Poppy Montgomery Gets Even

Poppy Montgomery Gets Even #1

by Gordon Jack

An elderly woman targets online scammers in this charmingly cozy caper from a “riotously funny” author (Publishers Weekly).

Eighty-year-old Poppy Montgomery has always taken a negative view of her life. Her father? A bully. Her husbands? Losers. Her daughter and grandson? Well, they’re probably her fault. And now the police have taken away her license, her daughter wants to put her in a retirement home, and the bossy new fitter-than-thou attendee at water aerobics is taking over her favorite class.

But enough is enough, and when her new friend, Ginny, is scammed on a dating site for seniors, Poppy decides it’s time to finally get even. With the help of Jeremy, her tech-savvy grandson, Poppy launches a vindictive little caper, scamming the scammers that prey on the elderly online. But when two women at Ginny’s retirement home seemingly meet unnatural ends and her newest target is implicated in the murder, suddenly Poppy’s fun online con job becomes a matter of life or death. It’s going to take the whole gang—Poppy’s two new best friends, her in-recovery daughter, and her basement-dwelling grandson—to pull off one last job, before one of them becomes the next victim.

A charmingly cozy crime story brimming with laughs and heart, Poppy Montgomery Gets Even shows that it’s never too late to turn over a new leaf, make new friends, and scam an international crime ring while solving some murders along the way.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Humor, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2026

About the author

Gordon Jack has been a high school librarian for thirty years. In that time, he did his best to keep kids reading, including writing two young adult novels, The Boomerang Effect and Your Own Worst Enemy. Now that he’s about to retire, he figured he should write for people closer to his own age, which is why he’s suddenly interested in the lives of octogenarian crime fighters.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This advanced audiobook was such a fun surprise for me. Narrated by the always fantastic Elizabeth Wiley (if you listened to Too Old For This, you already know), this had the perfect mix of humor, heart, and chaos. Poppy is absolutely my kind of main character. She’s blunt, rough around the edges, has a potty mouth, and fully knows she’s flawed while still expecting the best from everyone around her.

I was honestly worried the retirement village cozy mystery angle would feel overdone because it seems like everyone is doing it lately, but this felt fresh. The storyline involving scammers targeting elderly women through a senior dating app added something different, especially with Poppy and her tech savvy grandson turning the tables on them.

Under all the sass and murder mystery elements though, there’s also a surprisingly real story about aging, loneliness, divorce, family tension, and starting over later in life. It made the whole thing feel warm, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt all at once.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#PoppyMontgomeryGetsEven #NetGalley is an interesting story, a mystery based on a real life situation, scamming people for money. Poppy suspects her friend Ginny is being scammed through an online dating site for seniors, but Ginny refuses to see it. Afraid for her friend, Poppy asks her grandson for help, Jeremy is quite savvy in the tech world and he readily agrees to help.
While it might seem as payback in Poppy's mind, things take an ugly turn, and everyone is in danger.

[Dana Vit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for providing this ALC!

This was a fun ride! Elizabeth Wiley does an amazing job narrating. 👏🏻👏🏻
It was sweet, suspenseful, and so funny. I lol’d many times! I loved Poppy’s internal monologue and how she would think very true things, but that would sound mean said aloud, so she would think through how to say it nicer. It didn’t always work, but she kept trying! 😂 I actually related to her in a lot of ways, despite the age difference and that I’m not a parent. I also loved how Poppy got to really get to know and bond with her grandson. It was adorable to see where they found common ground and began to respect and appreciate each other. Then, of course, there’s the friendship between Poppy, Ginny, and Max. All three so different, but able to see and appreciate the good that each one brought to the friendship. Loved it.
I did not guess whodunit! It kept me guessing the whole way through. It even steered me one way as a fake out and I totally fell for it! Well done.

#HighbridgeAudio #NetGalley #PoppyMontgomeryGetsEven

[Grandma Susan]

Profanity.

[Kendra Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Releases June 9th!

•Murder mystery set in a Retirement home ✅
•80 year old quick witted amateur sleuth ✅
•Slew of fun sidekicks+family ✅
•Humor, heart, chaos, friendship, drama ✅
•Fantastic narrator, Elizabeth Wiley ✅
•Scamming an international crime ring with your tech savvy grandson while solving murders with your best friends ✅

What more could I ask for? (maybe a dog lol)
I loved this so much and cannot wait for another installment!!

Thank you to RB Media for an ALC!

[Davida Chazan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars.
I'm sorry, I forgot to post my review of this book. Now, I don't usually read books with female protagonists written by men, but in this instance, Mr. Jack didn't enter any of the obvious pitfalls, and that's a rare thing! Furthermore, this is a cracking good story about a Golden Years woman who ends up solving a few crimes. And yes, I'll be happy to read another book with Poppy!

You can read my full review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2026/06/1...

[Christine Fitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy was delightfully crochety; I loved her friendships with Ginny and Max. I loved Jeremy's character development and was really surprised by Poppy's daughter, Meg. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and books with older main characters, and cozy mysteries with older main characters, and this one still stood out as really enjoyable. The idea was pretty fresh, the stakes were just right, and there was a perfect mix of likeability and flaws within each character.

NetGalley gift = honest review.

CWs - Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Classism, Domestic abuse, Suicide

[Tekisha | ReadwithTDE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effective today, Poppy Montgomery is one of my top protagonists of a certain age! This book is a mystery with a side of comedy and crime, and I could not put it down! It perfectly tests the question of what is good/decent versus what is right. And as the title notes, revenge is the motive but the who/what/when/where/why and how are the journey. While the plot and character development are what draw you into the book, it is simultaneously the story of aging, societal treatment of older persons, friendship, inter-generational families, and women owning their power. Let me just say, this book has me wishing for the day when I have the time Poppy (and crew) have but hoping I use that time for good (or maybe instead for what is right).

After reading this book, I am left thinking: We need to do a better job of respecting the aging process, especially since, if we are doing this life right, we are all aging!

Mood: If you want a cozy mystery, dripping is witty sarcasm that will have you literally laughing out loud, this is your book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Golden-Age Musketeers Fighting Senior Moments!

Charming, clever whodunit - a bit slow out of the gate but the pace picks up quickly when feisty octogenarian Poppy Montgomery and her two sidekicks spring into action to solve a mysterious death in the local retirement home. This involves unmasking the unscrupulous crooks who stalk their prey on “Senior Moments”, a dating site for elderly singles (love the name!). The threesome’s quirky quest becomes a heartwarming story about aging, loneliness, family, friendship, and more.

Thank you, Gordon Jack, for this engaging tale. Should be required reading for low-tech lonesome seniors!
I look forward to Poppy's future adventures!

[Nissan Ching · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the many books I’ve read about retirees solving and/or doing crimes, Poppy is probably the main character I liked most. She is relatable in that she’s just a normal, flawed person with a mischievous streak. I especially loved her relationship with her grandson. I feel like the resolution was not satisfying, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I get older, I’m more and more interested in books about senior life. I liked that Poppy didn’t let scammers take advantage of her and her friends. And the scene where she and Max take care of a burglar-amazing!

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing like seeing scammers get theirs. Especially when it’s 3 women over 70 running the revenge operation. Poppy, Ginny, and Max are a delightful trio. Poppy’s many flaws and deep regrets, never mind snarky and salty take on things, make her an especially compelling MC. Her slacker daughter with bad taste in men and her basement-dwelling grandson have you thinking in the beginning that she’s also getting scammed on a daily basis. But both Meg and Jeremy have their own journeys of growth while Poppy herself grows by leaps and bounds. The mystery is great and the characters even greater, which is why I looked forward to reading this every night.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So entertaining from beginning to end! Loved the snarky Poppy, her friends and their adventures. Can't wait to share this book with my mom!

[DaniPhantom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m loving all these murder mysteries with elderly main characters. Really shows how fun they can be!! Poppy is such a fun & sassy character and I am all for scamming scammers. Bonus points for her getting a cat.

[Jessi - TheRoughCutEdge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Pub day: June 9

I’m always down to try an octogenarian murder mystery and definitely enjoyed some of the aspects of this one. The cyber crimes of the elderly was poignant, I especially appreciate showing there are some gullible but also some very savvy seniors. However, the intent to make Poppy feisty turned into more of a negative vibe making it difficult to root for her even at the start. She did grow on me and by the end I was very fond of all the ladies in the walking club!

🎧: Elizabeth Wiley does a very good job at capturing the sharp first person narrative of Poppy but the audiobook is over 10 hours and there were times it felt a little slow. The narration was solid though!

Thanks to Highbridge Audio and Netgalley for the alc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio or the advanced audio copy of Poppy Montgomery Gets Even!

I had so much fun listening to this book! It absolutely filled the Vera Wong shaped hole in my heart (even though I finished that 2 months ago), elderly women solving crimes is definitely my niche.

I thought Poppy’s internal (and at times external) monologues were SO funny! Whether it was her talking to Jeremy about Scampers or on her walks with Max and Ginny, there was hardly a moment where I wasn’t smiling.

The narrator, Elizabeth Wiley, did a fantastic job. I’m excited to listen to her other work! She absolutely nailed Poppy’s sass.

Definitely check this out if you are a Vera Wong fan, or just someone who loves a cozy mystery with a quick-witted, sarcastic main character!

[Rachel Grau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It was a page turner
/murder mystery with a lot of humor and great characters. I found myself even more invested in the relationships than solving the mystery!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of ARC (audiobook version) received from NetGalley : Poppy Montgomery Gets Even by Gordon Jack was such a lighthearted and delightful read! The quirky cast of friends and enemies were relatable and funny (I laughed out loud a few times in public) and perfectly captured by the narrator, Elizabeth Wiley. The mystery elements were twisty enough to keep you guessing and the conclusion was satisfying. I can’t wait to read the next installment!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read! The characters are very likable!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery features funny, unique characters and a plot that kept me guessing. I enjoyed it a lot!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Poppy’s friend Ginny is seemingly being scammed on an online dating site for seniors, Poppy has had enough. Enlisting the help of her basement-dwelling grandson, she starts fighting fire with fire, creating her own dating scenarios to rope in potential scammers. It’s a fun and silly plot with a few well-drawn characters. There’s an emphasis on finding and making friends at any age, second chances, and asking for and accepting help when needed. It’s not preachy, as Poppy can be a caustic, curmudgeonly character. Good fun in a well- narrated audiobook. 4.3 stars.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HighbridgeAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #PoppyMontgomeryGetsEven for review purposes. It is now available.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery full of likeable characters. My only quibble is that it takes a little bit to get into. The first victim's death is described in the first chapter and it takes a while to figure out what is going on and that it isn't Poppy who has been murdered.
Poppy lives with her adult daughter Meg who is in recovery and her young adult grandson Jeremy who is a wizard with computers but who spends all of his time in the basement. To support Meg, Poppy agrees to go with her to the gym and joins a water aerobics class where she meets Ginny and Max. Both are significantly more well off than Poppy who has had to refinance her house to put Meg through rehab. Ginny lives in a swanky retirement home and Max lives in a big house with her dying husband. Max and Poppy suspect that Ginny is dating a scam artist. She joined an online dating site called Senior Moments on the advice of Barbara who also lives at her retirement home. Barbara met her boyfriend Alfonse on the site but the significant difference is that they see Alfonse with Barbara all of the time and Ginny has never even met her new boyfriend. But she has allowed him to open a joint bank account where he deposits money and she withdraws it to buy supplies for the new restaurant that he plans to open. Poppy gets Jeremy to set up a fake profile on Senior Moments in the hopes that she can lure Ginny's boyfriend away from her in order to protect her but instead she gets a slew of other scam artists stalking her. With Jeremy's help, they scam the scammers and get them to send her gift cards that Jeremy sells online and they send the money to the Go Fund Me page that Ginny set up to help Max pay for Harold's medical bills. But that doesn't help Ginny who has been issued an ultimatum by her boyfriend. She has to withdraw $300,000 and deliver it to his associate or else she will be arrested by the FBI for illegal money laundering. Poppy and Jeremy figure out a way to help Ginny by pretending that she was scammed by another online dater and that the $300,000 was stolen. But they are all afraid of the repercussions since two of Ginny's neighbors in the retirement home have died under suspicious circumstances. Were they scammed and killed when they threatened to go to the police? But Poppy also has family drama to contend with when Meg moves in with her boyfriend Craig who she has only known for a few months. Poppy is suspicious of Craig and his peddling of protein supplements that seems like a giant Ponzi scheme. When all of Jeremy's computer equipment is stolen Poppy doesn't know if Craig is to blame or if it is part of the Senior Moments scam. Then Ginny's laptop is also stolen so they think that maybe it is the scammers who are responsible. When Max and Poppy catch Craig red handed as he tries to rob her house in the middle of the night they know that they have caught the thief of Jeremy's computer equipment but they don't think that he is the murderer. They set up a trap at the retirement home with Meg's new police officer boyfriend who gives a lecture about online scams and they find out that dozens of women in the community have been targeted by scammers on Senior Moments and that Barbara was the one who all set them up on the site. She and Alfonse were working together to launder money from Barbara's mobster son. A good cozy mystery with savvy and fun characters.

[Victoria Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, there are murders and a mystery, but I would hesitate to call this a murder mystery. Unlike the other "seniors solve a mystery" books, the mystery itself really takes a back seat to the real plot: an exploration of all the negative ways older people are perceived, stereotyped, and treated.

Poppy's personality made me think of Dorothy Parker's quote: "If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me." She's a bit rough around the edges and enjoys gossiping, pranking, and generally seeing the glass as half empty—but she has a dry humor and sarcasm that make her very appealing as a character. She has a difficult relationship with her recovering 50-something daughter, who takes her for granted and accuses her of being forgetful, and the daughter's sus new boyfriend, who is clearly casing her house and looking to walk off with anything valuable. Poppy's coder/gamer grandson lives in her basement, and her only social outlet is a water aerobics class that has just been commandeered by an aged control freak and exercise nut. She is overlooked, underestimated, and ignored—and frankly, kinda pissed about it.

Poppy is befriended by fellow water-aerobics devotee Ginny (a sweet people-pleaser) and then by Max (the aforementioned control freak). The trio start taking daily walks together, with Max setting the pace (of course). A frequent topic of conversation is Ginny's boyfriend, whom she met on the dating site Senior Moments. They've never met in person, yet he buys her expensive gifts and sends her money, ostensibly for her to make purchases to help set up his new restaurant. Could this be a scam?

At Xanadu, Ginny's tony retirement home, one resident falls off her balcony and dies and another goes missing. And they just happened to be on the same dating site, as well. Hmmm. Could all of these things be related? Poppy teams up with her grandson to infiltrate Senior Moments. With the help of her friends, she gets answers (and scams the scammers)! That'll teach all those young whippersnappers not to underestimate women of a certain age!

A fun, heartwarming book. Thanks so much to Penzler Publishers for the ARC!

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is definitely a different kind of story. I would call this a cozy, although some of the language might be a bit ripe, and there are a few references but nothing intense. There is a murder here, actually two, but they really fade into the background as our MC's are mostly concerned about cybercrimes and people taking advantage of senior citizens. Also, this book appears to be a stand-alone. I found this book compelling and really wanted to keep reading, although I have to say I have a love/hate relationship with the MC Poppy. Sometimes I really felt for her and her history, at other times I was really angry with her. The start of the book Poppy has a really difficult relationship with her daughter, age 53, who is a recovering alcoholic and her grandson 24 who both live with her, her grandson in the basement. She goes to the YMCA for water exercise only to make sure her daughter continues to go, but ends up making a couple of very unlikely friends. When Poppy realizes her new friend
Ginny is probably being taken advantage of by a man on a senior dating app the rest of the story revolves around figuring out what is going on, if the two women who recently died in her senior community where in anyway connected to this and how Poppy and her totally odd posse can find justice for her friend and answers for everyone else. This is definitely an intriguing and different take on seniors, but I really couldn't put it down until I got answers. It's definitely worth your time, but be prepared. Thanks to #Netgally, #TheMysteriousPress, and the author for an opportunity to read. #PoppyMontgomeryGetsEven #GordonJack #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Julianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky seniors. Online dating. Sting operation. Loved it!

Hilarious, quick, and witty, Poppy Montgomery immediately becomes a beloved aunty- which might shock her own family! While trying to solve what Poppy is convinced is murder, she entangles herself in what she believes to be an online scam- after all, why would anyone be interested in dating old cronies like herself? The following antics are hysterical as readers find themselves rooting for Poppy and her "team" to bring the bad guy down! But do two (or more!) wrongs make a right? What trouble awaits Poppy when she sticks her nose where it doesn't belong- in Xanadu, "the place old ladies go to get scammed and die"?

More than just the humor and entertainment, Poppy Montgomery Gets Even has a deeper, ever-present undercurrent of humanity at its core. Straight-shooting Poppy struggles with the loneliness of age and her life choices, but refuses to throw in the towel or be regulated to a TV arm chair. Jack keeps the energy high throughout the book, helping readers feel how much life Poppy has at 80. She is not done yet! Her family and friends need her and she's going to keep working on them- and herself- even at her own discomfort. Brava! Rumors say this will be the first in a series! I can't wait to discover what trouble, er, help Poppy accomplishes in the next installment!

Troupes: amateur sleuth, senior led, cozy murder mystery, big reveal, HEA
Spice: 0/5 🌶️
Gore: 0/5 🩸
Language: 2/5 👀 "but they're not generous people, they're a--holes" 😂
Triggers: online scammers

Thank you to RBMedia and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Bev Saludo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved listening to Poppy Montgomery Gets Even! This audiobook is a delight, featuring a group of empowering seniors who decide to turn the tables on the scammers targeting their community.

At the center of it all is the titular Poppy - a character who is witty, sharp-tongued, and undeniably funny. She is a joy to follow, and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times throughout the story. I genuinely looked forward to every listening session, and it felt like I was "visiting" with a new group of friends. I particularly enjoyed the blossoming, unexpected friendship between Poppy, Ginny, and Max; their dynamic was a real highlight of the book and provided a lot of heart.

The narration was absolutely superb, bringing the humor and the characters to life perfectly and making it an incredibly fun listen.

My only critique is that the story felt a bit long in the middle, dragging slightly. I think some tighter editing in those sections would have helped keep the momentum going, as it felt a little cumbersome at times.

Despite that, this was a fantastic experience, and I would love to see these characters return in a future series to solve more mysteries. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good, character-driven cozy mystery!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a unique and interesting premise. Who doesn’t want to see scammers get their comeuppance?! (besides scammers themselves, I suppose) And it’s great to see older folks not as hapless victims but as agents who fight back. Poppy is a great character who, though misguided, would do anything for her loved ones. I loved all the main characters and enjoyed seeing them grow. This book will give you all the feels; it can make you laugh and cry. I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone due to some content (profanity, sexual jokes and comments, mentions of abuse and drug abuse, and of course, murder and crime). But for those who are okay with some darker aspects, this is a relevant and timely book, even more so as scams are getting worse thanks to AI. I enjoyed Pack’s style & humor, and I appreciate his messaging about friendship and protecting folks from scams.

Thank you to Penzler, The Mysterious Press, and NetGalley for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions.

[Harriet Garfinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who writes 'funny' in as unashamedly amiable way as Gordon Jack. How can you not love Poppy Montgomery (think A Man called Ove but with a badass sassy attitude and—pardon my English—tits) whose first words in the novel are "First day of water aerobics and I have to ask myself, Am I in hell?"
And Poppy's cast of mismatched, misfit friends (cozy detectives): Max who can only walk at straight line at high speed and Ginny who is a powderpuff huffing her way to fitness...to impress her online cyber-beau. Who may or may not be the real deal.
What is the real deal in Gordon's book are the less-than-glossed over vagaries and and conundrums of aging. Bravo!
Pick up a copy at your local bookstore. You won't regret one moment with these characters, but you might regret leaving their world at the end.
Water aerobics, anyone?

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5!
Poppy Montgomery is an octogenarian with a bone to pick with just about everyone and sets out to take revenge on online romance scammers targeting her friends.

This book is super funny. Poppy was so endearing, and not in a sweet old lady way, but more of a sassy ballbuster who I couldn't help but like and root for.

My two critiques are that it was just too long. It went on and on and became hard to follow at points. I think the author spent too much time setting the stage for the plot and it just took forever to get going.

My other critique is just the opposite. The ending was very Scooby-Doo-like. Wrapped up so nice and tidy just like that. It felt unbalanced. It took forever to get going and then just ended in a flash.

Overall, this is a fun, funny read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced audio copy!

[Jayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun and entertaining trip to the retirement home.

Poppy has had enough of people getting away with everything. She's decided to fight back after her friend gets scammed on a senior date site. With the help of her grandson, she sets out to get revenge on the scammers. This sets off a series of events and gets Poppy wondering if she went to far this time.

Poppy and her friends were tons of fun. Though it did get a tad repetitive after a while.
I see this is part of a series. I'm on the fence on whether I'd read another book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book- but I didn't feel it really set anything up for a sequel or series. Sometimes a good thing can be ruined by doing too much. Hence me on the fence. I guess I'll have to wait for the synopsis to decide.

That said, this book is a fun escapist read.

Elizabeth Wiley narrates the audiobook.