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Myrtle Crumb #01
Between a Clutch and a Hard Place
When Myrtle investigates the town's new consignment shop, she comes home with a new (or would it be used?) mystery to solve. Based on the note she finds in a black clutch purse, she decides to find out what happened to the purse'
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2004
About the author
Gayle Trent
26 books789 followersaka Holly Jordan, Amanda Lee. Gayle Leeson
Gayle is a Southwest Virginia based author who is working on the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating Mystery series. The first book in the series, MURDER TAKES THE CAKE tells the story of Daphne Martin, a forty-year-old divorcee who returns to her fictional hometown of Brea Ridge, Virginia to start her life over. She has left behind an ex-husband who is in prison for an attempt on Daphne's life, a dingy apartment and a stale career. She has started fresh in a new home with a new career, Daphne's Delectable Cakes, a cake-decorating company Daphne runs out of her home. She is thrilled to be living closer to her beloved niece and nephew, although being close to other family members brings up lifelong resentments and more than a couple complications. Daphne is also reunited with childhood friend, Ben Jacobs, a full-fledged HAG (hot, available guy). Daphne's business hits a snag when her first client turns up dead."
Series:
* Daphne Martin Mystery
* Myrtle Crumb
Gayle is a Southwest Virginia based author who is working on the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating Mystery series. The first book in the series, MURDER TAKES THE CAKE tells the story of Daphne Martin, a forty-year-old divorcee who returns to her fictional hometown of Brea Ridge, Virginia to start her life over. She has left behind an ex-husband who is in prison for an attempt on Daphne's life, a dingy apartment and a stale career. She has started fresh in a new home with a new career, Daphne's Delectable Cakes, a cake-decorating company Daphne runs out of her home. She is thrilled to be living closer to her beloved niece and nephew, although being close to other family members brings up lifelong resentments and more than a couple complications. Daphne is also reunited with childhood friend, Ben Jacobs, a full-fledged HAG (hot, available guy). Daphne's business hits a snag when her first client turns up dead."
Series:
* Daphne Martin Mystery
* Myrtle Crumb
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 19, 2012
This book was a total hoot from beginning to end. If you need a fun, relaxing quick read, this is your book. The twist is hilarious!
February 4, 2016
Really enjoyed this. Myrtle is my kind of Grandma. A short read with fun characters and I love the interaction between Myrtle and her grand-daughter Sunny as well as the lady next door.
April 29, 2019
A disappearing wife leads to questions
A lovely humorous look at a senior's sleuthing after finding a note in a clutch bag that she bought. Loved the plot, a mystery but done with a warmth that you will love and characters that are slightly outrageous but oh so relatable too. There's bound to be at least a couple that you will recognise from among your own circle of friends and acquaintances.
The note in the clutch bag has got her curiosity piqued. The woman is still missing and it is still being investigated. When the dance leads her to making the husband's acquaintance she feels even more drawn in. Watch as she and her granddaughter start to nose around, pick up a new pet, find her another beau and look for answers. Will they find out what happened?
A lovely humorous look at a senior's sleuthing after finding a note in a clutch bag that she bought. Loved the plot, a mystery but done with a warmth that you will love and characters that are slightly outrageous but oh so relatable too. There's bound to be at least a couple that you will recognise from among your own circle of friends and acquaintances.
The note in the clutch bag has got her curiosity piqued. The woman is still missing and it is still being investigated. When the dance leads her to making the husband's acquaintance she feels even more drawn in. Watch as she and her granddaughter start to nose around, pick up a new pet, find her another beau and look for answers. Will they find out what happened?
February 23, 2018
An Ah Ha kinda mystery
I had no expectations going into this because I hard never read any of the author's books before. I was quite surprised that the main character was actually OLDER than me ( a rarity for sure) and it took me a while to understand her. But once I did, I found myself laughing loud. She was quite comical. What I loved about this book was the relationships between Mimi and her grand daughter and daughter. Not to mention the ah ha moment of the book. I mean I suspected, but I degrees. Just read it if you like a cozy mystery and dogs.
I had no expectations going into this because I hard never read any of the author's books before. I was quite surprised that the main character was actually OLDER than me ( a rarity for sure) and it took me a while to understand her. But once I did, I found myself laughing loud. She was quite comical. What I loved about this book was the relationships between Mimi and her grand daughter and daughter. Not to mention the ah ha moment of the book. I mean I suspected, but I degrees. Just read it if you like a cozy mystery and dogs.
July 12, 2019
A Humorous "Detective"
Our heroine buys a purse at a consignment shop and finds a note saying if something happens to her, Jim did it, signed Flora. This starts her investigation. Flora disappeared--did Jim kill her? The interaction with the other women in her group is often funny. Read Mathis in one sitting. It is a breath of fresh air. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Our heroine buys a purse at a consignment shop and finds a note saying if something happens to her, Jim did it, signed Flora. This starts her investigation. Flora disappeared--did Jim kill her? The interaction with the other women in her group is often funny. Read Mathis in one sitting. It is a breath of fresh air. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 17, 2020
Never saw it coming.
