Getting Old Is the Best Revenge

Gladdy Gold #2

by Rita Lakin

After catching a serial killer, the seniors' Gladdy Gold Detective Agency hunt down pocketbooks, pets, and people. A jealous woman wants her wayward husband; a flasher strikes their retirement complex; two cases collide with a third: murders of rich society wives wed to alibied handsome young men. On a luxury bingo cruise, Gladdy must stop the killer before another dies.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Ebooks, Suspense, Womens

315 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

After being widowed at a young age with three small children, Rita Lakin began an extensive writing career, which has included staff writing on television programs such as Peyton Place, Mod Squad, Dynasty, and Strong Medicine, as well as creating original series such as The Rookies. She has won an Edgar Allen Poe award for her screenwriting, as well as receiving several other award nominations, and her two original theatrical plays, No Language But a Cry and Saturday Night at Grossingers, are still being produced around the country.

Series:
* Gladdy Gold

Reviews

[Drebbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

After their success in catching a serial killer ("Getting Old Is Murder"), 75 year old Gladdy Gold, her sister Evvie, and friends Ida, Bella, and Sophie open the Gladdy Gold Detective Agency. They have plenty of clients, including a woman who thinks her 85 year old husband is cheating on her, plus they'd like to catch the flasher that is targeting their retirement complex. But that's not enough work for Gladdy, when she reads about the deaths of several rich women, she wonders if they were murdered. Her boyfriend, ex-cop Jack Langford and his policeman son, Morrie, tell Gladdy she's imaging things. But murder seems to find Gladdy and when she and her friends take a bingo cruise they find themselves on board with a killer.

I liked "Getting Old Is the Best Revenge" even better than the first book in the series. The characters continue to develop and we learn more about how Gladdy's husband died and why she is so hesitant in her relationship with Jack. Having Gladdy open a detective agency is a great move as it will give author Rita Lakin a good plot device to have Gladdy get involved in more murder investigations. Lakin does stretch a bit with Gladdy and the girls ending up on the same cruise ship as a murderer and befriending the intended victim, but the cruise is so much fun that readers will forgive her. The murder is well plotted and readers will have a hard time figuring out who the murderer is. Readers who are easily offended should be aware that there is a sexual overtone throughout the book.

This is an excellent cozy mystery.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad and her group of senior girl friends have opened a detective agency after their success in the first book. They have found pickpockets and missing purses and are working to discover who is a Peeping
Tom around their group of buildings. Glad learns of the deaths of three wealthy women in three weeks and is sure something is going on, but no one wants to believe her. As she is taking on the case of a possible "husband gone bad", the girls win a trip on a bingo cruise ship. Funnily enough, all the pieces come together on that ship and everyone is involved with more than they can handle.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting Old is the Best Revenge (Gladdy Gold, #2) by Rita Lakin.

I wish I could personally thank this author for this fun and action packed series. Fun, fun and more fun. It's Gladdy Gold and associates, the Lanai Gardens Detective Agency. their motto: Don't Trust anyone Under 75.
There's been one and now two elderly, wealthy socialites that have died within weeks of each other. Shortly there's a third and no one seems to connect the dots...that is no one except Gladdy Gold.
Jack Langford (Gladdy's beau) and his son Morrie (on the police dept.) both dismiss Gladdy's thoughts that these deaths are murder.
The girls win a ticket for a cruise and the "murders" are supposedly put on hold. Gladdy doesn't believe in coincidences, but that 's before she meets Amy Larkin on board the cruise ship. And what a cruise this turns out to be.
I am so enjoying this series that I don't intend to stop!

[Lsilberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gladdy Gold and her sister Evvie and friends, having solved a murder case, have now started a detective agency, a kind of by-and-for geezers agency. And Gladdy gets suspicious when 3 wealthy women turn up dead within weeks of one another. She also can't figure out how to start anew with a new man, even though it's been decades since her husband's death.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the thrilling last sentence of Getting Old is Murder I knew I needed to keep going with Gladdy Gold, Ida, Evvie, Bella and Sophie. These broads may be old but they are spunky, lively and make me laugh and laugh. Truly like an older Golden Girls. In this second book in the series the gals have their hands full with a peeping Tom, a philandering husband and a serial killer who is targeting rich older women. I will say I did not see the end coming but all of the clues were there. I went around every twist and turn and rooted for the women and even wanted to take the bingo cruise they were on. I cannot wait to continue with this series and I think if you are a mystery lover who likes a laugh this is REQUIRED READING!

[Cissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery! It kept me up at night, which was not ideal- but I love occasionally being so taken by a book that i cannot put it down.

