A woman is drawn into a dangerous homicide investigation by her true crime-obsessed daughter in middle-grade author Stacy Hackney's marvelous first book for adult readers, The Primrose Murder Society, a mystery with a delightful splash of satire. At its center is the challenging relationship between Lila Shaw and her 10-year-old daughter, Bea, an aspiring amateur detective, and their path toward reconciliation.
Lila's husband, Ryan, was recently indicted for fraud and fled the country. Struggling to pick up the pieces of her imploded family, Lila accepts a temporary job at the historic Primrose, an elegant apartment building for residents 55 and older in Richmond, Va. Its charming exterior exudes stability but conceals a "dark past."
Precocious and strong-willed Bea misses her father terribly and takes it out on Lila. When the enterprising fourth grader discovers a generous reward exists for solving a decades-old murder at the Primrose, she teams up with residents Evelyn, who is skilled in uncovering secrets, and Jasper, a former detective. What initially seems a harmless distraction turns sinister when a neighbor winds up dead.
Hackney's characters add hilarious color to the fast-paced action: a TikTok-watching Primrose resident sports "Alexander McQueen platform tennis shoes" and the bejeweled, imperious Evelyn wields her walker like a weapon at potential suspects. As the investigation veers into perilous directions, it becomes frighteningly clear that the only people Lila and Bea can trust are each other.
A thoroughly enjoyable read with a thrilling, unanticipated conclusion, The Primrose Murder Society leaves open the enticing possibility of a sequel. --Shahina Piyarali