Kelly Simmons

This is one of those books I'm not even sure where to begin. Just when you think you have gotten to the crux of the situation in this one, the author pulls another surprise out of her bag of tricks. I read this in one sitting, it reads quickly, easily and elegantly. The writing is great, the plotting is amazing and the characters are intriguing. What more can you ask for in a book?

The Bird House, at it's core is about family secrets. We get to see these secrets through the eyes of Ann who is show more a grandmother now and trying to connect with her granddaughter, Ellie through a school project at first and then just trying to keep the connection going. Ann has been through a lot as we read her journal in the present and back in the 60s as well. The journal entries shed light on Ann's life as she is struggling with the family secrets and with the dementia that is starting to creep into her life.

And it seems like the family secrets are destined to keep on as Ann learns things about her daughter-in-law and her son as well, through Ellie and through everyday life. The insights are what make this book. The reader gets a glimpse of everything on the surface, how life looks to others and to ourselves at the time we are living it. Then the insight of reading the journal 40 years later comes into play or seeing the life through the eyes of child, really gets to the heart of what is going on. I loved the insight. I loved how it made all the lives that are intertwined in this book three-dimensional and something you could see from several sides. The lives come to life on the pages of the book. You feel for each character. Even when something seems totally wrong, you can see something in it that makes you understand why the character did what they did.

The characters in this book came to life for me, especially Ann and Ellie, who the book focuses on. Ann's journal entries really help you see the whole person even as she is starting to forget things as she is getting older. Ellie is a great foil to the aging Ann, not just in the age difference, but in the fact that while Ann is struggling to understand, Ellie just takes things as she sees them and doesn't look any further than that. And sometimes that is what we need to do as Ann learns, just take things at face value. I felt close to both of these characters and felt the connection that I like to have when I read books.

Ms. Simmons has a true gift for writing this type of novel. I look forward to going back and reading Standing Still now as well. The Bird House to me was amazing, and what I loved even more is it is written on an easy to understand level. No lofty language or things you really have to study to understand. No, The Bird House is written as real life and that is what makes the book a wonderful book, to me. show less

The Off Season by Kelly Simmons is a highly recommended mystery and coming-of-age novel set in the small town of Red Cliff on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Thirteen-year-old Vann (Savannah) Dixon goes to the police station wanting to talk to the coroner, insisting that her mother’s (Xan) drowning was not an accident. She is the one who found her mother's body, and is unhappy that they are not investigating it as a suspicious death. Vann is sure that they missed several clues at the show more scene. After talking to the police, she begins to investigate on her own.

Nate Hunter left the police force in Baltimore and joined the low-key police force in his hometown of Red Cliff. The two other young officers aren't interested in talking to Vann, but Nate takes her seriously and begins to look into the case. The Chief of police and the coroner say it was a drowning, but the more Nate looks into it, the more doubts he has.

Meg McKnight is a longtime resident who lives next door to the Dixon's. Interspersed between the story of Vann's present day investigation into her mother's death are excerpts from Meg's diary.

The characters are a large part of what makes this a special novel. Vann is an intelligent, determined, and observant young teen and her fully realized character comes to life in The Off Season. Nate is also an excellent, thoughtful character who carefully undertakes the investigation. Meg McKnight adds an additional voice and insight into the setting and background information. Rounding out the cast are interesting and unique secondary characters who add depth to the story.

The well-written narrative moves at a steady pace with clues carefully exposed and new questions arising along the way. Both Vann and Nate are introspective characters whose observations about the world help propel the plot forward and keep your interest high right to the end. As their investigations are undertaken, the characters excel at adding emotional depth to this coming-of-age novel. Look for the name-dropping of books in the plot.

The Off Season is the first book in the upcoming Seasons Crime Collection. It will be followed by #2 The Shoulder Season (2/25) and #3 The High Season (8/25). Thanks to BookSirens for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/11/the-off-season.html show less

I really enjoyed The Off Season by Kelly Simmons! It’s the kind of book that pulls you in right from the start and keeps you guessing until the end. The story follows 13-year-old Vann, who’s convinced her mom’s death wasn’t an accident. Her determination to uncover the truth is both inspiring and nerve-wracking—I was constantly worried for her safety as she dug deeper into the mystery.

The writing is beautiful and descriptive, especially when it comes to the Chesapeake Bay setting, show more which feels like its own character in the story. Vann’s interactions with Nate, the ex-city cop now working in her small town, add another layer to the story as he wrestles with his own demons while trying to help her.

That said, I didn’t find the ending satisfying. Some loose ends felt a bit rushed or unclear, and I wish it had been tied up more neatly. Also, there were a few minor inconsistencies that distracted me, but they didn’t ruin the experience.

Overall, it’s a solid thriller with real emotional depth, lots of twists, and a main character you can’t help but root for. If you’re into atmospheric mysteries with strong, flawed characters, this is definitely worth a read! show less

This book was not as lighthearted as I thought it would be. I guess when I see Nantucket, I'm thinking fun in the sun, a vacation with no worries. This book was nothing like that. This family was so dysfunctional in every way. They all walked around each other like they had corn cobs up the arse. The tension was bleeding through the pages as I swept through this story. I don't know who I felt sorry for the most.

A thoroughly broken family saga that, believe it or not, was a great show more escape.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. show less