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The Retirees: Retirement has never felt so deadly
Welcome to the idyllic yet eccentric retirement community of The Ocean’s Edge—where retirement has never felt so deadly.
Disco is dead, there’s a serial killer on the loose, the coffin dodgers are solving cold cases, and only the neighborhood cat knows where all the proverbial bodies are buried.
When sharp-tongued sugar heiress Diana is ousted from the empire she helped build, she retreats to a posh 55+ paradise expecting peace, maybe even a pool boy. Instead, she finds a ragtag group of retirees with a knack for solving cold cases—and a disturbing knack for attracting new ones. She quickly finds herself entangled with this quirky yet capable team of senior a psychic, tarot-reading twin duo, a retired detective, a conspiracy-minded tech guru, and a nurse who might just talk to animals.
Among tarot cards, a talking cat, and dark web dives, this misfit crew uncovers more than just bingo night secrets. Because in a place this sunny, the shadows run deep, and someone at The Ocean’s Edge has blood on their hands.
As the group begins investigating cold cases, darker truths emerge, uncovering clues that tie back to mysterious pasts, hidden traumas, and residents with more secrets than memories.
Hilarious, heartwarming, and deliciously twisted, The Retirees is a witty, tightly woven, charming, cozy mystery that reminds us it’s never too late for redemption, reinvention, or revenge—and that sometimes the most unexpected heroes come with walkers, wisdom, and wildly colorful personalities.
This Cozy mystery is the 2026 Manhattan Book Club Gold Medal Winner
Disco is dead, there’s a serial killer on the loose, the coffin dodgers are solving cold cases, and only the neighborhood cat knows where all the proverbial bodies are buried.
When sharp-tongued sugar heiress Diana is ousted from the empire she helped build, she retreats to a posh 55+ paradise expecting peace, maybe even a pool boy. Instead, she finds a ragtag group of retirees with a knack for solving cold cases—and a disturbing knack for attracting new ones. She quickly finds herself entangled with this quirky yet capable team of senior a psychic, tarot-reading twin duo, a retired detective, a conspiracy-minded tech guru, and a nurse who might just talk to animals.
Among tarot cards, a talking cat, and dark web dives, this misfit crew uncovers more than just bingo night secrets. Because in a place this sunny, the shadows run deep, and someone at The Ocean’s Edge has blood on their hands.
As the group begins investigating cold cases, darker truths emerge, uncovering clues that tie back to mysterious pasts, hidden traumas, and residents with more secrets than memories.
Hilarious, heartwarming, and deliciously twisted, The Retirees is a witty, tightly woven, charming, cozy mystery that reminds us it’s never too late for redemption, reinvention, or revenge—and that sometimes the most unexpected heroes come with walkers, wisdom, and wildly colorful personalities.
This Cozy mystery is the 2026 Manhattan Book Club Gold Medal Winner
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2026
About the author
Leah Orr
18 books438 followersLeah Orr, a resident of Jensen Beach, Florida, is not just a mother and wife, but also a USA TODAY featured bestselling author. She is also a #1 bestselling Amazon children’s author and thriller novelist, and a #1 Barnes & Noble bestselling storyteller. Her success in the literary world is evident in her 17 published books, each one a testament to her storytelling prowess.
Leah donates the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Upon learning that her daughter Ashley was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (while still in the womb), Orr knew she wanted to do something special. With some input from her mother and three daughters, it was decided that she'd write books to benefit the (CF) Foundation. The Orr Family has raised over $1,400,000 over the past 23 years to help find a cure.
Leah has recently been featured on ABC’s Health Watch, NBC Today South Florida, CBS South Florida, CBS This Morning Virginia, NBC the 10! Show Philadelphia, Fox 4 News Morning Blend, National Syndicated, “The Daily Buzz”, and Lifetime TV’s “The Balancing Act.”
Leah has been featured in Publications such as: Forbes Magazine, Medical News Today, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel, etc. Ashley was also a recipient of Oprah’s generosity in “The Big Give”.
Books by Leah Orr include children’s books: Goodnight, Molly, Messy Tessy, It Wasn’t Me, Kyle’s First Crush, & Kyle’s First Playdate. Her thrillers include The Executive Suite, The Bartender, The Champagne Toast, and #1 Amazon Bestseller, The She Shed, and The Fruitcake. and The Retirees.
Orr and her husband were recently nominated as one of Florida’s Finest Couples by the CF Foundation and included in “IN THE SPOTLIGHT on CFF.ORG. Leah was also nominated as one of Broward County’s top 100 Outstanding Women. Orr grew up in Boston, MA, and is a graduate of the University of Miami.
More information is available at www.leahorr.com
Leah donates the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Upon learning that her daughter Ashley was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (while still in the womb), Orr knew she wanted to do something special. With some input from her mother and three daughters, it was decided that she'd write books to benefit the (CF) Foundation. The Orr Family has raised over $1,400,000 over the past 23 years to help find a cure.
Leah has recently been featured on ABC’s Health Watch, NBC Today South Florida, CBS South Florida, CBS This Morning Virginia, NBC the 10! Show Philadelphia, Fox 4 News Morning Blend, National Syndicated, “The Daily Buzz”, and Lifetime TV’s “The Balancing Act.”
Leah has been featured in Publications such as: Forbes Magazine, Medical News Today, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel, etc. Ashley was also a recipient of Oprah’s generosity in “The Big Give”.
Books by Leah Orr include children’s books: Goodnight, Molly, Messy Tessy, It Wasn’t Me, Kyle’s First Crush, & Kyle’s First Playdate. Her thrillers include The Executive Suite, The Bartender, The Champagne Toast, and #1 Amazon Bestseller, The She Shed, and The Fruitcake. and The Retirees.
Orr and her husband were recently nominated as one of Florida’s Finest Couples by the CF Foundation and included in “IN THE SPOTLIGHT on CFF.ORG. Leah was also nominated as one of Broward County’s top 100 Outstanding Women. Orr grew up in Boston, MA, and is a graduate of the University of Miami.
More information is available at www.leahorr.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
August 28, 2026
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Okay, I really wanted to love this one.
A cozy mystery featuring a group of senior citizens solving cold cases, with a tarot reader AND a medium involved? A former drag queen? And a cat?!
Leah, you were speaking directly to my interests. 😂
I have a huge soft spot for senior citizen sleuths, and this book had so many things I enjoyed. Diana, 74, deciding it's never too late to find herself a new boy toy after five husbands? Yaaaas queen. 👏🏻 Her showing up at her new retirement home in a red mini dress and black lace "unmentionables" was also badass. And Mr. Anderson the cat has my whole heart. Any book with a cat automatically gets bonus points from me.
There were also some genuinely sweet moments, particularly Diana and Jeb's relationship.
Unfortunately, somewhere around the halfway point, I started losing interest.
My biggest issue was that there were too many mysteries and not enough actual sleuthing. Rather than really digging into one cold case, the group investigates several, and everything happens so quickly that we don't get much time with any of them. There aren't many barriers or twists, and the cases are solved just as fast as they appear.
The book itself is also incredibly fast-paced and concise. That's great if you want something you can fly through, but I felt like it came at the expense of character development. I mostly liked these people, but I never felt like I really knew them. I wanted more backstory, more relationships, and more time spent actually investigating the cases.
The killer reveal was also pretty predictable for me, and the ending requires a decent amount of suspension of reality. That said, the book is pretty quirky and doesn't take itself too seriously, so I could accept the ridiculousness as part of the overall vibe.
My other major issue was the humor.
There are a fair bit of fat jokes, particularly about one character's weight and eating. Carol is otherwise portrayed as a kind and caring nurse, so I don't think these comments are meant to establish her as a terrible person. But that's honestly what made them bother me more. They don't seem to serve any real purpose beyond being punchlines. After a while I just kept thinking, Okay... but why are we still doing this?
As a nursing student, I found that particularly difficult to enjoy. People's bodies and relationships with food are complicated, and repeatedly making someone's size the joke just didn't land for me.
People dealing with obesity have been the target of jokes for so long. Authors, can we please find something else to joke about? Something that isn't a complex health condition that can be influenced by so many different factors? Instead of punching down for cheap jokes, let's use some creativity, shall we?
May a nurse like Carol never find me. 🙏🏻
I also struggled with some of Bill's dialogue. His constant sexual innuendos were sometimes funny, especially when it was clearly part of the group's dynamic, but some of his comments toward younger women crossed the line from "charming older flirt" into "creepy old man" for me. Maybe that's an accurate portrayal of his character or generation, but it still gave me the ick.
And that's really my overall feeling about this book: the ingredients were SO good, but I wanted more substance.
Senior citizen sleuths, cold cases, a cat, a former drag queen, tarot cards, a medium, and a retirement community should have been an absolute home run for me.
Instead, I ended up wishing the book had slowed down, focused on one mystery, developed its characters more, and retired the fat jokes.
Still, I flew through it and there were definitely moments I enjoyed. It just wasn't quite the cozy mystery I hoped it would be.
Okay, I really wanted to love this one.
A cozy mystery featuring a group of senior citizens solving cold cases, with a tarot reader AND a medium involved? A former drag queen? And a cat?!
Leah, you were speaking directly to my interests. 😂
I have a huge soft spot for senior citizen sleuths, and this book had so many things I enjoyed. Diana, 74, deciding it's never too late to find herself a new boy toy after five husbands? Yaaaas queen. 👏🏻 Her showing up at her new retirement home in a red mini dress and black lace "unmentionables" was also badass. And Mr. Anderson the cat has my whole heart. Any book with a cat automatically gets bonus points from me.
There were also some genuinely sweet moments, particularly Diana and Jeb's relationship.
Unfortunately, somewhere around the halfway point, I started losing interest.
My biggest issue was that there were too many mysteries and not enough actual sleuthing. Rather than really digging into one cold case, the group investigates several, and everything happens so quickly that we don't get much time with any of them. There aren't many barriers or twists, and the cases are solved just as fast as they appear.
The book itself is also incredibly fast-paced and concise. That's great if you want something you can fly through, but I felt like it came at the expense of character development. I mostly liked these people, but I never felt like I really knew them. I wanted more backstory, more relationships, and more time spent actually investigating the cases.
The killer reveal was also pretty predictable for me, and the ending requires a decent amount of suspension of reality. That said, the book is pretty quirky and doesn't take itself too seriously, so I could accept the ridiculousness as part of the overall vibe.
My other major issue was the humor.
There are a fair bit of fat jokes, particularly about one character's weight and eating. Carol is otherwise portrayed as a kind and caring nurse, so I don't think these comments are meant to establish her as a terrible person. But that's honestly what made them bother me more. They don't seem to serve any real purpose beyond being punchlines. After a while I just kept thinking, Okay... but why are we still doing this?
As a nursing student, I found that particularly difficult to enjoy. People's bodies and relationships with food are complicated, and repeatedly making someone's size the joke just didn't land for me.
People dealing with obesity have been the target of jokes for so long. Authors, can we please find something else to joke about? Something that isn't a complex health condition that can be influenced by so many different factors? Instead of punching down for cheap jokes, let's use some creativity, shall we?
May a nurse like Carol never find me. 🙏🏻
I also struggled with some of Bill's dialogue. His constant sexual innuendos were sometimes funny, especially when it was clearly part of the group's dynamic, but some of his comments toward younger women crossed the line from "charming older flirt" into "creepy old man" for me. Maybe that's an accurate portrayal of his character or generation, but it still gave me the ick.
And that's really my overall feeling about this book: the ingredients were SO good, but I wanted more substance.
Senior citizen sleuths, cold cases, a cat, a former drag queen, tarot cards, a medium, and a retirement community should have been an absolute home run for me.
Instead, I ended up wishing the book had slowed down, focused on one mystery, developed its characters more, and retired the fat jokes.
Still, I flew through it and there were definitely moments I enjoyed. It just wasn't quite the cozy mystery I hoped it would be.
May 24, 2026
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲! 🐈🔪
I went in expecting “Thursday Murder Club in a retirement village,” but this quickly won me over with its own personality.
The mystery wasn't especially twisty—I suspected the murderer pretty early—but honestly, that wasn't the point. The humour, banter, ridiculous substitute swearing, colourful residents, and wonderfully lived-in community made this such a fun read.
And yes, the cat was what lured me in. Naturally. 😂
Cosy, funny, a little cheeky, and exactly what I needed. I'd definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Leah Orr, and Orrplace Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I went in expecting “Thursday Murder Club in a retirement village,” but this quickly won me over with its own personality.
The mystery wasn't especially twisty—I suspected the murderer pretty early—but honestly, that wasn't the point. The humour, banter, ridiculous substitute swearing, colourful residents, and wonderfully lived-in community made this such a fun read.
And yes, the cat was what lured me in. Naturally. 😂
Cosy, funny, a little cheeky, and exactly what I needed. I'd definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Leah Orr, and Orrplace Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2026
Lately I have been loving the retiree amateur sleuth trope!! Who says retirement has to be boring? Not this group of motley fools! 😂
Diana is a newly retired “Sugar” Heiress, recently dethroned by her own daughter. Diana moves into The Ocean’s Edge, a 55+ community with some rather rambunctious characters. They quickly take Diana in and let her join their cold-case murder group. This quirky cast of new found friends includes a physic, tarot-reading twins, a retired detective, a tech-guru with an interesting past, and the resident nurse who may or may not talk to animals and they may or may not talk back! 🐈
They uncover many secrets and discover that there is a murderer among them.
I love a good popcorn thriller and this one was clever, witty, and twisty full of heart ♥️ and revenge! 🔪
I loved this scooby-doo crew! If you like short chapters, cozy mystery, with delicious coffee cocktail recipes, this book is for you! And I love that the author donates 100% of the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 💜
Add this one-sitting read to your TBR!
Thank you @leahorr723 for the gifted and signed copy! 🥰 All opinions are my own
Diana is a newly retired “Sugar” Heiress, recently dethroned by her own daughter. Diana moves into The Ocean’s Edge, a 55+ community with some rather rambunctious characters. They quickly take Diana in and let her join their cold-case murder group. This quirky cast of new found friends includes a physic, tarot-reading twins, a retired detective, a tech-guru with an interesting past, and the resident nurse who may or may not talk to animals and they may or may not talk back! 🐈
They uncover many secrets and discover that there is a murderer among them.
I love a good popcorn thriller and this one was clever, witty, and twisty full of heart ♥️ and revenge! 🔪
I loved this scooby-doo crew! If you like short chapters, cozy mystery, with delicious coffee cocktail recipes, this book is for you! And I love that the author donates 100% of the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 💜
Add this one-sitting read to your TBR!
Thank you @leahorr723 for the gifted and signed copy! 🥰 All opinions are my own
September 4, 2026
Rating: 3–3.5 stars
I opened The Retirees and immediately felt like I’d wandered into a retirement village run by the cast of Golden Girls after they’d collectively decided crime‑solving was cheaper than bingo. Sweetheart, The Ocean’s Edge is not a peaceful 55+ community — it’s a chaotic circus with murder, tarot cards, conspiracy theories, and a cat who is clearly the smartest resident there.
Diana, our sharp‑tongued sugar heiress queen, arrives expecting peace, cocktails, and maybe a pool boy named Chad. Instead, she gets a squad of retirees who treat cold cases like a competitive sport. She’s giving:
“I came here to relax, not join the geriatric Avengers.”
The crew?
Sweetheart, they are unhinged in the most delightful way.
The psychic tarot‑reading twins who absolutely know too much.
The retired detective who’s one coffee away from solving crimes out of sheer boredom.
The tech guru who thinks the dark web is a hobby.
The nurse who maybe talks to animals and honestly? I believe her.
And the cat — the cat who knows where every metaphorical (and possibly literal) body is buried.
It’s giving:
“Scooby‑Doo but everyone has joint pain.”
The mystery itself is cozy, twisty, and sprinkled with enough humour to keep things light even when the shadows get deep. The retirees stumble into secrets, past traumas, and residents who have more skeletons than memories — and they handle it with the chaotic confidence of people who have lived long enough to stop caring what anyone thinks.
So why 3–3.5 stars?
Because it’s fun, quirky, and charming, but occasionally leans a little too hard into the eccentricity. Some moments feel more sitcom than mystery, and a few emotional beats skim the surface instead of diving deep. Still, it’s a delightful ride — just not quite a “scream into the pillow” masterpiece.
A witty, warm, slightly bonkers cozy mystery where retirees become unlikely heroes, secrets bubble under the Florida sunshine, and the neighborhood cat is clearly running the entire operation.
I opened The Retirees and immediately felt like I’d wandered into a retirement village run by the cast of Golden Girls after they’d collectively decided crime‑solving was cheaper than bingo. Sweetheart, The Ocean’s Edge is not a peaceful 55+ community — it’s a chaotic circus with murder, tarot cards, conspiracy theories, and a cat who is clearly the smartest resident there.
Diana, our sharp‑tongued sugar heiress queen, arrives expecting peace, cocktails, and maybe a pool boy named Chad. Instead, she gets a squad of retirees who treat cold cases like a competitive sport. She’s giving:
“I came here to relax, not join the geriatric Avengers.”
The crew?
Sweetheart, they are unhinged in the most delightful way.
The psychic tarot‑reading twins who absolutely know too much.
The retired detective who’s one coffee away from solving crimes out of sheer boredom.
The tech guru who thinks the dark web is a hobby.
The nurse who maybe talks to animals and honestly? I believe her.
And the cat — the cat who knows where every metaphorical (and possibly literal) body is buried.
It’s giving:
“Scooby‑Doo but everyone has joint pain.”
The mystery itself is cozy, twisty, and sprinkled with enough humour to keep things light even when the shadows get deep. The retirees stumble into secrets, past traumas, and residents who have more skeletons than memories — and they handle it with the chaotic confidence of people who have lived long enough to stop caring what anyone thinks.
So why 3–3.5 stars?
Because it’s fun, quirky, and charming, but occasionally leans a little too hard into the eccentricity. Some moments feel more sitcom than mystery, and a few emotional beats skim the surface instead of diving deep. Still, it’s a delightful ride — just not quite a “scream into the pillow” masterpiece.
A witty, warm, slightly bonkers cozy mystery where retirees become unlikely heroes, secrets bubble under the Florida sunshine, and the neighborhood cat is clearly running the entire operation.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Dating after seventy is like trying to find the least damaged thing in a thrift store that doesn't smell."
The Retirees was exactly what I wanted from The Thursday Murder club, a bunch of seniors solving a mystery with a whole lot of witty banter. I felt Thursday Murder Club missed on the humor front, which is what The Retirees got right. It reminded me of the underrated short lived sitcom The Cool Kids. With an extra fun character Mr Anderson, the feisty cat.
The Retirees is a fun cozy mystery, where the seniors are super sleuths cracking cold cases. There is a ton of fun dialogue and I found myself often laughing out loud.
I do wish it was longer to have more character development and a greater focus on one mystery so that we could go deep into one storyline.
The Retirees was exactly what I wanted from The Thursday Murder club, a bunch of seniors solving a mystery with a whole lot of witty banter. I felt Thursday Murder Club missed on the humor front, which is what The Retirees got right. It reminded me of the underrated short lived sitcom The Cool Kids. With an extra fun character Mr Anderson, the feisty cat.
The Retirees is a fun cozy mystery, where the seniors are super sleuths cracking cold cases. There is a ton of fun dialogue and I found myself often laughing out loud.
I do wish it was longer to have more character development and a greater focus on one mystery so that we could go deep into one storyline.
October 24, 2025
I really wanted to like this book, but it really fell flat for me. I am a big fan of Agatha Christie novels, so I have high expectations for any mystery book. I'm baffled by all the rave reviews of this book. The characters are not developed other than the main character, Diane. This takes place in a fancy retirement home. I found the other characters were very stereotypical, twins who wear matching track suits, the dirty old man, the retired detective. The story is told from three perspectives, Diane's, Mr. Anderson (a cat), and Theo (a murderer). The retirees spend their spare time solving cold cases, that the police can't seem to solve, and they are able to solve with just a visit to the crime scene and a few phone calls. The main murders seem like an afterthought, and we wouldn't even know about them if not for the confessions of the murderer and the cat, who seemed to be the most intelligent character. I had this one figured out long before the end.
If you want to read a good mystery with older characters, read "The Thursday Murder Club".
These opinions are my own, and I thank the author for the ARC.
If you want to read a good mystery with older characters, read "The Thursday Murder Club".
These opinions are my own, and I thank the author for the ARC.
September 26, 2025
I received an advanced reader copy of this book. WOW! What a fun read. I read this in one day. I could not put it down! Senior sleuths....a talking cat....I laughed out loud so many times. I smiled my way through this whole book. By the end, I felt like these characters were my friends and I hated to leave them behind. I hope there will be a sequel.
June 28, 2026
I absolutely loved Leah Orr's writing style. The Retirees was such a fun surprise. The book follows a group of retired seniors solving cold cases for the police department.
This cozy mystery has me laughing out loud. The group of seniors were a riot. There was witty banter, fun cases, and even a small love story thrown in. Did mention Mr. Anderson? Mr. Anderson is the resident cat. He is all knowing and my favorite character. He has his own chapters throughout the book. He totally sold me on this book.
Thank you Leah Orr for the gifted signed copy. I will be reading more of your books.
✨The author donates 100% of the proceeds from sales to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.✨
This cozy mystery has me laughing out loud. The group of seniors were a riot. There was witty banter, fun cases, and even a small love story thrown in. Did mention Mr. Anderson? Mr. Anderson is the resident cat. He is all knowing and my favorite character. He has his own chapters throughout the book. He totally sold me on this book.
Thank you Leah Orr for the gifted signed copy. I will be reading more of your books.
✨The author donates 100% of the proceeds from sales to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.✨
July 2, 2026
It was a cute,quirky, cozy mystery and enjoyed this book!
October 6, 2025
The Retirees by Leah Orr
Publication Date: January 5, 2026
I received an ARC of this paperback. It was an absolute delight from start to finish. Set in a quirky Florida retirement community, the story follows a group of eccentric senior sleuths and a talking cat as they tackle cold cases with humor and ingenuity. The characters are wonderfully developed, their banter and unconventional problem-solving adding levity even in tense moments. I especially enjoyed the creative “swear words” they’re forced to invent due to HOA fines, which added a clever touch of humor.
The mystery itself is engaging, with several smaller puzzles woven into the larger storyline, and the ending delivered a twist I didn’t see coming. Lighthearted yet full of surprises, this book balances fun, heart, and suspense seamlessly. As a bonus, the coffee recipes and short horror story included at the end made for an even richer reading experience.
A quick, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable read—I sincerely hope there will be more stories featuring this unforgettable group.
Publication Date: January 5, 2026
I received an ARC of this paperback. It was an absolute delight from start to finish. Set in a quirky Florida retirement community, the story follows a group of eccentric senior sleuths and a talking cat as they tackle cold cases with humor and ingenuity. The characters are wonderfully developed, their banter and unconventional problem-solving adding levity even in tense moments. I especially enjoyed the creative “swear words” they’re forced to invent due to HOA fines, which added a clever touch of humor.
The mystery itself is engaging, with several smaller puzzles woven into the larger storyline, and the ending delivered a twist I didn’t see coming. Lighthearted yet full of surprises, this book balances fun, heart, and suspense seamlessly. As a bonus, the coffee recipes and short horror story included at the end made for an even richer reading experience.
A quick, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable read—I sincerely hope there will be more stories featuring this unforgettable group.
December 2, 2025
Leah Orr is an instant read for me. I received this as an ARC and I was so excited! I was not at all surprised that I loved this book. This book was fast paced, the plot was entertaining and it also had some funny parts in it. The characters were well developed (there’s even a talking cat), it was cozy and takes place in my favorite place (Florida). I felt the storyline was original and creative. It’s definitely worth the read!
August 9, 2026
Senior Citizen Chaos Is My New Favorite Subgenre! 👵🏾👴🏻☕️
There is something about a cozy mystery that makes me feel all warm inside, which is kind of twisted considering these stories are literally about someone being unalived. Yikes! 😯 But "The Retirees" brought me so much joy and was the absolute palate cleanser that I needed after reading so many dense genres lately.
I must say, the thing that kept me hooked on this book was the trash talk between the elderly! The witty banter from this crew was dialed up to a thousand, and these grandmas and grandpas had me dying laughing from beginning 'til end! Sidebar - I've got a few more years before I'm classified as a senior citizen and if my family decides to ship me off to a retirement community, my hope is that they'll send me straight to The Ocean's Edge in Florida! This neighborhood had it going on with parties, drinks, on-site medical services and your final resting place not too far off! I'll take one admission ticket please!!! 🙋🏾♀️😹
I really admired Diana, the main character, for the way she handled her situation. Can we say how forgiving she is for what was done to her? She is a much better human than I am because I think I would have held a grudge. I know it ain't right but still, that deserved just a small one. When you read it, you'll know. 👌🏾 But between her, the eccentric twins, Mr. Anderson the cat, and the rest of the cast, the character dynamics worked really well; they were a motley crew! Sign me up for crime solving and spiked coffees immediately! No judgement here! ✋🏾
When it came to the actual mystery, the whodunnit completely caught me off guard. It surprised the heck out of me to the point where I genuinely need to go back and reread this book! How on earth did I miss the killer? Where did my detective skills go wrong? My deductive reasoning wasn't deducting sh**! I am still sitting here trying to figure out how they pulled it off. Mind blown! 🤯
The pacing was steady, gradually building suspense and dropping clues that led up to a shocking final reveal. Like all the best cozies, it keeps you thoroughly entertained and leaves you longing for more time in this world.
IMPORTANT NOTE 🚨: DO NOT SKIP THE "Dear readers.." PASSAGE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK! YOU WILL MISS THE BEST TREAT OF YOUR LIFE!!! 😂
The Aftermath 🌷:
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it was a 4-STAR read for me. "The Retirees" delivered the perfect balance of hilarious senior chaos, everyone ragging each other, and a surprisingly clever mystery that completely tricked my left-brain. I'll definitely be exploring more of this author's work. If you are a cozy reader, or not, add this to your TBR!
The author, Leah Orr, donates the profits from her book sales to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in support of her daughter's diagnosis. 🫶🏾
Publication Date: January 5, 2026
Thank you to Leah Orr and Orrplace Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
There is something about a cozy mystery that makes me feel all warm inside, which is kind of twisted considering these stories are literally about someone being unalived. Yikes! 😯 But "The Retirees" brought me so much joy and was the absolute palate cleanser that I needed after reading so many dense genres lately.
I must say, the thing that kept me hooked on this book was the trash talk between the elderly! The witty banter from this crew was dialed up to a thousand, and these grandmas and grandpas had me dying laughing from beginning 'til end! Sidebar - I've got a few more years before I'm classified as a senior citizen and if my family decides to ship me off to a retirement community, my hope is that they'll send me straight to The Ocean's Edge in Florida! This neighborhood had it going on with parties, drinks, on-site medical services and your final resting place not too far off! I'll take one admission ticket please!!! 🙋🏾♀️😹
I really admired Diana, the main character, for the way she handled her situation. Can we say how forgiving she is for what was done to her? She is a much better human than I am because I think I would have held a grudge. I know it ain't right but still, that deserved just a small one. When you read it, you'll know. 👌🏾 But between her, the eccentric twins, Mr. Anderson the cat, and the rest of the cast, the character dynamics worked really well; they were a motley crew! Sign me up for crime solving and spiked coffees immediately! No judgement here! ✋🏾
When it came to the actual mystery, the whodunnit completely caught me off guard. It surprised the heck out of me to the point where I genuinely need to go back and reread this book! How on earth did I miss the killer? Where did my detective skills go wrong? My deductive reasoning wasn't deducting sh**! I am still sitting here trying to figure out how they pulled it off. Mind blown! 🤯
The pacing was steady, gradually building suspense and dropping clues that led up to a shocking final reveal. Like all the best cozies, it keeps you thoroughly entertained and leaves you longing for more time in this world.
IMPORTANT NOTE 🚨: DO NOT SKIP THE "Dear readers.." PASSAGE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK! YOU WILL MISS THE BEST TREAT OF YOUR LIFE!!! 😂
The Aftermath 🌷:
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it was a 4-STAR read for me. "The Retirees" delivered the perfect balance of hilarious senior chaos, everyone ragging each other, and a surprisingly clever mystery that completely tricked my left-brain. I'll definitely be exploring more of this author's work. If you are a cozy reader, or not, add this to your TBR!
The author, Leah Orr, donates the profits from her book sales to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in support of her daughter's diagnosis. 🫶🏾
Publication Date: January 5, 2026
Thank you to Leah Orr and Orrplace Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2026
Diana, 74, has just been forced to retire and is no longer the reigning "sugar queen". She's decided to move to The Ocean's Edge, a 55+ retirement community. As soon as she arrives, she finds a group of retirees who drink spiked coffee out of fun mugs and solve cold cases. She's immediately drawn to the group and becomes a welcome additon. They're definitely a unique bunch and they seem to get the job done. Meanwhile, there have been deaths in their community. Everyone assumes the deaths are due to natural causes, but there seems to be something peculiar about them. Is someone causing the deaths, and if so, why are they doing it?
Told from the POV of Diana, Mr. Anderson (the resident cat), and Theo (a vigilante killer), this was such a great cozy mystery! It was SO much fun to read! It was short and totally addictive! The pacing was on point, and the story had me totally hooked! I loved getting to know the colorful cast of characters and finding out what kind of spiked coffee they were drinking, not to mention the snarky sayings on their mugs every morning. There was an intriguing mystery and even a little romance. The cat's POV was definitely a unique twist, and I loved that the MC's name was the same as mine. If you're looking for a highly entertaining, humorous, engaging cozy, this is it! I enjoyed this so much and definitely recommend it!🩷
Told from the POV of Diana, Mr. Anderson (the resident cat), and Theo (a vigilante killer), this was such a great cozy mystery! It was SO much fun to read! It was short and totally addictive! The pacing was on point, and the story had me totally hooked! I loved getting to know the colorful cast of characters and finding out what kind of spiked coffee they were drinking, not to mention the snarky sayings on their mugs every morning. There was an intriguing mystery and even a little romance. The cat's POV was definitely a unique twist, and I loved that the MC's name was the same as mine. If you're looking for a highly entertaining, humorous, engaging cozy, this is it! I enjoyed this so much and definitely recommend it!🩷
January 13, 2026
Sugar, Sugar
A review of the Orrplace Press eBook (January 5, 2026) released simultaneously with the hardcover / paperback.
I took a chance on The Retirees because it sounded like a fun version of The Thursday Murder Club series. I find the latter to be somehow too convoluted and I've never really warmed to it, abandoning it after the first few books. The Retirees is not exactly a feisty elders book as it often gets into much more cozy and fluffy territory. It does have its dark edges though with its combination of cold cases and present day murders inside the community. It was definitely fun and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The final sentence of the first chapter will definitely surprise you and bring a smile to your face.
74-year-old forcibly retired Florida sugar empire heiress Diana joins the 55+ community of The Ocean's Edge, which consists of townhouses and apartments around a central country club. She soon makes friends with several further retirees who investigate cold cases. They are led by one member who, due to past law enforcement experience, has contacts and access to official police records. Several cases are solved very easily through the combined talents and connections of the group.
Meanwhile, one vigilante member of the community appears to be writing their memoirs, consisting of the stories of the criminals and / or rude people they've eliminated over their lifetime. But suddenly members of the community itself start being targeted. These victims appear to have been innocents. Will the cold case club solve the current murder spree as well?
Even though it was on the lighter side, I thoroughly enjoyed The Retirees as a refreshing take on the recent trend of seniors solving crimes. In a rather clever loss-leader marketing move, the eBook edition is selling for only .99 cents at Amazon and Kobo (this is still as of January 13, 2026 i.e. a week after the book's release).
Soundtrack
There are countless song references throughout this book, especially during a disco dance evening organized at the country club. In case you feel nostalgic about the 1970s-1980s disco era you can listen to a Spotify playlist of 78 tracks at The Best Disco Songs of All Time.
The playlist does not include Sugar, Sugar by The Archies from 1969 which pre-dates the disco era but which inspired my title lede-header. You can listen to it on YouTube here.
Trivia and Link
Leah Orr is an independent author with her own publishing imprint Orrplace Press. She writes both children's fiction and mystery novels. All of the profits from book sales are donated to Cystic Fibrosis. Read further at her website here.
