I have been reading Going Home.. a family, murder mystery by Sharon Marchisello this week and here is my five star review.
About the book
Michelle DePalma expected to jet into Two Wells, Texas, check on her elderly mother, and hurry back to her orderly life in Atlanta, where she has a happy marriage and satisfying career. Instead, she finds her mother, Lola Hanson, hovered over the bludgeoned body of her caregiver, Brittany Landers.
Since the events of 9/11, one month earlier, Lola’s memory loss has amplified, and the family suspects Alzheimer’s. Now Lola can’t tell anyone what happened to Brittany.
The agency that provides home care for Lola promptly withdraws its services. Michelle is stuck in her home town longer than planned as she cares for a mother with whom she has never been close and tries to prove her innocence. The police officers who investigate the crime are old antagonists from grade school. A secret thought to be long buried–that Michelle bore a son out of wedlock and gave him up for adoption–surfaces when a surprise daughter-in-law and granddaughter show up, distracting Michelle from her quest to solve the murder. And then she stumbles upon a motive which makes Lola look even more guilty.
Going Home was inspired by the author’s mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s and explores the challenge of solving a murder mystery when a potential witness cannot rely on her memory. Written from the perspective of a baby boomer forced to reverse roles with her parents, it crosses into the mainstream genre of women’s fiction
My review for the book 30th September 2021
This is a well written and thought provoking story that combines a care crisis that many of us face with elderly parents who have developed dementia, and the unravelling of the mystery surrounding a murder in a family home.
It is clear the author has experience of the challenge of communicating with someone who has short term memory loss, and brings in a cleverly crafted murder plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
There are flashbacks to the past and events which have a bearing on the present, and the reader is witness to the fallout that revelations result in as the search begins for a viable suspect amongst the outsiders who have access to the family home. It would seem that the authorities have only one suspect in mind, and without the ability to communicate coherently, an elderly woman must rely on her extended family to prove her innocence.
The author does a great job in keeping all the various strands of the plot running smoothly in parallel and brings the story to a satisfactory climax.
I recommend to those who enjoy well written murder mysteries and family sagas.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
Also by Sharon Marchisello
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – follow Sharon: Goodreads – blog: Sharon Blogspot – Twitter: @SLMarchisello
About Sharon Marchisello
Sharon Marchisello is the author of two mysteries published by Sunbury Press, Going Home (2014) and Secrets of the Galapagos (2019). She is an active member of Sisters in Crime.
She contributed short stories to anthologies Shhhh…Murder! (Darkhouse Books, 2018) and Finally Home (Bienvenue Press, 2019). Her personal finance book Live Well, Grow Wealth was originally published as Live Cheaply, Be Happy, Grow Wealthy, an e-book on Smashwords. Sharon has published travel articles, book reviews, and corporate training manuals, and she writes a personal finance blog called Countdown to Financial Fitness.
She grew up in Tyler, Texas, and earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston in French and English. She studied for a year in Tours, France, on a Rotary scholarship and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her Masters in Professional Writing at the University of Southern California.
Retired from a 27-year career with Delta Air Lines, she lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, doing volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society and the Fayette County Master Gardeners UGA Extension.
Thanks very much for dropping in today and I hope you have enjoyed my review of Sharon’s book and will head over to buy a copy… thanks Sally.
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A lovely review, Sally. I expect many of us can identify with the difficulties and upsets that are caused by Alzheimers and Sharon’s clearly done a great job of capturing that complexity. xx
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Thanks, Alex. When I wrote the book, I didn’t realize how widespread Alzheimer’s was. But afterwards, people kept telling me they could relate to the mother character, because they, too, had known someone who suffered from this awful disease.
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We can Alex… it brought back events and memories of my mother and how devastating the disease is…♥
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Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it.
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Yes that sounds very intriguing and how many murder cases are ‘seen to be solved’ by arresting the obvious person. It’s hard to be torn away from your home and family when duty calls, especially with a murder thrown in! I look forward to reading Sharon’s novel.
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Thanks Janet.. an excellent fusion between family and mystery genres…xx
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Thanks, Janet.
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Just popped through the ether to download onto my Kindle.
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A wonderful review for Sharon’s book, Sally. Toni x
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Thanks Toni, glad you liked it
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Thanks Toni..hugsx
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A fabulous review for Sharon’s enticing book, Sal. Congrats to Sharon for this lovely review and book. ❤
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Thanks, Debby!
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🙂
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Thanks very much Debby, long overdue read..♥♥
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Terrific review, Sally. Congratulations to Sharon
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Thank you, John!
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😊
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Thanks John…hugsx
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I love that this story is inspired by Sharon’s own experience with her mom and Alzheimer’s. It sounds like a delightful read! Thank you for sharing, Sally and a huge congrats to Sharon!
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Thank you, Jan. Writing it was somewhat cathartic, somewhat painful.
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That is what makes the story so authentic Jan…hugsx
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Great review 🙂 I had to add to my TBR list!
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Thank you! Hope you get a chance to read it someday. (I know how long those TBR lists can be–mine included!)
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Wonderful thanks Denise…hugsx
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A really interesting premise from Sharon, and it sounds like a great read, Sally. Thanks for your recommendation and review. Congrats to Sharon!
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Thanks, Diana!
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🙂
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Thanks Diana…xxx
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What a very interesting story. Thanks for prior reading, and the wonderful review, Sally! Will put it on my TBR. xx Michael
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Thank you, Michael! I hope you get a chance to read it, and that you find it worth your while.
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I am sure its worth to read, Sharon! I will do as soon as possible. xx Michael
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Great Michael.. it is a very good read and I am sure you will enjoyl..hugsx
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks very much for sharing Michael…hugsx
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Thanks for the information, Sally! Murder mystery always is a great read in the last months of the year. hugsx
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hugsxx
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Thanks so much for spreading the word!
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Always with a great pleasure, Sharon! Thank you much more for writing so wonderful books, and enjoy a great rest of the week, also a wonderful weekend! xx Michael
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What a clever plot. Thanks for sharing it. I am definitely intrigued.
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Thank you, Jacqui!
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Great Jacqui.. xx
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Thank you, Sally, for showcasing Sharon with your great review. I’ll be heading to Amazon as it sounds like a book I’d love. 💗
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Thanks, Gwen. I do hope you’ll love it!
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This book looks like one I’d really enjoy. Thanks for such a great review, Sally.
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Thanks, Kymber. I hope you check it out!
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Reblogged this on Sharon Marchisello and commented:
Thank you to Sally Cronin for posting her lovely review for my mystery, Going Home.
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Thanks for boosting the post Sharon..hugsx
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Thank you, Sally. What a pleasant surprise to see this lovely review! I appreciate your taking the time to read my work and share your thoughts.
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Pleasure Sharon.. sorry it has taken me a while but lovely read.. hugsx
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Great review, Sally. Sounds like a book I’d enjoy, so I just hopped over to Amazon and purchased a copy.
Congrats on the review, Sharon. I had no idea you grew up in Tyler. I live just north of there in Lindale.
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Thanks, Joan. I hope you like the book.
Such a small world! The fictitious town where the story is set, Two Wells, is very similar to Tyler.
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Thanks Joan and you have an enjoyable read ahead of you…hugsx
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Congrats to Sharon on this excellent review. Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs 💕🙂
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Thanks very much Harmony..hugsx
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Thanks, Harmony!
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