Florrie Butterfield is an octogenarian living in warden assisted accommodation in a former Manor House. Death comes abruptly to one of the residents and shortly after a further act of violence takes place. on midsummer's night. Florrie is convinced that all is not what it seems.

First and foremost, this wonderfully moving tale about life and love should not be compartmentalised in to the cosy crime category- yes a crime is to be investigated by a truly fascinating protagonist but this is a much deeper richer tale.

Whilst trying to understand what has happened , Florrie reflects back upon her life and the moments of tragedy and joy- her past loves and the adventures she undertook; but she is also scarred by a teenage event and cannot ever release herself to talk about it.

Susan Fletcher has created an intelligent, compassionate and utterly adorable lead character who navigates aging and life with other older people with humour, a spark of irony and a detachment that leaves her a side step to others . Her determination to find out what happened on that fateful summer's evening opens up doorways to the past and even the future . You are never to old to love and never too young to read The Night in Question

An absolute delight from start to finish- moving, absorbing from start to finish and should make us all reflect upon how much we make the most of the time we are given.

Absolutely outstanding! This was an exceptional read on all levels. Loved every minute of it and will undoubtedly be a huge success! Can't wait to read more by this author!

An absolutely gorgeous story, a cast of beautifully described characters and an attempted murder to investigate. I imagined that this would be another 'cozy crime' story but it's far, far more. As Florrie mulls over memories her past life slowly unfurls and the reader is taken to the most important places in her life and introduced to her most important people. I was completely engrossed in the beautiful descriptions and the author has a huge talent for characterization, just a few short sentences and the person comes to life. I loved this book!

I enjoyed this gentle tale set in a care home. With flashbacks, we are introduced to Florrie, an octogenarian with a very colourful past. When the manager of the home appears to try to commit suicide, Florrie is not convinced and embarks on an investigation to uncover the truth.
There have been a spate of crime novels with elderly sleuths since Richard Osman's huge success but I found this to be a much better read. My only irritation was the 'incident', which is referred to constantly and which clearly has had a lasting effect on Florrie's life but we only find out what happened very close to the end of the book.
Nonetheless, this is a well written book with endearing characters in Florrie and Stanhope.

What a way to end 2023! I finished The Night in Question on New Years Eve and I am very happy that my reading year ended in such a lovely way. There are quite a few books set in retirement communities (possibly thanks to Richard Osman!) I was a little worried that this might be more of the same - but it wasn't at all. While Florrie is in her 80's and living with a lively group of other older people, and there are suspicious events, this is where the similarity ends. This is the story of Florrie's life and the flashbacks are beautiful and touching. This is so much more than a well told and constructed mystery book.
The author's talent for writing characters but also describing places is obvious, and I was able to immerse myself in the descriptions. I would go as far as to say that they are some of the best I have read for a while. When the truth about what happened to Birdie in her older teens was revealed towards the end of the book, I found myself crying for the girl that she was. It was so well done.
I wholeheartedly recommend this lovely book and I will be raving about it come the spring. An enthusiastic and unreserved five stars from me.

What a wonderful story. And gentle murder mystery but also so much more. The characters were complex and beautifully described, their relationships and interactions in the home were completely relatable and believable. Florrie’s life story and the secrets she held were beautifully described and her gentle letting go and letting in towards the end made my heart smile and eyes leak! Life affirming and utterly joyful

One midsummer's night an incident occurs that leads Florrie to suspect foul play. The only clue is a magenta envelope, discarded earlier that day. With her suspicions overlooked and her abilities underestimated, Florrie is determined to uncover the truth
Aided in her quest by her friend Stanhope, Florrie investigates, determined to uncover the truth!
A nice cosy mystery that would appeal to those of us who have enjoyed the Marlow and Thursday murder club reads in the past 📚

I really enjoyed this book - a gentle detective story set in an elderly care home. Florrie Butterfield an octogenarian isn't convinced by "an accident" that takes place. Florrie sets out to investigate and unearths so much more. Her own back story simmers under the surface too and we know from early on that something terrible happened to her when she was young. This theme threads through the book as we are treated to stories of Florrie's travels abroad as she tries to leave her past behind. We hear of the "loves" of her life including her best friend Pinky who was the only one who knew Florrie's secret and Victor her husband in her very unconventional, yet happy marriage. The characters are portrayed so well and Florrie is joined in her quest by another inmate of the care home Stanhope. a real feel good story that makes you realise that even at 87 years old there's chance for adventure and fun!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the pre published copy in exchange for a fair review.

