Murder in a Gated Community by Laura KoerberMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an unusual story for me to read because, despite it implying that it was a kind of cosy murder mystery, I felt from the title it was not the kind of ‘thriller’ that would appeal to me. A story about old people living in a care home of some sort was not going to grab me. No way? I thought at first. But then after a few pages I realised these ‘old folk’ were not all invalids or demented and incapable for some reason. I wanted to find out which among them were killers and, at pensionable age, why? What could make them behave like that in their comfortable, gated community? What would their motives and methods be?
It was a long way into the story before I realised that the author had me fooled about the plot. But by then I was hooked. I wanted to know – what’s going to happen next? And, surprise, surprise, there were parts of the tale that had me laughing out loud! A large dog with flatulence problems was the main source of amusement, while a tiny fluffy white dog provided an ‘Ah, how cute!’ factor, for some – but not me I have to say.
It took a few more pages to properly get to grips with the list of characters: with their various gripes and grievances; with their strengths and weaknesses. But Koerber develops these with skill and care and I knew who I could understand and root for at the end of the tale. More than a ‘thriller’ this is an intriguing and entertaining tale of a group of older people, each with ‘a past life,’ trying to live alongside others similarly ensconced. Recommended: to readers who enjoy a story about people and their human frailties.
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