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The Grandmother Plot: A Novel
An unforgettable new mystery from Caroline B. Cooney, international bestselling author of The Face on the Milk Carton "Caroline B. Cooney is a master of taking a small, common moment―seeing a face on a milk carton, posting a harmless photo―and turning that moment into a thrilling story." ―Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of Never Ask Me Death isn't unexpected in a nursing home. But murder is. Freddy leads a life of little responsibility. His mother is dead, his sisters are far-flung across the globe, and he can't quite work up enough motivation to find himself a girlfriend. Freddy has been forced to place his beloved grandmother, now deep in dementia, in a nursing home. Freddy visits her often, cherishing and also hating the time he spends with the grandmother he always adored, now a ghost of her former self. When a fragile old woman already close to death is murdered in that nursing home, Freddy panics. His sources of income are iffy, as are his friends. He has to keep his grandmother safe, keep himself anonymous, and keep the police out of his life―or the complications could become deadly. From international bestselling author of The Face on the Milk Carton Caroline B. Cooney, The Grandmother Plot is the story of a young man who can't seem to straighten out his life, his beloved grandmother, who can't seem to remembers hers, and the shadowy threat that hangs over them both. This extraordinary new story will appeal to readers of bestselling mysteries and book club fiction such
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2021
165 people are currently reading
757 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,774 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 180 reviews
June 26, 2021
The mystery in this book is a murder that occurs in the Memory Care Center. Our two main characters are acquainted from frequent visits to loved ones there. The themes in this book are varied and some are unusual. A book group guide is included as well as an interview with the author. Have you ever read a book that includes a pipe organ, a smashed brass collection, glass-blowing, weed pipes, money laundering, and identity theft? I think it is a mish mash only Caroline B. Cooney can pull off. I did not enjoy it quite as much as I did Before She Was Helen, but it was pretty close.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2021
The Grandmother Plot by Caroline B. Cooney is a book that I was prepared to really like and enjoy. I had read Before She Was Helen a few months back and got such a kick out of the writing and the characters. This one is the story of Freddy, a young man lacking in ambition in most things but he is totally devoted to his grandmother. He has been living in her house since she was admitted to a memory nursing home because of her advancing dementia. Most days she does not recognize Freddy but he persists in spending quality time with her. When a patient in the room next to his grandmother’s is murdered , Freddy’s life becomes more complicated. This book has the potential to be a great one but it stalls halfway through, leaving me not caring for the characters or what happens next. There are too many details that interfere with the smooth flow of the outcome and several characters add nothing to the plot. This is strictly my own opinion and I am sure that The Grandmother Plot will appeal to many. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2021
I hadn't heard of this author but the book title grabbed my attention immediately! The Grandmother Plot!? Instantly intrigued.
Freddy, a glass artist who aspires to make a name for himself leads a life of very little responsibility. His mother has passed, his sister's are scattered across the globe, and he recently put his grandmother, deep in dementia, in a nursing home. A place he visits often as his grandmother means a lot to him. Through these visits Freddy meets Mrs. Maples, aka Mapes, who is a guardian for her aunt who is also a resident in the nursing home.
I enjoyed the alternating chapters between Freddy and Mapes. I thought the storyline was a unique one. A mix of drugs, money laundering, identify theft and murder in a nursing home ... an interesting combination. I'm glad I read this one :)
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press & Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy!
Freddy, a glass artist who aspires to make a name for himself leads a life of very little responsibility. His mother has passed, his sister's are scattered across the globe, and he recently put his grandmother, deep in dementia, in a nursing home. A place he visits often as his grandmother means a lot to him. Through these visits Freddy meets Mrs. Maples, aka Mapes, who is a guardian for her aunt who is also a resident in the nursing home.
I enjoyed the alternating chapters between Freddy and Mapes. I thought the storyline was a unique one. A mix of drugs, money laundering, identify theft and murder in a nursing home ... an interesting combination. I'm glad I read this one :)
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press & Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy!
August 20, 2023
4⭐️
Freddy is a young man; alone in the word except for his grandmother who lives with Alzheimer’s disease in a care home. He visits her daily-sometimes multiple times a day even as he’s squatting in her former home and driving her vehicle.
Freddy has a passion for making custom glass pieces, especially beads, however when he is coerced into making drug paraphernalia with his glass techniques, things get messy and dangerous very quickly.
