Lisa Jewell one of the few authors that changed genres

I discovered Lisa Jewell when I was single and working out my first manuscript. The book "Thirtynothings" was sold at a Hudson News at Penn Station in Manhattan. Jewell lives in another country and has a different background from me, but I still felt a kinship. She was young, writing about young relationships, jobs and trying to get by. 

She wrote books in rapid succession. I read each one I could get. “One-HIt Wonder” “Vince and Joy”. “Friend of the Family.” 

I read that she got married to her long time boyfriend. A child came shortly thereafter. The books became more family centered. The stories had more twists. Her points of view changed and the angles became bigger. 

There was a gap when I didn’t see new titles. I figured that she lost her muse. She had a family that took time and she became complacent. It happens. 

I wasn’t really right about that. There were issues about bringing the books stateside. Suddenly a rapid-fire succession of books came. She still wrote and changed her genre. Lisa Jewell pulled off a rare feat. Usually writers aren’t allowed to change their brand anymore. Stephen King does horror. Mary Higgins Clark does suspense. They can have subplots of other genres, but you find an author in a certain section of the store. 

Lisa still writes character-driven stories but the stories changed. The rom-com humor isn’t there. It was replaced by neighborhood drama. She became one of the top mystery writers of current times. Her books are best sellers in the United Kingdom and the U.S.

I have more stories to catch up on. I’m happy to see Lisa Jewell back on the bookshelves. 

I just posted a review on Goodreads of "Girls in the Garden."