56 Days was the first COVID-19 related book I’ve read since the pandemic hit. To be perfectly honest with you, the only reason I ordered it was because it was a Book of the Month pick. I had my doubts because I, and presumably the rest of you, am SO sick of hearing, reading, talking, living, breathing COVID. I read about it enough in the news and on social media. Why in the hell (pardon my French) would I want to read a book about it…and for fun, no less? I opened this book with reservations.
I was pleasantly surprised and was proven wrong, as I often am.
I was really intrigued by this new take on a cozy mystery. The whole world experienced the lockdown last year, and the writer inside me thought it would be the good premise behind a story, but the realist inside me figured people wouldn’t want a fictional COVID story while they are living it every day. Catherine Ryan Howard, hats off to you!
While there were certain plausibility issues I had (as a female, I would NEVER move in with a guy I met twenty-one days prior…EVER), the story gripped me through all the twists and turns, until the final conclusion. The only other complaint I had was that I wish there were more characters and settings! However, it did deal with COVID. The only change of setting I got during the lockdown was a trip to my backyard. So, realistically, this made sense.
If you haven’t picked up this book, you should! However, I understand if you’ve had enough COVID in your life…we all have.
Plot Summary:
No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead.
56 DAYS AGO
Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores.
35 DAYS AGO
When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who—and what—he really is.
TODAY
Detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside.
Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?
Books and Bites with Brooke 