Flamingo Fatale

Trailer Park Mystery #1

by Jimmie Ruth Evans

After a full day slinging hash at Kountry Kitchen and then surviving the graveyard shift at Budget Mart, the last thing Wanda Nell Culpepper needs is to to find her no-account ex-husband, Bobby Ray, flashing cash and stirring up trouble. Things can't get much worse—until the next day when she finds her missing pink flamingo stuck in his very dead body.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 27, 2005

About the author

also writes as Dean James, Honor Hartman and Miranda James

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I did not read this series in order and have actually finished with book 1. It was fun to see where the series began, although of course I was reading it knowing what would happen in the characters lives in the future. The story moved along well and the mystery was done well. I did catch on to whodunit before Wanda Nell. I have enjoyed this series and am sad that I've read all the books now. The characters are a lot of fun and you do feel like you are in the south. Recipes were included at the end, always a good addition in my opinion.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book! It's a quick easy read, and the characters are so endearing, especially the protagonist, Wanda Nell Culpepper and her best friend, Mayrene.

Wanda Nell lives in Kozy Kove Trailer Park, with her two teenage daughters and her grandson. She works two jobs to support her family, in the evenings she waitresses at the local diner, and she works third shift stocking shelves at the Budget Mart. Nothing comes easy to her, and she tries so hard to stay postive and grateful for what she does have, you can't help but root for her.

At the diner she has to put up with Fayetta, another waitress who is nasty to her and ran around with Wanda Nells ex husband. At the Budget Mart, her supervisor is life long friend of her ex husband and always gives Wanda Nell a hard time. At home, her middle child is an unwed teenage mother who barely lifts a finger to help around the house. She hasn't heard from her her son T.J., her oldest, in two years.

One night, she comes home to find that her ex-husband is back in town, and flashing around a large amount of money. Knowing that is up to no good, Wanda Nell throws him out of the trailer and warns him to stay away. The next morning when she comes home from work, she disovers one of her Pink Flamingos is missing. Well, she finds it, and finds her dead ex-husband underneath it!

Well, bad goes to worse when the deputy responding to the call just happens to be another one of her husbands good ol' boys, one that also happens to hate Wanda Nell and immediately looks to pin the murder on her.

It's not to hard to figure out who the killer is fairly early on in the book, but it is such a fun read. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like an entertaining mystery series , so I chose this one to try this one out. The main character is a southern woman by the name of Wanda Nell Culpepper, who lives in a trailer. She works two jobs to make ends meet, trying to support to teenage daughters and a grandson. She will do anything to protect her family. She has hard work environments, but good and dependable friends. Wanda was forced to try to find her ex-husband's murderer to keep her and her son out of jail for something they didn't do. The twists kept me guessing. I detest the profanity and didn't really connect with the characters.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flamingo Fatale has been on my TBR list for a long time. It is written by James Dean who writes a number of cozy mysteries under several pen names. I finally got to this one because an ebook of it was available on Hoopla. This is a trailer park themed cozy and the characters provide the “local color” that people would stereotypically expect from them. The shotgun toting neighbor, the single mom working multiple minimum wage jobs, the teen mom, young men with criminal records, and the like but this is balanced by the fact Wanda and her family come across as real people. People who are doing their best and yet still struggling to make it. I think this is something that readers from various places or stages in life can relate to. I enjoyed this, but I would say it is a little grittier than the average cozy. Now that I’ve met the basic cast of characters, I will read another in the series.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in a very different - and earlier - series by the author of the Cat in the Stacks mysteries. It took me a while to warm to the characters, and I spotted the murderer pretty early on, but on balance I enjoyed it. I'd probably read another one if I came across it, but I expect I won't go out of my way to buy one.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a minute to get into the story but really enjoyed my time reading the mystery, bonding with the characters and getting into the setting and premise. I liked the main character, Wanda Nell. She's much nicer than I and has the best intestinal fortitude. She works two jobs, has three kids that she is raising single-handedly with no help from a deadbeat but charming ex. How she is able to put up with everything and everyone who has mean tendencies towards her is beyond me. I know she treasures her friendships and tries to see the good where it can be found. Wanda Nell is a good person. I would love to be friends with her.
The mystery is excellent and her involvement in the investigating is believable. I did sort of see who likely 'dunnit' but it didn't diminish the story or my enjoyment.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series very much.
I can defnitely recommend this book, series and author [aka Dean James who writes as Miranda James in another series I love]

