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Clemmie #1
Before She Was Helen
Her life didn't turn out the way she expected ― so she made herself a new one
When Clemmie goes next door to check on her difficult and unlikeable neighbor Dom, he isn't there. But something else is. Something stunning, beautiful and inexplicable. Clemmie photographs the wondrous object on her cell phone and makes the irrevocable error of forwarding it. As the picture swirls over the internet, Clemmie tries desperately to keep a grip on her own personal network of secrets. Can fifty years of careful hiding under names not her own be ruined by one careless picture?
And although what Clemmie finds is a work of art, what the police find is a body. . . in a place where Clemmie wasn't supposed to be, and where she left her fingerprints. Suddenly, the bland, quiet life Clemmie has built for herself in her sleepy South Carolina retirement community comes crashing down as her dark past surges into the present.
When Clemmie goes next door to check on her difficult and unlikeable neighbor Dom, he isn't there. But something else is. Something stunning, beautiful and inexplicable. Clemmie photographs the wondrous object on her cell phone and makes the irrevocable error of forwarding it. As the picture swirls over the internet, Clemmie tries desperately to keep a grip on her own personal network of secrets. Can fifty years of careful hiding under names not her own be ruined by one careless picture?
And although what Clemmie finds is a work of art, what the police find is a body. . . in a place where Clemmie wasn't supposed to be, and where she left her fingerprints. Suddenly, the bland, quiet life Clemmie has built for herself in her sleepy South Carolina retirement community comes crashing down as her dark past surges into the present.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
834 people are currently reading
7470 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,766 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 866 reviews
August 2, 2021
I really liked this one! It was unexpected, amusing, and intriguing.
Just how well do you know the people around you? This quick and quirky read brings forth interesting sociological and psychological aspects and reminds that one’s public persona may be quite different from one’s private life.
The unconventional yet thoroughly modern hook readily draws you into a mystery with many layers. It’s really two mysteries – one that you know the why of, with the other components gradually revealed along the way, and one that gives you more to work with upfront but puzzles you as to the particulars. In one you root for Clemmie to be the victor, and in the other you root for her to remain concealed. A page-turner in a different sense than you might expect as you eagerly read on to see how it all turns out for her.
Just how well do you know the people around you? This quick and quirky read brings forth interesting sociological and psychological aspects and reminds that one’s public persona may be quite different from one’s private life.
The unconventional yet thoroughly modern hook readily draws you into a mystery with many layers. It’s really two mysteries – one that you know the why of, with the other components gradually revealed along the way, and one that gives you more to work with upfront but puzzles you as to the particulars. In one you root for Clemmie to be the victor, and in the other you root for her to remain concealed. A page-turner in a different sense than you might expect as you eagerly read on to see how it all turns out for her.
June 14, 2021
You might think that Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney, which takes place in a retirement community , is a cozy mystery but cozy it is not. This is the story of the two lives of one woman. Helen lives in a villa in Sun City in South Carolina. She has made a life for herself, enjoying the lifestyle and making new friends. She has left her past behind because it was a horrible past. The novel alternates between Helen’s life in the present and her life fifty years ago. When her past threatens to ruin her quiet retirement, she finds herself trying to avoid the unsavoury people who persistently stand in the way of her anonymity. There is a diverse and interesting cast of characters and the plot contains numerous mysteries and these will keep the reader guessing. This is a well-written mystery with plenty of suspense throughout. I look forward to reading more books by Caroline B. Cooney. Highly recommended. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2020
What an absolutely entertaining story and what wonderful characters! The story is more complicated than you would think and I just loved all those complications turning up. Needless to say that I really felt for poor Clemmie, and I admire her for the clever and unexpected ways she tries to solve the problems that are not even hers...
I must be getting old though, because the author explains how a Rolodex worked... something I used extensively in earlier days. It made me smile!
It was really good to read a book with elderly people being portretted the way the author does. We do tend to forget that no matter what age, inside you'll be yourself your whole life.
And I just loved the ending, with some people none the wiser and others a lot.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
I must be getting old though, because the author explains how a Rolodex worked... something I used extensively in earlier days. It made me smile!
It was really good to read a book with elderly people being portretted the way the author does. We do tend to forget that no matter what age, inside you'll be yourself your whole life.
And I just loved the ending, with some people none the wiser and others a lot.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
December 13, 2022
Oh, Helen. Or, would I call you Clemmie. Aunt Clemmie, perhaps? Since I am in the right age bracket to be your niece. Can I say that I just loved your story and so want you to be appreciated by someone who can help you heal from the past. From the time you discovered that enigmatic glass sculpture in the neighbor's unit, you story proceeded at breakneck speed. You could hardly keep up yourself and we readers were also rewarded with more of your story from the past and the answer to your two phones and separate identities. Who knew that a senior-living community could be the site of so much drama? I could hardly put this book down and read it in one day. If you love this one, also try "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman.
Reposting after reading What Child Is This?: A Christmas Story.🎄⛪👧👼
Reposting after reading What Child Is This?: A Christmas Story.🎄⛪👧👼
February 23, 2020
Before she was Helen is the story of a woman leading two lives. Helen is a Latin teacher who lives in a retirement community and plays a lot of cards with her neighbors. Clemmie is a teenager in the 50s who is raped and stalked by a popular teacher. This story flashes back and forth between Clemmie and Helen until the two stories become one.
Helen, whose family calls her Clemmie, becomes involved in the investigation of a murder in the apartment next door. Dealing with a missing neighbor, an enraged drug dealer, and friends who are all keeping secrets, Helen is terrified that her true identity, her past, and the person she will do anything to protect will all be discovered.
