the one book that I keep coming back to when I get the "what's your favourite romance novel?" question. This particular book is the one that, in my mind, solidly cemented my adoration of the ridiculously vast, and sometimes cheese-worthy, genre that is romance.

Finding Laura is beautiful - and it is romance, plain and simple. It's not smut, in that scaldingly hot, crazy erotic way. It's not chick-lit, in the classic and light-hearted sense. Nor is it a predictable, scripted, me-Tarzan-you-Jane "bodice-ripper" (and god, how that term makes me cringe all the cringes). It's a smart, subtle story weaving together so many finely tuned strings, fantastically different characters, and even plot line sub-genres that you [read: I] just can't help but fall more in love with it every time I pick it back up for a reread.

At it's heart though, it's a love story. A fairy-tale romance that spans the ages, and overcomes adversity, tragedy, death - or in this case, murder. It's the tale of two people and of an eternal, everlasting love... and I could reread it over and over and never ever tire of it.

Five fantastical stars: A brilliant book by a fantastic author. Romance doesn't get any better than this.

[Julie55 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mmmmmm,what can I say....
I loved the beginning ,the middle,but not the end............
Had me engrossed ,they threw me out with the bath water........lol

[♡︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was so close to giving this 3 stars but the really surprising twist at the end saved it.

[Alkyoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old mirror brings a young artist into the home of one of the richest Atlanta families a few days after one of its members gets murdered. Whodunnit?

Finding Laura contains one of my fevorite elements in Romantic Suspense; All the suspects are members of an old family with plenty of secrets.

Unfortunately, it also contains something that ruins most Romantic Suspense books for me, and that is inexplicable character behavior. I understand that the author had to come up with a reason for Laura to visit the Kilbourne estate for example, but I wish she had come up with something better than what she settled for.

As for the romance, there is a surprising twist towards the end that I must say that I enjoyed but it felt a bit rushed; we could have gotten so much more out of it. Other than that, it felt kind of flat to me and I never really got to connect with the characters or feel the attraction between them.

All and all it was a nice read for a lazy summer day at the beach.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding Laura, a romantic suspense book by Kay Hooper, is about a mirror that changes the lives of two people. Laura Sutherland had an obsession with collecting mirrors. However, she did not realise that buying the latest mirror would change her life and make he the prime suspect in the murder of Peter Kilbourne. Laura Sutherland begins investigating to clear her name. The readers of Finding Laura will continue to follow Laura to discover what happens.

I generally enjoy reading Kay Hooper's books; however, I found this one hard to engage with. I don't know why; I know the story was slow, and the characters weren't believable. I did learn that having family and money does not always bring happiness. I also understand how people enjoy collecting antiques.

I enjoyed the way Kay Hooper portrayed her characters and their interactions throughout this book. Finding Laura is well written by Kay Hooper, and the way she describes the book's settings complements the plot.

I recommend this book.

[Della Tingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simply couldn’t figure this book out! At one point, I wondered if there was vampirism going on! 🤪 The ending felt rushed, almost as if Hooper had a set number of pages and was about out so she had to hurry it along! It was a solid 3 until the end when I ultimately gave it a four.

“Isn’t it wonderful how we can talk ourselves into things we know are bad for us?” (357).

[Lisa X · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Kay Hooper book. Hooper is yet another great writer who started out in romance and ditched her readers to go more mainstream. Finding Laura is a great read. Had me thinking about the book for days after reading.

[KayCeeReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skipped a bunch, cause it just went on and on. Read the end which was kind of stupid. The murderer was never a suspect. I hate when someone is tied in at the last second and you could never have figured it out.
But the writing was pretty good.

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stupid, haphazard ending to the murder mystery. Stupid, sappy ending to the book. What didn't come out of left field was pretty predictable. Lesson: Never pick a book just because your name is in the title.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Murder, mystery, romance and just a touch of the paranormal, and handled so well. Laura has a thing for mirrors, but is not sure why, her friend talks her into going to an estate sale, and there she finds a brass mirror, very old, with designs on the back, only $5. She buys it. This sets off a whole range of events, starting with a visit from one of the Estate's owners who wants to buy it back.

[Karen ReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like an old movie. Wealth, power and a bit of crazy makes for an unhappy home.

[Cj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm not bad, has dated quite well

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Finding Laura" is an apt title but only makes sense at the tail end. The sole mystical thread at the core of this mystery's complicated maze, regrettably does not permeate the tone. This missed opportunity informed my four-star feedback. A skewed synopsis and some journal pages arouse intrigue with an antique mirror but this fascinating element is solely a vehicle to glue miniscule continuity to an unusual ending. That mirror and crime mystery could split into independent stories. Their fusion melted the magical premise. Kay Hooper's imagination is capable of grandeur.

This book's strength is a truly excellent mystery that carries readers all the way along. Following an auction at a famous manor, Laura is asked by one son if she would relinquish a mirror that was unintentionally sold. She declines but a commission to paint their matriarch very smoothly places our protagonist into the fold, after that man was murdered. She is not a suspect for long, the Grandmother is cordial, Laura befriends the wonderfully quirky and diverse members of the household.... There are no clichés on this fantastic mystery ride, except instant attraction. You know you are reading an adult book when there is straightforward, unabashed sex! A gorgeous gazebo within a beautifully-kept maze adds a very special flavour to this story.

