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

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.♥️