Despite having all of Melissa Payne’s books on my TBR, this is the first one I’ve actually read—and WOW, I’ve been missing out!

This was a hauntingly beautiful story about a love that defies time and space. It explores true love and the lengths someone will go to seek justice for the person they’ve lost.

I did figure out the “whodunnit” early on thanks to the clues sprinkled throughout, but I still loved watching that character’s unraveling as the truth closed in.

This was a solid five-star read for me, and I’m so excited to dive into more of Melissa Payne’s books!

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Payne, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review.

Due to a NetGalley glitch, I was able to read and review this ARC after all.

Whilst heartbreaking, I ADORED Allison, Felix, & Birdie’s story.

Whilst I had my guesses on the killer, I did not see all the circumstances/events coming, and it had me hooked until the very end.

I binge read this in under 24 hours with 3 small children underfoot, which is both not an easy feat ans testament to how much I loved this book, the diversity of its characters, the depth of the writing, and the storyline overall.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This one is a slow burn with quirky characters and great heart felt writing.

This story was good! It was a cozy mystery. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to was to more from this author!

🤔 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝔻𝕚𝕕 𝕀 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕥: I have been reading Melissa Payne since her debut which actually came out while I was living near her. I have been a huge fan ever since and picked up In the Beautiful Dark without even reading the synopsis.

🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I knew from the beginning I was going to love this book and there wasn’t a moment I doubted that. I was wondering what kind of story it would end up becoming, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

👏🏼 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈: First of all, a ghost vibe?! I do say that it is one of my favorite parts and I loved that it added even more of an air of mystery to the storyline. The characters were some of my favorites, and I especially loved Birdie. Having this set so many years after Allison’s death when Birdie is finding it harder to get around somehow added a ton of tension to story. She is such a kind soul, and I completely understood her drive and even when it came to pushing away the people she loves. I love that Payne makes her writing so accessible and this book was all-consuming the entire time I was reading it.

🙃 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙳𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚎: My only struggle with this book was the audiobook which I will dive into next.

🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Oh the audio… There are two narrators with Bahni Turpin as Birdie and Jeremy Carlisle Parker as I will let you find out 😉 and it was a bit of a shame that Turpin was the star of the show narration wise. I will say I love her voice and normally do love her narration, but she killed my vibe this time. When she was on a roll, she was great, but she had the LONGEST pauses that distracted from the storyline big time. I found myself getting incredibly frustrated with her and this seems like a major editing error. To be fair I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next and that could have added to my irritation just a touch. 😵‍💫 Jeremy on the other hand was perfect, and I loved her parts of the book the most as far as audio goes.


💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: There are so many red herrings in this book, and I found myself constantly changing my mind about who the killer was. Sunny Pines is a place I would totally live if I got to spend my days with this group of people, and it is impossible not to love the characters. The big reveal at the end was mind blowing and the road to get there was paved with just the right amount of emotion, mystery, and humor.

T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🚙🛁👀🐶🖌️

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐💫

While this is a dark murder mystery, it's the vibrant personalities of Birdie and her friends at the Sunny Pines Retirement Community that steal the show.

Birdie’s best friend and secret love, Allison, died over fifty years ago. But to this day, Birdie believes Allison may have been murdered. Birdie has been trying to connect the dots of several murders for years, hoping it may give her answers to Allison’s death. Now she has lots of time living at the Sunny Pines Retirement Community. When another woman goes missing, her quirky and “mature” friends are determined to help her solve the case.

The story strikes a perfect balance between humor and mystery, with Birdie and her friends adding a touch of lightness to the chilling heaviness that hangs over it. Their quirky friendship kept me engaged, and the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you @getredprbooks and @melissapayne_writes for the gifted book and ebook via #NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book. It did have a slow start in my opinion. But… once I pushed through, I couldn’t put it down. Loved the character’s and suspense the most. There’s definitely mystery and humor too. Would recommend to everyone.

Birdie Allen—who is in her seventies—has arthritis, uses a walker, and is riddled with long-standing guilt that gives her no peace. More than fifty years after the murder of her close friend, Birdie regrets not telling this wonderful woman how much she cared, and wishes that she had been able to save her. Over the years, Birdie has done all in her power to track down a serial killer who, she fears, may still be at large. Felix, the son Birdie raised as if he were her own, has made her proud. He is a surgeon who is happily married and the father of twin boys. Felix has repeatedly begged Birdie to stop obsessing about the past, to no avail.

"In the Beautiful Dark," by Melissa Payne, is a bittersweet tale about grief; the struggles that accompany aging; nurturing and toxic relationships; and a tragic unsolved mystery. To avoid sinking into depression, Birdie befriends some of the residents in her independent living facility, Sunny Pines. Meanwhile, she cannot resist investigating when Faith, a cleaner employed there, unexpectedly disappears without saying goodbye. Could she be yet another victim?

Payne laces her novel with humorous comments about the idiosyncrasies of her quirky characters. In addition, the author moves us with scenes in which Birdie and her companions go out of their way to support and comfort one another. The book's chief weaknesses are the plot's sluggish pace and its implausible, albeit predictable, conclusion. That being said, Birdie captures our heart with her compassion, vulnerability, and determination to ensure that justice is done. In addition, Payne adds an affecting supernatural element, in which Birdie's lost love chimes in with poignant remarks from the hereafter.

I've never read anything quite like IN THE BEAUTIFUL DARK by Melissa Payne. Within a few lines, I was drawn into the world of Sunny Pines and Birdie, a retired woman now looking back over her long life and keenly aware of the lost love from fifty years earlier, a mystery that she never did follow through until the end -- until she is prompted to do so by a new mystery that ties back to her past. Full of bright light and humor, the beautiful writing kept me reading way too late into the night, entranced by the lively characters, fully dimensional setting, and secrets desperate and dangerous demanding to be revealed. I particularly enjoyed Birdie's courage and curiosity even when they carry her into painful places. For me, this was a full immersion story that had me drawn back in whenever I had the chance to read. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased thoughts.

In the Beautiful Dark by Melissa Payne weaves a story of unrequited love, loss, and mystery. It’s described as a combination of Golden Girls camaraderie with Only Murders in the Building.

Our main character Birdie lost her roommate, and unrequited love, decades ago. While it was ruled a suicide, Birdie never believed it. Some 50 years later, similar murders are occurring again and when Birdie shares her story with some of her fellow residents at the Sunny Pines retirement home, they’re ready to become amateur sleuths.

This is a complex story of not just love and loss, but also navigating a later phase of life, one you don’t see represented very often in novels. In the Beautiful Dark is a prime example of the resilience of the human spirit and how community can move us forward.

I’ve already recommended this book to a few folks and now allow me to recommend In the Beautiful Dark to you as well. This is definitely one of my top reads of 2025 so far.

Many thanks to Get Red PR for a copy of this book. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.

In the Beautiful Dark takes place at Sunny Pines Retirement Community, where the “Sixty-Two and Better!” share their golden years, and secrets abound. Some scandalous, some haunting, and some dangerous. For Birdie Allen, a retired business owner and grandmother, her secret is the only thing she’s got left. Getting old isn’t the hardest part about life. It’s the memories from more than fifty years ago of the death of her great love.

This is such a heartfelt book! The cast of characters was as quirky as it was fascinating. Birdie was the star with her refusal to give up on a long-unsolved mystery. Some of the other residents were bound and determined to break down the walls Birdie had built around herself. As soon as they would nearly succeed, then Birdie would push them away and build those walls back up. There were some laugh-out-loud parts, as well as others that were quite suspenseful. I loved the wee bit of supernatural, too.

I would love to see this made into a series!

Thank you, #LakeUnionPublishing, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#MelissaPayne

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy fast-paced mysteries with a blend of haunting secrets, eccentric characters, and a touch of magical realism that explores the lingering impact of the past.

In the Beautiful Dark by Melissa Payne really surprised me. It’s part mystery, part emotional journey, and I found myself pulled in by Birdie, a retired woman who’s still haunted by the murder of her first love, Allison. The story flips between past and present as Birdie, now living in a retirement home, decides to dig into the old case—with help from some quirky and lovable neighbors.

I loved the setting and how the retirement community felt like a character in itself. There’s also a unique touch with Allison’s perspective woven in, which added a bittersweet, almost magical feel. It’s not just about solving a mystery—it’s about grief, friendship, and finding peace, even later in life.

If you like heartfelt stories with a bit of suspense and a cast of charming, offbeat characters, I’d definitely recommend this one.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-beautiful-dark-melissa-payne/1146228944;jsessionid=5D3AB104C261F11B5B70A122D846D07F.prodny_store01-va03?ean=9781662515750

User name FallReads

As much as I enjoyed other books by Melissa Payne, this one fell flat for me. A big part was the love story, a woman pining for 50+ years for a love that was very brief. It did not feel believable. The other part was the tone of the book. Is it a mystery? A story about aging? About rescuing a young girl? It just tries to be too many things.

I really enjoyed In the Beautiful Dark by Melissa Payne. The story is told in POV of Birdie & Allison and takes place in the Sunny Pines Retirement Community in Denver, CO. The is a story about friendship, love, family, heartbreak, enjoying life in your later years wrapped around a murder mystery. I loved how the people living in the retirement community came from all walks of life but were able to form new friendships be supportive of each other. I was engaged from the very beginning to the last sentence. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for letting me read this ARC.

It starts in Sunny Pines Retirement Community, where birdie is a self made woman and always sticking her neck on the line to make a difference.
More than 50 years years Birdie's roommate was found dead. The police ruled it a suicide, and due to birdie being in love with her friend, even though the love wasn't returned. Now in Sunny Pines strange things start to happen, only this time Birdie is not alone, and has her friends in the Community to help her.
It was fantastic, I loved it i even read it again!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

When I read that this story takes place in a senior retirement facility, I jumped at the chance to read IN THE BEAUTFUL DARK by Melissa Payne. For those of us quickly approaching those golden years of our lives, this story is for us. The characters are endearing, and the story blends suspense and tenderness that draws the reader. I love Birdie. She a strong, independent woman, who has a murder from the past to solve. Who’s going to help her.

Sunny Pines community and its slightly-off-center “sixty-two and better” residents bring smiles and sighs throughout the book. The mystery itself is interesting, but the day-to-day interactions among the seniors themselves give the narrative its heart. The author is a master at character development, and I am still invested in my new friend Birdie.

This story isn’t just a cozy mystery; it's a salute to humanity, to life…every single day of it, to friendship, to family ties, and to living well all the way to the end. The moments that touch me most are the occasions when Birdie’s son asks her, “Are you happy?” Birdie makes me smile, and I already feel a little excitement about entering my final stage of life, and one more chance to shine my light.

Melissa Payne is an author that I enjoy reading and I always buy and read all of her books. In the Beautiful Dark is a novel that has a little bit of everything to keep the reader engaged. What I was most attracted to about this book is that it centers around a bunch of senior citizens from all walks of life who live in a senior retirement community called Sunny Pines. The personalities of these retired folks were all very different, but they all had one thing in common, they were all kind and caring. The antics and conversations that happened between them at times was extremely funny which made the story entertaining to read. Birdie, the main character, who was once a stripper, suffered the loss of someone she loved at a very young age and her death which she believed was murder has bothered her her entire life. The police said it was a suicide but Birdie knows different so her entire life is spent trying to prove otherwise. This story centers around a serial killer and because of this the story is very suspenseful. I thought this was a really good book and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries with a touch of comedy and magical realism thrown in. I’d like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I’m giving this story a 4 star rating and I look forward to reading more by Melissa Payne very soon.

I chose to read this book based on the cover alone. I loved Birdie. She was a flawed character who sometimes came across as selfish, but I admired how she never gave up on finding out the truth about something that happened in the past.

My favourite part of the book was the connections Birdie made with the other residents at Sunny Pines. These characters were enjoyable and often stole the show. I did guess who the villain was part way through the story, mainly because they were acting weird and annoying me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for my copy