A review of the Orrplace Press eBook (January 5, 2026) released simultaneously with the hardcover / paperback.
It’s an aging thing; the youngsters wouldn’t understand. As you age, the outer shell never matches the youth within.
I took a chance on The Retirees because it sounded like a fun version of The Thursday Murder Club series. I find the latter to be somehow too convoluted and I've never really warmed to it, abandoning it after the first few books. The Retirees is not exactly a feisty elders book as it often gets into much more cozy and fluffy territory. It does have its dark edges though with its combination of cold cases and present day murders inside the community. It was definitely fun and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The final sentence of the first chapter will definitely surprise you and bring a smile to your face.
74-year-old forcibly retired Florida sugar empire heiress Diana joins the 55+ community of The Ocean's Edge, which consists of townhouses and apartments around a central country club. She soon makes friends with several further retirees who investigate cold cases. They are led by one member who, due to past law enforcement experience, has contacts and access to official police records. Several cases are solved very easily through the combined talents and connections of the group.
Meanwhile, one vigilante member of the community appears to be writing their memoirs, consisting of the stories of the criminals and / or rude people they've eliminated over their lifetime. But suddenly members of the community itself start being targeted. These victims appear to have been innocents. Will the cold case club solve the current murder spree as well?
Even though it was on the lighter side, I thoroughly enjoyed The Retirees as a refreshing take on the recent trend of seniors solving crimes. In a rather clever loss-leader marketing move, the eBook edition is selling for only .99 cents at Amazon and Kobo (this is still as of January 13, 2026 i.e. a week after the book's release).
Soundtrack
There are countless song references throughout this book, especially during a disco dance evening organized at the country club. In case you feel nostalgic about the 1970s-1980s disco era you can listen to a Spotify playlist of 78 tracks at The Best Disco Songs of All Time.
The playlist does not include Sugar, Sugar by The Archies from 1969 which pre-dates the disco era but which inspired my title lede-header. You can listen to it on YouTube here.
Trivia and Link
Leah Orr is an independent author with her own publishing imprint Orrplace Press. She writes both children's fiction and mystery novels. All of the profits from book sales are donated to Cystic Fibrosis. Read further at her website here.
December 1, 2025
Y’all, The Retirees is a wildly fun, twisted cozy mystery where retirement comes with tarot cards, tech conspiracies, and a cat who knows all the dirt. 😎🐈⬛💀
Diana—the sharp-tongued sugar heiress I didn’t know I needed—lands in a fancy 55+ community expecting relaxation and instead gets sucked into serial-killer shenanigans with the most lovable misfit sleuth squad ever. The psychic twins? Obsessed. The retired detective? Iconic. The humor? Chef’s kiss.
Leah Orr’s writing is snappy, clever, and laugh-out-loud sharp, with just the right amount of heart and mayhem. Fast, funny, and deliciously twisted—this cozy mystery absolutely sparkles. ✨📚
Diana—the sharp-tongued sugar heiress I didn’t know I needed—lands in a fancy 55+ community expecting relaxation and instead gets sucked into serial-killer shenanigans with the most lovable misfit sleuth squad ever. The psychic twins? Obsessed. The retired detective? Iconic. The humor? Chef’s kiss.
Leah Orr’s writing is snappy, clever, and laugh-out-loud sharp, with just the right amount of heart and mayhem. Fast, funny, and deliciously twisted—this cozy mystery absolutely sparkles. ✨📚
January 17, 2026
2.75 ☆'s
Unfortunately, this one didn't really do it for me.
I'm a huge fan of similar books by another author, and I think I went into this having set the bar too high, and it just didn't hit the mark.
I wasn't overly keen on the characters themselves, with one in particular giving me really creepy old man vibes. The best character by far was the cat!
The storyline itself wasn't a bad one, and I didn't guess who was committing the murders. I feel a bit more depth to the characters would have helped along with fewer cold cases and more about the present-day murders.
An OK book as a palate cleanser.
Unfortunately, this one didn't really do it for me.
I'm a huge fan of similar books by another author, and I think I went into this having set the bar too high, and it just didn't hit the mark.
I wasn't overly keen on the characters themselves, with one in particular giving me really creepy old man vibes. The best character by far was the cat!
The storyline itself wasn't a bad one, and I didn't guess who was committing the murders. I feel a bit more depth to the characters would have helped along with fewer cold cases and more about the present-day murders.
An OK book as a palate cleanser.
December 18, 2025
Special thanks to Leah Orr for the arc. This is my second book from this author and she doesn’t disappoint. If you like cozy mysteries that are fast paced with fun characters then this is for you. I loved Mr. Anderson, the communication was unmatched. Towards the end of the book you get some coffee drink recipes to keep the vibes going which I thought was a really cute touch as well.
December 5, 2025
You need to read this book! If you read her other book you’re in for another treat. Will update my full review soon but loved it
June 27, 2026
Who doesn't love a quirky bunch of retired septuagenarian sleuths? While I'd consider this a little more edgy than the typical cozy mystery, it still had some cozy elements in the theme of friendship and found family. I particularly enjoyed the cat, Mr. Anderson's perspective and found myself laughing out loud more than once at the witty banter between this fun group of seniors. I had my suspicions of the culprit early on, but a twist left me surprised at the reveal. Readers who enjoy vigilante justice, a fast-paced mystery, and "coffin dodger" senior sleuths will love this one!
December 8, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up!
A huge thank you to @leahorr723 for the gifted copy!
Pub date: January 5th, 2026
"𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺. 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥."
An elderly community murder mystery told from the POV of a cat, the sugar heiress, and the killer himself? You bet your ass I was SOLD!
I had such a fun time getting to know the residents of The Oceans Edge community. Diana and Bill reminded me so much of my grandparents with their constant back and forth banter. Carol was my spirit animal, her relationship with Mr.Anderson, the community cat, melted my heart. And let's not forget about the psychic twins?! There truly wasn't a character in this story that was hateable, dear I say, even the killer 🙊
I’m not usually a cozy mystery fan, but the witty humor throughout completely won me over. There’s just something irresistible about a group of crime solving seniors who start their mornings with spiked coffee. And it gets better, Leah gives you the mouthwatering recipes of them all at the end of the book!
If you liked The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, but wanted more cozy vibes, this is the perfect next read for you!
*Leah donates all profits from the sale of her books to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation*
𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
☕elderly sleuths
🐈psychic characters
🪩witty humor
💉talking cats
A huge thank you to @leahorr723 for the gifted copy!
Pub date: January 5th, 2026
"𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺. 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥."
An elderly community murder mystery told from the POV of a cat, the sugar heiress, and the killer himself? You bet your ass I was SOLD!
I had such a fun time getting to know the residents of The Oceans Edge community. Diana and Bill reminded me so much of my grandparents with their constant back and forth banter. Carol was my spirit animal, her relationship with Mr.Anderson, the community cat, melted my heart. And let's not forget about the psychic twins?! There truly wasn't a character in this story that was hateable, dear I say, even the killer 🙊
I’m not usually a cozy mystery fan, but the witty humor throughout completely won me over. There’s just something irresistible about a group of crime solving seniors who start their mornings with spiked coffee. And it gets better, Leah gives you the mouthwatering recipes of them all at the end of the book!
If you liked The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, but wanted more cozy vibes, this is the perfect next read for you!
*Leah donates all profits from the sale of her books to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation*
𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
☕elderly sleuths
🐈psychic characters
🪩witty humor
💉talking cats
October 20, 2025
Good cozy murder mystery. Such a quick read, full of quirky characters.
Diana is entering the life of retirement and with that she is moving into a beloved community, Ocean's Edge. Ocean's Edge is home to 55+ and is a wonderful community for those entering their retirement age. Upon her arrival, she is greeted by twin sisters, Estelle and Filomena. She is quickly acquainted with the twins and introduced to Bill, Dennis and Carol. Together this group works on cold cases surrounding the community and they have a pretty impressive solve rate.
The cold case group is just for fun, until reality starts to hit too close to home, way too often. Not only are they solving cold cases, but now there are several active deaths within their own community at Ocean's Edge. Is this a result of a murderer amongst them, or are these residents really dying from "natural causes"?
Only one character knows the truth, and that would be Mr. Anderson. Unfortunately, Mr. Anderson won't be telling anyone the truth any time soon.
This is the perfect cozy murder mystery. Just enough to keep you engaged. Super quick read. Thank you to Leah Orr for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. All profits of her book sales are donated to Cystic Fibrosis research.
Diana is entering the life of retirement and with that she is moving into a beloved community, Ocean's Edge. Ocean's Edge is home to 55+ and is a wonderful community for those entering their retirement age. Upon her arrival, she is greeted by twin sisters, Estelle and Filomena. She is quickly acquainted with the twins and introduced to Bill, Dennis and Carol. Together this group works on cold cases surrounding the community and they have a pretty impressive solve rate.
The cold case group is just for fun, until reality starts to hit too close to home, way too often. Not only are they solving cold cases, but now there are several active deaths within their own community at Ocean's Edge. Is this a result of a murderer amongst them, or are these residents really dying from "natural causes"?
Only one character knows the truth, and that would be Mr. Anderson. Unfortunately, Mr. Anderson won't be telling anyone the truth any time soon.
This is the perfect cozy murder mystery. Just enough to keep you engaged. Super quick read. Thank you to Leah Orr for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. All profits of her book sales are donated to Cystic Fibrosis research.
January 8, 2026
The Ocean's Edge has everything you could need in a retirement community and then some. When Diana is ousted from her empire in the sugar business that she helped build, she makes the leap and moves into the idyllic community. She expects to find a quiet, posh paradise. What she finds is much, much darker. She is immediately befriended by a quirky group of friends who make it their mission to solve old cases through some very unusual practices (trust me, they're unique). Everyone in the community is gearing up for a disco party, but things aren't quite as they seem. By the end of the night, it will be more than just confetti on the dancefloor.
This book has a little of everything: humor, intrigue, and a really twisty mystery that I had to solve (spoiler: I didn't solve it). The characters have big personalities and even the cat, Mr. Anderson, is a scene stealer. If you like your mysteries with a large splash of humor and served up with some very sketchy characters, then look no further. This is the book for you!
I read The Executive Suite by Leah Orr previously and really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I snagged this one that just released. I'm definitely going to be checking out more of her work!
This book has a little of everything: humor, intrigue, and a really twisty mystery that I had to solve (spoiler: I didn't solve it). The characters have big personalities and even the cat, Mr. Anderson, is a scene stealer. If you like your mysteries with a large splash of humor and served up with some very sketchy characters, then look no further. This is the book for you!
I read The Executive Suite by Leah Orr previously and really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I snagged this one that just released. I'm definitely going to be checking out more of her work!
January 8, 2026
The Ocean's Edge has everything you could need in a retirement community and then some. When Diana is ousted from her empire in the sugar business that she helped build, she makes the leap and moves into the idyllic community. She expects to find a quiet, posh paradise. What she finds is much, much darker. She is immediately befriended by a quirky group of friends who make it their mission to solve old cases through some very unusual practices (trust me, they're unique). Everyone in the community is gearing up for a disco party, but things aren't quite as they seem. By the end of the night, it will be more than just confetti on the dancefloor.
This book has a little of everything: humor, intrigue, and a really twisty mystery that I had to solve (spoiler: I didn't solve it). The characters have big personalities and even the cat, Mr. Anderson, is a scene stealer. If you like your mysteries with a large splash of humor and served up with some very sketchy characters, then look no further. This is the book for you!
I read The Executive Suite by Leah Orr previously and really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I snagged this one that just released. I'm definitely going to be checking out more of her work!
This book has a little of everything: humor, intrigue, and a really twisty mystery that I had to solve (spoiler: I didn't solve it). The characters have big personalities and even the cat, Mr. Anderson, is a scene stealer. If you like your mysteries with a large splash of humor and served up with some very sketchy characters, then look no further. This is the book for you!
I read The Executive Suite by Leah Orr previously and really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I snagged this one that just released. I'm definitely going to be checking out more of her work!
September 26, 2025
Leah Orr strikes again, with another can’t put down mystery. This one was my favorite of hers that I have read so far. It was funny and interesting. It’s an easy read and definitely got me out of my book slump. A group of retirees who all retired to The Ocean’s edge, get together to solve cold cases. What they didn’t know is that there is a murder living among them. At the start of every meeting, which usually takes place in the morning, they take turns making morning cocktails. The author added those drinks at the end of the books. I love when authors take the time to do that for readers. Excuse me while I try all these drinks.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A solid 4 🌟 read for me!
I don’t read a ton of cozy mysteries, but I really enjoyed this one. Diana, the FMC, is lively, fun, and full of sass; so is the group she joins at the retirement home to help solve crimes. I’m a big fan of animal POVs in books, so naturally, one of my favorite parts of the book was the cat's POV. He is funny and lovable. The pacing of the story is even, and it’s a quick read. I enjoyed how the story wrapped up, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you to the author, Leah Orr, for the physical ARC.
I don’t read a ton of cozy mysteries, but I really enjoyed this one. Diana, the FMC, is lively, fun, and full of sass; so is the group she joins at the retirement home to help solve crimes. I’m a big fan of animal POVs in books, so naturally, one of my favorite parts of the book was the cat's POV. He is funny and lovable. The pacing of the story is even, and it’s a quick read. I enjoyed how the story wrapped up, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you to the author, Leah Orr, for the physical ARC.
July 23, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book. Wow! What a delight. A fast-paced crime caper with senior sleuths solving cold-cases. This had an ending I never would have imagined, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fun plot twist. What I loved best: The Retirees get fined by the HOA if they swear in public. They get fined a public nuisance fee, so they have to come up with creative ways to swear- so funny!
September 26, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from the author, it does not affect my review in any way.
This was a really great read, lots of mini mysteries within the main story. I want more of the crew in future stories. The ending came as a surprise, one I didn't see coming and enjoyed.
I love the recipes for all the coffees in the back and the short story as well.
Excellent read!
This was a really great read, lots of mini mysteries within the main story. I want more of the crew in future stories. The ending came as a surprise, one I didn't see coming and enjoyed.
I love the recipes for all the coffees in the back and the short story as well.
Excellent read!
May 24, 2026
*AN ADVANCED READER’S COPY REVIEW*
=> Cozy mystery
=> Retiree amateur sleuths
=> Witty banter
=> Cold cases + present murders
=> Found family
=> Popcorn thriller energy
🔎 “Dating after seventy is like trying to find the least damaged thing in a thrift store that doesn’t smell.”
This book knew EXACTLY what it was doing. The Retirees honestly gave me what I wanted from The Thursday Murder Club but never quite got there for me personally. Less convoluted chaos, more charm, humor, and an actually entertaining group dynamic. Humanity really said “what if Scooby-Doo but everyone has knee pain and a pension.” Incredible stuff.
☕ Diana, a 74-year-old sugar heiress forcibly pushed out of her own empire by her daughter, moves into The Ocean’s Edge, a chaotic little 55+ community filled with the most ridiculous and lovable people imaginable. Psychic tarot-reading twins, a retired detective, a shady tech genius, a nurse who may or may not communicate with animals, and Mr. Anderson the cat casually stealing scenes like he pays rent. Their cold-case club quickly turns into something much messier when murders start happening inside the community itself.
🔪 This was cozy and fluffy in the best way, but it still had darker edges underneath all the coffee cocktails and witty one-liners. The vigilante memoir subplot especially added this weirdly fun moral grayness to the story. I kept laughing through most of it because the dialogue genuinely lands. Old people being messy, nosy, and lowkey terrifying is one of literature’s greatest gifts. Retirement homes in mysteries are basically universities for chaos.
💭 My only issue is that I honestly wanted MORE. More depth, more character development, and more focus on one central mystery because the premise and characters were strong enough to carry it. It’s definitely more of a quick popcorn mystery than a deeply layered crime novel, but honestly? It knows its lane and thrives there.
=> Cozy mystery
=> Retiree amateur sleuths
=> Witty banter
=> Cold cases + present murders
=> Found family
=> Popcorn thriller energy
🔎 “Dating after seventy is like trying to find the least damaged thing in a thrift store that doesn’t smell.”
This book knew EXACTLY what it was doing. The Retirees honestly gave me what I wanted from The Thursday Murder Club but never quite got there for me personally. Less convoluted chaos, more charm, humor, and an actually entertaining group dynamic. Humanity really said “what if Scooby-Doo but everyone has knee pain and a pension.” Incredible stuff.
☕ Diana, a 74-year-old sugar heiress forcibly pushed out of her own empire by her daughter, moves into The Ocean’s Edge, a chaotic little 55+ community filled with the most ridiculous and lovable people imaginable. Psychic tarot-reading twins, a retired detective, a shady tech genius, a nurse who may or may not communicate with animals, and Mr. Anderson the cat casually stealing scenes like he pays rent. Their cold-case club quickly turns into something much messier when murders start happening inside the community itself.
🔪 This was cozy and fluffy in the best way, but it still had darker edges underneath all the coffee cocktails and witty one-liners. The vigilante memoir subplot especially added this weirdly fun moral grayness to the story. I kept laughing through most of it because the dialogue genuinely lands. Old people being messy, nosy, and lowkey terrifying is one of literature’s greatest gifts. Retirement homes in mysteries are basically universities for chaos.
💭 My only issue is that I honestly wanted MORE. More depth, more character development, and more focus on one central mystery because the premise and characters were strong enough to carry it. It’s definitely more of a quick popcorn mystery than a deeply layered crime novel, but honestly? It knows its lane and thrives there.
July 1, 2026
Septuagenarians solving cold case crimes in a novel, sign me up. This book is an easy read and short. I finished in a little over a day I really loved the premise of this book and the fact that it pushes the idea that just because you are older and retired doesn't mean you can't still enjoy life and have fun doing things you love. Also loved the cat as one of the narrators. However, I think this book needed a bit more attention in the character development. I felt we got a pretty good feel for the main character, Diana, but several of the other characters felt one-dimensional and not fully fleshed out. Finally, the ending really threw me for a loop in the sense that it felt really abrupt and like I didn't actually get any closure. The book is relatively short overall so adding some more to really make that conclusion stick would have been pages well spent.
Thank you to the author for this book which I received for free in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author for this book which I received for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2026
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: there are a lot of characters and a talking cat. And a lady that talks to cats. And someone that talks to the dead.... all of these skills and much more are used to solve these crimes. The book ended up just being ok. There was a lot going on and I didn't like the twist at the end.
Premise: This is a cozy mystery set in a Florida 55+ community where a group of eccentric seniors begin investigating cold cases.
When Diana, a retired sugar heiress, moves into an upscale 55+ community in Florida she assumed she'd be getting quiet relaxation. Instead, she's pulled into a quirky team of senior sleuths investigating cold cases, new murders, and the dark secrets hidden beneath the sunny Florida façade.
Review: there are a lot of characters and a talking cat. And a lady that talks to cats. And someone that talks to the dead.... all of these skills and much more are used to solve these crimes. The book ended up just being ok. There was a lot going on and I didn't like the twist at the end.
Premise: This is a cozy mystery set in a Florida 55+ community where a group of eccentric seniors begin investigating cold cases.
When Diana, a retired sugar heiress, moves into an upscale 55+ community in Florida she assumed she'd be getting quiet relaxation. Instead, she's pulled into a quirky team of senior sleuths investigating cold cases, new murders, and the dark secrets hidden beneath the sunny Florida façade.
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