An engaging and thought provoking book, this story features Florrie Butterfield, aged 87 years, who now lives in an assisted-living establishment in the country. Florrie’s friendship with another resident, Stanhope, is a lovely strand of Florrie’s story, as together they try to unravel the mystery of the possible suicide or possible murder, of the home’s resident manager, Renata.
Throughout the telling of the tale, the many layers and adventures of Florrie’s past life are peeled back like an onion, and Florrie has had many adventures in several exotic places. All her life however, Florrie has held everyone she loves at arms length, allowing no one to become too close to her.
This is much more than a cosy whodunnit, and I loved the characterisation of all the main characters. They were fully rounded, and their interactions so believable. A very cleverly woven narrative of what happened to Renata is slowly uncovered, to this reader’s surprise. I did not succeed in ‘ joining the dots’ although others might.
It is thought provoking in making one realise that where most people would see just an old lady, within Florrie is a lifetime of experiences, good, bad and tragic. Likewise with many elderly people.
The writing is beautiful, very descriptive and evocative. It is a slow burn of a story, but well worth the journey. A most enjoyable read.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

Thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable tale of the life of Florrie Butterfield, an 87 year old resident of Babbington Hall, a lovely residential care home.

The story begins in the aftermath of the accidental death of a resident. Arthur had had something he wanted to share with his friend Florrie but he tripped over his own untied shoelace and died before he could reveal his findings.

Shortly after this, the care home manager, Renata, takes a tumble from her upper floor window and with everyone assuming she had attempted to take her own life, Florrie begins to wonder if all is as it might seem.

Teaming up with Stanhope, another resident, Florrie sets out to work out what might have led to Renata ending up in a coma in hospital. The Renata Florrie had spoken to just that day really hadn’t seemed suicidal at all. She’d been full of excitement and love…

Renata’s revelations lead Florrie to consider the loves of her own life and it’s telling of these and the detective work around Renata’s fall that make up the stories that we follow throughout the book.

There is something so powerful in author Susan Fletcher’s descriptions that I could visualise every scene, every location, every person, the pike was especially resonant.

It’s just a book full of the joys and sadnesses of life, big and small, and the characters are so enjoyable.

A thoroughly enjoyable mystery but also a love story between Florrie and all the people she has loved and lost throughout her life.

Exactly the sort of story to curl up with on a dark evening, with a nice cup of tea. Loose leaf of course.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an early copy. I am so looking forward to reading more from Susan.

I enjoyed this murder mystery with a difference .The first chapter, got my attention. Instantly,and I wanted to carry on and find out more about the character of perfectly named Florence Butterfield The story is about an interesting older woman who, after coming to live in a beautiful rural old persons home, set in a grand, stately home, discovers that one old man has recently been found dead in the garden, and the house manager is seriously injured, following a fall from her accommodation in the attic .All this proves too intriguing for Florence, who sets about investigating what is going on in a suitably Murder , she wrote type fashion.
I particularly liked the initial scenes where Flory herself is described as such a kind and interesting person. It’s nice to see old characters in novels given the lead role.
The majority of the story is told in flashbacks of Florrie’s life throughout. There is a mystery about a breakdown in her teenaged years about which we given tantalising clues throughout the novel, and ultimately an explanation.
Although I haven’t read it. ( in principal because I don’t read celebrity authors novels) I wondered if there was any similarity between this book and Richard Osmonds book of old people solving a mystery in an old peoples home.

There was a tantalising promise of illustrations at the start of each chapter which we are not on my early electronic copy. I was left to imagine what they might be.

Despite all the sinister comings and goings, I couldn’t help, but wish further that when the time comes that I need a place in an old people home that I could find such a beautiful one is this
The author describes personal characteristics beautifully. I particularly enjoyed the way she described Florence Butterfield at the start of the novel. In fact, it was this element of the book that I enjoyed more than the mystery element.

The author has a clear flowing prose style, and the book was an easy enjoyable read.

I would recommend for lovers of a mystery novel who like some added character development. I think if you liked books like away with a penguins by Hazel Prior or the Twyfird Code by Janice Hallett, you would enjoy this book
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley, UK the book is publishing in the UK on the 18th of April 2024 by random house, UK Transworld publishers
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads , and my book blog bionicsarahsboojs.Wordpress.com after publication will also appear on Amazon, UK

Overall I really enjoyed this book, the characters were fully realised and this helped to feel immersed in the book,

A really great read. Florrie is an amazing character who had had many difficulties and sadness in her life but also lots adventures. When she moves to a residentiial home in her 80's she witnesses a fall and with the help of her new found friend Stanhope she decides to investigate as she is sure it wasn't an accident. There is much more to discover about Florrie's life which we discover during the story which is brilliantly written by the author, and it doesn't disappoint and as it all comes to light as well as the mystery of was Renata pushed and why but most importantly who did it makes for a very exciting read

Blazing the beauty of hidden lives and unshowy people

Florrie is an unlikely central character. She has always been somewhat dumpy and plain, Big bottomed, big bosomed – but, it is her size of her heart, and her ability to both give and inspire not romantic love, but something deeper, wider, broader and more universal which really defines her. She is eighty seven, living in an assisted living facility, following an accident which resulted in one of her legs being amputated.

Raised in a happy family, with a beloved older brother, and happily married parents, nonetheless tragedy has happened, early in her life, several times. Florrie has had a far fuller and stranger life than might be expected, and an extraordinary facility to maintain an intense appreciation for the wondrous miraculous qualities of everyday moments. She’s not so much a dark horse (though there are skeletons in her cupboards), more a fabulous unicorn!

However…the central plot here is something which has become somewhat of a cosy cult…Elderly folk uncovering murder and mayhem. So, yes, this is a kind of cosy murder mystery, but it is also so much more, because of the very special Florrie.

Fletcher is an excellent writer. For me, it is her Let Me Tell You About A Man I Knew which remains her standout novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this as an ARC

Florrie, in her late eighties, has to move to assisted living after an accident causes her to lose a leg. When a fellow inmate dies, she is saddened, but her suspicions are aroused when someone else is involved in a near fatal fall. Accident? Attempted suicide? Or a murder attempt? she determines to find out. At first glance, this is another cosy crime story centring on elderly folk solving a mystery, but extra depth is added by the unfolding back story of Florrie’s own life and the men she has loved but never fully allowed herself to be loved by, and the work she does and places she travels to to escape from a traumatic secret in her own past. The characters are interesting, the mysteries unfold intriguingly and a story is unveiled of love, loss, friendship and guilt. What shines out of the pages most of all is that inside an older person is still all the younger versions of themselves, that personality can continue undimmed by limitations and disability, and that age also brings with it experience, wisdom and empathy.

I really enjoyed this book. A great cast of characters and really well written. A lovely read. Highly recommended.

I miss Florrie already!

The Night In Question was such a beautiful read. It's a book that really makes you think about life, in all of its stages, and will stay with you for a long time.

If you love any of Richard Osman's books, or enjoyed #ElizabethIsMissing then you will devour this!

I loved this book. It’s not your usual run-of-the-mill old folks home detective novel - although there is that side to it!
Florrie is one amazing woman and Susan Fletcher brings her to glorious life with all the foibles and worries and loveliness of an eighty-something lady. Essentially this is a book about love and as you learn about Florrie’s past and everything that has brought her to this point in her life, I think you will fall a little in love yourself.

Beautiful writing, brought to mind Penelope Lively. A protagonist it’s impossible not to love with story that’s utterly engaging. I miss Florrie already!

Despite her lively nature, at the age of 87 Florence Butterfield is probably well-qualified to affirm the extent to which most older people are marginalised and dismissed in society today. She herself has had to move from her beloved home to a new place to live amongst a community of the elderly and less able. And while Florrie is adjusting reasonably well and making new friends, life throws a whole new set of challenges at her.

Because after something terrible happens one night, it seems that she is the only one who is suspicious of the way that events played out. But will anyone even take her seriously if she tells them what she thinks? Especially when Florrie herself is not entirely sure what to think...

Because the only clue to this particular mystery is a magenta envelope and her own recollections from a past that has left its (quite literal) scars. Luckily, when she decides that it will be necessary to investigate further, Florrie has her friend Stanhope ready to help her.

This book has much to offer beyond the mystery that drives its plot. The characters are really well-drawn, and that also helps to lift the story well above the levels of the more typical cosy mystery. It is about all the big things in life. The themes include not only aging, but love, loss, friendship and redemption. And Florence is a delightful MC that readers will greatly enjoy meeting.