This book was a wild ride that I could not put down. There is nonstop action and intrigue and even a little comedy. It flashes seamlessly between the past and present. Clemmie’s teenage. story will make you cry. Her actions as an older woman will make you laugh at times. And throughout the book you will cheer Clemmie on as she faces the worst with absolute strength.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
Helen, whose family calls her Clemmie, becomes involved in the investigation of a murder in the apartment next door. Dealing with a missing neighbor, an enraged drug dealer, and friends who are all keeping secrets, Helen is terrified that her true identity, her past, and the person she will do anything to protect will all be discovered.
This book was a wild ride that I could not put down. There is nonstop action and intrigue and even a little comedy. It flashes seamlessly between the past and present. Clemmie’s teenage. story will make you cry. Her actions as an older woman will make you laugh at times. And throughout the book you will cheer Clemmie on as she faces the worst with absolute strength.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
June 18, 2020
#NetGalley #CarolineBClooney #PoisonedPenPress
Clemmie lives in a quiet retirement community. Her neighbor Dom texts her everyday to let her know he's ok,until one day he doesn't. Worried, Clemmie !uses her key to his place to go check on him and he's not there, but she discovers a door in his garage leading to the third unit of her triplex. What she finds is something so beautiful she takes a picture and sends to her Grand niece and nephew. She is not prepared for the consequences of her actions. Before she knows it she finds herself in the grips of a drug dealer and a body is found in her neighbors garage. Long buried secrets are threatened exposure. What follows are fast paced events that nobody will see coming. Clemmie struggles to keep her secrets while the police try to piece together the case.
This book is a wildly fast paced story with so many things unfolding it is hard for the reader to keep up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I devoured it, hungry for more as the events unfolded. I would definitely recommend this book! If you like a good mystery, you are definitely in for a treat!
Clemmie lives in a quiet retirement community. Her neighbor Dom texts her everyday to let her know he's ok,until one day he doesn't. Worried, Clemmie !uses her key to his place to go check on him and he's not there, but she discovers a door in his garage leading to the third unit of her triplex. What she finds is something so beautiful she takes a picture and sends to her Grand niece and nephew. She is not prepared for the consequences of her actions. Before she knows it she finds herself in the grips of a drug dealer and a body is found in her neighbors garage. Long buried secrets are threatened exposure. What follows are fast paced events that nobody will see coming. Clemmie struggles to keep her secrets while the police try to piece together the case.
This book is a wildly fast paced story with so many things unfolding it is hard for the reader to keep up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I devoured it, hungry for more as the events unfolded. I would definitely recommend this book! If you like a good mystery, you are definitely in for a treat!
September 30, 2020
I did not enjoy this book as I thought I would. All the characters were one-dimensional and the story structure was very scattered. While some parts of the story were well done, other parts were just a chore to read.
First, there was absolutely no diversity in the book. The story takes place in a retirement community that they mention is predominantly white. The only “ethnic” characters were the Hispanic landscapers and the possibly Italian neighbor. The main character even said of the neighbor, “Dominic Spesante had always sounded to Clemmie like a mob name. A name for somebody who offed people and abandoned their bodies on Jersey swamps”. She didn’t know his background at all yet assumed because his name sounded Italian, he’s in the mob. Later in the story, the neighbors didn’t even know how to pronounce his last name and even complained of people with weird last names. Oh and about the Hispanic landscapers, of course, they didn’t speak English.
The book’s story line was divided into the 50 years in the past and the present. The past, for the most part, was very well done. My only critique is that every other paragraph began with “in the 1950s we did/didn’t do” a certain thing. I understand mentioning once or twice, but it was over used. The present day was not well written, in my opinion. At times it felt like I was listening to Grandpa Simpson tell a story. It would begin with one topic, switch to another in the next paragraph, then another and then go back to the original topic. I was very difficult to follow.
Finally, I saw no character growth for the any of the characters. The story seemed to just happen around the characters and they learned nothing from it. It felt like this was just a weird day for them and once it’s over, they’ll go back to who they were at the beginning of the story.
First, there was absolutely no diversity in the book. The story takes place in a retirement community that they mention is predominantly white. The only “ethnic” characters were the Hispanic landscapers and the possibly Italian neighbor. The main character even said of the neighbor, “Dominic Spesante had always sounded to Clemmie like a mob name. A name for somebody who offed people and abandoned their bodies on Jersey swamps”. She didn’t know his background at all yet assumed because his name sounded Italian, he’s in the mob. Later in the story, the neighbors didn’t even know how to pronounce his last name and even complained of people with weird last names. Oh and about the Hispanic landscapers, of course, they didn’t speak English.
The book’s story line was divided into the 50 years in the past and the present. The past, for the most part, was very well done. My only critique is that every other paragraph began with “in the 1950s we did/didn’t do” a certain thing. I understand mentioning once or twice, but it was over used. The present day was not well written, in my opinion. At times it felt like I was listening to Grandpa Simpson tell a story. It would begin with one topic, switch to another in the next paragraph, then another and then go back to the original topic. I was very difficult to follow.
Finally, I saw no character growth for the any of the characters. The story seemed to just happen around the characters and they learned nothing from it. It felt like this was just a weird day for them and once it’s over, they’ll go back to who they were at the beginning of the story.
didnt-finish
August 24, 2020Wanted to like it, because you so rarely see novels (especially thrillers) with senior protagonists, and the early chapters are great at reeling you in and making you wonder what Clemmie's secrets are. But it is pretty scattershot from there plot-wise, though I could have powered through with that. The real thing that made me pass was how constantly Cooney wants to explain things to you and say "In the 1950's this is how it was" instead of just telling you what happened. It often feels as if she's explaining the past to an alien who has no context of it. (Yes we know there wasn't birth control back then, yes we know people wrote letters, etc etc.) None of this is necessary and it makes the tone of it start to feel patronizing. Added to this is the way Cooney writes about the millennial characters, who are more caricatures than characters. There's a great concept here but I just couldn't stick with it.
