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Kate McCall Mystery #1
Whack 'n' Roll
The Bunco Babes are not your average retires ... When not rolling the bones, they like to throw themselves into a juicy mystery. But murder can be a dicey business .... The sixty-ish set at Serenity Cove Estates in South Carolina certainly knows how to keep active. When not playing Bunco or putting the greens, they are gossiping[ and partying. So it[?'s no surprise that when Kate McCall and her fellow Bunco Babes come across a dismembered arm during a golf game, rumors[ and excitement[ follow. The Bunco Babes decide to roll out their own investigation. But some of the suspects are right in their very own manicured backyards. And there[?'s no forfeiting the game if the wrong roll of the dice sends the killer their way...
304 pages, ebook
First published August 4, 2009
19 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 26, 2014
★★★★½ Great book. I didn't want it to end. Luckily, there are more in the series.
December 27, 2020
I like this start to a new series. I love the characters and can't wait to get further into the series to see how they develop. Kate is a likable main character and the story line was fun and quick moving. A really good story with great characters.
November 16, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Serenity Cove Estates in South Carolina is the place Kate McCall calls home. It’s where she plays a little golf, watches Law & Order and CSI, and plays a lot of Bunco. It is while the Bunco Babes are on the golf course that they make a gruesome discovery. A severed arm in a Walmart bag. The police arrive but it is clear Kate believes her participation is crucial to solving the case. She has watched Lenny Briscoe in action so she knows she is up for the job especially with the Bunco Babes working with her. Sheriff Wiggins orders her to leave the investigation to him but she can’t help herself. When she learns her neighbor, her favorite waitress, and even one of her bunco group whereabouts can’t be accounted for she is sure the arm belongs to one of them. She decides to roll the dice and go all-in on her investigation. If she’s not careful it could be her body parts her friends find next on the golf course.
Kate McCall is a pushy, direct, and a force to be reckoned with. She dives in with both feet using her “talents” to go many places she shouldn’t and at times drags her friends right along with her. There isn’t much that can keep this sexagenarian down. She does have a few cringeworthy moments when she meets with Sheriff Wiggins and others but after I got to know her a little better she grew on me, but she is definitely an acquired taste. We do have something in common, I love watching Law & Order in all its versions, but don’t think that qualifies me to handle a murder case. She is so lucky to be surrounded by a great group of friends.
The mystery was very well-plotted and I enjoy following along each step of the way. I was surprised at the lengths Kate went to while delving into her investigation by making a special purchase and requesting surprising books from the library. She truly was like a dog with a bone.
I had heard of bunco before but really didn’t know how it was played. The women in this story sure do enjoy it and the fellowship it brings to the group. I love that the winner at the end of the night goes home wearing a tiara.
Whack ‘N’ Roll was an entertaining read with a difficult protagonist. I loved all the humor the author weaved through the story while bringing this reader a very interesting mystery. I will be reading more of this series.
Serenity Cove Estates in South Carolina is the place Kate McCall calls home. It’s where she plays a little golf, watches Law & Order and CSI, and plays a lot of Bunco. It is while the Bunco Babes are on the golf course that they make a gruesome discovery. A severed arm in a Walmart bag. The police arrive but it is clear Kate believes her participation is crucial to solving the case. She has watched Lenny Briscoe in action so she knows she is up for the job especially with the Bunco Babes working with her. Sheriff Wiggins orders her to leave the investigation to him but she can’t help herself. When she learns her neighbor, her favorite waitress, and even one of her bunco group whereabouts can’t be accounted for she is sure the arm belongs to one of them. She decides to roll the dice and go all-in on her investigation. If she’s not careful it could be her body parts her friends find next on the golf course.
Kate McCall is a pushy, direct, and a force to be reckoned with. She dives in with both feet using her “talents” to go many places she shouldn’t and at times drags her friends right along with her. There isn’t much that can keep this sexagenarian down. She does have a few cringeworthy moments when she meets with Sheriff Wiggins and others but after I got to know her a little better she grew on me, but she is definitely an acquired taste. We do have something in common, I love watching Law & Order in all its versions, but don’t think that qualifies me to handle a murder case. She is so lucky to be surrounded by a great group of friends.
The mystery was very well-plotted and I enjoy following along each step of the way. I was surprised at the lengths Kate went to while delving into her investigation by making a special purchase and requesting surprising books from the library. She truly was like a dog with a bone.
I had heard of bunco before but really didn’t know how it was played. The women in this story sure do enjoy it and the fellowship it brings to the group. I love that the winner at the end of the night goes home wearing a tiara.
Whack ‘N’ Roll was an entertaining read with a difficult protagonist. I loved all the humor the author weaved through the story while bringing this reader a very interesting mystery. I will be reading more of this series.
August 22, 2025
A good first mystery in a series I think I will enjoy! Getting ready to read the next book in this series. Yes, I'm a senior citizen myself. I might be older, but don't like that "designation"! I'm not "elderly" (yet anyway). Have never played bunco, but know people who do. Gave up golfing a few years ago. It's just too hot here in FL when the prices are right and too expensive when they are lower (gotta get the money from all the snowbirds)! Glad I never found an arm in a WalMart bag when I was near a water hazard (which was frequent)! Now I have more fun shopping at thrift stores (for books mainly) - which is where I found these two books (and I've picked up a couple in the author's other series, but not the first book - and I like to read series in order)! Plus volunteering for a position in our retiree association (which has about 200 members); and with the Friends of the Library (which entails a lot more physical work). Not enough members "help" with book sales, rummage sales, etc. And yes I read a lot (especially since I belong and participate in 3 bookclubs)!
December 4, 2018
Loved the characters "of a certain age." It goes to show you that you shouldn't judge a retirement village by its cover. Can't wait to see what mischief the Bunco Babes get into next, and I enjoyed the hint of romance.
May 24, 2018
Nice cozy mystery. First one I believe I’ve ever read that no one ‘padded’ anywhere. (How I dislike that term!)
July 19, 2018
Light, entertaing cozy. The Bingo Babes of Serenity Cove worked to find the murderer of one of their own, using techniques learned from popular TV crime shows.
August 7, 2018
I like the feisty mature (not elderly) Bunco Babes. Kate McCall reminds me of Jessica Fletcher, but she lives in Serenity Cove, not Cabot Cove. Read if you enjoy Cozies.
January 19, 2019
don't know a thing about playing bunco but it was a nice read nonetheless.
July 12, 2019
This book lacked something, though I am not exactly sure what that is. I started out liking the main character but she seemed to get a little ditzy as the book progressed.
August 22, 2020
Sweet....captivating
October 29, 2021
Very funny book! I laughed out loud several times. The author has a great sense of humor.
June 27, 2011
I enjoyed this group of characters that have bonded together and support each other while the main sleuth, Kate goes off determined to find out what happened to one of their own.
This was my first introduction to the social game known as Bunco. What a nice gathering to mainly socialize with each other. I wouldn't mind joining a like group.
When a substitute player goes missing, the gang of ladies realize there are three women unaccunted for in their retirement community. Then, a golf foursome finds ...well I will let you read the book and make the finding for yourself, anyways, the women set out to solve this mystery that the Sheriff seems to be taking too lightly.
This novel was well crafted for a first in the series. By the ending you know the characters and are ready to see what they get into next.
A good cozy murder mystery.
This was my first introduction to the social game known as Bunco. What a nice gathering to mainly socialize with each other. I wouldn't mind joining a like group.
When a substitute player goes missing, the gang of ladies realize there are three women unaccunted for in their retirement community. Then, a golf foursome finds ...well I will let you read the book and make the finding for yourself, anyways, the women set out to solve this mystery that the Sheriff seems to be taking too lightly.
This novel was well crafted for a first in the series. By the ending you know the characters and are ready to see what they get into next.
A good cozy murder mystery.
August 20, 2009
I do not enjoy leading women characters who are idiots. I don't find them funny, and I sure don't see them as doing any justice to the role of woman as independent beings. I finished this book only because I'd downloaded it to my Kindle. I won't be buying any more by this author. Perhaps the main character was suppose to be naive, but to me she was more ridiculous than intelligent. The ending was so much better than the first 3/4 of the book. There was even more development of the character than the beginning where she was pretty 2 dimensional in my opinion.
Probably the biggest problem for me was the predictability of the book. I knew who had been murdered by about the 5th page (that's a guess since I read it on the Kindle), and knew who the murderer was long before I got to the end.
Probably the biggest problem for me was the predictability of the book. I knew who had been murdered by about the 5th page (that's a guess since I read it on the Kindle), and knew who the murderer was long before I got to the end.
September 20, 2012
Kate and her group of Bunco Babes enjoy an active life in the retirement community of Serenity Cove, SC. Their weekly Bunco dice game, shopping, and golf keep these ladies enjoying life. They are also great fans of the CSI TV show, but when they find a human arm in a Wal-Mart bag on the golf green, the forensic fun comes a little too close to home. Kate tries to 'help' the Sheriff, but he's not 'listening' to her suggestions, so Kate enlists the Bunco Babes to do some investigating themselves.
This is a cute cozy filled with feisty women. There is lots of fun with intelligent connections with many things that most of us are familiar with, like CSI. If you are of 'a certain age' , or are related to family and friends of 'that certain age', you will especially enjoy this cozy!
This is a cute cozy filled with feisty women. There is lots of fun with intelligent connections with many things that most of us are familiar with, like CSI. If you are of 'a certain age' , or are related to family and friends of 'that certain age', you will especially enjoy this cozy!
April 18, 2015
The first of the Bunco Babes Mystery series.
The ladies of the Bunco Babes group of Serenity Cove Estates, a community for active retirees, are expanding to the golf course in this book. Kate and her fellow Babes just seem to find trouble. When golfing they come across part dismembered body.
Kate reluctantly hands over the investigation to the sheriff but can't help but want to get involved when they find that some of their friends are missing and no one knows where they are.
I enjoy this group and their differing personalities. The action is continuous and the laughs many. A great read for any one enjoying the fun and adventure of retirement although I hope mine does not include finding bodies.
The ladies of the Bunco Babes group of Serenity Cove Estates, a community for active retirees, are expanding to the golf course in this book. Kate and her fellow Babes just seem to find trouble. When golfing they come across part dismembered body.
Kate reluctantly hands over the investigation to the sheriff but can't help but want to get involved when they find that some of their friends are missing and no one knows where they are.
I enjoy this group and their differing personalities. The action is continuous and the laughs many. A great read for any one enjoying the fun and adventure of retirement although I hope mine does not include finding bodies.
November 25, 2010
I'm not expecting much from this book, but I won it at Bunco, so I want to give it a try. In the first couple of pages of this mystery, the main character is golfing and is using her driver on the 120-yard par 3. My husband says the real mystery is why she is using her driver on a 120-yard par 3. Funny husband!
OK, this was definately not great literature, but I enjoyed it more than I thought. Having said that though, I would't recommend it to anyone. There really isn't any character depth. The plot was thin.....something just a step up from what I could write.
I won another Bunco Babe Mystery, so perhaps I will start that one now. :)
Whack 'N' Roll, Baby!
OK, this was definately not great literature, but I enjoyed it more than I thought. Having said that though, I would't recommend it to anyone. There really isn't any character depth. The plot was thin.....something just a step up from what I could write.
I won another Bunco Babe Mystery, so perhaps I will start that one now. :)
Whack 'N' Roll, Baby!
March 15, 2012
I will not tell a lie. I have passed up this book a couple of times and thought "anh, maybe later." Well, later finally came and I really enjoyed this first book of a series. I have even gotten the other two.
I love the characters and the storyline is good. I hope that I have a place to live like this when I retire. I usually do not go for books with more than 3 or 4 characters, I tend to not be able to keep them straight, but each character is so unique, that you "bond" with each one. This book is not overly detailed but just enough that I can picture exactly how Serenity Cove Estates looks."
I love the characters and the storyline is good. I hope that I have a place to live like this when I retire. I usually do not go for books with more than 3 or 4 characters, I tend to not be able to keep them straight, but each character is so unique, that you "bond" with each one. This book is not overly detailed but just enough that I can picture exactly how Serenity Cove Estates looks."
July 26, 2013
Not bad. The sleuth of the story was quite interesting. She seems to have been written with a decent personality. The normal suspension of belief for the cozy genre is needed.
The murderer wasn't immediately apparent. There are a few red herrings (all of which I were cheering for them to be found innocent!), but you kinda get the feeling that the perp will end up being the perp. I guessed it, but not immediately. I figured it out about halfway through, but was kept second-guessing until nearly the end.
All in all? Not a bad first book. I like the characters. I might pick up another one if I see it, but I won't be seeking these out as "MUST READ" books.
The murderer wasn't immediately apparent. There are a few red herrings (all of which I were cheering for them to be found innocent!), but you kinda get the feeling that the perp will end up being the perp. I guessed it, but not immediately. I figured it out about halfway through, but was kept second-guessing until nearly the end.
All in all? Not a bad first book. I like the characters. I might pick up another one if I see it, but I won't be seeking these out as "MUST READ" books.
December 8, 2013
The first book in a series about an "older" widow, Kate McCall, who lives in a retirement community in South Carolina who find a dismembered arm on the golf course as she and her friends are playing golf. And so starts the figuring out of who the arm belongs to and who was the killer. Kate has 3 friends who are 'missing' and she and her friends try to locate where they are and if they are OK, one of them is not!!And is the killer the new man in her life??? This is a low key mystery with no language or gory scenes. The only negative it took a little too long to wrap up.
January 21, 2016
This was such a cheesy book, which I kind of expected based on the title and the plot. Basically it's a bunch of old ladies who play bunco together and are trying to solve a murder. I kept wanting to slap the main character because she was being so stupid. She was following the sheriff around and snooping around where she shouldn't have been. This almost got her killed in the end but Bill came and saved her. Overall, this was a fun and cheesy read but one I definitely would not be reading again.
February 6, 2016
Kate McCall book 1
I usually like Gail Oust's books. This being a first in a series,I really looked forward to meeting new characters.
The characters I liked,but even before halfway through the book,I'd figured out who the murderer was,well at least half of couple that murdered Rosalie.
Kate McCall and her bunco group,calls themselves the Bunco Babes. While on a golf outing they find a dismembered arm in a Wal-Mart bag and decide to do their own investigation. Turns out the arm belongs to one of their subs.
Debating whether or not to read the next book in the series
I usually like Gail Oust's books. This being a first in a series,I really looked forward to meeting new characters.
The characters I liked,but even before halfway through the book,I'd figured out who the murderer was,well at least half of couple that murdered Rosalie.
Kate McCall and her bunco group,calls themselves the Bunco Babes. While on a golf outing they find a dismembered arm in a Wal-Mart bag and decide to do their own investigation. Turns out the arm belongs to one of their subs.
Debating whether or not to read the next book in the series
November 17, 2009
Twelve ladies--some retired--play the innocuous game of Bunco regularly. When a foursome of them, including widowed Ohioan Kate McCall, find a severed body part in the rough, Kate--a big fan of televised crime--gets involved with investigating on her own. She's especially worried because several of her friends seem to be missing, not to mention the friendly waitress at the local cafe. Despite repeated warnings from the stern local sheriff, Kate manages to get herself into big trouble.
December 6, 2015
This is an enjoyable cozy mystery with a lively, active 60+ heroine, Kate, who defies the label of little old lady as she sets out with her Tools of the Trade detective kit to solve the disappearance of several of her friends and the murder of the body that belongs to the arm she uncovered on the golf course. She is aided by her fellow Bunco Babes. Kate is a combination clever and incurably naïve amateur sleuth, but this adds to the fun of the book.
February 16, 2016
I love reading books about seniors and I was really hoping to enjoy this one. Unfortunately I just felt like it was ok. As much as I read this book and tried to get into it I just couldn't connect. I don't blame the writer I think I just was not in the mood for this book. Maybe later in life I'll come back to it or try the next book see if it gets better
February 10, 2012
You have to suspend disbelief when rating a book like this. It's a light, cozy mystery, not necessarily meant to have a tight or extremely plausible plot. My rating is based purely on entertainment value. Kate is a very funny narrator.
January 10, 2014
This is hilarious so far. A group of friends who play bunco, were golfing one day and find a body part in a bag in the rough: an arm. One asks who it could belong to and one of the ladies says they will look for the person walking lopsided. Can't wait to finish this.
March 14, 2014
Just discovered this series; the story line drags, is slow-moving thru-out the entire book...I'm hoping this is just because it's a 1st? the premise of the story and it's characters can become a "fun read" if the plot quickens.
July 31, 2009
I really enjoy "old lady" crime fighters!
September 27, 2009
This one felt like an annoying woman interfering in police business
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews