Mothers and Daughters: Inspiration for The Echoes
By Jess Montgomery
March 29, 2022BONUS: Comment on this post after you read to enter for a chance to win a hardcover copy of The Echoes!
All the titles in my Kinship Mystery Series, inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff in 1925, have co-narrators. In each novel, Sheriff Lily Ross shares her investigations from her point of view. She’s joined by a co-narrator in each novel who might just have a different perspective on Lily and on Lily’s case and, depending on the co-narrator’s motives, might either try to help—or thwart—Lily’s efforts. So far, Lily’s co-narrator’s have been a stranger who becomes a new friend, a friend from childhood, and a ‘frenemy.’ (Yes, I know, the term didn’t exist in the 1920s, but it still perfectly describes Lily’s co-narrator and nemesis in the third novel in the series.
In the background throughout all of these novels has been Lily’s Mama, a.k.a. Beulah McArthur—sometimes helping, sometimes fussing, and often shaking her head at Lily’s shenanigans.
As I began planning the plot for The Echoes (yes, I’m a plotter!), I knew I’d again need a strong co-narrator for Lily. Almost immediately, I thought—Mama! My next thought: but she’ll narrate as Beulah McArthur.
Beulah is quite comfortable in her role as Mama, to Lily, to her now-deceased son Roger, and to young Caleb Jr., who happens to be 7 years old, just like Lily’s youngest child. And she’s also at ease in her role as grandmother (or Mamaw, as her grandchildren call her) to Lily’s daughter Jolene and son Micah.
But of course, Beulah is more than those roles. She has her own dreams and worries and point of view. In The Echoes, we get to know her more fully—what makes her tick. What secrets she might be keeping. A romantic interest… but I don’t want to give away too much!
As I wrote The Echoes, I realized that to date, I’d shown Beulah as well, a little fussy. A worrier. She’s proud of Lily, sure. Lily and Beulah are close enough that by the time The Echoes opens, they share a farmhouse. Beulah watches the children when Lily must be out on cases. But Beulah isn’t entirely at ease with Lily being sheriff. There’s a bit of her that finds the job unsuitable for a woman (bear in mind that Beulah was born in 1880), and certainly she wonders why Lily must do something so dangerous.
In The Echoes, I wanted to show Beulah with more depth. She becomes caught up in Lily’s case, partly because it’s connected to their family. The plot is driven, to a great extent, by what really happened to Roger—Lily’s older brother and Beulah’s son—during The Great War.
I also wanted to explore the mother-daughter dynamic from both a mother’s point of view, and a daughter’s point of view. In so many ways, I relate to Lily’s desire to move beyond the strictures of expectations of women as represented by her mother, and I believe I’ve brought that out in past novels. In an earlier novel, Beulah reminds Lily that she may be sheriff, but she’s still expected to enter a pie in the county baking contest. Lily grudgingly complies—and enters a vinegar pie. (In all fairness to vinegar pies, if properly prepared, they taste tart like a lemon pie. But I digress.)
And yet, I also relate to Beulah’s complex regard for her daughter Lily: proud, yet always a little worried. I’m the mother of two adult daughters, and I’m super proud of both of them. I admire them and all they’ve achieved, and I’m inspired by their bravery in their professions and in their avocations. On the other hand… a mama worries. (Anyone who has attended their child’s rugby match—as I have—will understand. On the one hand, complete admiration for toughness and skill. On the other, barely suppressed cringes each time it looks like your daughter might get even the least bit injured.)
Lily and Beulah ultimately work together to resolve the crimes and issues in The Echoes. Beulah comes to understand Lily’s drive, how she’s seen in the community, and the unique skills Lily brings to her work. Lily comes to understand Beulah’s worries, strengths, and wisdom. Both women learn to appreciate and love each other even more deeply than they did before. What more could a mother-daughter duo ask for?
*Author Photo Credit: JP Ball Photography
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About The Echoes by Jess Montgomery:
As July 4, 1928 approaches, Sheriff Lily Ross and her family look forward to the opening of an amusement park in a nearby town, created by Chalmer Fitzpatrick—a veteran and lumber mill owner. When Lily is alerted to the possible drowning of a girl, she goes to investigate, and discovers schisms going back several generations, in an ongoing dispute over the land on which Fitzpatrick has built the park.
Lily’s family life is soon rattled, too, with the revelation that before he died, her brother had a daughter, Esme, with a woman in France, and arrangements have been made for Esme to immigrate to the U.S. to live with them. But Esme never makes it to Kinship, and soon Lily discovers that she has been kidnapped. Not only that, but a young woman is indeed found murdered in the fishing pond on Fitzpatrick’s property, at the same time that a baby is left on his doorstep.
As the two crimes interweave, Lily must confront the question of what makes family: can we trust those we love? And what do we share, and what do we keep secret?
Comments
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This book sounds wonderful.
Looks like another great one.
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Sounds very good.
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This sounds great! Adding to my TBR now.
I certainly want to read this book
I’m moving more and more towards thrillers and suspense novels.
Love this mom/kid connection.
I love reading fiction and crime fiction especially.
This sounds like some interesting storytelling! We’d enjoy this!
Mother-daughter relationships are extremely intriguing. Mothers never give up being mothers even when daughters are adults. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds in the book.
Definitely on my TBR list
Cant wait to read this one!
This is a wonderful series! I can’t wait to read the latest.
This book sounds really good and like it would be a great read.
I love the cover!!!
Sounds great!
Bring on. The. Thriller’s. Already
It’s cool how you put some of your life into your book.
Inspiration is most important in our life. We must read like that article.
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I am intrigued by this plot
Sounds like another good read!
Sounds like a great read
Fascinating cover. Sounds fantastic.
I have not read any of the series, but they are on my TBR list. I did read the short story that was released late last year and enjoyed it.
Sounds Great
The Echoes by Jess Montgomery sounds like an interesting and entertaining book.
Looks good! Thanks for the opportunity to win! 😊
This sounds good!
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Would love to read. Sounds good
Fascinating post and captivating novel.
Would love to read this book
Intriguing and memorable story.
This definitely sounds like a real winner. I’d love to have a copy, Thanks!!
Great series, fascinating author.
I can’t wait to read this book!!
Looking forward to reading this!
Sounds good.
I can kinda relate to the characters. I was adopted by an older couple. My mamaw was born in 1889. She passed in 1969. I was 3. My mom born in 1923. Helped make hand Grenades and also worked on a ship building it in California things were just a little different back then I can’t wait to read this book I’ve enjoyed all of them to date and I hope that you continue this series were a very very long time
Another one to put on my TBR!
This sounds like a great book but it would be difficult for me to read. I recently lost my Mom. I’m not saying I won’t read it because it sounds better than anything I’ve read in a while.
This looks great
I can’t wait to see how these mysteries intertwine!
I love that you are a plotter–as a writer, I spend so much time making sure my facts are straight and as a reader I am turned off by holes in the plot–will be checking out your series! Blessings!
Loved the first three books in the series and reviewed on Goodreads Would so love to win read & review
I’m looking forward to reading THE ECHOES!
Looking forward to reading this!
I love books with strong female characters. I would love a chance to win this one!
I adore this series so much and can’t wait for this book. It will be interesting to learn more about Beulah.
I really want to read this book!
Awesome.
Really looking forward to reading this book. Reading is one of my favorite things to do and this book looks awesome!
Enjoy reading about mother/daughter relationship.
I enjoyed reading about your characters in this series.
This book looks so very good! Love the chance to win. Thank you.
Awesome giveaway thank you so much for the opportunity and your generosity can’t wait to read this book
I’m intrigued by this beautiful book cover, but I’m immensely drawn by the mystery and suspense of the mother-daughter relationship lurking beneath this cover.
Thank you for the giveaway
I love the relationship piece
The longest relationship mothers and daughters usually have. Often at odds but underneath, a connection that is unexplainable. Looking forward to this book.
Sounds like an interesting read. Would love to win a copy.
This sounds awesome! I love the idea of Lilly’s Mama as the co-narrator and getting to know her better. Adding this to my TBR list ASAP!
Always interesting to read about the mother-daughter dynamic. Good luck with this release!
I’ve loved all of your books. You evoke the setting and the times so well. I’ve even introduced your books to some friends who live in Ohio close to the area where your books are set. I’ll bet this one will be just wonderful. Looking forward to hearing more from Mama.
This sounds so good, from the time period, to the unknown family member in France.
looks like a fun oen
This sounds like a really good read, thanks for the chance
looks intriguing
this book sounds great! i’d love to read it
While Jess Montgomery’s novels reach into the past, her themes and relationships resonate with modern women and their struggles. This latest in her series promises more of the same. Thanks for the give away!
Another tale in a very interesting series! Yes!
This sounds like a great series! You are a new author to me but I listened to one of your interviews and loved it.
Would love to read!
I haven’t started this series yet, but I’ll be paying special attention to the co-narrators when I do. Often those secondary characters contribute to how strongly I like a book or series, especially if I like the relationship between the protagonist and the co-narrator or secondary character, or just like to observe it in the case of frenemies.
I absolutely love your books! Fingers crossed for the win!
Thank you for this chance
I really want to read this one!
Thanks for the opportunity to receive this fascinating book!
Love the cover!
Read and loved the previous books, ready to read this one!
This sounds intriguing. Mother and daughter relationships can be complicated. Mysteries are my favorite genre.
Can’t wait for this one!
This story looks like a great read that you can’t put down until you are done.
sounds good
Sounds like a great book! Can’t wait to add Jess to my reading list.
Adding this one to my TBR list ASAP! Sounds like a great read
Sounds like another interesting book. Looking forward to reading.
Intriguing premise. Thanks for the chance to win!
Looking forward to another great story from this author; thank for the opportunity to win!
Sounds really intriguing!
I love the idea of different view points, sounds intriguing & yet amusing between characters
Would love to read this.
would love to curl up with this!
Can’t wait to read “The Echoes”. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series and I’m looking forward to catching up on the series.
Look forward to reading it!
I’d love to read this one!
Would Love to get my hands on this book looks like a good story to read .
I need to start this series. Sounds interesting.
I’d love to read this book, I’m a Buckeye too! Ohio born and raised.
This sounds like a great read!
This sounds like a great read!
Sounds interesting. Thank you for the chance!
Sounds very interesting and complex. Thanks for the giveaway!
Would love to read and share this book!
Love the era mentioned in these books. Can’t wait to read The Echoes!
Book sounds so interesting. I cannot wait to read it.
Article was interesting. Will have to read the book.
I love all things Ohio and look forward to reading more about Lily and Beulah!
Love this era so I know I would like this book.
I would love to win a copy of the latest entry in this fine series!
Sounds like a great book
Mother daughter relationships. make for an interesting character development in a mystery.
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Going on my TBR list.
I look forward to enjoying this book!
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The bond between mothers and daughters. provide a mystery with a compelling plot twist.
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