Read
April 18, 2021The Hook - Couldn't resist as this was like a blast from the past. I had read Caroline B. Cooney's Face On The Milk Carton many years ago. No, not as a young adult but in my forties. At that time I was interested in missing children and thought the campaign to put photos of those missing on milk cartons a worthy plan. I can remember thinking at the time that the dialog between parent and child seemed real and not stilted.
The Line - Sorry, no particular line stands out to me this outing.
The Sinker - Caroline B. Cooney generally writes YA books, many of these mysteries so why not an adult novel in the same genre?
An senior woman, living in a retirement community in South Carolina finds herself in a bit of a pickle when her grouchy neighbor (one who she checks up on, not that she likes him, each day) goes missing.
Sounds pretty cut and dry but there's more story here than you'd think. Things are not as simple as they seem.
Forgive me as I rarely am this snarky in a review.
I'd rate this higher if Clemmie, the older woman, was called by her given name of Clementine. Oh, maybe not, as the name seems not to fit the woman she is. The only reason I held on was that Clementine did have a bit of spunk and it's always been hard for me to not finish a book, particularly one that is supposed to be a mystery. Oh, my darling, you were not quite lost or gone forever, but perhaps...
Now consider this quote as a selling point for the book.
"• Ideal for book clubs and mystery readers: Cooney's narrative is a perfect blend of humorous situations with the darker undertones of truly devastating secrets that mystery and book club fiction fans alike will devour."
Said darkness far outweighed any humor. Draw your own conclusions but I did not find the story very funny.
Last thought. I hope this will not be a series.
When I spell-checked my comments, a suggestion for Clemmie was Lemmie. Now that was funny!
The Line - Sorry, no particular line stands out to me this outing.
The Sinker - Caroline B. Cooney generally writes YA books, many of these mysteries so why not an adult novel in the same genre?
An senior woman, living in a retirement community in South Carolina finds herself in a bit of a pickle when her grouchy neighbor (one who she checks up on, not that she likes him, each day) goes missing.
Sounds pretty cut and dry but there's more story here than you'd think. Things are not as simple as they seem.
Forgive me as I rarely am this snarky in a review.
I'd rate this higher if Clemmie, the older woman, was called by her given name of Clementine. Oh, maybe not, as the name seems not to fit the woman she is. The only reason I held on was that Clementine did have a bit of spunk and it's always been hard for me to not finish a book, particularly one that is supposed to be a mystery. Oh, my darling, you were not quite lost or gone forever, but perhaps...
Now consider this quote as a selling point for the book.
"• Ideal for book clubs and mystery readers: Cooney's narrative is a perfect blend of humorous situations with the darker undertones of truly devastating secrets that mystery and book club fiction fans alike will devour."
Said darkness far outweighed any humor. Draw your own conclusions but I did not find the story very funny.
Last thought. I hope this will not be a series.
When I spell-checked my comments, a suggestion for Clemmie was Lemmie. Now that was funny!
October 12, 2020
This was really a fun read! Crime mysteries aren’t my typical genre, so I was completely in awe and entertained by the number of details swirling around in this story, and how the author kept track of everything, tying it all together in the end. It’s the story of an elderly woman with a double identity, whose past history is revealed over time. She’s living in a Sun City retirement community with some interesting neighbors and surprisingly, some sketchy drug dealers, one of whom is found murdered next door. Her involvement in the intrigue is triggered by a picture she takes of a fantastical object in a neighbor’s home, where she shouldn’t be except for her curiosity. She texts the picture to family, and her nephew in turn texts it to the artist/drug dealer who owns the piece and wants it back...along with all the cash that’s been stolen from him. Let the games begin!
Thanks to Bookreporter for a free copy of this book (I actually won something!) in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Bookreporter for a free copy of this book (I actually won something!) in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2020
Read if you are interested in:
~ 456 reasons getting old sucks
~ the words "In the 1950's this is how it was!" at least 500 times
~ shitty men, except that one that was not shitty because we know nothing about him
~ wigs (or lack of)
~ unsatisfying conclusions and very few answers
~ very handsome millennial characters with 'odd names' that do not make sense and may or may not be real humans
~ a brief knifing
~ 456 reasons getting old sucks
~ the words "In the 1950's this is how it was!" at least 500 times
~ shitty men, except that one that was not shitty because we know nothing about him
~ wigs (or lack of)
~ unsatisfying conclusions and very few answers
~ very handsome millennial characters with 'odd names' that do not make sense and may or may not be real humans
~ a brief knifing
January 14, 2021
Clemmie made a huge mistake ... and now she's the prime suspect in the death of ner neighbor. The quiet life she has led for the past 50 years is in danger as her dark past merges into her present. She was the last person to see her neighbor alive ... and her fingerprints are present. What will they find when the police start investigating all her aliases she has lived under.
Although a little slow paced, the plot slips from the 50s to present day in Clemmie's life. What has she been hiding from all this time? Character development is solid, although I would have liked to learn a little more about her neighbors, friends, acqaintances. It's a calm mystery with a bit of suspense from start to finish.
