Death of a Scam Artist

by Mike Befeler

In Death of a Scam Artist, a financial hatchet man who dislikes old people, accepts the job of turning around a failing retirement home and undergoes a life-transforming experience in the world of geezers and geezerettes. He must deal with a suspicious death, a scam, a hit man, an unexpected romance and retired magician Jerry Rhine and his five whacky sidekicks known as the Jerry-atrics. He faces the most important decision of his life when he uncovers the secret behind an unusual murder

250 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2017

About the author

Mike Befeler writes the humorous Paul Jacobson "Geezer Lit" mystery series featuring an ocotgenarian protagonist with short-term memory loss. The series includes: Retirement Homes Are Murder, Living With Your Kids Is Murder, Senior Moments Are Murder, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder, Care Homes Are Murder and Nursing Homes Are Murder. His other books include Unstuff Your Stuff, Death of a Scam Artist, The Tesla Legacy, The Best Chicken Thief in All of Europe, Court Trouble, Murder on the Switzerland Trail, Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse, The V V Agency, The Back Wing, The Front Wing, Paradise Cort, Coronavirus Daze, and Old Detectives Home. Mike retired from the computer data storage industry to write full time. He's past president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

[Sherri Moorer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reginald Bentley III has a problem - his boss has given him a limited amount of time to make the Sunny Crest Retirement Community financially solvent before he closes it to sell it to a developer. As a financial man he believes he has the project well under control - until his first day on the job, when he discovers that a scam artist has been making the rounds with the residents. When the scam artist shows up dead on their loading dock on his second day of the job, it's just the beginning of his problems. Soon, Reggie finds himself confronted with the complexities of running a financially viable facility, dealing with residents leery of a new administrator after the old (pitiful) one suddenly resigned, and the series of shenanagins of Jerry Rhine, the most vocal resident and leader of a group of six senior citizens who call themselves the Jerry-actrics. Problems compound, secrets are revealed, and Reggie finds himself more determined than ever not only to save his career, but to solve a mystery and to save the homes of his 200 residents. Death of a Scam Artist, by Mike Befeler, is a rollicking fun mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the page right until the very end.

This book was just what I needed after several hectic months at my own job! It's a good mystery that's also fun to read, and the characters are so realistic. I remembered my days just out of college volunteering in a retirement ward, and the adventures there that nobody would believe could happen with senior citizens. Life doesn't stop at 65, and this book shows you the reality of how full and fun it can be. What's more, this is just a good book with plenty of suspense, several subplots giving you plenty to think about and figure out, and it's presented in a way that's absolutely hilarious. The pros tell you not to use cliches, but the ones in this book never get old because they add depth to the characters and the situations they face by showing personality and spunk. If you like mystery and need to lighten up and just get a good laugh, then Death of a Scam Artist is a must read. Mike Befeler has told an outstanding tale that keeps you intrigued - and laughing! - right to the last page. An excellent book!

[Denise Mullins · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Reginald Bentley III, an uptight bean counter is sent by his financier boss to speedily turn around a flagging senior home, he approaches the job with distaste for the residents and the grimy surroundings of the facility. The discovery of as an unidentified dead body then adds to a mounting assortment of wacky problems involving the seniors, resulting in a cozy intended to create warm and fuzzy feelings about golden agers. Unfortunately, Reginald's antagonist, Jerry, a retired magician, merely serves as a nasty abrasive crank not adverse to vandalism and other felonious behavior. The silly problems encountered by the staff also seemed far-fetched and melodramatically presented.
Although Mr. Befeler may have been aiming for a Capra-esque charmer, to me this scam missed its mark.

[Lorraine Ficklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has a really good plot about Reginald moving to Sunny Crest in order to save the retirement facility, but for me the book moved a little too quickly. It was like right after one event, another one happened, and another one happened after that. It has a really good ending! Although I didn't like the side plot where Reginald finds a woman he is interested in, since it was more written to be enjoyed by a male reader than a female reader, that subplot has a nice ending to it I actually really liked. Overall this book is good with just really fast pacing and a not so great romance subplot.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this author and the humor of aging in his books. This one will not disappoint.

[Nancy L Thompson]

Immensely enjoyed.