Living With B

After her husband goes to jail for fraud, Lila Shaw loses everything— her money, her friends, and her home. She and her true-crime-obsessed daughter, Bea, move into a rundown apartment at the Primrose, a retirement building full of bourbon-drinking gossipers. When a resident dies and offers a two-million-dollar reward to solve his granddaughter’s decades-old murder, Bea jumps at the chance to investigate—and Lila reluctantly joins in. But when another body turns up and Lila becomes the prime suspect, she has to solve both murders to clear her name. With help from quirky neighbors and an annoyingly handsome reporter, Lila might just uncover the truth—and a shot at starting over.

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My Thoughts

The story is fast-paced and cozy, easy to enjoy without dragging on. I liked how quickly I got to know the characters and the unique retirement home setting, it’s a place where people often feel forgotten, and Evelyn’s story really highlights that. It’s full of interesting characters who are one of a kind, rich and silly. It’s hard not to be sucked in by the environment and our cast, truly. The story raises the stakes more and more each chapter, until we finally hit the resolution.

Characters

Lila is our main character, and she is going through it. Her ten-year-old daughter, Bea, is rambunctious and struggling with her father’s absence. It’s hard not to feel for Lila, even with her walls up and questionable parenting moments. After her husband is arrested for fraud, announces he’s divorcing her, and flees the country, Lila and Bea are left with nothing. As a single mom, she’s barely holding it together—between her job, Bea acting out, and losing their home and savings.

Bea is a cutie and a true crime girlie. No hate—I was watching Law & Order: SVU before I could walk. She does feel a little too mature for ten, which might be intentional, but it doesn’t totally fit her upbringing.

Jasper, one of the other main characters, is a sweet retired detective whose husband divorced him. He gets pulled into the mystery of Sophia’s murder, and honestly, he’s precious. Evelyn, on the other hand, is harder to love. She’s blunt, critical, and snappy—but she’s got a soft spot for Lila and Bea that makes her feel real.

Evelyn is also lovely, but is much harder to like than Jasper. She is critical, snappy, and direct with all of her questions. However, she does have a soft spot for Lila and Bea.

Do I Recommend ‘The Primrose Murder Society‘?

One hundred percent! There is nothing like a cozy mystery that keeps you reading! I enjoyed this adult debut by Hackney and am looking forward to more of her adult work!

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