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You Should Have Known
9 hours, 52 minutes
When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine—only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter.
Observing the medication cart sparks Frannie’s darkest imagination, and her desire for revenge combines with her medical expertise. In one dreadful, impulsive moment, she tampers with the medicine. However, the next day, someone is dead, and Frannie realizes the gravity of what she’s done.
The police get involved, and suspicions gather around someone Frannie knows to be innocent. Wracked with remorse, Frannie’s anxiety becomes unbearable. As she works to make it right, she discovers that things are more complicated than they seem.
She’s spent years aching for accountability from people in power. Is she the one who now needs to be held culpable? What really happened that night?
When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine—only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter.
Observing the medication cart sparks Frannie’s darkest imagination, and her desire for revenge combines with her medical expertise. In one dreadful, impulsive moment, she tampers with the medicine. However, the next day, someone is dead, and Frannie realizes the gravity of what she’s done.
The police get involved, and suspicions gather around someone Frannie knows to be innocent. Wracked with remorse, Frannie’s anxiety becomes unbearable. As she works to make it right, she discovers that things are more complicated than they seem.
She’s spent years aching for accountability from people in power. Is she the one who now needs to be held culpable? What really happened that night?
Audiobook
Published April 4, 2023
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April 4, 2023
According to the author, Rebecca Keller, she wanted to write a MORALLY COMPLICATED story, about a GOOD person, who has succumbed to their worst impulse, and done a BAD thing.
And, she succeeded!
But, it doesn’t really READ like the twisty mystery/thriller that the TITLE and overly revealing SYNOPSIS suggests, even though there is a mystery thrown in.
Let me try to unpack this one in my 400th NetGalley review, so you will know what to expect when YOU pick it up!
First- this is an immediately engaging, thought provoking story that explores so many themes…aging with dignity, the loss of a child, survivor’s guilt, and anger and disillusionment with a legal system that doesn’t always seem just.
The characters feel like people you could meet, and the relationships between family members and friends are both relatable and believable.
Widow Francine Greene, a former Nurse has taken a tumble, and her grown children, Charlie and Iris, persuade her to move to the Ridgewood Apartments, a senior living community.
She immediately hits it off with Katherine, a woman she discovers shares her interest in books, eating pie after lunch, and watching their shared, secret guilty pleasure-“The Young and the Restless”. Katherine is the first new friend that Fran has made in years, and it has made the the transition to Ridgewood, so much easier.
What Fran doesn’t realize, until she joins Katherine and her husband, Nathanial for dinner one night, is that that he was the judge who presided over the case against the drunk driver, who took her granddaughter’s life.
The judge who let the driver off with only “house arrest” because he had lost mobility in both legs in the accident, so he felt this punishment was “ADEQUATE”.
He either has no idea or doesn’t care, about the ripple effects of his verdict on the Victims family, who didn’t find his ruling ADEQUATE at all.
So when Fran has access to the unobserved “medication cart” outside her apartment door, her desire for revenge combined with her medical expertise, is more of a temptation than she can resist. She tampers with the pills that will be delivered to the good Judge. 💊
The next morning, someone is dead, and another resident who had observed her by the cart, wants answers.
Was she responsible?
Or was it all just an unfortunate coincidence?
It was so gratifying to read a story that was so FRESH and ORIGINAL. This may be a mystery that must be solved in a retirement community but it’s nothing like the others which have been recently published, although it should satisfy readers who enjoyed those as well.
I enjoyed Fran’s sense of humor (which I share) and I was hoping that she would find the answers she would need to absolve her of the GUILT she was now feeling.
I hope that this book finds its way to the RIGHT AUDIENCE, as it’s a book that is definitely entertaining if you pick it up with the correct expectations of what you will be reading!
If it sounds like that could be you, it’s NOW AVAILABLE!!
A buddy read with DeAnn. Be sure to watch for her thoughts in her amazing review! 💕
Thank You to Crooked Lane books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
And, she succeeded!
But, it doesn’t really READ like the twisty mystery/thriller that the TITLE and overly revealing SYNOPSIS suggests, even though there is a mystery thrown in.
Let me try to unpack this one in my 400th NetGalley review, so you will know what to expect when YOU pick it up!
First- this is an immediately engaging, thought provoking story that explores so many themes…aging with dignity, the loss of a child, survivor’s guilt, and anger and disillusionment with a legal system that doesn’t always seem just.
The characters feel like people you could meet, and the relationships between family members and friends are both relatable and believable.
Widow Francine Greene, a former Nurse has taken a tumble, and her grown children, Charlie and Iris, persuade her to move to the Ridgewood Apartments, a senior living community.
She immediately hits it off with Katherine, a woman she discovers shares her interest in books, eating pie after lunch, and watching their shared, secret guilty pleasure-“The Young and the Restless”. Katherine is the first new friend that Fran has made in years, and it has made the the transition to Ridgewood, so much easier.
What Fran doesn’t realize, until she joins Katherine and her husband, Nathanial for dinner one night, is that that he was the judge who presided over the case against the drunk driver, who took her granddaughter’s life.
The judge who let the driver off with only “house arrest” because he had lost mobility in both legs in the accident, so he felt this punishment was “ADEQUATE”.
He either has no idea or doesn’t care, about the ripple effects of his verdict on the Victims family, who didn’t find his ruling ADEQUATE at all.
So when Fran has access to the unobserved “medication cart” outside her apartment door, her desire for revenge combined with her medical expertise, is more of a temptation than she can resist. She tampers with the pills that will be delivered to the good Judge. 💊
The next morning, someone is dead, and another resident who had observed her by the cart, wants answers.
Was she responsible?
Or was it all just an unfortunate coincidence?
It was so gratifying to read a story that was so FRESH and ORIGINAL. This may be a mystery that must be solved in a retirement community but it’s nothing like the others which have been recently published, although it should satisfy readers who enjoyed those as well.
I enjoyed Fran’s sense of humor (which I share) and I was hoping that she would find the answers she would need to absolve her of the GUILT she was now feeling.
I hope that this book finds its way to the RIGHT AUDIENCE, as it’s a book that is definitely entertaining if you pick it up with the correct expectations of what you will be reading!
If it sounds like that could be you, it’s NOW AVAILABLE!!
A buddy read with DeAnn. Be sure to watch for her thoughts in her amazing review! 💕
Thank You to Crooked Lane books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
April 19, 2023
What is going on between the covers
After a fall that worried her family, Frances reluctantly agrees to move into Ridgewood Assisted Living Center. She is slow to make friends, and when she does, she is shocked to see someone she recognizes bring up a trauma that has devastated her family. Themes of aging, entitlement, accountability, revenge/justice, accountability, forgiveness, grief, and corruption while blurring the lines of morality.
My Two Cents
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator's voice, who narrated from Fannie's pov. It was easy to listen to while walking and doing chores around the house. The plot is carefully plotted, with the compelling inner battle that consumes Frannie drives the story forward, and I enjoyed the moral questions she provokes us to think about. I found myself lost in Frannie's head as she battled with her grief, thoughts, motivation, and actions, and at times I wanted the story to move forward faster. The story comes together well with a rewarding payoff.
It was refreshing to see an immensely thought-provoking story set in an assisted-living home with well-developed older characters while weaving in themes of aging with common themes, adding more layers to the story. It made me think about the invisible elder's secrets and stories that will go with them to their graves because we dismiss them.
