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The Country Club Murders #1.5
Only the Good Die Young
Frances Walford's daughter, Ellison Russell, has developed the truly deplorable habit of finding bodies. And Frances can't help but scold her about it.
But when Ellison goes to Europe, Frances finds a corpse of her own.
Can she help catch a killer and keep her involvement a secret?
This is a short novella told from Frances's point of view. Chronologically, it falls between The Deep End and Guaranteed to Bleed.
But when Ellison goes to Europe, Frances finds a corpse of her own.
Can she help catch a killer and keep her involvement a secret?
This is a short novella told from Frances's point of view. Chronologically, it falls between The Deep End and Guaranteed to Bleed.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2023
165 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Julie Mulhern
41 books1,659 followersJulie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
October 3, 2023
Fun for Frances
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Frances. I have read all of The Country Club Murders, so I was so excited to read this novella. I highly recommend this novella set in the 1970's. This book is for the cozy genre readers.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Frances. I have read all of The Country Club Murders, so I was so excited to read this novella. I highly recommend this novella set in the 1970's. This book is for the cozy genre readers.
November 9, 2024
This novella concentrates on Frances Walford, while her daughter, Ellison, and granddaughter are on holiday in Paris. At this stage, Ellison has ‘only’ found about three bodies, and is not yet with Anarchy Jones. Given that bodies frequently appear in the Country Club community, in Ellison’s absence, it is only right that Frances should be on hand to discover the corpse. This time it is the tiresome old mother-in-law to a friend of Frances. Despite having frequently admonished Ellison for finding bodies, and even more for investigating the crimes, Frances dives into the action feet first – even getting over her dislike of Anarchy Jones to work with him, and get him to agree to keeping her name out of the investigation. After all, where would Frances Walford’s reputation be, if the whole world knew that she was associated with criminal affairs.
At first Frances tries to convince herself, her friend, her husband AND the police, that the death was an accident.
““Don’t tell anyone I was here.” “What?” She tilted her head. “I might have scolded Ellison about finding bodies and...” “And you don’t want her to know you found one.” “Exactly.””
““I worry someone may have bashed her on the head.” “Murder?” my husband gasped. “Maybe.” There was so much blood. He lifted a brow. “Like daughter, like mother?” “This is nothing like Ellison finding bodies. Besides, I’m sure Evelyn fell.” I couldn’t allow doubt.”
““Promise me you won’t tell her.” “Frannie...” “Promise.” On this, I would not compromise. “Fine. I won’t say a word.” Clearly, Harrington expected me to come clean. To admit to Ellison I’d found a body. That conversation would happen when hell froze over.”
““She fell,” I insisted. And my opinion bore repeating as many times as it took until Detective Jones accepted the truth.”
““You will never, ever tell my daughter about what happened.” He gaped at me. “She will never know about my finding Evelyn’s body, Fritz’s attempt on my life, my whacking him over the head with a statue, or my shooting him. Promise me you won’t tell her.” “Why don’t you want her to know?” “That’s my business.” I would not cede the moral high ground. If Ellison ever found another body, I needed the ability to scold.”
For Frances, her reputation is everything. She loves her daughter, her husband and really wants to stand by her friends, but there are somethings they really don’t need to know. And obviously, we did not need to know about it either – hence no mention in the previous fifteen Country Club Murders books.
Frances does come across as a much more sympathetic character in this novella, than she does in the Ellison-centric stories. There are still some snooty remarks – thankfully sotto voce – so the Frances we know and love is still in there:
“Patty wore a tan skirt embroidered with orange mushrooms and a matching orange t-shirt. She was a good friend, so I refrained from telling her orange made her look sallow, and the scoop of her shirt was too low for a woman whose chest had taken sixty-plus years of sun.”
“Lillian shook her head. “There’s so much pressure on young girls these days. To be slender, to be pretty, to be smart.” In my day, no one cared about smart. I kept that thought to myself.”
And a Bundt cake makes its expected appearance:
““I brought a Bundt.” I held out the cake. “I’m so very sorry for your loss.” I should have led with the sentiment, not the cake. But the cake was real, the sentiment less so.”
Another great story from Julie Mulhern. Only a few days left till the publication of the next novel in the series – I can hardly wait. It will be interesting to see how Frances acts in it – now we know her guilty secret.
I highly recommend the entire series.
I received copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the author
At first Frances tries to convince herself, her friend, her husband AND the police, that the death was an accident.
““Don’t tell anyone I was here.” “What?” She tilted her head. “I might have scolded Ellison about finding bodies and...” “And you don’t want her to know you found one.” “Exactly.””
