What do you think?
Rate this book
Val Fremden Humorous Mysteries #4
The Devil Wears Stretch Pants
"I have read every book written by Margaret Lashley. Her Florida humor is spot on and she leaves you laughing and wanting more!" Amazon Review
"Val Fremden never fails to entertain!" Amazon Review
A Smashing Idea?Most start-up businesses fail within five years. But with Geraldine Jiggles as her new partner, Val’s smashing new concept for “retail therapy” might not last five minutes. Has Val signed a pact with the she-devil herself?
Maybe ...
Just exactly who is that sharp-tongued demon in polyester pantaloons, anyway? When Val starts investigating Geraldine’s past, what she discovers threatens to tear a hole the very fabric of reality itself—or at list rip it one heck of a new unseemly seam.
It appears that Geraldine’s caustic wit may not be her only lethal weapon. And when somebody takes a long walk off a short pier, both women find themselves up to their necks in hot water. This unlikely duo is going to have to learn how to synchronize swim before they both sink faster than a lead toad in a busted fishbowl.
Come along for the hilarious ride as Val discovers that when you go digging around in someone else's ancient history, you could end up in ruins yourself.
Love Val Fremden? Doreen Diller? Freaky Florida Investigations? You're in luck! You never know which of your favorite characters might drop by in The Devil Wears Stretch Pants, the fourth book in the 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!
"Val Fremden never fails to entertain!" Amazon Review
A Smashing Idea?Most start-up businesses fail within five years. But with Geraldine Jiggles as her new partner, Val’s smashing new concept for “retail therapy” might not last five minutes. Has Val signed a pact with the she-devil herself?
Maybe ...
Just exactly who is that sharp-tongued demon in polyester pantaloons, anyway? When Val starts investigating Geraldine’s past, what she discovers threatens to tear a hole the very fabric of reality itself—or at list rip it one heck of a new unseemly seam.
It appears that Geraldine’s caustic wit may not be her only lethal weapon. And when somebody takes a long walk off a short pier, both women find themselves up to their necks in hot water. This unlikely duo is going to have to learn how to synchronize swim before they both sink faster than a lead toad in a busted fishbowl.
Come along for the hilarious ride as Val discovers that when you go digging around in someone else's ancient history, you could end up in ruins yourself.
Love Val Fremden? Doreen Diller? Freaky Florida Investigations? You're in luck! You never know which of your favorite characters might drop by in The Devil Wears Stretch Pants, the fourth book in the 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!
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
100 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Lashley
51 books264 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!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 5, 2025
Best of the new Val Fremden series. More of the OG characters appear and after a slow start was more what I wanted this to be. Loved references to other OG characters and the original series. Rooting for Val to have success at last. I wish her store was real! I’d definitely go there when I’m St.Pete!
June 19, 2025
Wonderful Read
Val sure can find trouble. Tom has to be a saint. Geraldine is so different. Mean and full of her own opinions but with a hidden heart of gold. Val is amazing. No matter what, she always pulls through.
Val sure can find trouble. Tom has to be a saint. Geraldine is so different. Mean and full of her own opinions but with a hidden heart of gold. Val is amazing. No matter what, she always pulls through.
May 11, 2025
Fun & Twisty
Val starts a new business with her cranky boss. What can go wrong? All heck breaks loose and endanger Val's business. A good humorous mystery.
Val starts a new business with her cranky boss. What can go wrong? All heck breaks loose and endanger Val's business. A good humorous mystery.
June 19, 2025
Just when it seems Val Fremden is finally getting her life together, she is nearby when a body is found. However, not only were there also numerous people in that same vicinity, Detective McNulty - for once - doesn’t suspect Val of the crime. Then again he does suspect Geraldine and Val isn’t sure if that’s worse.
As usual, Val decides to go on a stakeout to find evidence of the crime. Although she has slight suspicions Geraldine is guilty, she wants to help clear her name if she didn’t do it. Plus, Val is now business partners with Geraldine and how bad would it look for her new business if her partner was in prison for murder?!
So, who does Val call as a backup? Winky! Winky is always down to do amateur detective work. He has a heart of gold and is a great friend to Val -
I laughed despite myself. Winky had a way of finding the light at the end of the tunnel, even if that light turned out to be the glow from of a pair of demon eyes.
Speaking of great friends, Val has another friend that is always there for her and always willing to listen to Val’s crazy ideas - Milly. In fact, Milly believes in Val so much that she loans her $5,000 to get her new business off the ground -
“Someone once told me that when you’re willing to do what you’re unqualified to do, that’s what qualifies you.” - Milly to Val regarding her new smashing business venture.
Milly also bought a specialized uniform for Val’s business attire. Val saw the overalls and noticed they looked too small -
“Then I remembered the rule: When it came to buying a woman clothes, it was always better to go too small than too large. You could take clothes back, but not hurt feelings.” (Btw, the overalls weren’t too small and ended up fitting Val perfectly.)
So although Val - for the first time in this 4-book series - wasn’t the person of interest this time, she was still running around searching for evidence. Plus, I learned something new… although I haven’t researched the information yet to find out if the following is an actual irl fact -
“‘…the aroma of fresh-cut grass was actually a chemical distress call. He said the plants gave it off to warn other nearby plants to start moving nutrients to their roots before they got cut down themselves.’”
Val does end up helping to solve the crime, of course and the new business is a smashing success!
This series started out as one I didn’t fully enjoy, but the more I got to know Val and her friends I became more comfortable with the setting and her hare-brained schemes. Yes, Val is a wild card and bad luck follows her everywhere (because she won’t shut up most of the time. She continues digging herself into a hole as she talks more), but her intentions are good, her heart is true, and she only desires to try to live a “normal” life.
Since this was the final book in this series, I began to feel a bit sad knowing I wouldn’t be spending any more time with Valiant (Val’s unshortened name), but then I noticed Val Fremden has another series! It is her Midlife series and it contains 9 books. So I’m going to read that after I’m done with this review. Book 1 of 9 is “Glad One”: Crazy is a Relative Term (Val Fremden Midlife Mysteries Book 1).
Hopefully the same characters are in the Midlife series because I like Laverne, Winky, Tom and even the scruff Geraldine.
Oh! I found this quote regarding “Glad One” on the ‘What it’s about’ -
“A broke, divorced woman investigates her friend’s death with an unlikely trio, attracting a hot cop’s attention amidst hilarious chaos.”
Well, it looks like the Midlife series most likely came before this 4 book series I already read, because according to that quote, Val attracted a hot cop’s attention. Obviously, that hot cop is Tom. We already know Val is with Tom and living together with him in this 4 book series. Darn! I hate going out of order chronologically speaking. Oh well. C’est la vie.
See you in my next review.
Deuces to your cabooses! Muwah! ✨🌟✨
As usual, Val decides to go on a stakeout to find evidence of the crime. Although she has slight suspicions Geraldine is guilty, she wants to help clear her name if she didn’t do it. Plus, Val is now business partners with Geraldine and how bad would it look for her new business if her partner was in prison for murder?!
So, who does Val call as a backup? Winky! Winky is always down to do amateur detective work. He has a heart of gold and is a great friend to Val -
I laughed despite myself. Winky had a way of finding the light at the end of the tunnel, even if that light turned out to be the glow from of a pair of demon eyes.
Speaking of great friends, Val has another friend that is always there for her and always willing to listen to Val’s crazy ideas - Milly. In fact, Milly believes in Val so much that she loans her $5,000 to get her new business off the ground -
“Someone once told me that when you’re willing to do what you’re unqualified to do, that’s what qualifies you.” - Milly to Val regarding her new smashing business venture.
Milly also bought a specialized uniform for Val’s business attire. Val saw the overalls and noticed they looked too small -
“Then I remembered the rule: When it came to buying a woman clothes, it was always better to go too small than too large. You could take clothes back, but not hurt feelings.” (Btw, the overalls weren’t too small and ended up fitting Val perfectly.)
So although Val - for the first time in this 4-book series - wasn’t the person of interest this time, she was still running around searching for evidence. Plus, I learned something new… although I haven’t researched the information yet to find out if the following is an actual irl fact -
“‘…the aroma of fresh-cut grass was actually a chemical distress call. He said the plants gave it off to warn other nearby plants to start moving nutrients to their roots before they got cut down themselves.’”
Val does end up helping to solve the crime, of course and the new business is a smashing success!
This series started out as one I didn’t fully enjoy, but the more I got to know Val and her friends I became more comfortable with the setting and her hare-brained schemes. Yes, Val is a wild card and bad luck follows her everywhere (because she won’t shut up most of the time. She continues digging herself into a hole as she talks more), but her intentions are good, her heart is true, and she only desires to try to live a “normal” life.
Since this was the final book in this series, I began to feel a bit sad knowing I wouldn’t be spending any more time with Valiant (Val’s unshortened name), but then I noticed Val Fremden has another series! It is her Midlife series and it contains 9 books. So I’m going to read that after I’m done with this review. Book 1 of 9 is “Glad One”: Crazy is a Relative Term (Val Fremden Midlife Mysteries Book 1).
Hopefully the same characters are in the Midlife series because I like Laverne, Winky, Tom and even the scruff Geraldine.
Oh! I found this quote regarding “Glad One” on the ‘What it’s about’ -
“A broke, divorced woman investigates her friend’s death with an unlikely trio, attracting a hot cop’s attention amidst hilarious chaos.”
Well, it looks like the Midlife series most likely came before this 4 book series I already read, because according to that quote, Val attracted a hot cop’s attention. Obviously, that hot cop is Tom. We already know Val is with Tom and living together with him in this 4 book series. Darn! I hate going out of order chronologically speaking. Oh well. C’est la vie.
See you in my next review.
Deuces to your cabooses! Muwah! ✨🌟✨
April 25, 2025
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.
This book starts as the previous book finished off, with Val starting a business with her boss / ex-boss Geraldine. We've come to expect comical characters, outrageous events and non-stop hilarity with Val and her crowd and this book is no exception. The business partnership leads the pair into all sorts of situations and once again Val questions her confidence in others as the author provides realistic observations of humans and applies them to her characters.
I completely recommend this book, a great continuation of the series.
This book starts as the previous book finished off, with Val starting a business with her boss / ex-boss Geraldine. We've come to expect comical characters, outrageous events and non-stop hilarity with Val and her crowd and this book is no exception. The business partnership leads the pair into all sorts of situations and once again Val questions her confidence in others as the author provides realistic observations of humans and applies them to her characters.
I completely recommend this book, a great continuation of the series.
April 27, 2025
I laughed my way through this book. Val is a brilliantly developed character, and a long-time favorite. This adventure finds her opening up her “smashing” new shop while trying to keep herself from being arrested. Ms. Lashley crafts a clever tale, with wacky characters and a big dollop of comedy. Absolutely hilarious and very highly recommended! I 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.
July 17, 2025
Funny as always!
I’ve read all of Margaret Lashley’s books and love every one of them. She really knows how to capture life in Florida and lts Kooky characters. Also I love her Shea McQueen series
I’ve read all of Margaret Lashley’s books and love every one of them. She really knows how to capture life in Florida and lts Kooky characters. Also I love her Shea McQueen series
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews