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Miss Julia #8
Miss Julia Strikes Back
America's favorite "Woman of a Certain Age" takes the law into her own hands when a band of jewel thieves targets her town
It's lonely and boring in Miss Julia's normally boisterous town, what with husband Sam off on a long-planned tour of Russia and Hazel Marie vacationing in Mexico with Mr. Pickens. After inviting twenty-five of her closest friends to a party in her home, Miss Julia discovers that she's been robbed - her jewelry, including her engagement ring (a perfect replica of Princess Diana's), is missing!
According to the police, this is not the first time the town has been the target of thieves, but Miss Julia is determined to make it the last. Packing Little Lloyd into the car, Miss Julia heads to Palm Beach for sun, sand, and a stakeout. With Etta Mae Wiggins along for the ride and a positively sodden PI on retainer, it's only a matter of time before they get their men.
Miss Julia Strikes Back will delight Ann Ross's growing legion of fans and will be the perfect gift for Mother's Day, or any day.
It's lonely and boring in Miss Julia's normally boisterous town, what with husband Sam off on a long-planned tour of Russia and Hazel Marie vacationing in Mexico with Mr. Pickens. After inviting twenty-five of her closest friends to a party in her home, Miss Julia discovers that she's been robbed - her jewelry, including her engagement ring (a perfect replica of Princess Diana's), is missing!
According to the police, this is not the first time the town has been the target of thieves, but Miss Julia is determined to make it the last. Packing Little Lloyd into the car, Miss Julia heads to Palm Beach for sun, sand, and a stakeout. With Etta Mae Wiggins along for the ride and a positively sodden PI on retainer, it's only a matter of time before they get their men.
Miss Julia Strikes Back will delight Ann Ross's growing legion of fans and will be the perfect gift for Mother's Day, or any day.
339 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
230 people are currently reading
1145 people want to read
About the author
Ann B. Ross
61 books937 followersAnn B. Ross, who taught literature at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, is the author of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, one of the most popular Southern debut novels in years, Miss Julia Takes Over, Miss Julia Throws a Wedding, and Miss Julia Hits the Road. She lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
January 20, 2010
This is the funniest Miss Julia book yet.
March 5, 2020
Quite funny, especially if you have friends or relatives from the south! Miss Julia kept me amused throughout the book.
I just did a re-read. I was ill and this was the perfect entertainment while resting. My favorite scene is when Miss Julia and Lloyd go to a Target store to shop for clothes. This wildly improbable story is one of my "Miss Julia" favorites!
3/20 A re-read. Sometimes this series is just what I want. Pure entertainment.
I just did a re-read. I was ill and this was the perfect entertainment while resting. My favorite scene is when Miss Julia and Lloyd go to a Target store to shop for clothes. This wildly improbable story is one of my "Miss Julia" favorites!
3/20 A re-read. Sometimes this series is just what I want. Pure entertainment.
September 7, 2017
As Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross opens, Miss Julia discovers that her wedding ring and engagement ring are missing. Upon talking to her friend in the police, she learns that the theft is likely the work of a criminal gang that has been working several states. Determined not to leave this matter to the police, Miss Julia drives with Little Lloyd, now promoted to Lloyd, three days to Florida, where the gang reportedly hangs out, to hire Frank Tuttle, a private investigator whom her friend uses. Upon arriving in Palm Beach, Miss Julia finds Mr. Tuttle, but he is in a bar, dead drunk at noon. When he faints, the pair have to drag him out of the bar and end up calling, Etta Mae Wiggins, a nurse friend of Lloyd’s mother to fly down to Florida to help them.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
April 29, 2021
One of my favs so far! Helps that I lived in West Palm Beach and house sat on Palm Beach many moons ago.
“It behooves a caring wife to shield her husband from matters that would only serve to distress and disturb him. Besides what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him....
“It behooves a caring wife to shield her husband from matters that would only serve to distress and disturb him. Besides what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him....
May 22, 2018
Miss Julia dithers a bit less in this book and I enjoyed that. Again, lots of action and fun. I'm eager to read the next installments!
March 29, 2022
Loved the scene between Miss Julia and Etta Mae at the front door of the thieves' house
October 22, 2014
"Miss Julia Strikes Back" by Ann B. Ross.
Miss Julia has her friends over for a dinner party. The party is over as soon as Miss Julia discovers she's been robbed. All of her most treasured keepsakes are missing. She learns that she isn't the only one in town who has been robbed either.
Well Miss Julia's mind is made up. She isn't going to take this lying down and soon enlists the aide of an investigator of sorts. This finally ends up with her rag tag gang of friends along with the P.I. on a stake out. That's when all heck breaks loose.
I've enjoyed this book and this series. It's a marvelous cozy with the same charming group of friends I've come to expect.
I listened to this on CD narrated by Cynthia Darlow who did an excellent job of bringing life to each character.
Miss Julia has her friends over for a dinner party. The party is over as soon as Miss Julia discovers she's been robbed. All of her most treasured keepsakes are missing. She learns that she isn't the only one in town who has been robbed either.
Well Miss Julia's mind is made up. She isn't going to take this lying down and soon enlists the aide of an investigator of sorts. This finally ends up with her rag tag gang of friends along with the P.I. on a stake out. That's when all heck breaks loose.
I've enjoyed this book and this series. It's a marvelous cozy with the same charming group of friends I've come to expect.
I listened to this on CD narrated by Cynthia Darlow who did an excellent job of bringing life to each character.
March 18, 2018
This eighth in the series is the one I’ve enjoyed the most so far. Sam is away when Julia is burgled, and so are Hazel Marie and Mr. Pickens. Miss Julia hares off to Florida after the thieves, with Lloyd and Etta Mae Wiggins, picking up Frank Tuttle, a drunken detective friend of Mr. Pickens, on the way.
Then Julia takes the law into her own hands and tries to recover her stolen jewellery from under the noses of the thieves and the FBI . . . and, of course, cure Mr. Tuttle of his drinking problem at the same time.
Then Julia takes the law into her own hands and tries to recover her stolen jewellery from under the noses of the thieves and the FBI . . . and, of course, cure Mr. Tuttle of his drinking problem at the same time.
August 12, 2019
one of her best!! loved it. especially her interactions with mr tuttle.
September 8, 2023
Audiobook
June 17, 2017
A must-read for summer! Light mysteries with memorable characters.
July 23, 2014
Love the Miss Julia series and this one is a particular favorite. Sam is in Russia and Hazel Marie won a trip to the Caribbean so Miss Julia has very little to do. She has some friends over and when they are gone, she realizes that her wedding set and Hazel Marie's jewelry have been stolen. Determined to retrieve her custom made engagement ring before Sam finds out, she buys a big car, picks up Lloyd from school, and they head to Florida to engage a friend of Mr. Pickens, also a private detective. The description of some of the scenes in this have me, even after 2 readings, howling with laughter as I can just see the images in my mind. Miss Julia enlists the aid of Etta Mae Wiggins and the development of their friendship is interesting.
This series is fun, enlightening, uplifting, and generally feel-good stuff. It is light but well developed and very well written. Be prepared to laugh out loud with this one.
This series is fun, enlightening, uplifting, and generally feel-good stuff. It is light but well developed and very well written. Be prepared to laugh out loud with this one.
December 4, 2011
This one was a “page turner.” Despite Miss Julia, Lloyd, and Etta Mae going after sophisticated jewel thieves in Florida, it’s still a light and pleasant tale. She manages to parse little sermons while handling crises such as a stinking, vomiting drunk on her bed, or a lamentable need to wear green polyester pants with some spandex in them. All these circumstances are beneath her, but she does what she has to do. Reality takes it in the shins here, but I enjoyed it. A great culmination scene in a parking lot full of tourists, SUV’s, and hundred dollar bills.
An observation about the numbering of these volumes: I believe this one should come before the “School of Beauty,” and I wonder if there has been a mixup. This story should come first due the the detail of a certain red car.
An observation about the numbering of these volumes: I believe this one should come before the “School of Beauty,” and I wonder if there has been a mixup. This story should come first due the the detail of a certain red car.
April 24, 2018
Really disappointed in this Miss Julia book. Maybe it was because of the audio by a woman, with a very unpleasant voice, very uppity sounding, but, Miss Julia definitely left her manners in Abbotsville, when she took off for Palm Beach, FL. She was pushy, and rude to all she dealt with. She ordered a full size car, and told him if he couldn't have it over to her house, in a mere hour or so, she wasn't going to buy it. She was rude to the PI, and her friend. Not sure I'm going to be visiting Miss Julia again. Gave it a 2.
May 10, 2025
Miss Julia Strikes Back seems to be just a hair less interesting than the earlier books in the Miss Julia Mystery Series, perhaps because there are fewer characters to deal with. But, on the other hand, it showcases the true essence of Miss Julia more than any of the others so far.
Miss Julia’s wedding and engagement rings suddenly turn up missing. When she looks further, she discovers that most of Heather Marie’s jewelry has gone missing too, so she’s not just losing her mind. A check with local law enforcement – Police Detective Coleman Bates, Miss Julia’s former lodger – reveals that the police are beginning to suspect that a ring of jewelry thieves may have been at work in Abbotsville and surrounding towns.
Miss Julia decides she doesn’t want to wait for the outcome of a police investigation and trial to get her rings back. She decides to hire a private detective. But like Heather Marie, her friend, Mr. Pickens, Miss Julia’s preferred investigator since he retrieved Heather Marie from kidnappers earlier, appears to be out of town. So who can they use?
They settle on Mr. Frank Tuttle, a friend of Mr. Pickens who, it seems, Mr. Pickens has had to bail out of some kind of trouble on more than one occasion. Miss Julia and Lillian don’t know even his name, but Lloyd (they have decided he is getting too grown-up to be ‘little Lloyd’ any longer) remembers not only the name but that he lives in West Palm Beach, near where the headquarters of the ring of thieves is suspected of being.
When the first attempt to contact Mr. Tuttle fails, Miss Julia determines that she and Lloyd will have to travel to Florida to get in touch with him themselves, leaving Lillian at Miss Julia’s house to deflect any calls from Sam (who is in Russia) or Hazel Marie (who is in Mexico – good thing this took place several years ago)d. So they travel through a Carolina mountain snowstorm and Florida heat and finally they eventually locate Mr. Tuttle dissolved in alcohol in a stripper bar. It’s not pretty. But they do eventually manage to get him sober again.
In the meantime, Miss Julia realizes she needs reinforcements to handle such a difficult employee.
The only other person she and Lloyd can think of who might be free to help is Etta Mae Wiggins. It’s not as hard as it probably should be to convince Etta Mae to fly down and help them manage Mr. Tuttle. But her experience as a home health aide makes her a useful ally.
As she did the first time she worked with Mr. Pickens, Miss Julia insists on personally coming along with Mr. Tuttle on most of his operations trying to locate the jewel thieves. Surprisingly, when he is sober, Mr. Tuttle turns out to be a pretty good detective after all. He has the thieves located within two days of their first meeting.
They run into a little trouble trying to keep track of the thieves after that because the FBI has them under surveillance at the same time. But Miss Julia’s idea of how to get in to see their base is truly a Miss Julia original. And with a little assistance from Etta Mae, they soon have the information they need.
After a hair-raising chase once the thieves have tried to escape before either Miss Julia’s group or the FBI can move in on them, it looks heartbreakingly as if they have already turned all the jewelry into cash – until Miss Julia’s determined examination of every one of their bags turns up the little haul from Abbotsville in the last remaining bag.
Once they have returned home, Mr. Tuttle surprisingly agrees to Miss Julia’s suggestions for his reform, even going so far as joining her church.
Miss Julia’s wedding and engagement rings suddenly turn up missing. When she looks further, she discovers that most of Heather Marie’s jewelry has gone missing too, so she’s not just losing her mind. A check with local law enforcement – Police Detective Coleman Bates, Miss Julia’s former lodger – reveals that the police are beginning to suspect that a ring of jewelry thieves may have been at work in Abbotsville and surrounding towns.
Miss Julia decides she doesn’t want to wait for the outcome of a police investigation and trial to get her rings back. She decides to hire a private detective. But like Heather Marie, her friend, Mr. Pickens, Miss Julia’s preferred investigator since he retrieved Heather Marie from kidnappers earlier, appears to be out of town. So who can they use?
They settle on Mr. Frank Tuttle, a friend of Mr. Pickens who, it seems, Mr. Pickens has had to bail out of some kind of trouble on more than one occasion. Miss Julia and Lillian don’t know even his name, but Lloyd (they have decided he is getting too grown-up to be ‘little Lloyd’ any longer) remembers not only the name but that he lives in West Palm Beach, near where the headquarters of the ring of thieves is suspected of being.
When the first attempt to contact Mr. Tuttle fails, Miss Julia determines that she and Lloyd will have to travel to Florida to get in touch with him themselves, leaving Lillian at Miss Julia’s house to deflect any calls from Sam (who is in Russia) or Hazel Marie (who is in Mexico – good thing this took place several years ago)d. So they travel through a Carolina mountain snowstorm and Florida heat and finally they eventually locate Mr. Tuttle dissolved in alcohol in a stripper bar. It’s not pretty. But they do eventually manage to get him sober again.
In the meantime, Miss Julia realizes she needs reinforcements to handle such a difficult employee.
The only other person she and Lloyd can think of who might be free to help is Etta Mae Wiggins. It’s not as hard as it probably should be to convince Etta Mae to fly down and help them manage Mr. Tuttle. But her experience as a home health aide makes her a useful ally.
