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The Garden Club Gang
Committing the perfect crime was just the beginning of their problems. When Paula, Eleanor, Alice and Jean – women of a certain age – plotted to steal the daily cash gate from the Brookfield Fair, they thought they’d split about $125,000. They pulled off the robbery without a hitch, without injuring anyone and without witnesses. But when they counted the money, they found they had nearly half a million dollars, far more than the fair reported stolen. In a matter of hours, the Garden Club Gang would find themselves in a battle of wits with the local and state police, a determined insurance investigator and the criminals looking for their money. Instead of a lark, the four women found themselves in danger, and dependent upon their own resources – and an unexpected ally – to outwit both the law and the crooks determined to find the money and silence those who stole it. The Garden Club Gang offers finely drawn portraits of four women with all-too-credible motives for doing highly unladylike things. If you’re expecting a ‘cozy’, then be prepared for a cozy with quite a kick. The characters are memorable, the action is non-stop and the plot twists until the final page.
260 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2011
About the author
Neal Sanders
22 books26 followersBack in 2005, I helped sell the company that had been my long-time employer. When the sale was done, I had two ‘sensible’ offers that would have kept me in the corporate world. To make a long story short, neither option appealed.
There was something else I wanted to do, something that had been on my mind for a couple of decades: I wanted to see if I could write fiction.
Not the Great American Novel. Not poetry. Not some thinly disguised autobiographical cathartic work. I wanted to see if I could tell a rousing good story using believable characters people would root for. I wanted to write stories with satisfying conclusions that sprinkled enough clues about the outcome throughout the story to make a reader say, ‘why didn’t I see that coming?’ Oh, and I wanted to write stuff that people would actually go out and buy. In short, I wanted to write mysteries, suspense, and thrillers.
Since then, I’ve published 15 books. Apart from being mysteries, what they all have in common is that their central characters are strong, independent women. Some of these women solve crimes. Some commit them. But they're all memorable.
Five of my books are stand-alone titles. The others are part of two series featuring recurring characters. But if your next question is 'where do I start?', the answer is, 'anywhere'. My pet peeve about most authors is their lack of charity toward new readers; unless you've read everything else in the series, you're at sea three pages into the book. My stories are deliberately designed to stand on their own.
My books are also, well, humorous. For example, if four 'women of a certain age' are going to take a giant step outside of their comfort zone and rob the daily gate of a large New England fair (as happens in 'The Garden Club Gang'), you can count on a rash of unexpected complications.
I invite you to hop over to my website and sample the wares. You'll find the first few thousand words of each book and a handy guide to which books belong to which series.
There was something else I wanted to do, something that had been on my mind for a couple of decades: I wanted to see if I could write fiction.
Not the Great American Novel. Not poetry. Not some thinly disguised autobiographical cathartic work. I wanted to see if I could tell a rousing good story using believable characters people would root for. I wanted to write stories with satisfying conclusions that sprinkled enough clues about the outcome throughout the story to make a reader say, ‘why didn’t I see that coming?’ Oh, and I wanted to write stuff that people would actually go out and buy. In short, I wanted to write mysteries, suspense, and thrillers.
Since then, I’ve published 15 books. Apart from being mysteries, what they all have in common is that their central characters are strong, independent women. Some of these women solve crimes. Some commit them. But they're all memorable.
Five of my books are stand-alone titles. The others are part of two series featuring recurring characters. But if your next question is 'where do I start?', the answer is, 'anywhere'. My pet peeve about most authors is their lack of charity toward new readers; unless you've read everything else in the series, you're at sea three pages into the book. My stories are deliberately designed to stand on their own.
My books are also, well, humorous. For example, if four 'women of a certain age' are going to take a giant step outside of their comfort zone and rob the daily gate of a large New England fair (as happens in 'The Garden Club Gang'), you can count on a rash of unexpected complications.
I invite you to hop over to my website and sample the wares. You'll find the first few thousand words of each book and a handy guide to which books belong to which series.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 3, 2013
The Garden Club Gang is the book that introduces us to the group of women "of a certain age" who decide that it is time for some excitement in their lives. Neal Sanders is the author who has created the community of Hardington, Massachusetts; a town where, as in many like it, the haves and the have-nots show a mutual dedication to their town's curbside appeal. They are all members of the Hardington Garden Club.
The four women live differently despite the homogeneity of small town life. Some have money, some have not. Some have or have had children, and others not. But for reasons as uniquely different than each other's, all believe it is time to take a risk ... bigger than any risk life has thus far required of them.
They are friends committed to helping each other realize this shared goal. They decide that they are "invisible" to society, and so have an advantage. They plan a heist.
Not a simple shoplifting tour ... nor a local grocery (heaven forbid!) They choose to target an armed truck picking up the receipts at the County Fair. It will not hurt the fair, they reason, for the money will have been handed over to the trucking company. The robbery will not hurt the trucking company because it will have insurance. The daring risk will not hurt the insurance company because it will simply pass on the cost to the policy holders via an increase in premiums. It will pinch the many policy holders but in a very small way, and it will fulfill the "Garden Club Gang's" need to plan, orchestrate and execute, without being caught, the risk that now sits at the top of all of their bucket lists.
As in his later books, Neal Sanders sketches out his characters with careful detail, leaving enough for the reader to color in with their own reactions to each one. His invented town of Hardington is the setting for at least two more of Sanders' books, and I've put a link below to my reviews of those titles.
Enjoy this read, and imagine yourself having the gumption, the guts and the generational confidence to carry it out~ but be careful what you wish for~ you may be as surprised as these ladies are!
The four women live differently despite the homogeneity of small town life. Some have money, some have not. Some have or have had children, and others not. But for reasons as uniquely different than each other's, all believe it is time to take a risk ... bigger than any risk life has thus far required of them.
They are friends committed to helping each other realize this shared goal. They decide that they are "invisible" to society, and so have an advantage. They plan a heist.
Not a simple shoplifting tour ... nor a local grocery (heaven forbid!) They choose to target an armed truck picking up the receipts at the County Fair. It will not hurt the fair, they reason, for the money will have been handed over to the trucking company. The robbery will not hurt the trucking company because it will have insurance. The daring risk will not hurt the insurance company because it will simply pass on the cost to the policy holders via an increase in premiums. It will pinch the many policy holders but in a very small way, and it will fulfill the "Garden Club Gang's" need to plan, orchestrate and execute, without being caught, the risk that now sits at the top of all of their bucket lists.
As in his later books, Neal Sanders sketches out his characters with careful detail, leaving enough for the reader to color in with their own reactions to each one. His invented town of Hardington is the setting for at least two more of Sanders' books, and I've put a link below to my reviews of those titles.
Enjoy this read, and imagine yourself having the gumption, the guts and the generational confidence to carry it out~ but be careful what you wish for~ you may be as surprised as these ladies are!
April 25, 2011
Neal Sanders is a local writer. I read this book quickly. It captured my attention and held it throughout. I liked the characters. They seemed real and behaved in believable ways. I thought the mystery was plausible and entertaining as well as intriguing.
It is a light mystery and thoroughly enjoyable.
It is a light mystery and thoroughly enjoyable.
April 9, 2017
This is a fun, easy read. Unfortunatly it is unavailable in our local libraries so if you want to read it you have to buy it.
I think is is worth the price. If you are over 50 and sometimes struggle with life, this is a wonderful book to read. Not that I want anyone to get any ideas, but to sit and talk about it is a hoot.
The characters are built up described nicely and if you live your life to the point of retirement with some of the struggles that come along with it, or maybe you are lucky and have enough to live a carefree life.
The idea of taking a risk is mentioned in a Garden club meeting and it takes off from there. How they pull it off, how these delightful "old " ladies, the unseen people get away with this heist is simply stunning.
Then when you thought it was going to all unravel a nice surprise to help with the happy ending.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Had a hard time putting it down.
I think is is worth the price. If you are over 50 and sometimes struggle with life, this is a wonderful book to read. Not that I want anyone to get any ideas, but to sit and talk about it is a hoot.
The characters are built up described nicely and if you live your life to the point of retirement with some of the struggles that come along with it, or maybe you are lucky and have enough to live a carefree life.
The idea of taking a risk is mentioned in a Garden club meeting and it takes off from there. How they pull it off, how these delightful "old " ladies, the unseen people get away with this heist is simply stunning.
Then when you thought it was going to all unravel a nice surprise to help with the happy ending.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Had a hard time putting it down.
September 14, 2019
I decided to read this book only because I was going to hear the author speak in a neighboring town and it seemed like the responsible thing to do. I ordered it sight unseen, reviews unread, and,honestly thought what I was going to get was an uncomplicated mystery in romance-novel-paperback format. What a surprise I got! This is a thoroughly enjoyable well-written, nicely detailed story. And, oh yeah, lots of fun to read....Why isn’t it being made into a movie? And, by the way, the author talk was great, focusing on gardening rather than his many books, and, given the opportunity, you too should attend one of his programs!
September 29, 2014
I loved this book! The author captured the essence of women over 40 and I really could identify with them wanting some excitement in their lives. Lots of twists and turns in this book. Four women set out to rob a county fair and are determined not to get caught. Their adventures and intricate planning make it happen. Well done, Mr. Sanders!
May 19, 2011
Wonderful book
. Totally original plot. Four "little old ladies" set out to rob the county fair in a small New England town. Every woman over 40 will love this book. Very clever writing, but not a bit "silly". I really loved this book.
. Totally original plot. Four "little old ladies" set out to rob the county fair in a small New England town. Every woman over 40 will love this book. Very clever writing, but not a bit "silly". I really loved this book.
December 13, 2016
I read this because my book group was reading it. I really hadn't expected to like it, but I liked it a lot. It is certainly light reading, but well written and edited, with a fun, carefully thought-out plot, enough complexity to keep me interested, and characters with depth.
August 23, 2012
Cute story by a local writer set locally. Love how he wrote about women aged 50-80 And seemed to understand where we are coming from.
September 21, 2014
Page turner, 2 days
September 15, 2015
What a great romp; fun, entertaining and a quick read. Loved it
February 21, 2023
The author makes an unlikely scenario believable! Four women middle aged and older plan the perfect heist of an armored car as it picks up the day's receipts from a county fair. The women belong to a garden club, and all have motives for their plan that seem reasonable, given their back stories. They don't plan to get caught. Will they get away with such a scheme? The robbery happens, and investigators aren't dumb. They pick up on clues. So will the garden club ladies get caught? It depends, and gets complicated.
December 6, 2022
Have read half a dozen of Neals books in the past two decades and I am disappointed. Maybe in a few years he will have a better one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews