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Biggie Weatherford #1
Biggie and the Poisoned Politician
This series offers two nonfiction and two general fiction or mystery titles aimed specifically at our older audience. One nonfiction title will be informational or self-help; the second will generally be a biography or memoir. The fiction titles will feature a senior character or theme.Mrs. Fiona Biggie Wooten Weatherford is well known for landing five-pound catfish, mowing down mailboxes when she drives, and owning half the county. Now she's mobilizing the local ladies against City Hall's new garbage dump, right next to the graveyard of their forefathers -- especially James Royce Wooten, founder of the town and namesake of Biggie's eleven-year-old grandson, J.R. But when the mayor himself drops facedown in his angel food cake, Biggie smells something worse than a garbage dump.
253 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1996
3 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 17, 2011
#1 in the Biggie Weatherford cozy mystery series set in fictional small-town Texas. The story is told through the eyes of Biggie's 12-year-old grandson J.R., and is a light, humorous mystery mostly focusing on small-town Texas life. Biggie is a wealthy widow and one of the movers and shakers in tiny Job's Crossing, and she pretty much does as she pleases and usually gets her way.
So when a new landfill is built next to her family's cemetery, she doesn't have a hissyfit--she gets moving, marshalling her supporters to get rid of it. When the mayor--an overweight, blustery man with a heart conditions--keels over in his whipped cream at a table in the local diner, with Biggie and J.R. looking on, it's first thought he just had the inevitable heart attack. But Biggie thinks he was poisoned and sets out to prove it, although she's not sure why just yet. It must have something to do with her lodger's car blowing up though, don'tchathinkhoney? Two such bizarre events would just have to be linked, since nothing much exciting happens in Job's Crossing.
I downloaded this from the library because I needed something quick and light (and of course, the first in a series) and distracting, and it was a rather fun listen. However, not sure I will continue on--there is way too much sticky-sweet southern humor for my usual taste, and if I do listen further (I believe the library has most of the series available as audio download) it will be with plenty of space between the books.
So when a new landfill is built next to her family's cemetery, she doesn't have a hissyfit--she gets moving, marshalling her supporters to get rid of it. When the mayor--an overweight, blustery man with a heart conditions--keels over in his whipped cream at a table in the local diner, with Biggie and J.R. looking on, it's first thought he just had the inevitable heart attack. But Biggie thinks he was poisoned and sets out to prove it, although she's not sure why just yet. It must have something to do with her lodger's car blowing up though, don'tchathinkhoney? Two such bizarre events would just have to be linked, since nothing much exciting happens in Job's Crossing.
I downloaded this from the library because I needed something quick and light (and of course, the first in a series) and distracting, and it was a rather fun listen. However, not sure I will continue on--there is way too much sticky-sweet southern humor for my usual taste, and if I do listen further (I believe the library has most of the series available as audio download) it will be with plenty of space between the books.
July 17, 2017
This was a new author and new series for me. I found it okay but will not be looking for any more books in the series at this time. I found the story slow and kept wandering off into left field a lot. It took forever to even get to the mystery much less anything else.
May 19, 2013
This is a short cozy based in the south. Some humor, some mystery, some characters, all in the name of entertainment!!
I normally collect the entire series before I start reading the first book in case it is so good I can't wait to get to the next book, but this series was just okay. I have the rest of the series, but will get back to it another day!
This is a quick read, if you need something just to fill in a day or so between other activities or more serious issues, this may be just the ticket!! On the other hand, not one I would say you need to run right out and get started reading because it is so great...
I normally collect the entire series before I start reading the first book in case it is so good I can't wait to get to the next book, but this series was just okay. I have the rest of the series, but will get back to it another day!
This is a quick read, if you need something just to fill in a day or so between other activities or more serious issues, this may be just the ticket!! On the other hand, not one I would say you need to run right out and get started reading because it is so great...
June 2, 2018
Nancy Bell's Biggie and the Poisoned Politician is the first in her Dead Letter Mysteries. It is narrated by J. R., a 12-year-old who lives in Job's Crossing, Texas, with his grandmother, Mrs Weatherford, aka Biggie. Ms. Bell creates an authentic voice for J. R. who reports on words and activities of adults without understanding them, in much the same way as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird and Huck in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Those who like a rural setting with rich and unique characters will enjoy this book. The mystery is interesting, but the humor and collection of characters is what makes this book worth the time to read.
Those who like a rural setting with rich and unique characters will enjoy this book. The mystery is interesting, but the humor and collection of characters is what makes this book worth the time to read.
May 22, 2022
I love these books. I can picture the cast of characters perfectly in my head. The story line develops at just the right pace. You are never bored. The characters are people you would love to meet and spend some time with. The story is told from the perspective of 12-year-old JR and his perceptions of the world around him. The plot leaves you with many suspects and you try to weed your way through till you figure it out. A truly pleasurable read!
September 9, 2021
This book was written by my Grandmother and it and it’s characters have become part of my family. JR embodies many traits from family members that I recognize from reading the words in this book. Biggie reminds me so much of my Grandmother (Mammy). She was an amazing woman with a fantastic imagination and a slow southern draw. If she had stayed in her home town I suspect that she would have wound up very similar to Biggie. Including her lack of driving skills.😂 Mammy grew up in a small town in east Texas and many of the characters from this book are based on people she once knew. Biggie and the Poisoned Politician was a big hit. It was nominated for an Agatha award and was even read by Bill and Hillary Clinton. Mammy wrote it while working as a house mother at the ΑΧΩ house on the University of Texas campus in Austin. Where she wrote a few of the books in this series. She was an amazing woman. She moved back to her home town where she continued writing until the loss of her eyesight made it impossible to do so. Unfortunately we lost her in February of 2014. She is to this day greatly missed by us all. Thank you to all who still read her books and thank you to everyone who has taken the time to rate and review them. These books still mean quite a bit to our family. They are her words forever written. We treasure them!
June 4, 2022
I listened to this audiobook. This is a short, humorous cozy mystery. Biggie Weatherford is one of the richest people in a small East Texas town. The book is narrated by her 12 year old grandson J.R. Biggie finds that the town is planning on building a city dump right next to her land. She mobilizes the ladies group in town to protest. But there is a new threat. When digging the dump lignite is discovered and now the greedy ones in town government want to get their hands on Biggie’s land. But Biggie is too stubborn and smart for that. The town is planning an annual founder’s day celebration and suddenly the mayor drops dead while eating angel food cake at a planning meeting. Biggie suspects he has been murdered. She uses J.R. to help her finds clues. As Biggie get a closer to the truth about the land, the murder, and who might be behind it all, the danger to her and J.R. increases. Mostly this book is all about quirky characters and funny, quaint colloquialisms. It is thin on plot. But, at under 6 hours of listening, it is quick and harmless.
August 17, 2021
Biggie Weatherford is a larger-than-life Texas character who has a unique perspective on life. She is eccentric and proud of it but people overlook the fact that she is sharp as a tack and knows the town of Job's Crossing and the people in it inside out. After all, it was her ancestor who founded the town and she owns most of the land in and around it. She has to organize the town ladies against the new garbage dump that is too close to her family graveyard and then stumbles on a plot to mine minerals that were found on her land and surrounding properties. Then, in the middle of this, the mayor drops dead from eating poisoned angel food cake with whipped cream. Told from the viewpoint of her grandson and partner in investigating, J. R. this is a very fun and funny romp. If you like Miss Julia by Ann B. Ross or Fanny Flagg's books you'll probably like Biggie!
December 16, 2017
Cute in places.
January 13, 2020
3* A delightful series, entertaining and light, with lots of chuckles. The readers do a great job.
Good one!
Good one!
October 5, 2020
A short, but very cute cozy mystery set in Texas. Biggie and her 12 year old grandson JR solve a mystery while preparing for their town's big celebration. A fun read.
