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Grumpier Old Man
Palmer Doyle can finally retire. At sixty-seven years of age, and after owning his private investigation firm for over twenty-five years, he has sold the business and has bought a horse ranch in Oregon.
Before he moves, Palmer and his oddball cast of PI’s, have one last case to solve which is the kidnapping of a beautiful young woman, Madison, who also happens to be the daughter of the current governor of California. But be careful; the governor, Gordon Thomas III, and his wife Brittany, are not who they appear to be. Her father, Gordon Thomas III, is a slippery politician. And Madison’s step-mom, Brittany? Well, she's a former adult film star.
What could possibly go wrong?
Grumpier Old Man is a hysterical satire on modern day life in Northern California. It is also a perplexing kidnapping who-dun-it, that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
This novel is approx. 71,000 words long.
Before he moves, Palmer and his oddball cast of PI’s, have one last case to solve which is the kidnapping of a beautiful young woman, Madison, who also happens to be the daughter of the current governor of California. But be careful; the governor, Gordon Thomas III, and his wife Brittany, are not who they appear to be. Her father, Gordon Thomas III, is a slippery politician. And Madison’s step-mom, Brittany? Well, she's a former adult film star.
What could possibly go wrong?
Grumpier Old Man is a hysterical satire on modern day life in Northern California. It is also a perplexing kidnapping who-dun-it, that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
This novel is approx. 71,000 words long.
300 pages, Paperback
Published March 21, 2024
About the author
Tom J. Lyons
11 books37 followersNovelist. Member of The Mystery Writers of America.
Now available! - "Grumpy Old Man."
On Amazon at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PFDL64L
Grumpy Old Man is a satire on present day life in SF East Bay Area. (Think Carl Hiassen writing about California)
When seventy-five-year-old multi-millionaire land owner Ramsay Marshall turns up dead in Lake Tahoe, his daughter Sophia suspects foul play. Sophia contacts Palmer Doyle. Palmer is a recently widowed, disabled Afghan War vet turned private investigator. He is hoping to retire soon, get out of the rat race, move to the mountains, when Sophia and her cancer-stricken father-in-law, show up at his office and ask him to investigate the death.
Sophia and Palmer have history together. Fifteen years ago, when Master Sergeant Palmer Doyle is seriously injured in a bomb explosion, Sophia is part of the U.S. Army medical team that nurses him back to health. At the time they were both married, but both are single now.
With his oddball staff of investigators, who have their own phobias, personal quirks, and agendas, Palmer sets out to uncover what really happened. Did the old rich guy die of natural causes? Or was foul play involved?
Set in the East Bay of San Francisco Bay area, Doyle, an old school guy, must navigate the crazy, non-sensical, often hilarious happenings, that occur in modern day life in California.
But people in the novel are not who they appear to be; plot twists keep the reader guessing until the final pages. And, what happened to one family decades ago, during World War 2, may hold the answer as to why certain injustices can never be forgotten … or forgiven, and that exacting revenge is often the best remedy.
This is Grumpy Old Man, a psychological thriller, a murder mystery, a love story, and a satire on the craziness of present-day life in the SF East Bay Area of California.
Praise for Grumpy Old Man …….
There are shocking plot turns springing from the character’s background that lead to a solid ending. - Kirkus Book Review
The plot here is solidly engaging with unexpected development, alluring characters, and unique details throughout! Reminiscent of the work of Carl Hiassen. An original murder mystery. **** 4 Star Book Life Review
Mr. Lyons writes in a lively, satirical, manner that echoes the idiosyncratic nature of the characters. **** 4 Star Publishers Weekly Review
I would really like to read more about Palmer Doyle and his motley crew of investigators. The story is far from simple and takes many interesting turns. **** 4 Star Book Sirens Review
Grumpy Old Man is a fast-paced satire with quirky characters and solid plot that is entertaining, interesting and has an unexpected ending. ***** 5 Star Reedsy book review
There’s plenty of action, drama, and plot twists that make Grumpy Old Man a page turner until the very end. ***** 5 Star Dana’s Book Review
Grumpy Old Man reminds me of Ove in – A man call Ove – by Fredrick Backman. **** 4 Star Virika, Goodreads review
A spirited whodunit with an amusingly discontented detective. Kirkus Book Reviews
Lyons’ lighthearted mystery teems with vibrant characters. Kirkus Book Review
This sympathetic gumshoe (Palmer Doyle) incessantly, and humorously, complains about the State of California earning his titular grumpiness. Kirkus Book Reviews
Now available! - "Grumpy Old Man."
On Amazon at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PFDL64L
Grumpy Old Man is a satire on present day life in SF East Bay Area. (Think Carl Hiassen writing about California)
When seventy-five-year-old multi-millionaire land owner Ramsay Marshall turns up dead in Lake Tahoe, his daughter Sophia suspects foul play. Sophia contacts Palmer Doyle. Palmer is a recently widowed, disabled Afghan War vet turned private investigator. He is hoping to retire soon, get out of the rat race, move to the mountains, when Sophia and her cancer-stricken father-in-law, show up at his office and ask him to investigate the death.
Sophia and Palmer have history together. Fifteen years ago, when Master Sergeant Palmer Doyle is seriously injured in a bomb explosion, Sophia is part of the U.S. Army medical team that nurses him back to health. At the time they were both married, but both are single now.
With his oddball staff of investigators, who have their own phobias, personal quirks, and agendas, Palmer sets out to uncover what really happened. Did the old rich guy die of natural causes? Or was foul play involved?
Set in the East Bay of San Francisco Bay area, Doyle, an old school guy, must navigate the crazy, non-sensical, often hilarious happenings, that occur in modern day life in California.
But people in the novel are not who they appear to be; plot twists keep the reader guessing until the final pages. And, what happened to one family decades ago, during World War 2, may hold the answer as to why certain injustices can never be forgotten … or forgiven, and that exacting revenge is often the best remedy.
This is Grumpy Old Man, a psychological thriller, a murder mystery, a love story, and a satire on the craziness of present-day life in the SF East Bay Area of California.
Praise for Grumpy Old Man …….
There are shocking plot turns springing from the character’s background that lead to a solid ending. - Kirkus Book Review
The plot here is solidly engaging with unexpected development, alluring characters, and unique details throughout! Reminiscent of the work of Carl Hiassen. An original murder mystery. **** 4 Star Book Life Review
Mr. Lyons writes in a lively, satirical, manner that echoes the idiosyncratic nature of the characters. **** 4 Star Publishers Weekly Review
I would really like to read more about Palmer Doyle and his motley crew of investigators. The story is far from simple and takes many interesting turns. **** 4 Star Book Sirens Review
Grumpy Old Man is a fast-paced satire with quirky characters and solid plot that is entertaining, interesting and has an unexpected ending. ***** 5 Star Reedsy book review
There’s plenty of action, drama, and plot twists that make Grumpy Old Man a page turner until the very end. ***** 5 Star Dana’s Book Review
Grumpy Old Man reminds me of Ove in – A man call Ove – by Fredrick Backman. **** 4 Star Virika, Goodreads review
A spirited whodunit with an amusingly discontented detective. Kirkus Book Reviews
Lyons’ lighthearted mystery teems with vibrant characters. Kirkus Book Review
This sympathetic gumshoe (Palmer Doyle) incessantly, and humorously, complains about the State of California earning his titular grumpiness. Kirkus Book Reviews
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