Helpful Score: 1
Good story but a little too sappy for me--Steel Magnolias comparison or not. It was predictable (the mystery part) all the way through, from first clue to last.
Karen White is hit or miss with me, depending on how heavily she relies on southern stereotypes to carry her story. This one really impressed me. While it was still firmly rooted in the south with southern characters, they felt less like southern caricatures and more like the people I've known over the last few decades. In addition to that, the pacing was great and the mysteries (from the past and the present) kept me wanting to know more. At a certain point I pretty much knew what was coming so the ending wasn't a huge surprise, but it was still fun to see it unfold. The characters were realistic and I wouldn't mind reading about them again in the future if the author decided that their stories weren't quite finished.
The mystery was visible from the get-go, and the whole thing was somewhat predictable and just maybe the characters were a tad overblown. Yet, I actually did enjoy this book, enough to look into more by this author.
Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It's not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren't helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.
In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee's house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women.
The Night The Lights Went Out alternates between 1930's depression era Georgia and 2016 Sweet Apple Georgia. There are 3 leading ladies; Merilee Talbot Dunlap, divorced single mom, Alice Prescott Bates, Landlady Sugar Prescott, and Heather Blackford, socialite and beautiful. It is full of humor, southern charm and wisdom. It is also engaging and entertaining. There are friends to meet, stories to uncover, secrets to share and mysteries to solve. A really great book.
In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee's house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women.
The Night The Lights Went Out alternates between 1930's depression era Georgia and 2016 Sweet Apple Georgia. There are 3 leading ladies; Merilee Talbot Dunlap, divorced single mom, Alice Prescott Bates, Landlady Sugar Prescott, and Heather Blackford, socialite and beautiful. It is full of humor, southern charm and wisdom. It is also engaging and entertaining. There are friends to meet, stories to uncover, secrets to share and mysteries to solve. A really great book.
This is an interesting book that I almost stopped reading. The author spent so much time building relationships between the characters that I found myself wondering "What's the point?" By the time I came to the final pages I found that there was one and it's a surprise. That's why it's rated four stars rather than three.
Merrilee Talbot Dunlap, recently divorced has moved to Sweet Apple, Georgia, with her two children to start a new life. The divorce was tragic and the move mandated because her ex had an affair with one of the children's teachers. She needed to leave all that behind her in order to move on. She meets Sugar Prescott from whom she rents a small cottage. Both women have secrets they choose to keep within their hearts and perhaps it is this that brings them together. Sugar is drawn to Merrilee and her two children and finds herself sharing stories of her life with them, something she had done with few people.
The past for Merrilee includes the drowning of her beloved brother and later her high school sweetheart. However, she finds friendship with a woman who works to have a perfect home, husband, and image. Heather Blackford seems too good to be true but Merrilee finds her friendship warm and welcoming. However, when Heather's husband drowns in a lake, obviously murdered, Merrilee finds her life falling apart. Because of the drownings in her past and the fact that she finds the body the community and police begin to focus on Merrilee as the murderer. Merrilee cannot explain why her shoe was found on the dock, why there are messages on her cell phone to and from this kind man. Who really killed Heather's husband and why? Read the novel and discover the answers for yourself.
Merrilee Talbot Dunlap, recently divorced has moved to Sweet Apple, Georgia, with her two children to start a new life. The divorce was tragic and the move mandated because her ex had an affair with one of the children's teachers. She needed to leave all that behind her in order to move on. She meets Sugar Prescott from whom she rents a small cottage. Both women have secrets they choose to keep within their hearts and perhaps it is this that brings them together. Sugar is drawn to Merrilee and her two children and finds herself sharing stories of her life with them, something she had done with few people.
The past for Merrilee includes the drowning of her beloved brother and later her high school sweetheart. However, she finds friendship with a woman who works to have a perfect home, husband, and image. Heather Blackford seems too good to be true but Merrilee finds her friendship warm and welcoming. However, when Heather's husband drowns in a lake, obviously murdered, Merrilee finds her life falling apart. Because of the drownings in her past and the fact that she finds the body the community and police begin to focus on Merrilee as the murderer. Merrilee cannot explain why her shoe was found on the dock, why there are messages on her cell phone to and from this kind man. Who really killed Heather's husband and why? Read the novel and discover the answers for yourself.
I found this book enjoyable and full of southern charm. I was not expecting the finale!! The story of a woman trying to make her way back after a divorce,and tragedy in her past meets up with a delightful,crochety old woman who's house she rents.This story puts two characters with so much in common together, despite their differences. I very much enjoyed it!
A slow paced semi-thriller that takes place in the deep South. More of an ode to female friendship than thriller. Sugar, who is in her 90's, rents out her cottage to Merilee, who is newly divorced. Both women have huge secrets that they must trust each other with so that the secrets don't ruin their lives. A good look into Southern living, but the 'thrill' was pretty easy to spot coming. Thanks First2read for the book in exchange for an honest review.
The Night the Lights Went Out is the newest novel by Karen White. Merilee Talbot Dunlap has been married for eleven years to Michael, but after discovering his affair, she quickly divorces him. Michael was having an affair with her daughter, Lily's math teacher. Merilee is moving along with her two children to Sweet Apple, Georgia where her children will be attending Windwood Academy. Merilee has little to move to since she would not accept any of the furniture nor her fancy SUV in the divorce settlement. The three of them are moving into a cute Craftsman cottage behind Summer Prescott's farmhouse. Summer is ninety-three years old and projects a gruff demeanor. Merilee was hoping to escape the gossip in her new community, but there is an anonymous blogger that likes to spread local gossip. The Playing Fields Blog is signed by âThe Neighborâ. The anonymous blogger gives a different take on the rumors and provides definitions to Southern expressions (it is not mean spirited). Merilee finds a friend in Heather Blackford, the head mom of the school. Heather takes Merilee under her wing and assists her with adjusting to her new life. For some reason, when Summer is with Merilee, she feels compelled to tell her the stories of her past. Just when things begin to look up for Merilee, she finds the body of Daniel Blackford in the lake at the benefit gala. The police soon narrow their suspect list down to Merilee and arrest her for Daniel's murder. Merilee cannot believe she is suspected of the crime. With the help of Summer and Wade Kimball, local handyman (and love interest), Merilee sets out to find the person who set her up for this crime and Daniel's real killer.
The Night the Lights Went Out is well-written and an engaging novel. I found myself slowly drawn into the story, and I loved the various Southern expressions and their explanations. The story is told from Merilee and Summer's point-of-views. In this novel, it worked. The book has good characters that are well developed and relatable. I am sure many woman will relate to the mom group at the school and their manipulations, motivations, gossip and attitudes. I was particularly interested in Sugar's story. Sugar's history shaped her life and her disposition before she met the Dunlap family. I give The Night the Lights Went Out 4 out of 5 stars. I believe many readers will figure out what is going to happen to Merilee and who is responsible (the phrase âleading a lamb to slaughterâ came to mind). But I was curious to see how it would play out. I am sure that many people will also be able to identify the anonymous blogger. There are two major clues that give away the identity of the blogger (pay close attention). It was entertaining, though, when it was revealed. Merilee's naïve routine got on my nerves after a while. I cannot see how a woman in her thirties can be that clueless. That is the one thing that I found unrealistic (and a little unappealing). I do wish that the author had provided more details about what happened to the killer at the end of the book (it felt incomplete). The Night the Lights Went Out reminds me of Fannie Flagg's novels. The Night the Lights Went Out is an compelling novel with many layers to it. Of the Karen White novels that I have read, The Night the Lights Went Out is my favorite.
The Night the Lights Went Out is well-written and an engaging novel. I found myself slowly drawn into the story, and I loved the various Southern expressions and their explanations. The story is told from Merilee and Summer's point-of-views. In this novel, it worked. The book has good characters that are well developed and relatable. I am sure many woman will relate to the mom group at the school and their manipulations, motivations, gossip and attitudes. I was particularly interested in Sugar's story. Sugar's history shaped her life and her disposition before she met the Dunlap family. I give The Night the Lights Went Out 4 out of 5 stars. I believe many readers will figure out what is going to happen to Merilee and who is responsible (the phrase âleading a lamb to slaughterâ came to mind). But I was curious to see how it would play out. I am sure that many people will also be able to identify the anonymous blogger. There are two major clues that give away the identity of the blogger (pay close attention). It was entertaining, though, when it was revealed. Merilee's naïve routine got on my nerves after a while. I cannot see how a woman in her thirties can be that clueless. That is the one thing that I found unrealistic (and a little unappealing). I do wish that the author had provided more details about what happened to the killer at the end of the book (it felt incomplete). The Night the Lights Went Out reminds me of Fannie Flagg's novels. The Night the Lights Went Out is an compelling novel with many layers to it. Of the Karen White novels that I have read, The Night the Lights Went Out is my favorite.
