Imogene's Grand Fiasco: The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor

by David Putnam

Seventy-five-year-old Imogene Taylor just wants to smoke her Marlboros and watch the world go by from her divan. But fate has other plans.

When Imogene's new job at a pawn shop turns out to be part of an elaborate criminal scheme, she finds herself trapped between warring mobsters, dirty cops, and a mysterious puppet master plotting to rob the Bank of the West during the town's Fourth of July parade. With her parole on the line and innocent lives at stake, Imogene must use her prison-honed instincts to untangle a web of blackmail, corruption, and murder before the whole town erupts in violence.

Standing between chaos and salvation is one tough-as-nails grandmother with a .380 in her purse and a voice in her head named Ange offering questionable advice. But even Imogene's quick wit and steady trigger finger may not be enough when the fireworks start flying and blood begins spilling on the streets of West Valley.

From the author of PEEKABOO POTUS comes another darkly comic crime caper featuring the unforgettable Imogene Taylor, former convict, reluctant hero, and the most dangerous senior citizen in San Bernardino County.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2025

About the author

Best-selling author David Putnam comes from a family of law enforcement. During his career, he did it all: worked in narcotics, served on FBI-sponsored violent crimes teams, and was cross-sworn as a US Marshall, pursuing murder suspects and bank robbers in Arizona, Nevada, and California. Putnam did two tours on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s SWAT team. He also has experience in criminal intelligence and internal affairs and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau. In Hawaii, Putnam was a member of the real-life Hawaii Five O, serving as Special Agent for the Attorney General investigating smuggling and white-collar crimes.

Putnam lives in Southern California with his wife, Mary.

Reviews

[Ray Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trouble Finds Imogene Again

Imogene meets with her new parole officer. She is scared because one parole requirement is to be employed. Two weeks earlier, her boss fired her right after three people were killed in her house in the presence of Suz, her neighbor and their boss’s girlfriend. Suz claims to have shot the two thugs after they shot another neighbor present. The shooting was ruled self-defense. To verify her employment, Imogene has forged her boss’s signature. The parole officer makes it crystal clear that he wants to ship her back to prison right this minute, but he doesn’t. Imogene realizes this and lets her mouth have a little too much freedom. He grabs her by the throat, but she is smart enough not to use her hatpin. He tells her that this was her last get-out-of-jail card. Imogene leaves to go to her second problem for that day, and she is being followed. From this start, a delightful cosy mystery thriller begins.

The novel consists of two main storyline threads. The first is to determine who is the puppet master compelling her and others into committing a crime. The second is Imogene’s fight with her publisher concerning the publication of his novel. Imogene has some serious problems in both of the threads. In the first thread, she is forced to work with other convicted felons in a pawn shop that pawns guns. Either of these is a parole violation that can send her back to prison if her parole officer finds out. Going back to prison would be a death sentence for Imogene. To avert this possibility, Imogene must do something so against her nature that it surprised me. The second thread is just as dangerous in that it also can result in going back to prison. She added classified information about the Presidential Protection Detail that she learned from the Special Agent on that team that was responsible for assessing her as a risk. The publisher does not want the manuscript changed at all, and doubles the offer for her and wants her autobiography also. He drops a hint that he knows more about her than she wants people to know. She feels that there is a noose tightening around her neck. How Imogene keeps her head above the turmoil kept my interest focused on this novel. Several significant twists changed what I understood was happening. The pace of the novel is a rapid cosy mystery. I never wished that the pace be picked up.

The two B-storylines provide much insight into Imogene’s character. The first is Imogene’s relationship with Angie, her cellmate in prison. She now resides in Imogene’s head. Most of the time, she is the devil speaking into Imogene’s left ear, but at times, Imogene seeks her out for advice. This thread gives insight into Imogene’s ego and alter ego. The second thread is her relationship with Suz, who is her next-door neighbor and best (and only) friend. This thread provides insight into Imogene’s relationship with a friend. All the other characters she treats more as adversaries or at least with a hefty dose of skepticism. I have enjoyed the Imogene character as a lovable antihero.

Aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading are not present in this novel. There are no intimate scenes. There are no vulgar words except for one prison slang term. Some rude words do appear along with a few instances of impious language. By most standards, the violence is relatively tame. All mature readers should not have any problems reading this novel.

The only issue I have with this novel is minor. The Secret Service Agent’s name changed from the first novel. I could not find an explanation for the change. It did not affect the main storyline. I particularly liked what Thelma, Suz’s mother, brought to the main storyline. She often seems to disrupt Imogene’s plan. She adds another unknown into the main storyline. Thelma’s aspect, plus several major twists heading to the end, made me very satisfied with the ending. The second thread does progress throughout the novel, but it does not conclude. I suspect that thread will play a part in another novel.

This author is one of my Must-Read authors. I have read four previous novels from three series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I highly recommend reading this novel. I am definitely looking forward to his next novel. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Level Best Books through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Level Best Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

[Pamela Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won’t delineate the plot. That can be read in the book’s description. I will state my thoughts. This is a roller coaster of laugh-out-loud moments. It’s a crime caper with clever dialogue and whimsical, well developed , 3 dimensional characters. The internal dialogue Imogene has with herself is over-the-top hysterical. A thoroughly entertaining, light summer read. The pacing is fast and had me hooked throughout. I read it in two days. It’s in a league and genre all by itself. Very well executed. It can be a stand alone, but I’d recommend reading the first one in the series. Kudoes, Mr, Putnam!

I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Imogene wants is to stay out of trouble and out of jail but life conspires against her and everything goes belly up. She gets involved with the mob, with homicide, with burglary, kidnapping, and in a number of situations that she is the primary responsible or directly involved in trouble.The Police is after her and any small mistep will land her in jail again. Lots of action and fun, the story is written in a light and peculiar language. Really entertaining!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a kindle book that I was fortunate to win in a goodreads giveaway! This book follows the misadventures of a middle aged woman named Imogene. The poor woman can't seem to catch a break as she gets involved with the mob and soon finds herself in jail. Will she manage to find a way out of this and manage to keep a good head on her shoulders?

While I admit that this is a silly story it does end up being very good in the long run.

[SueK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the digital ARC. Opinions are my own.

Second book in the Imogene series, apparently. Dark humor, dry wit, and 70s flavor. This is a fun and amusing read; sometimes I felt I needed to keep a pen and paper nearby, just to help me keep track. Ended abruptly enough that I’m sure there will be another book in the series.

Rounding up to 4 stars from a 3.5

[Cass Chloupek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Just when you think you start to understand what’s going on and who’s involved and for what reasons, the rug is pulled out from under you. It’s full of twists and turns that leaves you guessing right until the very end.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book in the series, but I can say that it stood its ground if you read it as a stand alone. Imogene is chaotic, eccentric and is what your grandmother would be if she was an ex mobster.

She has a criminal past, and gets sucked in by some crooked people to help commit yet another crime with a crew of other random, ragtag criminals by her side.

This book truly made me laugh out loud and was such a fun read. A criminal elderly woman is such an unusual plot, but it worked out so well.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways. It sounded very funny on the blurb. I think I would've liked it better if more of it was written in present time instead of referring to the past so much. It was entertaining, but the characters weren't really likeable. I will say that it was non-stop action and there were no boring or quiet parts in the book.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

So apparently, your grandma chain-smoking on the porch could also be planning a heist with mobsters, corrupt cops, and a rogue inner voice named Ange. Who knew? Welcome to Imogene’s Grand Fiasco, where the geriatric is chaotic, and the crime is… well, mostly accidental.

Imogene Taylor is 75, salty, and would rather be left alone with her smokes and stories. Instead, she ends up dodging bullets, navigating parole check-ins, and trying to unravel a Fourth of July bank robbery that feels less “criminal mastermind” and more “Oops, did we just rob a bank?”

The book is one part crime thriller, two parts dark comedy, and a generous splash of “what the hell is happening.” Imogene steals the show—grumpy, sharp, and too old to care what you think. Her internal dialogues with Ange are basically therapy if your therapist were unqualified and probably imaginary.

Is it a flawless book? No. Some plotlines fizzle out like a cheap firework, and the ending hits like someone slammed the brakes mid-sentence. But honestly? That kind of tracks for something called a fiasco.

If you like your books oddball, unpredictable, and starring a woman who could survive both the mob and a bingo riot, this one’s worth the ride. Just don’t expect it to follow the rules. Imogene sure doesn’t.

Thank you to David Putnam, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. On Sale June 24th, 2025

[Tammy Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this Kindle Edition book for an honest review. Thank you to the author- the publisher and Goodreads.
This was a cute and humorous story about an older woman on parole and trying to keep herself out of prison.
It has alot of funny moments and Imogene is a hoot. If you want an easy light read you will enjoy it.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

IMOGENE'S GRAND FIASCO, #2 - She's released and she's in a bind, or two, or three. She just wants to smoke her Marlboros and watch the world pass by her divan perch, but someone else has nefarious plans for her and another ex-con. Plenty of humor, smoking, planning, kidnapping, and mistakes as Imogene strives to remain an ex-con. Source: Netgalley. 4*

THE BLIND DEVOTION OF IMOGENE, #1 - Totally, an enjoyable read, filled with a bit of everything from romance to murder, tragedy and humor. In the author's notes, Putnam explains how the book came together. Well written story lines and interesting characters make for an easy to read, hard to put down entertainment. Source: Netgalley. 5*

THE BRUNO JOHNSON SERIES:
I cannot put these books down. They are so intense, well written and well thought out, realistic with a variety of characters and dialog, and interesting story lines; the new blending well with the old. At the end of each book, the author explains some of the real life events that actually happened to him, which transform into the life and career of Bruno Johnson.

There is very little cursing, and rarely vulgar language, mainly character related. Similar to the pre-60s movies, there is no graphic or detailed violence or sex acts, maybe some bad acting.

In each book, there is just enough of the past mentioned to get the story going without having the previous book(s) rehashed. There is no fairy godmother and regurgitated hollywood swill. I place this author on par with Ludlum, Follett and the other masters of their craft when writers could spin a yarn and knew their material.

Also, the series is broken down into Young Bruno and Older Bruno. Since I have read these books in published order I am not sure how to recommend the reading order, published or chronological. The Young Years are The Innocents, The Relentless, The Heartless and The Ruthless, books numbers 5 - 8. While the first four books are Older Bruno, which give spoilers to the Young set. BUT the published order gives you background that makes the Young set more intense and hard to put down since there is more to the story. The impacts are probably reduced to ho-hum if read chronological. On second thought, stick with the published sequence.

Quality paperback with easy to read font, thick pages and the only way to read a book. The Disposables I read as an ebook. See the individual book for its complete review. These have been edited for length. 5*

THE DISPOSABLES, #1 - Awesome read! Realistic action. 5*

THE REPLACEMENTS, #2 - As intense as The Disposables was, The Replacements exceeds it. A good deed done 25 years previously comes back to haunt Bruno. Drago is well done. Takes place nine months after The Disposables end. 5*

THE SQUANDERED, #3 - The books just keep getting better! This book is intense. The question is a constant "how are you getting out of this one, Bruno"? This story takes place three months after The Replacements ends. 5*

THE VANQUISHED, #4 - Best yet, which is saying a lot. A gamut of emotions. Fast-paced. Lot of drama. 5*

THE INNOCENTS, #5 - This book starts in the past to about eight months after Sophia leaves the Sheriff's Department. Her surprise visit changes the lives of Bruno and his dad. I would have liked to read this book before 4*

THE RECKLESS,#6 - Intense. Interesting. Sad; while many real life experiences and real people are in all of the author's books, there is one character based on a very important person from the author's life. Read it to experience it first-hand. 5*

THE HEARTLESS, #7 - It hard to write a review because there is so much to Putnam's writing it is easy to write a book report. Pretty intense emotions. Drama aplenty. 5*

THE RUTHLESS, #8 - Awesome! The truth about several things comes out in this book. 5*

THE SINISTER, #9 - A lot of happenings. Picks up two months after The Vanquished, #4, ends. Still recovering but ready to leave when trouble rears its ugliness in plain sight and Bruno is back at it. 5*

THE SCORNED, #10 - A tangled mess and Bruno wants to slap someone. OK, shoot someone but whom? The new father is back in the muck and with the help of Drago is putting a stick in a lot of spokes. 5*
THE BRUNO JOHNSON SERIES end.

