Maureen Lindley author of The Beloveds...a moody mystery about sisters (3 stars)

The Beloveds by author Maureen Lindley is more of a family drama with mystery. Elizabeth Stash, Betty seems to feel unloved due to her mothers' preference for her younger sister. Gloria. She has felt that way since they were children. Betty harbors thoughts of wanting her sister to die. Betty brought her boyfriend Henry home and Gloria steals his eye and they are later married. When Betty's mother dies, she leaves the home and gardens to Gloria and her husband.
Now, this is a travesty for Betty! Betty has always been a loner but loved the big old house she named Pipit, for the birds that used to flock there. Her heart and soul is wrapped up in the spirit of the house and she feels broken and angry when she learns she, the oldest, is not to be the caretaker and owner of her beloved home.
I won't post spoilers for the whole story, but I will post that Betty is a selfish child who grows into a bitter woman. She has one goal, to own Pipits! Noone else matters and she has an arrogant disdain for other people. She is self-absorbed in a disturbing way. The personality of Betty is sad and unlikeable.
Betty rarely has friendly thoughts or friendly feelings for others. She only wants to be left along with the house, Pipits.
So, she starts to plot...how can she be rid of Gloria and Henry from the house?
The descriptions of the plants, flowers, and gardening are the best part of this book for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

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