Many thanks to the author / Poisoned Pen Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Although a little slow paced, the plot slips from the 50s to present day in Clemmie's life. What has she been hiding from all this time? Character development is solid, although I would have liked to learn a little more about her neighbors, friends, acqaintances. It's a calm mystery with a bit of suspense from start to finish.
Many thanks to the author / Poisoned Pen Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 27, 2020
This is one terrific whodunit with (mostly) likable characters all of a ‘certain’ age set in a fine retirement neighborhood.
It’s hard to write a proper review without giving away secrets of which there are many and they are meted out slowly but surely alternating between present day and early 1950’s.
When you think you have figured it all out the next page presents a new wrinkle.
Clever, intricate plotting, tight writing, brisk pacing. A page-turner.
It’s hard to write a proper review without giving away secrets of which there are many and they are meted out slowly but surely alternating between present day and early 1950’s.
When you think you have figured it all out the next page presents a new wrinkle.
Clever, intricate plotting, tight writing, brisk pacing. A page-turner.
May 16, 2021
A cold case, false identity and stolen drug paraphenalia. Who knew there could be so much crime and corruption in a small retirement community? Certainly not Clemmie. She's just trying to live and quiet and unassuming life but has somehow found herself in the middle of all this mayhem and madness.
This is a wild and crazy ride and one full of endearing and colorful characters.
This is a wild and crazy ride and one full of endearing and colorful characters.
October 13, 2020
How could being a good samaritan and checking on your neighbor turn into a disaster even though Helen was used to being helpful as well as having disasters in her life?
Helen didn't hear from her neighbor Dom which was unusual since he texted her every morning to let her know he was ok.
Today when she checked on him, he wasn't there, but then she found a secret door between his garage and the other neighbor.
Finding that door was a big mistake...it led to finding something she didn't want to be involved in and something she never knew was going on in her quiet retirement community.
She also should have never mentioned what she found to her nephew who actually got her in a predicament that “blew up” because he posted it on social media.
If that wasn’t enough trouble for her....her neighbor’s nephew was murdered.
BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN pulled me in because of Helen.
I really liked Helen and felt sorry for her especially since her secrets might get out after all of these years and because she had a terrible childhood filled with guilt and bad memories.
That's why she created another persona in the first place....she used to be Clemmie. She had to hide her secrets and her past.
The story line flowed beautifully, and this book is filled with regrets, lovable, quirky retired characters, fun, and a murder to solve. It is difficult to figure out who the murderer is because it could be any number of people.
If you need something different as well as enjoyable, BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN should be your next read because you never know what goes on in a retirement community. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Helen didn't hear from her neighbor Dom which was unusual since he texted her every morning to let her know he was ok.
Today when she checked on him, he wasn't there, but then she found a secret door between his garage and the other neighbor.
Finding that door was a big mistake...it led to finding something she didn't want to be involved in and something she never knew was going on in her quiet retirement community.
She also should have never mentioned what she found to her nephew who actually got her in a predicament that “blew up” because he posted it on social media.
If that wasn’t enough trouble for her....her neighbor’s nephew was murdered.
BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN pulled me in because of Helen.
I really liked Helen and felt sorry for her especially since her secrets might get out after all of these years and because she had a terrible childhood filled with guilt and bad memories.
That's why she created another persona in the first place....she used to be Clemmie. She had to hide her secrets and her past.
The story line flowed beautifully, and this book is filled with regrets, lovable, quirky retired characters, fun, and a murder to solve. It is difficult to figure out who the murderer is because it could be any number of people.
If you need something different as well as enjoyable, BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN should be your next read because you never know what goes on in a retirement community. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2022
This was really good. Who knew a Sun City development would have so much activity, murder, and intrigue going on! Clemmie's story of how she became Helen is a sad one and one she doesn't discuss much. There are also many things to smile about, including the senior citizen characterizations and the ending.
This was my first experience reading Caroline B. Cooney, and she reminded me of Elinor Lipman, which is a great compliment.
This was my first experience reading Caroline B. Cooney, and she reminded me of Elinor Lipman, which is a great compliment.
September 23, 2020
Loved, loved, loved this book. A woman in a retirement center stumbles upon a crime. She is hiding many secrets and the past and present start colliding. A great commentary on life in the 50’s compared to today. Loved the cast of characters and reactions from her friends in the neighborhood. Actually want to reread it again already.
April 19, 2021
You never know just what secrets people are living with. Or so Caroline B. Cooney's latest novel,
Before She Was Helen
, tries to tell us.
Clemmie lives a fairly uneventful life in a retirement community in South Carolina. When checking on a neighbor one day, she notices a beautiful glass sculpture unlike anything she’s ever seen. Curious about what it is, she sends a picture of it to her grandnephew and grandniece.
Apparently this sculpture is actually a rig for smoking pot. When her grandnephew shares the picture of the rig on the internet, it turns out there’s a story behind this object—and it was stolen. It’s not long before the owner wants to track down Clemmie and get his rig back.
What Clemmie doesn’t realize is that her carefully crafted life is about to come crashing down around her. She’s been living a secret life for more than 50 years, and apparently her secrets are about to be revealed. And she’s not the only one with secrets—turns out her fellow neighbors have some things to hide, too.
I was excited to read Before She Was Helen because I love when older characters aren’t portrayed as burdens or wise sages, but flawed, complex people. But there were so many competing storylines in this book as well as multiple timelines, that it was hard to keep track of who was doing what, who had done what in their past, and what was happening. (It also made it difficult to find sympathy for these characters.)
I read this as a buddy read and had a great discussion with some friends. We agreed the book needs some trigger warnings for rape, assault, violence, etc. We also agreed that the ending was so rushed (and incomplete) that there were so many unanswered questions and things that didn't quite make sense.