June 18, 2025
not bad.
May 16, 2017
This book would appeal to those mystery readers that enjoy southern, folksy southern sleuths. This book is definitely acceptable for all age groups.
As a native Texan I could not tolerate the use of "don' cha know." Again, I inherited the language from my early Texas pioneer family. I could tolerate the other non-Texas expressions that kept me in the Southern states.
Every time I read the "don' cha know" I was transported to Garrison Keillor's Minnesota or another northern State, as this is a foreign expression to a real Texan based on at least 4 or more generations of native Texans.
Again, this read would appeal to anyone that enjoys a folksy read in an imaginary tiny Southern town. Also, the last page includes a recipe for "Willie Mae's Special-Ocassion Gumbo. I know persons that would buy the book just to try this Southern recipe.
As a native Texan I could not tolerate the use of "don' cha know." Again, I inherited the language from my early Texas pioneer family. I could tolerate the other non-Texas expressions that kept me in the Southern states.
Every time I read the "don' cha know" I was transported to Garrison Keillor's Minnesota or another northern State, as this is a foreign expression to a real Texan based on at least 4 or more generations of native Texans.
Again, this read would appeal to anyone that enjoys a folksy read in an imaginary tiny Southern town. Also, the last page includes a recipe for "Willie Mae's Special-Ocassion Gumbo. I know persons that would buy the book just to try this Southern recipe.
June 24, 2015
This was a fun and easy read. The narrator is an 11-year-old boy. Biggie is his grandmother. The characters are interesting and there was plenty of action to keep me interested. I enjoyed the humor and the "down-home" sayings. There is even a recipe at the end of the book (even though the dish isn't mentioned during the story). I will be reading more of this series. :-)
December 12, 2011
This story was told from the viewpoint of a boy, and set in a small Texas town. Biggie is his grandmother who works out the clues for solving the mystery. I would categorize this book as a cozy mystery. Characterization of townsfolk is entertaining.
September 9, 2012
Being acquainted with this neck of the woods, I found this book delightfully funny. It is chuck full of funny East Texas quirkiness with a mystery on the side. I loved the characters and quickly devoured the series.
May 9, 2014
A really interesting book set in a small town in Texas. The detective is Biggie, the wealthiest woman in town. The story is told by her 12 year old grandson who lives with her. A fast paced easy to read book with some nice twists and an unusual ending. I will definitely try more in this series.
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April 3, 2011I really enjoyed all of the Nancy Bell/ M.C. Beaton books. I'm happy to see that she has written more.
November 13, 2012
Such an adorable, old-fashioned cute mystery with wonderful strange characters! Did go find the others on paperback swap. No blood, guts etc....quite nice!
May 20, 2013
Fun mystery series that will be especially appealing to Texans, because they will really understand the humor and the characters. Takes me back!
June 25, 2013
I have read most of the "Biggie" books and enjoyed them all. They are cozies
and Biggie and her grandson are like friends.
and Biggie and her grandson are like friends.
June 26, 2013
A fun read.
July 29, 2016
I just happened upon this book and I almost stopped reading it after the first couple of chapters but I'm glad I kept going. It was funny.
July 8, 2014
once you get used to the strange wording it's not that bad. sadly I was halfway through before I decided to finish it.
August 25, 2014
Good plot. Liked that narrator is 12 year old, not the adults. Author seems to be working too hard to use local dialect and stereotyped country sound.
November 27, 2014
I loved the humor in this book along with the plot!
June 24, 2015
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It took a while to discover that it was set in Texas. Louisiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia were all mentioned, but the story wasn't set there.
It took a while to discover that it was set in Texas. Louisiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia were all mentioned, but the story wasn't set there.
February 26, 2016
Loved it.
Want to read
April 12, 2019Synopsis: that feisty Texas grandma, Biggie, is mobilizing against a new garbage dump when murder shows up.
April 11, 2021
Humour in small town Texas. Add a mysteries death and things get rolling, a great read from start to finish
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews