Retired nurse Francine Greene is an elderly widow who has just moved into an assisted living facility. Although reluctant at first, she eventually adjusts to life in her new home by joining various clubs and getting to know her new neighbors. She even begins to start a new friendship with a resident named Katherine. But then she learns who Katherine’s husband is – a judge who may have been responsible for the death of her granddaughter several years ago. Now Francine struggles with her own moral compass. In You Should Have Known by Rebecca Keller, Francine must resist the temptation of taking matters into her own hands to right wrongs – or else risk disastrous consequences that she never intended.  

Years ago, a drunk driver caused an accident that involved Francine’s daughter Iris and granddaughter Bethaney. Sadly, Bethaney did not survive. Besides trying to comfort her daughter who lost her child, Francine is also grieving her granddaughter not long after losing her husband. Then she discovers that Katherine’s husband, Nathaniel, was the judge who handed what was basically a slap on wrist to the offender who would eventually get behind the wheel again and kill Bethaney. Francine also remembers that an investigation about bribes and corruption in the court system had enabled this behavior. So now she wonders – how much did her new friend actually know about the judge’s work? Or did she simply look the other way? 

Nevertheless, Francine becomes curious about what she can do to make Nathaniel pay for what he did. After all, no one would suspect an elderly woman of intentionally causing harm to another resident. And as a retired nurse, the medication cart is looking like a good opportunity to tamper with Nathaniel’s wellbeing. On impulse, she switches out the medication. But the next day, someone turns up dead, and Nathaniel is still walking the halls of the facility. Now Francine’s guilt and anxiety become almost unbearable. What’s even worse is that the facility staff is being blamed for the mixup that took someone’s life. Add another resident who starts to put together their shared history, and Francine gets more than she bargained for in You Should Have Known.  

Keller’s elderly protagonist with her moral dilemma and impulsive actions are a unique spin on the mystery genre. The story was paced well. Even if it was slow at times, it fits with the inner turmoil Francine experiences as she reflects on the fateful moments that shattered her family and the opportune situation to hold the people in power accountable. You Should Have Known teaches readers that perhaps taking matters into your own hands isn’t the best path forward. Otherwise, there might be other matters not within your control that make things more complicated. While crime certainly doesn’t pay, neither does vengeance. 

You Should Have Known is available April 4.