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The Unlikey Murder Club #1
The Unlikely Murder Club: A Humorous Senior Sleuth Cozy Mystery
A former con artist, a retired FBI agent, and a teenage hacker walk into a murder investigation. Stop me if you’ve heard this one.
Ex-con Agatha Shadewell spent decades outwitting the law until…she sacrificed her freedom to save a life.
Now, at sixty-five, she’s traded prison walls for a court-ordered stay in Unlikely, New York, under the watchful eye of the FBI agent who brought her down.
Except Agatha still feels trapped. No problem for this shady lady. She’ll shed the hated ankle monitor, and she’s outta there.
But when the FBI agent’s granddaughter begs for help to prove her mother’s not a killer, Agatha caves to the teenager’s pleas. She can never say no to someone in need. Compassion has always been her greatest flaw.
To uncover the real murderer, she’ll need every dirty trick in her toolbox. And if she’s caught, it’s straight back to prison…Or worse!
For Agatha Shadewell, catching the killer might be the most dangerous con of all!
Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Only Murders in the Building, White Collar, and snarky seniors aging disgracefully. Grab the free prequel novella at
Ex-con Agatha Shadewell spent decades outwitting the law until…she sacrificed her freedom to save a life.
Now, at sixty-five, she’s traded prison walls for a court-ordered stay in Unlikely, New York, under the watchful eye of the FBI agent who brought her down.
Except Agatha still feels trapped. No problem for this shady lady. She’ll shed the hated ankle monitor, and she’s outta there.
But when the FBI agent’s granddaughter begs for help to prove her mother’s not a killer, Agatha caves to the teenager’s pleas. She can never say no to someone in need. Compassion has always been her greatest flaw.
To uncover the real murderer, she’ll need every dirty trick in her toolbox. And if she’s caught, it’s straight back to prison…Or worse!
For Agatha Shadewell, catching the killer might be the most dangerous con of all!
Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Only Murders in the Building, White Collar, and snarky seniors aging disgracefully. Grab the free prequel novella at
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2025
77 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Gina X. Grant
17 books53 followersGINA X. GRANT writes multi-genre fiction that leans more light than dark, blending humor, heart, and just a hint of mischief. She lives just north of Toronto, Canada, where she shares her home with Canoli, a rescued Mexican street dog who runs the place with quiet authority.
Her latest series, THE UNLIKELY MURDER CLUB, is a sharp, witty cozy mystery featuring a senior sleuth, found family, and crimes that refuse to stay neatly solved.
New to Gina’s world? Start with the FREE prequel novella, Agatha’s First Murder, available via her website.
Her latest series, THE UNLIKELY MURDER CLUB, is a sharp, witty cozy mystery featuring a senior sleuth, found family, and crimes that refuse to stay neatly solved.
New to Gina’s world? Start with the FREE prequel novella, Agatha’s First Murder, available via her website.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 11, 2025
Agatha Shadewell is let out of prison early for good behavior with a gift from the prison staff and inmates alike (a cellphone and some money) and... an ankle monitor. She has been relocated to the town of Unlikely, NY, under the watchful eye of the former FBI agent who pursued her for years. Trying to decide whether to stay put or run aways, she stumbles into a murder investigation that affects people she is beginning to care about. With her newly adopted pup and some new friends, she is determined to get to the bottom of things.
I LOVED this book! First of all the multiple POV let us see what motivates all the main characters, not just the protagonist, and then the frequent flashbacks to Agatha's past tell us how and why she got to her current situation.
I read the book in one go staying up all night because I didn't want to put this book down, and I can't wait for the next one in the series.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to all Miss Marple enthusiasts. But be advised. Agatha isn't a clone of the famous amateur sleuth. She's an independent, modern Robin Hood... with a touch of arthritis
I thank Ms Grant from the bottom of my heart for writing such a wonderful book, and I hope she'll keep me on her ARC list for the next one coming soon, as I can't wait to read it.
I LOVED this book! First of all the multiple POV let us see what motivates all the main characters, not just the protagonist, and then the frequent flashbacks to Agatha's past tell us how and why she got to her current situation.
I read the book in one go staying up all night because I didn't want to put this book down, and I can't wait for the next one in the series.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to all Miss Marple enthusiasts. But be advised. Agatha isn't a clone of the famous amateur sleuth. She's an independent, modern Robin Hood... with a touch of arthritis
I thank Ms Grant from the bottom of my heart for writing such a wonderful book, and I hope she'll keep me on her ARC list for the next one coming soon, as I can't wait to read it.
August 21, 2025
I was privileged to receive an advance reader copy of The Unlikely Murder Club, the first book in the Unlikely Murder Club series by Gina X. Grant. This is one of the best murder mystery cozies which I have read in some time with a delightful cast of characters to whom I could relate right away and a plot with delightful twists and turns.
The main protagonist, Agatha Shadewell, is a career criminal with a conscience and follows what she calls her “criminal code.”
For Agatha, morally right versus right in the eyes of the law are not the same thing. She is a modern-day Robin Hood; quirky, kind, and gutsy with an intense sense of fairness. She helps good, decent people by stealing from the criminals who robbed them and redistributing the proceeds, lost goods, and treasured family heirlooms back to the rightful owners. If she keeps a little back for living expenses, who is to criticize?
After a traumatic experience when she was just five years old, Agatha has abandonment issues. For the last five decades she has learned to rely on herself and whenever she has made an exception to this rule, she has been disappointed, betrayed.
Fresh out of prison and released into the custody of now retired FBI agent Martin Kobbs, the very man who chased her doggedly for years, and finally captured her, Agatha considers staying put and making the town of Unlikely her home for good.
For the first time in her sixty-five years, she has friends who feel like family … she’s respected, admired, and perhaps, even loved.
But Agatha isn’t used to staying in one place for long. Her ankle bracelet keeps her confined to within a three-mile radius of her home, but it is her new-found friends, plus a little dog named Chance, that tug on her heart to stay.
Now the mother of one of her new friends is in trouble … will she run from danger, like she always has, or stay and help?
Gina X. Grant has written a superb book which I highly recommend and I look forward to reading the next one in the series! You should also check out the prequel for the series, Agatha’s First Murder which you can get if you visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.
The main protagonist, Agatha Shadewell, is a career criminal with a conscience and follows what she calls her “criminal code.”
For Agatha, morally right versus right in the eyes of the law are not the same thing. She is a modern-day Robin Hood; quirky, kind, and gutsy with an intense sense of fairness. She helps good, decent people by stealing from the criminals who robbed them and redistributing the proceeds, lost goods, and treasured family heirlooms back to the rightful owners. If she keeps a little back for living expenses, who is to criticize?
After a traumatic experience when she was just five years old, Agatha has abandonment issues. For the last five decades she has learned to rely on herself and whenever she has made an exception to this rule, she has been disappointed, betrayed.
Fresh out of prison and released into the custody of now retired FBI agent Martin Kobbs, the very man who chased her doggedly for years, and finally captured her, Agatha considers staying put and making the town of Unlikely her home for good.
For the first time in her sixty-five years, she has friends who feel like family … she’s respected, admired, and perhaps, even loved.
But Agatha isn’t used to staying in one place for long. Her ankle bracelet keeps her confined to within a three-mile radius of her home, but it is her new-found friends, plus a little dog named Chance, that tug on her heart to stay.
Now the mother of one of her new friends is in trouble … will she run from danger, like she always has, or stay and help?
Gina X. Grant has written a superb book which I highly recommend and I look forward to reading the next one in the series! You should also check out the prequel for the series, Agatha’s First Murder which you can get if you visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.
August 22, 2025
A thoroughly gripping mystery with numerous unexpected twists. The story hooked me from the beginning with its gorgeous characters and all the intrigue. Agatha is my new favourite heroine, I am looking forward to reading more about her!
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
January 22, 2026
Promising new series
Agatha, newly released from prison and renamed Sarah, is settled into a small town in northern New York State by her reluctant admirer, the FBI agent who had tracked her for years and finally had caught her. In such a small town, word instantly spreads that “Sarah” is actually famous con woman Agatha, but most people there reserve judgment until they’ve assessed her for themselves. She is moved into a fixer-upper owned by Martin, the FBI agent, and, having run a workshop program in prison, soon gets to work on her new home, with company from her dog, literally rescued when Agatha found him tied to a guard rail and abandoned. All the good elements of a fine cozy are in place: small town, dog, interesting main character, and an anonymous dead body in the woods. Bonus for me: I grew up in a small town in Central NY State, where a grocer on the other side of town once called my mother to tell her he’d just seen me walking by with a boy, far from the Y dance I was supposed to be at. Nonetheless, I love my little hometown and stories set in similar places.
Agatha, newly released from prison and renamed Sarah, is settled into a small town in northern New York State by her reluctant admirer, the FBI agent who had tracked her for years and finally had caught her. In such a small town, word instantly spreads that “Sarah” is actually famous con woman Agatha, but most people there reserve judgment until they’ve assessed her for themselves. She is moved into a fixer-upper owned by Martin, the FBI agent, and, having run a workshop program in prison, soon gets to work on her new home, with company from her dog, literally rescued when Agatha found him tied to a guard rail and abandoned. All the good elements of a fine cozy are in place: small town, dog, interesting main character, and an anonymous dead body in the woods. Bonus for me: I grew up in a small town in Central NY State, where a grocer on the other side of town once called my mother to tell her he’d just seen me walking by with a boy, far from the Y dance I was supposed to be at. Nonetheless, I love my little hometown and stories set in similar places.
September 13, 2025
I was very happy to read this light-hearted murder mystery story. The main character Agatha was likeable, and the relationship between her and retired FBI special agent Martin Kopp was slightly reminiscent of Leo Dicaprio’s ‘Frank Abignale’ and Tom Hanks ‘Carl Hanratty’ relationship in the 2002 film ‘Catch Me If You Can’. This is a read that is appropriate for a wide age-range with lots of humour mixed that will make readers chuckle throughout the story. Looking forward to reading more of this author’s books.
October 4, 2025
Utterly delightful. I loved everything about this book: the setting, the characters, their backstories, the writing, and the little dog.
More, please!
More, please!
September 2, 2025
A Likely Pleaser :)
Gina X. Grant has masterfully brought together a diverse set of personalities in a fictional setting that will have you convinced is real, unlikely as that may seem. Her layered twist of having Agatha be a retired Robin Hood-esque criminal, recently released from jail adds a nuanced dimension to not only Agatha's motivations, but those of the entire town of Unlikely, New York. The interplay of the past with the present feels seamless as you read, with each transition so well supported you don't even notice the craftswomanship woven so effortlessly.
If I could've awarded a half-star, I would have. While I fell in love with the characters and this world, a couple of things stood out to me as a long-time reader. The first was the number of coincidences between Agatha's personal likes/hobbies/skills and those of the couple who used to own the house she's staying in. I took the first few similarities in stride, but by the time Agatha discovered an outbuilding on her property, I was anxious for a different take on whose "stash" she might have found hidden there.
Potential Semi-Spoiler Alert:
Lastly, I turned the pages with bated breath, raised stakes and tension pulling at my heartstrings and my eyeballs right to the ultimate climax, only to flip the page and be told about the rest of the conflict by a character who wasn't even present at the time. I was devastated that I couldn't live that moment with Agatha as it happened. But these are simply my personal reading preferences.
I'm hooked! Lock me up and throw away the key because I don't want to go anywhere until I've read the entire series.
Gina X. Grant has masterfully brought together a diverse set of personalities in a fictional setting that will have you convinced is real, unlikely as that may seem. Her layered twist of having Agatha be a retired Robin Hood-esque criminal, recently released from jail adds a nuanced dimension to not only Agatha's motivations, but those of the entire town of Unlikely, New York. The interplay of the past with the present feels seamless as you read, with each transition so well supported you don't even notice the craftswomanship woven so effortlessly.
If I could've awarded a half-star, I would have. While I fell in love with the characters and this world, a couple of things stood out to me as a long-time reader. The first was the number of coincidences between Agatha's personal likes/hobbies/skills and those of the couple who used to own the house she's staying in. I took the first few similarities in stride, but by the time Agatha discovered an outbuilding on her property, I was anxious for a different take on whose "stash" she might have found hidden there.
Potential Semi-Spoiler Alert:
Lastly, I turned the pages with bated breath, raised stakes and tension pulling at my heartstrings and my eyeballs right to the ultimate climax, only to flip the page and be told about the rest of the conflict by a character who wasn't even present at the time. I was devastated that I couldn't live that moment with Agatha as it happened. But these are simply my personal reading preferences.
I'm hooked! Lock me up and throw away the key because I don't want to go anywhere until I've read the entire series.
August 28, 2025
Highly Addictive First in Series!
Agatha Shadewell is fresh out of prison but not quite free (there's this pesky ankle monitor to deal with). She has been relocated to the town of Unlikely, and is under the watchful eye of the former FBI agent who pursued her for years. Trying to decide whether to stick around or cut and run, she stumbles into a murder investigation that affects people she is beginning to care about. With her newly adopted pup and some new friends, she is determined to get to the bottom of things.
Perfect for fans of Leverage or Leverage:Redemption, this heroine isn't perfect, but she tries to make sure that the real criminals pay for their misdeeds.
I LOVED this book! I read the prequel novella and was intrigued by Agatha's backstory, but trust me when I say that was only the tip of the iceberg! I spent a couple of late nights where I just didn't want to put this book down, and I can't wait for the next one in the series. Even though they are in KU right now, I'm buying them, as this is a book that I'll be re-reading, and I don't want to lose access to it! Kudos to Gina X. Grant (and Cannoli!) for a wonderful new series.
Agatha Shadewell is fresh out of prison but not quite free (there's this pesky ankle monitor to deal with). She has been relocated to the town of Unlikely, and is under the watchful eye of the former FBI agent who pursued her for years. Trying to decide whether to stick around or cut and run, she stumbles into a murder investigation that affects people she is beginning to care about. With her newly adopted pup and some new friends, she is determined to get to the bottom of things.
Perfect for fans of Leverage or Leverage:Redemption, this heroine isn't perfect, but she tries to make sure that the real criminals pay for their misdeeds.
I LOVED this book! I read the prequel novella and was intrigued by Agatha's backstory, but trust me when I say that was only the tip of the iceberg! I spent a couple of late nights where I just didn't want to put this book down, and I can't wait for the next one in the series. Even though they are in KU right now, I'm buying them, as this is a book that I'll be re-reading, and I don't want to lose access to it! Kudos to Gina X. Grant (and Cannoli!) for a wonderful new series.
February 3, 2026
After reading and enjoying The Unlikely Murder Club, I am glad to see that there are already more books in the series. This first book introduces Agatha Shadwell a con artist who is in her sixties and has just been released from Liberty Woman's Correctional Facility. She now wears an ankle monitor and answers to the name Sarah Connor, in case any of her enemies want to exact revenge. She has been given a small house to live in in the town of Unlikely, New York near retired FBI special agent Martin Kopp. Kopp sees Agatha as "a vigilante whack-a-mole" since she always seems to pop back up. When an Unlikely citizen, Emmett Q. Pesterman is discovered dead and Kopp's ex-daughter-in-law is arrested, she can't help getting involved. She takes a job at the town's senior center running the woodworking workshop in order to pay her bills. This part time job provides access to tools that she can use to fix up her house and gives her time to work with Kopp and his hacker teen aged granddaughter. The characters in this story are a lot of fun. I loved that this unlikely trio actually live in Unlikely!
February 15, 2026
I received an ARC kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed this read a lot. I read it quickly, in about 12 hours, and it kept me interested the whole time. I’m usually iffy about a time alternating plot line, but this one was done very well. The ending was not the incredible reveal that may be expected from a murder mystery, but given that this is more of a cozy read, it fit well. A pleasant read!
January 25, 2026
Here's to Doing It Yourself!
Sarah lets nothing stand in her way and always has an escape plan. Small town Unlikely, not exactly where she thought she'd end up running from the bad guys. She's a modern day Robin Hood, who can't say no. Informative, intriguing, kept me guessing till the end! A friend like this one be a keeper! Can't wait to read the others in this series!
Sarah lets nothing stand in her way and always has an escape plan. Small town Unlikely, not exactly where she thought she'd end up running from the bad guys. She's a modern day Robin Hood, who can't say no. Informative, intriguing, kept me guessing till the end! A friend like this one be a keeper! Can't wait to read the others in this series!
November 11, 2025
What a great surprise this book was to read. Glad there are more! Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
August 19, 2025
Was a fun read can't wait for the next in the series
September 11, 2025
A very enjoyable read! Loved hanging out with this unlikely group of sleuths and learning about the past events made them the unique grey-haired people they are today. Can't wait for the next book!
January 31, 2026
Hooked from the beginning
The book grabs you & doesn’t let you go. Love the characters & the back story. I can’t wait for the next book!
The book grabs you & doesn’t let you go. Love the characters & the back story. I can’t wait for the next book!
November 6, 2025
Agatha Shadewell is an unlikely kind of heroine, pun intended. She’s a career criminal for starters – but a different kind of criminal, one who lives by her own credo, stealing to survive, yes, but she also looks out for those in even less fortunate situations. She’s devious, witty, crusty, lives off her wits, and she always has a back-up plan to get out of town. But she can’t turn her back on a stray dog in need, or a terrified teenager worried her mom’s about to go to jail for a murder she didn’t commit. She’s also a sixty-five-year-old woman with curly grey hair, age-related aches and pains, touchingly human fears, and the same kind of self-doubts we all have. And then, there’s the rest of the cast of characters, each of whom brings their own special flavour to the story. I can’t wait to read the next book. Well done!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews