Death of a Green-Eyed Monster

I have read every Hamish Macbeth novel, so I had to read this installment written by Beaton's friend author R.W. Green. I struggled at the beginning. The writing just felt different (probably true but also maybe just a figment of my imagination). As I pushed through, though, I felt the same Hamish rhythm and got into the story and characters. It was a fast, quick, and entertaining read. That said, if this is the final Macbeth installment, I wish my good friend Hamish had a bit more closure.

Out of My Mind

I read Sharon M. Draper’s Out of My Mind with my third grader. He was excited to read the story of Melody, who has cerebral palsy, because she reminded him of his cousin who has autism and is non-verbal.

The story is told from Melody’s perspective. Although she has little control over her physical body and cannot speak, she has a strong, healthy, and curious mind. Melody struggles to express herself to others but makes amazing progress throughout the book.

Out of My Mind is an emotional read. There were many tearful points for me as Melody is misjudged and mistreated because of both real and perceived disabilities. It made me wonder what I would see and learn if I could be inside my nephew’s mind.

Both my son and I enjoyed this book. There is a scene at the end that I considered gratuitous and unnecessary in an already emotionally heavy book. I just could not bring myself to read that scene out loud with my son because of my own emotions and a concern for his mental health (we talked about what happened in the scene instead). Overall, though, it is an important book for both youth and adults.

The Family Upstairs

The Family Upstairs is told from three perspectives: a young woman who receives a surprising inheritance on her 25th birthday, a mother of two in France, and a boy from the past. How these three stories connect is clear early on, but the story they unfold is intriguing. At first, I found the plot very odd, but the more I read, the more absorbed I became until I could not put the book down. Although some of the twists were not too surprising, the book ends on a disturbing note—a satisfying way to end the tale of the family downstairs and the family upstairs.

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

I haven’t read a cozy mystery for years, and it’s been even longer since I read a regency romance. Dianne Freeman’s A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder was exactly the light, romantic, murder-y fluff I needed to counteract so many months of reading psychological thrillers.

Lady Frances Harleigh, a widowed American aristocrat, moves to London for a fresh start after “mourning” her late husband. Little does she anticipate all the adventures and misadventures that will befall her there.

Frances is a smart and sympathetic heroine and a welcome star in this series. I look forward to reading the next installment.

Then She was Gone

Laurel Mack comes to terms with her missing teen daughter in Lisa Jewell’s Then She was Gone. Although most of the novel focuses on Laurel’s journey and her relationships, it does provide the perspectives of the missing daughter and the perpetrator of the crime. The organization of the book is interesting, and focusing on the people left behind is a different approach, but the content can be quite disturbing. I was surprised by the ending, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing or a good thing. The book is a quick, engaging read if you don’t mind some upsetting content.