The Last Parakeet – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Last Parakeet

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

58%

WISE Score

5.0

Amazon

A boozy, 1969 Poconos noir where the 'summer of love' meets a cold-blooded mystery and a detective's personal rock bottom.

The Last Parakeet

book

2019

58%

WISE Score

5.0

Amazon

A boozy, 1969 Poconos noir where the 'summer of love' meets a cold-blooded mystery and a detective's personal rock bottom.

5.0

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Screenwise Verdict

If you're looking for a bedtime story about a bird, keep moving. This is a whiskey-soaked mystery for parents who want a gritty, atmospheric escape after the kids are in bed.

It’s got a solid 'True Detective' energy but set in a 1960s Pennsylvania resort. The writing is evocative and the setting is the real star here, capturing that weird, transient energy of a summer destination. It’s not 'fun'—it’s a 'bum stew' of tragedy and mystery—but it’s a compelling choice for fans of historical noir who don't mind a protagonist who is falling apart at the seams.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults (17+). Despite the title sounding like a picture book, it's a noir mystery about murder, addiction, and the darker side of the 1960s.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The story centers on an alcoholic detective, sociopathic playboys, and the suspicious death of a young girl. It's a 'bum stew' of sinners and lost souls, which makes for a gritty mystery but definitely not a wholesome family read.

Imaginative

The author builds a vivid 'summer mountain vortex' at a Poconos inn during the 1969 moon landing. The mix of foreign students, vagabonds, and local color creates a unique, atmospheric setting that feels more textured than your average procedural.

Safe

As an adult mystery, it's 'safe' for its intended audience—there are no surprise interactive risks or manipulative hooks. However, the title might trick a parent into thinking it's a kids' book about a bird, when it's actually a noir thriller about murder and addiction.

Enriching

It offers a deep dive into a specific slice of 1960s Americana and the internal struggle of a man trying to find a turning point in his life. It’s more of a character study than just a 'whodunit.'

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Strong sense of place that captures the 1969 Poconos vibe perfectly.
A gritty, realistic look at the 'lost souls' and misfits who populate resort towns.
The backdrop of the moon landing adds a layer of historical weight to the personal tragedies.
Explores the 'chemical force' of a specific time and place that changes people forever.

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What to Watch For

Heavy themes of alcoholism and self-destruction in the protagonist.
The plot revolves around the suspicious death of a young woman on a work visa.
Characters include 'sociopathic playboys' and 'roving miscreants,' so expect some dark social dynamics.

Conversation Starters

"Does the detective's alcoholism make him better or worse at his job?"
"How did the 1969 setting, with the moon landing and cultural shifts, influence the 'vortex' at the inn?"
"Why do you think the author chose a parakeet for the title of a murder mystery?"

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