Oh well! On to the next!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Clemmie lives a fairly uneventful life in a retirement community in South Carolina. When checking on a neighbor one day, she notices a beautiful glass sculpture unlike anything she’s ever seen. Curious about what it is, she sends a picture of it to her grandnephew and grandniece.
Apparently this sculpture is actually a rig for smoking pot. When her grandnephew shares the picture of the rig on the internet, it turns out there’s a story behind this object—and it was stolen. It’s not long before the owner wants to track down Clemmie and get his rig back.
What Clemmie doesn’t realize is that her carefully crafted life is about to come crashing down around her. She’s been living a secret life for more than 50 years, and apparently her secrets are about to be revealed. And she’s not the only one with secrets—turns out her fellow neighbors have some things to hide, too.
I was excited to read Before She Was Helen because I love when older characters aren’t portrayed as burdens or wise sages, but flawed, complex people. But there were so many competing storylines in this book as well as multiple timelines, that it was hard to keep track of who was doing what, who had done what in their past, and what was happening. (It also made it difficult to find sympathy for these characters.)
I read this as a buddy read and had a great discussion with some friends. We agreed the book needs some trigger warnings for rape, assault, violence, etc. We also agreed that the ending was so rushed (and incomplete) that there were so many unanswered questions and things that didn't quite make sense.
Oh well! On to the next!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
October 22, 2020
I listened to this one on audio recently & I really did enjoy it! There is really a little bit of everything in this book, including some pretty serious stuff, such as rape, forced adoption, & well, murder. I loved how the book went back & forth from past to present day & we learn how Clementine became Helen. It's really a pretty fascinating story! My only issue was there were so many people to keep track of, but overall, it was a very unique mystery/suspense. Definitely would recommend it!
January 4, 2021
Fantastic Suspenseful Ride! There were so many twists and turns that you couldn't figure out who did and why.to the very end. I've read several YA novels by this author and enjoyed them so I couldn't wait to read this one and I wasn't disappointed. I won this book on Goodreads.
June 19, 2023
Caroline B. Cooney was one of my favorite authors when I was a kid. I then went on a reading spree of Cooney books in my twenties, and I loved it! This is the first book I've read by her in a while, and I'm so happy she's still publishing and has made the switch to adult books.
I really enjoyed this mystery. There are two mysteries involved, really, and both are gripping. The one from before she was Helen was more gripping in a way. I couldn't read without getting angry with the offending character, and that means Cooney's writing snared me into caring about the characters. There were some parts that lagged, but for the most part, I was fully invested and wanted to know what would happen next. There are some annoying things, stereotypes and cliches, but overall, I really enjoyed this book and the ending, and I recommend it to mystery lovers.
*****Trigger warning: rape, stalking*****
I really enjoyed this mystery. There are two mysteries involved, really, and both are gripping. The one from before she was Helen was more gripping in a way. I couldn't read without getting angry with the offending character, and that means Cooney's writing snared me into caring about the characters. There were some parts that lagged, but for the most part, I was fully invested and wanted to know what would happen next. There are some annoying things, stereotypes and cliches, but overall, I really enjoyed this book and the ending, and I recommend it to mystery lovers.
*****Trigger warning: rape, stalking*****
November 19, 2020
Helen Stephens lives a quiet life in Sun City, a retirement community in South Carolina. She regularly plays cards in the clubhouse with other residents of the complex, including her neighbors Joyce and Johnny. While she is mostly retired, she continues teaching some Latin classes at a local high school. She has what she needs and most of what she wants. But a single careless act will set in motion a series of events that will upend, and ultimately threaten, Helen’s quiet life in Caroline B. Cooney’s new novel
As Helen begins another day, she sends her daily text to Dom, her next-door neighbor, to check in and make sure he is OK. Dom has never been particularly friendly, and can be decidedly unpleasant, but he is her neighbor. So, when he fails to respond to her text as he normally does, Helen goes next door to check on him, using the key Dom gave her for this purpose. Dom is nowhere to be found, but while looking for him, Helen sees a lovely glass sculpture that is unlike anything she has ever seen before. Without really thinking it through, Helen takes a photo of the sculpture with her phone and forwards it to her grandniece and grandnephew, Harper and Bentley.
Bentley and Harper do not know Helen Stephens. They receive the photo from their great aunt Clemmie. Clemmie, or Clementine Lakefield, has for over fifty years lived her life under the name Helen Stephens. She has done so because of the terrible things that were done to her, and that she did, as Clementine. And now, because of that single photo she sent to her niece and nephew all of her careful work and planning for over half a century will be at risk. Because Helen/Clemmie really knows nothing about Dom, who he really is or what that sculpture represents. And that sculpture belongs to someone who will stop at nothing to get it back.
In Before She Was Helen, Caroline B. Cooney has written a novel that is part mystery, part thriller, and part historical novel along with a healthy dose of observations regarding societal norms and how they have changed over the decades. The novel’s protagonist, Clemmie/Helen, is a powerful guide as readers follow her journey, beginning in the 1950s and proceeding through the following decades, as female agency develops and strengthens. While younger readers may find it difficult to understand why Clemmie would accept the circumstances in which she was trapped, and ultimately escapes, Cooney does a marvelous job of conveying just how restrictive societal mores were in the past and how they have loosened over the years. The result is a portrait of a strong young woman who created a resourceful escape for herself when the dominant culture failed her.
Cooney also illustrates how even the most innocuous of actions online can have unwanted, and possibly dangerous, outcomes and why it is always best to consider, thoughtfully the potential results before hitting send.
