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villianess's review
5.0
Jennifer White is an orthopedic surgeon that discovers she has dementia. She retires from being a Dr. before it becomes obvious that she is forgetting things. The story takes the reader on the journey of what goes through the lives of a family that is dealing with the onset of dementia. Amanda is jennifer's dear friend and when she is found dead with her fingers surgically removed the police turn their attention to an aging women that can't remember what happens from day to day, let alone last month.
Jennifer slowly looses everything that is important to her and as she does the reality of the murder comes to light.
Jennifer slowly looses everything that is important to her and as she does the reality of the murder comes to light.
toniclark's review
3.0
It was a little better than just okay — and I applaud the author's handing of this unique voice/pov — but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Emma Healey's "Elizabeth is Missing," another book with a first-person narrator who is slipping deeper into dementia. The reveal was not a big surprise; even so, the rationale was not well enough developed ahead of time. Also, I found some of the narrator's disquissitions on medical matters pretty implausible, given how far gone she was.
judithdcollins's review
4.0
Alice LaPlante, New York Times, author of acclaimed psychological thrillers--distinguished by their stunning synthesis of family drama and engrossing suspense-- delivers a stunning debut, TURN OF MIND. A middle-aged surgeon suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s, blurring the lines between fact and fiction.
Dr. Jennifer White is a former successful orthopedic surgeon, now in her early sixties, is forced to retire, due to her news of early dementia. Jennifer’s mind is deteriorating and each day she experiences an array of emotions from reality, confusion, to fear.
To further complicate her uncertain life, her best friend Amanda has been murdered. During a surgical procedure, four fingers were removed from her friend’s hand. Jennifer is the prime suspect; however, she cannot imagine how this could have happened.
Narrated by Jennifer we hear this haunting and complex tale, of two friends, and a disease which has taken over her mind. She is angry, frustrated, shamed, and overwhelmed, as not only is she losing part of her mind, her life, and her best friend. Is she capable of murder? Is she hiding behind her Alzheimer’s or can she really not remember the events? Why the fingers?
We meet her children, her caregiver, her husband, parents, and Amanda. A disturbing world as Jennifer tries desperately to piece together the puzzle of her mind, with twist and turns leaving you guessing as to the motives of the killer.
A poignant debut of a woman’s disintegrating unstable mind, filled with blurred memories, in a compelling and gripping saga---a lyrical psychological suspense with a mystery of whodunit. Skillfully written, and haunting – A tour de force!
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jean Reed Bahle, delivering an outstanding performance as you follow the confused mind of Jennifer. Looking forward to reading, Alice LaPlante’s Coming of Age at the End of Days, coming Aug 4, 2015.
If you enjoyed TURN OF MIND, recommend reading: Paul Cleave’s TRUST NO ONE (crime writer, Alzheimer’s), Lisa Genova’s STILL ALICE (professor, Alzheimer’s), and Maggie Barbieri’s ONCE UPON A LIE (retired cop, father, Alzheimer’s). Both Cleave and Barbieri add quite a bit of wit and humor, mixed with murder.
JDCMustReadBooks
Dr. Jennifer White is a former successful orthopedic surgeon, now in her early sixties, is forced to retire, due to her news of early dementia. Jennifer’s mind is deteriorating and each day she experiences an array of emotions from reality, confusion, to fear.
To further complicate her uncertain life, her best friend Amanda has been murdered. During a surgical procedure, four fingers were removed from her friend’s hand. Jennifer is the prime suspect; however, she cannot imagine how this could have happened.
Narrated by Jennifer we hear this haunting and complex tale, of two friends, and a disease which has taken over her mind. She is angry, frustrated, shamed, and overwhelmed, as not only is she losing part of her mind, her life, and her best friend. Is she capable of murder? Is she hiding behind her Alzheimer’s or can she really not remember the events? Why the fingers?
We meet her children, her caregiver, her husband, parents, and Amanda. A disturbing world as Jennifer tries desperately to piece together the puzzle of her mind, with twist and turns leaving you guessing as to the motives of the killer.
A poignant debut of a woman’s disintegrating unstable mind, filled with blurred memories, in a compelling and gripping saga---a lyrical psychological suspense with a mystery of whodunit. Skillfully written, and haunting – A tour de force!
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jean Reed Bahle, delivering an outstanding performance as you follow the confused mind of Jennifer. Looking forward to reading, Alice LaPlante’s Coming of Age at the End of Days, coming Aug 4, 2015.
If you enjoyed TURN OF MIND, recommend reading: Paul Cleave’s TRUST NO ONE (crime writer, Alzheimer’s), Lisa Genova’s STILL ALICE (professor, Alzheimer’s), and Maggie Barbieri’s ONCE UPON A LIE (retired cop, father, Alzheimer’s). Both Cleave and Barbieri add quite a bit of wit and humor, mixed with murder.
JDCMustReadBooks
cathyatratedreads's review
4.0
I enjoy reading these types of books in which we get an insight into the mind of someone who's experiencing Alzheimer's. I mostly appreciate and find the experience fascinating, except for the brief and quickly passing moments in which I think, "Gee, how possible is it for us to even know what they're thinking or experiencing?" This book not only gave a valuable window into the mind of someone suffering from this debilitating disease, but also provided some fascinating characters and a little mystery. Recommended.
pattiillbee11's review
3.0
interesting but don't think I would suggest to anyone. Talk about an unreliable narrator, Dr. White suffers from dementia which makes this book sometimes difficult to read. The murder mystery kept me reading but there weren't any characters that I particularly liked. But being inside the mind of someone who suffers from dementia , and a doctor no less, was definitely an eye opener.
lizella's review
4.0
Turn of Mind follows Dr. Jennifer White as she tries to remember the who, where and when of her day-to-day life as her memory is lost to Alzheimer’s. Her emotions, reasoning and relationships with those around her are all suspect as the memories of her past become present and the changes wrought by time make those around her unrecognizable. In addition to this, her best friend has been murdered and she is suspected by the police. Through revisited memories we learn about the complex relationship between the two life-long friends and families with possible motives revealed throughout.
This novel worked very well as both murder mystery and character study. Teasing out personalities, relationships and motivations through the hazy and at times crisp recollections gives the reader time and space to weigh all the variables and guess at the truth before it is revealed. It also allows the reader to ponder which is the greater of two evils – either not being able to remember, or not being able to forget.
This novel worked very well as both murder mystery and character study. Teasing out personalities, relationships and motivations through the hazy and at times crisp recollections gives the reader time and space to weigh all the variables and guess at the truth before it is revealed. It also allows the reader to ponder which is the greater of two evils – either not being able to remember, or not being able to forget.
romyschnaiberg's review
4.0
Very cleverly written and engaging murder mystery with a twist. Couldn't put it down!
carolpk's review
3.0
Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante may just be the talk of the summer. I read it in one sitting, it was that riveting. Sixty-four year old Dr. Jennifer White retires from her orthopedic practice when she discovers she has early on-set Alzheimer’s. When her old friend is found murdered with mutilated hands and missing fingers, Dr. White becomes a prime suspect. What could be a run of the mill murder mystery becomes a complicated story of a woman experiencing rapid dementia and declining memory. I can only liken it to experiencing a horrible nightmare over and over as we follow Dr. White’s thought process in this first person narrative. The story goes backward, forward and round and round in an attempt to give us the whole picture; yet in a voice that so confused that sometimes we feel our own memory is failing us. With a deceased husband, two children and a caretaker also on board, Dr White’s story is fleshed out and we eventually understand what happened.
I fear that calling Turn of Mind a mystery may lose some readers and what a loss this would be. If you were able to read Still Alice by Lisa Genova, frightening as the topic of Alzheimer’s can be, then don’t miss Turn of Mind. Disturbing but thought provoking, it’s a different take on the topic of dementia and its many manifestations.
I fear that calling Turn of Mind a mystery may lose some readers and what a loss this would be. If you were able to read Still Alice by Lisa Genova, frightening as the topic of Alzheimer’s can be, then don’t miss Turn of Mind. Disturbing but thought provoking, it’s a different take on the topic of dementia and its many manifestations.
kathrinpassig's review
4.0
Eine Art Krimi, aber mit einer dementen Erzählerin. Ich ärgere mich leicht über inkonsistente Erzählperspektiven (jemand hat eine Nacht Zeit, noch schnell alles aufzuschreiben, und hinterlässt einen 300-Seiten-Roman etc.), aber hier funktioniert alles erstaunlich gut.