Classic Revenge
A Silver Sleuths Mystery
Mitzi Kelly
Review: Three friends band together to right what they know -- or at least strongly suspect, based on their nearly two centuries of combined life experience -- to be a wrong in Classic Revenge, the first mystery in the Silver Sleuths series by Mitzi Kelly.
72-year-old Susan Wiley and her husband of forty years, Sam, are making plans to celebrate their wedding anniversary. But while taking a bath in the fragrant water of her antique claw-foot tub, Susan is accidentally electrocuted. Two weeks after the funeral, Sam is arrested for her murder. Their neighbors, 80-year-old Millie Morrow, 56-year-old Edna Radcliff, and 47-year-old Trish Anderson, are outraged at what they perceive to be a grave injustice. But Henry Espinoza, the Chief of Police, doesn't see it that way. Doing the job they believe the police aren't, the "silver sleuths" embark on a journey to discover just who might have had a reason to kill Susan, only to conclude that it might have been a revenge killing directed at Sam ... by someone from his past.
Classic Revenge is a most enjoyable mystery. The delightfully drawn characters of Millie, Edna, and Trish play well off the gruff, crusty police chief Henry. The mild-mannered detective that tries to keep the silver sleuths in line and out of trouble all the while trying to do his job investigating the murder also keeps things light and entertaining. There's a lot of good humor in following all these characters as they determine whodunit in this impressive debut, and readers -- especially those "of a certain age" -- will definitely look forward to their next adventure.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Classic Revenge.
Acknowledgment: Mitzi Kelly provided a copy of Classic Revenge for this review.
Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Location(s) referenced in Classic Revenge: San Antonio, Texas
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Classic Revenge by Mitzi Kelly
Publisher: Avalon
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 0-8034-7769-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8034-7769-8
Publication Date: June 2010
List Price: $23.95
Synopsis (from the publisher): The tragic accident claiming the life of Susan Wiley had been classified as just that, an accident. Then why is her husband being charged with her murder? The very thought is ludicrous. But Chief of Police Henry Espinoza doesn't agree, refusing to listen to arguments that Sam's neighbors, Trish Anderson, Edna Radcliff and Millie Morrow present regarding his character and the relationship he had with his wife.
Angry at being dismissed so easily, the women resolve to prove Sam's innocence, not only to help their friend, but to show Henry they are not ready for a nursing home just yet. Using the experience, determination, and pigheadedness their combined ages of 193 years afford them, they rush headlong into danger and intrigue, learning something about themselves during the process. They seem to have a knack for this detective stuff!
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