Kingfisher has this wonderful power to incorporate humor into her stories, no matter the context or genre. As the strangeness mounts in the home, Sam’s logical brain is put to the test as she unravels her dark and dangerous family history. But now her mom is making excuses for the difficult woman, and Sam becomes alarmed by her anxious, people-pleasing behavior. Grandma’s presence in Sam’s childhood is not remembered fondly, and her family has always acknowledged this fact. But what’s even weirder is that her mom is wearing rose-colored glasses. The wild and fun color scheme on the walls has been replaced by bland, normal beige, and there seems to be an alarming absence of insects in Gran Mae’s garden. Sam scoots around the predatory bird and opens the front door to find that things have changed. Sam is optimistic about her visit despite the arduous drive from Arizona and the fact that an ominous black vulture welcomes her back to her childhood home. The latest archeological excavation has come to a halt, so Sam decides to take her extended time off in North Carolina to hang out with mom, drink boxed wine, and re-watch her favorite crime shows. In terms of content and genre, this southern gothic mystery is worlds apart from my first experience with a Kingfisher book ( Nettle & Bone ), but the fabulous storytelling, fun characters, and quirky humor are present once again, and it guarantees a fun time.

After finishing A House with Good Bones, I am reminded yet again that I am missing out by not having read T.

A house with good bones t kingfisher