““I worry someone may have bashed her on the head.” “Murder?” my husband gasped. “Maybe.” There was so much blood. He lifted a brow. “Like daughter, like mother?” “This is nothing like Ellison finding bodies. Besides, I’m sure Evelyn fell.” I couldn’t allow doubt.”
““Promise me you won’t tell her.” “Frannie...” “Promise.” On this, I would not compromise. “Fine. I won’t say a word.” Clearly, Harrington expected me to come clean. To admit to Ellison I’d found a body. That conversation would happen when hell froze over.”
““She fell,” I insisted. And my opinion bore repeating as many times as it took until Detective Jones accepted the truth.”
““You will never, ever tell my daughter about what happened.” He gaped at me. “She will never know about my finding Evelyn’s body, Fritz’s attempt on my life, my whacking him over the head with a statue, or my shooting him. Promise me you won’t tell her.” “Why don’t you want her to know?” “That’s my business.” I would not cede the moral high ground. If Ellison ever found another body, I needed the ability to scold.”
For Frances, her reputation is everything. She loves her daughter, her husband and really wants to stand by her friends, but there are somethings they really don’t need to know. And obviously, we did not need to know about it either – hence no mention in the previous fifteen Country Club Murders books.
Frances does come across as a much more sympathetic character in this novella, than she does in the Ellison-centric stories. There are still some snooty remarks – thankfully sotto voce – so the Frances we know and love is still in there:
“Patty wore a tan skirt embroidered with orange mushrooms and a matching orange t-shirt. She was a good friend, so I refrained from telling her orange made her look sallow, and the scoop of her shirt was too low for a woman whose chest had taken sixty-plus years of sun.”
“Lillian shook her head. “There’s so much pressure on young girls these days. To be slender, to be pretty, to be smart.” In my day, no one cared about smart. I kept that thought to myself.”
And a Bundt cake makes its expected appearance:
““I brought a Bundt.” I held out the cake. “I’m so very sorry for your loss.” I should have led with the sentiment, not the cake. But the cake was real, the sentiment less so.”
Another great story from Julie Mulhern. Only a few days left till the publication of the next novel in the series – I can hardly wait. It will be interesting to see how Frances acts in it – now we know her guilty secret.
I highly recommend the entire series.
I received copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the author
December 23, 2023
Short story featuring Ellison’s mother.
June 2, 2024
This hilarious addition to the Country Club Murder Series will have you laughing ridiculously loudly and embarrassingly so in public so if you embarrass easily you might want to read in the privacy of your home. Mother Wallingford really, really hates it when Ellison finds dead bodies, but when she finds one, she will do about anything to keep Ellison from finding out. The audiobook is outstanding and definitely brings the characters, the actions and the humor to life. You really need to read this series in order to get full enjoyment and trust me, it is worth every second of reading or listening. I will say that this series is an absolute must listen for me.
June 7, 2024
It was fun to read something from Frances' POV, although the placement of this in the series was a bit weird to me. I understood it in that Ellison and Grace were in Europe between books 1 and 2, but this also really felt like a book that was written well into the series (as it was). Didn't take away from my enjoyment, but just was definitely evident that it was not written sequentially.
January 22, 2024
Fun novella with an adventure for Ellison’s mother.
May 13, 2024
Excellent novella! It was awesome and followed the Country Club Murders theme. Can't wait for more of them!
October 7, 2024
Cute, quick read. I pretty much got through it on my lunch break today. I enjoyed getting Frances' POV.
November 19, 2024
Fun quick read follows the mother of the main character from the series and her stumbling upon a dead body.
Julie Mulhern's writing is fun, her characters are amazing. I adore her books.
Julie Mulhern's writing is fun, her characters are amazing. I adore her books.
May 15, 2024
Novella that takes place after the first book in the Country Club series. Based on the character of Frances Walford. Good back story on a main character in the series.
August 28, 2025
Cute little novella! A fun read if you’re enjoying this series.
January 26, 2024
It always bothered Frances Walford that her daughter, Ellison continually stumbles upon dead bodies. Frances always lets her daughter know her feelings on the subject. Then, the unthinkable happens. Frances stumbles over a dead body herself and gets caught up in a possible murder investigation.
Not only does Frances want to find a killer, but she wants to keep her part of it a secret. There’s no way she can admit to Ellison that she found a body too.
I love this series, but I’m way behind on it. I have only read the first two books and, luckily for me, this is set right between them.
It’s a humorous look at murder investigations through Frances Walford’s eyes. Only the Good Die Young is a novella and a quick read. Perfect for an afternoon break. This book brightened up my day. It already has me wanting to get back to reading this series. I have them on my TBR and need to catch up.