As she did the first time she worked with Mr. Pickens, Miss Julia insists on personally coming along with Mr. Tuttle on most of his operations trying to locate the jewel thieves. Surprisingly, when he is sober, Mr. Tuttle turns out to be a pretty good detective after all. He has the thieves located within two days of their first meeting.
They run into a little trouble trying to keep track of the thieves after that because the FBI has them under surveillance at the same time. But Miss Julia’s idea of how to get in to see their base is truly a Miss Julia original. And with a little assistance from Etta Mae, they soon have the information they need.
After a hair-raising chase once the thieves have tried to escape before either Miss Julia’s group or the FBI can move in on them, it looks heartbreakingly as if they have already turned all the jewelry into cash – until Miss Julia’s determined examination of every one of their bags turns up the little haul from Abbotsville in the last remaining bag.
Once they have returned home, Mr. Tuttle surprisingly agrees to Miss Julia’s suggestions for his reform, even going so far as joining her church.
March 14, 2024
This is a light and entertaining read; and, I think, the best book so far in the series. It has strayed into the realm of slapstick, exaggerated camp, or outlandish comedy (think Lucille Ball). Miss Julia continues to be bossy, stubborn, condescending, prim, proper, feisty, and sharp-tongued. When she makes up her mind to do something, nothing can stop her which is the premise of this book. Lillian convinces Miss Julia that it's time to stop calling Little Lloyd "Little" because "he gettin' to be a big boy now" so in this book he is now called Lloyd.
Sam and Miss Julia have been married for six months now when he goes off to Russia on a trip which he planned before he and Miss Julia were married. And Hazel Marie won a trip to Mexico and is also gone. Mr. Pickens is no where to be found, and Miss Julia suspects that he is with Hazel Marie. So Miss Julia decides to invite 25 of her closest friends over for morning coffee to lift her spirits. The next morning she gets up and discovers her engagement ring (a replica of Princess Diana's) and wedding ring are missing from where she put them on Sunday after church. Some of Hazel Marie's good jewelry are also missing. Could somebody from her party have taken them? Mildred Allen calls and announces she has been robbed of her irreplaceable jewelry as well, while at the party. Miss Julia does not want the police involved, because if they find her jewelry they would keep it indefinitely until a trial - she must have them back now before Sam finds out. Instead she calls her friend Sergeant Coleman Bates. He informs her there's been a string of jewelry heists with an MO pretty much like hers all over the Southwest. He mentions that the latest focus on this type of robberies is in Palm Beach.
So Miss Julia is off and running. She buys a new car, picks up Lloyd at school and heads for Florida. They leave Abbotsville in a snowstorm and arrive in Florida to hot and steamy weather. Mr. Pickens had once told her he has a PI friend in West Palm Beach named Mr. Frank Tuttle. Miss Julia needs Mr. Tuttle to help her track down her jewelry before it's sold or worse. Lillian is left at home in case Sam or Hazel Marie calls. She's to tell them nothing except that Miss Julia is out. Etta Mae Wiggins stops by before she leaves and offers to help in any way she can. So ready to light a fire under Mr. Tuttle, she finally locates him dead drunk in a sleazy bar. It turns out he's an alcoholic. Knowing she needs help in sobering him up and setting him on the straight path to recovery, she calls and asks Etta Mae to join her in Florida. The "romp" begins.
Some of the funnier situations Miss Julia finds herself in include:
- The many attempts at sobering up Mr. Tuttle. They don't dare leave him alone.
- Miss Julia and Etta Mae knock on the door of the suspected thieves' house to give out bibles as a cover to snoop. Etta Mae has a "spell" to get them in the door.
- Miss Julia and Lloyd shopping in a Walmart to find some "casual" clothes. Check out the bright green, above the ankle, flared pants with thick soled sandals to complete the outfit on Miss Julia.
- Miss Julia, Etta Mae, Lloyd, and an exasperated Mr. Tuttle on a dangerous stake-out.
- The climax takes place at a truck stop parking lot with Etta Mae as a decoy while Miss Julia searches for her jewelry in an SUV. Flying money everywhere causes a distraction for her get-away. And what was Etta Mae doing under that SUV that made her look crampy and bent over later?
Miss Julia finds herself in several tight and dangerous situations in this book, but manages to somehow get out of them. To her "When you live right and do right, why, things just workout for you." It's good that she brought Lloyd along, because he becomes the voice of reason and useful suggestions while she is flying off the handle. Etta Mae's character is fleshed out and she's a delight. I just wish Miss Julia would tone down the prim, proper and tongue lashings.
Sam and Miss Julia have been married for six months now when he goes off to Russia on a trip which he planned before he and Miss Julia were married. And Hazel Marie won a trip to Mexico and is also gone. Mr. Pickens is no where to be found, and Miss Julia suspects that he is with Hazel Marie. So Miss Julia decides to invite 25 of her closest friends over for morning coffee to lift her spirits. The next morning she gets up and discovers her engagement ring (a replica of Princess Diana's) and wedding ring are missing from where she put them on Sunday after church. Some of Hazel Marie's good jewelry are also missing. Could somebody from her party have taken them? Mildred Allen calls and announces she has been robbed of her irreplaceable jewelry as well, while at the party. Miss Julia does not want the police involved, because if they find her jewelry they would keep it indefinitely until a trial - she must have them back now before Sam finds out. Instead she calls her friend Sergeant Coleman Bates. He informs her there's been a string of jewelry heists with an MO pretty much like hers all over the Southwest. He mentions that the latest focus on this type of robberies is in Palm Beach.
So Miss Julia is off and running. She buys a new car, picks up Lloyd at school and heads for Florida. They leave Abbotsville in a snowstorm and arrive in Florida to hot and steamy weather. Mr. Pickens had once told her he has a PI friend in West Palm Beach named Mr. Frank Tuttle. Miss Julia needs Mr. Tuttle to help her track down her jewelry before it's sold or worse. Lillian is left at home in case Sam or Hazel Marie calls. She's to tell them nothing except that Miss Julia is out. Etta Mae Wiggins stops by before she leaves and offers to help in any way she can. So ready to light a fire under Mr. Tuttle, she finally locates him dead drunk in a sleazy bar. It turns out he's an alcoholic. Knowing she needs help in sobering him up and setting him on the straight path to recovery, she calls and asks Etta Mae to join her in Florida. The "romp" begins.
Some of the funnier situations Miss Julia finds herself in include:
- The many attempts at sobering up Mr. Tuttle. They don't dare leave him alone.
- Miss Julia and Etta Mae knock on the door of the suspected thieves' house to give out bibles as a cover to snoop. Etta Mae has a "spell" to get them in the door.
- Miss Julia and Lloyd shopping in a Walmart to find some "casual" clothes. Check out the bright green, above the ankle, flared pants with thick soled sandals to complete the outfit on Miss Julia.
- Miss Julia, Etta Mae, Lloyd, and an exasperated Mr. Tuttle on a dangerous stake-out.
- The climax takes place at a truck stop parking lot with Etta Mae as a decoy while Miss Julia searches for her jewelry in an SUV. Flying money everywhere causes a distraction for her get-away. And what was Etta Mae doing under that SUV that made her look crampy and bent over later?
Miss Julia finds herself in several tight and dangerous situations in this book, but manages to somehow get out of them. To her "When you live right and do right, why, things just workout for you." It's good that she brought Lloyd along, because he becomes the voice of reason and useful suggestions while she is flying off the handle. Etta Mae's character is fleshed out and she's a delight. I just wish Miss Julia would tone down the prim, proper and tongue lashings.
December 25, 2020
Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross is the 8th book of the Miss Julia series set in contemporary small-town North Carolina. It's January, and Miss Julia is lonely and bored. Sam is on a long-planned trip to Russia, Hazel Marie on a trip to Mexico she won in a contest (but Miss Julia is convinced she's on a romantic tryst with Mr. Pickens). To stave off loneliness, Miss Julia hosts a party for "25 of her closest friends". Next day, she's horror-stricken to discover her engagement and wedding rings are gone. So is Hazel Marie's jewelry. Miss Julia's friend Matilda calls with the news that her jewelry was stolen while she was at Miss Julia's party.
Miss Julia's friend and former boarder Sergeant Coleman Bates tells her there has been a spree of thefts across the country. A federal task force has traced the thieves to West Palm Beach. He counsels patience and hope for recovery of her property.
Well I'm here to tell you, Miss Julia doesn't have a lick of patience. She tells her dear friend and housekeeper Lillian, "even if law enforcement got around to doing their jobs, and caught the thieves, my rings would be held as evidence." Not acceptable to Miss Julia. She wants action. But who will help, with Mr. Pickens off gallivanting with Hazel Marie?
Miss Julia remembers Mr. Pickens has visited a friend who is a private eye in West Palm Beach. Her attempts to reach him by phone are foiled by a receptionist who merely asks her to leave a message, then hangs up when Miss Julia insists on bringing him to the phone. Miss Julia decides: for the job to get done, she'll have to do it herself.
