Kristin's Bookshelf

The Better Housekeeping Murders
by Rachel Rose
️️✨ (3.5)

Not all murders are created equal … and this one goes darker than I expected.

The mystery itself? Solid. But the reason behind these murders is what really stands out, and not in a light, cozy way. As a mom and a woman, I wasn’t bothered by the murders, but the “why” behind them? That’s where things get unsettling. I appreciated that Rose kept it mostly surface-level because any deeper dive would’ve made this a very different (and much heavier) reading experience.

Rose’s writing is undeniably beautiful. It’s very visual, very detailed, but I’ll be honest … the constant metaphors and similes started to pull me out of the story. Nothing just was; everything was like something else. Some lines made me laugh out loud (“a cousin with a chainsaw and a dream”), but overall it felt like a bit too much.

Character-wise, this one really worked for me.

Agatha gave me strong Idgie-from-Fried-Green-Tomatoes energy, like she could hang out of a car window and yell “Tuwanda!” at any moment. April? Not your typical amateur sleuth, she was a total pro, which was a refreshing change from what I usually read. And the supporting cast: Cara, Elliot, Becca, Mandy, even Pepper and Jack, all felt believable and added something meaningful to the story.

I also really appreciated the relationship development:

• Cara and April’s friendship (with a little… gummy-enhanced bonding)
• Agatha’s complicated past and the way she slowly integrates into April’s world

A standout moment:
The belladonna discovery in the “murder plant yard” led to the stew and peach cobbler scene. SO much tension packed into something so domestic.

About halfway through, I started questioning everything. Was Agatha actually a vigilantess … or something more like a hired assassin with a secret network? (I was fully ready for a RED-style reveal ). But when things unraveled later, it became clear she was far more on her own than I expected.

The ending really worked for me. April’s conflicting feelings toward Agatha felt real and not rushed, not neatly forgiven. And while things were mostly tied up, that final little teaser in the garden? Definitely enough to pull me into book two.

And yes… I’ll absolutely be reading it when it comes out in May.

Q: Do you prefer your mysteries neatly wrapped up … or with a little chaos left behind?

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