Unofficial Synopsis:
Shanice inherits a painting from her grandma and is drawn to it in a way she can’t explain. As she digs deeper, she learns the artist was a young woman taken in by a wealthy art patron known as “Godmother”. Godmother vanished shortly after taking the artist in.

Shanice is convinced she’s being stalked, and the deaths happening all around her are somehow connected to the painting.

The truth is hiding in plain sight, and I’ts even more shocking, and deadly, than she ever imagined.

Review
This was a really well written historical fiction and thriller mashup. I loved the dual points of view told from past and present timeframes. Both past and present were impeccably written, and I loved the characters. In the present, Shanice is just trying to get by. I found her character to be extremely relatable and able though annoying at times. In the past, it was easy to feel for Essie and my heart went out to her at every turn. As the story progressed, the twists started coming. And they didn’t stop coming! There were some amazing twists as the story progressed. Some of them were fairly easy to guess, but some of them were really amazing and well done, didn’t see them coming at all! I think the author did a great job writing a story that was inspired by true events.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. 2024 netgalley netgalley-202428 s Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)2,504 4,140

Do What Godmother Says is a dual-timeline mystery with gothic elements and a potentially unreliable narrator. I d it quite a lot, though it felt unbalanced at times.

Shanice's life is falling apart and her mental health isn't great either. But when she finds a mysterious painting of a woman at her grandmother's house, it leads her down a dangerous path as she uncovers the story of Estelle Johnson- the Harlem Renaissance artist who created the painting. And Estelle's connection with Maud- a wealthy white woman with interest in the occult who took advantage of young Black artists.

I picked this up because I love a gothic novel and I was really interested in the story of the Harlem Renaissance artist. Unfortunately, we spend the bulk of the novel in the modern perspective and wish the past timeline had been a little more fleshed out and evenly integrated into the story. That said, while some of the reveals didn't surprise me, I had a good time and would read more from the author. She effectively weaves some gothic elements in and gives great atmosphere. I would recommend it! The audio narration is well done. I received an audio copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.black-authors14 s Ashley442 71

This took me a minute to get into but once I did I couldn't get enough! This is a historical fiction thriller mash up. There's a lot of twists and some are predictable and others not!

I was very interested in the plot because it was different from anything I've ever read. Shanice inherits a painting from her grandmother and it seems her bad luck before magnifies when those around her start to die. Shanice starts to dig deeper to find out more about Estelle and her paranoia increases. I found I would get freaked out a bit while reading this because it does get a little creepy.

We get a dual timeline which was done very well. I felt both characters had equal time in the book and neither outshined each other. A unique read!

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the e-arc. nerdfam-arcs netgalley9 s bee 🍉351 75

This was a wild ride.

I think the best way to describe this book is a roller coaster because of how many ups, downs and loops it took me through.

While I was able to predict some of where the plot was going, I genuinely enjoyed this and thought that the pacing of the book was fantastic. I loved how the different timelines were weaved together and how the book ultimately came to an end with all the loose ends and questions finally answered.

This was such a fun book and I’m excited to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.2024 arcs-netgalley mystery ...more6 s M.L. SextonAuthor 40 books139

Y’all ever read a book & think, “Wtf did I just read?” And you know wtf you just read? Yeah, L. S. Stratton did it again in her second novel. I knew Noah wasn’t to be trusted from the beginning. His entrance into the story was too convenient. Shanice losing her job was a blessing in disguise, even though Priya didn’t speak up. Hanson was suspect from jump. And what really happened with Essie and Maude was jaw dropping. Lillian and Elias? Um, ew. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I can’t wait to read more.

Thank you to Union Square & Co & NetGalley for this ARC.5 s Yamini456 26

I am so glad I picked this up!

This is a dual timeline plot that entangles the readers into a mystery of the life of an Artist and the current owner of her legendary painting. Ever since the painting came into the possession of Shanice, an ominous shadow has fallen upon her life. As she digs deeper into the life of this artist from the Harlem Renaissance period, she discovers dangerous truths that may terrorize her life.

The thrilling aspects of this book are aptly produced to make the reader question everything about the painting. It looks dangerous, but the more you observe, the more your perspective changes around the art. The way the story leveraged the Harlem Renaissance, strengthened its plot a notch higher. There were high-stakes, sideline love story, goofy stalker, exuberant lifestyles of the 1% club and a haunting past connecting the dots which made it a perfect reading companion on my travels.

This was such a great mystery thriller and an almost perfect rendering of the world of painting. Highly recommended!

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult
Rating: 4.5/5 ??

gothic horror mystery4 s Books Amongst Friends110 4

Was there a moment this book pissed me off? Yes. Could I put this book down? No.

Finding out that "Do What Godmother Says" was based on a real patron during the Harlem Renaissance made it even more fascinating and a true page-turner for me. The historical fiction aspect of this book was thoroughly enjoyable. As someone who loves the arts, I appreciated how the author shone a light on the fact that Black artists were often sought after but silenced. This is an important message, not just during the Harlem Renaissance, but also in considering the generational ramifications of such actions down the line.

On a deeper level, there’s so much being said in this book that made me really enjoy it as a read. But even on the surface, there's plenty to enjoy. One could read this and simply enjoy the mix of the fanciful, the occult, the twists, and the turns. Yes, there was a level of predictability, but the author handled this in such a masterful way that, even if you saw one thing coming, there were ten other things you didn’t see.

The story starts off slow, introducing us to a young woman who loses her job, suffers a bad breakup, inherits a painting she doesn’t even want from her grandmother, and deals with terrible anxiety while still reeling from her mother's death years ago. Simultaneously, we follow the journey of a young artist during the Harlem Renaissance, and these two journeys eventually collide. I loved the duality of the stories and this slow build because, once the engine starts burning, choo-choo baby, the train takes off.

The characters all had very strong voices. The minute her grandmother said, “Don’t put your purse on the ground,” I looked over at my bag to make sure it was right next to me. I could feel Shanice’s hesitancy to approach Noah, her dad gives immediate dad vibes, and you could feel the allure of Maude's world while also being disgusted by it. The characters were well-written, and every character had this moral gray area that kept you guessing. Just when you thought you could trust one person, another would lie.

I found Shanice’s relationship with her grandmother was particularly compelling. Her grandmother was authentically herself, and this authenticity made her stand out. There was a complexity in the relationships between Shanice, her grandmother, and her father that felt so raw. Both her grandmother and father loved Shanice and her mother in ways they saw fit—one spiritual and one analytical. Both held secrets and past traumas, and all three were still grieving in their own ways, each with different approaches to what was happening to Shanice. It seemed they were all withering in some ways with the mothers pain and ultimately her choices. Especially the father who presents this as Shanice’s inherited struggle and inability to find strength within herself.

On the broader themes, this book explores mental health, the importance of passing down knowledge, and the challenges of generational wealth and ownership, especially in Black communities. The book also critiques the erasure of Black bodies and the exploitation of Black talent. This was particularly evident in the depiction of white saviorism and how it often comes at the expense of Black lives, art, and safety.

"Do What Godmother Says" was a compelling read that offered a mix of historical fiction, mystery, and a deep exploration of significant themes that more than held my attention. Highly recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley & Union Square & Co. for the opportunity to read this ARC.2 s Martin Maenza772 12

Union Square and Company provided an early galley for review.

I had the pleasure to hear Shelley speak about her book at PLA2024 last month, and she was very excited to bring this story to readers. Her passion as well as an intriguing title and concept convinced me to check this one out.

Usually books with two narratives do not always work for me, especially when they split between the present and the past. I find myself invested more in one over the other, and then I am disappointed when we jump away from the one I am enjoying the most. Here, I was instantly pulled into the story of Estelle in the past while finding Shanice's story to initially be a little slower. As we spent more time with Shanice, I got more into those plot threads as they too started to ramp up in their own mystery.

At a certain point, I felt I had pieced together an important connection but needed to figure out how it might play out in the end. There were definitely several more twists to go, right through the final chapters, so it kept me guessing on how it would all come together.

In the end, I am intrigued by the Harlem Renaissance and want to learn more about it and the people involved.fiction gothic mystery ...more2 s Aly543 25

This was a unique blend of gothic, historical fiction, and thriller. This story is told through a dual timeline, from both past and present times. This element made it engaging and added to the suspense. This was more of a slow building story with an eerie vibe. Definitely an interesting read.

Thank you to The Union Square & Co for the gifted copy. 2 s Jennifer1,196 45

4.5 stars.

Although it wasn't as dark as the cover makes it seem, this was still a really solid read. The spooky parts were really only towards the end, and even then, it was a very small portion of the book. This felt more of a suspense novel than Gothic.2 s Sheena637 294 Read

I predicted all of this lol RTCarcs-to-read ms-magazine mystery-thrillers-crime ...more2 s mo • lesmotsdemo423 15

I thought the plot was so original but it ended up being a rather predictable book. The plot is divided in two parts (with two points of view), and I did enjoy one point of view more than the other… until I didn’t. Until both points of view were unexciting to read. I did not the heavy emphasis on romance, and men, and women seen and considered by these men as « crazy », or « hysterical ». I’m done with this sort of plot, I’ve read too much of it. It would have been way better as a story with women, and only women. There was potential here. I still recommend it, because I still enjoyed some parts of it and its writing; it was just not my preferred sort of mystery-thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.2 s Whit130 53

I don't often delve into historical fiction, but whenever I venture into that genre, I find myself pleasantly surprised and committed to exploring it a little more. DO WHAT GODMOTHER SAYS takes place in the crossroads of present day and the vibrant Harlem Renaissance. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Shanice, a contemporary young writer, as she discovers the rich legacy tied to a family heirloom—a painting crafted by the esteemed artist Estelle Johnson, who once mingled with luminaries Langston Hughes during the Renaissance. This painting becomes more than just an artifact; it becomes a captivating focal point steeped in history. As I dived deeper into the story, I couldn't help but wonder if a similar treasure hides in the nooks of my own family’s homes.

While the plot of "DO WHAT GODMOTHER SAYS" had a touch of predictability, the author skillfully weaved together the nuances of two distinct time periods. Despite anticipating some twists, I found genuine enjoyment in the unfolding of the ending. The author's ability to blend the historical and contemporary elements added a unique charm to the narrative, making it a gratifying read overall.

Thanks @Netgalley and @ Union Square & Co. for the gifted eARC.1 Markita_Reads268 11

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