I read a lot of mysteries and this one had a twist I never saw coming. Myrtle Crumb found a pocketbook with a note in it. Of course like any senior citizen would, she had to snoop and find out the facts. In doing so, she just may have found a love interest. This is a fun book and Myrtle and her friends are fun and very interesting.
I read a lot of mysteries and this one had a twist I never saw coming. Myrtle Crumb found a pocketbook with a note in it. Of course like any senior citizen would, she had to snoop and find out the facts. In doing so, she just may have found a love interest. This is a fun book and Myrtle and her friends are fun and very interesting.
July 30, 2017
This was a cute cozy mystery in some ways... In other ways, it just seemed silly, with Myrtle's character over done. I figured the mystery out about half way through, but I kept reading to see how it played out.
August 10, 2017
Interesting
This is a mystery with a twist. I enjoyed the character of Sunny,, who is bright and delightful. I liked the interactions with her "Mimi". This is a good that did keep me turning the pages.
This is a mystery with a twist. I enjoyed the character of Sunny,, who is bright and delightful. I liked the interactions with her "Mimi". This is a good that did keep me turning the pages.
September 7, 2018
Good cozy
I really enjoyed this story. Being a senior myself, I like books with older characters. And Myrtle certainly is a character. I even chuckled out loud a few times. I will certainly read the next book in this series.
I really enjoyed this story. Being a senior myself, I like books with older characters. And Myrtle certainly is a character. I even chuckled out loud a few times. I will certainly read the next book in this series.
October 16, 2020
An Amateur Detective With Style
I enjoyed this book very much. It had me guessing all kinds of things. I borrowed the book from Kindle Unlimited and I intend to read through the whole series.
I enjoyed this book very much. It had me guessing all kinds of things. I borrowed the book from Kindle Unlimited and I intend to read through the whole series.
October 11, 2022
Wonderful light reading
A delightful little story. Nice mystery, well drawn characters. A near perfect grandmother. I've loved everything by Gayle Trent that I've ever read, and this continues in that tradition
A delightful little story. Nice mystery, well drawn characters. A near perfect grandmother. I've loved everything by Gayle Trent that I've ever read, and this continues in that tradition
August 23, 2017
Delightful cozy mystery. Myrtle is such good fun, a doting grandma and a would be sleuth. I have to read more of this series.
November 4, 2019
Pleasant read! Very much like this author. Finished the book in an afternoon. Looking forward to part 2
August 17, 2021
A mystery
A fun read if you would enjoy a laugh or two along with a mystery about some seniors! Give it a try!
A fun read if you would enjoy a laugh or two along with a mystery about some seniors! Give it a try!
January 14, 2022
This book needs serious editing.
August 26, 2022
Who killed Flora Adams and why??? Or??? Not really PTSD!!! I enjoyed this twisted story and recommend the book.
January 7, 2025
This was fun and a little quirky with quite the twist!
October 16, 2015
This book is part of the Mystery, Murder and Mayhem Collection, Seven Deadly Mysteries by Best-Selling Sleuths. I'm not sure where you can get the entire collection--I'm not finding it under that name on Amazon or Barnes and Noble--but you can get the individual books from these places. I'm not reviewing the whole collection anyway--only the inspirational ones. I review Christian books without sex scenes or more than very minor profanity,
I got a bunch of chortles, guffaws, and snorts from this cozy mystery, Between a Clutch and a Hard Place. Sorry--this one is definitely not scary enough for Halloween, but it is most definitely entertaining.
A middle-aged grandma (Myrtle Crumb) buys a second-hand clutch (not the pedal on the floor of a stick shift; it's a small purse like unto that pictured on the cover of Gayle Trent's book), and in it she finds a note implicating the husband (Jim Adams) of the previous owner would be the culprit if she (the original owner of the clutch, Flora Adams) ever came up missing. Which she did. Sort of.
So why does she (Myrtle) consent to go out with the probable murderer? Because she considers herself a super sluth. She's determined to discover the solution to the mystery before her arch rival and neighbor, Tansie Miller, does. Which she might do. Sort of.
With the help of her tech-savvy granddaughter (Sunny) and the local sheriff (Cooper Norville) who looks a bit like Ben Cartwright. She wishes that he'd be as cooperative as her granddaughter, but the man was impossible. Wouldn't even give her a temporary sleuthing license. Hmph.
Could you help her out a little here? Buy the book at Amazon. It's only 99 cents, for Pete's sake.
I got a bunch of chortles, guffaws, and snorts from this cozy mystery, Between a Clutch and a Hard Place. Sorry--this one is definitely not scary enough for Halloween, but it is most definitely entertaining.
A middle-aged grandma (Myrtle Crumb) buys a second-hand clutch (not the pedal on the floor of a stick shift; it's a small purse like unto that pictured on the cover of Gayle Trent's book), and in it she finds a note implicating the husband (Jim Adams) of the previous owner would be the culprit if she (the original owner of the clutch, Flora Adams) ever came up missing. Which she did. Sort of.
So why does she (Myrtle) consent to go out with the probable murderer? Because she considers herself a super sluth. She's determined to discover the solution to the mystery before her arch rival and neighbor, Tansie Miller, does. Which she might do. Sort of.
With the help of her tech-savvy granddaughter (Sunny) and the local sheriff (Cooper Norville) who looks a bit like Ben Cartwright. She wishes that he'd be as cooperative as her granddaughter, but the man was impossible. Wouldn't even give her a temporary sleuthing license. Hmph.
Could you help her out a little here? Buy the book at Amazon. It's only 99 cents, for Pete's sake.
January 4, 2016
Originally posted at Bunny's Review
Review:
I have a few favorite authors. Gayle Trent is one of my favorite authors. Her stories have left me with little sleep on more than one weekday.
Between A Clutch and A Hard Place starts out with two rivals making jabs at each other. These rivals end up competing for the affections of a man who may or may not be a murderer.
I really did not have any problem with the book except the length but length plays a part in all books that I do not want to end. This was a fun, fast mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end.
The bunnies and I recommend this book to any who is looking for a new mystery series.
The bunnies and I give this book
carrots.
Disclosure: This book was borrowed thru Kindle Unlimited.
Review:
I have a few favorite authors. Gayle Trent is one of my favorite authors. Her stories have left me with little sleep on more than one weekday.
Between A Clutch and A Hard Place starts out with two rivals making jabs at each other. These rivals end up competing for the affections of a man who may or may not be a murderer.
I really did not have any problem with the book except the length but length plays a part in all books that I do not want to end. This was a fun, fast mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end.
The bunnies and I recommend this book to any who is looking for a new mystery series.
The bunnies and I give this book
carrots.Disclosure: This book was borrowed thru Kindle Unlimited.
February 17, 2013
It is a pretty good little story. I figured out "who done it" pretty quickly, the characters are interesting and likable. I however cannot stand the "speak." It is not that they are southern - no problem there, but it is that every character in the book is apparently uneducated in English. Speaking with a southern accent and speaking like an uneducated "hillbillie" are not the same thing!! One character with this speak, I might tolerate, but the whole town - no. I have one more of Ms. Trent's Myrtle series to read. If the characters do not get an English education in that book; I am going to miss Myrtle.
December 26, 2013
Myrtle Crumb is an amateur detective and when she meets Jim at a dance she realizes that he was accused of killing his wife. She decides to find out the truth about Jim and his missing wife Flora.
I really like Myrtle and her spunky persona. Her interactions with the other characters and with the reader are well done. I have the other 2 stories in the series and hope they are just as good.
I really like Myrtle and her spunky persona. Her interactions with the other characters and with the reader are well done. I have the other 2 stories in the series and hope they are just as good.
January 13, 2014
GET AN EDITOR - PLEASE!!!!!
Or at least a proof-reader! The word "wondered" was used three different times when in fact the word needed was "wandered", as in: 'I wandered around lost!' C'mon! I predicted the twist and the story was just okay. But I like light, in this case VERY light, reading during the hectic pace of life in December soooo.......
Or at least a proof-reader! The word "wondered" was used three different times when in fact the word needed was "wandered", as in: 'I wandered around lost!' C'mon! I predicted the twist and the story was just okay. But I like light, in this case VERY light, reading during the hectic pace of life in December soooo.......
March 30, 2015
This is a cute, light-hearted Christian cozy mystery. The Christian protagonist, however, is catty, petty, and lies while planning to ask forgiveness later. There's not very much Christian in this book. The ending is predictable and if she didn't solve the mystery not much would happen. It's a cheery little read, but not exactly great fiction with very little message or character growth.
June 15, 2014
Fun and unexpected!
Fun and unexpected!
Down to earth storytelling with a lot of wit and wisdom thrown in. Can't wait to read more about this very endearing family.
Fun and unexpected!
Down to earth storytelling with a lot of wit and wisdom thrown in. Can't wait to read more about this very endearing family.
January 7, 2013
I'm not quite halfway through, and I've figured out the secret, but I'm enjoying how the story is unfolding so I'll keep reading to the end.
January 21, 2013
Funny and entertaining. Myrtle reminds me of my grandmother.
January 28, 2013
Very enjoyable books, puts me in the mind of another "Myrtle" series by Elizabeth Spann Craig.
March 23, 2013
OLD FASHION WHO-DONE-IT MODERN DAY MS MARPLE, MURDER SHE WROTE. IT WAS VERY FUNNY AT TIMES BUT TRULY ENJOYABLE.
June 5, 2014
This is a fun, light-hearted read but even for a cozy mystery I would prefer a little more substance.
August 5, 2014
funny, cozy read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews