The Momma Puzzle: A Memoir

I’ve always felt a bit protective of memoirs that tackle heavy subjects, especially those revolving around family secrets and loss. When you pick up a book like Hilary Plattner’s The Momma Puzzle, a memoir that works to unpack the mystery of her mother’s suicide, you might brace yourself for an emotional wallop. And while the book certainly doesn’t shy away from the grief, I was so delightfully surprised by how much light and life Plattner manages to weave through her story. It’s a detective story of the heart, really, and it’s truly wonderful.

Plattner invites us right into her personal quest to understand her mother, a woman she describes as perceptive, loving, and life-affirming, which makes her choice to leave her young children behind all the more baffling. This isn’t a narrative heavy with blame or anguish; instead, it feels like sitting down with a close friend who is showing you a box of old photographs. There’s a gentle curiosity and a determination to see the full, 360-degree picture of a person, not just the one defined by her final act.

What makes this book such a compelling read is Plattner’s skillful approach to the investigation. She’s not just relying on her own childhood memories, which can be slippery and unreliable. She dives deep, interviewing relatives, and, most movingly, poring over decades of letters. These artifacts turn the book into something much more immersive than a simple reflection. We get to watch, in real time, as “momma’s” true voice and personality emerge from the pages of history. It’s a powerful reminder that every life leaves behind a trail of evidence, and sometimes, the kindest thing we can do for the dead is read the whole file.

The structure is reminiscent of a well-paced novel, a genuine testament to Plattner’s clear and engaging writing style. She guides us through the past with such a steady, confident hand, and it keeps the overall tone positive and focused on discovery rather than despair. As a reader, I felt like I was helping her piece together the fragments, the laughs, the small moments of wisdom, the hidden anxieties, that ultimately form the complete woman.

If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t quite finish the puzzle of a loved one’s life, or if you simply appreciate a beautifully told story of complexity and resilience, this book is a must-read. It’s a comforting, affirming reminder that seeking understanding is a crucial part of healing, and that even the most difficult endings can lead to a deeper appreciation of the beginning. The Momma Puzzle is an absolutely lovely and illuminating memoir, and I highly recommend adding it to your reading list.