Book Summary and Reviews of Hush Hush by Laura Lippman

Reader Reviews

Write your own review

FictionZeal

from FictionZeal.com re: Hush Hush by Laura Lippman
We’ve all seen these types of news stories – Child dies after having been left in a hot car. As mad as it makes us all, and as horrific as it sounds, most of these cases were not intended to kill the child. In real life, I hate to hear these stories, but it makes good fodder for fiction. More specifically, was it Melisandre (Missy) Harris Dawes’ intention to kill her two-month old daughter that hot August day? At the start of this novel, the incident was ten years prior. Melisandre had been acquitted of the murder (insanity); she left her husband, Stephen Dawes; signed away her parental rights to her other two daughters; and left the country. Now, Melisandre is very wealthy and she’s back. She wants to reunite with her children. She’s making a documentary and wants to film the details of her criminal case as well as her reunion with her girls. Initially, it looks as if Alanna and Ruby (now teenagers) would agree to meet her, but they’ve changed their minds. Her ex supports the girl’s decision.

Tess’ life has been turned upside down since the birth of her own daughter, Carla Scout, who is now three years old. She has discovered first-hand how difficult children can be at times, but is abhorred by the idea that someone would be driven to take the life of their own child. Attorney Tyner Gray is Tess’ friend and Missy’s lawyer. He asks that Tess meet with Missy, as Missy is receiving hate mail with threatening tones. Tess is not thrilled with this case, but the pay is good so she agrees. Then, one of Missy’s colleagues is poisoned. Was it intended for Missy? Well, probably!

Once you get past the anger issues you may feel with the subject matter, the mystery begins to pick up and unfold in the present time in Baltimore, MD. Time is given over to personal reflections of Tess and her partner Sandy Sanchez as they think about their own children in light of Missy’s past actions. As an understatement, Missy was not a likeable character. You’d think she would show signs of remorse … but, she never does. As with most series, it can be read as a standalone, but the reader would miss how the main characters develop over time. I rated Hush Hush at 4 out of 5.

Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews

Hush Hush
Did she or didn't she?

Melisandre was found not guilty, but was the charge of insanity the correct charge? How could anyone not be guilty of forgetting her child in a hot car?

After the trial, Melisandre left the country and lost custody of her other two children.

Melisandre returned years later, but when another murder occurred and she was present, she wasn't going to be going anywhere.

The characters in HUSH, HUSH were an interesting mix and most were not likable. Melisandre was evil and manipulative, and her ex-husband wasn't a nice person. The girls, Alanna and Ruby, were ok. They were confused and were the way they were because of their crazy mother and their sneaky father.

HUSH, HUSH was set up in an interesting way. The book started? out with an interview and had several throughout the book with people who knew Melisandre because Melisandre wanted to make a documentary about when she met her estranged daughters. I didn't understand what the documentary was going to prove or the purpose of it. HUSH, HUSH then went back and forth between Melisandre and Tess's life and actually all over the place.

HUSH, HUSH was difficult for me to follow. Not sure if it was the way it was set up or just the storyline. I also couldn't keep the characters straight. It did get a bit better toward the end but was still confusing even though the ending pages wrapped it all up.

I was disappointed because I always enjoy Ms. Lippman's books. 3/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Other books by Laura Lippman at BookBrowse

18 more...