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Jake Russo Mysteries #1
Retirement Can Be Murder
When Jake Russo is transferred from a New York City beat to a Florida retirement community, his reporting life slows down. Instead of covering life in the big city, he's stuck writing puff pieces about bridge games and shuffleboard. His biggest challenge? Sticking to his diet.That all changes when an older resident mysteriously dies on the beach. Jake has to figure out why and how she died. With the help of his bumbling octogenerian cameraman, Jake will have to overcome his lack of confidence and find the truth. He'll discover love, conspiracy, and surprising secrets in Florida's retirement communities.Light as a day at the beach, this playful mystery is an early buffet of flirtation, intrigue, and senior citizens gone bad.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2011
87 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 31, 2016
Jake Russo, a reporter who has been sent down to Sarasota, Florida to report on palm trees and any senior citizen interests as viewed by his Boss in NY, falls upon a true murder mystery.
This was a good solid mystery with humor. At times some of the characters got boring to me, such as Gary, the photographer...then suddenly he does something integral to the storyline. So, I give this book a four star rating.
This was a good solid mystery with humor. At times some of the characters got boring to me, such as Gary, the photographer...then suddenly he does something integral to the storyline. So, I give this book a four star rating.
January 6, 2022
Jake Russo has transferred from being a reporter in New York City to a retirement community in Florida. He no longer reports city problems instead, he is stuck writing fluff pieces. He questions his reporting ability and loses his confidence.
When an older resident dies on the beach, Jake must figure out how she died and why. He'll find surprising secrets in Florida's retirement communities.
This easy-to-read mystery comes with flirtation, intrigue, and senior citizens from the dark side.
When an older resident dies on the beach, Jake must figure out how she died and why. He'll find surprising secrets in Florida's retirement communities.
This easy-to-read mystery comes with flirtation, intrigue, and senior citizens from the dark side.
April 9, 2012
He thought the only news the old woman who was permanently bent into a 90 degree angle over her walker would have for him was something lame – perhaps something about aliens or the like. What Jake hadn’t realized is that she was on to something that just might cost her, her life. Maybe his.
Jake’s boss wants him to cover trivial human interest stories however, Jake knows that what he’s stumbled upon is much more in the human interest.
This clean cozy revolves around wetlands and a building contractor wanting to build on it while meeting resistance. Get a chuckle here and there from Gary, Jake’s somewhat hard of hearing photographer.
Jake’s boss wants him to cover trivial human interest stories however, Jake knows that what he’s stumbled upon is much more in the human interest.
This clean cozy revolves around wetlands and a building contractor wanting to build on it while meeting resistance. Get a chuckle here and there from Gary, Jake’s somewhat hard of hearing photographer.
February 28, 2011
I enjoyed reading about Jake Russo. He was a different type of hero. Jake was sent down to florida to write fluff pieces for his paper. Jake was fat and lost a lot of weight was running 7 miles eating right. but his co-workers back in new york didnt believe. He meets charoltte and later she is found dead on the beach but he believes it was murder. the setting was round senior living partments. the characters are fun and different. I did guess who the bad guys were before the ending. I would read another Jake russo mystery. I was given the e book in exchange for review.
January 26, 2012
This was a fast read and mildly interesting for a cozy mystery. Edwards makes effective use of humor, especially when describing Jake's unofficial 'Watson,' his photographer Gary. Would love to see Jake eventually ditch his nasty boss Thompson--I guess I'll have to read the next two books in the Jake Russo series to find out if that happens or not!
Recommended as a nice break between heavier-weight books (I was able to squeeze this one in between Donald E. Westlake's huge Kahawa and George R. R. Martin's A Feast for Crows).
Recommended as a nice break between heavier-weight books (I was able to squeeze this one in between Donald E. Westlake's huge Kahawa and George R. R. Martin's A Feast for Crows).
February 18, 2012
What a clever title! I enjoyed this book a lot. I'd have to say that Gary is my favorite character because he is such a character without meaning to be. Jake is an endearing man who really made me like him because he is so good! What a gentleman & a sweetheart! The fact that he struggles with self-confidence & weight, yet sets his sights on overcoming these two things makes him the perfect "Every Man." I found myself rooting for him in every chapter. Okay, so I really like him, too. He and Gary make quite the team. I look forward to reading the other Jake Russo books.
April 23, 2012
This was a nice murder mystery. It started unlike other books i had read.. slow drama. It gradually began to seem more like romantic novel rather than a murder mystery. The book picked up the pace slowly but steadily and maintained it to the end. You would like the way the protagonist Jake Russo tries against all odds to bring justice to a stranger. A little romance and comedy adds colour to the book. No one is what they seem , who is to be trusted is a tough call for the unlikely hero. A good read. But patience is called for here.
March 8, 2011
Murder in Sarasota (A Jake Russo Mystery) by Phil Edwards was a fun read. Jake Russo is sent down to Sarasota Florida to write for the local paper. He is sent to a senior living facility where he meets Charlotte. She enlists the help of Jake because she banned from playing bridge and someone is stalking her. The ending was pretty easy to figure out, but it didn't stop you from reading. I wanted to find out if I was right, and I was.
May 23, 2011
I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the story and the characters but I found the author's short choppy sentences jarring. I almost gave up on it about 1/4 of the way in because of this. I also figured out who was behind the murder and mayhem about halfway though but stuck with it to see if I was right. Most likely won't be reading the next in the series though.
August 7, 2016
This novel was originally named Murder in Sarasota. Newspaper article writer and amateur detective, Jack Russo is a one-dimensional character that is missing the intellectual and/or physical traits normally found in the lead character. The pace moves along and it was easy to figure out who did what early on. The book did not live up to its potential.
June 19, 2011
Could not get in to this book. I read over half of it and it just wasn't exciting enough for me. This old lady died on the beach and the whole first half was about whether or not she was murdered or died of natural causes. Just didn't keep me interested.
June 23, 2011
Had to force myself to finish this book. The sentence structure was annoying and the storyline just didn't hold my interest at all. This was the first Jack Russo book I have read and am sure it will be the last.
January 11, 2012
so far so good, it is a great who dunit book keeps you wanting to read to find out what will happen next. - I am reading this a free book on Kindle Fire This was a great book and definately did not think the who dunit was them.
August 5, 2013
Style a little odd and choppy at first, but was a good story with some fun, off-beat characters. Especially appreciated the fact that our hero is attempting to cure himself of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fansite/forums addiction.
September 22, 2013
An interesting take on a cozy mystery -- this is told from a man's point of view. Jake Russo has recently relocated to Florida and has a photographer sidekick that will make you laugh out loud. A good and lighthearted read!
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May 27, 2011read this on my Kindle. title there was "retirement can be murder"
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January 22, 2012$0.0
March 11, 2012
Just when I thought it was getting better it got worse. It was a clever story though.
June 18, 2012
See my review on Death by Gumbo...
August 8, 2012
Couldn't finish this lame attempt.
July 1, 2012
It was a little to simple for my taste.
March 24, 2013
A quirky comfy mystery with lots of humor
March 29, 2014
Wow what a dumb book!
June 18, 2014
It was a good plot, but something about the writing just did not click for me. It was not terribly written, but seemed to skip at time.
May 11, 2015
This was a pretty good mystery. I loved the story and I found the characters entertaining.
July 30, 2016
Not a bad plot but clunky writing--really read like a first attempt. I liked some of the humor, though--"Gary" cracked me up several times.
February 15, 2012
To slow paced. I just couldn't read it anymore after about 1/4 of the way through. Boring.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews