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Val Fremden Humorous Mysteries #1
That Time I Kinda Killed a Guy
After 50 years of bumbling around on the planet, Val Fremden’s got nothing to show for her life but a long string of dead-end jobs and a two-digit bank balance.
But just as she’s about to toss her champagne dreams and caviar wishes into the dumpster, Val discovers that Marco Shamway—the jerk who plagued her all through high school—is now a millionaire. Worse yet, the idea that catapulted Marco to fame and fortune was one he’d stolen … from her !
In an instant, Val’s flimsy bubble of midlife complacency bursts like a rotten tomato, splattering sour-grape juice all over her mediocre existence. Out for revenge, Val’s determined to make her mark on the world even if it kills her—or better yet, him .
If you’ve ever longed to serve some jerk a steaming pile of their own just desserts, Val’s your gal! Hitch your wagon to this midlife mess and let her do the dirty work—while you laugh yourself silly all the way to the hilarious end.
Love Val Fremden? Doreen Diller? Freaky Florida Investigations? You're in luck! You never know which of your favorite characters might drop by in That Time I Kinda Killed a Guy , the first book in my brand new series, Val Fremden Strikes Again . It's loaded with the kind of wacky characters and events that can only happen in the Sunshine State!
What Readers are
“Val is the funniest character I’ve encountered in a lifetime of reading.”
“If you like humor with a side of crazy, topped with a mystery, then you will love this series.”
“When Val is involved, there’s no telling what will happen. This book has Val running from one hilarious event to another, brightening the reader’s day. The characters are delightfully funny, the plot full of twists & turns & the craftsmanship is expert. It has everything I’ve come to expect from this author!”
“The only problem I had with this book is that I kept my husband awake laughing. A very enjoyable read.”
“ONLY Val can get into these kinds of predicaments. I couldn't stop reading until the end.”
“Val! Will she ever catch a break? So funny! The twist with the characters is so surprising. This is a must read.”
“Val Fremden is just a hoot ! You'll enjoy the scrapes she gets into and the creative way she gets out of them. Give Val a chance!”
But just as she’s about to toss her champagne dreams and caviar wishes into the dumpster, Val discovers that Marco Shamway—the jerk who plagued her all through high school—is now a millionaire. Worse yet, the idea that catapulted Marco to fame and fortune was one he’d stolen … from her !
In an instant, Val’s flimsy bubble of midlife complacency bursts like a rotten tomato, splattering sour-grape juice all over her mediocre existence. Out for revenge, Val’s determined to make her mark on the world even if it kills her—or better yet, him .
If you’ve ever longed to serve some jerk a steaming pile of their own just desserts, Val’s your gal! Hitch your wagon to this midlife mess and let her do the dirty work—while you laugh yourself silly all the way to the hilarious end.
Love Val Fremden? Doreen Diller? Freaky Florida Investigations? You're in luck! You never know which of your favorite characters might drop by in That Time I Kinda Killed a Guy , the first book in my brand new series, Val Fremden Strikes Again . It's loaded with the kind of wacky characters and events that can only happen in the Sunshine State!
What Readers are
“Val is the funniest character I’ve encountered in a lifetime of reading.”
“If you like humor with a side of crazy, topped with a mystery, then you will love this series.”
“When Val is involved, there’s no telling what will happen. This book has Val running from one hilarious event to another, brightening the reader’s day. The characters are delightfully funny, the plot full of twists & turns & the craftsmanship is expert. It has everything I’ve come to expect from this author!”
“The only problem I had with this book is that I kept my husband awake laughing. A very enjoyable read.”
“ONLY Val can get into these kinds of predicaments. I couldn't stop reading until the end.”
“Val! Will she ever catch a break? So funny! The twist with the characters is so surprising. This is a must read.”
“Val Fremden is just a hoot ! You'll enjoy the scrapes she gets into and the creative way she gets out of them. Give Val a chance!”
238 pages, Paperback
Published October 7, 2023
548 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Lashley
51 books257 followersWhy do I love underdogs? Well, it takes one to know one.
Like the main characters in my novels, I haven’t lead a life of wealth or luxury. In fact, as it stands now, I’m set to inherit a half-eaten jar of Cheez Whiz…if my siblings don’t beat me to it.
During my illustrious career, I’ve been a roller-skating waitress, an actuarial assistant, an advertising copywriter, a real estate agent, a house flipper, an organic farmer, and a traveling vagabond/truth seeker. But no matter where I’ve gone or what I’ve done, I’ve always felt like a weirdo.
I’ve learned a heck of a lot in my life. But getting to know myself has been my greatest journey. Today, I know I’m smart. I’m direct. I’m jaded. I’m hopeful. I’m funny. I’m fierce. I’m a pushover. And I have a laugh that lures strangers over, wanting to join in the fun.
In other words, I’m a jumble of opposing talents and flaws and emotions. And it’s all good.
I enjoy underdogs because we’ve got spunk. And hope. And secrets that drive us to be different from the rest.
So dare to be different. It's the only way to be!
Happy reading!
Like the main characters in my novels, I haven’t lead a life of wealth or luxury. In fact, as it stands now, I’m set to inherit a half-eaten jar of Cheez Whiz…if my siblings don’t beat me to it.
During my illustrious career, I’ve been a roller-skating waitress, an actuarial assistant, an advertising copywriter, a real estate agent, a house flipper, an organic farmer, and a traveling vagabond/truth seeker. But no matter where I’ve gone or what I’ve done, I’ve always felt like a weirdo.
I’ve learned a heck of a lot in my life. But getting to know myself has been my greatest journey. Today, I know I’m smart. I’m direct. I’m jaded. I’m hopeful. I’m funny. I’m fierce. I’m a pushover. And I have a laugh that lures strangers over, wanting to join in the fun.
In other words, I’m a jumble of opposing talents and flaws and emotions. And it’s all good.
I enjoy underdogs because we’ve got spunk. And hope. And secrets that drive us to be different from the rest.
So dare to be different. It's the only way to be!
Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 28, 2023
I’m not finding this book the tiniest bit funny. And Val’s whine bag poor me schtick is tiresome.
November 7, 2023
How can it be that I’m almost 51 and I have pretty much zero to show for my life?
Well, if this were Shakespeare, that would definitely be The Question. But no, this is from Margaret Lashley's hilarious "That Time I Kinda Killed a Guy (Val Fremden Strikes Again Book 1)". Our story is a sincere look at the aforementioned Val's current place in what the author herself identifies as "the bizarre crap-show that (is) Florida". I have no idea what she, her characters, or even verily many of my own friends are doing there and when I ask those that will answer honestly (read: at all) they just shrug and mumble "I 'unno'"… I mean, I grew up significantly more northerly from Florida albeit still in hurricane alley and with humidity in the summers reaching averages working out to somehow still greater than 100%, but I just can't follow the logic of it all. Maybe that's my problem, namely, my Vulcan-esque tendency to look at things that way. And my love for mountains. Call it 50:50. But Val - who in one instance is rather legitimately thought to be a drag queen bingo reject and later even (checks notes) a so-called crap magnet - is (t)here so that's what counts.
This can’t be happening! I don’t want to die this way! I’ve got nothing interesting to put in my obituary!
Anyway, after getting a couple of Lashley's tasty little treats under my belt (keep it clean, weirdos), I have to confess that I've let my faithful following of her stories slip a bit. I've always considered her work to be there when I need it and certainly reliable, but then again, I also considered that my TBR pile would eventually drop down to a count in the mid triple digits (like the heat in Florida… oh ha ha, I crack myself up!). But I do enjoy following her hilarious musings and meme'ings on Facebook, where she runs one of the better author-promotional pages on social media as well as a terrific newsletter (those were hints, knuckleheads, get on it!). Still, that's no excuse and as such, I was glad to reacquaint myself with essentially Bobbie Drex minus the cryptids and other creepies. What can I say? It's obvious Lashley writes from the heart and apparently with a mirror in front of her… Is that nice to say? Hm, I just meant this strikes me as a very personal albeit self-effacing tale. I'll work on my compliments, I promise…
My lips puckered like a puritan in a public outhouse.
So, while we're trying out said nice thingies to say-ie, this story was indeed a relaxing and purely enjoyable glimpse into down-on-her-luck Val's life. It's always a pleasure to have an author show - not tell mind you - so much about their cast without having to go into long soliloquys about life, the universe, and everything while they're at it. It's also a hoot when you have someone like Val that not only doesn't quite engage her brain fully before her mouth is saying The Things and thusly continually finds herself in odd, often very suspicious circumstances. Or at least I would call things like "falsifying public records to stealing a body out of a morgue to harboring a fugitive pet pig on the lam" suspicious, not to mention the accusations of human dismemberment and assaulting an officer’s toupee. But we won't mention those…
For the millionth time, they were my mom’s underwear. I’d borrowed them because ... Ugh! Never mind.
Needless to say - though I guess for a book review I should anyway - Lashley's imagination and execution (hm, another suspicious crime maybe?) are side-splittingly terrific. Every time I've ventured into one of her stories, I find myself longing for days at the beach, shrimp sandwiches, and long walks to the liquor store to restock my supplies. So believe me when I say the "Strikes Again" approach is worth your time and more. It's very well-written, very mysterious in its own way (didn't see THAT coming at all) and, again, just plain fun. Sign up, pay up, and git 'er done y'all is my final advice!
Florida Woman Caught with “Happy Traveler” on Tour of Her Nether Regions
P.S. Though I will not explain why, it has recently come to my, um, attention that the "right to one phone call" rule that is so popular on TV shows is actually more complicated than that! You may just want to inform yourself about your rights to same, particularly if you are the type of person that tends to act out their subliminal coping mechanisms with deadly force. I'm not saying you can order GrubStub or anything of that nature while incarcerated, but you do have some leeway in how you use your right to contact others who may be of service to, at, or on you. It could come in handy when, quote, "the fires of hell heat up to fry (your) guilty ass"! 'Nuff said. And with no spoilers or flying arthropods to fling you towards temporary insanity either!
Well, if this were Shakespeare, that would definitely be The Question. But no, this is from Margaret Lashley's hilarious "That Time I Kinda Killed a Guy (Val Fremden Strikes Again Book 1)". Our story is a sincere look at the aforementioned Val's current place in what the author herself identifies as "the bizarre crap-show that (is) Florida". I have no idea what she, her characters, or even verily many of my own friends are doing there and when I ask those that will answer honestly (read: at all) they just shrug and mumble "I 'unno'"… I mean, I grew up significantly more northerly from Florida albeit still in hurricane alley and with humidity in the summers reaching averages working out to somehow still greater than 100%, but I just can't follow the logic of it all. Maybe that's my problem, namely, my Vulcan-esque tendency to look at things that way. And my love for mountains. Call it 50:50. But Val - who in one instance is rather legitimately thought to be a drag queen bingo reject and later even (checks notes) a so-called crap magnet - is (t)here so that's what counts.
This can’t be happening! I don’t want to die this way! I’ve got nothing interesting to put in my obituary!
Anyway, after getting a couple of Lashley's tasty little treats under my belt (keep it clean, weirdos), I have to confess that I've let my faithful following of her stories slip a bit. I've always considered her work to be there when I need it and certainly reliable, but then again, I also considered that my TBR pile would eventually drop down to a count in the mid triple digits (like the heat in Florida… oh ha ha, I crack myself up!). But I do enjoy following her hilarious musings and meme'ings on Facebook, where she runs one of the better author-promotional pages on social media as well as a terrific newsletter (those were hints, knuckleheads, get on it!). Still, that's no excuse and as such, I was glad to reacquaint myself with essentially Bobbie Drex minus the cryptids and other creepies. What can I say? It's obvious Lashley writes from the heart and apparently with a mirror in front of her… Is that nice to say? Hm, I just meant this strikes me as a very personal albeit self-effacing tale. I'll work on my compliments, I promise…
My lips puckered like a puritan in a public outhouse.
So, while we're trying out said nice thingies to say-ie, this story was indeed a relaxing and purely enjoyable glimpse into down-on-her-luck Val's life. It's always a pleasure to have an author show - not tell mind you - so much about their cast without having to go into long soliloquys about life, the universe, and everything while they're at it. It's also a hoot when you have someone like Val that not only doesn't quite engage her brain fully before her mouth is saying The Things and thusly continually finds herself in odd, often very suspicious circumstances. Or at least I would call things like "falsifying public records to stealing a body out of a morgue to harboring a fugitive pet pig on the lam" suspicious, not to mention the accusations of human dismemberment and assaulting an officer’s toupee. But we won't mention those…
For the millionth time, they were my mom’s underwear. I’d borrowed them because ... Ugh! Never mind.
Needless to say - though I guess for a book review I should anyway - Lashley's imagination and execution (hm, another suspicious crime maybe?) are side-splittingly terrific. Every time I've ventured into one of her stories, I find myself longing for days at the beach, shrimp sandwiches, and long walks to the liquor store to restock my supplies. So believe me when I say the "Strikes Again" approach is worth your time and more. It's very well-written, very mysterious in its own way (didn't see THAT coming at all) and, again, just plain fun. Sign up, pay up, and git 'er done y'all is my final advice!
Florida Woman Caught with “Happy Traveler” on Tour of Her Nether Regions
P.S. Though I will not explain why, it has recently come to my, um, attention that the "right to one phone call" rule that is so popular on TV shows is actually more complicated than that! You may just want to inform yourself about your rights to same, particularly if you are the type of person that tends to act out their subliminal coping mechanisms with deadly force. I'm not saying you can order GrubStub or anything of that nature while incarcerated, but you do have some leeway in how you use your right to contact others who may be of service to, at, or on you. It could come in handy when, quote, "the fires of hell heat up to fry (your) guilty ass"! 'Nuff said. And with no spoilers or flying arthropods to fling you towards temporary insanity either!
June 19, 2025
DON’T START HERE WITH THIS BOOK! READ “GLAD ONE” FIRST! Please tell me you haven’t started this 4-book series yet! Maybe I’ll save you from going out of date order if you’re reading this review trying to decide whether or not to read this series. DON’T START WITH THIS BOOK! There is another Val Fremden series that is before this one. It builds up to everything that occurs in this series and it’s where Val is introduced to readers. That series is Val Fremden Midlife Mysteries. BOOK 1 of 9 is “GLAD ONE”. ⬅️⬅️ GO TO THAT SERIES FIRST.
Now onto my review/blog? for this book…
Val Fremden has the worst luck. Ever! Poor gal is accused and held on suspicion of murder within only a few hours of starting her new job - a job she was blackmailed into doing.
I admit I didn’t enjoy this book and it’s dumb-to-me humor until Laverne entered the scene. Laverne is Val’s next door ex-Vegas-showgirl septuagenarian neighbor. She is one of only a few people that truly ’get’ Val’s unique brand of character. Laverne is quite a character I really enjoy reading about and I’d wait through each page in anticipation for her to visit Val so I could see what she’d do and say next:
“Suddenly, Laverne’s right arm flew up, then down, sending my Hammer of Justice crashing into Marco’s crumbled remains. ‘Take that, you dirty scumbag!’ she said, delivering a perfect bullseye to what was left of Marco’s ceramic crotch.”
“When I’d [Val] inherited my little house five years ago, the unflappable former showgirl had come along as part of the package. I’d slowly come to appreciate the ditzy septuagenarian’s puppy-dog loyalty. She was always ready to help, and to dole out her unique brand of odd, yet often eerily accurate advice—the kind you just don’t find any more in today’s politically correct society.”
Example of wisdom after Val told Laverne she’d been fired from her most recent job:
“Laverne’s face registered shock and surprise. ‘Val! You aren’t failing. You’re learning.’”
Val is a nut! She is so scattered and anxious. She makes me nervous! And after being accused of murder, she is bound and determined to clear her name. She involves her best friend Milly in her own undercover investigation by having Milly take her to a hotel to spy and gather intel.
At one point Val is caught spying by the detective on the murder case after he’d specifically told her not to get involved or he’d arrest her! Although she does have dumb luck, I can’t help but admit it’s her own fault when she gets into trouble -
“When will I ever learn to shut up?”
“For a gal with not much going on, I had a lot going on. Murder suspect. Drag queen impersonator. Contract fraudster. Thieving thrift-store flunky. Sketchy girlfriend. And now, murder Target of Don McLester.”
That last excerpt pretty much sums up this entire book. Want to know more? Read this book.
Next is Book 2 of 4: “There’s Something About Gary.”
Now onto my review/blog? for this book…
Val Fremden has the worst luck. Ever! Poor gal is accused and held on suspicion of murder within only a few hours of starting her new job - a job she was blackmailed into doing.
I admit I didn’t enjoy this book and it’s dumb-to-me humor until Laverne entered the scene. Laverne is Val’s next door ex-Vegas-showgirl septuagenarian neighbor. She is one of only a few people that truly ’get’ Val’s unique brand of character. Laverne is quite a character I really enjoy reading about and I’d wait through each page in anticipation for her to visit Val so I could see what she’d do and say next:
“Suddenly, Laverne’s right arm flew up, then down, sending my Hammer of Justice crashing into Marco’s crumbled remains. ‘Take that, you dirty scumbag!’ she said, delivering a perfect bullseye to what was left of Marco’s ceramic crotch.”
“When I’d [Val] inherited my little house five years ago, the unflappable former showgirl had come along as part of the package. I’d slowly come to appreciate the ditzy septuagenarian’s puppy-dog loyalty. She was always ready to help, and to dole out her unique brand of odd, yet often eerily accurate advice—the kind you just don’t find any more in today’s politically correct society.”
Example of wisdom after Val told Laverne she’d been fired from her most recent job:
“Laverne’s face registered shock and surprise. ‘Val! You aren’t failing. You’re learning.’”
Val is a nut! She is so scattered and anxious. She makes me nervous! And after being accused of murder, she is bound and determined to clear her name. She involves her best friend Milly in her own undercover investigation by having Milly take her to a hotel to spy and gather intel.
At one point Val is caught spying by the detective on the murder case after he’d specifically told her not to get involved or he’d arrest her! Although she does have dumb luck, I can’t help but admit it’s her own fault when she gets into trouble -
“When will I ever learn to shut up?”
“For a gal with not much going on, I had a lot going on. Murder suspect. Drag queen impersonator. Contract fraudster. Thieving thrift-store flunky. Sketchy girlfriend. And now, murder Target of Don McLester.”
That last excerpt pretty much sums up this entire book. Want to know more? Read this book.
Next is Book 2 of 4: “There’s Something About Gary.”
December 28, 2025
“That Time I Kinda Killed a Guy” wants very badly to be funny, twisty and cheerfully anarchic. What it actually is, most of the time, is tedious noise dressed up as quirk. I kept waiting for it to turn a corner and do something clever. It just keeps jogging on the spot, wheezing.
The comedy is a bust. Flat, laboured, desperate. The jokes read like they were written with a specific cast in mind, which is another way of admitting the prose can’t do the job on its own. On the page, the humour lands somewhere between strained and outright stupid. Timing is off. Rhythm is non-existent. The punchlines arrive dead on arrival.
Calling this a mystery is generous to the point of fantasy. The “twist” is visible from several suburbs away and the plot itself makes little sense once you stop to think for more than three seconds. The protagonist doesn’t solve anything. She just blunders from one scrape to the next and is repeatedly saved by dumb luck. Being “informed” you’re innocent isn’t a resolution; it’s narrative malpractice. The mystery isn’t solved so much as abandoned.
Val, our supposed heroine, is a charisma vacuum. A protagonist without a pulse is a death sentence in fiction, and she’s terminally so-so. Not sharp, not especially funny, not interesting enough to carry the weight of the book. Just mildly annoying and constantly reactive. If I don’t care whether the lead lives, learns or combusts, why am I still here? Habit, apparently.
Secondary characters barely exist at all. They drift through like half-finished doodles, defined by a single gag or tic and then dropped. No inner lives, no tension, no sense of consequence. It all feels rushed and undercooked, like a first draft that skipped the “develop people” stage entirely.
The prose doesn’t help. Some of the similes are actively offensive to language itself. “Gripping the steering wheel like a tarantula” isn’t evocative; it’s deranged. These moments don’t add texture, they grate, pulling you out of the story and daring you not to roll your eyes.
Structurally, it’s a disjointed, poorly edited cliffhanger trap that fails to understand its own audience. Abrupt stops, loose ends, and an ending that feels less like a tease and more like a shrug. It’s chaotic, but not in a deliberate, gleeful way. Just sloppy.
The only mercy is its length. It’s short and weird enough to function as a palate cleanser, even if that cleanse feels more like a system crash than a refresh. I finished it, but I wouldn’t call that an endorsement.
Two stars. That’s me being polite.
The comedy is a bust. Flat, laboured, desperate. The jokes read like they were written with a specific cast in mind, which is another way of admitting the prose can’t do the job on its own. On the page, the humour lands somewhere between strained and outright stupid. Timing is off. Rhythm is non-existent. The punchlines arrive dead on arrival.
Calling this a mystery is generous to the point of fantasy. The “twist” is visible from several suburbs away and the plot itself makes little sense once you stop to think for more than three seconds. The protagonist doesn’t solve anything. She just blunders from one scrape to the next and is repeatedly saved by dumb luck. Being “informed” you’re innocent isn’t a resolution; it’s narrative malpractice. The mystery isn’t solved so much as abandoned.
Val, our supposed heroine, is a charisma vacuum. A protagonist without a pulse is a death sentence in fiction, and she’s terminally so-so. Not sharp, not especially funny, not interesting enough to carry the weight of the book. Just mildly annoying and constantly reactive. If I don’t care whether the lead lives, learns or combusts, why am I still here? Habit, apparently.
Secondary characters barely exist at all. They drift through like half-finished doodles, defined by a single gag or tic and then dropped. No inner lives, no tension, no sense of consequence. It all feels rushed and undercooked, like a first draft that skipped the “develop people” stage entirely.
The prose doesn’t help. Some of the similes are actively offensive to language itself. “Gripping the steering wheel like a tarantula” isn’t evocative; it’s deranged. These moments don’t add texture, they grate, pulling you out of the story and daring you not to roll your eyes.
Structurally, it’s a disjointed, poorly edited cliffhanger trap that fails to understand its own audience. Abrupt stops, loose ends, and an ending that feels less like a tease and more like a shrug. It’s chaotic, but not in a deliberate, gleeful way. Just sloppy.
The only mercy is its length. It’s short and weird enough to function as a palate cleanser, even if that cleanse feels more like a system crash than a refresh. I finished it, but I wouldn’t call that an endorsement.
Two stars. That’s me being polite.
November 20, 2025
2.5 stars
I don’t really have a lot to say. It wasn’t a mystery exactly. It was more that the MC kept getting charged with stuff and she’d have to prove she was innocent. But she never really did. Something would just happen that she’d be informed about that got her off the hook.
Most of the cast of characters were likable, even the obnoxious police chief eventually, but I wasn’t that fond of the main character. She was just so so. I didn’t like the fat shaming though or the descriptions of people as being really gross.
Some of it was pretty dumb. Maybe it would have been better as a movie or TV show where the actors’ body language would back up what was supposed to be humorous. But I didn’t really find it funny, just kind of absurd. Which was okay I guess.
It ended on a cliffhanger regarding one of the subplots, the only thing in the book I really cared about. It’s not enough to get me to read the next one though.
The narrator, Sarah Pesek, was quite good, using several different voices and expressing the sarcasm with the right tone.
I don’t really have a lot to say. It wasn’t a mystery exactly. It was more that the MC kept getting charged with stuff and she’d have to prove she was innocent. But she never really did. Something would just happen that she’d be informed about that got her off the hook.
Most of the cast of characters were likable, even the obnoxious police chief eventually, but I wasn’t that fond of the main character. She was just so so. I didn’t like the fat shaming though or the descriptions of people as being really gross.
Some of it was pretty dumb. Maybe it would have been better as a movie or TV show where the actors’ body language would back up what was supposed to be humorous. But I didn’t really find it funny, just kind of absurd. Which was okay I guess.
It ended on a cliffhanger regarding one of the subplots, the only thing in the book I really cared about. It’s not enough to get me to read the next one though.
The narrator, Sarah Pesek, was quite good, using several different voices and expressing the sarcasm with the right tone.
December 6, 2024
2 scratching my head stars...
This was odd and a bit all over the place. The main characters were in their 50s but seemed way older than that, and this is coming from a 50 year old. Peeing in pants (I get it some people have issues), taking everything litterly (Amelia Bedelia vibes), gold lamae outfits....really?? We (50 year olds) don't typically act like that...well maybe sometimes but not always lol.
There was one good "dad joke" that I may have laughed a bit too much at : Heinz Pickleworth... It's a family name my mother always relished (he he) .
Some of the analogies were just weird ..griping the steering wheel like a tarantula??
And what was up with Tom? Maybe the other books tell that story??
Overall I'll say for me it was a pallet cleanser, a bit campy, odd and just....... Yeah, I got nothing else.
This was odd and a bit all over the place. The main characters were in their 50s but seemed way older than that, and this is coming from a 50 year old. Peeing in pants (I get it some people have issues), taking everything litterly (Amelia Bedelia vibes), gold lamae outfits....really?? We (50 year olds) don't typically act like that...well maybe sometimes but not always lol.
There was one good "dad joke" that I may have laughed a bit too much at : Heinz Pickleworth... It's a family name my mother always relished (he he) .
Some of the analogies were just weird ..griping the steering wheel like a tarantula??
And what was up with Tom? Maybe the other books tell that story??
Overall I'll say for me it was a pallet cleanser, a bit campy, odd and just....... Yeah, I got nothing else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2023
Thanks to the author for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I have read some of Margaret's 'Val Fremden' books previously. Val is around 50, with all the traits of the menopause and a very dry sense of humour. These books are so caustically witty they are laugh-out-loud, and this book is no exception. A clever cosy mystery, Val and her bizarre friends bumble around, creating as much chaos as uncovering crimes. Will Val find out the truth in this twisty plot, and have a loving reunion with her steady 'boyfriend' Tom? Only by reading this hilarious and clever book can you find out! Bring on the next in the series, please!
I have read some of Margaret's 'Val Fremden' books previously. Val is around 50, with all the traits of the menopause and a very dry sense of humour. These books are so caustically witty they are laugh-out-loud, and this book is no exception. A clever cosy mystery, Val and her bizarre friends bumble around, creating as much chaos as uncovering crimes. Will Val find out the truth in this twisty plot, and have a loving reunion with her steady 'boyfriend' Tom? Only by reading this hilarious and clever book can you find out! Bring on the next in the series, please!
December 7, 2024
53% DNF—Book Club pick. I REALLY tried to finish this, I swear. I can see how this might relate to other readers, but it sadly wasn’t for me.
What happened to the character development? Does that happen in the last half of the book? These characters were supposed to be (around) 50yrs old; yet they were portrayed as childish and trivial. Other times, they were portrayed as old, out of touch, and pee their pants. Huh???
What’s with the “F” names?? Val Fremden, Ferrol Finkerman, JD Fellows—and then it was Melvin Flemster at the beginning and then turned into Melvin Fenster. Were there two different Melvin’s or was this an author blunder? I’ll never know...
Overall, this story was poorly put together, all over the place, and had no clear “this is where the story is going”; hence the DNF.
What happened to the character development? Does that happen in the last half of the book? These characters were supposed to be (around) 50yrs old; yet they were portrayed as childish and trivial. Other times, they were portrayed as old, out of touch, and pee their pants. Huh???
What’s with the “F” names?? Val Fremden, Ferrol Finkerman, JD Fellows—and then it was Melvin Flemster at the beginning and then turned into Melvin Fenster. Were there two different Melvin’s or was this an author blunder? I’ll never know...
Overall, this story was poorly put together, all over the place, and had no clear “this is where the story is going”; hence the DNF.
May 5, 2025
Val does it again
The first series of Val Dresden books were fun and quick reads. I found it interesting that the author started another series instead of continuing the first. I have to say I don't like this one as much yet. Because I just finished the first series and started directly on this one, the characters were still fresh in my mind. In this book everything just seems off kilter. Val is dead broke and again embroiled in a crime, Tom has a side piece(?), and Snog the dog is nowhere to be seen. This book seems to have taken place not long after book nine in the other series, so these things feel out of place. I'll see how the next installment goes, but right now I'm just not feeling it.
The first series of Val Dresden books were fun and quick reads. I found it interesting that the author started another series instead of continuing the first. I have to say I don't like this one as much yet. Because I just finished the first series and started directly on this one, the characters were still fresh in my mind. In this book everything just seems off kilter. Val is dead broke and again embroiled in a crime, Tom has a side piece(?), and Snog the dog is nowhere to be seen. This book seems to have taken place not long after book nine in the other series, so these things feel out of place. I'll see how the next installment goes, but right now I'm just not feeling it.
October 4, 2023
I am absolutely delighted to see Ms. Lashley begin a new series starring Val Fremden! Val is the funniest character I’ve encountered in a lifetime of reading. When Val is involved, there’s no telling what will happen. This book has Val running from one hilarious event to another, brightening the reader’s day. The characters are delightfully funny, the plot full of twists & turns & the craftsmanship is expert. It has everything I’ve come to expect from this author! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
October 17, 2023
If you are expecting this book to pick up where the last Val Fremden book left off, you’ll be disappointed. Other than a couple of characters from the Doreen Diller series making an appearance this felt off. It was like we jumped back to Val at the beginning again. I think the author rewrote Val’s back story hoping we wouldn’t notice. It’s as if she started the series over and changed parts of it. Val is still bumbling through life but it’s missing some of the lovable menagerie of goofy characters she befriended in the series. Rewriting how she knows Milly as one example. Still a hood read but a little disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2024
Hmm…lol’d only once….
The review said, “You’ll laugh out loud the entire book!”
Or something close…but I only laughed out loud once. That’s it. Once.
I’m not saying that I wasn’t amused here and there, but I wasn’t hysterical with the type of laughter that makes me pause so I can breathe and need an inhaler. Ya know?
I applaud the author for the storyline, but at times, it seemed like stretching to get the funny.
It kept my attention enough to finish. That’s a good thing! I give it a three because it’s not awful!
As always, this is just my humble little opinion…check it out and see for yourself if you like it or not!
Cheers!
The review said, “You’ll laugh out loud the entire book!”
Or something close…but I only laughed out loud once. That’s it. Once.
I’m not saying that I wasn’t amused here and there, but I wasn’t hysterical with the type of laughter that makes me pause so I can breathe and need an inhaler. Ya know?
I applaud the author for the storyline, but at times, it seemed like stretching to get the funny.
It kept my attention enough to finish. That’s a good thing! I give it a three because it’s not awful!
As always, this is just my humble little opinion…check it out and see for yourself if you like it or not!
Cheers!
October 15, 2023
Huh. Was not expecting that.
While I've been missing my Book Beasties, and CANNOT WAIT until the next Val Fremden book in this new series is released, after finishing this one, my mouth is hanging open like that sorority girl waitin' on the keg stand during spring break. Dumbly. Even a little 70-proof saliva is dribbling down my chin, which is remarkable since I haven't had a drink in, um maybe 4 months or more. Side Note: Maybe, technically, realistically, it's not necessary to read the first series, but why the heck wouldn't you? They awesome.
While I've been missing my Book Beasties, and CANNOT WAIT until the next Val Fremden book in this new series is released, after finishing this one, my mouth is hanging open like that sorority girl waitin' on the keg stand during spring break. Dumbly. Even a little 70-proof saliva is dribbling down my chin, which is remarkable since I haven't had a drink in, um maybe 4 months or more. Side Note: Maybe, technically, realistically, it's not necessary to read the first series, but why the heck wouldn't you? They awesome.
December 10, 2023
Classic Val Fremden Humor!
I loved the Val Fremden series and this first book of her new series was a reunion of favorite characters! Val has not changed too much since I last peeked in at her adventures. Poor Val rarely has anything turn out right or be easy. It generally turns out OK, but not because of anything she has done. This is a fun story with some new characters that will be fun to have in future episodes. I am looking forward to more of this series.
I loved the Val Fremden series and this first book of her new series was a reunion of favorite characters! Val has not changed too much since I last peeked in at her adventures. Poor Val rarely has anything turn out right or be easy. It generally turns out OK, but not because of anything she has done. This is a fun story with some new characters that will be fun to have in future episodes. I am looking forward to more of this series.
October 23, 2023
Packed it in at about 10%
Too frenetic and silly. Plus, I hate when an author resorts to cheap tricks to engage reader. In this case, cheap trick was having MC mistake an image on a billboard as an immediate and physical threat to her. Do better.
Also just now (30+ years later) finding out what product made her high school nemesis a billionaire. DO BETTER!
Too frenetic and silly. Plus, I hate when an author resorts to cheap tricks to engage reader. In this case, cheap trick was having MC mistake an image on a billboard as an immediate and physical threat to her. Do better.
Also just now (30+ years later) finding out what product made her high school nemesis a billionaire. DO BETTER!
November 26, 2023
Val should be a detective!
Val is called the closer but not what you think for. She tries but somehow misses the mark. She stumbles through life, barely surviving, looking for her career or purpose. Finding dead guys and con men, she should pursue as a private investigator. Hilarious, fun, check out the other books by this author, you won't be disappointed.
Val is called the closer but not what you think for. She tries but somehow misses the mark. She stumbles through life, barely surviving, looking for her career or purpose. Finding dead guys and con men, she should pursue as a private investigator. Hilarious, fun, check out the other books by this author, you won't be disappointed.
January 9, 2024
Val Fremden is down on her luck (way down). She gets caught stealing and is blackmailed into working in a dingy thrift store where she accidently kills a guy. When the police think she committed premeditated murder, she and her friends attempt to solve the mystery of who murdered the guy. It's a light weight fun read.
November 10, 2025
If I could rate this book, any less, I would! Who thought this was a good book to publish?? This is the dumbest book ever! I pushed through and finished it just because I needed to see if it got any better, but it didn’t! Listen to this on audible because it was free, and now I understand why. The hillbilly accent of the narrator was Horrific. I’m so sad that I wasted the time to read this!
October 18, 2023
Another Hit
I loved this one! The ability that Lashley has to draw the reader in is wonderful! I can not wait for book 2 of this series. Do yourself a favor and have some laughs and fun with Val Fremden!
I loved this one! The ability that Lashley has to draw the reader in is wonderful! I can not wait for book 2 of this series. Do yourself a favor and have some laughs and fun with Val Fremden!
October 18, 2023
Val never fails to deliver laughs
Belly laughs that is. How wonderful to get lost in the midlife crisis of such a hysterical character! Val and friends will be my “friends “ for life…..but where is Tom?…..
Belly laughs that is. How wonderful to get lost in the midlife crisis of such a hysterical character! Val and friends will be my “friends “ for life…..but where is Tom?…..
October 31, 2023
love Val Fremden!
I have read the first series … glad she is making a come back with a new series!!! She is a character who finds a way to get herself into some of the worst predicaments!!!
I have read the first series … glad she is making a come back with a new series!!! She is a character who finds a way to get herself into some of the worst predicaments!!!
November 17, 2023
What's not to love about a new series from Margaret Lashley.
I love everything she writes!
Bless Val, she is a walking calamity. Her life clatters from one nightmare to another. But it's a journey that brings the reader GREAT amusement and huge enjoyment.
I'm rolling into the next one. 🫶
I love everything she writes!
Bless Val, she is a walking calamity. Her life clatters from one nightmare to another. But it's a journey that brings the reader GREAT amusement and huge enjoyment.
I'm rolling into the next one. 🫶
July 10, 2024
If you need a good laugh, you have got to read this! It was a delightfully quick read that had me actually laughing out loud. Val is a quirky character that has you feel relieved you don't live her life. A must-read, in my opinion.
September 21, 2024
Sorry, I hate being a naysayer, but I thought the storyline(s) were contrived and underwhelming. There seemed to be a hole in just about every story line. Just not really my cup of tea. I kept wanting to yell at Val to get a clue and act like an adult.
December 1, 2024
Such a boring book. Why was Tom even mentioned? The “twists” were odd. The interactions with Marco at the end were cringy. I found myself shaking my head every time Val would self-incriminate to the point that it was expected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2024
So I liked the story, unfortunately the characters are flat and boring. I didn’t find it as funny as the other comments made it out to be.
Looking into it further, it looks like there are other books about Val. So maybe the reason I thought she was flat is because I didn’t read the other books?
Looking into it further, it looks like there are other books about Val. So maybe the reason I thought she was flat is because I didn’t read the other books?
March 2, 2025
Comparison to series
I like the character, I read her previous series. So.... I was thrown off by the discrepancies from the series books.
1. Different origin story
2. Missing elements to the partner/spouses
of female characters
3. Where is her puppy?
I like the character, I read her previous series. So.... I was thrown off by the discrepancies from the series books.
1. Different origin story
2. Missing elements to the partner/spouses
of female characters
3. Where is her puppy?
April 25, 2025
There were a couple of weird continuity issues when compared with the previous Val books. Example: There's no way Marco called her "Fremden" in high school, since her last name as a child was Jolly. Fremden was her 3rd husband's surname.
July 5, 2025
Soo good!,
This book was so good!!! I ABSOLUTELY loved the Val fremden series and was so upset that it was over!!! So I couldn't believe/was so excited that she wrote another Val series!!!!! I can also identify with Val bc I'm a funky weirdo underdog too!!,
This book was so good!!! I ABSOLUTELY loved the Val fremden series and was so upset that it was over!!! So I couldn't believe/was so excited that she wrote another Val series!!!!! I can also identify with Val bc I'm a funky weirdo underdog too!!,
November 4, 2025
3.75
This is giving major Finley Donovan vibes. If you liked that series, you might like this one too. it's kind of zany in some stuff was slightly unbelievable. But I wanted to know what happened and I had a good time.
This is giving major Finley Donovan vibes. If you liked that series, you might like this one too. it's kind of zany in some stuff was slightly unbelievable. But I wanted to know what happened and I had a good time.
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