Then, a resident at his grandmother’s home is found murdered and the police begin investigating.
I thought this was a very well-done story. I loved the way Freddy genuinely cared for his grandmother and also how the investigation progressed…it felt realistic and not contrived
A quote I liked:
“‘Tomorrow’. What a great word, full of freedom and choice”
Language: 1 a, 5 sh, 2 bi, 4 abuses of God, 3 d
Freddy is a young man; alone in the word except for his grandmother who lives with Alzheimer’s disease in a care home. He visits her daily-sometimes multiple times a day even as he’s squatting in her former home and driving her vehicle.
Freddy has a passion for making custom glass pieces, especially beads, however when he is coerced into making drug paraphernalia with his glass techniques, things get messy and dangerous very quickly.
Then, a resident at his grandmother’s home is found murdered and the police begin investigating.
I thought this was a very well-done story. I loved the way Freddy genuinely cared for his grandmother and also how the investigation progressed…it felt realistic and not contrived
A quote I liked:
“‘Tomorrow’. What a great word, full of freedom and choice”
Language: 1 a, 5 sh, 2 bi, 4 abuses of God, 3 d
May 20, 2021
If we are being completely honest, the main reason I was interested in this is that The Face on the Milk Carton was one of my all-time favorite, most frequently read books in what I guess would have been my tween years (and is still a bit of a guilty pleasure book that I would gladly re-read again as an adult). In fact, just writing that got me all worked up about the whole situation in the sequel all over again, ha. This book is about a memory unit at a nursing home. Freddy, who somewhat accidentally became part of a money laundering operation and is trying to escape it, visits his grandmother there and is friendly with Mrs. Maple, whose aunt is a resident and who also collects, of all things, pianos. They are slowly losing their relatives to dementia, which seems very realistically written, although I admittedly have no direct experience with dementia. On top of that, one of the care home residents dies suspiciously, leading to a police investigation of the workers, employees, family members. It was more about Freddy and Mrs. Maple and what was going on with them than it was necessarily a "mystery" about just the murder. I enjoyed this. 4 stars.
July 9, 2021
I requested an ARC of this book, and all opinions are my own.
This book confused me. From the blurb it sounded like a very promising premise, but the execution was a bit lacking. While I enjoyed the basic story, and found the main characters of Freddy & Laura to be interesting, I feel like their stories ended abruptly with no real resolution. Plus there were a couple of side-plots that sort of fell by the wayside. I am not sure if the intention was a cliff-hanger for a future book, or just some sort of modern literary device that I just don't understand.
I enjoyed the story for the most part; I just wish the ending had been more satisfying.
This book confused me. From the blurb it sounded like a very promising premise, but the execution was a bit lacking. While I enjoyed the basic story, and found the main characters of Freddy & Laura to be interesting, I feel like their stories ended abruptly with no real resolution. Plus there were a couple of side-plots that sort of fell by the wayside. I am not sure if the intention was a cliff-hanger for a future book, or just some sort of modern literary device that I just don't understand.
I enjoyed the story for the most part; I just wish the ending had been more satisfying.
September 24, 2021
I gave this book a 3.5 but rounded up for the star rating. This book was a little hard for me to get through, but that is likely because the author did a great job describing the tragedy of dementia. This story largely takes place at a facility for people with dementia and two of the family members who are frequent visitors. Freddy was tasked with caring for his grandmother by his mother who died too soon. He moved home and cared for her but she needed more care than he could give. The other visitor is Mrs. Mapes who has her own reasons for visiting her aunt so frequently. But Freddy has trouble from his past that has come and to make things worse one of his grandmother’s neighbors in the facility was murdered. The story was well done, but there were maybe a few more side plots than were needed. It was a story about family, about history, and a murder mystery which while being an odd mashup did work.
July 6, 2021
A mystery set in a memory care facility with some unique characters. Freddy is a glassblower who makes beads and pipes and struggles to deal with the details of his life, but is devoted to his grandmother. Laura is devoted to her aunt, after failing her mother in a similar situation. The two have a unique friendship and are determined to solve the mystery of a patient’s death. Great characters and commentary on dementia patients and their families.
May 2, 2024
I'd wanted to love this one but found myself not loving it. I had really hoped for a mystery - the synopsis makes it sound like it will be one. And, although there is one, it felt like it stalled out about halfway.
Although I did like the way the author handled dementia and how hard it is for family. I felt like it was more the focus and less about the mystery. Had I gone in thinking it was more about family and handled a difficult illness, I probably would have liked this more. But I grabbed it for the mystery and felt let down.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Although I did like the way the author handled dementia and how hard it is for family. I felt like it was more the focus and less about the mystery. Had I gone in thinking it was more about family and handled a difficult illness, I probably would have liked this more. But I grabbed it for the mystery and felt let down.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 7, 2021
Different, less mystery and more lit fic, but with humorous undertones and serious subject matter. Still not sure if I liked it. I did like the author's treatment of Alzheimers and dementia, particularly the latter. It's a loving, clear-eyed view of it from the perspectives of the dementia sufferers and their families.
July 7, 2021
The Grandmother Plot is a warm and delightful mystery featuring Freddy, a rather hapless glass artist who does lampwork, not glassblowing, and he surely wants you to know the difference. He is an artisan, but like many of his kind, he makes ends meet making bongs for pot-smokers. The story opens with Freddy heading off to visit his grandmother in the memory care home. He sees an enforcer for a man who has asked him to launder money through his sales at craft fairs. He really does not want to do this.
Freddy is a sweet guy even if he doesn’t look like a success on paper. He’s living in his grandmother’s house without a steady job, supporting himself by selling glass beads and paraphernalia. No girlfriend, no job, no prospects. But Freddy is all heart and he visits his grandmother several times a week even though he often thinks he is someone else. He is full of empathy and compassion for the other patients, as well, though watching people lose themselves to Alzheimer’s seems horrific to him.
But one of the residents was murdered and the police seem willing to suspect everyone, even Freddy’s grandmother and then, even Freddy. Luckily, Freddy has a partner in crime-solving, Mrs. Maples, whom he calls Mapes. She is as intrepid as Miss Marple, but not quite so quick, though she can run circles around the amiable, but thick, Freddy.
Caroline B. Cooney excels at creating characters you cannot help but love in cozy mysteries that are rich with humanity. It would be easy to miss that The Grandmother Plot breaks the first rule of The Detection Club’s Ten Commandments. (Don’t click if you hate spoilers.) Aside from that, though, the book is full of possible suspects with so many motives you will struggle to guess what is going on.
Cooney is creating a niche market in senior cozies with The Grandmother Plot and Before She Was Helen. Her compassion and writing about the people living, working, and visiting at a memory care home is manifest. I think many people will find themselves reflected in these pages.
The Grandmother Plot at Poisoned Pen Press | Sourcebooks
Caroline B. Cooney author site
My review of Before She Was Helen
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
Freddy is a sweet guy even if he doesn’t look like a success on paper. He’s living in his grandmother’s house without a steady job, supporting himself by selling glass beads and paraphernalia. No girlfriend, no job, no prospects. But Freddy is all heart and he visits his grandmother several times a week even though he often thinks he is someone else. He is full of empathy and compassion for the other patients, as well, though watching people lose themselves to Alzheimer’s seems horrific to him.
But one of the residents was murdered and the police seem willing to suspect everyone, even Freddy’s grandmother and then, even Freddy. Luckily, Freddy has a partner in crime-solving, Mrs. Maples, whom he calls Mapes. She is as intrepid as Miss Marple, but not quite so quick, though she can run circles around the amiable, but thick, Freddy.
Caroline B. Cooney excels at creating characters you cannot help but love in cozy mysteries that are rich with humanity. It would be easy to miss that The Grandmother Plot breaks the first rule of The Detection Club’s Ten Commandments. (Don’t click if you hate spoilers.) Aside from that, though, the book is full of possible suspects with so many motives you will struggle to guess what is going on.
Cooney is creating a niche market in senior cozies with The Grandmother Plot and Before She Was Helen. Her compassion and writing about the people living, working, and visiting at a memory care home is manifest. I think many people will find themselves reflected in these pages.
The Grandmother Plot at Poisoned Pen Press | Sourcebooks
Caroline B. Cooney author site
My review of Before She Was Helen
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
March 21, 2021
A big thank you to Netgally for the ARC. This author tackles the subject matter of dementia and care facilities, which is dear to my heart.
An ill-prepared Grandson is tasked with looking after Grandma in assisted living, then there's a murder.
I thought the story line and quirky characters were interesting. The capers were fun while addressing the very serious topic of elderly memory loss. Having the grandson get "stuck" with grandma's care was different (usually the female relative). The cover of this book states it's a dark mystery, I found it more a cozy mystery.
