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Murder Old and New: A Better Days Mystery
An aged photograph of a dead man hanging from a tree...
Deaths in a nursing home that may not be as natural as they appear...
Clues showing a 70-year-old suicide could be murder...
Sinister small town secrets, decades old, finally revealed...
Feisty Livy Crowe, single-and-loving-it owner of the nostalgia shop, Better Days, has to deal with all of these and more, including her mother's slow deterioration in a senior residence that might be a crime scene, a very awkward romantic triangle, and murders old and new that threaten even Livy herself...
***
I was so engaged in this slick, clever mystery, I nearly burned the house down, having forgotten I had something cooking on the stove. Murder Old and New by Laurie and Chet Williamson is so riveting and swiftly paced you almost hate to arrive at the solution because you hate to lose the narrator's voice.
Sharp writing, excellent characterization and a satisfying conclusion should put this at the top of your reading list. - Joe R. Lansdale
Deaths in a nursing home that may not be as natural as they appear...
Clues showing a 70-year-old suicide could be murder...
Sinister small town secrets, decades old, finally revealed...
Feisty Livy Crowe, single-and-loving-it owner of the nostalgia shop, Better Days, has to deal with all of these and more, including her mother's slow deterioration in a senior residence that might be a crime scene, a very awkward romantic triangle, and murders old and new that threaten even Livy herself...
***
I was so engaged in this slick, clever mystery, I nearly burned the house down, having forgotten I had something cooking on the stove. Murder Old and New by Laurie and Chet Williamson is so riveting and swiftly paced you almost hate to arrive at the solution because you hate to lose the narrator's voice.
Sharp writing, excellent characterization and a satisfying conclusion should put this at the top of your reading list. - Joe R. Lansdale
214 pages, Paperback
Published August 18, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 16, 2022
Livy is the proprietor of Better Days, a nostalgia shop. On her days off, she visits her mother at a seniors' home and brings old 78s to entertain the residents. Recently, there have been two deaths of residents close together. Everyone seems convinced the deaths were natural - after all, both were very old - but Livy isn't so sure because they both had seemed in good health just days before. Later, while going through her deceased father's papers, Livy discovers a photo from 70 years ago of a hanged man, a crowd gathered around. Livy becomes obsessed with both cases. Was the first natural and the second suicide or were they both murder? As she delves deeper and as she learns more about the people in the photo, she begins to suspect the two cases are linked somehow.
Murder Old and New: A Better Days Mystery is a cozy mystery by Laurie and Chet Williamson. On the negative side, it did, at times, stretch my suspension of disbelief almost to the breaking as Livy made some rather huge leaps of faith in her investigation but, let's face it, that's kind of a thing with cozies.
Still, on the plus side, Livy was a likeable character and the plot was entertaining. There were enough twists and turns and red herrings to keep my attention and it ended on a satisfying note. In the end, I would say, if I didn't love this book, I did enjoy it and, really, sometimes that's all one asks from a a story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crossroads Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Murder Old and New: A Better Days Mystery is a cozy mystery by Laurie and Chet Williamson. On the negative side, it did, at times, stretch my suspension of disbelief almost to the breaking as Livy made some rather huge leaps of faith in her investigation but, let's face it, that's kind of a thing with cozies.
Still, on the plus side, Livy was a likeable character and the plot was entertaining. There were enough twists and turns and red herrings to keep my attention and it ended on a satisfying note. In the end, I would say, if I didn't love this book, I did enjoy it and, really, sometimes that's all one asks from a a story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crossroads Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
August 23, 2020
3.8 Stars
Murder Old and New is the story of two incidents that take place in a gap of 70 years. Was the first death a suicide or murder? Are the latest deaths at the senior’s residence natural or unnatural? Is there a connection between the two? What does Livy Crowe, the owner of Better Days, a nostalgia shop, think?
In short, that’s the premise of the book. The story is narrated by Livy, a 45-year-old divorcee who lives a pretty contented life with her cat, Fudge. Her time is divided between the shop, visiting Gates Home (senior residence), and going to auctions. Thrown in Tim, a 30 odd young lad with a crush on her, a mother with signs of depression and dementia, and an envelope with pictures taken by her late father; the book starts with the photographs of a dead man hanging from a tree.
Now, that’s the kind of beginning I love to read. The story progressed at a slow and steady pace during the first half. While there were times I wished something happened, I could see the need to establish the setting and the characters. There are quite a few interesting characters, including the killer(s). The setting also plays an important role.
There are tidbits about old pulp fiction, comics, music, and stuff that I could have enjoyed even more if I had good command over the topics. Still, it was informative, and I liked reading about the types of paper and changing preferences of people over time.
Back to the mystery, Livy, as she declares it quite a few times, has an overactive imagination that helps her connect the dots and also takes her focus away from what is right in front of her. Some clues were too apparent, but she refuses to consider them and goes off tangent.
That’s the advantage of writing from the first person POV. The reader knows before the narrator can focus on it. This frustrated me at times, but then, it shows I was hooked by the story. The climax had all the elements a thriller should have. Everything that should go wrong, goes wrong, making it almost impossible for our leading lady. But she succeeds in her mission and captures the killer.
The loose ends were handled, even with a small surprise added to the mix. I just wished the two people who gave Livy some of the most pieces of important information were also mentioned at the end.
There is a sort of triangle story that starts sometime in the middle and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. I’m just not sure how I feel about it. If the roles were reversed and Livy was a man, well, he’d lose fans. Still, I don’t have any major issues with it.
One thing that stood out odd in the book was an overly graphic scene describing death. While most of them were glossed over (imagine a book that doesn’t even have cuss words), this one sticks out like a sore thumb. I don’t see any need for it, considering it adds nothing to the story. There’s another towards the end, but it is justified. I have no issues with gore that serve a purpose.
Overall, the book is worth a read. Be patient in the beginning, and you’ll enjoy the style of narration is both simple (in a good way) and engaging.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Cross Road Press.
#MurderOldandNew #NetGalley
Murder Old and New is the story of two incidents that take place in a gap of 70 years. Was the first death a suicide or murder? Are the latest deaths at the senior’s residence natural or unnatural? Is there a connection between the two? What does Livy Crowe, the owner of Better Days, a nostalgia shop, think?
In short, that’s the premise of the book. The story is narrated by Livy, a 45-year-old divorcee who lives a pretty contented life with her cat, Fudge. Her time is divided between the shop, visiting Gates Home (senior residence), and going to auctions. Thrown in Tim, a 30 odd young lad with a crush on her, a mother with signs of depression and dementia, and an envelope with pictures taken by her late father; the book starts with the photographs of a dead man hanging from a tree.
Now, that’s the kind of beginning I love to read. The story progressed at a slow and steady pace during the first half. While there were times I wished something happened, I could see the need to establish the setting and the characters. There are quite a few interesting characters, including the killer(s). The setting also plays an important role.
There are tidbits about old pulp fiction, comics, music, and stuff that I could have enjoyed even more if I had good command over the topics. Still, it was informative, and I liked reading about the types of paper and changing preferences of people over time.
Back to the mystery, Livy, as she declares it quite a few times, has an overactive imagination that helps her connect the dots and also takes her focus away from what is right in front of her. Some clues were too apparent, but she refuses to consider them and goes off tangent.
That’s the advantage of writing from the first person POV. The reader knows before the narrator can focus on it. This frustrated me at times, but then, it shows I was hooked by the story. The climax had all the elements a thriller should have. Everything that should go wrong, goes wrong, making it almost impossible for our leading lady. But she succeeds in her mission and captures the killer.
The loose ends were handled, even with a small surprise added to the mix. I just wished the two people who gave Livy some of the most pieces of important information were also mentioned at the end.
There is a sort of triangle story that starts sometime in the middle and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. I’m just not sure how I feel about it. If the roles were reversed and Livy was a man, well, he’d lose fans. Still, I don’t have any major issues with it.
One thing that stood out odd in the book was an overly graphic scene describing death. While most of them were glossed over (imagine a book that doesn’t even have cuss words), this one sticks out like a sore thumb. I don’t see any need for it, considering it adds nothing to the story. There’s another towards the end, but it is justified. I have no issues with gore that serve a purpose.
Overall, the book is worth a read. Be patient in the beginning, and you’ll enjoy the style of narration is both simple (in a good way) and engaging.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Cross Road Press.
#MurderOldandNew #NetGalley
May 26, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Murder Old and New: A Better Days Mystery in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
The story follows the investigation of a murder that links the past with the present. The protagonist, a seasoned detective, delves into a mystery that spans decades, uncovering secrets that have been buried for years. The dual timelines are woven seamlessly, providing a rich tapestry of historical context and modern-day sleuthing.
The Details
The characters in Murder Old and New are well-crafted and believable. The detective's journey is both professional and personal, giving readers a glimpse into his motivations and struggles. Supporting characters add depth and intrigue, each with their own backstories and connections to the central mystery.
Laurie and Chet Williamson's writing style is engaging and vivid. Their descriptive prose brings the settings to life, from the nostalgic past to the bustling present. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, enhancing the overall narrative. The pacing is well-balanced, keeping readers hooked from start to finish.
The novel explores themes of justice, redemption, and the impact of time on truth. It raises questions about how the past shapes the present and the lengths to which people will go to uncover or hide the truth. The moral complexities faced by the characters add layers to the story, making it not just a mystery, but a thoughtful exploration of human nature.
The Verdict
Overall, Murder Old and New: A Better Days Mystery is a standout novel in the mystery genre. Its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and thoughtful themes make it a must-read for fans of both historical and contemporary mysteries. Laurie and Chet Williamson have crafted a story that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling, leaving readers eager for more.
September 4, 2020
This book started off very slow for me and was even off putting at times. The main character Livy finds some old photos her father took of a dead man hanging in a tree and can’t stop obsessing about them. After doing some minor detective work, she is convinced it was apart of The Hangman Murders. Creepy occurrences seem to come in spades after this for her. As older women at the nursing home that she volunteers at start dying suspiciously, Livy and her friend Karen begin to notice. Livy comes across some retro yearbooks from the year 1934, the same year her father took photos of the hanging. She soon recognizes one of the old men from the nursing home in the pictures her father took and in the school yearbook. All the action happened in the last 50 or so pages and I loved the ending. Livy ends up solving The Hangman Murders and the suspicious deaths at the nursing home. She was so excited about it and I feel for her because I do the same things after listening to crime podcasts. So much was packed into the last half of this book. My biggest critique is that I wish more detail had been spread throughout the first half of the book.
June 30, 2021
This was the book I didn't know I needed. I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately, and when I opened this book I was hooked by Livy's voice. This was a not-entirely-cozy mystery that was a fun and fast read, perfect for weekend reading.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews