The Brook Ridge Falls Retirement Center is still reeling over the death of one of their own when Lexy and her senior detective friends are asked to investigate another murder. Muriel Maguire insists that her grandson, Henry, has been framed for the murder of his wife, but the clues all point to Henry, and the police already have him in custody. The suspect list is long, including members of the … members of the victim’s family who have a very unusual and suspicious profession. Too bad the husband had motive and his alibi is flimsy. Is he guilty, or is he being framed?
When the investigation leads them to a mysterious woman, the case takes a curious twist, and a contact inside the prison reveals stunning information that turns the case on its head. Plus, there is one odd clue the police have overlooked—a corn muffin.
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I only read through chapter 8, but I don’t care who the killer is, or who the next victim was. Here is why…
Terrible Questions:
“He looked down [at a photo of his murdered wife] and grimaced, clearly affected by the sight of his wife’s body. Was he saddened about it, or did he feel guilty because he’d caused it?”
This is a common type of thing for Lexy to think. Every expression makes her wonder idiotic things (through every book I’ve read). Was the suspect suspicious of their visit, or was he/she worried a foot would show behind the couch? That’s only a mild exaggeration. It becomes maddening very quickly!
Doubtful Baker:
One pastry box contained: an almond crescent, a bran muffin, and a snickerdoodle. If you know anything about certain baked goods, you know that putting them in the same box is a big mistake. Even in a short while, crescents pick up flavors from other foods. I don’t know any woman personally who would put these three things together–unless they were only to be eaten by ravenous teen boys–or even then!
A baker said that sugar crystals would have to be sprinkled on cornmeal muffins just out of the oven to stick. Baking gives my cornbread a smooth hard crust. The only way to make sugar crystals stick would be to brush the tops with something like butter. (Even cupcakes should have a dry top immediately out of the oven.)
The word “pastries” is listed 21 times in the first 7 chapters, “pastry” only 6 times. She is incapable of using a synonym.
This just isn’t the book series for me. I enjoy some quirkiness, but Lexy and the senior ladies (yes, still flexible because of yoga, we are repeatedly told) think, act, and talk like children. They squirm in their seats, shout out accusations, debate guilt with no information or “clues” worth noting, point things out because they think everyone may have forgotten in the last 20 minutes or so, get dreamy over some creepy guy with “nice eyes,” and devour pastries which one woman insists they have for every coffee break and meeting. Some things can be cute on occasion, but not on a continuous loop.
I can’t justify the pain of reading any more of these. I’ll have to add the series to my Do Not Buy list and remember to check it when I see a pink book cover with a cutesy title.
Lexi, and the gang–Nans and her friends–are back. This time they’re trying to determine if the police arrested the right person in a murder. Nans’ neighbor, Muriel, asks for her help to prove her grandson, Henry didn’t kill his wife. The main clue the ladies have to work with is a corn muffin! There was a box of corn muffins on the kitchen counter and Henry says they weren’t there earlier that day when he went to work at the hospital.
While investigating who else could have killed Henry’s wife, one of the suspects the ladies planned to question is found dead! Did the same person kill both of them? Did the recently deceased kill Henry’s wife, so there are two murderers?
In order to find the bakery where this particular type of corn muffin was sold the ladies have to visit the other bakeries in town. These geriatric women should all have clogged arteries and diabetes from the amount of pastries they consume. They (especially Ida) can really put them away, and I don’t think yoga burns that many calories. Reading about all the trips to the bakery made me hungry. LOL
Of course Lexy, Nan and the other ladies solve the case. This is a fun, light cozy mystery to enjoy in an afternoon. I own my own ebook but borrowed the audiobook from my library through the Hoopla app so I could listen to it while getting things done.
Just an easy read
Nice easy, light reading
I love the humor that this group of ladies living in a retirement center add to the intriguing mystery. These books are well written, fun, full of adventure and twists. There is no sex or language. I so recommend them.
Love the series
Loved the book
I really enjoy her books they are so amusing and entertaining.
Just that it was easy to read and follow. No confusing characters.
I like the series and Lexi.
Lexy and her grandmother Nan’s circle of friends are at it again. The ladies bring different skills to solving crimes. Plus, they all love Lexy’s pastries which she bakes at her shop. Although the crime is supposedly solved at the beginning of the story, the accused’s grandmother believes in his innocence and they set out to find out the truth.
Love
Always a pleasure to read one of Leighann Dobbs books. Time flies!!
The whole series is enjoyable.
Light reading when I don’t want something too deep.. Our world is in so much pain at this time that light hearted is needed a lot of evenings.
I really enjoy Nans and her detective friends! They make the story fun.
I enjoy this writer but found myself getting a bit tired of the constant focus on “snacks”
I enjoyed this book ,as well as this authors other books Great story and good author
Lexy and her senior crew are always fun to read.
The ladies at the retirement center can find the evil doers …. if they don’t get distracted by the bakery products available. Somehow they manage to stay alive … example: faster than the speeding bullets are their purse shields. Funny.