The Review

I was OBSESSED with Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder so when I got word I was pre-approved to read Kerryn Mayne’s sophomore novel, I nearly fainted. Anytime you love a debut this much, there is always a risk that the magic may not repeat itself. Thankfully, Joy Moody is Out of Time proves Mayne’s uniquely distinct, slightly off-kilter approach to the crime novel wasn’t a one hit wonder. Police officer by day, writer by night, Mayne uses her experience to showcase that murder mysteries don’t always have to be some psychological thriller, or your classic who-done-it.

The novel focuses on Joy Moody, the proprietor of the bright pink Joyful Suds laundromat and mother to identical twin daughters Cassiopeia (Cassie) and Andromeda (Andie). Joy raised the girls with the understanding that they were both born in the year 2050 but transported back in time to the early 2000s to hid from the shadowy group “The People”. On their 21st birthday, the twins are to return to their biological parents so they can live out their destiny and save the world. But when their birthday arrives, and Joy is found dead, Cassie and Andie are left behind in nothing but unanswered questions, buried secrets, and a new reality they were never prepared to face.

Told in four parts and an epilogue, the novel unfolds through a carefully constructed non-linear narrative. Mayne reveals information with restraint, trusting the reader to sit in uncertainty. The pacing feels deliberate rather than rushed, though I did consider after Death in a Laundromat “what more could there possibly be?” Turns out, quite a lot. As the novel shifts from the mystery to fallout, Mayne’s gift for character development carries the story forward.

The most compelling aspect of the book is Joy herself. While the story is told in third person, Mayne leans into the ambiguity leaving Joy’s chapters steeped in the perspective of an unreliable narrator. We learn early on two devastating truths hidden by Joy, leaving me to genuinely believe we were headed toward a Heavan’s Gate-styled conclusion. That sense of dread is not only intentional but also highly effective. As Joy’s struggles to separate truth from fiction, we are torn between horror and sympathy.

While this is a crime novel, there is so much more happening beneath the surface. The explorations of motherhood, the blurred line between protection and harm, and the beauty of found family are highlighted by the quiet significance of ordinary lives. In the end, Joy Moody is Out of Time surprised me in the best way possible. What began as eerie feeling of potential family annihilation unfolds into a bittersweet, heartfelt story about love and loss.

Kerryn Mayne continues to prove that she is not interested in writing your run-of-the-mill mystery thriller; she is writing character-driven novels that live with you long past the final page. I absolutely adored this book, and I sure hope Mayne continues to take us on this path.

The Summary

Kerryn Mayne, the author you are. 😍

This is my second novel of Mayne’s and it is as delectable as the first. Mayne has a way of crafting a unique story that’s a twist on the murder mystery genre.

Told in four parts and an epilogue, “Joy Moody is Out of Time” progresses with a non-linear timeline slowly unraveling the mystery. I can honestly say, I wasn’t sure how the novel would turn out. For the first 60% of the novel, I genuinely thought we were headed toward a Heaven’s Gate ending. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised with a heartfelt story of found family.