The Wrong Coat: A Fishen-Rodd Mystery

Already known for her intriguing cozies featuring Rhode Island senior Edna Davies, Suzanne Young has launched a new series with not one, but two, appealing protagonists: Beryl Fishen and Nadine Rodd. Residents of a Colorado retirement community, the women solidify their growing friendship as they deal with complications arising from a missing coat, the suspicious death of a neighbor, an arsonist at large, and a supremely annoying and flirtatious male resident. A cat named Smudge adds a touch of feline feistiness to the proceedings, and more humor is provided by Nadine's obsessive desire to correct her companions' grammar. (And I thought I was the only one who suffered from "schoolmarm syndrome!) All in all, this is a charming first offering in what promises to be another delightful cozy series.

They may be senior citizens and living in a retirement center, but this pair of amateur sleuths jumps right into the mystery and rattles a few tea cups. They discover that their "maturity" doesn't protect them from a nasty villain who doesn't want his/her dirty deeds exposed. Things are not what they seem, and that adds a touch of surprise to the suspense. And did I mention scary? When Beryl was snooping in a dark and supposedly-empty house, I got chills. The suspense kept me turning pages and burning the midnight oil. That said, I'm looking forward to another adventure with Beryl and Nadine.By Sharon Love Cook, author of The Granite Cove Mysteries

I absolutely loved this book. I loved all the Edna Davies books and was hoping I would enjoy this new series as much.Well, I certainly did. I'm looking forward to many more Fishen-Rodd mysteries!

Held my interest and was everything a good book should be. Kudos!

I'm looking forward to future Fishen-Rodd mysteries.

Another compelling cozy from an author with insight into human frailties and idiosyncrasies as well as their endearing qualities. This book promises to be first in a series of Fishen-Rodd mysteries and features not one but two lively, intelligent ladies-of-a-certain age who can meet the challenges of crime and murder. Set in a retirement community on the outskirts of Denver, Beryl Fishen and Nadine Rodd are peacefully minding their own business at a community theater production when Beryl’s good coat goes missing, and she’s left with an unacceptable substitute. While on the path to recover her garment, she discovers scraps of paper—a receipt, a list, and so forth—that might provide clues to the taker’s identity. What might be a simple mix-up of belongings escalates into theft, a midnight intruder, a death, house fire, and, finally, murder. The reader compares suspicions and information right along with the two ladies until all solve the puzzles. We meet the residents, as diverse and interesting as any group of humans, along with a female firefighter, a very fit young body builder, an aspiring actress, an abandoned cat, and others who mingle with the senior community. The two ladies are perfect foils for one another, balancing their approaches and personalities until they solve the puzzle. This book authentically portrays a close-knit community and charms the reader while the mystery compels us to piece together the actual crime.