The Peanut Butter Murders

Benbow and Wingate #4

by Corinne Holt Sawyer

Gray-haired sleuths Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate investigate the death of a new neighbor, Alexander Lightfoot, who fell or was pushed into the path of an oncoming train.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

233 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Corrine Holt Sawyer is the author of the Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate mystery series. Angela and Caledonia are "women of a certain age" living in the upscale retirement community of Camden-sur-Mer. Mystery and mayhem seem to follow the "retiring" women all over Southern California. The author of this bestselling mystery series was born in Minnesota and received her BA from the University of Minnesota in 1945. She moved to the south to attend the University of Birmingham where she received her PHD in 1954. Dr. Sawyer worked for many years in Radio and Television, teaching, writing and while at WNCT-TV in Greenville (NC), serving as director of broadcasting. In 1966, she moved from North Carolina to South Carolina, where for many years she taught English at Clemson University. Corrine Holt Sawyer continues to write the Angela and Caledonia mystery series.

Reviews

[Janet Adkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too obvious and too silly for my tastes. I knew 'whodunit' by around page 40.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good addition to the series of Benbow/Wingate Mysteries

[Margaret]

Fresh from their romp in Murder by Owl Light, widows Angela Benbow & Caledonia Wingate, sprightly residents of Camden-sur-Mer retirement home, help San Diego police lieutenant Martinez investigate the death of neighbor Alexander Lightfoot, who was crushed by a train. The victim was engaged to wealthy Camden resident Edna Ferrier, whose estate is handled by her brother-in-law Wallace Clayton, whom the sleuthing duo dislike. They conscript a fellow resident & former actuary to sneak a look at Clayton's books, but find nothing untoward. Further probing is stonewalled when another new resident, who knew the victim, refuses to answer questions. After Clayton's secretary is bludgeoned to death & Martinez learns that Lightfoot was an ex-con who had changed his name, Angela and Cal renew their efforts.

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Read this one before BC but it is an enjoyable series and the two ladies are a hoot!

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Senior sleuths Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate are back again in this 4th book by Corinne Holt Sawyer. A man is found dead by the tracks having been run over by a train. He was courting one of the other residents at Camden-sur-Mer, a retirement center where Angela and Caledonia now live. That's all they need to get them involved in trying to help solve the murder, and this time they get Tom Brighton (fellow resident and wonderful character) involved. I've read this series over and over because I really love the mysteries and characters, especially Angela and Caledonia, but still didn't remember the murderer until an ending clue. I think this would be a great little PBS mystery series.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instead of one of the residents being knocked off in the fancy retirement home, the finance of one of the ladies is! As is the secretary of the resident’s bookkeeper, which now opens the door for Angela and Caledonia to barge in and solve the case! They venture out into the city a bit more…..thus getting into more trouble. All of her books leave me quit content, happy and actually smiling! This one was even more so because more and more of the resident’s personalities are characterized --including a biting parakeet, and Mr. Brighton joins in on their escapade and the local police detective are just so very tolerant! None of them are the Grandparents of my day!

[Kimberlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two geriatric sleuths at a retirement home in San Diego solve the murder of a fellow resident's boyfriend. The man is killed by a train, but the ladies are suspicious. Fairly good text, though some areas ramble. nice read

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I love this series! The storyline is intriqte and it's more "adventure" than mystery which is strange for a cozy mystery lover.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this one.
Retirement community.
Angela and Caledonia.
Who pushed the guy in front of the train?
OK.

[Karen Cowgill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. This is one of my favorite writers. The characters are very funny. Please read this and other books by this author, you will not regret it!

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK mystery. Different since the main characters live in a retirment home.