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Final Belongings
An eerie photo with a cryptic note unearthed 50 years later. A woman driven to solve a family mystery—at any cost. "A bewitchingly dark tale, as emotionally engrossing as it is boldly unconventional." —Kirkus Reviews
Juliet Barton is reeling from a devastating divorce and her career in shambles. Then she’s rocked by her mother’s sudden death. Buried in grief as she sorts her late mother’s effects, Juliet stumbles upon the final belongings of her uncle Henry, who died tragically in Italy in 1971.
Hidden among Henry’s effects is an old Polaroid of a mausoleum with a mysterious note scrawled on the back. As Juliet unearths more and more details that reveal her and Henry’s uncanny similarities, she finds herself compelled to go to Italy to locate the crypt in the photo, convinced it contains something Henry wanted to be found.
But as she tracks down clues to her twenty-something uncle’s cutting-edge filmmaking in Hollywood, renowned coverage of The Vietnam War, and link to a 1960s rock icon, Juliet uncovers a haunting truth that pushes her into the line of danger.
Will unraveling Henry’s hidden past put Juliet’s own future at risk?
In this brilliantly compelling, suspenseful, and intoxicating tale told through the interwoven narratives of Juliet in the present-day and Henry decades ago, Final Belongings navigates the trauma of estrangement across generations, the secrets we bury, and the things we try to escape at any cost.
Juliet Barton is reeling from a devastating divorce and her career in shambles. Then she’s rocked by her mother’s sudden death. Buried in grief as she sorts her late mother’s effects, Juliet stumbles upon the final belongings of her uncle Henry, who died tragically in Italy in 1971.
Hidden among Henry’s effects is an old Polaroid of a mausoleum with a mysterious note scrawled on the back. As Juliet unearths more and more details that reveal her and Henry’s uncanny similarities, she finds herself compelled to go to Italy to locate the crypt in the photo, convinced it contains something Henry wanted to be found.
But as she tracks down clues to her twenty-something uncle’s cutting-edge filmmaking in Hollywood, renowned coverage of The Vietnam War, and link to a 1960s rock icon, Juliet uncovers a haunting truth that pushes her into the line of danger.
Will unraveling Henry’s hidden past put Juliet’s own future at risk?
In this brilliantly compelling, suspenseful, and intoxicating tale told through the interwoven narratives of Juliet in the present-day and Henry decades ago, Final Belongings navigates the trauma of estrangement across generations, the secrets we bury, and the things we try to escape at any cost.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2022
98 people are currently reading
1910 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beauchemin
2 books23 followersSarah Beauchemin writes literary mystery and suspense fiction. She holds an MA in English and is a founding member of The Inkwells, a weekly read-and-critique novelist group since 2017. She lives in San Diego with her wonderful husband, Jay; the best cat ever, Sox; and piles of books. When not writing, she can be found immersed in some type of Gen X nostalgia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 12, 2024
It didn’t take long to figure out that this was one of those generic mysteries. They always begin the same way. Someone dies, then someone else finds mysterious things in their belongings. From then on, chapters alternate from the past to the present until the story finally comes together and the mysteries are solved.
The writing and the characters seemed good, so I did stick with it. Well into the book, it went over the top, which did give the story at least something different from the same old formula. This did not save it for me. Fiction is fiction, but the story came pretty close to la-la land. A famous person was involved and the whole thing took on an eye-rolling delusional feel, like “wait a minute, what???” If I told you Elvis helped me write this review, it would give you the same reaction I had when the famous person appeared in this story.
2.5 stars. Nice cover, though!
The writing and the characters seemed good, so I did stick with it. Well into the book, it went over the top, which did give the story at least something different from the same old formula. This did not save it for me. Fiction is fiction, but the story came pretty close to la-la land. A famous person was involved and the whole thing took on an eye-rolling delusional feel, like “wait a minute, what???” If I told you Elvis helped me write this review, it would give you the same reaction I had when the famous person appeared in this story.
2.5 stars. Nice cover, though!
September 30, 2024
This book goes back and forth from current day to the 60s and 70s as a woman tries to uncover what her estranged uncle was truly like. It's a solid mysterious timeline and both plots are cohesive. I found some of the plot points a little far-fetched but who wouldn't like to see their ancestors entangled in the path of famous people? Parts of it reminded me of Forrest Gump with how it went through so many noteworthy events. But I did enjoy it.
December 10, 2022
Sarah is that rare type of author that makes you forget you’re even reading. Your eyes are on the page, but you’re not really seeing the words. Inside your mind, it’s almost like there’s a movie playing. That’s how effortless it was to read Final Belongings.
The story itself is a delight to experience and has all the necessary ingredients; compelling and relatable characters, suspenseful twists and turns, and beautiful, engaging prose. I don’t want to say too much and risk posting spoilers, but the dual-narrative format works extremely well at captivating the audience, making the book hard to put down.
Overall this is extremely impressive for a debut novel, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever she writes next.
The story itself is a delight to experience and has all the necessary ingredients; compelling and relatable characters, suspenseful twists and turns, and beautiful, engaging prose. I don’t want to say too much and risk posting spoilers, but the dual-narrative format works extremely well at captivating the audience, making the book hard to put down.
Overall this is extremely impressive for a debut novel, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever she writes next.
January 1, 2023
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel because it tells a gripping story about two people who have never met but who are linked by blood and belonging (or lack thereof). The two connected narratives flow back and forth so easily - I had a hard time putting this book down (and I’m a very slow reader). A compelling investigation that goes in directions that you don’t expect - I don’t want to say too much because I had such a fun time unpacking all the unexpected layers of this novel. It’s a wild ride, it’s thoughtful, it’s heartbreaking, and ultimately very satisfying.
December 13, 2022
Really loved this suspenseful novel! It was fun and surprising, and the story flowed seamlessly making it such an enjoyable book to read. Definitely recommend!
February 25, 2023
A very good mystery about two captivating self-centered relatives, separated in age by a couple of generations and how their lives came together. Each chapter is seamless in linking the story to keep the reader engaged. A good read.
January 31, 2023
I found this book a little confusing. It starts off feeling like a bunch of random things just thrown together, barely linked. But it’s not unenjoyable. I felt compelled to see how everything would come together, *if* everything would come together. Honestly the plot is a bit far-fetched, but it was a good read. Once things *did* start coming together, I didn’t want to stop reading. So if anyone feels lost, I encourage you to stick to it and see how it goes. I’m glad I did.
January 4, 2023
You know when you just can't put a book down? What happens? Omg, do you think that's connected? Final Belongings had me gripped and not only was it exciting, it had such a great cultural reference. I could almost visualize the characters and/or I feel like I know people just like them, very relatable. Highly recommend.
January 11, 2023
Final Belongings was so engaging immediately from the beginning. The way multiple stories were strung together through generations made the book interesting and unique from start to finish. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a fun, thrilling adventure!
February 5, 2023
This was a fun read! The spin toward the end kept me turning the pages!!!! And I had to keep googling (said famous person in the book) because I was like, wait, did she make this up? But I loved how she weaved his real life events into this story!! Very creative and cool!!
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April 25, 2023BookAdrenaline 99
February 4, 2023
I received a free Kindle copy of this book via the Goodreads Giveaways program and would like to thank anyone involved in making that happen.
This was a very satisfying historical mystery with some great twists! I am so glad that I got the chance to read this one and I will definitely be on the lookout for this author's next release!
This was a very satisfying historical mystery with some great twists! I am so glad that I got the chance to read this one and I will definitely be on the lookout for this author's next release!
December 12, 2022
I went into this book with little knowledge of its plot, and I’m so thankful I did. Final Belongings is one of those books where you just go along for the ride and let the dual character arcs and storyline reveal themselves organically in the author’s masterful hands. I tried to predict what would happen several times along the way and was so, so wrong—and I read lots of mysteries and thrillers, so consider this high praise!
Juliet and Henry seem so different at first glance. Even withstanding the different time periods they are growing up in, the only thing that seems to tie them together is their family. But just wait. Without revealing any spoilers, the two interwoven storylines come together beautifully and brilliantly to highlight just how universal the human experience is, and how the past is never as far away as it seems. This is one of those rare novels that is able to successfully combine expert suspense with lovely, sometimes heartbreaking, prose—an especially impressive feat for a debut author. Highly recommend—it's a story that has stuck with me ever since reading it.
