Grieving Grandmother Seeks Revenge

You Should Have Known by Rebecca A. Keller is a gripping mystery that delves into the complexities of grief and revenge. The story revolves around Francine (Frannie) Greene, a retired nurse and widow who has recently moved into an assisted living facility. Frannie is still mourning the loss of her granddaughter when she recognizes a person she believes to be complicit in her granddaughter's death. This recognition sets off a chain of events that leads Frannie down a dark path of vengeance.

You Should Have Known is a strong debut from Rebecca A. Keller, blending elements of mystery and psychological thriller with deeper explorations of grief, family, and justice. The book's strengths lie in its rich character development and the nuanced portrayal of its themes. Some readers may find the pacing slow at times, but the deliberate pace allows for a deeper exploration of Frannie's emotional journey. Overall, this is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will resonate with fans of literary mysteries and psychological suspense.

In conclusion, You Should Have Known is a noteworthy addition to the mystery genre, offering a unique perspective on the lengths one might go to for the sake of justice and the consequences of such actions.

Apologies for taking so long to get around to reading this book. Unfortunately it didn’t jump out amongst my other ones, I’m not sure whether it was the title or cover?

However regardless of this, once I got round to reading this book I enjoyed it! Interesting themes and characters.

The way the author did the character building in this book is amazing. You actually feel like you know the characters. Sure does take you on a crazy journey.

A very thought provoking story. I like that the mystery took place in a retirement home as that puts a different spin on the revenge plot in my opinion.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

A book of revenge and redemption. Could you keep quiet knowing you had killed someone innocent or would the anxiety become too much?

This book was a dark horse. Started off a bit unsure, but by the end I was in love with Frannie and the whole story.

This novel really resonated with me. Perhaps because I am just a scant five years younger than the protagonist who finds herself living in a senior’s care home after suffering falls. Now she uses a walker to get around and she laments her lack of independence. She worked for many years as a surgical nurse and has a fine intellect, yet her body has let her down. Frannie has suffered a lot of losses in her seventy-two years. First she lost her husband of over five decades to cancer, then she lost her beloved granddaughter to a drunk driver. Her daughter Iris has been struggling with debilitating grief, and Frannie worries about her.

Just a few days in her new residence, Frannie makes a friend in Katherine. A lovely woman who she can share stories with, who has many similar interests. Then, to her dismay, she learns that Katherine lives here with her husband, the judge that proceeded over the drunk-driving case which let her granddaughter’s killer go free…

Though Frannie is without question a ‘good person’, she makes a disastrously bad decision ruled by her own grief and her penchant for justice. The consequences of her actions spiral to encompass other people, and Frannie is overcome with remorse, stress, and guilt.

This novel covers many serious themes. It examines how the elderly are perceived by society as a whole, often unjustly relegating them to invisibility – as burdens, as people ‘lesser than’. It also examines how people in power can run roughshod over the rules that govern everyone else. It looks at how people manage to cope with profound loss, as well as the soul crushing indignities of aging.

I loved the in depth characterization of the protagonist in this novel. With themes of remorse, loss, guilt, corruption and culpability, this debut also had more than a little element of mystery to its plot. This is a morally complicated story which could provoke some lively discussion in a book club. Highly recommended. I’m eager to read what this author writes next.

This was an enjoyable and fast paced read for me. It started off strong, I was really into it and intrigued to see where it was going to go. For me I was expecting more of a thrill and that's where it fell a bit flat for me. I wanted more twists and turns throughout it.

The story did still keep me engaged and curious about what would happen. The writing was easy to read, follow and was engaging. In my opinion more could've been done with the storyline. Some scenes felt as though they had just been added on to fill a void.

The characters were okay, although they could've been better developed. Some characters should've been more as they were a good part of the story. The main character Frannie was supposed to be viewed as nice and likeable, but I didn't really feel that for her.

DNF - Ultimately, I couldn't connect with the story & found myself unable to motivate myself to return to the book. The premise sounded promising but, I suppose I was eager to read a book in a genre that has not typically been my favourite. I'm sure other readers dedicated to the genre will appreciate this one.

"You Should Have Known" is a pleasant and shocking surprise from artist Rebecca A. Keller. She might be familiar to some of you for her art and this is her debut book. As she has mentioned in the preface, she wanted to write a book which explores what might push a morally upright person to carry out a deplorable act; she has done that and a lot more as well.

