Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins – Review by Maryn Belling

Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins – Review by Maryn Belling

Readers familiar with Mullins’ work will be at home in the lyrical patois of her writing. Newcomers will want to know that the cast of characters for the historical elements are located at the end of the text; it’s helpful to know it’s there so you can jump to it when needed. Whether you choose to read the author’s take before or after the novel is personal preference – probably if you like true-crime podcasts and other contemporary who-done-it perspectives on past events, you’ll read it both before and after.

It’s nice to see a different city from the Notebook Mysteries. Having some historical context helps, but the writing is accessible to readers as young as junior high or as advanced as having been children in the early 20th century. Ms. Mullins follows all the “rules” of authorship that Edgar Allan Poe set before us – no extraneous characters, letting the reader’s imagination fill in the details where possible.

There are social issues omitted from this text. Readers seeking additional context would do well to consider The Personal Librarian as a companion / concurrent read for cultural context.

In all a valiant effort.

Divided Lives, K.R. Mullins, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Historical, Crime

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