Juliet and Henry seem so different at first glance. Even withstanding the different time periods they are growing up in, the only thing that seems to tie them together is their family. But just wait. Without revealing any spoilers, the two interwoven storylines come together beautifully and brilliantly to highlight just how universal the human experience is, and how the past is never as far away as it seems. This is one of those rare novels that is able to successfully combine expert suspense with lovely, sometimes heartbreaking, prose—an especially impressive feat for a debut author. Highly recommend—it's a story that has stuck with me ever since reading it.
October 8, 2023
2.5 stars
One of those mystery stories that alternate between the past and present to slowly reveal the circumstances. The book is gripping enough, and it's clear that the protagonist needs to grow, which she does.
I felt a little misled regarding the story. It went in a totally different direction to what I was expecting. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but it disappointed me. I was expecting the story to lead back to the family's origins in Italy and the circumstances of their departure. I was further disappointed by the story including a famous person from the past as a key player in the drama. For some reason that cheapened the book for me. If it had been a made-up famous person, I would have been happier. But, historical fiction is something that has been written for many years, so I can't really complain. I guess I'm not used to it being relatively recent history.
Later chapters appeared to be less well edited than the first ones. There were a few typos and badly formed sentences.
One of those mystery stories that alternate between the past and present to slowly reveal the circumstances. The book is gripping enough, and it's clear that the protagonist needs to grow, which she does.
I felt a little misled regarding the story. It went in a totally different direction to what I was expecting. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but it disappointed me. I was expecting the story to lead back to the family's origins in Italy and the circumstances of their departure. I was further disappointed by the story including a famous person from the past as a key player in the drama. For some reason that cheapened the book for me. If it had been a made-up famous person, I would have been happier. But, historical fiction is something that has been written for many years, so I can't really complain. I guess I'm not used to it being relatively recent history.
Later chapters appeared to be less well edited than the first ones. There were a few typos and badly formed sentences.
July 2, 2024
This is a beautiful and engaging book, and I particularly recommend this to any Lief Enger Peace Like a River fan. I started reading this while waiting in an airport for far longer than anyone should have wait in the airport, and I read it all through my flight, which was shorter than any flight should ever be (because I then had to wait until I drove home to finish reading it). There is lot I have to say about this. Unfortunately, there is so much I would give away if I said what I wanted to say. This was an enjoyable read for me. Similar to the Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, the true brilliance of Final Belongings is in the genuine insertion of historical characters and events, and making them feel like they could be real. I admit, I wanted to punch the narrator at least two times (once in her Xanax hand and once in her "duh" moments), which was refreshing after so many similar novels where the main characters are "practically perfect in every way" this was genuine writing, well-thought out and prepared, and I enjoyed every morsel of it.
March 19, 2023
This is a 4.5 star, so so close to a 5 star. If you follow my reviews you will know that 5 star is almost unobtainable for the books I read. 5 stars are my desert island disc books. However I’m so so close to wobbling this one over to 5 star.
I didn’t read the blurb before getting started, I only knew that it was about her uncle’s death in a european country.
I just suffered the death of my aunt in a European country, the author has nailed it.
I loved everything about the way this story unfolded and at the end I had to google it to see if it’s true.
So do yourself a favour and read this, it’s top notch.
I didn’t read the blurb before getting started, I only knew that it was about her uncle’s death in a european country.
I just suffered the death of my aunt in a European country, the author has nailed it.
I loved everything about the way this story unfolded and at the end I had to google it to see if it’s true.
So do yourself a favour and read this, it’s top notch.
March 10, 2023
I found this story very intriguing, expecting certain things to happen only to find out it went into a different direction. The shift from past to present was smooth and easy to follow. It is an intense, on the edge of your seat type of story. After putting the book down, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again. Kudos to Ms. Beauchemin for such a great story & l loved the cover, which is what originally caught my eye & drew me to reading the synopsis, then purchasing the book. I would definitely recommend this and I look forward to reading more books from Sarah Beauchemin.
February 6, 2023
Enjoyable enough
This story tells the tale of a troubled family. The teller is the niece of a man who had his own serious trouble who searched throughout his life to find his place in the world. When it seemed that he found himself, his life was taken, leaving behind more questions than answers. The niece never knew her uncle until she began her search to find out why her life was as mysterious as his.
