She Had Enough

 

She Had Enough by Stacie Grey
7/21/26; 336 pages
Poisoned Pen Press

She Had Enough by Stacie Grey is a recommended mystery.  "Six friends. One dinner. And a secret that won't stay buried."

Mallory Taylor meets old college friends, Caitlin, Lourdes, Sonali, Rachel, and Kendra for dinner one night. It is a evening among a group who have known each other for years. Caitlin seems more withdrawn and quiet, but after her mother's recent death this is understandable. When Mallory and Caitlin are in the bathroom, Caitlin gives her a lipstick tube that was her mother's for safe keeping as she claims it keeps wanting to fall out of her bag. Mallory throws it into her bag and the evening continues. Later, after the group returns to their respective homes, a massive earthquake hits San Francisco. Mallory left the city while the city started repairing damages and returned six months later. 

When Mallory returns she learns from her landlord that her apartment was broken into several times after she left. The day before she left it had also been broken into. Nothing was taken so it appears that the perpetrator was looking for something specific. Mallory thinks about Caitlin's lipstick, tries to contact her, and eventually discovers she has died. The police attribute her death to the earthquake, but Mallory has questions, especially after she uncovers something in the tube of lipstick. She begins to contact their group of common friends, seeking the truth.

On the plus side, the writing flows smoothly and can be read quickly.  All the action, such as it is, reaches a logical, exciting conclusion, and the plot ends with everything neatly tied up. Beyond that, you will have to set a massive amount of disbelief aside while reading this even-paced mystery. There are huge jumps of suppositions made in the service of the plot's goals and not all of Mallory's actions are logical or believable. Mallory herself repeatedly says she didn't know Caitlin well at all. So why go to all the effort she undertakes to contact her right after she returns to the city? 

The group of friends she contacts with questions about Caitlin don't seem to really care about her either. Honestly, though, it has been six months since the earthquake and Caitlin's death, and no one had tried to contact her. They were all focused on their own circumstances and recovery, including Mallory who just returned after six months away. Quite frankly, the earthquake turns into a pointless plot element that could have been eliminated to tighten up the story line and keep the focus on the actual murder mystery.

Additionally, aside from Mallory who is an okay character, very determined but insipid, I found the rest of these characters annoying and this is in a character driven mystery. I truly became tired of reading about the designer's names of the clothing worn and the height of everyone as they met at different places for coffee, etc. Mallory's various ways to travel around the city are also endlessly discussed. Eventually I didn't care who did it because the motive was disclosed earlier in the narrative and I felt zero connection with any of these women. 

She Had Enough will best be enjoyed by those who enjoy mysteries and can set disbelief aside. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.