All of Kay's characters are distinct, flawed personages we can picture. We know how we would take to them personally. Most are highly likeable, which makes the progression of this adventure a pleasure. Even when some are authoritative and secretive; none are crisply, stereotypically curt. We slowly acquaint each as we would in real life, feeling differently about them as we learn new layers. Sympathy and connectivity build. The culprit's unmasking reveals Kay as a razor-sharp mystery-plotter! I have never been more shocked by an identity!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters were very well portrayed on the page, and the murder mystery element kept me hooked.

I wasn't enamoured with the romance subplot: the eternal reincarnations of the two main protagonists and their many life times together. Maybe that ideal holds appeal for other readers, but not for me.

However, as this explanation came at the end of the novel and the murder mystery aspect was resolved by that time, I didn't dwell on it too much, just closed the book.

I'm not too sure why the romances of two of the secondary female characters were portrayed. The subplots were interesting, but there wasn't a lot of depth to them and they didn't provide a counterpoint to the main romance subplot. Maybe they were there to demonstrate that love can blossom despite a difficult family life and bereavement provided that the loved one is willing to commit.

It certainly passed a few hours and on the whole it wasn't a bad read.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked most of the story but several things left me wanting more of an explanation. The phenomenon was interesting but would have been better if there was a reason for it. The killer reveal at the end without any hints before then was disappointing ... no way for the armchair detective to attempt a solve when authors do this. I find it unbelievable that Laura would stay with the family when early on she was considered a suspect in the murder. If one can set logic aside, they might enjoy this book a bit more.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a romantic/mystery (1997) back when Hooper wrote romance books. It was one of those books I sort of scan through and hit on a good part then have to go back and reread. I think three stars is, me, being kind.

[Shrudhi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would've loved it if the Mirror, it's effect and backstory were actually central to plot as said in the summary instead of the whole murder and political fiasco surrounding the Kilbourne family. There was no depth to any of the characters and I honestly didn't like a single one of them.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, literally, one of my favorite books ever. There's mystery, romance, a touch of the supernatural... it's got it all.

[Stine Diamond-owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending, its lack of explanation in the phenomenon frustrated me.

[Jovdb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well read audio book.

Laura has had a life long obsession with old mirrors. She doesn’t understand why she is drawn to them but she is. Often, when she finds a mirror, at auctions, in garage sales, wherever, she is disappointed because it isn’t “the mirror”.

This obsession sends her, with encouragement from her friend, to an auction at the house of a prominent local family. There she finds a mirror, buys it, and as a consequence of that action, gets drawn into the family, with all its secrets.

It was intriguing to listen to the story unfold, learn more about the characters, and try to figure out the mystery of Peter’s murder. However, the connection between the house, the mirror, Laura, and Daniel was pretty obvious from the start. Maybe this was because I have read other books by this author.

Anyway, a good book.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I was compelled to finish. I was sucked in and I wanted to know how it would end. There were a lot of storylines and often the ones that didn't receive as much attention I often found more interesting. I loved the story with the mirror (which tbh is why I was pulled into the book) and that was just wrapped up at the end in, like, a hot second, and I could have just taken a whole book on that. Peter's murder which was the main story line also seemed to just have a really weird and really fast ending. I liked a lot of what was going on in this book, but idk I just can't give it a higher rating.

[Paprika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story--I wasn't quite sure what to expect (aside from the vague mystery aspect). But it did so many things well--I loved the mystery underlying the book. I loved the chemistry between the various characters (and loved the different pairings). I think that the author did a great job with creating ambiance and setting the scene.

This was a fun book to read. I pretty much couldn't put it down. There were a few complaints that I had with the book (how easily certain information was found/revealed, how certain things were tied up), but they didn't impact my overall enjoyment.

[Anna McFadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since she was a child Laura Sutherland has been collecting mirrors. She knows that there is a special one out there. one that is calling her. one that she knows when she looks into that she will see more then her own reflection.

The Kilbourne's is a wealthy important family that members that had suspicious deaths. When Peter Kilbourne turns up dead a mere hours after leaving the apartment of Laura Sutherland the police zero in on Laura as she is one of the last to see him alive. She knows she has to get into the Kilbourbe mansion and close to the family in order to clear or name

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book drew me in with the premise of the 'mirror of truth' and the family intrigue. I felt though, that this story worked better in theory than in practice as there were about 3 or 4 different plots within one book. Laura and Daniel were great, but they seemed to fall to the side until the very end. It was a bit disjointed.

[Melina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
WTH was that? The story I came here for was just a side story, barely touched upon. Instead, I got a murder mystery that reminds me of a Mexican telenovela, I can even see Diana Bracho as Amelia & Fernando Colunga as Daniel. Lol. If that was the reason I read this for it would've been great, but now I just feel disappointed.

[BRAT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay Hooper has always been one of my fav author as she is able to create a fantastically spellbinding story. She does not disappoint with Finding Laura. Just when you think you have an idea of what is going on, it takes a different turn.

[Kubeshnee Tulsee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much invested in side characters. for me it would've been more interesting if there was more focus on the past lives as well as the murders. A good premise but not well executed. Loved the two lead characters.

[Raven Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my all time favorite book. It's the best love story and best mystery I've ever read. Recently reread it after about 10 years and forgot the twist...it got me again, lol but absolutely fabulous.

[Laurie D'ghent · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, interesting read with only mild swearing. Tons of brief sex scenes in the second half, which was obnoxious and even laughable, but I would still read more of Hooper's books.