A FEARSOME MOONLIGHT BLACK - A new series by Mr. Putnam that rivals his Bruno Johnson Series. The author brings his past as a law officer into the story(ies) blending fact well with fiction. Do not expect graphic gore, graphic sex, etc. The cursing is plain ole cussing used infrequently and for emphasis. Mr. Putnam is a talented storyteller. Well written and well thought out story lines along with a variety of characters make it difficult to put down this book, or any of Bruno's. Since I read the Bruno series, I recognized when fact came into the story and I thought I was reading Putnam's autobiography. I heartily recommend the work of Mr. Putnam and look forward to more of his books. If you enjoyed the books of Wambaugh, you will enjoy Putnam. 5*


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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ORIGINAL:

The Bruno Johnson Series:

The Disposables, #1 - Awesome read! Interesting story lines, good characters and a good pace keeps the reader immersed in the book. Believable people and dialogue. Realistic action. Well written and thought out. 5*

The Replacements, #2 - As intense as The Disposables was, The Replacements exceeds it. A good deed done 25 years previously comes back to haunt Bruno. A great cast of characters; Drago is well done. Interesting story lines; the new blending well with the old. Just enough of the past mentioned to get the story going without having the previous book rehashed. Hard to put down so start this book with plenty of time to finish it in one sitting. Takes place nine months after The Disposables end. Quality paperback with easy to read font, thick pages and the only way to read a book. 5*

The Squandered, #3 - The books just keep getting better! This book is intense. The question is a constant "how are you getting out of this one, Bruno"? Fortunately, the author brings realism, professionalism and well-written story lines to make an interesting, immersing read. There is no fairy godmother and regurgitated hollywood swill. I place this author on par with Ludlum, Follett and the other masters of their craft when writers could spin a yarn and knew their material. This story takes place three months after The Replacements ends. Quality paperback. 5*

The Vanquished, #4 - Best yet, which is saying a lot. Plenty of good writing, good characters, good story lines and a gamut of emotions. Fast-paced. Lot of drama. Marie demands to go back with Bruno was a fine line with me but I saw both sides of that fence. Their decision worked. Quality paperback. 5*

The Innocents, #5 - This book starts in the past to about eight months after Sophia leaves the Sheriff's Department. Her surprise visit changes the lives of Bruno and his dad. I would have liked to read this book before The Disposables, #1, but I am not sure it mattered although I remembered the other books and knew everything. I dislike reading out of order since knowing what happened later spoils the story. Interesting. Hard to put down, rather an addicting series for me, with the good characters and intense story lines. Quality paperback. 4*

The Reckless,#6 - Intense. Interesting. Sad; while many real life experiences and real people are in all of the author's books, there is one character based on a very important person from the author's life. Another hard to put down book. There is so much to say about this book that this review could easily become a book report. Read it to experience it first-hand. Quality paperback. 5*

The Heartless, #7 - It hard to write a review because there is so much to Putnam's writing it is easy to write a book report. Olivia is 15-years-old and a major target of a killer. Pretty intense emotions. Drama aplenty. Good characters, interesting story lines and clean dialog. The author brings his years as a police officer into his books making interesting, intense reads. Hard to put down; a one sitting read always. 5*

The Ruthless, #8 - Awesome! The truth about several things comes out in this book. The series is broken down into Young Bruno and Older Bruno. Since I have read these books in published order I am not sure how to recommend the reading order, published or chronological. The Young Years are The Innocents, The Relentless, The Heartless and The Ruthless, books numbers 5 - 8. While the first four books are Older Bruno, which give spoilers to the Young set. BUT the published order gives you background that makes the Young set more intense and hard to put down since there is more to the story. The impacts are probably reduced to ho-hum if read chronological. On second thought, stick with the published sequence. 5*

The Sinister, #9 - A lot of happenings. Picks up two months after The Vanquished, #4, ends. Still recovering but ready to leave when trouble rears its ugliness in plain sight and Bruno is back at it. Intense. Interesting. 5*

The Scorned, #10 - A tangled mess and Bruno wants to slap someone. OK, shoot someone but whom? The new father is back in the muck and with the help of Drago is putting a stick in a lot of spokes. He has to figure out truth from fiction, and good from bad before he can put his solutions to work and end it all. While looking for a missing child, he has the burden of leaving his new born son behind. Then Marie recovers from the birth to find the still recovering Bruno gone, again. 5*
The Bruno Johnson Series end.


---------------------
A Fearsome Moonlight Black - A new series by Mr. Putnam that rivals his Bruno Johnson Series. The author brings his past as a law officer into the story(ies) blending fact well with fiction. Do not expect graphic gore, graphic sex, etc. The cursing is plain ole cussing used infrequently and for emphasis. Mr. Putnam is a talented storyteller. Well written and well thought out story lines along with a variety of characters make it difficult to put down this book, or any of Bruno's. Since I read the Bruno series, I recognized when fact came into the story and I thought I was reading Putnam's autobiography. I heartily recommend the work of Mr. Putnam and look forward to more of his books. If you enjoyed the books of Wambaugh, you will enjoy Putnam. 5*

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 2 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Imogene woke to darkness and sat still, hardly taking a breath. Where the heck was she? What happened? Her memory scanned back, looking for what was real and what wasn't. She sat up in a corner, carpet under her bottom, legs and hands.
The last real memory was sitting on a porch in front of her home at 744 Hawthorne, smoking and drinking a Schlitz Malt Liquor beer. She remembered that much. And while out on the porch, out to the left on the horizon, the sunlight had hit exactly right, hit that certain light spectrum. She wasn't at all sure how she got to the porch. The memory before that was driving the little red Gremlin home from West Valley Jewelry and Loan. She read somewhere how stress can cause memory to skip. At least she thought she read it somewhere.
And lately life had, for some reason, kicked her in the teeth, given her enough stress to can it in mason jars, put it up the same as summer fruit.
Now time had skipped yet again. And she was . . . she was sitting in the dark. Was this purgatory? Had a gun thug snuck up on her while she sat immobile on the porch, her mind defused and focused on an ugly past. Snuck up, stuck a gun to her gray and black mop of hair, pulled the trigger and now she sat in purgatory. Heaven's waiting room. Unable ever to advance due to violations of the ten commandments. The big one, thou shalt not kill. Times three.
She had killed three men.

ABOUT 'IMOGENE'S GRAND FIASCO: THE MISADVENTURES OF IMOGENE TAYLOR': Seventy-five-year-old Imogene Taylor just wants to smoke her Marlboros and watch the world go by from her divan. But fate has other plans.

When Imogene's new job at a pawn shop turns out to be part of an elaborate criminal scheme, she finds herself trapped between warring mobsters, dirty cops, and a mysterious puppet master plotting to rob the Bank of the West during the town's Fourth of July parade. With her parole on the line and innocent lives at stake, Imogene must use her prison-honed instincts to untangle a web of blackmail, corruption, and murder before the whole town erupts in violence.

Standing between chaos and salvation is one tough-as-nails grandmother with a .380 in her purse and a voice in her head named Ange offering questionable advice. But even Imogene's quick wit and steady trigger finger may not be enough when the fireworks start flying and blood begins spilling on the streets of West Valley.

MY THOUGHTS: Although I have enjoyed other books from author David Putnam in the past, Imogene's Grand Fiasco was not for me. I loved both A Fearsome Moonlight Black and A Lonesome Blood Red Sun. Both were solid 4-star reads and I was looking forward to more of the same. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Described as 'another darkly comic crime caper featuring the unforgettable Imogene Taylor, former convict, reluctant hero, and the most dangerous senior citizen in San Bernardino County', Imogene never quite hit the spot for me.

If you are a fan of slapstick humor, then I imagine this book will go down very well - I prefer more subtle humor. I could easily imagine Imogene being played by the late Lucille Ball and I can envisage this book making the transition to the big screen.

I can't criticize the writing, but I was glad to close the cover on this one. Again, I think I am the wrong audience for this book, but I am sure there are a lot of people out there who will love it. I'll stick to Mr. Putnam's crime series in future.

⭐⭐.5

#ImogenesGrandFiasco #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR - DAVID PUTNAM Best-selling author David Putnam comes from a family of law enforcement. During his career, he did it all: worked in narcotics, served on FBI-sponsored violent crimes teams, and was cross-sworn as a US Marshall, pursuing murder suspects and bank robbers in Arizona, Nevada, and California. Putnam did two tours on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s SWAT team. He also has experience in criminal intelligence and internal affairs and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau. In Hawaii, Putnam was a member of the real-life Hawaii Five O, serving as Special Agent for the Attorney General investigating smuggling and white-collar crimes.

Putnam lives in Southern California with his wife, Mary.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Level Best Books (IBPA) via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Imogene's Grand Fiasco by David Putnam for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

[Linda Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

WILD WEST KINDA WOMAN and Her Gang"
I really liked strange, weird Imogene and her gallows humor. Which at least one time sent her and her only friend, Suz into gales of laughter. Life had been SO unjust to Imogene !!! I so wanted Imogene to win, not sure how that was going to happen. I hated her new parole officer. He was a bully, a woman hater and he especially hated her ! He is just ONE of many people who are after her. Quite a few trying to draw her back into a life of crime and she definitely DIDN'T want to go !
Luke was an interesting person, criminal who showed up in her life. Making me wonder how that was going to work. Although attracted to this younger criminal, she saw right through him, right away ! At first he seemed attracted to her but she also scared the heck out of him ! She sure could put on the gun moll act without hardly blinking ! He also was pretty attracted to her friend Suz which alarmed Imogene. Suz often called Imogene, "E" which was pretty funny. Imogene kept wondering how sometimes, he sounded like a dumb cowboy bumpkin with an accent and at others times, no accent and sounding kinda smart. Had me wondering too. A lot of times I was scratching my head, thinking what is going on? But I loved that, it did flow great as time continued on. Don't get me wrong, there are times of sadness in this story too. Almost made me cry.
There were plenty of Misogamists, in the story too. I laughed at Imogene's inner talk with her "invisible" friend from prison, who often gave her a lot of laughs but also some pretty dangerous ideas. Ideas that could re- land her in the clink ! Imogene is quite knowledgeable about crimes and procedures because she read a lot in prison and gains some great info and pull from people in high places that she shouldn't know.
PEEKABOO POTUS, BESSIE GOTTSCHALK the main character,was mentioned in this book and now I wish I had been able to read this prior book ! Sounds outrageously good too !
I loved not only the humor, the fear of being caught done so dramatically but also the unexpected person of Thelma. Scary funny person. And to top it off, a great, humorous ending.
I so appreciate Netgalley and David Putnam for the opportunity to read this book. Now I want more of a series about Imogene !

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

David Putnam’s Imogene's Grand Fiasco is a high-wire act of tone—equal parts gallows humor and gun smoke, with a fierce woman at its center who refuses to be just another footnote in a man’s world. Part heist novel, part redemption arc, and part aching human comedy, this latest installment in The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor reads like a vintage pulp novel tossed in a cocktail shaker with Elmore Leonard’s wit and a dash of feminist noir.

Imogene Taylor—gritty, gutsy, and gloriously flawed—is a runaway force of nature. Still smarting from her past as a mob moll and weary of life as a pawn, she seizes the chance to flip the script. What begins as a ploy to escape the FBI’s clutches turns into a full-blown misadventure involving armored trucks, crooked agents, and more than one moral gray area. Putnam renders her inner voice with pitch-perfect cynicism and vulnerability, inviting us not only to root for her but to believe in her.

Where the story shines brightest is in its restraint—Putnam doesn’t waste a word. The pacing is brisk but never breathless, and every scene earns its place. The dialogue crackles with noir rhythm, but it’s the emotional undercurrents—Imogene’s longing for freedom, her cautious kindness, her complicated alliances—that make this tale linger long after the last page. She’s the kind of character who might shoot you in the leg and then drive you to the hospital.

This isn’t just a caper; it’s a quiet indictment of how women are underestimated, manipulated, and ultimately underestimated again. But Imogene? She’s done being anyone’s joke. That’s where the “grand fiasco” becomes something far more poignant: an act of defiance, of agency reclaimed in the unlikeliest of places.

Come for the chaos, stay for the character. Imogene Taylor is a revelation—a noir heroine with bite and soul, and Putnam’s razor-sharp prose does her justice.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎭 Imogene’s Grand Fiasco: The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor by David Putnam

A riotous rollercoaster of chaos where good intentions collide spectacularly with reality—like a clown car careening into a fireworks stand.

✨ Review
**🤹♀️ Imogene Taylor—Disaster Magnet: A heroine so endearingly hapless, you’ll cringe and cheer as she turns simple errands into full-blown catastrophes.

**🎪 Plot as Unpredictable as a Juggling Act: From mistaken identities to runaway livestock, Putnam stitches together a farce that’s equal parts heart and hilarity.

**🏡 Small-Town Shenanigans: The quirky supporting cast (think nosy neighbors and a philosophizing barista) steals scenes like seasoned improv actors.

**😂 Tone & Pacing: A slapstick sprint with occasional pauses for tender moments—though some jokes land louder than others.

**🔄 Themes of Resilience: Beneath the chaos, Imogene’s journey celebrates bouncing back (often literally) from life’s absurd curveballs.

⭐ Star Breakdown (0–5)
Humor Execution: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Think Bridget Jones meets Three’s Company—with extra pie fights.)
Character Charm: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (Imogene could charm the pants off a scarecrow.)
Plot Cohesion: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5) (A few tangents distract from the main fiasco.)
Emotional Balance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Laughs dominate, but the finale tugs heartstrings.)
Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Tropes feel fresh through Imogene’s chaotic lens.)
Overall: 4.1/5 - A book that doesn’t just tickle your funny bone—it gives it a full-body wedgie.

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and David Putnam for the advance review copy. Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich’s madcap mysteries or Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People. Best read with a stiff drink (to recover from secondhand embarrassment) and a seatbelt (for safety).

Note: Pair with Where’d You Go, Bernadette for another tale of glorious misadventures.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imogene Taylor is a 75 year old woman who is definitely not your "typical" senior citizen. She's on parole and finds herself being pulled into being an unwilling accomplice in a bank robbery during her town's Fourth of July parade and celebration. As Imogene tries to outwit the criminals, the mob and the police, she finds it harder and harder to keep her friends and herself out of trouble and safe as well.

There were a couple of things about this book that I struggled with. First, this evidently isn't the first book the author has written about this character, but I didn't realize that by the title. So, it felt like I was just sort of dropped into the story without the right backstory information - which was important to understand some of the things happening in the book. Second, I know the author was trying to make Imogene's character quirky and different. But, I think at times he went a bit over the top with it and she came across really unrealistic at times. That made it hard to like her character. Finally, the writing felt a bit disjointed at times.

Overall, a fun book and a nice little plot turn at the end when everything finally comes together. But some definite flaws to be aware of.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Imogene waiting to meet with her probation officer. She has been staying in a seedy motel over the last two weeks since her home was declared a crime scene. It seems that there was a situation where three people were killed. Her visit was with a new person and she was concerned. At the visit, this person was suspicious of Imogene and told her that he was going to be watching her and if things got out of hand, he would put her back in prison. After her meeting she wound up going to a deposition because she was giving the book publisher trouble. She eventually signed an agreement where she would let them publish her book.

The next day things got worse. It seems like some unknown party was threatening her and as a result, she wound up taking part in an unknown event. The event was planned for the 4th of July, a few days away.

Read along and learn what steps were being taking to involve other individuals to cooperate. Discover what actions Imogene took to protect herself in addition to the others. Find out who was behind the event and how it all worked out in the end.

The ending was something that I didn't expect. Definitely worth the read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imogene Taylor is back with even more problems than in the first novel of this series. Imogene has spent the last few weeks in a cheap motel while the police search her house for evidence from the three murders that occurred there. She finds herself summoned to the parole office and she's been assigned a new parole officer. He threatens her and she knows that he would like nothing more than to send Imogene back to finish out her sentence in prison. Imogene finds herself being followed and the man following her tells her that she needs to show up at his pawn shop for a job. She goes and discovers that several parolees have been put together to pull off a crime. Imogene has no desire to return to prison and sets out to untangle the web that the person she labels the puppet master has put together. Soon, the people she cares the most about are in danger and she is willing to do anything to keep them safe. I enjoyed this second book about Imogene, but the book just seemed to stop, so I would like to assume that another installment of Imogene's story is coming.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley.co.uk for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

My first by this author, and I have to say it was OK. I'm not bowled over by it, but it was a way to spend a few hours.
There are so many things left to be cleared up with the writing. It was a bit untidy and frustrating at times.
I'm still trying to figure out why Ange was there. She didn't really add much to the story, and Thelma's back story was so bizarre that I didn't get it. Perhaps I'm missing the point - in which case, the story needed more clarity.
As for the ending, abrupt and a bit rushed, which makes me think there's more to come?

[Heath Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imogene’s Grand Fiasco is a masterstroke of satirical noir, blending crime and comedy with an introspective undercurrent. The narrative explores the disillusionment of aging, autonomy, and justice through the lens of a sardonic ex con turned reluctant heroine. David Putnam delivers not only plot driven suspense, but also biting social commentary on corruption, class, and survival.

[Mira Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fascinates me most about this novel is how it deconstructs the concept of aging. Imogene isn’t a passive grandmother, she’s dangerous, defiant, and cunning. The novel challenges society’s assumptions about the elderly, portraying aging as a time of both marginalization and radical agency. It’s an age positive narrative in a gritty wrapper.

[Mark Twain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic noir gets a delightfully bizarre makeover. This isn’t your trench coat wearing gumshoe tale it’s a .380-wielding grandma navigating a pawn shop full of secrets. The prose is tight, the humor pitch black, and the criminals unapologetically awful. Fans of Donald E. Westlake or Carl Hiaasen will eat this up.

[Tamsin Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imogene redefines female empowerment in crime fiction. She's unglamorous, unapologetic, and armed in both intellect and weaponry. Her age, gender, and past make her invisible in all the right ways, which she turns into strategic advantage. This is feminist resistance wrapped in grit and cigarette smoke.

[John Steinbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a compelling psychological layer at play here. Imogene’s inner dialogue with ‘Ange’ functions like an externalized conscience, maybe even a trauma coping mechanism. The novel cleverly weaves mental survival tactics into a high octane plot, making it both entertaining and psychologically astute.

[Nathaniel Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putnam revives the spirit of mid century pulp but updates it with postmodern absurdity. The plot is outrageous, the characters exaggerated, and the stakes maximalist. Yet, it’s the satirical tone and warped morality that evoke the golden era of crime serials. Think Mickey Spillane meets Kathy Bates in Misery.

[Camden Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story reads like it was born for the screen imagine Wes Anderson directing a Coen Brothers script starring an older Frances McDormand. It has visual personality, character driven chaos, and the kind of dialogue that actors dream of. The Fourth of July parade heist could be a scene stealing set piece.

[Dorian Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the hijinks is a deeply cynical critique of systemic decay justice is corrupt, cops are complicit, and the only morality left is personal. Imogene isn’t heroic, but she’s more honest than the institutions around her. It’s crime fiction as social commentary, disguised in lipstick and gunpowder.

[Andra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a but to get into this book, I found it funny and raw but the writing style was difficult to follow for me. Probably vecause it was new, I struggled with it a bit more than necessary. I did enjoy following Imogen’s foray i to the world, and I really enjoyed the fact that it covered topics of ageism in a funny and raw way too.

[Henry David · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved about this story is how real Imogene felt. She’s no superhero she’s someone who's lived hard, made mistakes, and still keeps going. She’s smart but not slick, rough around the edges, and her instincts come from survival, not training. Her grit is honest, not glamorized.

[Ralph Waldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sparked one of the most passionate debates in our group. Is Imogene an antihero or a villain. Can we sympathize with her past, or is she just manipulating everyone again. The plot is wild, but the moral ambiguity is what keeps you thinking long after the final page.