Julie Mulhern never fails to disappoint me with her writing. She always leaves me wanting to read more. My only complaint is there aren't any others from Frances' POV or at least I haven't seen any. I'll have to look for them.
Not only does Frances want to find a killer, but she wants to keep her part of it a secret. There’s no way she can admit to Ellison that she found a body too.
I love this series, but I’m way behind on it. I have only read the first two books and, luckily for me, this is set right between them.
It’s a humorous look at murder investigations through Frances Walford’s eyes. Only the Good Die Young is a novella and a quick read. Perfect for an afternoon break. This book brightened up my day. It already has me wanting to get back to reading this series. I have them on my TBR and need to catch up.
Julie Mulhern never fails to disappoint me with her writing. She always leaves me wanting to read more. My only complaint is there aren't any others from Frances' POV or at least I haven't seen any. I'll have to look for them.
December 14, 2023
I’ve been reading this Country Club Murder series for years. It was so enjoyable to read this book about Frances Walford, Ellison’s mother. It’s set just after the first book in the series. This time Frances finds a dead body, but she can’t let Ellison find out because she must retain the upper hand. She’s always telling her that it’s not right that she finds bodies. And to top it off, Detective Jones shows up at the scene. Now she has to get him to promise not to tell anyone what happened. I definitely had a good chuckle as I read this quick story. Even though it was a novella, it was well written and kept you guessing as to whodunnit.
January 21, 2024
Frances Walford is human?
This book is from Ellis’s mother Frances Walford’s POV. This is all about Frances finding a body. Yes, after her always getting mad at Ellis for finding bodies, she happens to find one herself.
And she doesn’t want Ellis, or anyone else for that matter, to know. However, Detective Anarchy Jones is called to the scene and he suspects murder. Gosh darnit, who will be next to know? Not Ellis! So, Frances makes Anarchy swear not to tell Anarchy… or her husband… or anyone, actually. She even has a scramble with the killer and is nearly killed herself!
Where’s Ellis? In Europe with Grace.
This was a great quick read!
This book is from Ellis’s mother Frances Walford’s POV. This is all about Frances finding a body. Yes, after her always getting mad at Ellis for finding bodies, she happens to find one herself.
And she doesn’t want Ellis, or anyone else for that matter, to know. However, Detective Anarchy Jones is called to the scene and he suspects murder. Gosh darnit, who will be next to know? Not Ellis! So, Frances makes Anarchy swear not to tell Anarchy… or her husband… or anyone, actually. She even has a scramble with the killer and is nearly killed herself!
Where’s Ellis? In Europe with Grace.
This was a great quick read!
March 23, 2025
Frances Walford is human?
This book is from Ellis’s mother Frances Walford’s POV. This is all about Frances finding a body. Yes, after her always getting mad at Ellis for finding bodies, she happens to find one herself.
And she doesn’t want Ellis, or anyone else for that matter, to know. However, Detective Anarchy Jones is called to the scene and he suspects murder. Gosh darnit, who will be next to know? Not Ellis! So, Frances makes Anarchy swear not to tell Anarchy… or her husband… or anyone, actually. She even has a scramble with the killer and is nearly killed herself!
Where’s Ellis? In Europe with Grace.
This was a great quick read!
This book is from Ellis’s mother Frances Walford’s POV. This is all about Frances finding a body. Yes, after her always getting mad at Ellis for finding bodies, she happens to find one herself.
And she doesn’t want Ellis, or anyone else for that matter, to know. However, Detective Anarchy Jones is called to the scene and he suspects murder. Gosh darnit, who will be next to know? Not Ellis! So, Frances makes Anarchy swear not to tell Anarchy… or her husband… or anyone, actually. She even has a scramble with the killer and is nearly killed herself!
Where’s Ellis? In Europe with Grace.
This was a great quick read!
March 23, 2025
Frances Walford is human?
This book is from Ellis’s mother Frances Walford’s POV. This is all about Frances finding a body. Yes, after her always getting mad at Ellis for finding bodies, she happens to find one herself.
And she doesn’t want Ellis, or anyone else for that matter, to know. However, Detective Anarchy Jones is called to the scene and he suspects murder. Gosh darnit, who will be next to know? Not Ellis! So, Frances makes Anarchy swear not to tell Anarchy… or her husband… or anyone, actually. She even has a scramble with the killer and is nearly killed herself!
Where’s Ellis? In Europe with Grace.
This was a great quick read!
This book is from Ellis’s mother Frances Walford’s POV. This is all about Frances finding a body. Yes, after her always getting mad at Ellis for finding bodies, she happens to find one herself.
And she doesn’t want Ellis, or anyone else for that matter, to know. However, Detective Anarchy Jones is called to the scene and he suspects murder. Gosh darnit, who will be next to know? Not Ellis! So, Frances makes Anarchy swear not to tell Anarchy… or her husband… or anyone, actually. She even has a scramble with the killer and is nearly killed herself!
Where’s Ellis? In Europe with Grace.
This was a great quick read!
January 4, 2024
Great Frances story
I was in high school and college in the 70's, making me more Grace than Ellison, but my mother was entirely Frances. Mulhern gets this era, not just the details, but the spirit. More, her characters are real, three-dimensional, and relatable. If you're not sure about whether you'd enjoy this series, this would be a good start, all the comedy and mystery wrapped in a small package.
I was in high school and college in the 70's, making me more Grace than Ellison, but my mother was entirely Frances. Mulhern gets this era, not just the details, but the spirit. More, her characters are real, three-dimensional, and relatable. If you're not sure about whether you'd enjoy this series, this would be a good start, all the comedy and mystery wrapped in a small package.
December 22, 2025
Getting a little burnt out on Christmas books I decided to listen to this little novella featuring Ellison's mother, Frances. While Ellison and Grace are travelling in Europe, Frances visits a friend who is concerned about her mother-in-law. Really, she should be in a nursing home but she refuses to go and keeps firing the nurses that they hire to help care for her and now no one is answering the phone at her house. Frances offers to go with her friend to make sure that Evelyn is ok but when they arrive the nurse is gone and Evelyn is lying dead on the floor in a pool of blood. While they are sure that it is just an unfortunate accidental fall, Harrison calls the police and Detective Jones shows up, much to Frances's chagrin. And just as suddenly, it is not and accidental death but murder. It was Evelyn's son that killed her, demanding more money for his allowance and killing her when she wouldn't sign power of attorney over to him. He then tries the same thing on Detective Jones and Frances saves the detective and stops the killer from escaping. Like mother, like daughter or, in this case, like daughter, like mother. An enjoyable story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2024
This is a short novella that is set back between the first two books. While Ellison and her daughter are off in Europe, Ellison’s mother, Frances, gets involved in a mystery. When she goes with one of her friends to check on the friend’s mother-in-law, they find the woman dead in her bedroom. But it couldn’t be murder. Frances doesn’t get involved in murder. The woman hit her head in a fall, right? Right?
I found Frances’s horror at getting caught up in the case to be funny. I also liked the fact that we got to know her better, something I definitely needed. The rest of the characters aren’t super well developed. Likewise, the mystery is a bit simple, but it kept my interest and reached a great climax. The thing to keep in mind is that this is a novella, and I read it in about an hour. As long as they remember the length, fans of the series will be happy with this story.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I found Frances’s horror at getting caught up in the case to be funny. I also liked the fact that we got to know her better, something I definitely needed. The rest of the characters aren’t super well developed. Likewise, the mystery is a bit simple, but it kept my interest and reached a great climax. The thing to keep in mind is that this is a novella, and I read it in about an hour. As long as they remember the length, fans of the series will be happy with this story.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 24, 2025
Ellison and Grace are touring Europe and Ellison's mother, Frances, goes with a friend to visit her friend's bed-bound mother-in-law, only to discover her dead body on her bedroom floor, lying in a pool of blood. All Frances can think of is the many times she has railed at Ellison for finding bodies, that it just isn't done by proper society ladies and now Frances has done it herself and Ellison mustn't find out about it.
This book was written out-of-order, after the 14th book of the country club murders, which is why it is number 1.5. But it makes it hard to understand how Frances's attitude to Ellison continues to be so hard when she still finds bodies or why her attitude toward Anarchy Jones, the police detective courting Ellison, hasn't improved in intervening books. It just doesn't fit in with the other books.
This book was written out-of-order, after the 14th book of the country club murders, which is why it is number 1.5. But it makes it hard to understand how Frances's attitude to Ellison continues to be so hard when she still finds bodies or why her attitude toward Anarchy Jones, the police detective courting Ellison, hasn't improved in intervening books. It just doesn't fit in with the other books.
February 26, 2025
Hands down my absolute favorite of the Country Club Murder series. A delightful surprise. I only wish it were a full novel instead of a novelette (and I wish it were available in paperback. I do not enjoy reading books from an iPad). But, the reason I loved it was two-fold. First, her mother is one of my favorite characters in the series. Two, it was not complicated. You didn’t drowned in a bunch of different names of people and places and who is related to who and who had a motive like all the others. The time you spent reading was more about how the character carried herself through the story and I absolutely LOVED it. If there are any more from her perspective, I’ll be reading them. I highly recommend this book.
October 27, 2023
It was fun to see something from Frances's point of view because I have read all of the other books in this series and if she was my mother I don't think I could handle it.
I would have given this 5 stars, but it bothered me how one minute the friend's name was Caro and the next it was Cora... and this went on for many pages. Caro then Cora. In a short book like this, this should have been caught by an editor because she was called both on the same page several times.
Otherwise, it was a quick, fun read.
I would have given this 5 stars, but it bothered me how one minute the friend's name was Caro and the next it was Cora... and this went on for many pages. Caro then Cora. In a short book like this, this should have been caught by an editor because she was called both on the same page several times.
Otherwise, it was a quick, fun read.
April 25, 2024
What fun to see Frances Walford swanning about in the midst of a murder investigation. To her dismay she actually finds the body. Horror of horrors. What will Ellison say?! This novella is set in time right after the first episode of the series. If Julie Mulhern continues churning out these novellas, we are all in danger of jumping ship to the Frances team. After all she is a member of the 'Greatest Generation' and her husband Harrington is such a doll. Such a fabulous peek into her world. Keep them coming, Ms. Mulhern!
December 3, 2024
Cute story. Ellison’s mother, Frances, finds a dead body when visiting a friend of hers. Her friend’s mother-in-law was found dead at the bottom of the stairs. She was a miserable person who was blowing thru her children’s inheritance; so lots of suspects. Ellison is away so Frances works with Anarchy Jones. She made him swear that he would never tell Ellison about the discovery. The murderer was the black sheep son. Frances saved Anarchy who had been hit on the head with a poker and used Anarchy’s gun to shoot the son.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2023
Enjoyable and funny, but predicable.
SYNOPSIS: "Frances Walford's daughter, Ellison Russell, has developed the truly deplorable habit of finding bodies. And Frances can't help but scold her about it. But when Ellison goes to Europe, Frances finds a corpse of her own. Can she help catch a killer and keep her involvement a secret? This is a short novella told from Frances's point of view. Chronologically it falls between 'The Deep End' and 'Guaranteed to Bleed'."
SYNOPSIS: "Frances Walford's daughter, Ellison Russell, has developed the truly deplorable habit of finding bodies. And Frances can't help but scold her about it. But when Ellison goes to Europe, Frances finds a corpse of her own. Can she help catch a killer and keep her involvement a secret? This is a short novella told from Frances's point of view. Chronologically it falls between 'The Deep End' and 'Guaranteed to Bleed'."
November 3, 2025
Short Story
Frances Walford's daughter, Ellison Russell, has developed the truly deplorable habit of finding bodies. And Frances can't help but scold her about it.
But when Ellison goes to Europe, Frances finds a corpse of her own.
Can she help catch a killer and keep her involvement a secret?
This is a short novella told from Frances's point of view. Chronologically it falls between The Deep End and Guaranteed to Bleed.
Frances Walford's daughter, Ellison Russell, has developed the truly deplorable habit of finding bodies. And Frances can't help but scold her about it.
But when Ellison goes to Europe, Frances finds a corpse of her own.
Can she help catch a killer and keep her involvement a secret?
This is a short novella told from Frances's point of view. Chronologically it falls between The Deep End and Guaranteed to Bleed.
October 8, 2023
I enjoyed the story, and especially increased insight into the character of Frances. However, there were far too many errors, especially in names and their spellings. I love this series enough to pay for each new offering--but please, can whoever does the editing please step up and do theor job more carefully?
May 16, 2024
Sweet Little Bonbon of Murder
Ellison’s mother, Frances, has always frowned on her daughter’s ability to stumbled upon dead bodies. So how could she explain the dead body at her feet?
This was a sweet, little bonbon of murder in the country club circle, this time featuring Ellison’s mother. Loved it!
Ellison’s mother, Frances, has always frowned on her daughter’s ability to stumbled upon dead bodies. So how could she explain the dead body at her feet?
This was a sweet, little bonbon of murder in the country club circle, this time featuring Ellison’s mother. Loved it!
January 11, 2026
After having read most of the books in this series, I found this novella from the point of view of Frances to be entertaining and elucidating. It explains a lot of the quirks of Ellison.
The fact that the story wrapped up more quickly than in the other ones in the series was a delightful change. Too bad the rest of the series had to drag on and on.
The fact that the story wrapped up more quickly than in the other ones in the series was a delightful change. Too bad the rest of the series had to drag on and on.
December 28, 2023
OMG! A short story in the Country Club murder series that revolves around Frances - so good! As much as she sometimes seems to be the mother from he!!, she always stands up for her family & tries to be the proper matriarch. Love her & love this book!
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews