The Summer of 1957: Secrets Left in the Basement

by Judith E Powell

In the summer of 1957, eight-year-old Penelope Evans was sexually molested. Two months later, the man who molested her was found dead in his car from a gunshot wound to the head. It was ruled a suicide. Now, thirty-six years later, Elizabeth Scott-the granddaughter of the dead man and a police investigator-wonders why her beloved grandfather would commit suicide. Elizabeth is intent on finding out if it really was suicide or if he was actually murdered. Unaware of Penelope's experience in 1957, Elizabeth asks her former childhood friend to help get the case reopened. Penelope refuses, and after secretly reading her mother's diary, she is determined to keep Elizabeth from reopening the case. As these two women move forward on divergent paths, Elizabeth discovers unfathomable secrets her family has kept from her. Penelope is forced to confront her past as her current life unravels. Both women are faced with life-changing decisions that will affect their lives and the people they love most.

156 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2021

Reviews

[Danielle Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer of 1957 by Judith E. Powell is an intriguing mystery. A horrible crime was committed. Then later on another occurrence linked to the crime hits a note with someone. It takes a toll on several people. Two girls whose lives changed forever. One was a victim and the other suffers through grief. Both of their pains are connected. One of them does not realize just how much their lives are entwined until a deeper look into the current case is examined. Secrets spill. Truths that were once hidden are now open. I felt the girls' and their struggles for normalcy. There was never any hope of a normal life. Not for either of them. This book was a good yet emotional read. It's a quick tale. Judith E. Powell created a world so real and so engaging she had me on the edge of my chair with my head tucked into the book. The cast of characters brought this mystery/intrigue to life. I was entertained from the beginning to end. I was hooked. It had a way of luring me further into its journey. I had to know what happened and how it would end. Overall, I recommend this book to all readers.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Pat Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but good read

This was a short read, but an engaging one. The romance element was totally predictable, but there were some surprises in the main storyline of a woman who had been sexually abused as s child and then as a grown up, being contacted by someone who wanted to reopen a case that had long ago been closed.

A little dated perhaps in that Radio Shack was mentioned. But still s very entertaining read.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, this novel has an intriguing story, particularly relevant in this Child Abuse Prevention month. Many thanks to the author for sharing her memories of the mid-20th century and the late 20th century in midwest America; how soon we forget some of our attitudes!

Enjoyable, easy, and it would make a pretty good movie!

[Mrs. Harold F. McCart, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friendship, romance and horror . What more can you ask in a good book?

I thought this book was well written and excellent.The Summer of1957 tells the story of a young girl's unfortunate experience with an older male who was the grandfather of her best friend. The best friend, years later,writes her and says she is looking into her grandfather's suicide.

[Gabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book that my aunt Judy wrote, rewriting the abuse she went through as a child into a murder mystery.