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fanchera's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Trafficking
Minor: Cursing
amcghig's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gaslighting, Rape, Trafficking, and Death
antoniav's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
nikkicolee's review against another edition
5.0
Wtf did I just read??? Going into this book, I thought it was going to be a cozy mystery or a humor filled thriller. Golden girls with a twist of murder if you will. However, that could not be further from what it was! This was such a dark and compelling story. It exposes issues in this world that desperately need to be talked about more. I was truly captivated by this book and found myself so consumed despite how heavy it was. This book left me feeling angry and sad because although it was fiction, it is the disturbing reality for too many people in this world. Very well written and a story that unfortunately needs to be told to bring more awareness. This one will stay with me for a long time.
lizabethstucker's review against another edition
3.5
Three elderly women meet for the first time at a nearby café after an exhausting Pilates class. While there they meet teenage Nina who is desperate to escape her current situation. The women band together, determined to do whatever it takes to save the young woman.
Although previously published in July of 2021, this NetGalley ARC is scheduled for a July 5th release. I've received this for a far review. Thanks to HQ and Harper 360 for their generosity.
This was not what I expected. Probably my bias, but despite it clearly stating that these seniors were considering committing murder, I was thinking more "Snoop Sisters" vibe or even a cozy mystery. Definitely not! I wouldn't even call it much of a mystery, more a thriller. It was a bit difficult to get into at first. We start almost mid-thoughts through the POV of Meg, scrambling to figure out what is going on. With chapters given over to the four main characters, with bits and bites of backstories, it takes a while to get to the action portion of the book.
However, as the story moved on, I found myself speeding through, waiting for what would happen with our three ladies, especially Meg, their charge, and the people that gather around them to support and help. My favorite part would have to be watching Meg grow into herself, breaking through the emotional abuse dumped on her by her husband (and later herself).
The story does require an incredible level of belief suspension and going with the flow, like fantasy level, so be aware that logic is on vacation here. For instance, despite it being set probably in 2020-2021, based on the 2021 original publication date, and the emphasis of law enforcement and courts on fighting trafficking, the ladies immediately dismiss going to the police for help, certain that Nina would end up in prison, blamed for everything that happened to her. Perhaps that might happen, even in London, but I gauge that to be so miniscule a chance as to need a microscope to see.
While the ending was satisfying, I like that Meg and the others are well aware that the events will echo through the rest of ALL their lives. I would definitely recommend this to readers of domestic thrillers (is that even a thing?). Content warnings would include physical violence, sex trafficking of minors, emotional self-abuse, domestic abuse, so be aware.
Although previously published in July of 2021, this NetGalley ARC is scheduled for a July 5th release. I've received this for a far review. Thanks to HQ and Harper 360 for their generosity.
This was not what I expected. Probably my bias, but despite it clearly stating that these seniors were considering committing murder, I was thinking more "Snoop Sisters" vibe or even a cozy mystery. Definitely not! I wouldn't even call it much of a mystery, more a thriller. It was a bit difficult to get into at first. We start almost mid-thoughts through the POV of Meg, scrambling to figure out what is going on. With chapters given over to the four main characters, with bits and bites of backstories, it takes a while to get to the action portion of the book.
However, as the story moved on, I found myself speeding through, waiting for what would happen with our three ladies, especially Meg, their charge, and the people that gather around them to support and help. My favorite part would have to be watching Meg grow into herself, breaking through the emotional abuse dumped on her by her husband (and later herself).
The story does require an incredible level of belief suspension and going with the flow, like fantasy level, so be aware that logic is on vacation here. For instance, despite it being set probably in 2020-2021, based on the 2021 original publication date, and the emphasis of law enforcement and courts on fighting trafficking, the ladies immediately dismiss going to the police for help, certain that Nina would end up in prison, blamed for everything that happened to her. Perhaps that might happen, even in London, but I gauge that to be so miniscule a chance as to need a microscope to see.
While the ending was satisfying, I like that Meg and the others are well aware that the events will echo through the rest of ALL their lives. I would definitely recommend this to readers of domestic thrillers (is that even a thing?). Content warnings would include physical violence, sex trafficking of minors, emotional self-abuse, domestic abuse, so be aware.
nlbogard11's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Daphne, Grace and Meg are giving me golden girl vibes and I am absolutely living their cute wit and charm! These three ladies are not what you think and who would question 70 year old women in a plot to save Nina 17 and pregnant from a relationship that has a dark side.
I was immediately enthralled with this story. It’s not your typical mystery and these are not your typical women. They knew exactly what they were doing and made a plan to accomplish and did hesitate. The story is dark and twisting and it will suck you in until the last word.
This was a well written and thought provoking book and o highly recommend.
A special thanks to netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was immediately enthralled with this story. It’s not your typical mystery and these are not your typical women. They knew exactly what they were doing and made a plan to accomplish and did hesitate. The story is dark and twisting and it will suck you in until the last word.
This was a well written and thought provoking book and o highly recommend.
A special thanks to netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
kirstyreviewsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
A Beginner’s Guide to Murder - Rosalind Stopps
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Grace, Meg and Daphne, all in their seventies, are minding their own business while enjoying a cup of tea in a café, when seventeen-year-old Nina stumbles in. She’s clearly distraught and running from someone, so the three women think nothing of hiding her when a suspicious-looking man starts asking if they’ve seen her.
Once alone, Nina tells the women a little of what she’s running from. The need to protect her is immediate, and Grace, Meg and Daphne vow to do just this. But how? They soon realise there really is only one answer: murder.
Well this was a quirky read! I was enthralled and read the majority of this book in one sitting. In a heartwarming way three women who barely know each other join up to save a 17 year old from the abuse she is constantly suffering.
An entertaining read with lots of character, completed by a lovely cast of characters. Due to the themes covered in the book, in places it was a little uncomfortable to read, but there are lighter moments and glimpses of humour.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Grace, Meg and Daphne, all in their seventies, are minding their own business while enjoying a cup of tea in a café, when seventeen-year-old Nina stumbles in. She’s clearly distraught and running from someone, so the three women think nothing of hiding her when a suspicious-looking man starts asking if they’ve seen her.
Once alone, Nina tells the women a little of what she’s running from. The need to protect her is immediate, and Grace, Meg and Daphne vow to do just this. But how? They soon realise there really is only one answer: murder.
Well this was a quirky read! I was enthralled and read the majority of this book in one sitting. In a heartwarming way three women who barely know each other join up to save a 17 year old from the abuse she is constantly suffering.
An entertaining read with lots of character, completed by a lovely cast of characters. Due to the themes covered in the book, in places it was a little uncomfortable to read, but there are lighter moments and glimpses of humour.
Rating 4/5
jparnie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosagogo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
I love crime thrillers, but they have to grab me, I get very tired if I am not immediately in love with the characters. Enter this book... It took me five seconds to immediately care about this Grandmas Girl Gang and want to read their adventures for pages to go.
A short synopsis: Three old women meet a young girl in danger and they decide that the only way to help her is killing the man who is trying to hurt her. Please check the tw before reading this book, here is a short list: Confinement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Starvation
The writing is light, the characters are compelling and tridimensional. The book circles around the four protagonists, three older women (Meg, Grace, and Daphne) and a young girl (Nina) in a difficult situation. Every episode is narrated from the point of view of one of the main characters, and I think that's what makes this book so special, it allows us to out ourselves in the skins of theses three older women and see them as people, not to be immediately categorised as "sweet fragile grandmas". Meg, Grace, and Daphne have had full lives of which we are allowed to see glimpses of once they start fighting to help Nina, and even though their age is a weakness is the physical strength, it makes them wiser and braver, "the devil knows more because he's old than for being the devil". I think we tend to dismiss teenagers and older people as people without a proper life, ones because they are too young to understand the burdens of the world and the others because they are too old and then get treated like children, with which we forget that this are individuals and have their own history behind them . This book breaks with that tradition with a lot of grace, and shows us four strong women, each in its own way, none of them free of trauma, but none of them lacking a fighting spirit.
I have already bought a couple of copies of this book to gift them to the people I love, what a fun read.
I love crime thrillers, but they have to grab me, I get very tired if I am not immediately in love with the characters. Enter this book... It took me five seconds to immediately care about this Grandmas Girl Gang and want to read their adventures for pages to go.
A short synopsis: Three old women meet a young girl in danger and they decide that the only way to help her is killing the man who is trying to hurt her. Please check the tw before reading this book, here is a short list: Confinement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Starvation
The writing is light, the characters are compelling and tridimensional. The book circles around the four protagonists, three older women (Meg, Grace, and Daphne) and a young girl (Nina) in a difficult situation. Every episode is narrated from the point of view of one of the main characters, and I think that's what makes this book so special, it allows us to out ourselves in the skins of theses three older women and see them as people, not to be immediately categorised as "sweet fragile grandmas". Meg, Grace, and Daphne have had full lives of which we are allowed to see glimpses of once they start fighting to help Nina, and even though their age is a weakness is the physical strength, it makes them wiser and braver, "the devil knows more because he's old than for being the devil". I think we tend to dismiss teenagers and older people as people without a proper life, ones because they are too young to understand the burdens of the world and the others because they are too old and then get treated like children, with which we forget that this are individuals and have their own history behind them . This book breaks with that tradition with a lot of grace, and shows us four strong women, each in its own way, none of them free of trauma, but none of them lacking a fighting spirit.
I have already bought a couple of copies of this book to gift them to the people I love, what a fun read.