The characters are great- all are women of A Certain Age (here, in their 70s), with various aspects of their ages having an impact on their contributions. Gladdy- our protagonist- is the most sensible of them all- a responsibility she takes seriously.

I am not sure how plausible the central mystery is- but it works well in context.

If you want to expand your cozy mystery reading past the usual women in their 30s protagonists, I recommend this one! And I will be looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gladdy I really do but she either treats "the girls" like two year olds or they just act like two year olds, I'm not sure which. Anyway, a really fun story that ended on a good note. (Not sure if the captain is going to honor that free cruise after all.)

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always have a hard time believing that these girls are elderly. They sure don't act like it.

[Claire Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - it was laugh out loud funny - until the epilogue!! Then I got really frustrated because there was not a single apostrophe in the entire epilogue.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun.

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Little Corny, but an interesting read

[Sandra Holladay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. Love all the characters and their zany antics.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the series. While I admit I had not read #1 (yet) it did not detract from my understanding or enjoyment, of the story so far.

Gladdy is in an independent living situation along with her sister and her sister's friends. After successfully solving a murder (book 1), they open a detective agency. The usual spate of finding lost things. Is my spouse cheating??? Gladdy reads about 2 deaths in different places, and thinks they are connected, and murders. No one believes her. Then one of the gals wins a BINGO cruise and they all end up going. And that's when things really start to unravel. Is this cruise somehow connected to these deaths!?!

I thought the story line a bit different from other mature sleuth stories and enjoyable. I did figure out the whole murder thing, but even so, I enjoyed the reading and it came together in the end.

I did not like some of the characters. Just because you are older doesn't mean you don't understand technology or become irritable or tentative in life. That annoyed me.

There was also a senior love interest which was fun.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this series. The central characters are a group of older women. I wanted to find a series which had sleuths I could enjoy as much as I liked the Jude and Carole in the Fethering series. Unfortunately this is not that series. Instead of being believably quirky, the characters seemed more like caricatures. Five retired Jewish women living in the same condo complex in Florida go on a bingo cruise. Coincidences abound and they solve several murders. Maybe people who enjoy bingo and cruises will like the book better than I did.

[Valdez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gladdy Gold and associates are just starting their detective agency when they get news that a man has been peeping on several neighbors. Before they can get started on that case they are approached by a woman who is sure that her husband is cheating on her and she wants Gladdy to follow him and catch him in the act.

No sooner do they close that case that they are off on a Bingo Cruise where they crack the biggest case off all, who is killing wealthy women in the area?

[Sonia With an I · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girls are back and going on a cruise. A mystery is afoot when rich ladies with young husbands start dropping dead, also there is a peeping Tom in town, and a canoodling husband. Gladdy and the girls are on the case. Also, Gladdy is dealing with her feelings of Jack number 2 and how to move on. This book made me laugh outloud, the girls are a hoot. It's not exactly cozy, but is full of heart and a load of humor.

[Judy van Ryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a senior citizen myself, I really enjoyed this book. Gladdy Gold Detective Agency is a group of older neighbours who love detecting. One of the girls wins a luxury Bingo cruise and the fun just keeps on coming. Love the Yiddish references.

Well worth the read.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, I just love these ladies. They are funny, smart and a little quirky. I love how they fight and then quickly make up. They work so well together to solve the case. I can't wait to read the next book.

[Amy Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ9fs...

4.5 stars. This book is absolutely lovely! Gladdy and the girls are hysterical, and I love the cruise setting. If you enjoy funny, cozy mysteries, this is a must-read.

[JZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminds me of the yentas and Italian widows of my youth. A quick funny read.

[Kat Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy mystery with a few chuckles. Silly, but readable. Fast and entertaining.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic read !! I found myself laughing out loud! I love all the characters and the fantastic story line! Cannot wait to read all of her other books!!

[Priscilla Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my introduction to Gladdy and her troops of senior citizens. As a senior myself, the books are great fun and I look forward to reading more.

[Monica Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more like a 3.5 than a 4 star. I would say it was not as enjoyable as the first book but the characters are lovely. Definitely an easy read. Would still recommend though.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some really funny bits. Loved it

[Paschalis]

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[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun series to read! On to the next book!

[Elizabeth Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun cozy mystery! Really enjoyed the Florida vibes! The mystery was good and although I figured it out before the end it was satisfying

[Cathy Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

4*

[Zoe Koz]

Love the characters, loved the story, loved the flow. This was a really fun read. Characters will make you laugh. Awesome Cozy Mystery.