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Rita Lakin: Gladdy Gold Mystery Series

As you know if you have been around this blog for awhile, I have been working my way through some of the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series. Up next is the Gladdy Gold Mystery Series by Rita Lakin. I recently finished re-reading and thoroughly enjoying the first book in this popular series – Getting Old Is Murder. 

The series centers around a Ft. Lauderdale retirement community where Gladdy Gold is the 75 year old primary sleuth. She works with a group of similarly elderly friends – almost all women.  I use the term “works with” loosely since sometimes it seems the other women are (unintentionally) working against Gladdy in their well meaning but often befuddled way.

In the first book of the series, Gladdy finds herself trying to find a serial killer of several of the residents of the retirement community. Gladdy recognizes that there is something fishy with the way some of her old friends are dropping dead seemingly from natural causes. Of course, the police detective whom Gladdy goes to report her suspicions does not take her seriously >> at least at first. However, when another death occurs, though, it becomes all too clear to Gladdy that she is onto something. Soon Gladdy and her friends form a murder-detection group called “Gladdy’s Gladiators”.

This book has a refreshingly slow pace with the murders not really dominating the story telling until well into the last half of the book. Rather, the author introduces us to many of the condo complexes residents while slowly providing the clues necessary for the reader to try to solve the mystery.  This Cozy community really comes to life and the book is sprinkled with gentle humor about the foibles of people and aging. And, for those of you who enjoy some romance in your Cozies, there is one here too!

I’ve written about Rita Lakin before (back in March of 2015), and I have to say that what I said then still applies upon me re-reading this first book of the series. The relationship between Gladdy and her friends really makes the book enjoyable.

Rita Lakin has a background in TV as a writer, creator and producer. (She wrote a memoir about her life in TV, The Only Woman in the Room: Episodes in My Life and Career as a Television Writer which I have not yet read >>> but I am very tempted to do so soon!) Her writing is top-notch and what she has created here is what I think is a fine example of a modern Cozy. If you like your sleuths with a bit of seasoning behind them, I highly recommend Rita Lakin’s Getting Old Is Murder.

P.S. If you’d like to see more highlights of some of the most recommended or popular Cozy Mystery authors/series, visit the Most Popular & Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.

Comments

  1. I’ve read these Gladdy Gold mysteries and love them. They are so much fun and the ladies are a total hoot.

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  3. I got so excited when I saw this because I thought it was announcing a new book in the series. 🙁

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  4. I really loved this series. Do you know if Ms. Lakin is still writing? Or is the lack of new books a function of the shrinking of the cozy market?

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  5. Yep, sounds like something right up my alley! I’ll add it to the TBR list and fill Katie in. I love the older sleuth stories!
    Before I finish my ‘comment’, have a blessed Mother’s Day and know how much you are loved & appreciated by all of us on your site. Don’t know what we did before you came along!
    Much love!

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  6. Oh how I loved this series! I got so excited, I was hoping there was another Gladdy Gold adventure. Love those

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  7. Rita Lakin’s Gladdy Gold series was one of my favorite cozy series. I really enjoyed all the characters and stories. I donated mine to the library. It was a well written mystery series.

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  8. I don’t believe in coincidences. What mystery writer does? But last night (and you needn’t continue if medical procedures affect you) while preparing for a colonoscopy (it’s rotten to get old), I had a lot of time to read, and the book I chose was Getting Old Is Murder. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The dialogue flowed, the lovable, but irritating, characters were realistic, and Gladdy was completely believable. What I particularly enjoyed was that there were no huge procedural actions, simply common sense and a good eye for detail. I intend to read more of this series. My purpose for this exercise, other than to enjoy something during an unpleasant colonoscopy prep time, is to research other female Jewish amateur sleuth series. Any suggestions?

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  9. I’ve read all in the series! I thouroughly enjoyed them!! Looking forward to the next one!

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  10. I loved this series. It’s right up there with Mrs. Polifax and also the sisters from Atlanta. I hate to see a series end.

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  11. Thank you for telling me about this series. I hadn’t heard of it, and it looks like one I’d like.

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  12. I looked through my author list. How about Miss Julia by Ann B. Ross, Mary Marks has a short series featuring 3 senior ladies who quilt and solvemurders, and the 2 senior sisters in Atlanta. One of that series is A Bad Hair Day. The author died but there are around 6-8 books in the series and they are funny. Can’t remember the author.

    Reply

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