This short story is one of a series by crime writers, published as standalone stories and in several slightly different anthologies in the US and UK, as Death Sentences: Short Stories to Die For, by a publishing partnership.

Now a successful actor in London, Else has returned to her old school on a remote Scottish island to give a speech. Else’s mother has just died and Else is angry and hurt by her past on the island, in which she and her mum were shunned as outsiders and she was bullied at school.

Else tells her story as a monologue and reveals a plan to seek revenge, and I thought this would be a good listen (I don’t know if it’s available in audio). It’s a good read and obviously I expected there to be a crime/murder theme, but it’ s hard to show/grasp what motivates the characters in such a short piece. ( )

Upon her mother's death, minor actress Else returns to her childhood home on a Scottish isle where she comes face to face with her past. The book involved reminds Else of the torture she endured at the hands of bullies. The writing style did not work for me and made it difficult for me to care what happened to Else or anybody else. ( )

It took me a little while to get into this one - the narrative drops you right into the perspective of a woman who's forced to give a public appearance while she's still in shock after learning of her mother's death - and the feeling is a bit offputting.

However, soon enough, the story hits its stride. Else, our protagonist has returned to her childhood home, a Scottish island, after attaining minor fame as an actress on the 'mainland.' However, her childhood memories are less than happy - she and her mother were treated as pariahs, and it was only out of stubborness that her mother refused to move house.

Now, after her mother's death, Else wonders what really happened all those years ago - as she meets up with both the bully of her school days, and her long-ago first crush.

A short mystery with a few nice twists and turns.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own. ( )

Denise Mina's "Every Seven Years" is a worthy addition to the Bibliomysteries series of short stories about deadly books, all written by top authors for the Mysterious Press. In it the main character reminds us that "the human body renews itself every seven years." Lo and behold, it's been seven years since Else last visited the remote island off the coast of Scotland on which she spent such a miserable childhood. Has she renewed herself?

Now an actress in London, Else is making an appearance on the island when her old nemesis hands her a library book that triggers terrible memories. It's the very same book that made her leave all those years ago, and the only reason why Karen Little gave it to her was to remind her of all the bullying Else had to endure. Or is it?

Mina has written a very quiet, very menacing story in which the reader will definitely side with Else after all the misery she's gone through. Else has a memorable voice, fierce emotions, and the determination never to be bullied again. But the problem with strong emotions and indelible memories is that they can be misleading. Nothing is quite what it seems in "Every Seven Years," and that makes for one very enjoyable ride. ( )