A few nitpicky details like (long dangling earrings, unsecured medical records) bothered me. Federal regs. apply.
I grew weary of the elaborate glass-making drug paraphanalia process, which is why I give 3 1/2 stars instead of 4. Also, I figured out one of the "bad" characters early on.
Overall a fun caper, a who-done-it, serious subject would probably be a good book club discussion.
An ill-prepared Grandson is tasked with looking after Grandma in assisted living, then there's a murder.
I thought the story line and quirky characters were interesting. The capers were fun while addressing the very serious topic of elderly memory loss. Having the grandson get "stuck" with grandma's care was different (usually the female relative). The cover of this book states it's a dark mystery, I found it more a cozy mystery.
A few nitpicky details like (long dangling earrings, unsecured medical records) bothered me. Federal regs. apply.
I grew weary of the elaborate glass-making drug paraphanalia process, which is why I give 3 1/2 stars instead of 4. Also, I figured out one of the "bad" characters early on.
Overall a fun caper, a who-done-it, serious subject would probably be a good book club discussion.
August 15, 2021
Freddy and Laura both have relatives in a memory care home. Freddy and Laura visit regularly and often and have bonded over witnessing the steady mental demise of their loved ones. Everything changes when a patient's death is considered suspicious and it seems everyone involved has a secret. Cooney knows how to tell a good story, but this one gets off to a slow start and the narrative hopping back and forth between Freddy and Laura makes the story choppy and disjointed. It also takes a while to care about the characters; what may be intended to be endearing instead seems quirky and self-centered. However, as the story continues, Freddy and Laura are revealed to be essentially good and kindhearted people who have lost control of different aspects of their lives. Even though it reads like two stories that are only partially connected, the two threads eventually connect and the pace picks up to a fast paced, although not totally satisfying, conclusion.
July 19, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. I think the problem is that the book itself doesn't seem to know quite what it is. A murder mystery? Well, there's a murder and the mystery of what happened, but it doesnt *feel* like a murder mystery. The policework is a small part so it's no police procedural. At no point does it really feel dangerous or thrilling so I can't call it a thriller.
What it is, I suppose, is some basic run of the mill fiction with tiny bits of murder and mystery and police work and danger thrown in, but none in enough measure to make the book exclusively any one thing.
We get many lives mixed up together and different crimes to sort through. The parts about the Alzheimers patients are heartbreaking but our main character comes across as unsympathetic. I've read Cooney's work before and loved it, this particular book was just sort of so-so.
What it is, I suppose, is some basic run of the mill fiction with tiny bits of murder and mystery and police work and danger thrown in, but none in enough measure to make the book exclusively any one thing.
We get many lives mixed up together and different crimes to sort through. The parts about the Alzheimers patients are heartbreaking but our main character comes across as unsympathetic. I've read Cooney's work before and loved it, this particular book was just sort of so-so.
April 20, 2021
I am a huge Caroline B. Cooney fan and I was THRILLED to get an ARC from NetGalley but unfortunately this one fell flat! I do love main character Freddy, a stoner who cares deeply for his grandma with dementia. My own grandma has dementia and I so relate to his struggle. Unfortunately, this book is driven by accident and coincidence rather than character action, and I found some of the long descriptions to be a bit dull. I'll still certainly read her next book, but this one was not for me.
July 31, 2021
3.5/5
This book is good. It's nothing special, but the style and characters of it make it pretty good. There are tons of topics that don't seem to mesh together, but the mixture is pretty interesting.
I really enjoyed this.
This is my penultimate book for July, so I'm glad I enjoyed it.
This book is good. It's nothing special, but the style and characters of it make it pretty good. There are tons of topics that don't seem to mesh together, but the mixture is pretty interesting.
I really enjoyed this.
This is my penultimate book for July, so I'm glad I enjoyed it.
October 1, 2024
Its difficult to describe the book. It’s not a suspenseful gripping mystery. There’s more mystery in who is who and motives. Is Freddy an unreliable narrator? Mrs. Mapes on the level?
The descriptions of the elderly are very truthful. Forgetfulness. Soiled clothes. Moments of clarity.
This is one of those books where the story is good, but it’s the small side characters and scenes that make this fascinating.
The descriptions of the elderly are very truthful. Forgetfulness. Soiled clothes. Moments of clarity.