And she does, in her funniest and most madcap adventure yet. She takes off for Florida with Lloyd, never mind the heavy snowstorm. When they get to Mr. Tuttle's office they face an unexpected challenge. She whips him into shape, then enlists Etta Mae Wiggins as a co-conspirator. When Tuttle makes very little progress, urging caution and patience, Miss Julia and Etta Mae take matters into their own hands, with remarkable success. Etta Mae is an unlikely partner in this caper, since Miss Julia has long imagined Etta Mae has designs on Sam. But together they are daring and effective. A great romp.
Miss Julia's friend and former boarder Sergeant Coleman Bates tells her there has been a spree of thefts across the country. A federal task force has traced the thieves to West Palm Beach. He counsels patience and hope for recovery of her property.
Well I'm here to tell you, Miss Julia doesn't have a lick of patience. She tells her dear friend and housekeeper Lillian, "even if law enforcement got around to doing their jobs, and caught the thieves, my rings would be held as evidence." Not acceptable to Miss Julia. She wants action. But who will help, with Mr. Pickens off gallivanting with Hazel Marie?
Miss Julia remembers Mr. Pickens has visited a friend who is a private eye in West Palm Beach. Her attempts to reach him by phone are foiled by a receptionist who merely asks her to leave a message, then hangs up when Miss Julia insists on bringing him to the phone. Miss Julia decides: for the job to get done, she'll have to do it herself.
And she does, in her funniest and most madcap adventure yet. She takes off for Florida with Lloyd, never mind the heavy snowstorm. When they get to Mr. Tuttle's office they face an unexpected challenge. She whips him into shape, then enlists Etta Mae Wiggins as a co-conspirator. When Tuttle makes very little progress, urging caution and patience, Miss Julia and Etta Mae take matters into their own hands, with remarkable success. Etta Mae is an unlikely partner in this caper, since Miss Julia has long imagined Etta Mae has designs on Sam. But together they are daring and effective. A great romp.
August 26, 2021
I was so glad to see that Etta Mae and Miss Julia were able to have an adventure together! I often did not like how judgmental Miss Julia was of Etta Mae. I felt that she often cast Etta Mae as a promiscuous lady before actually getting to know her. I will say this book is somewhat unbelievable in the fact that Miss Julia happened to find her exact bag of jewels right in Florida all based on a couple words from Sergeant Coleman happening to recall a couple of jewelry thefts happening in Florida. Also, I'm telling you now that I don't know anyone that would hop on a plane based on a whim. Nor would I also hop in the backseat of a known jewelry burglar who may or may not have a gun all for a couple of jewels. I also am really curious to know how Etta Mae did come across her new car. Did she really grab a couple dollars when the opportunity arose? I really want Miss Julia to see Etta Mae in a much better light. She changed her opinion of Hazel Marie didn't she? Another thing I would love to know is how did the jewel thieves break into Mildred Allen and Miss Julia's houses? Also, it seems like whoever did break into the houses had to have some inside information. In addition, Florida is by no means a hop, skip, and a jump from North Carolina. So why go to the trouble to hijack small towns for jewels that are more than a couple hours from your house? You would also have to be paying real close attention to these small towns to notice in the newspaper to recognize these quality jewels. To top off this review, can't wait to read more about this mystery man Etta Mae calls her "deputy friend" who is not Coleman Bates. Can't wait till the next book!
September 3, 2021
Another fun Miss Julia Romp!
There are times I just want to haul off and bop Miss Julia (Mrs. Sam Murdoch) for being bossy, condescending, stubborn and short-sighted…but then I wind up laughing because she’s exactly those things and still manages to untangle herself from sticky situations. This novel was no exception - if I had been Mr. Tuttle, the private detective she so relentlessly bosses around while searching for the jewelry stolen from her, I would have told her - in no uncertain terms - to get lost. But, fortunately for us readers, Mr. Tuttle just grumbles and gets on with things.
In this novel, Miss Julia’s most prized and beloved possessions - her engagement and wedding rings - are stolen early on in the novel, prompting her and Little Loyd and Etta Mae Wiggins to track down the thieves and recover the loot.
Ann B. Ross’s characters are at once familiar (we’ve all known a Miss Julia, I suspect) and enjoyable (even when you want to bop Miss Julia). Ms. Ross has the knack of drawing the reader in and becoming a part of Miss Julia’s antics.
All in all, a fun read. Well done, Miss Julia! And thank you, Ann B. Ross, for lifting my spirits whenever I follow wherever you and Miss Julia decide to lead me.
There are times I just want to haul off and bop Miss Julia (Mrs. Sam Murdoch) for being bossy, condescending, stubborn and short-sighted…but then I wind up laughing because she’s exactly those things and still manages to untangle herself from sticky situations. This novel was no exception - if I had been Mr. Tuttle, the private detective she so relentlessly bosses around while searching for the jewelry stolen from her, I would have told her - in no uncertain terms - to get lost. But, fortunately for us readers, Mr. Tuttle just grumbles and gets on with things.
In this novel, Miss Julia’s most prized and beloved possessions - her engagement and wedding rings - are stolen early on in the novel, prompting her and Little Loyd and Etta Mae Wiggins to track down the thieves and recover the loot.
Ann B. Ross’s characters are at once familiar (we’ve all known a Miss Julia, I suspect) and enjoyable (even when you want to bop Miss Julia). Ms. Ross has the knack of drawing the reader in and becoming a part of Miss Julia’s antics.
All in all, a fun read. Well done, Miss Julia! And thank you, Ann B. Ross, for lifting my spirits whenever I follow wherever you and Miss Julia decide to lead me.
April 8, 2018
I haven't checked in with Miss Julia for awhile so I had forgotten her engagement ring from her wonderful 2nd husband Sam is a duplicate of the one Princess Diana wore in happier times. The sapphire and diamond ring, along with her wedding band and some of her housemate, Hazel Marie's trinkets also disappear.
Since the redoubtable Miss Julia quickly dismisses any thought she is growing senile and feeble. She decides she was robbed and decides to take off to catch the robbers and rescue her belongings. That leads her to Palm Beach with Little Lloyd and Etta Mae Wiggins as her posse plus a local private instigator.
Very slow, I almost gave up on it since Sam is in Russia and Hazel Marie has taken a trip to Mexico with her boyfriend. They're great foils for when main character Miss Julia gets too high and mighty and never fail to reign her in with love and humor.
It is preposterous and unbelievable but the part where Miss Julia first visits a Target and tries on "totally in appropriate" clothes including pants and sandals is hilarious.
Since the redoubtable Miss Julia quickly dismisses any thought she is growing senile and feeble. She decides she was robbed and decides to take off to catch the robbers and rescue her belongings. That leads her to Palm Beach with Little Lloyd and Etta Mae Wiggins as her posse plus a local private instigator.
Very slow, I almost gave up on it since Sam is in Russia and Hazel Marie has taken a trip to Mexico with her boyfriend. They're great foils for when main character Miss Julia gets too high and mighty and never fail to reign her in with love and humor.
It is preposterous and unbelievable but the part where Miss Julia first visits a Target and tries on "totally in appropriate" clothes including pants and sandals is hilarious.
February 7, 2022
If you are enough of a fan of Miss Julia to have read 8 books into this series, then I think you’ll enjoy this installment of the series. It is definitely one of Miss Julia’s more outlandish adventures as she heads out of state to track down jewel thieves who made their way through homes in her little North Carolina town.
This book represents the point in time where Miss Julia finally strikes up a friendship with Etta Mae. Julia has been unfairly judgmental toward Etta in the past because of the way she flirts and wraps men around her little finger, but if there is one thing Julia has learned since the death of her husband, it’s that people are not always what they seem on the outside. They may lead very different lives, but these two ladies manage to develop a loyal friendship over time.
One difference in this book from the rest of the series is that we see very little of the normal cast of characters. Other than Julia, Little Lloyd and Etta, we don’t spend time with any of the other characters from their home town. It was a nice break from the norm.
This book represents the point in time where Miss Julia finally strikes up a friendship with Etta Mae. Julia has been unfairly judgmental toward Etta in the past because of the way she flirts and wraps men around her little finger, but if there is one thing Julia has learned since the death of her husband, it’s that people are not always what they seem on the outside. They may lead very different lives, but these two ladies manage to develop a loyal friendship over time.
One difference in this book from the rest of the series is that we see very little of the normal cast of characters. Other than Julia, Little Lloyd and Etta, we don’t spend time with any of the other characters from their home town. It was a nice break from the norm.
March 26, 2025
Audio book version
Took me a little longer to connect with the story and characters than with the other Miss Julia books. But once I got into it, the story was hilarious and addicting.
Julia has been burgled and she is determined to recover her stolen jewelry. Patience is NOT her middle name. She takes it upon herself to hire a private investigator (usually drunk) in Florida where her jewelry might be (she lives in North Carolina). She takes little Lloyd with her and Emma Sue Wiggins also tags along. That Emma Sue definitely earns her reward with Miss Julia. The adventures are very ridiculous but also very plausible. And the descriptions of her escapades...they had me LOL.
Oh my goodness! This would make a great comedy series.
Took me a little longer to connect with the story and characters than with the other Miss Julia books. But once I got into it, the story was hilarious and addicting.
