A moving portrait of a woman tormented by her long dead lovers death, never knowing the answer to the mystery is closer than she could ever imagine.

I really enjoyed the beautiful idea of someone who refuses to let go of their crusade for justice, even if it causes tension in their relationships. I loved the perspective we get of older people and their challenges, both physical and emotional and the growth that is still there for us even as our lives are reaching the end. The reminder that what we thought defines us doesn’t have to limit us is so powerful and gave me such a feeling of freedom.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Get Red PR for my copies. These opinions are my own.

I loved the retirement community that surrounded Birdie. I know a handful of them didn’t necessarily want to be there but besides the couple shady things happening it sounded like a good time to me once everyone warmed up to one another. Nan and Joseph were some of my favorites. I liked the paranormal aspect and the mystery that followed Birdie. There were some heavier topics but I thought it was done in a respectful way. The conversations that came from them were heartfelt. I had a feeling about where the story was gonna go but I really enjoyed Birdie’s involvement with the mystery and watching her grow.

Thank you @getredprbooks @melissapayne_writes for the gifted copy.

"It's been a day of ghosts. That happens with age."

In the Beautiful Dark is a story about murder, the obsessive need to know what happened to our loved ones and the ghosts that haunt us - both those dead and alive but in our memories. How getting old can sometimes feel diminishing, and how to reclaim oneself. It's a mystery, but also an awakening.

This was one of the best books I have read this year. There was beauty, even among the sorrow and grief. You are taken on a journey with Birdie that you will not be able to put down. If you love your mystery with a bit of humor and a lot of levity, then this is a must read!

The only reason to not read this one is if any of the trigger warnings are something you need to stay away from. I have nothing bad or even slightly negative to say about this one. It was wonderful and so hopeful it hurt at times.

In the Beautiful Dark is bound to leave a mark on you. I will be screaming about this book from the rooftops because the genre-bending was so well-done and I was left feeling all the feels. It's a murder mystery, but there is so much more to the story than that.

I enjoyed In the Beautiful Dark.
Payne writes with such heart. Her stories always amazes me and keeps me turning the pages.
This was a thought-provoking, emotional and suspenseful novel about secrets and the healing power of friends and family.
This was character driven story and all characters were brilliantly written.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Wow—what an absolute gem of a book! In The Beautiful Dark is a gripping, suspenseful mystery with a refreshingly unique perspective that had me hooked from start to finish.

Set primarily in a retirement community, the story follows a cast of elderly amateur sleuths unraveling a chilling murder mystery. It’s rare to find books that center older characters in such vital, active roles, and I found this to be one of the most refreshing and powerful aspects of the novel. The main character, an older woman, is sharp, deeply human, and full of heart—a far cry from the usual youthful protagonists we’re used to seeing.

The mystery itself is wonderfully layered, steeped in grief, regret, and secrets from the past, with just the right touch of suspense.
There’s even a light sapphic romance woven in—tasteful and adding a layer of emotional depth. I’m not usually drawn to stories with this type of romance, but it really worked here.

Oh—and I have to mention the stunning cover. It’s as captivating as the story within.

If you love mysteries with heart, rich character perspectives, and a plot that keeps you guessing, don’t miss this one. In The Beautiful Dark is a standout—both thrilling and deeply moving. I absolutely loved it.

Thank you to Lake Union and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Unfortunately I had to DNF this. I could not get past how much I hated the dialogue style. It just felt fake to me, and it took me out of the story

Birdie Allen is a flawed yet lovable grandmother and retiree holding onto a secret and dark past she cannot let go. But when a string of recent murders along with a missing person hits the news, she is immediately drawn back to the mysterious death from fifty years ago that still haunts her today.

Birdie and the quirky tenants at Sunny Pines Retirement Community do more than share their lifelong stories and golden years together. The self-proclaimed “sixty-two and better” are determined to solve a decades old mystery, but will they succeed with danger looming overhead? Will Birdie free herself from the ghosts of her past and find closure?

This isn’t your bland run-of-the-mill seniors solves a mystery club. It’s slightly darker but there’s good humor and a strong sense of camaraderie at Sunny Pines. I also appreciate how the author connect themes of community, aging, same-sex love, regret and loss - making it a stirring and fiercely rich read. It’s heartwarming and unsettling in the same vein. There is surly something for everyone here and 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 doesn’t disappoint!

I’m such a fan of all ages being represented in reading. I think there’s a lack of older characters in fiction. While only one book, this book tries to lessen the gap.

So not only is our main character living in a retirement community, she has a great group of friends there. I connected with Bridie right he away. I’ll admit she triggered me a little as my parents are going through health issues, but that doesn’t take away from her fierceness. She’s strong and resilient and fights for what she believes.

