In The Beautiful Dark is an endearing story about love, grief, regret and friendship and it is set in a retirement community. I loved the main character Birdie Allen - who is not coping with retirement well after half a century of working hard. She is also haunted by the death of the love of her life more than 50 years ago which she is convinced was murder. I really enjoyed the mystery and action element of the novel but more so I devoured the relationship building and life stories of the characters. The seniors’ interactions had me laugh out loud at times, and I adored the way they always came together and helped each other as well as the women in need. They set out with their walkers, antique cars and oxygen bottles and fearlessly chased intruders and predators when the police didn’t follow up. The author did a really good job developing the characters and describing their community. I liked the glimpses into the past and the short chapters in between from the point of view of the spiritual loved ones who were watching from the shadows. This gave the book a touch of paranormal content which worked well for the story.
This was my first book by Melissa Payne and I’ll be looking forward to reading more from her. I am also hoping for a sequel of In The Beautiful Dark to hear more about Birdie and the ‘gang’.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Ms Melissa Payne for gifting me a digital ARC. I truly enjoyed reading it and the above is my honest review and own opinion.

The setting of wartime London was an atmospheric backdrop into a dark time in history. It didn’t matter where you came from or your societal status, nobody was safe from harm be it bombs or desperate people. Everyone made sacrifices in order to survive whether these choices were necessary or forced.

Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius are three characters that will stay with me for the long haul. Even though they came from very different upbringings, these three are brought together by dire circumstances and find empathy for each other along with the greater community. Their stories are compelling and heartfelt and truly offer a positive feeling for the human spirit. Do not miss out on this wonderful story of found family, a bookstore, and great mystery!

This was a fantastic read! I absolutely loved Birdie! She is a fabulous main character! She is strong, determined, willing to help those who need and she is far from perfect but that just makes you like her even more! The antics of the other characters were hilarious at times and I really couldn't help but truly enjoy all of them! The story has a great mix of the past, present, humor and drama! I really hope that there will be ALOT more of Birdie to come! Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours and Melissa Payne for sharing this book with me!

When I read the description of this one, I knew I wanted to read it. I tend to enjoy stories about seniors in retirement communities joining together to solve crimes. Our main character Birdie lives at Sunny Pines retirement community. Birdie is still haunted by the loss of her love Allison that she is pretty sure was murdered. But it was ruled it a suicide. Birdie just cannot seem to get over this. She knows in her heart that she was murdered and has always thought about getting to the bottom of it.

Well, when strange things start to happen at Sunny Side, Birdie and her group of senior friends come together to try and figure out what it's going on. I truly enjoyed Birdie's character so much. She was so quirky and fun. I loved her delightful bunch of friends as well. Melissa really did a great job of creating these characters. They felt so real. I also loved how you got the perspective of Allison, from beyond. That was such a unique way to read about how Birdie and Allison were together in the past!

The mystery of Allison's death, the love and found family between Birdie and her new friends really pulled at my heart. Such a lovely read. I can't wait to add more of Melissa's books to my list.

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley and Getred PR books for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Four and a half stars rounded up. Melissa continues to be one of the authors whose new books I request, sight unseen. Just like with her last book, when I saw “In the Beautiful Dark” was available, I downloaded it immediately.

Birdie has been living at the Sunny Pines Retirement Community for the last six months. So far, she has been cordial with her fellow residents, but hasn’t made any friends and doesn’t know them all that well. When a local woman is murdered, Birdie begin to wonder if it’s connected to a string of murders that started occurring over 50 years ago. While the book does involve Birdie’s pursuit of answers related to the serial killer in her area, it is more than your typical murder mystery.

As Birdie gets closer to her fellow residents and starts becoming friends with them, she starts seeing we’re all more alike than we are different. She and her friends help each other, share their secrets, talk about their regrets, and have meals together. I will say I’ve been enjoying authors’ main characters recently being older than the “norm” and Birdie, along with the residents of Sunny Pines, are no exception.

Towards the last part of the book, it turned into a page turner for me. At one point I realized I was holding my breath as I turned the pages. Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Recap:
For Birdie Allen, getting old isn’t the hardest part about life. It’s the memories from more than fifty years ago of the death of her unrequited love. And Birdie’s abandoned quest to root out the killer. When Birdie connects a string of recent murders, and a woman disappears, she’s drawn into the same chase she gave up decades earlier. But this time she has the help of an eccentric community of eager new friends. And they’re not alone. Restless souls are watching, including Birdie’s lost love, and they sense the danger that lies ahead. But will Birdie’s pursuit of a killer finally free her of regrets and allow her to embrace the beauty of the life she’s created?

Review:
This book is yet another example of why I love Melissa Payne's writing! It took me a bit to get hooked, but once I was, I could not put it down!

In the Beautiful Dark is so much more than just a murder mystery. This is a haunting story full of heart, hope, and healing, and it left me feeling all of the feels. I fell in love with the quirky characters at the Sunny Pines Retirement Community and the small-town feel of the book. There’s so much authenticity infused into each of these characters, their joys and their pains, and their relationships with one another. And, while it’s not discussed at length, the relationship between Birdie and Allison sheds light on a time period during which it was difficult for many to live and love the way they wanted to. I also appreciated the subtle ghostly element. And all the while, the story somehow manages to be funny at times while still maintaining its poignancy.

I felt this was a good read overall I loved the inclusion of older characters as people with lives and value. It was a good read
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me

3.5 stars. This was decent but I never felt gripped by it. It was the story of Birdie, an older lady living in a retirement community, not giving up on proving her former friend/almost girlfriend was murdered 50+ years ago. I liked the cadre of people in the retirement home but there wasn't quite enough detail on most of them. The conversations with Birdie's son expressing concern for her felt repetitive. I've liked others of this author's books better.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I'm loving all the books coming out as of late focusing on older humans and their lives. I am a 50 year old myself, so I can relate to a lot of them.
Melissa Payne has become one of my favorite artists. I love when she incorporates magical realism. I have read all her books to date and she just keeps getting better.

This book was really good. It was my first read by this author but I would definitely read others.
I loved the characters, the pace, and the plot. This book made me feel so many emotions. It loss and regret grab us and hold us sometimes. I think this book touches on so much and how everyone deals with loss differently.

Highly recommend.

Beautiful Execution Of LGBT / Elderly Story Wrapped In Murder Mystery. This was an excellent and beautiful story of several different types of people who don't often play lead roles in stories coming together to create a particularly powerful one.

You've got women loving women - in 1972. You've got a whole group of elderly people living in a retirement community in 2024... along with a much younger recluse living in an RV she parks near the community. And yes, you've even got both cameo and more expansive scenes with different dogs and even a cat.

Payne handles all aspects of this tale with remarkable care and a particular penchant for showing that no matter our backgrounds or where we find ourselves, we all strive for community and family... and often times, we can be our own worst enemies in having them if we aren't careful.

The fact that she was able to bring so much near psychological horror level tension into the tale, and even a brief sprint of (somewhat comedic, though this may have been unintentional) action late in the tale truly shows just how well Payne knows her craft, as everything was done pretty damn close to perfectly.

Yes, this is a slow tale - it moves along at about the pace of the elderly people using walkers that so many of the characters are. But it is also a particularly beautiful one in both the characters it chooses to use and the story being told here.

For those looking for more elderly people in books or more naturally LGBT - without feeling forced or preachy at all - this is absolutely a book you should check out, and I genuinely believe you'll enjoy. If you're a reader that, for whatever reason, *doesn't* want to read about either of those types of characters... eh, this really isn't your book. Just move on in peace rather than one starring it because it has such characters.

Ultimately this really was yet another strong tale from Payne, who has done a phenomenal job throughout her career of creating just such tales.

Very much recommended.

A heartfelt thank you to @melissapayne_writes, @getredpr, and @brillancepublishing for the incredible #gifted book and audiobook!

These spirited seniors truly are the best! I found myself completely captivated by the characters.

The story follows retired business owner Birdie Allen, who wrestles with a deep secret linked to her unrequited love, Allison, and the unsolved mystery of her death from fifty years ago. As memories resurface, Birdie becomes entangled in a web of recent murders and a woman's mysterious disappearance. With the support of her quirky friends at the Sunny Pines Retirement Community and the echoes of the past, Birdie embarks on a quest to unravel the truth behind her love’s tragic end. Will solving the mystery liberate her from decades of regret and allow her to fully embrace her life?

This book is a brilliant fusion of mystery and romance. The heartbreak and guilt that Birdie endures for half a century drew me in completely. I loved that Birdie is strong, with a wonderful heart. I adored how the unique characters in the retirement community united to unravel the murders of these women, each carrying their own haunting stories. The way they shared their burdens as they worked together was truly moving. The reveal of the killer was nothing short of extraordinary and left me utterly astounded. I also loved the chapters narrated from Allison's perspective, as she and the other murdered girls observed the seniors' making headway in solving the murders.

This book is an absolute gem, and the narration was simply outstanding. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing these vibrant characters to life.

If you enjoy a gripping mystery, a touch of murder, and a poignant love story intertwined with the wisdom of seniors, this book is a must-read. Mark your calendar for April 22, 2025—it's a date you won't want to miss!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my honest review.

Ill start out by saying that this book isn't something I would normally pick but I've been trying to explore different genres. With that said, guess what? I really liked this book. I feel Melissa Payne put together a great story about love, loss and self discovery. Sometimes, not living our truth can be one of our greatest regrets and we see that with the main character Birdie.

My heart broke for Birdie when she lost her friend Allison. Birdie shows that getting older doesnt mean you still dont have some spunk in you as well as some sleuthy detective skills. I loved so many of the characters: Everly, Joseph and Louise.

More importanly, I loved Birdies journey of self discovery, acceptance and forgiveness. I feel that Melissa Payne crafted a story that not only tugged on your heart strings but really made you connect to the characters. I recommend everyone read this. Thank you Get Red PR Books for this copy.

Melissa Payne's In the Beautiful Dark is perfect for fans of books such as The Thursday Night Murder Club in terms of looking at retirees as still having a lot to offer, of being smart and engaged and perfectly great crime solvers.... And this is also a win for fans of books from writers such as Heather Webber and Sarah Addison for the dashes of magical realism, grief/family/hope.

thank you GetRed PR for inviting me to review this book and to Lake Union and Brilliance audio for review copies! This was a win for me, I really loved the mystery element but more than that I loved the way the characters came together and how an enduring sense of love/grief, maybe a little stubbornness, make for such a great character with Biride. I was all in for her to reconcile her past loss, and let that help her relationship with her son, and really wanted her to have the satisfaction of solving a crime and to perhaps be understood, to find people who understood her and connected with her. The audiobook really captured Birdie's voice as I imagined it as well and recommend checking out the audio as well as the book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "In the Beautiful Dark" and all opinions expressed are my own. I've read other books by this author that I liked. I found this story really interesting and I couldn't wait to read it each day to see what was going to happen. Love, friendship, mystery and of course my favorite mystical ghosts. I loved Birdie!

Birdie never believed the official story about her friend Allison's death and has always thought she was the victim of the vampire killer. So for 50 years, she raised Allison's son Felix and brooded. Now she's retired and she's looking for answers. I liked this for the portrayal of a complicated woman and her quest. It's poignant, especially as Birdie reflects on their life before Allison's death and on her present life in the retirement facility. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARc. A good read.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and GetredPR for the ARC of In the Beautiful Dark.
This is a beautiful mystery that spans over a lifetime.
Birdie is living during a time where being open about loving the same sex is shameful. She is close friends with Alison and Alison has a son. In the beginning Alison is ready to share her feeling with Birdie, but Birdie still feels the weight of the shame so she does not want to admit her feelings towards Alison.
When Birdie gets home one day, she finds Alison’s body in their bathtub. The case is closed after sometime, deeming Alison took her own life. But Birdie never believes that.
When Birdie is much older and living in a retirement home, she becomes infatuated with figuring out what happened to Alison again. With her friends at the nursing home, they all become a force to reckon with.

This story shows what a lifetime of grief and regret can do to us. But also how love can help us persevere.
I loved how Alison was still included in this with her own chapters here and there.
This was a great mystery that held all sorts of emotions.
Definitely recommend.

In the Beautiful Dark was a thriller book like no other! Birdie is an elderly Sherlock Holmes and feels the need to solve the case of a serial killer that has been on the loose for decades. Birdie also believes this serial killer killed her friend/love interest when they were younger. Although the female main character is older, she is fierce. She is confident in herself and protective over those she loves. The author also adds other characters who live in the retirement community and they compliment the main character very well. The book represented a mix of the Golden Girls and Only Murders in the Building. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

Title: In the Beautiful Dark
Author: Melissa Payne
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Family Drama with a bit of mystery
Pub Date: April 22, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages 333

Story started in 1972 when Birdie befriends young pregnant, Allison. Birdie is there when baby Felix breaths his first breath and it is love at first sight. It didn’t take long for Allison, Birdie and Felix to become a family.
Now fifty years past, since Allison, Birdie's love and best friend was murdered .Birdie and Felix are left to deal with what was ruled a "suicide", however Birdie doesn’t believe that it was suicide.

Now Birdie is the newest resident of Sunny Pines Retirement Community thanks to Felix.
The hope is that Birdie would start a new life with new friends and new adventures. But Birdie is still haunted by her dark past, of a deep loss she can’t let go of.

When some mysterious events happen at Sunny Pines, it perks up Birdie investigating skills.

Although there is a mystery that needs to solve, story really is about relationships,

I enjoyed reading Ms. Payne’s ‘Author’s Note’ where she tells us her inspiration for this story is when her mother moved into a senior-living community after her father died. The community has a delightful fascinating mix of people who all had so many great experiences- each having a great story to tell. .Her thoughts were everyday people often have the very best stories to tell.
This make me smile as our now twenty something grand children love to get my husband talking about the ‘good ol day’ and seem to love it = well every time we get together there seems to be a trip down memory lane.
Needless to say, I did enjoy this story.
Also love when an author includes ‘Book Club Questions’ as the questions are thoughtful and remind readers what they liked about the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Lake Union Publishing for this early eGalley.
Publishing Date scheduled for Tuesday April 22, 2025.