"The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" by Sally Koslow

"The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" by Sally Koslow is a well-paced book that kinda sneaks up on you. It doesn't start as a page-turner, but as you become more and more involved with the players, you become more and more impatient to find out exactly how Molly Marx died. And in the end, the book becomes surprisingly moving, an ultimately different read than you might have been expecting.

Part murder-mystery, part social commentary on modern life, what I most liked about "The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" is that it doesn't pull any punches with the character of Molly Marx herself. Love her or hate her, she is as flawed as anyone, and the book doesn't demand that you be entirely on her side. In fact, I believe the reader is challenged to accept her flaws and care about her anyway.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Molly - ghost Molly. The framing of her new life in the "Duration" and how that all works, including her guide in the afterlife, Bob, occasionally feels a little clunky, but the book minimizes those parts. A fantasy reader, I might have enjoyed more on these aspects, but in terms of this book, I think it works well as it is. There's just enough to carry the frame and allow focus on the story itself, which skillfully jumps around from the past to the present and back again. I enjoyed Molly's commentary as she observes the present, and her ability to hear what people are thinking is often quite amusing.

Here's the official synopsis:

The circumstances of Molly Marx’s death may be suspicious, but she hasn’t lost her joie de vivre. Newly arrived in the hereafter, aka the Duration, Molly, thirty-five years old, is delighted to discover that she can still keep tabs on those she left behind: Annabel, her beloved four-year-old daughter; Lucy, her combustible twin sister; Kitty, her piece-of-work mother-in-law; Brie, her beautiful and steadfast best friend; and, of course, her husband, Barry, a plastic surgeon with more than a professional interest in many of his female patients. As a bonus, Molly quickly realizes that the afterlife comes with a finely tuned bullshit detector.

As Molly looks on, her loved ones try to discern whether her death was an accident, suicide, or murder. She was last seen alive leaving for a bike ride through New York City’s Riverside Park; her body was found lying on the bank of the Hudson River. Did a stranger lure Molly to danger? Did she plan to meet someone she thought she could trust? Could she have ended her own life for mysterious reasons, or did she simply lose control of her bike? As the police question her circle of intimates, Molly relives the years and days that led up to her sudden end: her marriage, troubled yet tender; her charmed work life as a magazine decorating editor; and the irresistible colleague to whom she was drawn.

More than anything, Molly finds herself watching over Annabel–and realizing how motherhood helped to bring out her very best self. As the investigation into her death proceeds, Molly will relive her most precious moments–and take responsibility for the choices in her life.

Exploring the bonds of fidelity, family, and friendship, and narrated by a memorable and endearing character, "The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" is a hilarious, deeply moving, and thought-provoking novel that is part mystery, part love story, and all heart.

As the book picks up speed, I definitely found myself holding my breath in a couple parts - to me, the mark of a story that's really grabbing me. And it's true, although some of the closing bits feel a bit rushed by, it does become deeply moving in the end. So all in all, I find "The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" to be a very enjoyable modern read.

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Please note that I received the book reviewed above for free from the author for my honest review, and I won't be sending it back.

Comments

[Denise]

I loved it. And you're absolutely right, it doesn't start as a page turner but something happens and you can't put it down.

Great book. :-)

[lizriz]

I really liked the pacing of it.  It was nice to enjoy it over a little bit of time, and then the end was a gut-hitter and rather thoughtful.

[apricoco]

I think this one sounds awesome. I might give it a try after the um... let's say 6 (but between you and I, it's more like 11; yes I have a problem) or so books I just ordered from Amazon are done!

On a side note have you ever read anything by Ursula K. Le Guin? I've gotten very into her lately, The Dispossesed has kind of changed my thinking.. Anyway, if you like Science Fiction / Fantasy you'd like it. Though, it's not hard-core technical descriptions and such, it's more about the people, society, morality. Really great stuff.

[lizriz]

Trust me, I know about the neverending reading list!  I try not to think about it.  ;)

I haven't read any Le Guin, except some of her poetry. She's one of those authors I don't know how I missed, and I really need to rectify that!  She's come up a lot recently, too.