I liked the mystery in the past timeline and was eager to find out what happened and see if it tied into the future.

I liked the antics of Birdie and her friends as they investigated their missing friend. They are a great group of quirky characters that played well off each other.

And while I was caught up in the mystery, I found I was more invested in the characters and their stories.

Bahni Turpin and Jeremy Carlisle Parker are great narrators and brought to life these quirky characters and their connections.

Overall a haunting story of how an unsolved mystery can stay with us for life.

Thank you @getredprbooks & @melissapayne_writes @lakeunionauthors for the ARC copy!

"𝐀 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬."

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The synopsis of this drew me in. I knew I needed to give it a read. Encompassing mystery, relationships, humour, grief, guilt, and friendship - every aspect kept me intrigued. I appreciated getting something different from my norm. The main characters reside in a retirement community. All the personalities were so good together. They all added so much dimension to the story.

The mystery element definitely had me curious. It was woven in so well. The challenges faced by the protagonist, Birdie, highlighted the impact of losing a loved one on both her and those around her. With the added chaos of current events, I truly empathized with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

* Audio was also fantastic. Narrated by Bahni Turpin & Jeremy Carlisle Parker - they brought this story to life! Thank you @brilliancepublishing & Brilliance Audio!

Melissa always writes compelling characters that you really come to care for over the course of the read.

Birdie lives in the Sunny Pines retirement community and can't let go of her makes pay where she lost Allison and was left to raise her young son. The police claimed Allison took her life but Birdie always knew it had to be the work of the "Vampire Killer".

With new found friends in the community, she gets people who believe her and want to help her find the truth... all while creepy things are happening around them

The ending was a surprise to me and parts of it are sad but also I was glad for the ending for Birdie. I also really loved the love that Birdie and her friends showed to the struggling, young Everly.

A Genuine Delight and Surprise:

My 5* review synopsis - read this if you love mysteries that are about the people rather than the case, if you love moving and heartfelt writing and if you enjoyed the aging chosen family set up of The Thursday Murder Club and Marlow Murder Club series'

Reminiscent of The List of Suspicious Things - this is a story first and foremost about people, finding identity, growing up (growing old in this case) and coming to terms with the situations life throws at you. The mystery is there but it's not the most important part of the narrative, though it does have a very satisfying conclusion.

I loved this book from page one and thought the cast of characters were lovable and incredibly human. I connected with their desire to find out who they are now that they are in the last phase of their life and the desire to find joy even whilst facing the challenges of old age. The story is strong and the slightly supernatural elements aren't overplayed and rather enhance it.

A surprise hit for me and I'll definitely be searching out more from Melissa Payne.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital review copy of "In The Beautiful Dark" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

In the Beautiful Dark had such an intriguing and unique premise, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. I tried to get into it, but it really dragged, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The pacing felt off, and even though I liked the idea of Birdie and her journey, the execution didn’t quite land. It took me a long time to get through, and I honestly had to push myself to finish.

I wanted to love this gentle, ghost-tinged mystery more than I did. Two stars from me for the concept and effort, but this one just wasn’t a great fit.

The Author focuses more on the characters feelings and emotions they go through than the plot. The book is suspenseful, haunting, unsettling, and touching. Birdie Allen is trying to get to the bottom of Allison’s murder mystery. She didn’t believe that Allison could do anything like suicide. The two of them shared a beautiful bond but destiny had something else for them. The k!ller is on the loose and so many unthinkable things are happening around them but no one is paying attention or trying to connect the dots. There are secrets, hidden feelings, murders, disappearance of a woman, grief, lost love, and found family.

I have read so many books with mystery, mayhem and feelings for each other but none of them were like this one. I loved that author has shared perspectives of both Allison and Birdie as well as depicted their innermost feelings too. Something about this book gave me eerie vibe too. The revelations at the end surprised me. I would definitely like to read more of the author’s works.

Thanks to the Publisher

4.5/5

I really, really wanted to love this book, just like I have loved the previous books I have read by Melissa Payne, but something just wasn't working for me this time. The plot sounded intriguing and the mystery fascinating but I couldn't get into the story at all and almost didn't finish it. Nevertheless, I am sure I will give Ms Payne's next book a try when the time comes!

I've been wanting to read more books outside of my usual romance, and this was such a good book to pick! I was drawn in by the synopsis, and outside of romance books, I do LOVE a mystery, and this seemed right up my alley! Melissa Payne is a new-to-me author, but this definitely won't be the last book of hers that I pick up!

