Book Spotlight | Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne
Listen to it here: LibroFM
From the author of the beloved novel Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder comes another quirky and irresistible crime novel
Strange things are happening behind the bright pink facade of Bayside’s premier laundromat, Joyful Suds, home to Joy Moody and her twin daughters.
For much of their lives, Joy has been lying to Cassie and Andie. What started as a colorful tale to explain how the twins came to live with her grew over the years and was always something she meant to set straight. Joy really did think she had more time. Worse still, Joy is struggling to define the truth from the lies.
The girls have long believed they are vital to the future and must stay hidden to stay safe. Joy has told them that their impending twenty-first birthday is significant; they will step into their roles as leaders of a revolution and life as they know it will change. Joy was right—everything will change, just not in the way they expected. On Andie and Cassie’s birthday, Joy Moody is found dead and her girls face a world they are not prepared for without their mother. Joy Moody is out of time … in more ways than one.
As someone who (and if I'm honest, still am) dreamt of owning and running her own laundromat, I requested this book simply because of the cover. What I didn't realize at the time was that I'd previously read (listened to) and loved the debut novel, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder, by the same author.
Joy Moody is Out of Time is slightly quirky and a bit unusual while remaining anchored by themes of community, chosen family and the far-reaching impacts of our choices on those we care about. The book opens with a sci-fi vibe, which may leave readers momentarily confused about the type of novel they are reading. But as the book progresses and the POV moves between Joy, Andie and Cassie, the sci-fi feeling will exit the chat with a heartfelt quirkiness taking its place.