The story is narrated in the first person, through the voice of Frannie Greene, a retired nurse, who is forced to go and live in Ridgewood Assisted living Center after a bad fall. Her son Charlie and daughter Iris, convince her to do it; they also strive to do everything possible to make the change easy on Frannie and make sure she is comfortable. Despite her unwillingness to accept the limitations of ageing, Frannie begins to start enjoying her life there and form friendships.

As fate would have it, Frannie recognizes the husband of one of her closest friends, as the man she holds responsible for the death of her granddaughter Bethany, Iris’s daughter. This realization sparks a fire in her and makes her contemplate unspeakable things. It does not help that Iris still hasn't recovered from Bethany's loss and her condition takes a bad turn frequently. Thus begins Frannie's journey into a chaotic mixture of revenge, forgiveness, absolution, culpability and morality/immortality.

Author Keller has an excellent writing style; the narrative is straight forward and exceedingly crisp. I was drawn into Frannie's mind completely and see the world through her eyes. Keller has done an outstanding job in drawing us into the world of people whom we tend to characterize into a small box called 'old'.; she has compelled the reader to give some time and thought to their physical, mental and psychological states. This is the most empathetic portrayal of a character of that age I have ever read till now.

The small mystery element of 'whodunit' is an important element which keeps the interest in the story going; however, the inner battle which consumes Frannie is the central spine of the story and it was the most rewarding part of the story for me.

I can't recommend this book enough for everyone; particularly to those people who like to read a story which offers depth and insight into its characters and their circumstances. An outstanding debut by an author who is to be watched out for!

This story sneaks up on you, starting with an elderly woman deciding with her family to.move into an assisted living situation almost against her innate desires. She makes friends and realizes another resident has connections with her and her family’s past and what she tries to do. Great characters, interesting story and conclusion. Loved it!

This was an enjoyable and fast paced read for me. It started off strong, I was really into it and intrigued to see where it was going to go. For me I was expecting more of a thrill and that's where it fell a bit flat for me. I wanted more twists and turns throughout it.

The story did still keep me engaged and curious about what would happen. The writing was easy to read, follow and was engaging. In my opinion more could've been done with the storyline. Some scenes felt as though they had just been added on to fill a void.

The characters were okay, although they could've been better developed. Some characters should've been more as they were a good part of the story. The main character Frannie was supposed to be viewed as nice and likeable, but I didn't really feel that for her.

✨️Thank you @netgalley & @crookedlanebooks for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

EXCERPT: There is a common assumption that the only thing old people do is forget. Or, conversely, that all we do is sit around and remember, dwelling in the past. These things are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they represent the twin requirements of old age: recalling who we are and what we care about, while forgetting - or at least pretending to forget - how much we have lost.
Remembering and disremembering: getting this balance right has become my main struggle. There are some things I can't let fade. I press on the bruise, keeping the memories alive and active. They are part of me. Besides, injustice - or rather, indignation in the face of it - is as good a reason as any for a person to get up in the morning. Somebody, somehow, has to hold the world accountable. Maybe by the sheer act of insisting on it, justice might happen.

ABOUT 'YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN': When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine, only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge who Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter.

Observing the medication cart sparks Frannie’s darkest imagination, and her desire for revenge combines with her medical expertise. In one dreadful, impulsive moment, she tampers with the medicine. However, the next day, someone is dead and Frannie realizes the gravity of what she’s done.

The police get involved, and suspicions gather around someone Frannie knows to be innocent. Wracked with remorse, Frannie’s anxiety becomes unbearable. As she works to make it right, Frannie discovers that things are more complicated than they seem.

She’s spent years aching for accountability from people in power. Is she the one who now needs to be held culpable? What really happened that night?

MY THOUGHTS: In the author's notes, Rebecca Keller states that she wanted to write a morally complicated story - a story about a good person who has succumbed to their worst impulse - and she has certainly done that. She poses the question - what prompts someone to stray from the straight and narrow, convinced that justice is on their side?

Frannie is an elderly woman who has buried her heartache and anger, convinced that she has dealt with them, only to have them erupt back into her life following an unexpected combination of circumstances.

I loved both Frannie's and Katherine's characters. Their friendship is complex and affected by outside forces - mostly Katherine's husband, retired Judge Nathaniel Kearney. He is controlling of Katherine, and to Frannie he is the embodiment of greed and evil, a man obsessed by power.

Iris's story broke my heart. The ripple effects of her grief are far-reaching. And Jimmy, her husband, who has his own grief to deal with while supporting his wife, is another amazing character.

I enjoyed the complex friendships. Even though Frannie has doubts about Katherine's values and priorities and, although she fights against it, she finds herself drawn to this woman who has led a life very different to her own. When Frannie attempts to reach out to nurse-aides Graciela and Jannah, she finds herself firmly rebuffed as friendships between staff and residents are frowned upon.

Other topics including workplace bullying and the plight of immigrant workers are included in the storyline, rounding this out into a beautifully written and engaging read that will appeal to every mother and grandmother.

Two quotes which resonated with me: 'there is nothing more mysterious than a marriage.' ; and
'Bloom where you are planted.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#YouShouldHaveKnown #NetGalley

I: @rebeccakeller947 @crookedlanebooks

T: #RebeccaAKeller @crookedlanebooks

#aging #contemporaryfiction #crime #friendship #mystery

THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Keller is a writer and artist living in Chicago. She has received a Pushcart nomination, the Betty Gabehart prize, and was a finalist for the 2013 Chicago Literary Guild Prose Award. She has twice been awarded a Fulbright as well as awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council.

You Should Have Known is her debut novel.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of You Should Have Known by Rebecca Keller. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I felt like this was promising at the start, but it didn't end up living up to my expectations. The mystery did not turn out to be very interesting, and there were a lot of scenes between the main character and her adult children, which were mostly boring to me. The parts I liked most were when the main character was going back and forth about what she planned to do, but once she had done it, the story did not really take off from there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m did enjoy this book.. I liked the idea of it being set in an assisted home complex!

Be careful how you treat people. It can come
Back and bite you!!

You Should Have Known is complicated mystery about people doing something wrong when they believe they are doing it for the right reason.

Retired nurse Frannie Greene is moving into assisted living after one too many falls at home. Not happy with her family's decision she reluctantly agrees to the move. She struggles with being alone in her new home. Frannie decides to head to the library and on her way, she hears someone playing the piano and strikes up a conversation with him. Nathaniel's wife Katherine arrives later as she is also on her way to the library. Frannie and Katherine become friends over their love of pie and "The Young and the Restless" while they spend time together when Nathaniel is busy.

Katherine passes away suddenly but there seems to be some questions about her death that concern Frannie.
The police get involved, and suspicions about someone Frannie knows to be innocent. Wracked with remorse, Frannie’s anxiety becomes unbearable. Frannie is consumed with solving the mystery but when she realizes the truth, Frannie discovers that things are more complicated than they seem.

This was a thought-provoking story. The realities of moving to an assisted living for some is not something to look forward to at all. Following Frannie as she struggles to adjust was very relatable. The story is well written with believable characters.

Amazing book with a small cast of characters that worked well on every level. The pacing is terrific, the twists are earned, the characters are root-worthy. Keller could update the Miss Marple franchise if she wanted.

Frannie's family was destroyed when her granddaughter was killed- her daughter Iris suffers so much still- and now she's discovered that the husband of her new friend Katherine was the judge in the case. She's just moved into a senior living situation (good details here) and is adjusting so having a new friend helped but now she's obsessed. So much so that she takes the opportunity to get revenge by tampering with meds which leads to a death. But she's not suspected, What would you do in this circumstance- would you confess? That's the moral question here and no spoilers but know that more information comes out as the pages turn. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

After a fall, retired nurse Frannie moves into an assisted living facility. She discovers a connection with a resident to a terrible personal tragedy and becomes obsessed with righting the wrong with a little murder.

Frannie’s motivation and the toll her actions take on her physically and psychologically add power to the narrative. Her health issues are nicely shown as is the horror of aging and becoming invisible. She makes a smart and empathetic protagonist. I liked how the good, the bad, and the ugly of her relationship with her deceased husband is shown through his cherished letters and her memories.

At times the pacing felt a bit slow and the cast of characters a bit large. Despite her health issues, Frannie had plenty of agency in the story. I liked how the theme of friendship was explored though Frannie’s relationships with her penpal cousin and various tenants and staff of the facility. Her relationship with Evan felt somewhat unrealistic to me as I had trouble understanding his obsession with Frannie. He came off as a bit of a creeper, who never seemed to give up on her no matter how many negative interactions they had.

For me, the book was a three and a half star read, rounded up to four stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.