Leslie Hooton

What would you do to protect your family? Would you take a murder rap if you were afraid that either your beloved husband or child had done it in your stead? That's the central question at the heart of Leslie Hooton's newest novel, After Everyone Else.

Bailey Edgeworth, a respected, award-winning, Atlanta-based restaurant designer, has just been accused of the murder of her ex-husband in New York City. Her DNA has been found all over his apartment and she is clearly visible on his apartment building's security camera. She has an explanation for all of this and insists that she didn't do it. But she's not being entirely honest with her lawyer and he knows it. The question is, why? If she didn't do it, why isn't she being transparent? Who is she protecting? Her husband Griffin, who was also in New York that night? Their daughter young adult daughter Charlie, who lives in New York and is a recovering alcoholic who had a lapse that night?

Although the novel starts out with Bailey's arrest for murder, this is not really a mystery; it is a family story. With first person narration by Bailey, alternating between "Now" and "Then," the novel moves from the present of the arrest and fact finding with Bailey out on bail to her past, marrying Griffin, starting their family, and achieving major professional success. The past portions of the story are longer and more detailed than the present portions, showing the strength of her love for Griffin and his for her. It also highlights her feelings of inadequacy as a working mother and the difficulties, both large and small, she and Charlie had as Charlie grew up. Bailey's certainty that Griffin wouldn't let her take the fall for him if he had committed the murder quickly removes him as someone who needs her protection but as strong as their love is for each other, she still can't ask him why he was in New York that night. This inability is a major plot point but seems a bit inexplicable given their obvious level of trust.

Hooton has portrayed a strong and good marriage, although it has not been without its challenges, and her portrayal of a mother and daughter at odds is well drawn too. The murder charge plot line, while necessary to the story overall, is the thinnest part of the story. The dialogue, which makes up a large portion of the novel, is a bit stilted with its overwhelming lack of contractions. The level of detail about Bailey's designs helps the reader see her vision and the descriptions of food and drink from both her husband and brother will have the reader heading to their own (probably disappointing) refrigerator in search of a gourmet snack. This is a sequel but it does stand alone (not having read the previous book myself, I can say that with confidence). If you too would protect your family without question and want to lose yourself in a story about love and motherhood and guilt and familial bonds, this might be the book for you.… (meer)

After Everyone Else by Leslie Hooton is a highly recommended family drama.

Bailey has just been charges with the murder of her ex-husband. She knows she is innocent and can explain all the DNA evidence, but she is also concerned that someone she loves, either her husband of 23 years Griffin or their daughter, Charlie, is responsible for the death. This novel is about the intricacy and challenges of marriage and motherhood and the lengths Bailey will go to protect the ones she loves.

The narration alternates between chapters set in the past, which cover when Bailey and Griffin are first married, the arrival of Charlie, and their life leading up to the current situation, and chapters from the present, which cover the murder investigation. Frankly the current now chapters are not as interesting and don't hold the weight of the before chapters. The murder charges, although starting out the novel, are really more of an afterthought when actually reading. The true focus of the novel is the story of the family.

The quality of the writing is quite good and the plot and actions flows smoothly while reading. This is really more of a family drama/chick lit than murder mystery, so keep that in mind if you are looking for a novel featuring an intricate mystery and investigation. The interest and appeal are found in the family history and the investigation is simply an extension of the story of the family. After Everyone Else follows a previous novel, Before Anyone Else which also features Bailey's life. I felt like After Everyone Else worked as a stand alone, however I haven't read the first novel.

If you are looking for a tense, compelling murder mystery, pass this one by. If you appreciate women's fiction and family dramas that cover a span of years, this might be an excellent choice for you.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Keylight Books.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/06/after-everyone-else.html… (meer)

Nina--AKA Little Bit--cannot wait to get out of Erob, Alabama. She's been in the shadow of her grandmother, Biggie, all her life. They fight and negotiate and try to outdo one another to see who gets the upper hand. She finally leaves Erob for New York City, but Erob and her grandmother, family, and friends still have a hold on her. Will she ever truly leave? Will she make it in the big city?

I loved this book but make sure you have kleenex nearby. I loved Nina. She may live in the big city but it is she that they keep calling to return to help them deal with the others in their circle. There's Biggie, Haines (Nina's brother), Win and Avery (her friends), and Carter (the boy next door.) Others enter and leave their circle but they are the main characters. They are good characters and we all know people like this. Nina needs to grow up though she has always been independent. They others have never lived outside of Erob (except Avery who moved there as a pre-teen.) The bonds of family and friends is strong. Nina also make strong bonds in New York City and they also have a hand in teaching Nina. It is the acceptance she receives in New York that shows her the acceptance for her back in Erob. The love each has (which ebbs and flows through their lives) is evident in each fight, silence, and conversation. Only good friends can say and do what these ones do.

Sadness comes. Heartbreak comes. Tragedy comes. Through it all they stay together. I could identify with Bit. I could feel her emotions--happiness, hurt, pain, acceptance, love. It is all there.

I was not sure what to expect. I got so much with this book. It is worth reading.… (meer)

Thank you to the author which I won on Tattered Pages Book Club (FB).

As much as I enjoyed this Southern friendship book and fast reading, it was a little too long for my liking. Sad in places, humorous in others, it took place in a small town of Enob, AL, which some people called "Bored" probably because it was a small town where everyone knew your business.

Nina (aka Little Bit), couldn't wait to move to NYC to be a big town lawyer. All of that changed when Biggie, her grandmother died and left her house to her. She was closer to Biggie than she was her mother. She was undecided but kept coming back weekend and often for things that were sadly happening to her friends at home.

So much happened with the "Fab" Five -- Avery, who she met when she introduced herself when they were kids at Nina's house when he father died, Carter, the local Judge, who lived next door with his parents, Haines, her doctor brother, and Winifred (Win), not to get mixed up with her eventual daughter Winnie. Win was the dominant one in the group and Nina tolerated her that's the truth. Not sure even if I could deal with her bossiness, domineering ways, and telling Nina what to do and wear. I loved Avery for who she was, easygoing and lovable.

Of course the ending what exactly what I thought it would be.… (meer)