I received an audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley
After a fall that worried her family, Frances reluctantly agrees to move into Ridgewood Assisted Living Center. She is slow to make friends, and when she does, she is shocked to see someone she recognizes bring up a trauma that has devastated her family. Themes of aging, entitlement, accountability, revenge/justice, accountability, forgiveness, grief, and corruption while blurring the lines of morality.
My Two Cents
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator's voice, who narrated from Fannie's pov. It was easy to listen to while walking and doing chores around the house. The plot is carefully plotted, with the compelling inner battle that consumes Frannie drives the story forward, and I enjoyed the moral questions she provokes us to think about. I found myself lost in Frannie's head as she battled with her grief, thoughts, motivation, and actions, and at times I wanted the story to move forward faster. The story comes together well with a rewarding payoff.
It was refreshing to see an immensely thought-provoking story set in an assisted-living home with well-developed older characters while weaving in themes of aging with common themes, adding more layers to the story. It made me think about the invisible elder's secrets and stories that will go with them to their graves because we dismiss them.
I received an audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley
May 21, 2023
3⭐
Genre ~ mystery, crime
Publication date ~ April 4, 2023
Page Count ~ 310
Audio length ~ 9 hours 52 minutes
Narrator ~ Petrea Burchard ~ a fine job
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ debut mystery, death of child/grandchild due to drunk driving, revenge
Frannie befriends Katherine in her retirement community. They enjoy their time together watching their 'stories', but it turns out that Katherine's husband was the judge in the case of the drunk driver that took her granddaughter's life.
This was just okay for me. While the plot was unique, the characters were well developed and there was a bit of mystery, it still dragged and I was never fulled gripped.
Currently a whopping 4.5/5 on Amazon, so clearly I am in the minority, so don't let me sway you.
*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Genre ~ mystery, crime
Publication date ~ April 4, 2023
Page Count ~ 310
Audio length ~ 9 hours 52 minutes
Narrator ~ Petrea Burchard ~ a fine job
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ debut mystery, death of child/grandchild due to drunk driving, revenge
Frannie befriends Katherine in her retirement community. They enjoy their time together watching their 'stories', but it turns out that Katherine's husband was the judge in the case of the drunk driver that took her granddaughter's life.
This was just okay for me. While the plot was unique, the characters were well developed and there was a bit of mystery, it still dragged and I was never fulled gripped.
Currently a whopping 4.5/5 on Amazon, so clearly I am in the minority, so don't let me sway you.
*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
April 6, 2023
4 assisted living stars
*now available
This was a unique and compelling premise for a book, although I would not describe it as a taut mystery. We meet retired nurse Frannie Greene as she’s moving into assisted living after one too many falls at home. I loved her insight as the main character, looking back on her life, analyzing the things that she’s done, and what it is like to leave independent living. We also see her adult children as they try to navigate what is best for their mother while she has frustrations with growing older. These are very realistic, flawed characters.
Frannie quickly makes a new friend in Katherine. They share a love of pie, "Young and the Restless", and reading.
A few years ago, Frannie lost her granddaughter to a drunk driver and a judge who was too lenient in the past. Imagine Frannie’s surprise when she discovers this judge is at her same new facility and that he’s married to her new friend Katherine. As you say, the plot thickens as Frannie devises her revenge! Is it a crime to think about revenge? What about if you act on it? How do you handle the remorse and guilt? Or can you just chalk it up to justice?
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Frannie and the other residents at Ridgewood Apartments and the people that worked there to care for the residents. This well-written and compelling story was one that I am happy to have discovered.
This made for an excellent buddy read with Jayme, be sure to read her insights in her review.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
*now available
This was a unique and compelling premise for a book, although I would not describe it as a taut mystery. We meet retired nurse Frannie Greene as she’s moving into assisted living after one too many falls at home. I loved her insight as the main character, looking back on her life, analyzing the things that she’s done, and what it is like to leave independent living. We also see her adult children as they try to navigate what is best for their mother while she has frustrations with growing older. These are very realistic, flawed characters.
Frannie quickly makes a new friend in Katherine. They share a love of pie, "Young and the Restless", and reading.
A few years ago, Frannie lost her granddaughter to a drunk driver and a judge who was too lenient in the past. Imagine Frannie’s surprise when she discovers this judge is at her same new facility and that he’s married to her new friend Katherine. As you say, the plot thickens as Frannie devises her revenge! Is it a crime to think about revenge? What about if you act on it? How do you handle the remorse and guilt? Or can you just chalk it up to justice?
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Frannie and the other residents at Ridgewood Apartments and the people that worked there to care for the residents. This well-written and compelling story was one that I am happy to have discovered.
This made for an excellent buddy read with Jayme, be sure to read her insights in her review.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
June 30, 2025
Rebecca Keller's impressive debut, YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN is an unputdownable twisty mystery suspense of one grandmother's obsession for justice—while crossing moral lines.
AUDIOBOOK: I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Petrea Burchard, was outstanding! She was soothing and offered a perfect voice for Frannie for an engaging listening experience. She reminds me of a cross between Elizabeth Berg and Cassandra Campbell. She made the book! I will be looking for more audiobooks by this narrator. I loved it so much that I purchased the e-book, and glad I did to read the Author's note and reading guide.
Meet grandmother Frannie Greene in her early 70s. She is lovely; her husband, Cal, passed on six years earlier. However, recently she has taken a nasty fall and needs assistance. She lives alone in a condo they purchased after selling their house. Her son and daughter want her to move to an assisted living facility.
She wants to live independently but finally agrees, having little choice. She has a true friend Ruthie that she writes to.
The Ridgewood Senior Apartments is her new home; she is reminded that the people there are residents, not patients. Each has an apartment and can live independently, but services are readily available for those needing them.
Frannie was a nurse and went to med school, but she got pregnant years ago. She is not thrilled with the activities, socializing, or nosy people. But her son and daughter encourage her to get involved and meet new friends. Frannie is smart, intelligent, and funny.
Their family had experienced a tragedy that had left them with many scars. Her daughter, Iris' daughter (her granddaughter) Bethany, was killed in a horrible car crash.
There was a lot of hurt, anger, rage, and resentment regarding this accident after the Judge had let off the drunk driver. The man was back on the streets again and was responsible for killing her granddaughter. There was a massive scandal. She blames the Judge and has wanted revenge since the accident. Lawyers had power, and power corrupts.
Iris was in a bad way, and she worried about her mental health. She had been the one driving and suffered much guilt and grief. She had pushed them all away, including her husband, Jimmy, her friends, Charlie, and her.
Charlie, her son, is married to Pam, and they have two sons, Adam and Danny. Frannie loves her grandchildren, but her grown children want her to enjoy her life and her new living arrangement and encourage her to get involved with people her age, even though she has to use a walker and wants to remain independent as long as possible.
However, she gives it a try, and after a few weeks at the new facility, she meets the staff and a lovely lady, Katherine. They develop a friendship and bond over books, pie, and Young and the Restless. She joins a book club, and they visit the in-house library often.
Katherine was a former interior designer and then met Nathaniel. Katherine became a stepmother to Nathaniel's daughter, Lisa. Frannie is not wild about Nathaniel since he appears entitled, very controlling, and jealous of things she picks up from Katherine.
When Katherine finally meets Nathaniel, she is SHOCKED! She knows this evil man. He is the man responsible for her granddaughter's death. He was the corrupt Judge! Bethany would still be alive if the drunk driver had been jailed after the first offense.
Two lawyers had finally gone to prison. The scandal had been going on for years— prosecutors and defense lawyers bribing clerks to get certain judges, then paying those judges to ensure leniency. Although Judge Nathaniel Karney and a prosecutor were charged with accepting bribes to let Stinson and other drunk drivers off easy, the charges were dropped because the evidence was insufficient.
