Disposing of a body is as easy as A, B, C! Introducing the Alphabet Girls, four senior gal pals turned accidental sleuths—The Thursday Murder Club meets The Golden Girls, with a splash of Killers of a Certain Age
At sixty-nine years old, Claire Reynolds is changing things up. She’s volunteering. Learning to rollerblade. She’s rescued a shelter dog. And today, she’s killed a man. It wasn’t on her to-do list, but stuff happens.
Besides, the man in question was strangling her good friend Daphne, and what’s a gal to do? Scream, possibly. Call the cops. Or—at retired officer Daphne’s insistence—call in the rest of their senior gal pals, roll up the body in a blanket, and toss it off a cliff.
The dead man is a member of the local crime family, and if the police get involved it’s not just Daphne at risk, it’s them all.
But the body’s just the start. Soon the Alphabet Girls—Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne—must transform into the Alphabet Sleuths, if they’re to keep both their liberty . . . and their lives.
Meet Atsuko Kimura (75, retired journalist), Barbara Wright (age redacted, retired actress), Claire Reynolds (69, retired paralegal), and Daphne Cole (62, retired cop) in the first funny, fast-paced Alphabet Girls Mystery from award-winning author Laura Jensen Walker.
Award-winning author Laura Jensen Walker has written several books, including the Lefty nominated historical fiction, DEATH OF A FLYING NIGHTINGALE. Dubbed "riveting and affecting" by NYT bestselling author Susan Elia MacNeal, this book spotlights a group of real-life overlooked women heroes--the Flying Nightingales--from WWII. An Air Force veteran formerly stationed in the UK, Laura had the great honor of interviewing the last living Flying Nightingale, before she passed.
Bibliophile Laura fell in love with mysteries after reading Trixie Belden in the fourth grade, Her cozy mystery debut, MURDER MOST SWEET (2020) was nominated for an Agatha Award, and her next cozy, THE ALPHABET SLEUTHS, releases in Feb. 2026. Publishers Weekly says about the book: "Walker's feisty, funny, and fully realized seniors easily sit beside the casts of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB and THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB in the coy pantheon. Readers will be charmed."
THE POSTMISTRESS OF PUDDLINGTON, Laura's second historical novel, features women on the home front in WWII England and releases in August 2026. She is currently at work on a women's fiction novel (aka book club fiction.)
Laura flew a typewriter across Europe in Uncle Sam's Air Force in her twenties, and lived in England for three years where she became a lifelong, tea-loving Anglophile. Shenow lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband and their two rescue pups.
At sixty-nine years old, Claire Reynolds is changing things up. She’s volunteering. Learning to rollerblade. She’s rescued a shelter dog. And today, she’s killed a man. It wasn’t on her to-do list, but stuff happens.
Besides, the man in question was strangling her good friend Daphne, and what’s a gal to do? Scream, possibly. Call the cops. Or—at retired officer Daphne’s insistence—call in the rest of their senior gal pals, roll up the body in a blanket, and toss it off a cliff.
The dead man is a member of the local crime family, and if the police get involved it’s not just Daphne at risk, it’s them all.
But the body’s just the start. Soon the Alphabet Girls—Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne—must transform into the Alphabet Sleuths, if they’re to keep both their liberty . . . and their lives.
My Thoughts /
'There has to be some benefit to getting old.' 'There is. The benefit of not giving a damn.'
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publishers Severn House and author, Laura Jensen Walker for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
If you are a reader and have NEVER, EVER, EVER, NOT EVEN ONCE, been drawn to a book simply because of the cover, can you really call yourself a reader?
I'm not gonna lie – two things initially drew me to this book – the title and the cover. As a lover of cozies, that title imbibed major cozy mystery vibes; and, when I saw the cover art, my cozy mystery imagination went into overdrive! Now that I've finished the one, I'm happy to say that there are now more things I can add to the list of things I enjoyed.
Author, Laura Jensen Walker has managed to create a set of four main characters you will want to visit with regularly. Meet 75-year-old, retired journalist, Atsuko Kimura; Claire Reynolds, a 69-year old retired paralegal; 62-year old Daphne Cole who's a retired cop; and lastly Barbara Wright – retired actress. Barbara refuses to be defined by her age…….whatever that is………..because her friends have never been able to pry that information from her!
All four ladies are residents at the Cedar Glen retirement community in Santa Bonita, California. It took time for the women to bond, but watching out for each other during the difficult days of COVID helped them forge a deep friendship. Now, five years later, and known locally by most of the Cedar Glen residents as the Alphabet Girls — Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne are rarely found on their own; rather, choosing to spend their time with each other.
Sometimes things happen that are out of your control, and you just have to make the best of it. Recently, Claire had been teaching Daphne how to plant out a garden, but due to a recent shoulder injury, Daphne hasn't been able to finish it. So today, Claire decided she would surprise her friend by coming over and finishing the planting for her. Arriving at Daphne's patio, imagine Claire's surprise when she looked up and saw a hooded figure with his hands around her friend's throat, choking her! Without thinking, and grabbing the first thing available to her, Claire charged into her best friend's living room and hit the intruder over the back of the head. Claire's thoughts were only for the safety of her friend and it wasn't until she had confirmation Daphne was okay that the pair turned their thoughts to the unmoving body on the floor. He was dead.
Claire Reynolds hadn't planned to kill a man that day, but stuff happens.
In true cozy mystery fashion "stuff" continues to happen.
🤩 Laura Jensen Walker's characters are great fun to be with. Despite their differences, the quartet share a strong bonding friendship. It's their complementary differences that make the friendship work.
🤩 The case of secondary characters are worth mentioning. A mixture of other Cedar Glen residents, including Lenny Fink, Cedar Glen's most flirtatious resident and Vince Merlucci, his partner-in-crime. Daphne's (ex)police partner Detective Rick Bartlett is assigned to the case of the missing man (the one lying in Daphne's living room! Shhh!).
🤩 The author has included witty dialogue and humorous banter between our protagonists which made for engaging and entertaining reading.
🤩 It turns out that this is book #2 of the series (An Alphabet Girls Mystery). I have to say that I didn't have any trouble following along (thankfully) and I'm definitely going to source out book #1 toot-sweet!
I loved spending time with the Alphabet Girls and am looking forward to seeing them again soon. 💗
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to publishers, Severn House 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for February 03, 2026.
The Alphabet Sleuths is typically my type of book. A unique set of characters especially of an advanced age and some sleuthing.
I was not familiar with Laura Jensen Walker's work so I wasn't sure what to expect. Unfortunately, story fell flat for me. There were some points when I enjoyed the book but it felt like it dragged to the point of misery. The story was fine but the writing was lackluster in my opinion.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Absolutely adorable! A group of retired ladies are all good friends and live in the same community. Their names, conveniently, each start with one of the first four letters in the alphabet. They call themselves the Alphabet Girls.
But when Claire walks up on Daphne being strangled by a strange man, she clubs him with a pan, we know the mysteries have just started! This group is so fun! I loved their hijinks and silly banter. I loved how they defended and respected each other and how they also had each other's back.
I liked the introduction to more than one mystery and the way that each one of them handled the twists thrown at them but also made sure to rely on each other. Such a fun, cute, fast read. I really liked it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Combined age = 206++ Previous experience = Investigations, legalese, theatricals, organisation, and noses for details!
Four friends, inquisitive, independent, and loyal, who live at the Cedar Glen retirement community in Santa Bonita, California, find their lives take a sudden turn for the dangerous, exciting, and little bit scary when one of them is attacked. Of course, there is no doubt her three friends will help work out what actually happened, but then a resident dies, and they have to be linked, don't they? Add in a missing gangster, two unsavoury old guys with secrets to keep, and a bent cop, and their days are soon full of activities they had no idea they wanted to partake in. As heartbreaking long-held memories rise to the surface, the danger increases until they realise just how serious everything actually is.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Severn House, but the opinions expressed are my own. The first in a new series by author Laura Jensen Walker, this is a good read, back stories are explored and, as this is written from the pov of the main characters, the information flows seamlessly. The four protagonists are all completely different and have things to hide, but together, they make a great team and compliment each other. It's definitely a series worth giving a try.
This book follows four women (Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne) as they work to solve the murder of one of their neighbors. The women are more on the senior side of life, so this book is quite similar to The Thursday Murder Club, however, I enjoyed this book a bit more! I liked the subplots surrounding the main murder and really appreciated the friendship between these women. Each character was unique, and I felt that I could really relate to Claire!
This book was a feel good, cozy mystery. I liked that the book had a solid conclusion, but still left room for a sequel.
Also, I absolutely adored the title and how the characters fit so well with one another, the story, and the title!
#TheAlphabetSleuths #NetGalley is one of the funniest cozy mysteries I've read in a while. The Alphabet Girls include Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne, a wonderful group of women who find themselves having to dispose of a dead body. Claire didn't mean to kill the guy, but what else could she have done when she found him strangling her good friend Daphne? Hitting him over the head seemed like a good idea, but now what do they do? Hide the body, of course! This cozy mystery is so well written., the characters are all so unique and colorful, it was a blast to read this book. I hope there will be other books in this fantastic, new series.
Thank you to NetGally and the author Lauren Jensen Walker for allowing me to read this arc. One of my favorite sub genres in a Cozy Murder mystery is “older” sleuths. I can’t wait for more books in this series. The story and writing just flows. . Fast pace. The characters development and plot setting is fabulous. It has mystery, humor, friendship and heart
I thought this was cute, light, and fluffy, and generally well-written. It is the combo of Osman and Raybourn and Golden Girls as advertised, and things end satisfyingly, like you want them to. The mystery is set up well, the relationships between characters are clear but nuanced and the ending is just surprising enough to do the job. This was a palate cleanser of a book that I enjoyed very much and will happily read more of as they come out.
Overall an enjoyable mystery featuring a group of older ladies. Quite funny, with even a few laugh-out-loud moments.
I liked at least three of the four Alphabet Girls. They each had a distinct voice and backstory.
At times the story was quite fast-paced and adventurous. I did expect some frequently mentioned storylines to play a larger role, so maybe the book ended up falling a bit flatter for me in the end.
I just read a review which mentioned the overuse of the phrase "afternoon delight", yes, thank you!
I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley.
I flew through this book! I love the Alphabet Girls (Atsuko, Barbara, Claire and Daphne), and I really enjoyed the mysteries in this book. Yes, there is more than one! I have been almost exclusively reading murder mysteries this year (primarily of the cozy variety) and I am so pleased to add this to my Read pile, and I'm already looking forward to what the author will deliver next! (A sequel? More crimes for them to solve, pretty please?)
What did I love about this book? Well...
Each of the ladies are distinct from the other, with their flaws and their strengths. I love how they clearly respect and support each other, and have frank conversations where they hold themselves and each other accountable, while also giving space. It was a very healthy dynamic. I also appreciated that they formed their friendship in the pandemic and we are now seeing the solid bonds they have, vs spending time in the story building the bonds. That way we, the audience, could devote more time to the mysteries and how the ladies work together to solve them.
I also enjoyed all of the side characters. Some were frustrating, and the rest were characters I'd hope to see again. The format of their introductions, along with having a foursome in the middle, reminded me a lot of The Thursday Murder Club, but was unique enough to hold my interest. Perhaps I'm on something of a trend with older-mystery-solvers? (See also Killers of a Certain Age).
There were some things I struggled with though. Namely, the pacing. This book is fast . Very very fast. I flew through this book, but also it felt like the characters were rushing to the conclusion. You didn't get a lot of time to really sit with them as they processed what was happening to them. There could have been about 30 more pages to really sit with some of the plot points. Speaking of the plot, I was able to guess the murderers pretty early. Maybe because it's the first book in a (hopefully) series, and it was more formulaic as a result, but I hope the next one has a bit more twists.
Overall, this book was just fun! I was metaphorically kicking my feet in glee at the shenanigans. I'm excited to see what the Alphabet Sleuths get up to next.
Big thanks to #NetGalley and #SevernHousePublishing for the ARC!
The action starts early in this book with the following first sentence: "Claire Reynolds hadn't planned to kill a man that day, but stuff happens." Stuff does indeed continue to happen after that as the self-described Alphabet Girls, Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne, become the Alphabet Sleuths. The women are residents of a retirement community in California and became close friends during the COVID pandemic. They're very different in temperament, life histories, and attitudes to aging and life, but they're a close and supportive group of friends. As the book opens, Claire is gardening and looks up to see Daphne, who is recovering from surgery on her arm, being strangled by a strange man. Claire rushes up to help her friend and inadvertently kills the guy. Plot ensues from there. I want to avoid spoilers so won't say much more about the plot here.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. The characters are fun to be with and their relationships with each other are lovely. They can each be exasperating in their own ways and are often funny. Some of the other characters in the book are quirky in the ways you'd expect in a cozy mystery and some were more sinister. The story kept me interested from that opening sentence through to the end. There are a couple of other mysteries that occur as the book goes on and it's unclear at first whether they're all related or not. All loose ends are tied up by the end of the book in a satisfying ending. If I had one quibble with the book it's a very minor one and that was what seemed like an overuse of the phrase "afternoon delight." This is a fun read that touches on some serious topics along the way, but with a light touch. Some of these involve the backstories of the characters, which are seamlessly inserted into the narrative. If you like cozy mysteries with older women protagonists and some humor, this may well be a book for you. It's a great read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.
Laura Jensen Walker's The Alphabet Sleuths feels like the start of a new series, building on the popularity of books about seniors who solve crimes. Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne, each living in a separate home in a retirement complex, have become fast friends, although their backgrounds are quite different. Atsuko was a journalist, Barbara an actress, Claire a paralegal and medical office worker, and Daphne a cop. Their ages range from 62 to"not telling," but they are still full of life and savoring new experiences.
One night, Claire enters Daphne's house to find a man trying to strangle her friend, and she reacts quickly, hitting the man from behind with such force that he dies instantly. He was a criminal apprehended by Daphne years earlier and just released from prison, having threatened revenge on her. The ladies put their heads together to figure out how to dispose of the body where it will never be found. But the story is just taking off at that point. There are also some thefts among the residents, some loud arguments and petty disagreements, and then another murder, thickening the plot further.
Each one of the Alphabet Sleuths is clearly portrayed, with details about her history, her family, spouses and romances, and what she wants from her retirement, making them easy to root for. Was what they did legal or advisable? Of course not, but was it understandable? Definitely. A couple of the male residents are portrayed as slimy, but at least one man may be true romantic partner material. It's a quick read, but a lot of fun. I hope there are further adventures for the Alphabet sleuths.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
The Alphabet Sleuths was a very quick, quirky, and entertaining read that kept me turning the pages. It’s the kind of murder mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously and leans into fun, personality, and momentum instead of heavy serious tones.
Much of the story felt far-fetched and fairly superficial, jumping from one happening to the next with quick wrap-ups that sometimes left noticeable gaps. At times it felt like the book was skimming the surface of several ideas instead of fully diving into any one of them, almost like multiple mini storylines stitched together with the same cast of characters. That said, the final 20% really elevated the book for me. The story gained more depth and meaning, tying together some loose threads and giving the overall narrative a stronger emotional payoff. It suddenly felt more cohesive and intentional, which made the earlier chaos more forgivable in hindsight.
Some of the language and activities didn’t feel entirely realistic for the older adult characters, and the high-energy antics were a bit over the top. However, the internal dialogue and "frisky" behavior did fit the Golden Girls–style reference, and I genuinely appreciated the variety in personalities among the characters.
Overall, The Alphabet Sleuths kept me entertained and delivered a fun, lighthearted murder mystery. While it may not be the most grounded or deeply developed story throughout, its charm, humor, and stronger ending made it an enjoyable read. *Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and may differ from the final published version.*
"Claire Reynolds hadn't planned to kill a man that day, but stuff happens". The story hooked me from this very first line and kept me well and truly gripped the entire way through.
The Alphabet Sleuths is a fast-paced, suspenseful, and wholesome cosy mystery story about four mature-women that live in a retirement complex, and are faced with multiple mysteries to solve, including murder! The story is very cleverly plotted and will keep you wanting to know what happens next. I dare you to try NOT to read it all in one sitting!
Along the way you get a deeper insight to each of the women and their pasts, you can't help but root for this bada** quartet that demonstrate you're truly only ever as old as you feel.
Fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Golden Girls will love this cosy mystery. I absolutely loved it and I hope it becomes a series - I'm dying to know what the Alphabet Girls get up to on their next adventure!
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Severn House, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this better than average cosy. Set in a retirement community in Southern California, Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, and Daphne meet during the covid era. Though all quite different, they bond through shared difficulties. Now they have another difficulty, disposing of a dead body. Benny Popov, just out of prison has come to exact his revenge on Daphne, the retired cop who sent him down. Claire happens by to discover Benny choking the life out of Daphne. She goes to help her friend and accidentally kills him. Soon robberies and a neighbor is found murdered, and the four friends discover they have a talent and a taste for solving crime. This book will appeal to fans of Richard Osman. The characters are well formed and quite believable. Minimal mention of sex, violence or bad language, the book shouldn’t offend any sensitive readers. Humorous and light hearted, it is an easy read. I would recommend this book. Thank you Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The book description had me hooked. Atsuko, Barbara, Claire, & Daphne are the Alphabet Girls and they’re tons of fun.
The book is very well written and packed with twists and turns I genuinely didn’t see coming. The girls quickly graduate from committing a crime to solving them. It was a quick read and impossible to put down once I started.
The character dynamics really did it for me. Claire and Barbara are both natural comedians bringing levity to their situation. Daphne and Atsuko are more of a no nonsense variety bringing the perfect balance to the group. I love how fiercely independent each of the girls is, with every character’s voice coming through distinct and strong.
The ending was a complete surprise to me, and I can’t wait to pick up the next volume in this cozy mystery series. (I'm so happy to see Daphne isn't ready to hang up her gun just yet.)
I appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher Severn House.
"Claire Reynolds hadn't planned to kill a man that day, but stuff happens." When Claire accidentally kills the man that was trying to kill Daphne, they hide the body and try to keep it quiet especially after Daphne's former partner shows up. After a resident of Cedar Glen is murdered in her condo the women join forces to figure out who the murderer is. I really enjoyed this book! The characters are likeable and I love a good senior sleuth story. Other than the murder we had the previously mentioned hiding of a body, a possible thief in the retirement community, and some questionable behavior from Daphne's former partner. There's a lot going on but it's easy to follow and there are enough red herrings to keep you guessing as to whodunnit. Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This was an easy to read mystery, with a group of retired friends who'd do anything for each other - even if that 'anything' includes hiding a body. I found the friendships to be believable, and I was wholly invested in finding out about Evelyn's hidden life.
That said, the pacing is all over the place.
There where some chapters that had good pacing, with well described details that allowed me to guess at the solution to the developing mystery. And there where some that felt rushed and disjointed, especially towards the end of the book. The POV would snap from one character to the next, and I found it hard to keep track of who was where.
All in all, an enjoyable read that'll keep you entertained throughout.
When Daphne, a retired police officer, is nearly strangled to death, her friend Claire - in an attempt to rescue her - accidentally kills the man who was hurting Daphne. And although they manage to get rid of the body, the consequences aren't dispatched nearly as easily!
The dead man is connected to a crime family, so involving the police could lead to further repercussions. Instead, the story introduces us to a group of senior friends who demonstrate exactly whom you should call when you need help burying the body. Both metaphorically and literally speaking...
This is a charming and funny story that will appeal to a wide range of readers. It scores 3.5 stars with ease.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I have a weakness for senior sleuths.. I love them! Always so quirky and fun. A lovely retirement village full of gossip, and in this case, murder. I thought calling them the Alphabet Sleuths was really clever; Atsuko, Barbara, Claire and Daphne.
Barbara was my favourite this round. Claire is lovely and Daphne is strong. I'd love to see more of Atsuko in the next mystery because I feel like we got to know her the least.
I look forward to their next case 🔍
🎵 Good Morning Good Morning We've talked the whole night through Good Morning Good Morning to you 🎵
What do you get when you have a Angela Fletcher like personality mixed in with the four distinct personalities of Golden Girls?
This book.
Funny mixed with mystery is how best to describe this entertaining read. Probably, will be picking up any sequels given how much enjoyed this read. It's a beach read. It's a get you out of a reading slump kind of read. It's a fun read.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Severn House, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Alphabet Sleuths consists of 4 ladies in a retirement community who find themselves in the middle of a couple of murders, one of them a member of their group committed and they helped cover up.
This was fun read. I enjoyed the relationships with the group as well as the others in the community. Looking forward to the next book.
I want to thank the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
3.5 stars — This was such a warm and charming cozy mystery! The dynamic between the four women was the highlight for me. They had a real Golden Girls meets Murder She Wrote vibe that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Each of them had a unique backstory, and their friendship, humor, and little quirks kept me smiling. The mystery itself was fun and easy to follow, making this a great comfort read. I’d happily spend more time with this group in future installments.
Books with feisty ladies of a certain age are rare and I try to read every one I can find. This one was disappointing to.me. The characters are fine, but unfortunately the story itself was boring, not really featuring any sleuthing. There is a lot of sassy back and forth between the women, some of it funny, but overall I was a bit bored and rushed through the whole book. Thank you NetGalley and the Seven House for the eARC.
i thought that the friendship between the characters was very well fleshed out. each character had their own rich backstory which i appreciated. i did feel that the pacing of the book was slightly rushed in some places and slow in others. overall, it was a good read but i dont think i would read it again
Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book. I loved the friendship in this book between the Alphabet Girls. The mystery was great and I loved the way diary entries from the past were incorporated into solving it. This was a quick read, and I hope this becomes a series. I would love to read more about Atsuko, Barbara, Claire and Daphne!