Treasure in Tawas

Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery #5

by Madison Johns

he last thing Agnes Barton expected was to be slapped in cuffs alongside her best friend, and fellow-sleuthing buddy, Eleanor Mason. All they had wanted to do was to verify if a painting at the Butler Mansion had indeed been stolen. How were they to know that they had tripped off a silent alarm—or that Agnes’ nemesis Mildred Winfree’s body would be discovered when the cops showed up? It didn’t help that they had entered the mansion illegally—using a key Agnes had pilfered from her daughter Martha who was working as a real estate agent to sell the old place.

Word has it that a treasure map was hidden in the back of a painting at the Butler Mansion, and it was just too juicy a story not to investigate. So here Agnes and Eleanor sat in jail as prime suspects as they were brought in for questioning.

The tabloid, Tall Tales, printed a treasure map in its most recent addition, and soon, East Tawas becomes a point of interest as treasure hunters began tearing up the town looking for treasure. Agnes and Eleanor join in the foray, but she wondered just who was behind this tall tale, and what did it have to do with Mildred’s murder?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2014

About the author

When Madison Johns began writing at the age of forty-four, she never imagined she'd make it onto the USA Today best-selling books list with her first cozy mystery, Armed and Outrageous, as an independent author. Sure, this book is an Amazon bestseller, but USA Today?

Although sleep-deprived from working third shift, she knew if she used what she had learned while caring for senior citizens to good use, it would result in something quite unique. The Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths mystery series has forever changed Madison's life, with each of the books making it onto the Amazon bestseller's list for cozy mystery and humor.

Madison is a member of Sisters In Crime. Madison is now able to do what she loves best and work from home as a full-time writer. She has two children, a black lab, and a hilarious Jackson Chameleon to keep her company while she churns out more Agnes Barton stories with a few others brewing in the pot.
Books


Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery series in order:
Armed and Outrageous
Grannies, Guns and Ghosts
Senior Snoops

Romance
Pretty and Pregnant novella
Redneck Romance (Published by Tirgearr Publishing)

Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/Madison-Johns/e...

She is actively involved on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Goodreads. She is always willing to chat it up or give advice, and supports other writers whenever she can.

Smiles :)

Reviews

[nadina j whitsitt]

Another good cozy mystery

Loved it. Read it in one setting. Now on to the next one...got to read something good while at all these doctor offices.

[Argum]

Somehow there is a treasure map missing from the home from a previous book and the girls know this. They get busted breaking in to check and then blamed for the murder of Mildred. Mildred's son shares the map with them and weird things ensue. Some of the plot contradicts either itself or earlier books. Funny and lighthearted but not tight.

[Rebecca Sarlls]

A page turner.

I stumbled across this series and absolutely love it! Just love Aggie and El they get themselves in sticky situations without trying...lol...through a series of mishaps they come out on top....sometimes. Wonderful read! Read books 2-5 in two weeks can't wait to get the rest of this series.

[Mary Byrnes]

Fun read

I love this series. I am looking forward to the next one. This story was fun. And it kept me guessing. I love how the characters and their relationships are growing in each book.

[Lois]

Another fun & interesting book by Madison Johns. Treasure hunting can be fun and dangerous! It is nice to have the same main characters to follow in this book. The story has numerous twists & turns to keep readers interested. I recommend this book to all cozy mystery fans.

[Jean]

The two senior sleuths are fun to follow. The plot is well developed. There lacked its usual humor. Some humor was written into the story. Just not the usual depth and amount. As usual, the characters are fun and interesting.

[Kathleen]

A light mystery with two senior amateur investigators. This book was around a legend of hidden treasure in their small town. Entertaining.

[Sherry McWilliams]

Received for free for an review. This series of senior sleuths is fantastic. I really have enjoyed this book and the other book I read in this series.

[Sharon]

The girls are on the hunt for a cursed treasure and trying not to get killed in the process. Love these girls.

[Mary]

Well, I had another visit with Agnes and Eleanor. This time they were accused of murdering one of their so called friends. Not really a close friend, but not really a distant friend. She was angry at Agnes for sleeping with her husband a long time ago and they never really were friendly after that.

Anyway, Aggie and El found her dead at the Butler Mansion, and the cops assumed they did it. They were taken to jail and questioned, but released soon after because they did not have enough to keep them.

The "girls" then decided to find out who killed Mildred and that's when the treasure hunt begins. Mildred had been in the Butler Mansion looking for a treasure Map reportedly hidden in a painting when someone hit her over the head with a candlestick.

When the news gets out to the townspeople, the town goes wild looking for the treasure. The police have a hard time keeping law and order while Aggie and El are trying to find the killer. Along the way they find another body, Mildred's son, Timothy. He is killed in the same way as Mildred.

This was a book filled with many family happenings for Aggie and El. First Sophie, Agnes' Granddaughter has a baby and Aggie and El have to help deliver the baby. Then Eleanor gets engaged to Old Mr. Wilson and finally at the end of the book, Agnes gets engaged to her long time boy friend, Andrew.

They figure out who the killer is, but not before they get into trouble that the police have to get them out of.

The book was just as good and the others and I have another to read in this box set. Bigfoot in Tawas. The writing is great and they are a bunch of funny characters.

[Nani]

3 of five stars

I read this book because I wanted light reading with a cute story to read on vacation. I chose this particular book because my grandmother lived in the Tawas area for almost 30 years and I know the area well. I wasn't disappointed in the accuracy of the places and nuances of the area the author is either from the area or she did her homework well.

I did get light and cute whodunit I was looking for. Descriptions were done well and gave me a vivid idea in my mind of what everything looked like. The only thing I was less than impressed with the detailed descriptions of clothes. I like the believability of the characters and potential bad guys. If I could change anything I think there were some wrap-up’s in the end that didn’t seem really necessary and we're kind of rushed. This is, however, book #5 so there were likely some established details I didn’t know But it was still a cute story and if I need a break from heavier reading I might pick up this author again.

[Aubree Bowling]

I feel like I should write a little review of this book since it took me almost 3 months to read 17 chapters. I don't think it is a good reflection on the quality of the book that it took me so long. I really did like it. As a matter of fact, it is a very witty, fast paced mystery with a lot of twists and turns. I read 14 of the chapters in the last 24 hours. I love the characters in Ms. Johns' series and how their advanced years don't stop them from having very rich lives, including being tenacious PI's, very intelligent problem solvers, and even having romantic partners who love them and find them attractive inside and out. I fully intend to read many more of the Aggie and Eleanor books, and at a better pace!

[Rosemary]

this series is so fun to read..It has 2 senior citizen ladies who are just like your next door neighbor,,,except they are "senior sleuths" solving crimes together because as luck would have it,crime seems to follow them where ever they go..lol, a dead body here,dead body there...and sometimes they even ...disappear..!!! but not to fear,Agnes and her bff partner Eleanor,will find it. they are on the hunt for a treasure in this one and as you guessed..its not without crime and dead bodies.. read this series and have a laugh with me..

[sandra monica]

Great readings

Great readings

Agnes and Eleanor really had me guessing on this mystery. As usual they get into plenty of trouble but manage to always get out of it. I just love to read about these two Senior Sleuths that are having fun being investigators no matter how dangerous the cases are. I just hope I don't have to wait to long for the next one, please keep them coming Madison Johns.

[Sharon Benham]

I really loved this book about yet another misadventure with Agnes and Eleanor. I thought I had it all figured out a couple of times, but I was wrong.

I love these stories with the wonderful senior snoops. This time Agnes and Eleanor have stumbled into another possible crime scene. Has there been an accident or is there foul play involved?

I can't wait to read the next instalment and see what these ladies will get up to.

Well done Madison, another great read.

[Susan]

This is a cute murder mystery about two elderly women private investigators who get in trouble with every turn--but who do finally solve the mystery. It is Book 5 in the series, so there were some things I didn't understand about the women, their boyfriends, their children, etc. But it was still okay to start in the middle of the series.

[MEG Munro]

Again I Scream.........READ THIS AUTHOR'S BOOKS!!!!!!!

Anyone over 21 would probably love the stories this author writes, especially anyone with grandparents.
These two sleuths seem to fall right into IT all the time, even on vacations.
I could comment more but I'm in a hurry to read my next Madison Johns story.
Please enjoy.

[Juliann]

Oh my. Worst book in the series so far. Everything came way, way too easy to the sleuths. Find treasure! Birth babies! Save captives! Find more treasure! All just bumbling around and usually in the first or second place they look. If this were a first time author's work I don't think this would have seen the light of day.

[Paula]

Enjoyed another read with senior ladies. They suspects in murder; must find killer. Characters still fun. Good mystery. Some pre-problems to be sorted out. Maybe just a bit too full of other problems-- or too many words? Just a little off the normal hilarity of the girls.

[Shirley]

Perfect summer reading! Put your feet up and get ready to go on a delightful adventure as two senior sleuths try to solve the murder of a fellow senior and nemesis as the town goes on a crazy hunt for hidden treasure. Interesting plot and light-hearted, enjoyable reading.

[Vicky]

So much better! the author has greatly improved!

[wendy]

Cute

Cute

engaging characters, good plot, kept me reading. would definitely read more in the series. it helps that I'm from Michigan

[Jeannie]

This was my favorite so far.

[Patricia Gligor]

If you're looking for a lighthearted, humorous mystery, you'll want to read "Treasure in Tawas," another fun read by Madison Johns.

[Sue Bradshaw]

Brilliant

I loved this book, another good read with Aggie and el. Just love what they get up to, can't wait to read the next one. I highly recommend.

[Andrea Nicholl]

Really enjoyed this book, I have read all the books. Reading number 8 at the moment.