Julia has been burgled and she is determined to recover her stolen jewelry. Patience is NOT her middle name. She takes it upon herself to hire a private investigator (usually drunk) in Florida where her jewelry might be (she lives in North Carolina). She takes little Lloyd with her and Emma Sue Wiggins also tags along. That Emma Sue definitely earns her reward with Miss Julia. The adventures are very ridiculous but also very plausible. And the descriptions of her escapades...they had me LOL.
Oh my goodness! This would make a great comedy series.
April 16, 2019
A decent entry in the series but flawed. There are laugh out loud moments in this book and Miss Julia's softening feeling towards Etta Mae was enjoyable. But what gets old fast is her ceaseless sermonizing. I know Miss Julia is a very common type in the south My Mother was from Georgia I GET it. But her one drink will land you on skid row tirades don't add anything and slow the story down. And the eventual outcome of them is laughably far fetched. I know bible thumping is part of who Miss Julia is but it's done to excess here. The next in the series Miss Julia Paints the town is MUCH better.
August 30, 2020
The Miss Julia Series is tied with The Southern Sisters Mysteries by Anne George and The Cat Who Series by Lilian Jackson Braun for my all time favorite series!! The characters are lovable and once you start reading the first one, you just can’t stop! You are on the edge of your seat dying to know what happens next until you get through every book! I searched for years for another great series like this and I couldn’t be happier to have found this one! A true treasure! There aren’t many great writers that can capture my attention like Ann B. Ross has in this series. Well worth the time! If you’re on audible, the narrator is amazing!
October 7, 2017
This might be my all-time favorite series, ever. My mother was a Southern Presbyterian lady very much like Miss Julia, so I revel in the familiarity of Miss Julia's manners, speech, and philosophy. And I love the predicaments she gets herself into.
I waited far too long in the series to listen to the audiobook. What a treat to listen to Cynthia Darlow. Not only does she have Miss Julia down pat, but every other persona rings true. In this book, the characters of Etta Mae and Mr. Frank Tuttle are particularly well interpreted.
I waited far too long in the series to listen to the audiobook. What a treat to listen to Cynthia Darlow. Not only does she have Miss Julia down pat, but every other persona rings true. In this book, the characters of Etta Mae and Mr. Frank Tuttle are particularly well interpreted.
October 27, 2018
2.5 After a gathering in her home for local ladies, Miss Julia finds her jewelry and Hazel Marie's missing. Both Sam and HM are gone for a week (Russia and Mexico), so after finding out there is a group of thieves stealing jewelry and taking it to Florida to sell/melt down/dispose of. Instead of letting the authorities take care of matters, she pulls Little Lloyd out of school and drives to FL with Etta Mae along to find the jewelry. This is so absurd. The whole scenerio in FL is so not believable and so out of character for Miss Julia. Don't bother.
January 30, 2024
Fun reads
Miss Julia is at it again, but this time was her most dangerous mission yet—recovering jewels stolen from her, Hazel Marie and her friend. This time, Miss Julia and Lloyd drive all the way to Florida to hire Mr. Picken’s friend, Frank Tuttle. Unfortunately, Mr. Tuttle was in no condition to help anyone, so Miss Julia takes him in hand and sets him on the road to sobriety so he can help them (including Etta Mae Wiggins who Miss Julia summoned for help) find the thieves and recover the goods.
Miss Julia is at it again, but this time was her most dangerous mission yet—recovering jewels stolen from her, Hazel Marie and her friend. This time, Miss Julia and Lloyd drive all the way to Florida to hire Mr. Picken’s friend, Frank Tuttle. Unfortunately, Mr. Tuttle was in no condition to help anyone, so Miss Julia takes him in hand and sets him on the road to sobriety so he can help them (including Etta Mae Wiggins who Miss Julia summoned for help) find the thieves and recover the goods.
May 7, 2020
This is my favorite book of this series thus far. Miss Julia surely has a mind of her own. This was a funny, exciting adventure. Etta Mae and Lloyd were great, plus Mr. Tuttle was a mess too. Tuttle was a sloppy mess when Miss Julia found him, but he was a grumbling something during the escapades in Florida. I really enjoyed this story!
June 5, 2021
Miss Julia has been robbed. Her engagement and wedding ring are gone. She finds out that it is a jewellery robbery ring which is hitting small towns and move on quickly before the robberies are noticed. Tracing the criminals she and Little Lloyd head to Florida to get her rings back. Of course she finds herself in the middle trying to catch the bad guys.
January 8, 2022
Man, oh man, this one was a wild ride from start to finish. After her house is robbed and her jewelry taken, Miss Julia, Lloyd, and Etta Mae take off for Florida to track down the thieves and stumble into all kinds of crazy situations. I found myself laughing out loud at this one and cheering them on at the same time.
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