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a cozy mysteries series that takes place in a trailer park in southern Mississippi. Wanda Nell Culpepper is a divorced Mom working 2 full time jobs to keep her children and grandson living with her. She comes home from her overnight job one morning to find her ex husband dead in the backyard with one of her plastic lawn flamingos through his neck. She needs to find who the killer is before the good ole boy town cop arrests her. The characters are likable but not as quirky as Fannie Flagg's or Elaine Viet's characters. I liked it enough to read he next in the series but not as much as I thought I would.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 in the Trailer Park Mystery. This is the definition of a fun, light mystery. It's a book full of GREAT characters and a very entertaining story. Wanda Nell is a single mom working two jobs to try and support her kids and grandson. Trouble shows up at her trailer house one night in the form of her ex husband Bobby Ray. He is flashing a lot of questionable money and is found dead the next morning. Things only get worse when she is accused of the murder and people start showing up looking for the lost money.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great mystery. In the beginning Wanda Nell is always angry at something or someone which makes her look a bit like a grumpy person. But she usually has a good reason to be angry and she actually is a good natured, friendly, caring and hard working mom to her kids. I loved the characters and the story. I can't believe this book was so long out of print. It is a fun read and I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I liked that she was a hard working mother, working two jobs, and one was stocking at a store on third shift. The book was set in Mississippi. She didn't make me want to throw the book by making Mississippi look bad.
I did figure out one part of the mystery ahead of time. If a person is too helpful or too good to be true, they usually are.

[MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book

I tried this book because it was written by my newest favorite author. I thought it might not be as good as the other series, but it was a compelling read. I thought it was a good series opener and I will read the rest of the series.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh lort... how did I get hooked on a series called A Trailer Park Mystery??? I done did it.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a decnt mystery inspite of the overdone stereotyping of southerners.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first heard about this mystery series and learned about the murder weapon from this story I got a very mistaken impression of what this book would be like. I had envisioned a book that was bent more toward humor than mystery and had started reading it with the idea that I was heading for some hilarious fun. It didn't take me long though to realize my mistake and I must admit that at first I was disappointed. As I read on though I became more and more intrigued with the plot and the characters and soon found that I had trouble putting the book down. I must admit that I had an inkling about the solution before it was revealed but that didn't matter at all because I found that I was really concerned about what might happen to the characters in this book. It is rare to find an author that can weave a story in such a way that the reader begins to identify with and care about the characters in a book and this author has that talent.

[jeannette swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn’t exactly call this a cozy mystery because of some light cursing, but that’s what made this book stand out. This book was recommended in a cozy mystery group and I loved how untraditional it was to the genre. The main character lives in a trailer park community and works two jobs to support her family. I love that other family types were represented. I love how gritty the characters were. I liked that she didn’t really try to interfere with the investigation. This book showcased a strong, hard working female lead and it absolutely did not disappoint. I have the second in the series here at home to read soon.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down. I love the characters especially the very hardworking mom. The author gave the character an image of dignity and self-respect. Although I've put myself through college and graduate school and no longer work as a waitress nor the two jobs till the a.m. hours. I can relate to the heroine. She has loyal friends and unexpected helpers. I've been in her shoes two jobs, kids, grandkids. Wonderful story and a great mystery. I'm definitely reading the rest of the series.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new author for me and I wasn't disappointed. Some of the language wasn't what I was expecting but it wasn't anything that I don't use myself sometimes. I went back and forth between two people as the killer and in the end I was right about one of them. The last part of the book left me surprised and literally with my mouth hanging open. (My book said it had recipes but there wasn't any and that made me a bit annoyed.)

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Wanda Nell's Ex-husband is killed with an ornament from her yard things get complicated. Then when she finds the body she is a suspect. Working two jobs to support her two girls and the police harassing her, a break in and missing money from a Casino has this story on to a fast start and an unexpected ending. This was so fun I really enjoyed it and I recommend this book.

[Carole Hardinge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to try this series because I have read other books by this author under a different pseudonym. The characters were amusing and the story kept my attention, although I did figure out the solution pretty early. I will read more by this author.

[Teddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't had much luck with copies lately due to unlikable characters or over simplicity.
This was quite the opposite and I quite enjoyed it. The character's names are quite annoying though with their being typical typecast southern double barreled!

[Camilla Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the author so want to read all of this series - even though I don't relate as much to the characters.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hoot! Great characters! I guessed the killer and did not even care. I loved being in this trailer park.

[Marjorie W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever story, just hard to relate to, but that’s the joy of reading something different!

[Trisha Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, easy-to-read murder mystery. So fun!

[quinnster]

Awful.

[Ashley Licht · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but there were a lot of grammatical mistakes, and even more spelling mistakes. Read this on Hoolpa as an ebook.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanda Nell Culpepper is a Southern Lady trying to raise her three children, TJ. Miranda and child, and the youngest Juliet. Wanda Nell has an ex-husband and that is how she likes him, ex.

Wanda Nell's life is hard but doable. She works two jobs to support the family. She has solid friends at the trailer park (home) and lives in Mississippi.

The murder crime happens at almost the beginning of the book and was predictable, in that, it was the ex-husband, I mentioned earlier. Why was he killed? Well, that is the mystery. The shocking part is that her two daughters and grandson are attacked by two male strangers and tied up in their home.

That was well written and shocking. What got my attention though was the cruelty and crudeness of the local Sheriff's department. The way they talked to the victims of the crime and refused to even give any weight to the attack of the children appalled me. The reader is led to believe that the law enforcement cares more for his high school buddy's death than the children of the buddy. I get that Deputy Elmer Lee Johnson hates Wanda Nell but the children? I had a real hard time with that one. The son of the victim, TJ, comes into the picture and is spot-lighted for the crime.

The book ended with a satisfactory result, however, I hope the next book is less crude and that the characters have a wee bit less cartoon extreme about them.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading several mysteries set in 'furrin parts', I just finished Jimmie Ruth Evans' FLAMINGO FATALE. (As some may know, 'Jimmie Ruth' is really Dean James, who also writes a vampire series starting with POSTED TO DEATH. I read the latter a while ago, and it was fine. But there seemed to be something missing that I couldn't put my finger on. Now having read FLAMINGO FATALE, I think it was heart. This "Trailer Park Mystery" has heart in abundance; it's really, really good. The
characters are completely believable and easy to love, especially the heroine, Wanda Nell. Even the characters who seem at first to be stereotypes end up revealing other facets to their personalities. I
think Mr. James has really found his authorial voice here, and I'll be heading to Bookland to look for the subsequent volumes as soon as possible. (Alas, Bookland is no more, but I don't live near there any more anyway.)

[Laura Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am all for a good cozy mystery,but this is whole new level.

First of all, I am from the South and how she makes these characters speak is awful. The author makes Southerns sound like some backwoods country hicks. That is not how the South speak. Ok, enough of that.

Wanda Nell Culpepper is a woman that you don't want to cross when it comes to her kids and grandson. So when her ex-husband shows up she knows that trouble is just right behind him. When Bobby Ray shows up dead, Wanda Nell's life is turned upside down.

But, she isn't alone, her best friend , Maryene is there to help her out anyway she can. Not only is she there to hold Wanda Nell's hand and watch her kids for her. Maryene has a friend of her own that she carries with her,,,her trusty shotgun! LOL!

Then you have the Sheriff Elmer Lee Johnson, I don't know if he is just that dumb or playing it. He actually got on my nerve.

This isn't a bad book,but you do have to look over the poor description of the South.

[Chris Vassey · Rating 1 out of 5]

All I can say is yikes, and my expectations weren't that high. So there I am, browsing through the library shelves, looking for a Janet Evanovich that I haven't yet read. A call out on the shelf highlights the books by Jimmie Ruth Evans as having "a heroine similar to Stephanie Plum." Only if Stephanie Plum became an irrational, not-too-clever heroine. I didn't find the book at all funny, the mystery wasn't all that mysterious and it became very annoying that the characters constantly referred to one another by name in every sentence. It was like listening to a presetner say "Um" over and over until you start to count the "Ums" and lose track of the point. Yikes (it deserves two!)