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Garage Sale Mysteries #3
Garage Sale Riddle
Jennifer Shannon buys an old framed picture at an estate sale, discovering a mysterious map and riddle hidden inside. Flying to Naples, Florida, to rescue her aging mother from a devious criminal preying on seniors, she sits on the plane beside William Early, who boasts he's a wealthy, powerful Civil War artifact collector who "always gets what he wants, whatever it takes." Moving her mother from her long-time Florida home to Virginia, present serious challenges as Jennifer protects her from criminals, while researching riddle and map clues to an apparent Civil War treasure. But William Early lusts after the rare valuables she seeks.
Marshalling his vast resources, he's determined to wrest the treasure away from Jennifer, by any means, including murder. Can Jennifer outwit him to save her mother, her family, herself and the historic treasure?
Marshalling his vast resources, he's determined to wrest the treasure away from Jennifer, by any means, including murder. Can Jennifer outwit him to save her mother, her family, herself and the historic treasure?
326 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2016
39 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Suzi Weinert
5 books78 followers"You might say it's the U.S. Army's fault," chuckles Suzi Weinert, remembering the first military thrift shop she ever attended. "It was a treasure trove of unusual artifacts laced with practical items." An Air Force brat turned military wife, this attraction to thrift shops led her to swap meets and bazaars before she concentrated on garage and estate sales.
Moving 11 times across the United States and overseas with her husband - while raising their five children and trying to make every new house a home - she quickly learned whatever couldn't be taken on a move could later be supplemented with judicious second-hand buys.
But what began as a need turned into a 25-year bona fide weekend garage sale passion. Then, following a spine-chilling experience at a sale in Virginia, she found herself writing a short story that would eventually become a book: her debut novel, Garage Sale Stalker, and first in her series of Garage Sale mystery-thrillers.
Soon Suzi found herself in a position most authors fantasize about. A Hollywood producer chose her book as the basis for a 2-hour TV movie on Hallmarks Movie & Mystery Channel, so successful they developed it into 15 movie episodes in Hallmark's Garage Sale Mystery Series. Talented film star Lori Loughlin brought the novel's protagonist, Jennifer Shannon, to life.
When asked where she gets her story ideas, Suzi says, "Plot potentials are almost endless at garage sales if connected to something Jennifer Shannon sees or hears or buys there, or someone she meets."
Author of four Garage Sale Mystery novels, Suzi belongs to Mystery Writers of American and Sisters-in-Crime. Her first novel was published when she was 75, the second when 78, the third at 81 and her newest novel when she's 85. She lives with her husband, a retired Army General, in northern Virginia. This award-winning author has appeared on TV morning shows, talk radio, internet blogs, podcasts and magazines articles. s everywhere.
Moving 11 times across the United States and overseas with her husband - while raising their five children and trying to make every new house a home - she quickly learned whatever couldn't be taken on a move could later be supplemented with judicious second-hand buys.
But what began as a need turned into a 25-year bona fide weekend garage sale passion. Then, following a spine-chilling experience at a sale in Virginia, she found herself writing a short story that would eventually become a book: her debut novel, Garage Sale Stalker, and first in her series of Garage Sale mystery-thrillers.
Soon Suzi found herself in a position most authors fantasize about. A Hollywood producer chose her book as the basis for a 2-hour TV movie on Hallmarks Movie & Mystery Channel, so successful they developed it into 15 movie episodes in Hallmark's Garage Sale Mystery Series. Talented film star Lori Loughlin brought the novel's protagonist, Jennifer Shannon, to life.
When asked where she gets her story ideas, Suzi says, "Plot potentials are almost endless at garage sales if connected to something Jennifer Shannon sees or hears or buys there, or someone she meets."
Author of four Garage Sale Mystery novels, Suzi belongs to Mystery Writers of American and Sisters-in-Crime. Her first novel was published when she was 75, the second when 78, the third at 81 and her newest novel when she's 85. She lives with her husband, a retired Army General, in northern Virginia. This award-winning author has appeared on TV morning shows, talk radio, internet blogs, podcasts and magazines articles. s everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 2, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“I never look for trouble; things just seem to happen.”
My name is Kelly and I’m addicted to the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. (Psssssst – this is the part where you all say “Hiiiiiiii Kelllllllllly.”) Seriously, though, it’s 100% true and the Garage Sale Mysteries have quickly become a fave. Imagine my delight when the entire month of August was dedicated to my latest obsession. Sadly August came to an end – but then I remembered these made-for-TV movies were based on books and of course my homies at the library weren’t about to let me down . . . I just had to wait for my turn to come up. It just so happened that my time came on the PERFECT day! The temps dropped so low I got to break out my sexiest loungewear . . . .
(Trust me, I could barely keep my husband off of me once I put these on.)
And I snuggled in with only the most necessary provisions . . . .
Like many book-to-film conversions, there was some artistic license taken in transitioning this series to the screen (since there are only three books but umpteen movies, I figured as much before diving in). The main difference is with the leading lady herself. Book version Jennifer Shannon is a 60-something, stay-at-home, mother of five grown children and a bevy of grandkids. Movie version is younger, mother of only two (one still a high schooler/one in college) and owner of “Rags to Riches” – a quaint little antique store. The thing the two have in common is that Jennifer somehow finds herself involved in a mystery – or in this case a couple – a possible hidden treasure along with a potentially dangerous duo of grifters who have set their sights on Jennifer’s mother as their target. Like the quote above indicates, both print and film leads Jennifer to things like . . .
I called this my first foray into “cozy mysteries” over on the Instagram. That’s probably not accurate because I’m fairly certain the Aurora Teagarden books (and another Hallmark Mystery fave) fall into that category as well. (I guess Roe got a pass since she was written by a lady who I originally discovered when I was addicted to vampire and werewolf sex books.) The one thing that stood out for me here was the amount of detail provided as well as the way the dialogue was written. I have no idea if this is the case or not, but it just seemed to shout “this is the way these types of books are supposed to be” to me. I also discovered that this author got her first book published at the ripe young age of 76 to which I say . . .
I love that. NEVER give up on your dreams : )
“I never look for trouble; things just seem to happen.”
My name is Kelly and I’m addicted to the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. (Psssssst – this is the part where you all say “Hiiiiiiii Kelllllllllly.”) Seriously, though, it’s 100% true and the Garage Sale Mysteries have quickly become a fave. Imagine my delight when the entire month of August was dedicated to my latest obsession. Sadly August came to an end – but then I remembered these made-for-TV movies were based on books and of course my homies at the library weren’t about to let me down . . . I just had to wait for my turn to come up. It just so happened that my time came on the PERFECT day! The temps dropped so low I got to break out my sexiest loungewear . . . .
(Trust me, I could barely keep my husband off of me once I put these on.)
And I snuggled in with only the most necessary provisions . . . .
Like many book-to-film conversions, there was some artistic license taken in transitioning this series to the screen (since there are only three books but umpteen movies, I figured as much before diving in). The main difference is with the leading lady herself. Book version Jennifer Shannon is a 60-something, stay-at-home, mother of five grown children and a bevy of grandkids. Movie version is younger, mother of only two (one still a high schooler/one in college) and owner of “Rags to Riches” – a quaint little antique store. The thing the two have in common is that Jennifer somehow finds herself involved in a mystery – or in this case a couple – a possible hidden treasure along with a potentially dangerous duo of grifters who have set their sights on Jennifer’s mother as their target. Like the quote above indicates, both print and film leads Jennifer to things like . . .
I called this my first foray into “cozy mysteries” over on the Instagram. That’s probably not accurate because I’m fairly certain the Aurora Teagarden books (and another Hallmark Mystery fave) fall into that category as well. (I guess Roe got a pass since she was written by a lady who I originally discovered when I was addicted to vampire and werewolf sex books.) The one thing that stood out for me here was the amount of detail provided as well as the way the dialogue was written. I have no idea if this is the case or not, but it just seemed to shout “this is the way these types of books are supposed to be” to me. I also discovered that this author got her first book published at the ripe young age of 76 to which I say . . .
I love that. NEVER give up on your dreams : )
August 11, 2018
This was very well-written, well-plotted and super compelling to keep reading. I thought it was interesting to read that the author likes to deal with social issues, such as in this book, the scams and criminals that can attack senior citizens, as well as some good tips for what to do if that happens. I can tell from the acknowledgements that the author has done a lot of research on everything in the book.
I didn't really find the Civil War facts, dates, battles and dream sequences of much interest, but I'm able to skim and get to the part of the mystery that I really want to. I loved that Jen's mom was determined to see the people punished who had scammed her and left her for dead.
I do want to start at the beginning of the series, but a book club I'm in had read this, and I hadn't gotten a chance to read it for the discussion yet. I'm sure the other books are the same, but I think these can stand alone. There were no mystery spoilers, only references to prior cases Jen worked on.
If anyone is expecting a story like the Garage Sale series on Hallmark, I'd advise them to be warned ahead of time, it's very loosely based on the books. I like both for what they are. In the book, Jen and her husband had five children, and the youngest, while still at home, was finished with college--and the Shannons are supposed to be in their early 60s. The book mysteries, at least this one and what I've read about the other 2 books, seem to be of a little more serious topics than the ones on TV. The murder in this book occurred later in the book and seemed secondary. Just a little heads-up so no one who reads this is disappointed or tries to compare it to TV.
I like that this wasn't really a guess the killer type mystery, but more of watching Jen, her mom and Becca outsmart the bad guys.
I didn't really find the Civil War facts, dates, battles and dream sequences of much interest, but I'm able to skim and get to the part of the mystery that I really want to. I loved that Jen's mom was determined to see the people punished who had scammed her and left her for dead.
I do want to start at the beginning of the series, but a book club I'm in had read this, and I hadn't gotten a chance to read it for the discussion yet. I'm sure the other books are the same, but I think these can stand alone. There were no mystery spoilers, only references to prior cases Jen worked on.
If anyone is expecting a story like the Garage Sale series on Hallmark, I'd advise them to be warned ahead of time, it's very loosely based on the books. I like both for what they are. In the book, Jen and her husband had five children, and the youngest, while still at home, was finished with college--and the Shannons are supposed to be in their early 60s. The book mysteries, at least this one and what I've read about the other 2 books, seem to be of a little more serious topics than the ones on TV. The murder in this book occurred later in the book and seemed secondary. Just a little heads-up so no one who reads this is disappointed or tries to compare it to TV.
I like that this wasn't really a guess the killer type mystery, but more of watching Jen, her mom and Becca outsmart the bad guys.
May 18, 2019
One of the most boring books I have ever read
This has got to be one of the most boring books I have ever read. It seemed more like a series of text books dealing with senior aging, Civil War and dragons than an actual fiction book. If this is the best example of her books, doubt I'll read this author again.
This has got to be one of the most boring books I have ever read. It seemed more like a series of text books dealing with senior aging, Civil War and dragons than an actual fiction book. If this is the best example of her books, doubt I'll read this author again.
May 12, 2018
This story was interesting as it had verbal storylines going, but there was no real sense in how they merged.
September 14, 2019
Awesome read
This story keeps you on the edge of your seat as to what Jennifer Shannon has gotten j to next.
This story keeps you on the edge of your seat as to what Jennifer Shannon has gotten j to next.
February 27, 2017
This was a good book.
Jennifer Shannon buys an old framed picture at an estate sale, discovering a mysterious map and riddle hidden inside. Flying to Naples, Florida, to rescue her aging mother from a devious criminal preying on seniors, she sits on the plane beside William Early, who boasts he’s a wealthy, powerful Civil War artifact collector who “always gets what he wants, whatever it takes.” Moving her mother from her long-time Florida home to Virginia, present serious challenges as Jennifer protects her from criminals, while researching riddle and map clues to an apparent Civil War treasure. But William Early lusts after the rare valuables she seeks.
Marshalling his vast resources, he’s determined to wrest the treasure away from Jennifer, by any means, including murder. Can Jennifer outwit him to save her mother, her family, herself and the historic treasure?
Jennifer Shannon buys an old framed picture at an estate sale, discovering a mysterious map and riddle hidden inside. Flying to Naples, Florida, to rescue her aging mother from a devious criminal preying on seniors, she sits on the plane beside William Early, who boasts he’s a wealthy, powerful Civil War artifact collector who “always gets what he wants, whatever it takes.” Moving her mother from her long-time Florida home to Virginia, present serious challenges as Jennifer protects her from criminals, while researching riddle and map clues to an apparent Civil War treasure. But William Early lusts after the rare valuables she seeks.
Marshalling his vast resources, he’s determined to wrest the treasure away from Jennifer, by any means, including murder. Can Jennifer outwit him to save her mother, her family, herself and the historic treasure?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews