The Primrose Murder Society
- Judith D Collins
- Mar 10
- 6 min read
By: Stacy Hackney
Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker
ISBN: 9780063466012
Publisher: HarperAudio Adult
William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: 03/03/2026
Format: Audio
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)
Witty, endearing, and wildly entertaining, this Southern cozy mystery is a little bit Gilmore Girls, a little bit Finlay Donovan, with a big helping of Only Murders in the Building.
Lila Shaw stopped trusting anyone the minute her husband went to jail for white-collar crime, taking their country club lifestyle with him. Now Lila is broke, friendless, and losing her house—and to make things worse, her true-crime-obsessed daughter, Bea, was just expelled from fourth grade. Desperate for a fresh start, Lila agrees to temporarily move in and clean out an abandoned junk-filled apartment in Richmond’s palatial Primrose building. The luxurious Virginia landmark is filled with retirees who start their days early drinking bourbon and gossiping, in that order.
Soon after Lila’s arrival, the Primrose is thrown into chaos. The owner of the building’s splendid penthouse has died and in his final days he set up a two-million-dollar reward for any resident who helps to solve the 21-year-old murder of his granddaughter at the Primrose. A fan of all detective stories and true-crime podcasts, Bea is inspired to investigate. They really could use the reward money, so Lila reluctantly agrees, in a questionable attempt at family bonding. She’s certain the killer is long-gone after all these years anyway. That is, until another resident is murdered… and Lila becomes the prime suspect.
Now Lila needs to solve both murders to avoid jail, and even worse, losing her daughter to her snobby in-laws. To catch a killer and clear Lila's name, she and Bea must rely on their elderly neighbors—Jasper, a shy former detective, and Evelyn, an opinionated socialite—along with Nate, a good-looking reporter who keeps appearing at the most inconvenient moments. As the amateur sleuths expose the truth about the Primrose, Lila hopes she can also unravel the trickiest parts of her own life and start fresh.
My Review
In Stacy Hackney's captivating mystery THE PRIMROSE MURDER SOCIETY, the narrative unfolds around Lila Shaw, a recently disgraced mother grappling with her tarnished reputation.
Accompanied by her inquisitive and true-crime-obsessed 10-year-old daughter, Bea, the two embark on an intriguing journey to uncover the secrets of a decades-old mystery hidden within the luxurious walls of a retirement community.
As they delve deeper into the enigmatic past of the building, they find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and suspense that challenges their wits and strengthens their bond.
Highlights...
The Downfall:
Lila’s comfortable life implodes after her husband is indicted for white-collar fraud and flees the country. Broke and losing her home, she is forced to move into an abandoned, hoarder-filled apartment in the Primrose, a Richmond landmark for retirees.
The Cold Case Incentive:
Conrad Kent, the building's wealthy penthouse owner, dies and leaves a $2 million reward to any resident who can solve the 21-year-old murder of his granddaughter, Sofia.
The Investigation Begins:
Spurred by Bea’s love for Murder, She Wrote, Lila reluctantly joins the hunt for the reward money. They form an unlikely sleuthing team with elderly neighbors:
Jasper: A shy, retired police detective.
Evelyn: A blunt, bourbon-sipping socialite.
A New Murder:
The amateur investigation turns dangerous when another resident is murdered, and Lila becomes the prime suspect.
The Stakes:
Lila must solve both the cold case and the new murder to clear her name, avoid prison, and prevent her snobby in-laws from taking custody of Bea.
The Resolution:
The team has uncovered secrets buried within the Primrose for over 20 years. The story concludes with the mystery being solved in a way that suggests a potential ongoing series.
My thoughts...
Stacy Hackney cleverly weaves together in THE PRIMROSE MURDER SOCIETY several key themes that elevate it from a standard whodunit to a deeper exploration of personal growth and social connections.
I love the bold cover, the characters, and the setting! I am hoping this is the beginning of a series as there are many more stories tobe told. Set in Richmond, the book explores the rigid expectations of high society, southern charm, and the fallout when those structures collapse, often with a humorous and critical lens.