Does this wonderful lady, Katherine know how evil her husband is? Is she aware of his business? She cannot let on to Katherine she is aware of her evil monster judge husband. However, the more she thinks about it, the more she knows she must find a way to make him pay.
She thinks of an idea when she sees the medicine cart in the hallway. She can get justice. She will take matters into her own hands. She cannot tell anyone her plan. How could Katherine be married to a person like this? He was corrupt.
She can switch out the meds. Since she is a former nurse and knows medications, she has some of Cal's old pills- the same as Nathaniel takes- and can strengthen the dosage. She can switch out his meds.
This was nerve-wracking! The tension builds as Frannie puts her plan in motion. But things do not go as planned.
Someone winds up dead, she learns the next day, but it is NOT Nathaniel!
What has she done? How can she live with herself? She thinks she is as bad as the Judge. No one can find out about what she has done. Should she go to the cops to confess? Remorse, guilt, disgust. She grapples with good vs. evil. What had she become?
She thinks back to the letter that Katherine slipped under her door. About Katherine saying what a good person she was. Was there a hidden meaning in the note?
Also, Frannie cannot let Iris see this man. She will recognize him and vice versa. She will have to relive this entire tragedy over again.
In the meantime, there is another resident, Evan. His brother-in-law was a cop, and he tells his story. Does he know what she did? He knows her connection to the Judge. He knows about the drunk driver, the lawyers, and the Judge. He knows that the Judge got off and was never brought to justice. He had been investigating the crooked attorneys and how they almost got Kearney. He had even helped put one of the lawyers away. But did he mess with the evidence?
Did he try to get justice same as her? Is he on her side? Can she come clean with him?
Guilt-ridden, Francie is worried about what she has done; she digs deeper. The poor woman, Graciela, who was in charge of the meds, has gotten into trouble. She may be deported. She must help her and learn more about what happened.
Things are not as they seem. So what happened? So many emotions.
I loved this book and the satisfying conclusion. Brilliant! The author spins a highly realistic creative tale with highly relatable characters in this suspenseful story of how good people can be tempted to do bad things. A cautionary tale about taking matters to achieve justice into our own hands.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I enjoyed the Author's note and reader's guide. YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN is an ideal book club pick. The author expressed she set out to write a morally complex story about a good person who had succumbed to their worst impulse. What prompts someone to stray from the straight and narrow? What if they were convinced justice was on their side?
Indeed, she exceeded all expectations!
I loved the relationship between the two women, their friendship, the topics of justice, revenge, and complicity, and how they intertwined with her religious beliefs. She also explored status, hierarchies, and class.
Also, as the author references, Ridgewood is almost a character in itself. I lived in a similar environment for five years. There is a wealth of information for a book within this generation of seniors living in one hi-rise with many exciting stories and pasts.
I resonated with this story so much since I am in this age range. My grown sons are far away in another state. As you get older living alone you worry about falls and having to one day give up your independence. I once lived in a senior high rise downtown for 62 and over and hated it. I finally moved and decided I could not handle all the nosy old people that were depressing. Now I live in an all-age community with much more privacy.
I felt for Frannie and was glued to the audiobook as I could not wait to see how the story would unravel. I loved Frannie and Evan! What well-developed characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style, which reminds me of a cross between Elizabeth Berg and Catherine Ryan Hyde (two favorites). This book is for those who enjoy suspense, mystery, women sleuthing, humanity, humor, superb writing, and family dramas with wise life lessons. She explores the bonds of family and the grudges we refuse to let go.
The author has been added to my favorite author list and I cannot wait to see what comes next! Highly Recommend!
Special thanks to #DreamscapeMedia via #Netgalley for a gifted ARC and the introduction to this newfound author. Also purchased the e-book and hardcover.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 4, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +
April 2023 Must-Read Books
AUDIOBOOK: I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Petrea Burchard, was outstanding! She was soothing and offered a perfect voice for Frannie for an engaging listening experience. She reminds me of a cross between Elizabeth Berg and Cassandra Campbell. She made the book! I will be looking for more audiobooks by this narrator. I loved it so much that I purchased the e-book, and glad I did to read the Author's note and reading guide.
Meet grandmother Frannie Greene in her early 70s. She is lovely; her husband, Cal, passed on six years earlier. However, recently she has taken a nasty fall and needs assistance. She lives alone in a condo they purchased after selling their house. Her son and daughter want her to move to an assisted living facility.
She wants to live independently but finally agrees, having little choice. She has a true friend Ruthie that she writes to.
The Ridgewood Senior Apartments is her new home; she is reminded that the people there are residents, not patients. Each has an apartment and can live independently, but services are readily available for those needing them.
Frannie was a nurse and went to med school, but she got pregnant years ago. She is not thrilled with the activities, socializing, or nosy people. But her son and daughter encourage her to get involved and meet new friends. Frannie is smart, intelligent, and funny.
Their family had experienced a tragedy that had left them with many scars. Her daughter, Iris' daughter (her granddaughter) Bethany, was killed in a horrible car crash.
There was a lot of hurt, anger, rage, and resentment regarding this accident after the Judge had let off the drunk driver. The man was back on the streets again and was responsible for killing her granddaughter. There was a massive scandal. She blames the Judge and has wanted revenge since the accident. Lawyers had power, and power corrupts.
Iris was in a bad way, and she worried about her mental health. She had been the one driving and suffered much guilt and grief. She had pushed them all away, including her husband, Jimmy, her friends, Charlie, and her.
Charlie, her son, is married to Pam, and they have two sons, Adam and Danny. Frannie loves her grandchildren, but her grown children want her to enjoy her life and her new living arrangement and encourage her to get involved with people her age, even though she has to use a walker and wants to remain independent as long as possible.
However, she gives it a try, and after a few weeks at the new facility, she meets the staff and a lovely lady, Katherine. They develop a friendship and bond over books, pie, and Young and the Restless. She joins a book club, and they visit the in-house library often.
Katherine was a former interior designer and then met Nathaniel. Katherine became a stepmother to Nathaniel's daughter, Lisa. Frannie is not wild about Nathaniel since he appears entitled, very controlling, and jealous of things she picks up from Katherine.
When Katherine finally meets Nathaniel, she is SHOCKED! She knows this evil man. He is the man responsible for her granddaughter's death. He was the corrupt Judge! Bethany would still be alive if the drunk driver had been jailed after the first offense.
Two lawyers had finally gone to prison. The scandal had been going on for years— prosecutors and defense lawyers bribing clerks to get certain judges, then paying those judges to ensure leniency. Although Judge Nathaniel Karney and a prosecutor were charged with accepting bribes to let Stinson and other drunk drivers off easy, the charges were dropped because the evidence was insufficient.
Does this wonderful lady, Katherine know how evil her husband is? Is she aware of his business? She cannot let on to Katherine she is aware of her evil monster judge husband. However, the more she thinks about it, the more she knows she must find a way to make him pay.
She thinks of an idea when she sees the medicine cart in the hallway. She can get justice. She will take matters into her own hands. She cannot tell anyone her plan. How could Katherine be married to a person like this? He was corrupt.
She can switch out the meds. Since she is a former nurse and knows medications, she has some of Cal's old pills- the same as Nathaniel takes- and can strengthen the dosage. She can switch out his meds.
This was nerve-wracking! The tension builds as Frannie puts her plan in motion. But things do not go as planned.
Someone winds up dead, she learns the next day, but it is NOT Nathaniel!
What has she done? How can she live with herself? She thinks she is as bad as the Judge. No one can find out about what she has done. Should she go to the cops to confess? Remorse, guilt, disgust. She grapples with good vs. evil. What had she become?
She thinks back to the letter that Katherine slipped under her door. About Katherine saying what a good person she was. Was there a hidden meaning in the note?
Also, Frannie cannot let Iris see this man. She will recognize him and vice versa. She will have to relive this entire tragedy over again.
In the meantime, there is another resident, Evan. His brother-in-law was a cop, and he tells his story. Does he know what she did? He knows her connection to the Judge. He knows about the drunk driver, the lawyers, and the Judge. He knows that the Judge got off and was never brought to justice. He had been investigating the crooked attorneys and how they almost got Kearney. He had even helped put one of the lawyers away. But did he mess with the evidence?
Did he try to get justice same as her? Is he on her side? Can she come clean with him?
Guilt-ridden, Francie is worried about what she has done; she digs deeper. The poor woman, Graciela, who was in charge of the meds, has gotten into trouble. She may be deported. She must help her and learn more about what happened.
Things are not as they seem. So what happened? So many emotions.
I loved this book and the satisfying conclusion. Brilliant! The author spins a highly realistic creative tale with highly relatable characters in this suspenseful story of how good people can be tempted to do bad things. A cautionary tale about taking matters to achieve justice into our own hands.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I enjoyed the Author's note and reader's guide. YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN is an ideal book club pick. The author expressed she set out to write a morally complex story about a good person who had succumbed to their worst impulse. What prompts someone to stray from the straight and narrow? What if they were convinced justice was on their side?
Indeed, she exceeded all expectations!
I loved the relationship between the two women, their friendship, the topics of justice, revenge, and complicity, and how they intertwined with her religious beliefs. She also explored status, hierarchies, and class.
Also, as the author references, Ridgewood is almost a character in itself. I lived in a similar environment for five years. There is a wealth of information for a book within this generation of seniors living in one hi-rise with many exciting stories and pasts.
I resonated with this story so much since I am in this age range. My grown sons are far away in another state. As you get older living alone you worry about falls and having to one day give up your independence. I once lived in a senior high rise downtown for 62 and over and hated it. I finally moved and decided I could not handle all the nosy old people that were depressing. Now I live in an all-age community with much more privacy.
I felt for Frannie and was glued to the audiobook as I could not wait to see how the story would unravel. I loved Frannie and Evan! What well-developed characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style, which reminds me of a cross between Elizabeth Berg and Catherine Ryan Hyde (two favorites). This book is for those who enjoy suspense, mystery, women sleuthing, humanity, humor, superb writing, and family dramas with wise life lessons. She explores the bonds of family and the grudges we refuse to let go.
The author has been added to my favorite author list and I cannot wait to see what comes next! Highly Recommend!
Special thanks to #DreamscapeMedia via #Netgalley for a gifted ARC and the introduction to this newfound author. Also purchased the e-book and hardcover.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 4, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +
April 2023 Must-Read Books
April 15, 2023
An unusual and impressive debut.....
but just not my cup of prune juice.
"You Should Have Known" is a melodramatic tale of love, loss, death, ethics, family dynamics, and revenge set in an assisted living facility.
The book boasted compelling characterizations and an over-the-top audiobook narration by Petrea Burchard.
The atmospheric backdrop of the assisted living facility was well-researched and spot-on.
The setting seemed so "real" that it brought back the PTS traumatizing memories I worked hard to suppress after my siblings and I selected an assisted living facility for my parents.
The book started off strong but faltered as the plotline progressed.
Midway through the book, the text became repetitive and the storyline started to go around in circles.
Had the 10-hour audiobook been a 7-hour book, this definitely would have upped my star rating.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars rounded up.
but just not my cup of prune juice.
"You Should Have Known" is a melodramatic tale of love, loss, death, ethics, family dynamics, and revenge set in an assisted living facility.
The book boasted compelling characterizations and an over-the-top audiobook narration by Petrea Burchard.
The atmospheric backdrop of the assisted living facility was well-researched and spot-on.
The setting seemed so "real" that it brought back the PTS traumatizing memories I worked hard to suppress after my siblings and I selected an assisted living facility for my parents.
The book started off strong but faltered as the plotline progressed.
Midway through the book, the text became repetitive and the storyline started to go around in circles.
Had the 10-hour audiobook been a 7-hour book, this definitely would have upped my star rating.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars rounded up.
April 7, 2023
EXCERPT: There is a common assumption that the only thing old people do is forget. Or, conversely, that all we do is sit around and remember, dwelling in the past. These things are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they represent the twin requirements of old age: recalling who we are and what we care about, while forgetting - or at least pretending to forget - how much we have lost.
Remembering and disremembering: getting this balance right has become my main struggle. There are some things I can't let fade. I press on the bruise, keeping the memories alive and active. They are part of me. Besides, injustice - or rather, indignation in the face of it - is as good a reason as any for a person to get up in the morning. Somebody, somehow, has to hold the world accountable. Maybe by the sheer act of insisting on it, justice might happen.
ABOUT 'YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN': When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine, only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge who Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter.
Observing the medication cart sparks Frannie’s darkest imagination, and her desire for revenge combines with her medical expertise. In one dreadful, impulsive moment, she tampers with the medicine. However, the next day, someone is dead and Frannie realizes the gravity of what she’s done.
The police get involved, and suspicions gather around someone Frannie knows to be innocent. Wracked with remorse, Frannie’s anxiety becomes unbearable. As she works to make it right, Frannie discovers that things are more complicated than they seem.
She’s spent years aching for accountability from people in power. Is she the one who now needs to be held culpable? What really happened that night?
MY THOUGHTS: In the author's notes, Rebecca Keller states that she wanted to write a morally complicated story - a story about a good person who has succumbed to their worst impulse - and she has certainly done that. She poses the question - what prompts someone to stray from the straight and narrow, convinced that justice is on their side?
Frannie is an elderly woman who has buried her heartache and anger, convinced that she has dealt with them, only to have them erupt back into her life following an unexpected combination of circumstances.
I loved both Frannie's and Katherine's characters. Their friendship is complex and affected by outside forces - mostly Katherine's husband, retired Judge Nathaniel Kearney. He is controlling of Katherine, and to Frannie he is the embodiment of greed and evil, a man obsessed by power.
Iris's story broke my heart. The ripple effects of her grief are far-reaching. And Jimmy, her husband, who has his own grief to deal with while supporting his wife, is another amazing character.
I enjoyed the complex friendships. Even though Frannie has doubts about Katherine's values and priorities and, although she fights against it, she finds herself drawn to this woman who has led a life very different to her own. When Frannie attempts to reach out to nurse-aides Graciela and Jannah, she finds herself firmly rebuffed as friendships between staff and residents are frowned upon.
Other topics including workplace bullying and the plight of immigrant workers are included in the storyline, rounding this out into a beautifully written and engaging read that will appeal to every mother and grandmother.
Two quotes which resonated with me: 'there is nothing more mysterious than a marriage.' ; and
'Bloom where you are planted.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#YouShouldHaveKnown #NetGalley
I: @rebeccakeller947 @crookedlanebooks
T: #RebeccaAKeller @crookedlanebooks
#aging #contemporaryfiction #crime #friendship #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Keller is a writer and artist living in Chicago. She has received a Pushcart nomination, the Betty Gabehart prize, and was a finalist for the 2013 Chicago Literary Guild Prose Award. She has twice been awarded a Fulbright as well as awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council.
You Should Have Known is her debut novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of You Should Have Known by Rebecca Keller. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Remembering and disremembering: getting this balance right has become my main struggle. There are some things I can't let fade. I press on the bruise, keeping the memories alive and active. They are part of me. Besides, injustice - or rather, indignation in the face of it - is as good a reason as any for a person to get up in the morning. Somebody, somehow, has to hold the world accountable. Maybe by the sheer act of insisting on it, justice might happen.
ABOUT 'YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN': When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine, only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge who Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter.
Observing the medication cart sparks Frannie’s darkest imagination, and her desire for revenge combines with her medical expertise. In one dreadful, impulsive moment, she tampers with the medicine. However, the next day, someone is dead and Frannie realizes the gravity of what she’s done.
The police get involved, and suspicions gather around someone Frannie knows to be innocent. Wracked with remorse, Frannie’s anxiety becomes unbearable. As she works to make it right, Frannie discovers that things are more complicated than they seem.
She’s spent years aching for accountability from people in power. Is she the one who now needs to be held culpable? What really happened that night?
MY THOUGHTS: In the author's notes, Rebecca Keller states that she wanted to write a morally complicated story - a story about a good person who has succumbed to their worst impulse - and she has certainly done that. She poses the question - what prompts someone to stray from the straight and narrow, convinced that justice is on their side?
Frannie is an elderly woman who has buried her heartache and anger, convinced that she has dealt with them, only to have them erupt back into her life following an unexpected combination of circumstances.
I loved both Frannie's and Katherine's characters. Their friendship is complex and affected by outside forces - mostly Katherine's husband, retired Judge Nathaniel Kearney. He is controlling of Katherine, and to Frannie he is the embodiment of greed and evil, a man obsessed by power.
Iris's story broke my heart. The ripple effects of her grief are far-reaching. And Jimmy, her husband, who has his own grief to deal with while supporting his wife, is another amazing character.
I enjoyed the complex friendships. Even though Frannie has doubts about Katherine's values and priorities and, although she fights against it, she finds herself drawn to this woman who has led a life very different to her own. When Frannie attempts to reach out to nurse-aides Graciela and Jannah, she finds herself firmly rebuffed as friendships between staff and residents are frowned upon.
Other topics including workplace bullying and the plight of immigrant workers are included in the storyline, rounding this out into a beautifully written and engaging read that will appeal to every mother and grandmother.
Two quotes which resonated with me: 'there is nothing more mysterious than a marriage.' ; and
'Bloom where you are planted.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#YouShouldHaveKnown #NetGalley
I: @rebeccakeller947 @crookedlanebooks
T: #RebeccaAKeller @crookedlanebooks
#aging #contemporaryfiction #crime #friendship #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Keller is a writer and artist living in Chicago. She has received a Pushcart nomination, the Betty Gabehart prize, and was a finalist for the 2013 Chicago Literary Guild Prose Award. She has twice been awarded a Fulbright as well as awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council.
You Should Have Known is her debut novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of You Should Have Known by Rebecca Keller. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
June 1, 2023
One of my fave books of 2023! This is only my 8th book on audio and I am slowly getting used to them. I didn’t like them for the longest time but now I listen to them while I walk each morning. I mean they are 9 hours+ long so they seem to take forever to finish. This one kept me interested from the very beginning and I couldn’t wait to find out how it would end. Retired nurse Frannie is only 72 years old but in an assisted living place. She becomes friends with Katherine who is married to a judge. The same judge who let a drunk driver “off the hook” for killing Frannie’s granddaughter in a drunk driving accident. Then all kinds of things start happening. I really liked this story and loved the narrator too. Triggers - Grief, death, suicide are in this book.
June 12, 2023
I don’t know if I’ve ever described a mystery as sweet, but this story had many endearing moments. Frannie Greene is a retired nurse that lives in an assisted living facility. Her moral compass is tested when vengeance creeps into her heart. Frannie is the type of character I would love to have as a friend and completely understand her motives and emotional struggles. This layered story has an underlying feeling of tension and anxiety as the plot unfolds. Good people can make bad choices as Frannie demonstrates in this heart-wrenching, thought-provoking story. The narrators perfectly brought the characters to life adding a layer of emotion and understanding. Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook.
April 5, 2023
"His face had awakened the ghosts."
This was exactly what I didn't know I needed right now! This probably wouldn't normally catch my eye but I'm so happy it did. My Nana recently fell and is having to stay in a rehab center so I needed to hear an old lady getting around well in assisted living and living her life.
This was unique, darkly witty, and self-deprecating at times. I loved all of the characters and I felt so comfortable following Frannie's journey with her. It felt very natural.
Frannie is a mom and grandma who took a tumble and hurt her knee. After some time in rehab, she and her family decided it was time for her to move to an assisted living community and let them sell her condo. It was bittersweet for Frannie because while she knew it was time, it was the last place she'd lived with her late husband. This just felt so final for someone her age.
Luckily her kids still come around a lot to take her out and she's still involved in their lives. The family suffered greatly 4 years ago when they lost Bethany, Frannie's granddaughter. Not only that, but they were denied real justice too so it's a wound that's never truly closed, at least for Frannie and Bethany's mom, Iris.
Frannie finally finds a good friend there in Katherine. They're from different worlds, Katherine being a southern wealthy woman and a bit snooty not likable. Katherine's husband Nathaniel is suffocating and Frannie isn't used to that kind of relationship so it weirds her out.
But there's something else about his vibe that is off and she finally places it. He was the corrupt judge that denied Bethany justice! What are the odds?! Frannie finds herself, as a retired nurse, in a unique situation wherein she can dispense the justice that wasn't given.. if she dares.
I loved this! So many moral dilemmas and gray areas that bring up a lot of thought experiments and it really makes you ask: what would I do?? It's a very interesting story..
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review. The narration was fantastic!
This was exactly what I didn't know I needed right now! This probably wouldn't normally catch my eye but I'm so happy it did. My Nana recently fell and is having to stay in a rehab center so I needed to hear an old lady getting around well in assisted living and living her life.
This was unique, darkly witty, and self-deprecating at times. I loved all of the characters and I felt so comfortable following Frannie's journey with her. It felt very natural.
Frannie is a mom and grandma who took a tumble and hurt her knee. After some time in rehab, she and her family decided it was time for her to move to an assisted living community and let them sell her condo. It was bittersweet for Frannie because while she knew it was time, it was the last place she'd lived with her late husband. This just felt so final for someone her age.
Luckily her kids still come around a lot to take her out and she's still involved in their lives. The family suffered greatly 4 years ago when they lost Bethany, Frannie's granddaughter. Not only that, but they were denied real justice too so it's a wound that's never truly closed, at least for Frannie and Bethany's mom, Iris.
Frannie finally finds a good friend there in Katherine. They're from different worlds, Katherine being a southern wealthy woman and a bit snooty not likable. Katherine's husband Nathaniel is suffocating and Frannie isn't used to that kind of relationship so it weirds her out.
But there's something else about his vibe that is off and she finally places it. He was the corrupt judge that denied Bethany justice! What are the odds?! Frannie finds herself, as a retired nurse, in a unique situation wherein she can dispense the justice that wasn't given.. if she dares.
I loved this! So many moral dilemmas and gray areas that bring up a lot of thought experiments and it really makes you ask: what would I do?? It's a very interesting story..
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review. The narration was fantastic!
April 16, 2023
This novel really resonated with me. Perhaps because I am just a scant five years younger than the protagonist who finds herself living in a senior's care home after suffering falls. Now she uses a walker to get around and she laments her lack of independence. She worked for many years as a surgical nurse and has a fine intellect, yet her body has let her down.
Frannie has suffered a lot of losses in her seventy-two years. First she lost her husband of over five decades to cancer, then she lost her beloved granddaughter to a drunk driver. Her daughter Iris has been struggling with debilitating grief, and Frannie worries about her.
Just a few days in her new residence, Frannie makes a friend in Katherine. A lovely woman who she can share stories with, who has many similar interests. Then, to her dismay, she learns that Katherine lives here with her husband, the judge that proceeded over the drunk-driving case which let her granddaughter's killer go free...
Though Frannie is without question a 'good person', she makes a disastrously bad decision ruled by her own grief and her penchant for justice. The consequences of her actions spiral to encompass other people, and Frannie is overcome with remorse, stress, and guilt.
This novel covers many serious themes. It examines how the elderly are perceived by society as a whole, often unjustly relegating them to invisibility - as burdens, as people 'lesser than'. It also examines how people in power can run roughshod over the rules that govern everyone else. It looks at how people manage to cope with profound loss, as well as the soul crushing indignities of aging.
I loved the in depth characterization of the protagonist in this novel. With themes of remorse, loss, guilt, corruption and culpability, this debut also had more than a little element of mystery to its plot. This is a morally complicated story which could provoke some lively discussion in a book club. Highly recommended. I'm eager to read what this author writes next.
Frannie has suffered a lot of losses in her seventy-two years. First she lost her husband of over five decades to cancer, then she lost her beloved granddaughter to a drunk driver. Her daughter Iris has been struggling with debilitating grief, and Frannie worries about her.
Just a few days in her new residence, Frannie makes a friend in Katherine. A lovely woman who she can share stories with, who has many similar interests. Then, to her dismay, she learns that Katherine lives here with her husband, the judge that proceeded over the drunk-driving case which let her granddaughter's killer go free...
Though Frannie is without question a 'good person', she makes a disastrously bad decision ruled by her own grief and her penchant for justice. The consequences of her actions spiral to encompass other people, and Frannie is overcome with remorse, stress, and guilt.
This novel covers many serious themes. It examines how the elderly are perceived by society as a whole, often unjustly relegating them to invisibility - as burdens, as people 'lesser than'. It also examines how people in power can run roughshod over the rules that govern everyone else. It looks at how people manage to cope with profound loss, as well as the soul crushing indignities of aging.
I loved the in depth characterization of the protagonist in this novel. With themes of remorse, loss, guilt, corruption and culpability, this debut also had more than a little element of mystery to its plot. This is a morally complicated story which could provoke some lively discussion in a book club. Highly recommended. I'm eager to read what this author writes next.
September 22, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The plot of this book was unique and creative. I can definitely say I’ve never read a similar book before. The writing style was great, not too descriptive, easy to follow and fast-reading.
I will say I felt a little misled by the description of the book. The description made me think I was reading a mystery novel that would have twists and turns and a complex story based on lines the description “things are more complicated than they seen”, “what really happened that night”, the police getting involved etc. in reality, there was no mystery to this book until the 85% mark.
I would say this is more of a non-fiction book with a little twist at the end, not a thrilling mystery. I think because of how different the book was to my expectations my rating may be considered unfair by some but I think a lot more could have been done with this book. The characters could have been better developed- Frannie and Iris were well developed but Frannie also has a son and we know almost nothing about him. Most of the book from the moment the meds were tampered with to the moment the police are (barely) introduced felt like filler. Building more drama and suspense around the consequences of the meds-tampering would have done a lot for this book.
The plot of this book was unique and creative. I can definitely say I’ve never read a similar book before. The writing style was great, not too descriptive, easy to follow and fast-reading.
I will say I felt a little misled by the description of the book. The description made me think I was reading a mystery novel that would have twists and turns and a complex story based on lines the description “things are more complicated than they seen”, “what really happened that night”, the police getting involved etc. in reality, there was no mystery to this book until the 85% mark.
I would say this is more of a non-fiction book with a little twist at the end, not a thrilling mystery. I think because of how different the book was to my expectations my rating may be considered unfair by some but I think a lot more could have been done with this book. The characters could have been better developed- Frannie and Iris were well developed but Frannie also has a son and we know almost nothing about him. Most of the book from the moment the meds were tampered with to the moment the police are (barely) introduced felt like filler. Building more drama and suspense around the consequences of the meds-tampering would have done a lot for this book.
April 5, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the narrators voice and felt like it fit perfectly for the age and description of the main character! This book is about a retired surgical nurse joining a retirement home community and dealing with skeletons from her past when a new friend of hers passes away unexpectedly. I haven’t seen many psychological thrillers set in an elderly community, and found it very memorable for that and how all the main characters are in their 60’s-80’s. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes these types of books and are looking for one that stands out amongst the others from the setting.
I really enjoyed the narrators voice and felt like it fit perfectly for the age and description of the main character! This book is about a retired surgical nurse joining a retirement home community and dealing with skeletons from her past when a new friend of hers passes away unexpectedly. I haven’t seen many psychological thrillers set in an elderly community, and found it very memorable for that and how all the main characters are in their 60’s-80’s. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes these types of books and are looking for one that stands out amongst the others from the setting.
April 8, 2023
While "You Should Have Known" definitely belongs in the mystery category, it offers so much more than a typical who-done-it — it's not a thriller by any means, instead providing a character-driven plot that doesn't need cheap thrills to succeed. I appreciated the book's heavily interwoven themes of aging, grief, loneliness, and the unintended consequences of our decisions.
Frannie, a septuagenarian who has suffered one too many falls, has recently been moved into an assisted living facility by her family. A retired nurse, Frannie can see the need for this move, while simultaneously grieving the loss of her youth and independence. Through Frannie, Rebecca Keller treats us to a much-needed immersion into the mind of someone living in a care home.
It isn't long after she arrives at the home that Frannie is introduced to "Judge," a retired judge who Frannie has long seen as complicit in the death of her granddaughter years earlier. His pretentious disdain for others quickly escalates her emotions, and she hatches a plan to meddle with his medication. When she awakes the next morning to find her actions have led to a death, she's aghast. Just like the judge's decisions years earlier affected her granddaughter, her own decision has had unintended consequences for Judge. As police attention on the death grows and an innocent bystander is about to take the fall, Frannie does her best to make things right.
This is a very impressive debut and Keller offers us a fresh approach and voice in the mystery genre. While the resolution may not have provided everything I hoped for, based on the earlier intrigue of the book, it did feel realistic; ultimately, I appreciate Keller's restraint where so many other thrillers go over the top. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
Frannie, a septuagenarian who has suffered one too many falls, has recently been moved into an assisted living facility by her family. A retired nurse, Frannie can see the need for this move, while simultaneously grieving the loss of her youth and independence. Through Frannie, Rebecca Keller treats us to a much-needed immersion into the mind of someone living in a care home.
It isn't long after she arrives at the home that Frannie is introduced to "Judge," a retired judge who Frannie has long seen as complicit in the death of her granddaughter years earlier. His pretentious disdain for others quickly escalates her emotions, and she hatches a plan to meddle with his medication. When she awakes the next morning to find her actions have led to a death, she's aghast. Just like the judge's decisions years earlier affected her granddaughter, her own decision has had unintended consequences for Judge. As police attention on the death grows and an innocent bystander is about to take the fall, Frannie does her best to make things right.
This is a very impressive debut and Keller offers us a fresh approach and voice in the mystery genre. While the resolution may not have provided everything I hoped for, based on the earlier intrigue of the book, it did feel realistic; ultimately, I appreciate Keller's restraint where so many other thrillers go over the top. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
September 14, 2022
Plumped Pumpkins! 😳😯🤯🥺
I absolutely adored the aspect of this novel! An endearing novel of mystery & suspense dealing with a past & present of an elderly mother moving into a home - a retirement residence. My grandparents had been in one and I just loved this aspect! An epic novel of morals, mortality, values and justice with illicit mystery! It seriously touched nearly every genre and I was here for it. I adored the backstory, each character & their development and the plot was divine. I couldn't believe how quickly I read this - over before I knew it. It delivered a huge firework of family, love, loss, some fab mystery, morals but most of all, moving on and even forgiveness. The ending is enough to get you teary-eyed, but yet so calming & gratifying. You can't help but put your own life on hold to read about Frannie's that will tug at your heart strings.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Begrudgingly Frannie moves into a retirement home alone by the pressure of her children worried about her safety and mobility. Surprisingly, she finds herself connecting with another resident, Katherine, and form a friendship until Frannie realizes Katherine's husband, Nathaniel, was the judge that was involved with her granddaughters death. Impulse, anger, rage and justification cause Frannie to turn to the medicine cart and the next day, a resident is dead. As the investigation ensues, with an innocent person being suspected, Frannie needs to make it right. But can she?
Thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
Release Date: April 4, 2023
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Autumn Leaves! 🍂
I absolutely adored the aspect of this novel! An endearing novel of mystery & suspense dealing with a past & present of an elderly mother moving into a home - a retirement residence. My grandparents had been in one and I just loved this aspect! An epic novel of morals, mortality, values and justice with illicit mystery! It seriously touched nearly every genre and I was here for it. I adored the backstory, each character & their development and the plot was divine. I couldn't believe how quickly I read this - over before I knew it. It delivered a huge firework of family, love, loss, some fab mystery, morals but most of all, moving on and even forgiveness. The ending is enough to get you teary-eyed, but yet so calming & gratifying. You can't help but put your own life on hold to read about Frannie's that will tug at your heart strings.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Begrudgingly Frannie moves into a retirement home alone by the pressure of her children worried about her safety and mobility. Surprisingly, she finds herself connecting with another resident, Katherine, and form a friendship until Frannie realizes Katherine's husband, Nathaniel, was the judge that was involved with her granddaughters death. Impulse, anger, rage and justification cause Frannie to turn to the medicine cart and the next day, a resident is dead. As the investigation ensues, with an innocent person being suspected, Frannie needs to make it right. But can she?
Thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
Release Date: April 4, 2023
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Autumn Leaves! 🍂
October 17, 2022
Frannie is a retired nurse in her 70's and now a widow. Her children, Iris and Charlie, feel it's best that she lives in an assisted living apartment now that she had a falling accident. Frannie is not happy about it, but does go. She meets a nice lady at the library named Katherine and they form a friendship. But then she realizes Katherine's husband was the judge in her grandaughter's case that let a man get off easy. This left her daughter, Iris, without a daughter and her entire family in a lot of pain. When someone dies at the apartments, Frannie knows she tampered with the medications and someone she likes gets blamed for it. Does Frannie confess to what she did? Or was someone else really responsible?
I was surprised to find out that this was a debut novel for Rebecca A. Keller. I was blown away by this book and the author's brilliant writing. She had me glued to the pages. My sweet neighbor recently went to live in an assisted living facility, so for me this book really hit home. It was a story filled with sadness and hope. I highly recommend YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN to those who enjoy a good mystery!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared on my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I was surprised to find out that this was a debut novel for Rebecca A. Keller. I was blown away by this book and the author's brilliant writing. She had me glued to the pages. My sweet neighbor recently went to live in an assisted living facility, so for me this book really hit home. It was a story filled with sadness and hope. I highly recommend YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN to those who enjoy a good mystery!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared on my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Read
May 3, 2023soft dnf @ 30%
idk if ill ever pick it back up but im in a thriller slump rn 😭
idk if ill ever pick it back up but im in a thriller slump rn 😭
June 21, 2023
You Should Have Known is Rebecca A. Keller’s debut novel. Keller’s writing is beautiful, engaging, and will tug at your heartstrings.
Keller did a wonderful job with her character Frannie Greene: a nurse, who loves books, watching The Young and the Restless, and will go to great lengths to avenge her granddaughter’s tragic death. Even commit murder?
The setting was definitely unique, as it takes place in an assisted living facility. This is not a setting I have read in a book before, at least not that I can recall, and was researched and portrayed extremely well. I could easily envision Frannie’s daily life from the descriptive writing.
The narrator (I did the audio) did a great job; Bravo, Petrea Burchard.
Now, overall, this book didn’t WOW me. I felt it started off strong, but halfway through I felt the storyline became very repetitive, and dare I say boring 😬. However, I will give this author another try in the future as I did love Keller’s writing style.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
Keller did a wonderful job with her character Frannie Greene: a nurse, who loves books, watching The Young and the Restless, and will go to great lengths to avenge her granddaughter’s tragic death. Even commit murder?
The setting was definitely unique, as it takes place in an assisted living facility. This is not a setting I have read in a book before, at least not that I can recall, and was researched and portrayed extremely well. I could easily envision Frannie’s daily life from the descriptive writing.
The narrator (I did the audio) did a great job; Bravo, Petrea Burchard.
Now, overall, this book didn’t WOW me. I felt it started off strong, but halfway through I felt the storyline became very repetitive, and dare I say boring 😬. However, I will give this author another try in the future as I did love Keller’s writing style.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
May 31, 2025
1.5🌟 this was my second audio book I have ever listened to and I did the mistake of also starting a kindle book too. My brain couldn’t keep up with both. I knew what was going on in the book but honestly checked out. I finished it because I’ve never not finished a book yet. It was okay 😊
August 13, 2022
When widow Frances Green fell and broke her hip her children convinced her to move into an apartment in an elderly assisted living home. Although one of the nicer ones she is still indignant about not needing to be there and will not allow her self at first to make friends or do activities. When her son Charlie looks as if he gets worried about her she makes a halfhearted attempt to do the activities offered. The first thing she does is join the book club this is where she meets Catherine, a woman she instantly connects with. Unfortunately Catherine is married to Nathaniel a grumpy Imperius egotistical ex judge who looks strangely familiar to Francis. Then it hits her he was the judge who gave the drunk driver who hit and killed her granddaughter probation and she is incensed and looking for a bench. The problem is she wanted revenge for Nathaniel and not the innocent people it looks like her deed is going to affect. Even worse another resident Evan watches her every move an even worse he wants to be friends. This is a really good book and Francis Green is a great character and a force to be reckon with she is 72 spry, active an intellectually owner game but what makes the book even better is that Evan is all that and more. I highly recommend this book if you love literary fiction at its best you need to read “ you should have known“ by Rebecca Keller. I was given this book by Net Galley A the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 14, 2023
3.5⭐️
When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine, only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge who Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter
Its not everyday that you read books that are written from an elderly perspective.
This was quite different and I must say I enjoyed it.
It took place mainly in a assisted home facility. It gets you thinking about how life will be when you're older.
There's a bit of mystery which was good, characters are likable but overall it lacked action half way through as it started out so strong.
Thank you Netgalley & Dreamscape Media for this ARC.
When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine, only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge who Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter
Its not everyday that you read books that are written from an elderly perspective.
This was quite different and I must say I enjoyed it.
It took place mainly in a assisted home facility. It gets you thinking about how life will be when you're older.
There's a bit of mystery which was good, characters are likable but overall it lacked action half way through as it started out so strong.
Thank you Netgalley & Dreamscape Media for this ARC.
January 5, 2024
Based on the number of novels I’ve recently read about murder and the elderly, I evidently plan to spend my golden years either solving or causing murders. I look forward to finding out which it is.
April 1, 2025
3.75 🌟🌟🌟⭐️💫
This was delightful 😄
This was delightful 😄
April 9, 2023
i don’t think there’s nearly enough fiction with elderly protagonists, so i was very excited to read this. while “you should have known” does have a great mystery plot, it’s not a classic whodunnit. if anything, it’s primarily a novel about ageing, grief, guilt, friendship and family. rebecca keller does an amazing job at portraying how franny comes to terms with getting older, copes with grief as well as supporting her daughter with her own and how she deals with the consequences of a fatal moral lapse. overall, a very enjoyable read!
May 21, 2023
I wanted to like this book more than I did but its superb audio performance and engaging writing kept me invested. It's a story about grief, revenge and regret. It takes place at an assisted living care home. The setting came alive for me and was the perfect framework for this clever literary thriller. If you haven't yet read the description, I'd advise against it as it basically gives the whole story away. The only thing one needs to know going in, is this: It involves a woman who discovers, upon moving into an assisted living home, that the judge who she deems responsible for her granddaughter's death also lives there and she begins plotting revenge.
As intriguing as this idea was, I felt the execution was much different than my expectation. I thought the story would primarily revolve around the revenge aspect but it kind of didn't. The revenge aspect played a role but much of the plot was about the various characters and their background stories. It was more character driven and hence slower paced.
Readers who enjoy books that meander and delve into thoughtful issues around ethics will want to try this one out.
Thank you Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
As intriguing as this idea was, I felt the execution was much different than my expectation. I thought the story would primarily revolve around the revenge aspect but it kind of didn't. The revenge aspect played a role but much of the plot was about the various characters and their background stories. It was more character driven and hence slower paced.
Readers who enjoy books that meander and delve into thoughtful issues around ethics will want to try this one out.
Thank you Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2022
What a debut. I will be watching for more novels from Rebecca Keller. I couldn't put this one down. I just needed to know what was going to happen with Frannie. If mysteries are your thing give this a read. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
October 17, 2022
I loved the uniqueness of the setting and main characters. They are often the forgotten people, and I was happy to read from a senior's perspective. The author had a great sense of how to plot a novel to keep you reading.
March 8, 2023
You Should Have Known grabbed me from the first sentence and didn't let go. I became so enmeshed in the story it felt as though I got into the main character's head and encountered a juxtaposed mash of intelligence, despair, introspection, compassion, revenge and shame. Author Rebecca A. Keller has a special way with words and their arrangement on the page which is sharp, intelligent and clever.
A widow in her early seventies, former nurse and medical student Frannie Greene had a fall which led her family to decide a senior living home was her best option. She met fellow resident Katherine with whom she shared several interests including pie, chatting, "The Young and the Restless" and reading. But after meeting Katherine's overbearing judge husband, she put two and two together and made a horrifying conclusion...she believed it was he who had contributed to the drunk driving death of her precious granddaughter. Frannie and her family had gone through unspeakable grief. Her mind went to that time and In a rash moment she made a morally wrong decision which later wracked her with guilt. She switched medications on the medication cart and instantly realized the gravity of her actions. The next day she found out a person had died and it may have been her fault. Little did she know another resident had been a keen observer. The police became involved and an innocent person's future was at stake. Frannie was beside herself with remorse. She had done something wrong...can she or should she make it right?
The perspectives and ramifications of Frannie's choices are incredibly thought provoking. I also like the setting of the senior's apartment, the choice of an older protagonist and how the past affects the present. A times family is simultaneously torn apart and stuck together. For me it is a powerful read with all sorts of subtleties and nuances. Difficult to put into words but oh, how I loved this book!
Interested in a unique slow-paced novel about family, friendship, moral choices and remorse? Do prioritize You Should Have Known.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this extraordinary novel which I will remember for a long, long time. I absolutely loved it!
A widow in her early seventies, former nurse and medical student Frannie Greene had a fall which led her family to decide a senior living home was her best option. She met fellow resident Katherine with whom she shared several interests including pie, chatting, "The Young and the Restless" and reading. But after meeting Katherine's overbearing judge husband, she put two and two together and made a horrifying conclusion...she believed it was he who had contributed to the drunk driving death of her precious granddaughter. Frannie and her family had gone through unspeakable grief. Her mind went to that time and In a rash moment she made a morally wrong decision which later wracked her with guilt. She switched medications on the medication cart and instantly realized the gravity of her actions. The next day she found out a person had died and it may have been her fault. Little did she know another resident had been a keen observer. The police became involved and an innocent person's future was at stake. Frannie was beside herself with remorse. She had done something wrong...can she or should she make it right?
The perspectives and ramifications of Frannie's choices are incredibly thought provoking. I also like the setting of the senior's apartment, the choice of an older protagonist and how the past affects the present. A times family is simultaneously torn apart and stuck together. For me it is a powerful read with all sorts of subtleties and nuances. Difficult to put into words but oh, how I loved this book!
Interested in a unique slow-paced novel about family, friendship, moral choices and remorse? Do prioritize You Should Have Known.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this extraordinary novel which I will remember for a long, long time. I absolutely loved it!
April 6, 2023
Wow this book will stay with me for a long time. It is not a light story, but I couldn’t read it fast enough and didn’t want to put it down. There are themes of loss and anger and grief and wanting and NEEDED retribution. But also a lot of moments of love and strength and happy times.
I really recommend this book; to me it felt like a psychological thriller because a lot of the pulse raising parts were introspection and I loved it. And the characters were written so well that can immediately connect with them . (I’ve never sympathized with murderous intentions in a book so much before).
Trigger warning : child loss. Usually I avoid books with child loss at all costs, but this book sounded so good that I gave it a try and though there were really really tough parts of it, I’m so glad I didn’t shy away. Sometimes reading about grief helps me build empathy for something that I am usually afraid to face. To remind myself of my blessings and not shy away from the hard things others are facing.
I really recommend this book; to me it felt like a psychological thriller because a lot of the pulse raising parts were introspection and I loved it. And the characters were written so well that can immediately connect with them . (I’ve never sympathized with murderous intentions in a book so much before).
Trigger warning : child loss. Usually I avoid books with child loss at all costs, but this book sounded so good that I gave it a try and though there were really really tough parts of it, I’m so glad I didn’t shy away. Sometimes reading about grief helps me build empathy for something that I am usually afraid to face. To remind myself of my blessings and not shy away from the hard things others are facing.
October 10, 2023
3.5 stars. This book is set in an assisted living home. Francine, who recently lost her husband and suffered a fall, has moved into Ridgewood Apartments. Once there, she meets Katherine, and they become friends. However, when Francine finds out that her new friend is married to the man who caused so much heartbreak for her family, she starts working on a plan to take him down. I have to say that the information regarding living in assisted living rings true. My father has been in assisted living, at his request, for about a year, and I have seen how involved the residents can be with each other and with their helpers. Anyway, I did enjoy this audiobook.
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