This is one of those books where the story is good, but it’s the small side characters and scenes that make this fascinating.
July 4, 2021
The Grandmother Plot
A Novel
By: Caroline B. Cooney
Poisoned Pen Press
Mystery/Thriller
Publish Date July 6, 2021
I am so glad that I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley. I have always like her writing. Unfortunately I wasn't a big fan of this book. I only gave it 3 stars.
This book is mainly set in a nursing home for the memory impaired. The main character is Freddy who is a druggie and in charge of his Grandmother because one his is the youngest of four children and doesn't have a family or a solid job. He makes his living making glass beads and bongs. He does a great job designing unusual bongs and gets high bids on his Instagram account.
His visits his Grandmother at least once a week at the nursing home for about an hour and then spends the rest of his time smoking weed and hanging around not doing much. He is also dealing with a dealer who wants him to finish up an agreement on with shows for his beads.
One day when he visits his grandmother one of the residents dies and the police are looking into the death and they deem it murder because of the results of the autopsy.
This makes Freddy visit every day and having to deal with his sisters who want him to bring her home and for him to take care of her because he doesn't have anything else to do. He isn't sure what to do but knows he can't take care of her like she needs.
This book goes into some of the resident's lives and their families who are close to Freddy.
Freddy has a lot going on and he is scared. There is a lot happening in this book and there are some twist. The murderer isn't who I thought it was so that is always a good thing.
There just were a lot of people to keep track of and too much time on Freddy issues. I am still trying to figure why the book was titled this because it didn't seem to fit.
I will continue to read her books because I like her writing.
A Novel
By: Caroline B. Cooney
Poisoned Pen Press
Mystery/Thriller
Publish Date July 6, 2021
I am so glad that I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley. I have always like her writing. Unfortunately I wasn't a big fan of this book. I only gave it 3 stars.
This book is mainly set in a nursing home for the memory impaired. The main character is Freddy who is a druggie and in charge of his Grandmother because one his is the youngest of four children and doesn't have a family or a solid job. He makes his living making glass beads and bongs. He does a great job designing unusual bongs and gets high bids on his Instagram account.
His visits his Grandmother at least once a week at the nursing home for about an hour and then spends the rest of his time smoking weed and hanging around not doing much. He is also dealing with a dealer who wants him to finish up an agreement on with shows for his beads.
One day when he visits his grandmother one of the residents dies and the police are looking into the death and they deem it murder because of the results of the autopsy.
This makes Freddy visit every day and having to deal with his sisters who want him to bring her home and for him to take care of her because he doesn't have anything else to do. He isn't sure what to do but knows he can't take care of her like she needs.
This book goes into some of the resident's lives and their families who are close to Freddy.
Freddy has a lot going on and he is scared. There is a lot happening in this book and there are some twist. The murderer isn't who I thought it was so that is always a good thing.
There just were a lot of people to keep track of and too much time on Freddy issues. I am still trying to figure why the book was titled this because it didn't seem to fit.
I will continue to read her books because I like her writing.
July 4, 2021
I've read and loved most of the stories written by Caroline B. Cooney so I had high expectations for this one, but this book didn't quite meet my expectations, unfortunately. While I liked some of the book, there was some that seemed to move a bit slow and I had to push through to finish reading it, but that's just me.
This had some interesting parts, plot and ideas with the main character, Freddy and his challenges with his lifestyle choices and trying to figure his life out and see if he wanted to or could change for the better for his family and grandmother who he tries to take care of and visit while she's in a home. Freddy is the one who ends up with the brunt of responsibility for his grandmother simply because he lives the closest and his siblings live in other states and always want him to grow up instead of playing/creating with beads. Freddy has some risky lifestyle choices and behavior and finds himself trying to hide from a person he got involved with and when someone is murdered in the nursing home his grandmother is in, he worries about if his poor choices could have lead to the death of this person in the home and if his grandmother is in danger. There are other interesting characters throughout the story and another main playing character that has their role concerning finding out who the killer is in the end.
If you like murder mysteries, Caroline B. Cooney, and such, then keep this on your radar. You might enjoy it more than I did.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me read and review this story. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
This had some interesting parts, plot and ideas with the main character, Freddy and his challenges with his lifestyle choices and trying to figure his life out and see if he wanted to or could change for the better for his family and grandmother who he tries to take care of and visit while she's in a home. Freddy is the one who ends up with the brunt of responsibility for his grandmother simply because he lives the closest and his siblings live in other states and always want him to grow up instead of playing/creating with beads. Freddy has some risky lifestyle choices and behavior and finds himself trying to hide from a person he got involved with and when someone is murdered in the nursing home his grandmother is in, he worries about if his poor choices could have lead to the death of this person in the home and if his grandmother is in danger. There are other interesting characters throughout the story and another main playing character that has their role concerning finding out who the killer is in the end.
If you like murder mysteries, Caroline B. Cooney, and such, then keep this on your radar. You might enjoy it more than I did.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me read and review this story. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
July 29, 2021
When I saw that Caroline B. Cooney had a new book coming out, I HAD to read it. I absolutely loved The Face on the Milk Carton when I was younger, so there was a certain nostalgia just from hearing her name.
The Grandmother Plot is a story based around the relationship between a grandson and his grandmother. Freddy is an irresponsible (but lovable) glass bead maker. He was forced to put his grandmother in a memory care unit due to the progression of her Alzheimer’s disease when he realized he couldn’t care for her alone anymore. Freddy visits his grandmother regularly and knows the staff, residents, and their families. Everyone at MMC, the memory care unit, is shocked when it is discovered that one of the patients was murdered. Freddy fears for his grandmother and knows he needs to keep her safe, but things quickly get complicated due to some poor decisions that are haunting him.
My own grandmother had Alzheimer’s, and the disease and descriptions of the memory care unit painted by Cooney are incredibly accurate. The characters are so well written and fun—they feel like real people you could meet. Freddy isn’t the brightest guy, but I couldn’t help but admire his optimism and kindness toward others. His relationship with his grandmother is adorable. This book was unique and a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an ARC to review!
#GrandmotherPlot and #poisonedpenpress
The Grandmother Plot is a story based around the relationship between a grandson and his grandmother. Freddy is an irresponsible (but lovable) glass bead maker. He was forced to put his grandmother in a memory care unit due to the progression of her Alzheimer’s disease when he realized he couldn’t care for her alone anymore. Freddy visits his grandmother regularly and knows the staff, residents, and their families. Everyone at MMC, the memory care unit, is shocked when it is discovered that one of the patients was murdered. Freddy fears for his grandmother and knows he needs to keep her safe, but things quickly get complicated due to some poor decisions that are haunting him.
My own grandmother had Alzheimer’s, and the disease and descriptions of the memory care unit painted by Cooney are incredibly accurate. The characters are so well written and fun—they feel like real people you could meet. Freddy isn’t the brightest guy, but I couldn’t help but admire his optimism and kindness toward others. His relationship with his grandmother is adorable. This book was unique and a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an ARC to review!
#GrandmotherPlot and #poisonedpenpress
July 2, 2021
The Grandmother Plot
NML: Library rental. It was fine, but not amazing. I don't feel the need to own this book or read it again.
I want to start by saying that Caroline B. Cooney was one of my favorite authors when I was younger; I still have a few of her books on my shelves. So when I saw she was releasing a new book, I was tripping over myself to get a copy.
Freddy's life revolves around glassblowing and his grandma. He's suddenly forced to move back home to help take care of his grandmother who is afflicted with a rather severe case of dementia. She needs 24 hour care, so Freddy has her placed in a memory care home. The home is rather nondescript -- your usual nursing home full of prepared meals, puppet shows, and walks outside. That all changes one night after one of the residents dies under suspicious circumstances.
Unfortunately for Freddy, that's not his only worry. He's also found himself in a bit of trouble in the glass business. Freddy has gotten wrapped up in some dirty money laundering and he wants out. But Gary Leporov (The Leper) and his sidekick Doc won't let him go so easily.
It was just OK. Maybe I had too high of an expectation going into this one. Or maybe this story line just wasn't the one for me. If you are also a Cooney fan, I do recommend giving The Grandmother Plot a read.
NML: Library rental. It was fine, but not amazing. I don't feel the need to own this book or read it again.
I want to start by saying that Caroline B. Cooney was one of my favorite authors when I was younger; I still have a few of her books on my shelves. So when I saw she was releasing a new book, I was tripping over myself to get a copy.