This book starts with a chapter back from the 70s to introduce Birdie and Allison before kicking it to current day when Birdie is at her retirement community, and I enjoyed that Allison had some chapters sprinkled throughout. The story itself was enticing, and I loved getting to be alongside Birdie as the plot unfolded and everything went on. I liked the speculation and twists and mystery all throughout this book, and I thought it was fun to meet some of the other residents of the community and see how they played into the story!

Birdie was such a fun character, and as someone who used to live near a retirement community, I sometimes wonder what they think about sometimes! I'm not sure it's as exciting as this story, but you never knoooowwww!!

Thank you to GetRedPR and NetGalley for the advanced gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley & Lake Union Publishing for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️♥️

This story grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go—part mystery, part love story, and all heart.❤️
Birdie, our stubborn and deeply lovable protagonist, is living out her days at Sunny Pines retirement community, still haunted by the loss of Allison, the love of her life. Everyone else accepted Allison’s death as a suicide, but Birdie’s gut has never believed it. Years later, she’s still holding onto the truth she knows in her bones: Allison was murdered.
When strange things start happening at Sunny Pines, Birdie teams up with her fellow retirees—a ragtag group of sharp, funny, and fiercely loyal seniors—to dig into the mystery. What unfolds is equal parts suspenseful and touching, with a thread of Allison’s perspective from beyond the grave weaving through the story, adding this beautiful, almost magical layer of love and longing.
What I adored: ♥️Birdie’s voice—so full of wit, grief, and determination. The way her friendships with the other residents felt so real, ♥️♥️♥️This wasn’t just a whodunit; it was a story about how love lingers, how grief shapes us, and how it’s never too late to find your people.
If you like mysteries with soul, characters who feel like friends, and a love story that defies time, this one’s for you. I finished it with a lump in my throat and a smile on my face—always the sign of a great read.♥️

This book showed promise at first, but man it just dragged on and on in the middle. The author just kept repeating the same thoughts and story lines over and over again. I found myself skimming about 60% of the way thru just to get to the mystery solved. I love the idea of the seniors creating a club to solve the murders, but it took so darn long to get there! I enjoyed the writing as this is my first time reading this author. I even enjoyed the senior care home setting and the quirky characters. I didn’t quite understand the “ghost” chapters, it didn’t seem like it took the story to any better more interesting place. And I have to say the ending was pretty predictable. I guessed the killer pretty early on. I would like to say I’d recommend this book, but honestly, it’s just mediocre and there are so many other books more gripping and interesting. Thanks for netgalley for an advanced copy!

I love this cover so much. And the summary sounded perfect. But for some reason I wasn't feeling it. I thiink I was detached from the characters, which is a problem in a book like this.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing for this arc.

If I’d read this book ten years ago, my reaction would be much different. I’ve watched relatives need to give up independence and seen the effect it has. Bodies don’t work as well, minds grope for words and memories that were once crisp, and younger people begin to take over and limit things in a senior’s life. Seeing Birdie and her new acquaintances dealing with all this is something I understand a bit more.

The people at the apartment complex are not just oldsters to be parked, though. Most of them have skills and knowledge to bring to Birdie’s investigation. They also have their own pride and when Birdie makes judgements and gets things wrong, I liked that these people call Birdie on it.

But while Birdie does make her share of mistakes, she’s held onto her belief that her friend didn’t die the way the police thought. This aspect of the book is both heartening and sad. Birdie’s 52 year old guilt has driven her to solve this case but at an emotional cost to herself and her adopted son and his family. It makes me think of all the cold cases out there that weigh on families and friends who can’t set their anger and grief aside yet. Brava that mental health is a focus here and getting help is viewed positively. However the radical 180 degree turns for a few characters, though nice to read, read as too much too fast.

Birdie’s strength and convictions are both a help and a hindrance in solving the case. She tends to make up her mind quickly about something and might not always be correct. Clues are scattered through the story but I began to narrow my gaze fairly early on. Still there are enough red herrings and deliberate miscues to keep certainty at bay.

One thing I was not too fond of is the slight paranormal element of the story. I didn’t think it really brought much to the book or the investigation and after a while, I sort of started to skip these short chapters.

The story shines a light on the fact that certain victims, then and now, tend to go missing and the disappearances are not rigorously investigated just because of who or what the victims are. Also that old age is limiting and painful but not a reason to put older people out to pasture just yet. Yay that Birdie sees justice done and also realizes her past mistakes and owns them. B-

Very enjoyable read. This story takes place at Sunny Pines retirement living center with all its quirky characters. I absolutely loved the main character, Birdie. This was the first book by Melissa Payne that I have read, and she did a great job with development of Birdie's character. I thought this was a good book it touched on intuition, lifelong regrets, mystery, friendships and community. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.