Witty, wild, endearing, and charming, THE PRIMOSE MUIRDER SOCIETY is an entertaining Southern cozy mystery with a dynamic mother-daughter team.
Clever and playful, I loved the luxury retirement building setting with the quirky and eccentric characters add a layer of humor to the mystery and the references to "Murder, She Wrote," with a cozy, nostalgic vibe. Fans of the Finlay Donovan series will certainly enjoy this one.
A central pillar of the novel is the evolving relationship between Lila and her daughter, Bea. Lila struggles with the reality of raising a child who has been deeply affected by their family's sudden downfall and her husband's abandonment.
Following her husband’s white-collar crimes and subsequent flight, Lila must learn how to trust others—and herself—again as she navigates a world where her previous social status has vanished.
The novel highlights how individuals can find support and a sense of belonging in unexpected places. Lila and Bea's bond with the eccentric, elderly residents of the Primrose illustrates the power of intergenerational connections (which I adore).
The characters, including Lila and the retirees at the Primrose, are in search of a fresh start and second chances. The story emphasizes that it is never too late to reinvent oneself or find a new purpose.
Themes...
~The Complexity of Motherhood
~Trust and Rebuilding after Betrayal
~Found Family and Community
~Second Chances
~Southern Charm and Social Class
The audiobook...
I recently had the pleasure of diving into both the book and its audiobook adaptation, and it was an incredibly entertaining experience. The audiobook, masterfully performed by the talented Stephanie Németh-Parker (a favorite), captivated me with her passionate narration of the mother-daughter duo. She brought an infectious energy and suspense to the story that truly brought the characters to life. With each chapter, I felt completely immersed in the vivid settings and intricate details, allowing me to experience the narrative in a whole new way. I highly recommend the audio version.
Takeaway...
The big takeaway from The Primrose Murder Society is that your circumstances don't define your worth, and it’s never too late to find community and found family in the most unlikely places.
Recs...
Fans of Gilmore Girls, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, and The Only Murderers in the Building will devour this dazzling and entertaining debut. If you enjoyed the "senior sleuth" energy and the mother-daughter dynamic of THE PRIROSE MURDER SOCIETY, here are several highly recommended series and standalone novels with a similar vibe.
~The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
~Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
~Tess Gerritsen's The Martini Club series
~Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
~The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
~Fergus Craig's I'm Not the Only Murderer In My Retirement Home
Special thanks to William Morrow and Harper Audio for providing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
Praise
“Nothing better than a mother-daughter detective duo cracking cold cases in a splendid old apartment building filled with colorful characters. Utterly charming!”
– Kirsten Miller, bestselling author of The Change and Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books
“This warm, clever novel is an absolute treat. It’s an extremely pleasurable murder mystery with a relatable mother-daughter relationship at its heart, and I adored it.”
– Annie Hartnett, bestselling author of The Road to Tender Hearts
“The perfect cozy mystery! Fans of Only Murders in the Building will adore this charming page-turner. Hackney’s writing evokes the best of Mary Higgins Clark with a modern flair. I’m already eagerly awaiting Lila and Bea’s next adventure… or misadventure!”
– Joan O’Leary, nationally bestselling author of A Killer Wedding
Well-drawn main characters, humor, numerous plot twists, a charming depiction of a mother–daughter relationship, the senior apartment frame, and the theme of learning to trust again distinguish this satisfying cozy.
– Booklist
About the Author
Stacy Hackney lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and four sons. She graduated from Wake Forest University and University of Virginia School of Law—after her legal briefs started bordering on a little too dramatic, she started writing fiction and never stopped. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her out on the water, watching romantic comedies, online shopping for beautiful shoes, or making an enormous mess in the kitchen.
Stacy has published two children’s books, Forever Glimmer Creek and The Sisters of Luna Island. The Primrose Murder Society is her first book for adults and will be published on March 3, 2026. WEBSITE