Freddy's life revolves around glassblowing and his grandma. He's suddenly forced to move back home to help take care of his grandmother who is afflicted with a rather severe case of dementia. She needs 24 hour care, so Freddy has her placed in a memory care home. The home is rather nondescript -- your usual nursing home full of prepared meals, puppet shows, and walks outside. That all changes one night after one of the residents dies under suspicious circumstances.
Unfortunately for Freddy, that's not his only worry. He's also found himself in a bit of trouble in the glass business. Freddy has gotten wrapped up in some dirty money laundering and he wants out. But Gary Leporov (The Leper) and his sidekick Doc won't let him go so easily.
It was just OK. Maybe I had too high of an expectation going into this one. Or maybe this story line just wasn't the one for me. If you are also a Cooney fan, I do recommend giving The Grandmother Plot a read.
December 19, 2021
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-book ARC copy of this title in exchange for my review.
I did not know Caroline B Cooney was still writing! This was a happy surprise for me, as I grew up with her YA novels which I passed down to my daughter as well. Cooney was one of the few authors you could rely on for a good book when I was in high school. So I was excited to see that she had a new book, and then to be granted an e-book ARC for my review.
This is not the Cooney I knew as a teenager, but we have all grown up over the years. This story is full and complete and engaging, characters feel real and I found myself bonding with them and couldn't put the book down - I wanted to know what was next. The topic of dementia felt real and well researched. IT really was a grown-up Caroline B Cooney book, and one that will stay with me for a long time.
I would encourage anyone who remembers her books in their teen years to read this, but remember this is a novel of different times, and not YA. Maybe not really a 'mystery' in the traditional sense, but it kept me turning pages and engaged with the story. I hope for more by Ms Cooney to come.
I did not know Caroline B Cooney was still writing! This was a happy surprise for me, as I grew up with her YA novels which I passed down to my daughter as well. Cooney was one of the few authors you could rely on for a good book when I was in high school. So I was excited to see that she had a new book, and then to be granted an e-book ARC for my review.
This is not the Cooney I knew as a teenager, but we have all grown up over the years. This story is full and complete and engaging, characters feel real and I found myself bonding with them and couldn't put the book down - I wanted to know what was next. The topic of dementia felt real and well researched. IT really was a grown-up Caroline B Cooney book, and one that will stay with me for a long time.
I would encourage anyone who remembers her books in their teen years to read this, but remember this is a novel of different times, and not YA. Maybe not really a 'mystery' in the traditional sense, but it kept me turning pages and engaged with the story. I hope for more by Ms Cooney to come.
June 13, 2021
I have been reading Caroline Cooney books for many, many years, and was excited when I saw she had a new book out. The main character Freddy, whose habit of using weed tends to cloud his thought processes, moves into his grandmother's home to care for her. As grandmother's mental and physical health deteriorates, he places her in a nursing home as he can no longer care for her. Freddy makes glass beads for a living, and partly due to his stoner habits, ends up being indebted to someone who does not have his best interests at heart. Through the nursing home he meets Mrs. Maples, who is the guardian for her aunt. They develop a strange sort of relationship, and some of Freddy's actions end up putting Mapes in danger. As murders occur at the nursing home Freddy becomes increasingly concerned for his grandmother. Parts of the book were tedious and slow-going, lots of descriptions of lampworks and Freddy's best works, his bong pipes. While many will read this story because it is Caroline Cooney, it is not her best work.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, in exchange for a review.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, in exchange for a review.
July 23, 2021
Wish I could give this one 3.5 stars, BUT NO, GOODREADS WON'T LET ME!
Ahem.
Kinda offbeat/quirky main characters, but still very believable in their words/thoughts/actions/reactions.
Found the solution to the mystery to be rather convoluted. And the conclusion? Weak sauce, Caroline B. Cooney. Weak sauce.
Unless, that is, there is to be more Freddy in our future.....
Which I would really enjoy. Especially if Ms Cooney cut back by, oh, say, a third (at the very least) on the details of how to blow glass. Kinda felt like we were getting into Melville whaling industry territory there at times.
Onward!
Oh, wait, no, not yet.
I do plan to read The Face on the Milk Carton by Ms Cooney, now. Am betting she knocks it out of the park with that one. Maybe TGP was her first book for adult readers? Here, let me google that for me.....yep, it is. She's written more than 90 young adult novels. Good to know, both for me and the younger people in my life!
Ahem.
Kinda offbeat/quirky main characters, but still very believable in their words/thoughts/actions/reactions.
Found the solution to the mystery to be rather convoluted. And the conclusion? Weak sauce, Caroline B. Cooney. Weak sauce.
Unless, that is, there is to be more Freddy in our future.....
Which I would really enjoy. Especially if Ms Cooney cut back by, oh, say, a third (at the very least) on the details of how to blow glass. Kinda felt like we were getting into Melville whaling industry territory there at times.
Onward!
Oh, wait, no, not yet.
I do plan to read The Face on the Milk Carton by Ms Cooney, now. Am betting she knocks it out of the park with that one. Maybe TGP was her first book for adult readers? Here, let me google that for me.....yep, it is. She's written more than 90 young adult novels. Good to know, both for me and the younger people in my life!
July 25, 2021
I was really interested in reading this book since I had read The Face on the Milk Carton and thoroughly enjoyed it back in middle school. I really wasn't sure what to expect with this book even knowing the premise. I felt that the two main characters were definitely quirky and very far apart in who they were. I found that I liked Freddy as a character, yet really struggled with how many times it was emphasized about how his sisters felt about him. I felt that enough was enough with this after seeing it repeated again and again. I did not understand Laura, or find her relatable and could not garner enough interest to really want to understand her. I felt that the ending where the mystery is solved is the best part of the book. I just wish I would have cared by then. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.
July 31, 2021
This book delivered all the delights of a good mystery: A setting and characters you feel comfortable with and a satisfyingly difficult puzzle at the center. The lead character, Freddy, is a glassblower and stoner who has ended up caring for his grandmother by default. His grandmother is in a dementia unit, and one thing Cooney really gets is the dynamics of a dementia facility - the patients, the staff, the families, and the way they all interact with one another. Freddy may be a clueless stoner, but he gets how to deal with people with dementia, and that made me really like him. Laura, his friend, is a middle-aged woman with a few odd obsessions, both familiar enough to be comfortable and weird enough to be interesting. The plot is pretty complicated, with people coming in and out, and I felt like there were a few loose ends, but it was still a fun read and hard to put down.
August 10, 2021
I was excited to start this as I really enjoyed Before She Was Helen, & this book had a similar theme, being set in a memory care unit with several elderly characters. The plot involves the possible murder of one of the residents & the efforts of Freddy, the somewhat stoner grandson of one of the residents to figure out what happened. Unfortunately, I didn't like this one as much. As the story moves between Freddy & Laura, a middle-aged hoarder who has an aunt at the facility, I wish their stories would have been split into separate chapters. I often got a little confused as to what was going on.
The story has some nice thoughts on the nature of families & the poignancy of having a loved one with dementia.
I do enjoy this author & will go back & try some of her YA books which for some reason I never read.
The story has some nice thoughts on the nature of families & the poignancy of having a loved one with dementia.
I do enjoy this author & will go back & try some of her YA books which for some reason I never read.
July 6, 2021
This is a good mystery read; however, I felt like some parts don't need to be elaborated that much; Freddy’s bong pipes are definitely one of them. Freddy is a good guy who happens to make so many bad choices, but he does care for his grandmother deeply. The story is slow-burn and talks about the emotional dilemma and hardships of someone addicted to drugs. It also shows extensive information about dementia patients and home care facilities. The story is enlightening and a bit provocative.
July 20, 2021
Although I loved the quirky characters, I felt Cooney’s writing to be stilted. Freddy, a glassblower now specializing in bong pipes draws the short straw and is living in his grandmother’s house while visiting her every day in her memory care facility. The death of a patient is ruled homicide and Freddy is a suspect in the murder. I found the story to be slow-going as well as tedious. It is not Cooney’s best writing.
September 11, 2023
Unusual murder mystery (featuring glass bong(s), like in Before She Was Helen). The only character I truly liked was Grandma.
Still have little understanding of or caring for
the seedy, criminal underworld or the people that populate it. Reading this did not increase my interest.
Money/greed makes the world go around . . .
My takeaway: This author has issues and focuses on drugs, the elderly, dementia, and corrupt cops. I hope it's not a case of write
what you know . . . Yikes!
Still have little understanding of or caring for
the seedy, criminal underworld or the people that populate it. Reading this did not increase my interest.
Money/greed makes the world go around . . .
My takeaway: This author has issues and focuses on drugs, the elderly, dementia, and corrupt cops. I hope it's not a case of write
what you know . . . Yikes!
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