Fetch a Pail of Murder

We're Not Dead Yet Club #1

by Constance Barker

A Reading of a Will, A Decades Old Murder, and Ladies on a Mission

Clara and her friends, Ida May and Hazel, are no spring chickens, but that doesn't stop these gals from entering a world of deception, secrets and lies to find a killer. While the hunt has twists and turns, the girls never lose sight of their goal...to outwit the local Police Department and form their own sleuthing group...The We're Not Dead Yet Club.

Join the fun as this mismatched group of friends and their men cohorts search for clues and almost end up in the hoosegow and the local cemetery.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2017

About the author

Constance Barker lives in the Midwest with her husband and two Akitas where she can look out from her screened porch onto a wooded area brimming with activity. Since she was a young girl she read mysteries, often given to her by her grandmother. She loved figuring out who the culprit was and sometimes she was right and other times startled at who the author picked as the assailant. Now she enjoys writing mysteries herself. When she isn't writing stories, she can be found in her favorite vacation spot, Las Vegas or shopping for bargains.

Reviews

[Roslyn Donohoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series from a great author.

This is the first book in a new series, We're Not Dead Yet Club. Three friends from the local Seniors Centre set out to solve a crime.. In the beginning they are still trying out their roles but it doesn't take long and they're off and running.

They gather for a will reading and while waiting for everyone to arrive they wander through the grounds, throw coins in a wishing well and discover a body part. They decide to compete with the police to discover who can solve the murder first. After all they are the Not Dead Yet Club.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never underestimate a little old white-haired lady in a neck brace (that’s me) or the three little (somewhat) ladies when the detective told them to call him if they found anything new. How could they find anything unless they started poking their noses in where they’re not wanted? Thus cometh the ‘We’re Not Dead Yet Club’. Hazel has a lot of explaining to do. But, she’s not going to tell you yet… “The Four of Diamonds.”
I do so recommend this book.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Senior detectives...What could be more fun?

Being a senior I like the series that focus on the fact that "We're not dead yet" and can still be smart, funny, and productive. I'm just getting to know the characters, but so far I love them. You don't have to be a senior to enjoy this series, so grab a copy and join the fun. I can't wait to delve into the next book and try to help solve the case.

[Vicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not so sure....

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute cozy mystery. I enjoyed it. Was fun.

[nadina j whitsitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fetch a Pail of Murder by Constance Barker

Nice cozy mystery. A few typos and wrong name in one part but I enjoyed the plot and characters. Thank you.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

the elderly retired women who were friends from there senior center.the death of of one of the woman's aunt.become a murder mystery.

[Debbye Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little mystery

Okay for short read. Needed to be spell checked lots of errors. Hoping this gets better as the series progresses.

[Karen D. Biery · Rating 3 out of 5]

An relaxing read

I chose this book because of the title. The book was stressless. Just a good mindless read. Funny and enjoyable.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Not a bad cozy, just a little slow. Really bad editing did make it difficult to read at times.

[Melissa Basnight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute cozy murder mystery involving three women that hang out at the senior center together. They are on their way to a reading of a will when they stumble across an old well and find a severed hand inside of it. They piece together the clues and discover who the murderer is. This story has some fun characters and is a good read. I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara and her two friends are attending the reading of the Will of Ruby, Clara’s aunt. While there the 3 ladies discover a well in the back yard and talk about throwing in coins when they were younger. Clara has never done this and they proceed to throw a few coins in and laugh as they do. When one of the coins lands in the bucket Clara hauls it up to try it again but in doing so she finds a severed hand not a coin.

Of course the ladies tell their story to the police and ponder who it could be. They help in finding out who it belongs to with humor along the way.

A good start to a new series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, although it was a light read and humorous at times, this isn't my favorite series by this author. It is about three friends who are getting along in years, but haven't lost their sense of humor or joi de vie. When attending the reading of a will for Carla's aunt Ruby, the three friends discover an old well in the wooded area behind Ruby's house. Two of the ladies (Ida May and Hazel) talk about throwing coins in wells as children. Clara declares she has never done that, and before long the ladies pitch their coins in and giggle. Only the last coin doesn't go into the well, but into the bucket. (They detected this by the sound of a splash.) Clara hauls up the bucket and fishes in the murky bucket for the coin for a do-over, but instead of a coin, she finds a severed hand!

After recovering from shock and telling their stories to the police, they can't stop discussing the find with each other. As older people with too much time on their hands, they decided to assist in detecting who the victim was and who the murderer was. What follow is the least reliable of the three figures out clues while the other two basically placate her.

Unfortunately, I didn't find this topic/these characters as captivating as other books in the author's repertoire. I much prefer The Teasen and Pleasen Hair Salon Cozy Mystery Series, or The Witchy Women of Coven Grove series. However that is a matter of personal preference, not an indication of failure on the author's part. This was a quick read that is perfect for a waiting situation. It is told with much humor and in a relaxed way.

[Marzena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, humorous, short read. I like it. It is a book worth reading. Good storyline and colorful characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three senior citizens with too much time on their hands get caught up in a mystery. Not a bad storyline, it just didn't hold my interest like I thought it would. There were some amusing parts, but it was just okay for me.

[Simera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clara and her two friends are attending the reading of her Aunt Rudy's will. They discover as well and decide to make a wish only to get more than they bargained for.
After finding a hand in the well and as the three of them are seniors with to much time on their hands they decide that they can help the cops solve the mystery of whose hand and the murderer.
This was a humorous story and a quick read.
I received a copy for an honest review.

[Deb Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy reading

I enjoyed reading this book from this author even though I found it a bit confusing in the beginning but overall I continued reading and glad I did because I found it easy cozy reading. I believe plenty of readers will enjoy too.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Never Too Old To Snoop"

This is a fun mystery which will make you chuckle as you follow a group of old ladies who still have the desire to do a better job than the police in solving crimes. Clara and her friends, Ida May and Hazel, step out of the contented last years of life to find deception, secrets and lies, and find a killer. There are many twists and turns, and you will enjoy every page of this well-written short novel. As the ol" gals say, "We're not dead yet!" The story is narrated by the character Clara. It could use a little better proofing, but I wasn't slowed down and like what I read. Enjoy the story!

[Carol Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting start

A new series by Constance Barker. A good premise for series but it has room for improvement. The Not Dead Yet Club are the usual sterotyped senior citizens which is why it lost 🌟🌟 As a senior myself I have to fight against "what is expected" every day and as such found this story hard to read.