Death for Dessert

May List Mysteries #1

by T. Dawn Richard

From author T. Dawn Richard comes a wry, witty, cozy mystery debut in the tradition of Carolyn Hart's "Henrie O." mystery stories, featuring feisty senior sleuth May List. After leaving her philandering husband of 35 years, May moves into a senior citizen complex. When she accidentally discovers that her neighbor, Mrs. Berkowitz, is running a blackmail operation, May resolves to take action. But before she can, Mrs. Berkowitz dies in mysterious circumstances.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

T. Dawn Richard, author of The May List Mystery Series, hails from Spokane, Washington. Her first book, Death for Dessert , was published in 2003,followed by Digging up Otis , and A Wrinkle in Crime . This year she completed her fourth book in the series, Par for the Corpse . Kirkus Reviews called her "A kind of geriatric Janet Evanovich" because of her quirky senior citizen characters. Her mysteries are humorous, but her main character, amateur sleuth May List, solves serious crimes in her own, bumbling way. Dawn has teamed up with police officers as a means of gathering accurate data for her novels. She also recently finished two screenplays.

Reviews

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

This book started out very strongly then I felt bogged down. It seemed to not feel realistic in the middle and thus I found myself skimming to the end. I tried to go back to re-read the middle but it just weighed me down and I, truthfully, didn't have the desire to finish it.

This concerns me because I feel the Author has real talent but it was the middle again. Then the ending was too abrupt.

I hope Author Richard went on to write more books. I would like to see if I'm right about the growth factor.

Again, the premise was very good and so was the first third.

[Mascanlon · Rating 2 out of 5]

An OK airplane or beach read but the plot is confusing and the characters can't decide if they are elderly sleuths or a bad imitation of the Sopranos playing strip poker. The unveiling of the bad guy is totally random.

[Karissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cozy mystery is set in a Senior Living Complex with May List as our protagonist. She recently left her husband due to infidelity and moved into the Senior Living Complex. There she meets the oddest and most delightful set of people who both welcome her and befuddle her with their warnings against her across-the-landing neighbor, Mrs. Berkowitz. Defying all of their warnings she asks for her neighbor's help in learning about computers and accidentally discovers quite the little blackmail scheme her neighbor has going. Then she finds her neighbor dead on her floor, possibly from brownies she shared with her earlier, and determines to find out what happened and put a stop to her blackmail scheme. Just a hint at some of the other senior living members we encounter is Bob "what? what?", April the purple-obsessed complex manager, the active but hampered by a walker Fanny, Mr. viagra Grady, the friendly but Mariachi obsessed couple downstairs and their yapper Paco, and Ida who loves to bake inedible cookies. In trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Mrs. Berkowitz, the quirky set of seniors come together in friendship and shared secrets. Nobody and nothing is as it seems and everyone has something to hide and a reason for wanting Mrs. Berkowitz dead.

I enjoyed the book, it had a unique setting in the Senior Living complex, fun and funky characters and a good mystery. I found it to be a little far-fetched at times, but their adventures made me smile so many times and really pull for them.

[David Hibberd · Rating 5 out of 5]

May Bell List has just moved into an apartment at the Active Senior Living complex. There is a wide variety of eccentric residents including her neighbor, Mrs. Berkowitz. A number of the people ask May if she has received her letter yet but give no indication about the letter. No one wants to talk about Mrs. Berkowitz.
When May finally meets her neighbor, Mrs. Berkowitz seems to have an almost psychic insight into May. A series of unfortunate events lead to the death of Mrs. Berkowitz. The residents reveal to May that they are all being blackmailed by Mrs. Berkowitz. The amounts being charged are not much since the people are all living on Social Security.
They discover that the dead lady's son is a P.I. and over many years and many nursing homes, old folks centers, retirement homes, etc. that there are a vast number of people being blackmailed by the Berkowitzs to the tune of millions of dollars.
The neighbors concoct a scheme to return the stolen funds before Mrs. Berkowitz's son can discover what is happening.

[Scilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

May List leaves her husband who she thinks is cheating on her and moves to a senior living place. There she meets several interesting older people. She soon finds her next door neighbor, Mrs. Berkowitz, is blackmailing most of them and knows a lot about her, including that she was married before her current husband, and even though he didn't come back from Korea, he wasn't dead. May leaves the neighbor a plate of cookies. Later the group get into Mrs. Berkowitz's apartment and find her dead on the floor. Before she's discovered, they want to get all her information and the money she has gotten, so they can return the money. The book is funny, but a little farfetched and not very respectful of the elderly.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really got me laughing. Just the thought of these seniors running around doing all of these crazy things... I couldn't help but laugh! Yes, there were a few moments where I cringed due to the TMI tendency the author had in relation to some "issues" that older people tend to have, but overall I'd have to say that I enjoyed it! I'm still chuckling about some of the things in the story- even a few days later. I will definitely read book 2, "Digging Up Otis", just to see what trouble "the gang" gets into next.
3 1/2 stars

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made myself finish this book. There were funny parts, but most of the parts that were supposed to be funny were not. The ending was ok as far as the mystery went, but the very end...it was so stinking easy that I just rolled my eyes and threw the book down.

[Loretta Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced story featuring over-the-top seniors living in a senior living complex solving a murder using outrageous antics.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so different from anything I have read. The being was a little confusing, but from there intrigue sets in. The characters are not at all what you would expect. I think an older person would enjoy this more and a "youngster".

[Sandy Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light reading. Cute mystery with a good joke thrown in! I laughted out loud reading this book!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy for relaxing