Most welcome of all is Cooney’s characterization of the seniors living in the Sun City retirement community. While Cooney does take advantage of, and in some ways confirms, some of the stereotypes long held regarding seniors, she also provides a portrait of seniors as resourceful, thoughtful and able to deal with a surprising series of events that threatens themselves and their friends/family. This novel will appeal to readers of all ages.
Here is an interview with the author, Caroline B. Cooney
https://www.lapl.org/collections-reso...
Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library
As Helen begins another day, she sends her daily text to Dom, her next-door neighbor, to check in and make sure he is OK. Dom has never been particularly friendly, and can be decidedly unpleasant, but he is her neighbor. So, when he fails to respond to her text as he normally does, Helen goes next door to check on him, using the key Dom gave her for this purpose. Dom is nowhere to be found, but while looking for him, Helen sees a lovely glass sculpture that is unlike anything she has ever seen before. Without really thinking it through, Helen takes a photo of the sculpture with her phone and forwards it to her grandniece and grandnephew, Harper and Bentley.
Bentley and Harper do not know Helen Stephens. They receive the photo from their great aunt Clemmie. Clemmie, or Clementine Lakefield, has for over fifty years lived her life under the name Helen Stephens. She has done so because of the terrible things that were done to her, and that she did, as Clementine. And now, because of that single photo she sent to her niece and nephew all of her careful work and planning for over half a century will be at risk. Because Helen/Clemmie really knows nothing about Dom, who he really is or what that sculpture represents. And that sculpture belongs to someone who will stop at nothing to get it back.
In Before She Was Helen, Caroline B. Cooney has written a novel that is part mystery, part thriller, and part historical novel along with a healthy dose of observations regarding societal norms and how they have changed over the decades. The novel’s protagonist, Clemmie/Helen, is a powerful guide as readers follow her journey, beginning in the 1950s and proceeding through the following decades, as female agency develops and strengthens. While younger readers may find it difficult to understand why Clemmie would accept the circumstances in which she was trapped, and ultimately escapes, Cooney does a marvelous job of conveying just how restrictive societal mores were in the past and how they have loosened over the years. The result is a portrait of a strong young woman who created a resourceful escape for herself when the dominant culture failed her.
Cooney also illustrates how even the most innocuous of actions online can have unwanted, and possibly dangerous, outcomes and why it is always best to consider, thoughtfully the potential results before hitting send.
Most welcome of all is Cooney’s characterization of the seniors living in the Sun City retirement community. While Cooney does take advantage of, and in some ways confirms, some of the stereotypes long held regarding seniors, she also provides a portrait of seniors as resourceful, thoughtful and able to deal with a surprising series of events that threatens themselves and their friends/family. This novel will appeal to readers of all ages.
Here is an interview with the author, Caroline B. Cooney
https://www.lapl.org/collections-reso...
Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library
September 12, 2020
Before She Was Helen, she was Clemmie - a sweet, naive girl growing up in 1950s small-town America, a pretty girl who was easy prey for a predator.
It takes the whole book for Clemmie’s story to be revealed; though we know from early on she’s living under an assumed name, the tragedy of exactly why falls out more slowly. It’s a sad one, with rape, stalking, a forced adoption of her baby and more in Clemmie’s background… and though she’s fearful of arrest for what she did, and we know there’s at least one dead body in her wake, there was never a point at which I thought Clemmie deserved anything other than the quiet retirement she’s working so hard on having.
The problem is that trouble comes to Clemmie when her neighbour doesn’t answer one of his regular check-ins. Using a key left with her, she goes around to visit and finds nothing much out of the ordinary except for an extraordinarily beautiful glass sculpture. Taking a picture, she sends it to her grand-nephew and niece, only for them to tell her it’s not a sculpture as such, it’s a drug pipe - and it’s been stolen from an artist who badly wants it back.
The artist, Boro, isn’t just a glass artist, though, and he has no intention of getting the police involved. He’s a dealer, shipping CBD oil and other products legal in some states like his own of Colorado, around the US to other places they’re not so easy to obtain, and the glass artwork wasn’t the only thing stolen from his shop. There’s a million dollars missing, and he wants it back. A sweet little old lady should be easy enough to intimidate into telling everything she knows. Except this little old lady apparently has serious secrets of her own.
And then the body turns up.
This was such a great read. Clemmie is an object of both pity and admiration; nobody should ever have to suffer what she did (and it’s awful that in a lot of places, the attitude towards women who have been raped hasn’t changed… they are still accused of having ‘asked for it’ or disbelieved) and her strength and determination to make a life for herself was something I really liked about her. There were a few interesting little twists and I did wonder exactly what the decisions of certain people to put their DNA results into an ancestry tracing website would come back with, though the actual truth wouldn’t have any real consequences for Clemmie if she chose to tell it to the right people.
I didn’t see the murderer coming at all; it was a startling twist, but there were quite a few questions left unanswered - where did Dom and the Coglins go, for example? The shenanigans in an apparently peaceful retirement community does make one wonder; if it could happen there, it could happen anywhere!
Although there were unanswered questions and the final twist did mean Clemmie’s story wasn’t quite over, I was quite satisfied with the ending. A thoroughly enjoyable read and I’m happy to give it five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
It takes the whole book for Clemmie’s story to be revealed; though we know from early on she’s living under an assumed name, the tragedy of exactly why falls out more slowly. It’s a sad one, with rape, stalking, a forced adoption of her baby and more in Clemmie’s background… and though she’s fearful of arrest for what she did, and we know there’s at least one dead body in her wake, there was never a point at which I thought Clemmie deserved anything other than the quiet retirement she’s working so hard on having.
The problem is that trouble comes to Clemmie when her neighbour doesn’t answer one of his regular check-ins. Using a key left with her, she goes around to visit and finds nothing much out of the ordinary except for an extraordinarily beautiful glass sculpture. Taking a picture, she sends it to her grand-nephew and niece, only for them to tell her it’s not a sculpture as such, it’s a drug pipe - and it’s been stolen from an artist who badly wants it back.
The artist, Boro, isn’t just a glass artist, though, and he has no intention of getting the police involved. He’s a dealer, shipping CBD oil and other products legal in some states like his own of Colorado, around the US to other places they’re not so easy to obtain, and the glass artwork wasn’t the only thing stolen from his shop. There’s a million dollars missing, and he wants it back. A sweet little old lady should be easy enough to intimidate into telling everything she knows. Except this little old lady apparently has serious secrets of her own.
And then the body turns up.
This was such a great read. Clemmie is an object of both pity and admiration; nobody should ever have to suffer what she did (and it’s awful that in a lot of places, the attitude towards women who have been raped hasn’t changed… they are still accused of having ‘asked for it’ or disbelieved) and her strength and determination to make a life for herself was something I really liked about her. There were a few interesting little twists and I did wonder exactly what the decisions of certain people to put their DNA results into an ancestry tracing website would come back with, though the actual truth wouldn’t have any real consequences for Clemmie if she chose to tell it to the right people.
I didn’t see the murderer coming at all; it was a startling twist, but there were quite a few questions left unanswered - where did Dom and the Coglins go, for example? The shenanigans in an apparently peaceful retirement community does make one wonder; if it could happen there, it could happen anywhere!
Although there were unanswered questions and the final twist did mean Clemmie’s story wasn’t quite over, I was quite satisfied with the ending. A thoroughly enjoyable read and I’m happy to give it five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
April 2, 2021
Seniors in Crime
Review of the Random House Audio audiobook edition (Sept. 2020) released simultaneously with the Poisoned Pen Press hardcover
I enjoyed the more straightforward story line of crime & murder in a senior community of Before She Was Helen in comparison to its similar-setting Edgar Award rival The Thursday Murder Club which put me off with its overly complex series of crimes and solutions. The Thursday Murder Club is probably the front runner for the Edgar Award for Best Novel as it seems to have gotten a heavier marketing push over its fellow nominees, but I rather prefer a more standard story line over being dazzled with arcane twisty solutions.
From its rather simple beginnings of Clementine rather innocently checking on her neighbours in their retirement community, Before She Was Helen quickly catapults into a steamroller of events involving drug dealers, criminal betrayals and murder. This is even before we discover that Clementine is living under a secret identity name of Helen and is hiding a criminal secret from her own past. I must admit that I didn't see the solution coming to the present-day mystery (although Ebert's Law of the Economy of Characters does make for a short-list) but the one in the past became pretty evident once that storyline was revealed. Anyway, I enjoyed this immensely more than The Thursday Murder Club, and would rather enjoy a follow-up from author Caroline Cooney.
This was well performed in the audiobook edition by Kimberly Farr in all voices. I have become familiar with Kimberly Farr's voice as the narrator of the Elizabeth Strout books Olive Kitteridge (2008) and Olive, Again (2019), so there was an added bonus in imagining Olive Kitteridge performing as the voice of Clementine/Helen.
I read Before She Was Helen due to its nomination for Best Novel in the 2021 Edgar Awards by the Mystery Writers of America. The 75th Annual Edgar® Awards will be celebrated on April 29, 2021.
Review of the Random House Audio audiobook edition (Sept. 2020) released simultaneously with the Poisoned Pen Press hardcover
I enjoyed the more straightforward story line of crime & murder in a senior community of Before She Was Helen in comparison to its similar-setting Edgar Award rival The Thursday Murder Club which put me off with its overly complex series of crimes and solutions. The Thursday Murder Club is probably the front runner for the Edgar Award for Best Novel as it seems to have gotten a heavier marketing push over its fellow nominees, but I rather prefer a more standard story line over being dazzled with arcane twisty solutions.
From its rather simple beginnings of Clementine rather innocently checking on her neighbours in their retirement community, Before She Was Helen quickly catapults into a steamroller of events involving drug dealers, criminal betrayals and murder. This is even before we discover that Clementine is living under a secret identity name of Helen and is hiding a criminal secret from her own past. I must admit that I didn't see the solution coming to the present-day mystery (although Ebert's Law of the Economy of Characters does make for a short-list) but the one in the past became pretty evident once that storyline was revealed. Anyway, I enjoyed this immensely more than The Thursday Murder Club, and would rather enjoy a follow-up from author Caroline Cooney.
This was well performed in the audiobook edition by Kimberly Farr in all voices. I have become familiar with Kimberly Farr's voice as the narrator of the Elizabeth Strout books Olive Kitteridge (2008) and Olive, Again (2019), so there was an added bonus in imagining Olive Kitteridge performing as the voice of Clementine/Helen.
I read Before She Was Helen due to its nomination for Best Novel in the 2021 Edgar Awards by the Mystery Writers of America. The 75th Annual Edgar® Awards will be celebrated on April 29, 2021.
