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The Problem with Murmur Lee
The bestselling author of Before Women Had Wings spins a wild new tale about the strong bonds among a group of friends that loses its quirkiest member, Murmur Lee. Exploring new literary territory while keeping to her native Floridian roots, Fowler is here at her most original and entertaining.
As a new year dawns over the island of Iris Haven, Murmur Lee Harp and her lover, Billy, go for a romantic sail without a care in the world. The evening comes to an abrupt halt when Murmur Lee discovers that she has drowned—but by whose hand?—in the Iris Haven river.
Grief-stricken and haunted by the mysteries surrounding her death, Murmur Lee’s circle of friends sets out to discover what really happened to her, and in the process they learn as much about her failings and triumphs as their own. After years of self-exile in the North, Charlee Mudd returns to set her best friend’s affairs in order, only to confront her own ghosts. Edith Piaf, a former marine whose sex change at the age of sixty-two Murmur Lee supported unquestioningly, must find the confidence to carry on without the encouragement of her friend. Lonely widower Dr. Zachary Klein plummets into the depths of depression at the loss of the second woman he has ever loved. As for Murmur Lee—who lived her entire life on an island named by her great-great grandfather in honor of the Greek goddess who receives the souls of dying women—in death she experiences her own journey as she is plunged into her familial past and discovers the truth about who she really is.
With poignancy and humor Fowler weaves the voices of Murmur and her friends into a compelling narrative. Part family saga, part murder mystery, The Problem with Murmur Lee is Fowler’s most rewarding and engrossing work yet.
As a new year dawns over the island of Iris Haven, Murmur Lee Harp and her lover, Billy, go for a romantic sail without a care in the world. The evening comes to an abrupt halt when Murmur Lee discovers that she has drowned—but by whose hand?—in the Iris Haven river.
Grief-stricken and haunted by the mysteries surrounding her death, Murmur Lee’s circle of friends sets out to discover what really happened to her, and in the process they learn as much about her failings and triumphs as their own. After years of self-exile in the North, Charlee Mudd returns to set her best friend’s affairs in order, only to confront her own ghosts. Edith Piaf, a former marine whose sex change at the age of sixty-two Murmur Lee supported unquestioningly, must find the confidence to carry on without the encouragement of her friend. Lonely widower Dr. Zachary Klein plummets into the depths of depression at the loss of the second woman he has ever loved. As for Murmur Lee—who lived her entire life on an island named by her great-great grandfather in honor of the Greek goddess who receives the souls of dying women—in death she experiences her own journey as she is plunged into her familial past and discovers the truth about who she really is.
With poignancy and humor Fowler weaves the voices of Murmur and her friends into a compelling narrative. Part family saga, part murder mystery, The Problem with Murmur Lee is Fowler’s most rewarding and engrossing work yet.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
54 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
June 12, 2019
4.5/5 stars
Mesmerizing. I’ll be honest and say that when I started this novel, I wasn’t really feeling it at first. It has a slow beginning, and I needed some time to warm up to Fowler’s style, but once I got into it, I was absolutely hooked. The Problem with Murmur Lee is a weird, unique, and utterly gut wrenching look at death from the perspectives of those who are left behind as well as from the one who has gone on. Connie Lee Fowler creates an odd group of friends who mourn an equally odd woman who has died in what may or may not be a freak accident, and by the time the novel ends, the reader feels as if Murmur Lee were one of their closest friends who they, too, are grieving.
The description of the novel makes it seem like it’s going to be a mystery novel, but it’s actually not. I didn’t think Murmur Lee’s death was mysterious in any way, shape, or form, and I caught on pretty early to what happened. I don’t know if that’s the author’s intention, and I also don’t mean it as a criticism. It’s just that the description on the jacket gives the impression that Murmur Lee’s friends spend the whole time trying to find out the truth about her death. The mystery is only a tiny part of the novel that’s taken on by only a tiny portion of Murmur Lee’s friends, so to see it being emphasized so much in the description is just odd to me.
Overall, The Problem with Murmur Lee is a gorgeous novel that I highly recommend. For anyone who knows what it’s like to grieve, this novel is for you.
Mesmerizing. I’ll be honest and say that when I started this novel, I wasn’t really feeling it at first. It has a slow beginning, and I needed some time to warm up to Fowler’s style, but once I got into it, I was absolutely hooked. The Problem with Murmur Lee is a weird, unique, and utterly gut wrenching look at death from the perspectives of those who are left behind as well as from the one who has gone on. Connie Lee Fowler creates an odd group of friends who mourn an equally odd woman who has died in what may or may not be a freak accident, and by the time the novel ends, the reader feels as if Murmur Lee were one of their closest friends who they, too, are grieving.
The description of the novel makes it seem like it’s going to be a mystery novel, but it’s actually not. I didn’t think Murmur Lee’s death was mysterious in any way, shape, or form, and I caught on pretty early to what happened. I don’t know if that’s the author’s intention, and I also don’t mean it as a criticism. It’s just that the description on the jacket gives the impression that Murmur Lee’s friends spend the whole time trying to find out the truth about her death. The mystery is only a tiny part of the novel that’s taken on by only a tiny portion of Murmur Lee’s friends, so to see it being emphasized so much in the description is just odd to me.
Overall, The Problem with Murmur Lee is a gorgeous novel that I highly recommend. For anyone who knows what it’s like to grieve, this novel is for you.
November 28, 2009
This book is hands-down, a 5-star, truly literary work of art. I absolutely was immersed in it and the writing was gorgeous. It has been quite a while since I have read a book that really made me laugh out loud and shed tears in the same sitting. I didn't want it to end.
The characterizations were absolutely stellar. First, each character is fully developed through their own descriptions and narratives, as well as their own perceptions of the same world and the other characters' views of them. In this way, we see perspectives from all sides and this lends special insight into each character's perceived reality. Connie May Fowler does this extremely well. I would contrast this vehicle with The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf, as this author also reveals bits of storyline through several main characters' points of view. However, Ms. Gudenkauf sadly falls short where Connie May Fowler excels. This appears to be the (big) difference between "student" and a "master". In The Weight of Silence, the characters, while narrating their own stories, all seem to have very similar voices, completely defeating the purpose of using such a mechanism-we don't see the individuality and the level of distinction expected between each of these people--despite their vast differences in age and background. (I also reviewed this book on Amazon.) The characterization in The Weight of Silence was much more flat and underdeveloped by comparison. The Problem with Murmur Lee successfully established each character as individual, with unique vocabulary and reactions that stayed true to who they were. This was extremely well done.
I did see some negative reviews of The Problem with Murmur Lee on GoodReads.com and those negative reviews were based upon two things:
1. That the mystery of Murmur Lee's death was known 1/2 way through the book (so it shouldn't be billed as a "mystery")
2. There was adult language and themes
Regarding item #1, I think these reviewers are missing the point. First, I don't think that the author deliberately wrote this book to be in the genre of mystery (like a Tana French novel would be), I think this is a true literary novel that raises questions about life, death, afterlife, love, friendship, family, and faith. Second, yes, the mystery of how she died was solved in the first half of book, but I think the true mystery in this book is not how she died, but how that truth would ultimately be revealed. The various theories of each of the other characters (suicide, murder, accident) bolstered the character development and I think this was a wonderful way to move through the novel. Also, the fact that most of the novel takes place after Murmur Lee's death and she speaks to us in the afterlife, shows that this book is not about solving the mystery of her death, but so much more than that.
Regarding item #2, yes there is some sexual content and adult language. To this I say that this is just one thing that made the character development so successful. In particular, Billy Speare (the drinking writer who lives in a trailer park) and Lucinda (the angry young artist) toss out their fair share of curse words. But I would expect that. It keeps these characters genuine. (And perhaps this was something that was missing from The Weight of Silence.) None of it feels forced or gratuitous, just honest characterization. To this criticism I would say if the "f" word (and adult activities relating to it) offend you, then you will be offended.
Some people (on Amazon.com) have also made contrasts with Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, but not having read that book, I can't comment on that.
This book was actually very deep, without seeming so. It was quick-moving, kept you wondering and wanting more. The language was absolutely beautiful, particularly, the references to Murmur in the afterlife, the use of the bird images, the sense of place and the passion and emotion that was created. I bought this book used and had a worn copy. I am going to donate it and buy a new copy to keep on my shelf. This one is definitely a keeper and I will be reading it again--something I am very seldom compelled to do. I actually laughed out loud and cried when Murmur spoke of her daughter, for example. The characters in this book adored Murmur Lee and so did I. It was tragic and wonderful, and (like Murmur and the women of Iris Haven) it ended too soon.
The characterizations were absolutely stellar. First, each character is fully developed through their own descriptions and narratives, as well as their own perceptions of the same world and the other characters' views of them. In this way, we see perspectives from all sides and this lends special insight into each character's perceived reality. Connie May Fowler does this extremely well. I would contrast this vehicle with The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf, as this author also reveals bits of storyline through several main characters' points of view. However, Ms. Gudenkauf sadly falls short where Connie May Fowler excels. This appears to be the (big) difference between "student" and a "master". In The Weight of Silence, the characters, while narrating their own stories, all seem to have very similar voices, completely defeating the purpose of using such a mechanism-we don't see the individuality and the level of distinction expected between each of these people--despite their vast differences in age and background. (I also reviewed this book on Amazon.) The characterization in The Weight of Silence was much more flat and underdeveloped by comparison. The Problem with Murmur Lee successfully established each character as individual, with unique vocabulary and reactions that stayed true to who they were. This was extremely well done.
I did see some negative reviews of The Problem with Murmur Lee on GoodReads.com and those negative reviews were based upon two things:
1. That the mystery of Murmur Lee's death was known 1/2 way through the book (so it shouldn't be billed as a "mystery")
2. There was adult language and themes
Regarding item #1, I think these reviewers are missing the point. First, I don't think that the author deliberately wrote this book to be in the genre of mystery (like a Tana French novel would be), I think this is a true literary novel that raises questions about life, death, afterlife, love, friendship, family, and faith. Second, yes, the mystery of how she died was solved in the first half of book, but I think the true mystery in this book is not how she died, but how that truth would ultimately be revealed. The various theories of each of the other characters (suicide, murder, accident) bolstered the character development and I think this was a wonderful way to move through the novel. Also, the fact that most of the novel takes place after Murmur Lee's death and she speaks to us in the afterlife, shows that this book is not about solving the mystery of her death, but so much more than that.
Regarding item #2, yes there is some sexual content and adult language. To this I say that this is just one thing that made the character development so successful. In particular, Billy Speare (the drinking writer who lives in a trailer park) and Lucinda (the angry young artist) toss out their fair share of curse words. But I would expect that. It keeps these characters genuine. (And perhaps this was something that was missing from The Weight of Silence.) None of it feels forced or gratuitous, just honest characterization. To this criticism I would say if the "f" word (and adult activities relating to it) offend you, then you will be offended.
Some people (on Amazon.com) have also made contrasts with Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, but not having read that book, I can't comment on that.
This book was actually very deep, without seeming so. It was quick-moving, kept you wondering and wanting more. The language was absolutely beautiful, particularly, the references to Murmur in the afterlife, the use of the bird images, the sense of place and the passion and emotion that was created. I bought this book used and had a worn copy. I am going to donate it and buy a new copy to keep on my shelf. This one is definitely a keeper and I will be reading it again--something I am very seldom compelled to do. I actually laughed out loud and cried when Murmur spoke of her daughter, for example. The characters in this book adored Murmur Lee and so did I. It was tragic and wonderful, and (like Murmur and the women of Iris Haven) it ended too soon.
July 12, 2017
The more I read the lower the stars went!! This is another of these back and forth in time tales as told by various characters. Is this the new trend in contemporary writing? This author is terrific with description but uses way
too much crude, profane language- the explicit sex could be toned down as well. This was a morbid story beginning with death (same as Remembering Blue) that just gets creepier. Why does someone with such talent write this depressing stuff - is there no happiness in her life? Fortunately this book was only 200 pages or I wouldn't have bothered to finish it.
too much crude, profane language- the explicit sex could be toned down as well. This was a morbid story beginning with death (same as Remembering Blue) that just gets creepier. Why does someone with such talent write this depressing stuff - is there no happiness in her life? Fortunately this book was only 200 pages or I wouldn't have bothered to finish it.
April 22, 2022
The problem with this book is - it waxed and waned between maudlin and humour. The characters were so wrapped up in Murmur Lee's life and death it would have been difficult to decipher if it were not Chapters with long titles stating who is the narrator. 3 stars. For a book less than 300 pgs. It took me so long to get through, I was behind in my challenge. ~
June 25, 2009
This book starts with the death of the main character, Murmur Lee, and then bounces back and forth between scenes from her past as well as from the current and future lives of her friends. I found this book to be thoroughly depressing. The character development was good, which is all that kept me from ditching this part way through.
May 10, 2014
I just could not get into this book. It has many of the elements that I love in a book, so I can't pinpoint why it didn't hold my interest.
September 6, 2015
Probably 2.5. The writing bothered me, and the story line as well. Might not have finished it, but for the recommendation of a friend.
April 23, 2018
I started out liking this book because of the humor and the quirkiness of the characters, but then I got bored with the story. It began to seem pointless and too unrealistic for me.
September 18, 2022
Connie My Fowler’s novel “The Problem with Murmur Lee” is narrated in part by a dead character who observes those she loved suffer the loss of her, left to puzzle through the odd circumstances that led to her death. The novel is a bit like “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Seabold in it point-of-view.
The books uses multiple narrators to tell a broader story of family, friendship, grief, the lucky it takes to live at all, and the certainty of death. The flashback stories about mother-daughter relationships are hearfelt. I enjoyed the depiction of a temporary existence after life in the form of omniscience, and a slow letting-go. The imaginative leap by the author and requisite suspension of disbelief required of readers is THE quality that makes this novel sparkle for me.
The prose ebbs and flows but swells to the realm of gorgeous on plenty of occasions. The novel asks, “What does it mean to be alive? To die? Questions that naturally lead to prosaic passages in some chapters. Other parts of the book are more direct and quicker reads.
The only part of the book that I disliked was the set of book club questions at the end. One of the questions is “Is this a Southern or a Northern story?” It’s set in Florida, written by a Floridian, and most of the characters think the one person to leave the South for an Ivy League education ought to come to her senses and move back to Florida already. I want to tell the book club question authors that an Ivy League education is not the thing that makes Northerners Northern, and as a Northerner I am genuinely pondering what defines the Northern experience anyhow. The discussion questions do a disservice to the Fowler’s “The Problem with Murmur Lee.”
The novel is elegant and worth reading.
The books uses multiple narrators to tell a broader story of family, friendship, grief, the lucky it takes to live at all, and the certainty of death. The flashback stories about mother-daughter relationships are hearfelt. I enjoyed the depiction of a temporary existence after life in the form of omniscience, and a slow letting-go. The imaginative leap by the author and requisite suspension of disbelief required of readers is THE quality that makes this novel sparkle for me.
The prose ebbs and flows but swells to the realm of gorgeous on plenty of occasions. The novel asks, “What does it mean to be alive? To die? Questions that naturally lead to prosaic passages in some chapters. Other parts of the book are more direct and quicker reads.
The only part of the book that I disliked was the set of book club questions at the end. One of the questions is “Is this a Southern or a Northern story?” It’s set in Florida, written by a Floridian, and most of the characters think the one person to leave the South for an Ivy League education ought to come to her senses and move back to Florida already. I want to tell the book club question authors that an Ivy League education is not the thing that makes Northerners Northern, and as a Northerner I am genuinely pondering what defines the Northern experience anyhow. The discussion questions do a disservice to the Fowler’s “The Problem with Murmur Lee.”
The novel is elegant and worth reading.
April 8, 2021
Started out with a strong four star rating, but as I kept reading I lost interest in some of the characters (their overall attitude, use of language, and lack of importance to the overall storyline). Toward the end a completely new character got introduced to the story, whom I disliked immensely -- she didn't add anything to the plot, was foul-mouthed, and had a terrible attitude.
A really great & promising start, but about halfway through I became a bit bored with some of the characters (as aforementioned) and details from their past. I understand it all was done so we'd learn more about what exactly makes these characters tick and why they reacted to Murmur's death the way they did.
Also, I guess this book wasn't trying to be a mystery, but her (Murmur Lee's) cause of death was pretty obvious once her 'seeing God' story got revealed.
A really great & promising start, but about halfway through I became a bit bored with some of the characters (as aforementioned) and details from their past. I understand it all was done so we'd learn more about what exactly makes these characters tick and why they reacted to Murmur's death the way they did.
Also, I guess this book wasn't trying to be a mystery, but her (Murmur Lee's) cause of death was pretty obvious once her 'seeing God' story got revealed.
June 14, 2022
This book waxed and waned like the moon. There were parts that were engaging and beautifully written, and there were other parts that were *meh*. Murmur Lee falls off her lover's boat and drowns at the opening of the story, and the rest alternates back and forth in time with the various viewpoints of her small group of friends, and her view of herself floating in the nether world wherein she finds herself. It goes back in time to Murmur's childhood and into the future where she's dead and scattered to the wind. The most engaging character was Murmur's best friend Charlee Mudd, with the other characters, not deeply developed or very sympathetic, taking mostly a back seat. I found the book a chore to pick up and read at times; never was I excited to pick it up.
July 25, 2018
This is my second Connie May Fowler book, and she is fast becoming my favorite author. I love unusual stories and unique, quirky characters, and this book has it all. Her stories take you on an emotional ride. Murmer Lee is one of the most original and interesting characters I've read in a long time and so are the rest of the characters that fill the pages of this book. I wanted to read this slowly so it wouldn't end, and all in one gulp because I couldn't put it down. This book will haunt you like the ghosts of Iris Haven long after you have finished it, and you'll be thinking about life and death and everything in between.
April 13, 2020
Just the book I needed! somehow it was shelved on my 'read' books shelf, and I don't think my daughter bought it, but I was so happy to find it no matter why I overlooked it before.
Its about friends and love and family and heartbreak and mistakes in life and and...
You hear from Murmer Lee, and you hear from her friends - the story is told from many perspectives which gives you a more in-depth treatment.
Murmer dies (no big reveal, that is in the blurb on the back of the book!) so you hear from her after death too...
Its a 'heart' book. loved it.
Its about friends and love and family and heartbreak and mistakes in life and and...
You hear from Murmer Lee, and you hear from her friends - the story is told from many perspectives which gives you a more in-depth treatment.
Murmer dies (no big reveal, that is in the blurb on the back of the book!) so you hear from her after death too...
Its a 'heart' book. loved it.
February 18, 2025
This book was very well-written and FULL of voice and character. There were some very real, very human moments and reflections throughout the chapters. I appreciated the pace as well, especially since I was trying to finish this quickly.
It’s not personally my favorite type of book. The vignette-y stuff bothers me sometimes. I prefer a plot that goes straight through the book, and felt like I wasn’t really spending the whole time trying to solve the main “mystery.” I definitely now others who would love to read this so I plan to pass it on.
It’s not personally my favorite type of book. The vignette-y stuff bothers me sometimes. I prefer a plot that goes straight through the book, and felt like I wasn’t really spending the whole time trying to solve the main “mystery.” I definitely now others who would love to read this so I plan to pass it on.
January 3, 2021
Inexplicably mesmerizing. The story is about trying to find out how a woman died, and it’s told through the eyes of about 6 different people. I thought the author did a great job at presenting the different voices in a compelling way. There are lots of themes of death, loss, and friendship along the way. Also, one of the characters had joined a Mennonite church, which was an unexpected detail! (While it wasn’t a terribly false representation, it also wasn’t a particularly common one...)
January 1, 2021
An interesting read about a set of friends trying to deal with the sudden death of one of their group. The characters were quirky and fascinating, although the Lucinda character could've been eliminated entirely because she didn't add much to Murmur's story. Murmur herself came off as a Marysue and was a little bit too twee, but the story itself was engaging and kept me interested.
May 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this read! The first half is a bit stronger than the second half and it's mostly character development and back story which is the only reason I don't give it a better review. The story didn't feel as strong as the characters themselves and was a bit all over the place and a tad unsatisfying. There's so much set up for little pay off.
March 19, 2022
By turns hilarious and profound, this is one of the most entertaining novels I’ve read in a long time. An intriguing blend of family saga and murder mystery, Fowler peoples her novel with entertaining characters who laugh and cry together. The gorgeous scenery descriptions and lovely prose also make this story shine.
March 11, 2025
Really somewhere between 3* and 4*'s, I guess. Not an earthshaking work, and not quite a "cannot put down" read either, but a pretty darn good take at story telling. We enter into a small lost world in Florida, and enter into the lives of several residents, through a convincing and interesting literary device. I liked it!
May 3, 2018
Second time I have read this book. First time was a year after my husband died and the theme of grief and loss hit me hard. This time around I was able to see other aspects of love and life in the characters while still drinking in the sorrow.
September 5, 2018
Not what I expected
3.5 stars
In the beginning of the book, I was sure I was not going to like it but it grabbed me and kept me going. Very quirky, interesting set of characters and life stories...unlike any other book I have read, but in a good way.
3.5 stars
In the beginning of the book, I was sure I was not going to like it but it grabbed me and kept me going. Very quirky, interesting set of characters and life stories...unlike any other book I have read, but in a good way.
November 24, 2021
This was a really cool novel, and definitely ahead of its time. I appreciated how the author wrote a trans character without making her gender the only thing about her, as some other authors do. Other than a few typos here and there, it was beautifully written.
March 22, 2022
What a beautifully written poignant tale of life, love, and death. Connie May Fowler is an incredibly talented writer. I thoroughly enjoyed just about every page...just didn't understand the point of introducing a new character so late in the book.
February 24, 2025
I love the author's writing style and I read to the end to solve the mystery of the main character's death but I gave it a 3 because I just didn't like most of the characters. We learn their backstories as the novel progresses. They were too quirky and damaged for my liking.
July 15, 2017
Amazing, unusual story. I am glad I read it. It took me nearly the entire book to really understand which "Problem" the title referred to.
June 25, 2020
What an unusual book! I liked the way the friends took care of each other. I liked the imaginings about the afterlife.
It reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing.
It reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing.
July 24, 2020
3.5 stars - I was going to round down except for the phrase "That should have brought me major boom-boom action.. But no! I'm still walking about like a nun!" on page 3.
January 28, 2021
Really interesting narrative point of view(s) I enjoyed the flow.
dnf
July 12, 2022dnf @ 8% - POV character was so racist and I just couldn't do it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews