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A review by lizabethstucker
A Beginner's Guide to Murder by Rosalind Stopps
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.