I was so excited about this one because The Face on the Milk Carton was one of my formative reading experiences. I should have just left it in the past, this was not it.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Before She Was Helen by Caroline B Cooney

This was a fun quirky read featuring senior citizens as the main characters and I was here for it with every page turn.

When Clemmie/Helen doesn't receive the expected daily text from her neighbor Dominic Spesante, what begins is a “Murder She Wrote, Jessica Fletcher” type story that was fun to read. The thing that keeps this from being a higher rating for me is that the jumping from Clemmie to Helen wasn’t smooth and at times I was lost. It wasn’t enough for me not to enjoy the story.

I don’t want to give away any secrets of which there are many but let me just say, this story is set in a retirement community and the author does a decent job of alternation between the 1950’s and present day.

I recommend you read this book and I would read other books by this author.

Rating 4
Linda C.

I could not get into this book, sorry. Trying to clean up my netgalley. Didn’t realize that I was forgetting to leave reviews on netgalley itself, My apologies.

What if you could start over and become someone new? Helen has done just that. Before She Was Helen takes place in a retirement community and goes back and forth between Helen’s present and past.

It’s an unexpected mystery that’ll keep the reader guessing.

This book was fine, well written and held attention. I requested it based on the author so was expecting it to have younger protagonists and was a bit surprised when it had older characters and setting. If that had been included in the blurb I wouldn’t have selected it (just find that age range harder to relate to).

Before She was Helen is one of those reads that if you haven't got anything else to read, then pick this book up otherwise you may want to move along unless you enjoy busy novels and can keep up with what's happening unlike myself.

I wish I liked this as much as the other books by this author. It just didn't catch my interest like I was hoping for.

This was an OK read, enough to hold my attention to the end, but not enough to have me devouring the book as I had hoped. A solid 3 stars from me.

What to do? What to do!

Caroline B. Cooney still has it. 25 years ago, I started reading her novels as a teen. I loved her ability to keep the reader guessing, her need to have fully formed characters on her pages, and the strength in which she spun her stories. Cooney is still the masterful story teller she was then.

I may not be Clemmie's age but Cooney has written as story that I think even young adult can appreciate. With thoughtfully explained differences in the times from Clemmie's youth to today's options, young and old can experience exactly what Clemmie went through without the knowledge gap. (Though I'm sure today's kids can't imagine no cellphones!)

Catefully constructed murder in the retirement village, Before She Was Helen requires quite the unraveling. Facts and lies sifted; People and places changed and one constant...Clemmie.

It seems today is not her day.

What a hoot! This novel had me rolling laughing in some spots even though it's mostly suspense. But after all, who would think of setting a book in a senior citizens enclave?! The main character was a darling, and following this whole adventure was so much fun. I loved Caroline B Cooney as a teen and I'm still loving her now.

Fabulous thriller that kept me eagerly turning the pages!! Fantastic characters and plot, could not put it down.

I grew up lovely Caroline B Cooney books - she was YA before it really existed - now as an adult reading her books I still felt the same. While the content was more adult I felt like her storytelling was there along with her ability to spin a thriller/mystery.

I found this to be an enjoyable read, keeping me on my toes throughout. The storyline was written well and flowed seamlessly. I look forward to reading more by this author!

This was an entertaining mystery that I found very easy to engage with.. The characters were wonderful and well developed. Do you ever really know someone?
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Surprisingly entertaining and touching! Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney is not the cozy little mystery I expected. Though it takes place in a retirement community in South Carolina, The main character is not who her fellow retirees in this retirement community think she is. The story weaves between the present, a situation that Helen did NOT intend to find herself in, and her past, which she is trying very hard to avoid, for good reason. The present day drama is suspenseful and thrilling while the situation in the main character's past is raw and, as the reader, frustrating - I found myself rooting for the young girl and very frustrated with the situation she found herself in. This emotional bond was surprising but I was grateful for it. Well done to Caroline B. Cooney on weaving this intricate story.

How well do you know the people in your life? I am sure most of us would say pretty well if we were asked that question. 9/10 times we would more than likely be right, but there is always going to be someone that we don't know as well as we think. We all need to remember that the difference between private and public personas is an actual thing. Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney is a book that explores that very thing, and good lord it does it so well. Set in a retirement community, this is a well-written tale about a woman trying to prevent her past from interfering with her present. There is a great cast of characters in the book and numerous mysteries that unfold over the course of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was able to finish it in one sitting.

I found this really confusing to follow. I have read dual narrative books in the past and none of them have been as confusing as this one. That said, it was good, what I understood of it

There was a lot happening in this book, but also not much at the same time. Confusing? So was the story.

I had a hard time staying focused on this one. I felt no connection to the characters which I think made it difficult for me to stay invested. And I also think that not having a connection to the characters was because the start of the story was an overload of present and past stories combined and it was hard to keep it straight.

I think the idea of this book was good, it sounded really intriguing. I just think the execution was not great. I don’t know if there were too many characters or if it was just because I didn’t have a connection with any of them that I found myself trying to recall which character was which and what their story was.

I found the book to be less of a thriller, because honestly, there was not a single moment where I thought “oh no what is going to happen” or “I need to keep reading and find out what is going on.” I don’t know what I would classify it as, maybe a family drama? But even that seems inaccurate.

I found the ending to be lackluster. Again, maybe because I didn’t have a connection to the people, but it just didn’t grab me and feel complete.

There were some interesting aspects of this book and I do think it had a lot of potential to be really good. I just think that the story got too lost in the confusion of characters and building a backstory than focusing on the present story.

This book was okay, just confusing. I’d give it 3 stars, and suggest you read for yourself. Maybe there was something I missed that someone else will appreciate and they will really enjoy this book.

I really didn’t enjoy this book that much. The shifts between two different timelines were difficult to follow and I didn’t connect with the characters.