Murder and Mayhem at The Primrose

The Primrose Murder Society by Stacy Hackney

Fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series will heartily embrace The Primrose Murder Society for its originality, charm and warmth. Stacy Hackney introduces an unlikely crew of amateur sleuths investigating a twenty-one-year-old cold case murder that took place in Richmond, Virginia’s upscale Primrose building. This landmark condominium filled with wealthy retirees has an age restriction of 55 and over. There are abundant social activities, early cocktail hours and gossip galore. Lila Shaw, age 35, and her 10-year-old daughter Bea have been granted a temporary exception to the age covenant allowing them to move into Apartment 2B. Her mother’s most recent boyfriend Stanley had inherited the two-bedroom apartment from his mother Gloria, who evidently was quite the hoarder. As he is eager to have the place cleared out, cleaned and sold quickly, rent is waived in exchange for this herculean task.

A Fall from Privilege

Lila dropped out of college during senior year to marry wealthy and handsome boy wonder Ryan Shaw. She was soon living a dream life as a pampered housewife and mother in the best neighborhood in Norfolk. Her country club friends met to swim, golf, play tennis, lunch or endlessly shop for the most up-to-date designer clothes. Lila was a whiz at organizing auction fundraisers for charitable events and their daughter’s private school. Her comfortable world collapsed when it became clear that consumed with greed, her husband had bilked millions in Medicare funds and fled the country, leaving her in the lurch. The team of crack FBI investigators and police, along with fair-weather friends and neighbors, doubted the veracity of her protestations of ignorance of his illegal schemes.

Their imposing home, cars, furnishings, jewelry, and other assets were seized, as were their bank accounts, which Ryan had thoughtfully nearly cleaned out. Lila sold her engagement and wedding rings to settle credit card debts and buy a used car before selling her wardrobe and accessories to keep them fed. Her disagreeable mother-in-law agreed to cover Bea’s tuition and school fees but not a penny more. This financial burden was conveniently relieved when Bea was expelled from school for throwing a book at someone who had made hateful remarks.

Life at The Primrose, located two hours away in Richmond, offered a new beginning. Bea was enrolled in a public school and slowly began to make friends who shared an interest in reading, watching and discussing mysteries. Obsessed with Murder She Wrote, Bea repeatedly watched all twelve seasons. The new chums formed an official club designating themselves “The Detective Society.” Recently deceased Conrad Kent, elderly owner of the building’s luxurious penthouse apartment, willed a two million dollar reward to anyone who could solve the killing of his beloved sixteen-year-old granddaughter. Bea fixates on the idea, convinced that with Lila, she can solve it.

Secrets Behind Primrose Doors

Mother and daughter befriend their neighbors, Jasper, a shy, recently retired police detective, and Evelyn, an aging, gruff, and outspoken former socialite. They are drafted to interview fellow residents who lived in The Primrose at the time of Sophie’s death. Good-looking investigative reporter Nate happens upon the scene and also seeks to reveal the truth. Lila has shielded Bea from her father’s crimes and views the investigation as a light diversion until an elderly resident is murdered. Since she had an appointment with the victim about the time of her death, the police make her their prime suspect. The amateur sleuths must act quickly before Lila is arrested.

The Primrose houses many secrets behind closed doors. There had been a series of unsolved burglaries the year Sophie was killed. Sophie’s sister Alice continued to reside in the building with her mother, Helene Hunt, who was oddly reluctant to cooperate with the investigation. The wealthy widow seemed more interested in their social position than possibly revealing the awkward truth that Sophie, although only 16, had not been an angel. Jasper provides freshly baked cookies, and Evelyn charges ahead with embarrassing questions while Lila solves the case. Meanwhile, as residents and staff develop closer friendships, Lila and Bea become more confident and self-sufficient as they overcome betrayal and losses. Stacy Hackney maintains the humor and pacing, deftly mingling intriguing subplots and fascinating characters. The Primrose Murder Society is uniquely offbeat and enchanting.