Last Lessons of Summer

by Margaret Maron

In this dark and suspenseful departure from her critically acclaimed Judge Deborah Knott series, award-winning author Maron follows a young publisher's search for answers to old murders, which leads her to the darkest secrets of her family's past.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Book Club, Cozy Mystery, Adult

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Born and raised in central North Carolina, Margaret Maron lived in Italy before returning to the USA. In addition to a collection of short stories she also authored numerous mystery novels.

Her works have been translated into seven languages her Bootlegger's Daughter, a Washington Post Bestseller won Edgar Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity awards.

She was a past president of Sisters in Crime and of the American Crime writers' league, and a director on the national board for Mystery Writers of America.

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Reviews

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably best known for her Judge Deborah Knott Mystery Series, Maron is the author of many critically acclaimed books within the mystery genre (this particular book--a stand alone--nominated for an Agatha Award).

The writing here is good and flows nicely. In addition, there are several intertwined mysteries, all decent enough despite the fact that the ending(s) weren't really a big surprise. I'm willing to chalk that up to my superior deductive reasoning skills rather than a flaw on Maron's part. (LOL)

Unfortunately, the characters were all just a little to flat for me, and not particularly interesting. An okay read, but no where near as good as the first book in her Deborah Knott series.

Ironically, for me, the best part of the book involved the protagonist's fascination with a garden spider in which we are given some interesting tidbits. We have tons of garden spiders during the summer months and like the protagonist, we enjoy feeding them (although the first spider featured below caught this katydid all on her own). They really are beautiful and amazing spiders.



"

Definitely see this appealing to cozy fans...the book, that is, and not necessarily the spiders.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just happened to find this book in our house. I have read several others by this author so decided to try this. Didn't see the ending. I thought I had things all figured out, but it didn't turn out that way. The story works its way around so many twists and turns. Had to stay up late one night to finish it.

[Kerrie Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some surprises in this mystery book and the story moves along smoothly. The character of Beth has a potty mouth. The romance parts are closed door. This is a nice escapism book or a between books book.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on audio--really enjoyed narrator. I never read author before (she passed in 2021), but will seek out her detective series which many reviewers enjoyed.

[Lizpeveto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read all the Deborah Knott series, reading this stand alone by Maron was just as good as her others. A southern location using local dialect which makes it seem more real to me as I'm a Texan and this is what people sound like. After her grandmother is murdered, Amy, an artist and illustrator, is the sole heir to a NY based toy company. Her father, who is CEO, and assorted half siblings are all officers of the company; as well as her husband. When Amy was 4, her mother committed suicide and even tho she has a loving stepmother; she has always wanted more information about her real mother. She also inherited her grandmother's large house and furnishings; so she takes a leave of absence to sort thru the estate. While there, she is able to meet and interact w/ her mother's relatives; all of whom will all inherit from the sale of her grandmother's house. Since her grandmother's murder investigation is still ongoing, there are suspects and frequent visits from the local police. Her husband remains in NY and appears to have other distractions and interests and not focused on his wife's grief. When her half sister resigns from the company and has no place to stay, she joins Amy to help pack. Amy begins her own murder investigation of her grandmother's death and questions her mother's supposed suicide. Lots of twists and turns and wow - a somewhat surprise ending. A different storyline w/ relatives and their human frailities and strengths. I'll look for other Maron books.

[Alyson Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read this author. This book was the December book club selection.

The author uses a dysfunctional family situation, and the resulting impacts of self absorbtion to twist the plot.

Amy's sister Beth is well used in developing the family matters - but I felt this character could have been developed a bit more.

This will probably be a movie for TV soon! I enjoyed the plot twists and was surprised a bit at the ending.

A good quick read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stand alone book by Margaret Maron (though Dwight Bryant makes a cameo appearance!), Last Lessons brings to life a daughter's search for the answer to her mother's purported suicide. As many adults with mystery pasts, Amy wants to know more than family wants to tell her. She learns sad and painful truths that have been carefully hidden in her family, and yet comes away knowing the mother she never knew and discovers she herself is stronger than she knew.

[☺Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not guess the guilty party of the modern-day murder mystery, at all. I also didn't suspect the truth about the horrific family tragedy from the past, either. I actually disliked most of the family members of the very dysfunctional Voygt family, though (especially whiny, lazy, spoiled, and immature half-sister Beth).
Overall, the ending was neat and satisfying.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 2003 before I began following Margaret Maron's book series, this stand-alone southern mystery includes a large, extended family, some jealous of others' good fortunes and riches, and others, still working hard on their farms, and a protagonist whom people greatly underestimate. Times are changing in North Carolina; developers are interested in buying up property for highway and shopping mall expansions. Family members are getting too old to work their farms, many are simply not interested, and all are looking forward to their portion of the sale of an elderly woman's estate.

Amy Steadman returns to her grandmother's home, three months after her grandmother was murdered, to empty out the house, solve the murder and figure out why her mother committed suicide there twenty seven years ago. If that weren't enough, she also has some thinking to do about her own marriage, her relationship with her father, her position in the family toy/book/video empire she has recently inherited, and try to keep herself from being killed in the meantime. Surprisingly, no one seems to have environmental concerns. Amy's beloved grandparents reveal a darker side as she gets to know her extended family, and in the end, those who are still standing seem happier.

A fun fact: the voices of Pink and Blue, the two characters developed by her grandparents in the late 1940's surface in Amy's thirty-year-old head frequently as she faces challenges. "What do you think, Pink?" "What will we do, Blue?" Now they are in mine.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loosely in the same universe as the Deborah Knott series. (Dwight has a cameo.)

It's the story of a woman whose sense of self-identity has been stunted by the death of her mother when she was a child and secrets, half-truths and lies. This is the summer she sorts through it all and in the midst of it, finds the strength she didn't realize she had.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following her grandmother’s death, Amy runs off from her husband and the family business in New York to clear out the old home in North Carolina and to clear her own mind about her marriage. The characters all felt a little cliched to me. The bossy grandmother, the philandering father, the spoiled younger sister, the folksy lawman...

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I was uncertain because I thought I had chosen another book in the Deborah Knott series. But this stand alone book turned into a really good story, as only Ms. Maron can tell. Interesting, quirky characters, a good story line, a good mystery and one or two familiar characters including Deputy Dwight Bryant.

[Shellie Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about a grandmother that is killed and a granddaughter who goes back to her house in NC to try to find some answers to her family that she felt kept secrets and as Amy is sorting out her grandmothers things, the killer is found out and Amy discovers how her mother really died.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this author's Deborah Knott series.

I love the family tree in the front and the reference to a cruise to Alaska on page four.

I like Amy's doodling habit. Might have been a good addition to the book. Or, illustrations of Pink and Blue?

" . . . the only real vacation is a complete change."

"Is your wife always this bossy?"
"Well, my second one was."

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book. Tells a good story, written well. Keeps you interested. Could.v left out the side tracked spider discussion and images throughout the book. It tried to make a point, but it was a senseless addition. Other than that I do recommend this book.

[Jean Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore the Deborah Knott series so I found this one and read until my eyes drooped. It runs a distant third place to Deborah but I never tire of visiting rural North Carolina where people know what todo when there is a death. Bring food and gossip.

[R. C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heir to a publishing empire, the heroine Amy goes to clean out the home of her murdered grandmother, seeking answers to that mystery and to the suicide of her mother. The novel is leisurely paced, with believable characters. I didn't predict the solution to either mystery.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted families and twisted stories distort memories as a family's grande dame dies and leaves everything to her granddaughter, and the poverty of the relatives create situations that lead to more death. Good read.

[Eva-Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As akways an enjoyable read and good mystery. While not one of her series it was nice to see a familiar cop there. It is all about truths. And the lies we use to protect people.

[Marbeth Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I have read by this author! I really enjoyed it! Was a nice escape into the heroine's situations & a good mystery included! I will definitely try her series next!

[Gerda Leek · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed

[Barbara Walworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite the many favorable reviews, I lost interest in this book and drifted away.

DD@Phila

[Lawanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook performed by Kate Forbes

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Garage sale purchase from my to-read shelf. Enjoyed it and had trouble putting it down but definitely skimmed through and didn't worry about keeping all the cousins straight!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, but has a lot of peripheral characters that makes it a little tough to follow.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was there was actually a murder to start this story off? And for those that were actually murdered, the family was so large it was hard to figure out who did what and to whom they might have done it.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This was just okay. Hard to get interested in this story.

[Nelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left me sad when I had to put it down.

[Vallery Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written stand alone about family and secrets.