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jullecomer's review
2.0
It wasn’t that it was bad, but it was lackluster. I had higher expectations based on the back of the book. But it just didn’t ever reach a part that was super engaging and thrilling, like I hoped.
beckyrendon's review
4.0
What to do? What to do!
Caroline B. Cooney still has it. 25 years ago, I started reading her novels as a teen. I loved her ability to keep the reader guessing, her need to have full formed characters on her pages, and the strength in which she spun her stories. Cooney is still the masterful story teller she was then.
I may not be Clemmie's age but Cooney has written as story that I think even young adult can appreciate. With thoughtfully explained differences in the times from Clemmie's youth to today's options, young and old can experience exactly what Clemmie went through without the knowledge gap. (Though I'm sure today's kids can't imagine no cellphones!)
Catefully constructed murder in the retirement village, Before She Was Helen requires quite the unraveling. Facts and lies sifted; People and places changed and one constant...Clemmie.
It seems today is not her day.
Caroline B. Cooney still has it. 25 years ago, I started reading her novels as a teen. I loved her ability to keep the reader guessing, her need to have full formed characters on her pages, and the strength in which she spun her stories. Cooney is still the masterful story teller she was then.
I may not be Clemmie's age but Cooney has written as story that I think even young adult can appreciate. With thoughtfully explained differences in the times from Clemmie's youth to today's options, young and old can experience exactly what Clemmie went through without the knowledge gap. (Though I'm sure today's kids can't imagine no cellphones!)
Catefully constructed murder in the retirement village, Before She Was Helen requires quite the unraveling. Facts and lies sifted; People and places changed and one constant...Clemmie.
It seems today is not her day.
gwoman's review
2.0
This was a book club selection. From the first, I was not engaged with the book. The writing was very simple, the foreshadowing poorly done. You could tell what was going to happen chapters before it did. There was only one surprise and even that was telegraphed long before its reveal. Overall, the storyline was interesting but the writing let it down.
rmarcin's review
4.0
Clemmie has kept her personal life very private, never giving out her exact address. She has moved to a retirement community in Sun City, SC. But why is she so careful?
One day, she checks on her neighbor, and discovers a piece of art. She texts it to her nephew, and he shares it on social media, thereby opening a can of worms for Clemmie. Her past comes back to haunt her.
I enjoyed this tale of an elderly woman being put into a situation, and her thoughts on what to do. Her back story of why she was so private made sense, and the commentary on life in the 50s and 60s and the comparison to now was interesting.
One day, she checks on her neighbor, and discovers a piece of art. She texts it to her nephew, and he shares it on social media, thereby opening a can of worms for Clemmie. Her past comes back to haunt her.
I enjoyed this tale of an elderly woman being put into a situation, and her thoughts on what to do. Her back story of why she was so private made sense, and the commentary on life in the 50s and 60s and the comparison to now was interesting.
judithdcollins's review
4.0
Caroline B. Cooney, former YA author of [b:The Face on the Milk Carton|19469|The Face on the Milk Carton (Janie Johnson, #1)|Caroline B. Cooney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389155097l/19469._SX50_.jpg|816295], returns with BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN —a gripping Southern tale when the past and present collide with decades-old secrets of a 70-something woman, for a highly entertaining read.
Clemmie Lakefield is the heroine of this witty and action-packed suspense. She is a semi-retired Latin teacher and resides at Sun City, an active retirement adult living community in South Carolina.
She is a likable neighbor, and Dom, her neighbor, has given her a key for emergencies, and they text daily after he had taken a fall previously to ensure he is ok.
When she does not hear from him, she senses something is wrong and uses the key. However, once entering, she notices an adjoining door to another unit which is occupied by a seasonal couple. Curious, the door is unlocked, and she enters.
However, Clemmie spots a beautiful glass sculpture, snaps a photo, and posts it on social media. This ignites a series of problems. Dom is nowhere to be found.
One kind neighborly act and a photo posted to social media ignite a series of events that threaten to expose Clemmie's past as Helen.
For over fifty years, Clemmie has kept hidden a terrible secret. Now a robbery, her fingerprints, and a body. Someone will find her. They have been searching.
With flashbacks of 50 years prior, we learn the tragedies of Helen and how she came to live in Sun City. She had a sad past and was a courageous woman trying to protect her past life from her family and friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I LOVED Clemmie! She is a firecracker and a heroine. As a baby boomer, I adore books revolving around strong senior women in my age range. Living in Florida, I am surrounded by seniors.
BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN is fast-paced, with several mysteries and crimes going on (in this quiet but lively retirement community) with a full cast of colorful, diverse characters involved in all kinds of quirky shenanigans.
Highly entertaining! A compelling twisty Southern mystery with loads of charm, grit, and wit. Also, if you enjoyed BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN, be sure and check out THE WRONG GOOD DEED (5/23), a continuation of Helen/Clemmie at Sun City Retirement Community and her friend Muffin, also with a dark past.
These were the first two books I have read by the author, and I look forward to reading more—a mix of authors, Elizabeth Berg and Diane Chamberlin. If you enjoyed Mark de Castrique's female senior sleuth, Ethel Fiona Crestwater, in Secret Lives, you will love this one.
I purchased the audiobook narrated by Kimberly Farr for an engaging and fun listening experience.
Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 8, 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Clemmie Lakefield is the heroine of this witty and action-packed suspense. She is a semi-retired Latin teacher and resides at Sun City, an active retirement adult living community in South Carolina.
She is a likable neighbor, and Dom, her neighbor, has given her a key for emergencies, and they text daily after he had taken a fall previously to ensure he is ok.
When she does not hear from him, she senses something is wrong and uses the key. However, once entering, she notices an adjoining door to another unit which is occupied by a seasonal couple. Curious, the door is unlocked, and she enters.
However, Clemmie spots a beautiful glass sculpture, snaps a photo, and posts it on social media. This ignites a series of problems. Dom is nowhere to be found.
One kind neighborly act and a photo posted to social media ignite a series of events that threaten to expose Clemmie's past as Helen.
For over fifty years, Clemmie has kept hidden a terrible secret. Now a robbery, her fingerprints, and a body. Someone will find her. They have been searching.
With flashbacks of 50 years prior, we learn the tragedies of Helen and how she came to live in Sun City. She had a sad past and was a courageous woman trying to protect her past life from her family and friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I LOVED Clemmie! She is a firecracker and a heroine. As a baby boomer, I adore books revolving around strong senior women in my age range. Living in Florida, I am surrounded by seniors.
BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN is fast-paced, with several mysteries and crimes going on (in this quiet but lively retirement community) with a full cast of colorful, diverse characters involved in all kinds of quirky shenanigans.
Highly entertaining! A compelling twisty Southern mystery with loads of charm, grit, and wit. Also, if you enjoyed BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN, be sure and check out THE WRONG GOOD DEED (5/23), a continuation of Helen/Clemmie at Sun City Retirement Community and her friend Muffin, also with a dark past.
These were the first two books I have read by the author, and I look forward to reading more—a mix of authors, Elizabeth Berg and Diane Chamberlin. If you enjoyed Mark de Castrique's female senior sleuth, Ethel Fiona Crestwater, in Secret Lives, you will love this one.
I purchased the audiobook narrated by Kimberly Farr for an engaging and fun listening experience.
Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 8, 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars