This book is a delightful, quirky crime novel that combines mystery with unexpected emotional depth. I loved how the author slowly peeled back the layers of deception, leaving me questioning what was truth and what was simply a carefully constructed story. The dynamic between the sisters, their journey of self-discovery, and the overarching mystery made this a fun, engaging read that I couldn’t put down. If you’re into clever crime stories with unpredictable twists , this one’s a must-read.

I love Kerryn Mayne’s quirky characters and stories! Joy Moody is really something; funny, frustrating, kooky and quite imaginative. The relationships between the twins and the other business owners on the strip was heartwarming. I enjoyed everything about this book and hated to see it end.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky and unique book. It's a great combination of mystery and family drama. The characters are all original, and the premise is quite bizarre. It was a nice change of pace from other books I've been reading, but there was something about the way it was written that made it seem believable under the strange circumstances. The author did a great job bringing the characters to life, especially imagining the thinking of the twin sisters who had spent their whole lives being homeschooled and not having friends their own age. Readers slowly have the events that led to their circumstances revealed, and there are multiple mysteries to solve and many red herrings along the way. As a fan of Mayne's previous book, I am happy to have had the chance to read an advance copy of this one. I look forward to reading her next book. Although this is a great book to read just for pleasure, I think it also would make an excellent choice for book discussion groups. Highly recommended!

I loved this little oddball book! It was weird and charming and fun to read. There was a ton of bizarre in this story, which just made it better for me. It really showed the heart of this tale. Joy Moody and her wacky cast of characters were very engaging. I was so sucked in despite a slightly slow start (mostly because I’m worn out!) It was a fantastic story and I adore this author. Thanks for my free ARC in exchange for my review of the book.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Joy, sitting near the peppercorn tree, waits with her identical twin daughters, Cassie and Andie. Today the twins are twenty-one; today they’re going to be transported back to 2050.

But nothing happens and Joy declares that “something is not right.”

Joy holds secrets from her daughters; sometimes she means to set things right, but somehow the right moment never appears. And now Joy knows that, by the end of this day she will be gone.

But gone where? And how? And why?

=========

As the unfolding story slowly reveals the backstory of how the girls came to believe their mother’s claim that they’d come from the future, that they would return to 2050 on their twenty-first birthday, readers come to understand how controlling-mother Joy has kept so many secrets for so long. Beneath the seeming-craziness lies a truth so buried that readers are not likely to suspect it before its stunning reveal.

More than a story about events, this is a story about family, about commitment, about caring. It’s about a mother’s love for her children. The characters are quirky, the plot whimsical yet believable and intriguing. Readers will laugh and cry as the reasons for Joy’s isolation of the twins comes to light. Readers are likely to debate whether Joy's mothering is abusive or simply over-protective.

Readers who enjoy family drama, a bit of a mystery, and quirky characters will find much to appreciate in this sad, bittersweet, unique story.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
#JoyMoodyisOutofTime #NetGalley

I had a fantastic time reading this book! The quirky setting of Joyful Suds, with its bright pink facade, immediately drew me in. I loved getting to know Joy Moody and her twin daughters, Cassie and Andie. The mystery surrounding their past and Joy's colorful tales kept me hooked from the very beginning.
Joy's struggle to differentiate between truth and lies added an intriguing layer to the story, and I found myself empathizing with her predicament. The anticipation leading up to Cassie and Andie's 21st birthday was palpable, and I was eager to see how their roles as future revolution leaders would unfold.
When Joy Moody's untimely death left the twins to fend for themselves, I felt their sense of loss and uncertainty. The twists and turns that followed kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't wait to see how Cassie and Andie would navigate their newfound responsibilities and the dangers that awaited them.

Overall, the book was a delightful mix of mystery, family dynamics, and suspense. The author's engaging writing style and well-developed characters made it an enjoyable read from start to finish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery with a touch of whimsy!

Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne, published by St. Martin's Press is the second book I read by this azthor. The first one is Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder and I totally did a reread and still loved it like the first read through.
But back to book 2.
Joy Moody owns a laundromat, a place where strange things happen. But nothing is as it seems at first sight, nothing. A twisty read full of very unexpected turns that I greatly enjoyed reading.

Kerryn Mayne is now an auto-read author for me! While I loved her debut, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder, I think Joy Moody is Out of Time is even better. I stayed up until 4 a.m. this morning devouring it because I simply couldn’t put it down. By the time I finished, I was in tears. What a phenomenal book!

Mayne’s distinctive storytelling is effortless and engaging. Her use of segmented timelines, combined with perfectly placed mini cliffhangers, is awesome. Those twists and turns are exactly what kept me hooked until the early hours because I had to see what would happen next! The way she ties everything together in the end, often with emotional depth and last-minute revelations, is brilliant.

The characters are perfect, and their stories are unique and layered with secrets. I’d call them all quirky, but they were much more than that. Maybe it’s more honest to say they’re simply ordinary people navigating life in their own imperfect ways. I loved each of them… well, except for two characters and you’ll know who they are if you read the book.

This is a found family story, with a fascinating mix of dysfunction, a murder mystery, and even a dash of time travel. That may sound like an unusual combination, but it works seamlessly, and everything makes perfect sense by the end.

I can’t stop thinking about how this book so poignantly captures the way life’s experiences can blur the lines between right and wrong. It pushes readers to empathize with flawed characters and think about how they might handle similar situations. Joy Moody and her daughters are unforgettable, and this story will stay with you long after the final page. I can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed voluntarily.

This is the second book that I have read by this author, and I enjoyed it as much as the first book. The main character Joy is an amazing woman. She manages a successful business, is raising two teenage daughters, and is an important contributor to her community. You cannot help but admire her. She is well loved by the business owners in her small cozy town and has developed some very strong friendships since she moved there.
Yet Joy has some serious secrets and there is a wild, crazy mystery that surrounds her. Everyone in town knows that Joy likes her privacy, but they have no idea what she has been hiding until she is dead! You will enjoy the surprises that are uncovered when Joy Moody runs out of time.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.