February 9, 2020
When I saw that Caroline B. Cooney had written a new book, I requested to read it immediately as I had grown up on her Face on the Milk Carton series and absolutely adored the books and the movies. It still is one of my favorites to this day and I watch the movie once every now and again. Before she was Helen was a book that I wasn't sure what it would be about and I went in blind. I have to admit it was an odd sort of reading and it had a thriller aspect to it but not at the same time which is why I've put it under women's fiction as a category as it was hard to explain. The book starts off with a lady we know as Clementine living in a retirement village yet the women there called her Helen which I have to admit I found confusing as at first, I thought it might have been her middle name - but then it wasn't. Clem's neighbor Dom didn't text her this morning as he normally does and she gets worried he is dead, she heads next door and there is no sign of him. The strange thing though as she goes into the garage is that there is a door built there that connects Dom's and the Corgan's houses together. Clem peeks in and sees a strange vase sitting on the table and takes a photo to send to her grand-nephew and niece. Turns out the vase is actually a weed rig and was stolen from a drug dealer who will do anything to get it back. So we have that storyline beginning, then Clem is sent an article about an old murder case re-opening. The guy who was murdered is why Clementine changed her name and we are taken back in the past to the first time she met Mr. Creek at High School to the present time. We also catch glimpses of how Clementine became Helen and about the son she gave up for adoption - Billy Boone and his family to present times. Before She was Helen was quite a jam-packed novel and had so many different storylines running through and lots of characters and I felt the latter part of the book became a bit too busy for my liking as it was confusing trying to keep up with everyone involved in the book. Before She was Helen is one of those reads that if you haven't got anything else to read, then pick this book up otherwise you may want to move along unless you enjoy busy novels and can keep up with what's happening unlike myself. Before She was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney is coming soon - May 2020.
April 29, 2020
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A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of “Before She Was Helen” for my review.
I thought this book started off really well. I really enjoyed the parallel story-lines between the present and the past, and how a murder takes place in both. There are a lot of twists and turns so you really don’t know how things will turn out. I loved Clemmie as the main character, irrespective of how old or young she is. The plot and setting is also very unique and unlike anything I had read earlier. There was a lot of potential for this book being an amazing page turner. Moreover, I thought the author wrote Rudyard very well and was a terrifying negative character. He is truly insane and unpredictable, and I could sense Clemmie’s fear in confronting him.
However, I felt solely disappointed after completing this book! I felt frustrated to see so many questions left open-ended. For example, I still don’t know who the Coglands are and why their apartment was empty. I also don’t know who and why placed the priceless dragon artifact there. Also, while I liked how the killer turned out to be someone whom I would have never expected, the reason behind their kill was convoluted and didn’t make much sense. There were also a lot of unnecessary dialogue with unwanted characters from the cul-de-sac which didn’t add anything to the plot. For example, pages wasted on dialogues from gossip women on what happened. The present day murder story-line turned out to be a complete disappointment. After a point, I was only looking forward to the flashbacks of Clemmie’s earlier days.
Overall, I expected a more polished story. The only season I didn’t give it a negative rating is because I enjoyed the flashback story-line between Clemmie and Rudyard.
September 20, 2020
A very human story disguised as a cozy mystery. This book is so much more than expected. Clementine was so real and well developed that I really felt like I was there, with her and her neighbours. This book was provided to ne by the publisher for an honest review.
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February 27, 2023An interesting story! It sounds like a cozy mystery set in a retirement community, with the protagonist stumbling over the body of her neighbor by chance. But this is not your standard cozy mystery. I would not even class it as a cozy, even though the storyline sounds like one. It borders on psychological suspense with the main character’s back history taking center stage and the murder taking a backseat.
The fascinating protagonist, Helen, is unlike any female sleuth readers have seen before. Not even your usual senior sleuth. She has a plethora of secrets that are slowly revealed as the story progresses. Caroline B. Cooney does an excellent job at uncovering her secrets like peeling layers away from an onion.
The fascinating protagonist, Helen, is unlike any female sleuth readers have seen before. Not even your usual senior sleuth. She has a plethora of secrets that are slowly revealed as the story progresses. Caroline B. Cooney does an excellent job at uncovering her secrets like peeling layers away from an onion.
May 23, 2020
Before She Was Helen is a murder mystery set in a retirement village. I really liked the character Clemmie, and I loved the details about her community of Sun City and the cast of interesting characters who are her neighbors. This had the makings of a really fun cozy mystery.
Early on, however, the book took a very dark turn. There are two storylines in this novel, and one of them delves into a backstory of a disturbing nature. The light and amusing tone of the writing did not match the serious topic. I was unprepared for the sinister turn in the plot, especially since
This turned out to be a very different book from what I expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader’s copy of this book.
Early on, however, the book took a very dark turn. There are two storylines in this novel, and one of them delves into a backstory of a disturbing nature. The light and amusing tone of the writing did not match the serious topic. I was unprepared for the sinister turn in the plot, especially since
This turned out to be a very different book from what I expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader’s copy of this book.
April 18, 2020
I was so excited when I saw this ARC by Caroline B. Cooney as I loved reading her books when I was younger!
I really enjoyed this book. I've never read a book set in a retirement setting with a older main character, but I LOVE Clemmie!
Before She Was Helen was a crazy roller coaster ride. There is something for everything wrapped up is this novel! Murder, life long secrets, a dark painful past. And it's even got it's fair share of comedic relief!
The timing of the flashbacks give the book a great pace and the twists and turns kept me intrigued. Definitely recommend for fans of murder/mystery.
Thanks netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to review this book
I really enjoyed this book. I've never read a book set in a retirement setting with a older main character, but I LOVE Clemmie!
Before She Was Helen was a crazy roller coaster ride. There is something for everything wrapped up is this novel! Murder, life long secrets, a dark painful past. And it's even got it's fair share of comedic relief!
The timing of the flashbacks give the book a great pace and the twists and turns kept me intrigued. Definitely recommend for fans of murder/mystery.
Thanks netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to review this book
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