Do What Godmother Says
This novel’s title alone is gripping, and the story hooks readers from the very first page, as a mysterious woman carrying a painting seems to be fleeing for her life. Author L. S. Stratton does a marvelous job of interweaving the stories of two women across generations and how time might not separate them as much as it seems.
Do What Godmother Says follows aspiring writer Shanice as she struggles to recoup her mental health after her boss accuses her of robbing the office in modern-day Washington. She’s supposed to know better than to believe in ill omens and superstitious sayings, but when her life falls apart, how can she not? The painting that her grandmother passed down to her isn’t helping matters either. The eyes of the woman made of art seem to follow her. Curious, Shanice soon uncovers the past of the painting. It was created by Estelle “Essie” Johnson in the 1920s. Essie becomes a protagonist of the book, with chapters switching between Essie’s and Shanice’s points of view to offer an engaging and thrilling tale.
Danger lurks around every corner as Shanice digs deeper into the mystery of what happened to Essie. Essie herself vanished soon after her patron the wealthy Maude Bachmann, who insisted on being called “Godmother,” was horrifically murdered in her home. Who killed Godmother, and where did Essie go? The more questions she asks, the more paranoid Shanice becomes. Surely she has nothing to fear… unless she does.
