Joyce asked us about this posting a comment on a blog, but I don’t think we got any answers.
“Need someone to refresh my memory.
Novel started out with a retired female college professor driving her old school bus from the northwest to Arizona. She was retained to go undercover in order to investigate activity by a “cult” group living in a grouping of dome building located in Sedona, Az. I do remember the author was a female. It has been several years since I read it. The author had written several books.”
If you think you might know the answer, please post a comment below. Thank you in advance!
linda says
Joyce, Do you think you might be thinking about Sue Henry’s “Maxie and Stretch?” It has been a while since I read one of the books in this series but your reference to an older lady traveling to Arizona sort of rings a bell.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Linda.
Barbara says
I do not know the author either, but i would like to know too.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barbara, this series does look interesting, doesn’t it?
Lexie says
I believe that is correct, it’s Sue Henry. Enjoy!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I hope you two are correct, Lexie!
Regina says
I wracked my brain trying to think of the name of the author because I enjoy that series very much. I did not have any luck, but I am glad that Linda remembered her. I wonder if there are any more books in that series that are going to be published.
linda says
Regina, This ” Maxie and Stretch” was a good series. Maxie was an older retired woman who traveled with her little dotsun(close enough). The reason I liked the series so much is because for one, it was written by a favorite author Sue Henry. To me all this author has to do is to pick up a pen and start writting. Her books are that good. But I also like this series because being a retired older lady myself with two little dogs to keep me company I can relate to this storyline. I don’t travel mainly because of the expense and because the traffic out there scares me. But by reading stories like this one I can get the feeling, somewhat, of being out and about. I envy women who are older, on their own and are not afraid of new adventures.
I don’t know what has happened to Sue Henry. Her books are so good!
Regina says
Linda like you, I can’t travel too much as I am handicapped that is why I enjoy mysteries which provide great descriptions of local color. Also I like mysteries that have older people as chief sleuths. I can relate to them because I am in my “Golden Years”. Books truly are windows of the world.
linda says
regina, wouldn’t you like to be able to strangle the person who coined our retirement years as ” The Golden years.” I would like to know where the “gold” is!!
TXRed says
Maxie, the 60ish retired sleuth of the Maxie and Stretch (a little dachshund, or weenie dog) series traveled in a Minnie Winnie model of Winnebago motor home and solved mysteries. The author, as mentioned, is Sue Henry. Unfortunately, there are only four, I believe, books in the series and Ms. Henry according to her publisher has been ill and unable to write. She also was the author of a larger series of books about a woman musher in Alaska who had adventures and solved mysteries. The influence of the Maxie and Stretch travels in a Minnie Winnie and one real-life book written by a retired woman who also traveled in a Minnie Winnie influenced me, another older retired single woman, to buy a used Minnie Winnie and travel in it with my 2 little dogs and 2 cats. And my motor home is stocked with many books I read when I’m camping somewhere for a week or two or three at a time.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
TXRed, you must be having a terrific time traveling around. Several years ago, my husband and I contemplated doing exactly what you are doing. Unfortunately, neither of us could commit to it, so here we are, having to pay for hotel rooms everywhere we go. I guess it’s a good thing, though, that we aren’t very adventurous, since hotel rooms start to add up $$$.
You are probably having an absolutely wonderful time in your new style of life… going anywhere you desire. And the frosting on your motor home cake is getting to take your two dogs and two cats wherever you decide to go.
Marianne says
Maxie was driving an RV, not a school bus. But I love the books in that series, especially the one where she drives around the big island of Hawaii.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marianne, from Alaska to Hawaii, that would be some type of change…
TXRed says
Maxie, of course, did NOT drive her Minnie Winnie motor home to Hawaii. I believe she rented a small motor home in Hawaii.
linda says
Marianne, I do remember Maxine and Stretch traveling around in an RV, not a school bus but I thought maybe Joyce was referring to this sleuth. I seem to remember Maxine traveling to Arizona in the first book from this series. If this isn’t the one Joyce was thinking about, then I just don’t know of an older woman traveling in a school bus. Sorry i couldn’t be more help.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I sure hope Joyce was thinking of an RV, and that you have identified the author she is looking for!
kathie says
A Darker Place by Laurie R. King – it’s an old VW bus and she’s not exactly retired but on sick leave, as I recall. Great book!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Kathie, for suggesting Laurie R. King’s A Darker Place. Joyce will have a few books to check out.