The Primrose Murder Society

On sale March 3, 2026
Witty, endearing, and wildly entertaining, this Southern cozy mystery is a little bit Gilmore Girls, a little bit Finlay Donovan, with a big helping of Only Murders in the Building.
Lila Shaw stopped trusting anyone the minute her husband went to jail for white-collar crime, taking their country club lifestyle with him. Now Lila is broke, friendless, and losing her house—and to make things worse, her true-crime-obsessed daughter, Bea, was just expelled from fourth grade. Desperate for a fresh start, Lila agrees to temporarily move in and clean out an abandoned junk-filled apartment in Richmond’s palatial Primrose building. The luxurious Virginia landmark is filled with retirees who start their days early drinking bourbon and gossiping, in that order.
Soon after Lila’s arrival, the Primrose is thrown into chaos. The owner of the building’s splendid penthouse has died and in his final days he set up a two-million-dollar reward for any resident who helps to solve the 21-year-old murder of his granddaughter at the Primrose. A fan of all detective stories and true-crime podcasts, Bea is inspired to investigate. They really could use the reward money, so Lila reluctantly agrees, in a questionable attempt at family bonding. She’s certain the killer is long-gone after all these years anyway. That is, until another resident is murdered… and Lila becomes the prime suspect.
Now Lila needs to solve both murders to avoid jail, and even worse, losing her daughter to her snobby in-laws. To catch a killer and clear Lila’s name, she and Bea must rely on their elderly neighbors—Jasper, a shy former detective, and Evelyn, an opinionated socialite—along with Nate, a good-looking reporter who keeps appearing at the most inconvenient moments. As the amateur sleuths expose the truth about the Primrose, Lila hopes she can also unravel the trickiest parts of her own life and start fresh.
Praise for The Primrose Murder Society
“Nothing better than a mother-daughter detective duo cracking cold cases in a splendid old apartment building filled with colorful characters. Utterly charming!” – Kirsten Miller, bestselling author of The Change and Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books
“This warm, clever novel is an absolute treat. It’s an extremely pleasurable murder mystery with a relatable mother-daughter relationship at its heart, and I adored it.” – Annie Hartnett, bestselling author of The Road to Tender Hearts
“The perfect cozy mystery! Fans of Only Murders in the Building will adore this charming page-turner. Hackney’s writing evokes the best of Mary Higgins Clark with a modern flair. I’m already eagerly awaiting Lila and Bea’s next adventure… or misadventure!” – Joan O’Leary, nationally bestselling author of A Killer Wedding
Well-drawn main characters, humor, numerous plot twists, a charming depiction of a mother–daughter relationship, the senior apartment frame, and the theme of learning to trust again distinguish this satisfying cozy. – Booklist
Hackney’s characters add hilarious color to the fast-paced action: a TikTok-watching Primrose resident sports “Alexander McQueen platform tennis shoes” and the bejeweled, imperious Evelyn wields her walker like a weapon at potential suspects. As the investigation veers into perilous directions, it becomes frighteningly clear that the only people Lila and Bea can trust are each other. A thoroughly enjoyable read with a thrilling, unanticipated conclusion, The Primrose Murder Society leaves open the enticing possibility of a sequel. – Shelf Awareness
There are many light moments and much good humour involved in the Primrose residents’ personalities, their interactions with each other, and their relationships to Lila and Bea…You’ll find The Primrose Murder Society a charming story a welcome respite from the gloom and doom of the daily news! – Crime Fiction Lover
Fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series will heartily embrace The Primrose Murder Society for its originality, charm, and warmth…Stacy Hackney maintains the humor and pacing, deftly mingling intriguing subplots and fascinating characters. The Primrose Murder Society is uniquely offbeat and enchanting. – BookTrib
Without burdening the story, Hackney manages to work in some humor about the lives of Virginia’s rich and snooty. She also touches on themes of what it means to be a good mother, and how someone can rebuild a shattered life. Then there’s the hint of a romance…It all makes you hope that the Primrose Murder Society might be investigating another case before long. – Briar Patch Books Blog
The Primrose Murder Society is charming, with just enough angst to give the story weight. You’ll be cheering for Lila and Bea to mend their relationship, and solve the murders, while they make new, authentic friends who like them “just the way they are.” – Criminal Element
