Reviewed by Kristin
Lynne has been depending on her circle of friends for
decades. Mary Kay, Beth, Carol and Lynne
have shared their lives through the birth of children, loss of family, and even
PTA meetings. Hanging together in good
times and bad, the four can count on each other for anything. When Lynne dies suddenly, Mary Kay, Beth and
Carol are committed to doing what they all promised each other; they must be
the ones to clean out Lynne’s personal belongings. What they find hidden in a lingerie drawer
takes them on a whirlwind journey to fulfill Lynne’s final wishes.
While in the midst of sadness, they deepen their friendship over
the course of just a few days on the road.
The memories making the women both laugh and cry are mixed with thoughts
of the many martinis they poured over the years. An old recipe book entitled “Best Recipes
from the Ladies Society for the Conservation of Marshfield, 1966” had long ago
turned Lynne, Mary Kay, Beth and Carol into the “Ladies Society for the Conservation
of Martinis”.
As the women embark upon this journey, they each deal with
things in their own lives. Mary Kay must
make decisions regarding Drake, the man she loves. Carol is struggling to reconnect with her
daughter, after Carol left her Amanda’s father a year ago. Beth is dealing with her father’s health
issues, and the loss of Lynne has hit her particularly hard. Driving from Connecticut to western
Pennsylvania in order to follow Lynne’s request, Mary Kay, Beth and Carol all
learn more about their friend, and more about themselves.
I have always enjoyed Sarah Strohmeyer’s comic mystery series
based on hairdresser turned investigative journalist Bubbles Yablonsky. Kindred Spirits is an entirely different kind
of book, but showcases Strohmeyer’s softer side. While the characters are dealing with the
heartbreak of losing Lynne, in the end we are left with a happy ending for each
of the women and their families.
A few days after finishing this book, I still have bits
swirling around in my head. Out of
consideration for future readers, I can’t share those bits here as they would
spoil the reading experience. But if
this review has appealed to you, be sure to look for Sarah Strohmeyer on your
next trip to the library.
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