I’m Barbara Gold. Age: 70. Height: 5’5”. Eyes: blue. Hair: gray. Weight: none of your business. Specialties: Undercover surveillance, small arms, chemical weapons, Middle Eastern and Latin American politics. Current status: Retired widow and grandmother.
When Barbara attends a fancy charity dinner with Octavian at the Cheerville Country Club, the evening ends with a man getting stabbed to death in the men’s restroom.
Barbara is the first to assess the scene, making her a prime suspect until she makes a call to the CIA. With an unlikely ally, she must rub shoulders with more of Cheerville’s finest to uncover which of these privileged old folks had the motivation to kill the new guy in town.
Read the hilarious 6th book (30,000 words) in the Secret Agent Granny mystery series.
"500 bucks for a meal andIi don't even get to eat it." And so begins Barbara Gold's next murder mystery. I absolutely love this badass Grandma. Each book can be read as a stand alone, however, every book in this series has been so much fun. Highly recommend!
Charming story about a murder that takes place during a black tie event. Barbara, a retired CIA agent has to jump through multiple hoops and use some unusual people to dig up clues. This is a charming series of light murder mysteries.
Granny is at it again, a quick trip to a fancy dinner at the local country club results in murder. Granny and Octavia investigates, along with a waiter they’ve taken under their wing. Even the rich have their seedy secrets to keep.
A quick read but a lot of fun. The voice for Barbara is just the right tone for dry humor and observations about life, aging, etc. I really enjoy these books.
TL;DR I know it's fiction but some attitudes expressed in this book are uncharacteristic and frankly off-putting. It was also not the greatest mystery
Rounded up from 3.5. I'm kind of disappointed to give a more critical review of a book in this series. I've been rather enjoying this as a light-hearted series with good characters. However, this book seems to jump off the rails just a little bit.
A main critique of mine is the character of Albert. More in particular, Barbara and Octavian's reactions toward him. Barbara in the past has expressed more tolerant attitudes towards things such as drink and even in this book does. Her treatment of drugs, however, just doesn't seem in line with her character as I've come to know her. Octavian's response pushes me more into the camp of not liking him, a teetering balance from his introduction into the series. I know not everybody will approve of one another's life choices, and perhaps my distaste for this comes more personally. However, telling him he's wasting his life when he was obviously satisfied with his choices and making money for himself seems a bit...dated in thinking. Yes, he's living at his jobs but with the way things currently are going, the bootstraps response just doesn't jive with reality.
As for the mystery, the suspect being somebody we don't even know until the last moment wasn't a good choice in my opinion. Admittedly I usually enjoy more the interactions between the characters than the plot, but Barbara was mostly alone in the chapters if she wasn't berating Albert (see above) or talking with our least favorite police chief. Even when the suspects are pinned for it, there's no rewarding payoff. In all the other books it feels like the solving of the murder has effects on the community, but frankly this doesn't have this.
I will continuing reading the series, but I hope this isn't a sign of things to come
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
My first thought when I started writing this review was “which one is this again?” as I remember so little! I think it’s my fault and not the book’s, as I binge read this series and couldn’t keep up reviewing.
What I can say is that the actress reading this book is excellent and I really want to read more books with her! And also this series is fun. It is cosy but has action and makes you smile and giggle and is thoroughly enjoyable. Maybe the mysteries are not as complicated as they could be, but I still enjoy them.
Once again former CIA agent Barbara Gold and gentleman friend Octavian find themselves on a date with a surprise ending. The fact that they are still dating after all the unusual things that have happened around them is a testament to their respect and fondness for each others. This time they attend a charity dinner at a local country club. When the Emcee, who is exceedingly boring, goes on and on with golf stories, Barbara and another woman from her table take advantage of the boring subject to use the restroom to kill time. Instead, someone gets killed in the men's restroom, and Barbara charges in to try and uncover the murderer. When an appalled waiter discovers a woman in the men's room, he jumps to the conclusion that she killed the man. Fortunately the other lady from her table was able to explain that Barbara was in line with her when a man came out and announced the death of the man. However, Barbara immediately wants to investigate and find out who the murdered man is, and who killed him. Having little faith in the Chinese food eating, kitten video watching Sheriff, she decides the job of figuring it out must fall on her. Octavian is her willing accomplice, and between the two of them more good ideas expound than the Sheriff has in a good year!
Who is the dead man and why did he move to town from Ohio?These and many other questions are answered as the couple gathers information both legally and through breaking and entering. With the help of CIA connections, alarm codes, and that waiter from the club, Barbara and Octavian get more answers than the Sheriff, and chase down every lead. A good mystery with the added humor of the 70 year old knee popping former CIA agent, this book should appeal to men, women, younger, and older readers alike. Don't miss this fun read!
I received this copy as an ARC. Wow! I love it when the ending is a surprise. Barbara is drawn into a murder mystery while attending a charity function with her boyfriend Octavian at the Cheerville Country Club. As she is waiting in a long line to use the Ladies Room a man comes running out of the Men’s room shouting that a man has been killed. And therein starts a wonderful mystery whodunit. Barbara and Octavian are going to try and figure out what has happened and who committed the crime. There is sneaking around into alarmed buildings, interviewing people and in general, trying to figure out the culprit. There is mystery, murder, fun and romance. Everything you could want in a cozy mystery.
This was a quick entertaining read. Barbara just can't stop until she catches the killer. As he knows if she waits on the sheriff the murder wouldn't be solved. She's lucky she has Octavian who wants to help now. When the new murder happens near her she cant help but get involved. Why was Cheerville's newest resident killed. As Barbara tries to find out it's not that easy. She has to rely on help from a pot smoking employee from the country club. He turns out to give her the help she needs and rescue when the big catch goes down. I really love this granny series. Barbara maybe be old but she still has all the skills she needs to solve murders. I voluntarily agreed to review this book. My review is my own honest opinion.
Barbara Gold, everyone's favorite retired CIA granny cannot seem to stay away from dead bodies - not even at a charity dinner. Of all things, this time the body is found in the men's restroom of the local country club during an event to raise money for children. The deceased is named for an also dead U.S. President. This case is so unlike her other cases because this guy seems to have no history. Not to worry, Barbara is on the case along with help from her honey Octavian, a pot head millenial, a Native American real estate agent in full headdress and a few other oddball characters. What is going on at this country club?! Grab this book to find out. You will not be disappointed.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
And I would love to give it to you. Granny has a boyfriend, Octavian. They decide to get all dressed up and head to the country club where, as you would expect, a murder will take place. Granny/Barbara has to interview all the fancy folks of Cheerville to see exactly who committed the crime.
I do think you can read this as a stand-alone book, but I don't know why you would want to do so. Just read them all. They are all great for a vacation where you want some time by yourself, but you probably can't carve out too much time.
Another fun one that depicts Granny at retired Cia operative of a certain age and her move to a small town and finding out about criminal activities going on close by. It helps that Granny is not longer able to do all the athletic things she use to acomplish easily, but she is still trying to do lots, and finding some new aches and pains, but still mages to overcome the evil doers while upsetting the local law man- who spends lots of time eating Choines take-out.
Always a great, light read when Barbara Gold is on the job! I really like this series about a retired CIA black-ops, widowed grandma and her trusted side kicks that include a retired widower, Octavian. In this episode, Barbara attends a fundraiser for the local Children's Hospital and stumbles into a murder scene in the Men's room of the local Country Club. Later, the murderers caught, she and Octavian go to lunch. Great ending !
Barbara's investigating might get her in alittle bit of trouble this time being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time doesn't look good, but she can deal with whatever comes her way right?!. I enjoyed this alot, keep the series coming cause I'm loving it. A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
I usually enjoy these books as a nice cozy. Granny seems to be getting meaner as the series goes on. Also Granny’s moral panic over Marijuana seems weird & out of place for a book written in 2020. And the mystery seemed unfair as it was impossible for the reader to solve along as granny just sort of stumbles into the murder at the last chapter.
Another fun adventure with Barbara Gold who is a 70 year old retired from CIA Agent who is going to a charity dinner with her boyfriend/steady, Octavian at a Country Club and finds a man stabbed to death in the men's room. Barbara is a fun person going out talking to everyone gathering all the information to find out who killed this man. A good short story with good characters..
Thank you Harper Lin for the ARC in return for an honest review. I do enjoy these light easy reads. I love how Granny makes fun of her limitations and how she realizes that age is somewhat restrictive. Her relationship with Octavian is moving along and they are so cute together.
I enjoy the Granny books very much. I'm in my 70's and feel young and totally relate to Granny. My nickname is Grannycakes. I've always been an avid reader. Thanks for these fun books. EMGrissom.
Another great book in this series. Barbara and Octavian go on a date to a very expensive charity auction, but her night is again ruined by another murder. Barbara is now on the job to solve the case.
Book 65 for 2022! 4/5 stars for this granny cozy! I needed something light and fluffy after my last few reads and this quick cozy was just what I needed! Super quick reads, but with fun characters and story! Highly recommend! Narration is great! Love the cover!
Bought series and It rocks so much having to return back to write reviews as couldn’t wait to read next instalment hope you enjoy this as much as I have