The Primrose Murder Society

By: Stacy Hackney

ISBN: 9780063466012

Publisher: HarperAudio Adult

William Morrow Paperbacks

Publication Date: 03/03/2026

Format: Audio

My Rating: TBR (ALC)

MAR 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

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.

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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