This story tells the tale of a troubled family. The teller is the niece of a man who had his own serious trouble who searched throughout his life to find his place in the world. When it seemed that he found himself, his life was taken, leaving behind more questions than answers. The niece never knew her uncle until she began her search to find out why her life was as mysterious as his.
February 11, 2023
Readers crave great storytelling. To me, that means compelling characters, a fabulous plot, and a prose that makes you feel as if you are a part of the story. Beauchemin launches out of the gates with a debut novel that hits every beat for me. This is a wonderfully written novel that keep you engaged. Well done!
March 13, 2023
3.5 Stars... this was a nice surprise. I picked it up on a whim after the author posted a nice tweet on the anniversary of Mark Lanegan´s death, figured that her good taste in music made it worth checking out her fiction, and it didn´t dissapoint. Very engaging and creative plot, and very well executed. I look forward to reading more by this author!
May 7, 2023
Memories
I can't believe it's been that long ago. The death of JFK, the Vietnam war, Woodstock...I was growing up at that time.
I wasn't sure where this story was going, but pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I wish that Henry's uncle had a greater part in the book. Though at the end I think there was a supernatural element.
I can't believe it's been that long ago. The death of JFK, the Vietnam war, Woodstock...I was growing up at that time.
I wasn't sure where this story was going, but pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I wish that Henry's uncle had a greater part in the book. Though at the end I think there was a supernatural element.
May 13, 2023
Totally Awesome
This book was one of the best I’ve read in a very long time. Suspenseful. Thoughtful of details. I could picture it all as I read it. Kept me awake at night because I couldn’t put it down. I had to read more. Love the final end. Not what was expected which is exactly why it’s so good. Don’t like knowing how it’s going to end. Love the surprise.
This book was one of the best I’ve read in a very long time. Suspenseful. Thoughtful of details. I could picture it all as I read it. Kept me awake at night because I couldn’t put it down. I had to read more. Love the final end. Not what was expected which is exactly why it’s so good. Don’t like knowing how it’s going to end. Love the surprise.
February 4, 2023
Loved it!
This is a great read, I really enjoyed it! I just love the writing, especially chapter 23. Henry is a great character! I read it in one day cuz I couldn’t stop! There are so many good things I could say, but just read it!
This is a great read, I really enjoyed it! I just love the writing, especially chapter 23. Henry is a great character! I read it in one day cuz I couldn’t stop! There are so many good things I could say, but just read it!
March 1, 2023
So amazingly researched, it might have been True!
Incredibly gripping, the storyline was so believable it sweeps the reader along on a fantastic journey of past and present discovery
Incredibly gripping, the storyline was so believable it sweeps the reader along on a fantastic journey of past and present discovery
March 6, 2023
The more I read the less likely I was to stop. Creative and fresh way to weave historical events and figures into a story told from multiple points of view that readers can "see" in their mind's eye. It worked beautifully. Thank you, Sarah Beauchemin, I look forward to reading your future work!
August 23, 2023
This book is so good. It is about Jim Morrison meeting Hank. Then 50 years later an eerie photo with a cryptic note unearthed. A woman driven to solve a family mystery—at any cost. Juliet Barton has to find out what her uncle Hank meant after her mom dies and she finds something in her closet.
June 8, 2024
A good read, my only disappointment which is a regular criticism of books is although I totally understand some parts are set in Italy, please do not write conversations in Italian, it takes an age to go through translation!!!
December 1, 2024
An engrossing (re)imagining of history. Sarah gifted us closure about a real historical figure and an equally enigmatic fictional one. I enjoyed the way the novel bounced between present day and flashbacks until both timelines collide in a heartbreaking yet satisfying end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
Great story and writing
Great writing , excellent story, couldn't put it down!
Didn't know one of my favorite and very talented singer,songwriter was a main character.
Great writing , excellent story, couldn't put it down!
Didn't know one of my favorite and very talented singer,songwriter was a main character.
February 1, 2023
Not a bad mystery but a little weird to use a well known person as the centerpiece to it. I enjoyed the suspense
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews