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20 pages 40 minutes read

Crimes of the Heart

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1982

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Book Brief

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Beth Henley

Crimes of the Heart

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1982
Book Details
Pages

106

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Hazlehurst, Mississippi • 1970s

Theme
Publication Year

1982

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley is a three-act play set in the kitchen of the Magrath sisters' house in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, five years after Hurricane Camille. The story starts on Lenny's thirtieth birthday, centering around an unspecified terrible news involving Babe. The sisters reunite to handle the aftermath of Babe shooting her husband, revealing their struggles with their mother's tragic suicide and father's abandonment. Sensitive topics include suicide and violence.

Humorous

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Emotional

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.2

7,382 ratings

64%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley explores themes of family and resilience with a mix of dark humor and poignant moments. Critics praise its engaging, well-crafted characters and clever dialogue. However, some feel the plot can be predictable and the pacing uneven. Nevertheless, Henley's deft navigation of complex emotions remains a highlight.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Crimes of the Heart?

Readers who enjoy dark humor, Southern Gothic settings, and explorations of family dynamics will appreciate Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart. Fans of Truman Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms or Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire will find similar themes of complex characters and emotional depth.

4.2

7,382 ratings

64%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

106

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Hazlehurst, Mississippi • 1970s

Theme
Publication Year

1982

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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