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Nosy Parkers Mysteries #1
The Counterfeit Clue
Inspired by the famous Girl Detective, the members of the Olentangy Heights Girls' Detective Society, affectionately known as the Nosy Parkers, spent their formative years studying criminology, codes, and capers. Unfortunately, opportunities to put their unique skills to work were thin on the ground in the post-war boom of their little corner of suburbia and they eventually grew up to pursue more sensible careers. Until...
Gemma Gaines gave up mystery solving years ago, but when friend is killed in a hit-and-run, all the instincts honed by years in the Olentangy Heights Girls’ Detective Society tell her this may not have been an accident. Then she finds that her friend slipped some cryptic notes into her handbag and she’s convinced murder has been done.
With the doggedness of the great Girl Detective herself, Gemma follows up on the clues. Real-life mystery solving isn’t as tidy as it is in novels though, and before she knows it, her roommate has been kidnapped and it’s all her fault. With the help of a handsome new neighbor – who may be more than he seems – she is soon on the trail of a counterfeiting ring that would like nothing more than to see her put out of circulation for good.
Gemma Gaines gave up mystery solving years ago, but when friend is killed in a hit-and-run, all the instincts honed by years in the Olentangy Heights Girls’ Detective Society tell her this may not have been an accident. Then she finds that her friend slipped some cryptic notes into her handbag and she’s convinced murder has been done.
With the doggedness of the great Girl Detective herself, Gemma follows up on the clues. Real-life mystery solving isn’t as tidy as it is in novels though, and before she knows it, her roommate has been kidnapped and it’s all her fault. With the help of a handsome new neighbor – who may be more than he seems – she is soon on the trail of a counterfeiting ring that would like nothing more than to see her put out of circulation for good.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2017
51 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Karon Richardson
23 books55 followersInfluenced by books like The Secret Garden and The Little Princess, Lisa Karon Richardson’s early stories were heavy on boarding schools and creepy houses. Now, even though she’s (mostly) grown-up she still loves a healthy dash of adventure in any story she creates, even her real-life story. She’s been a missionary to the Seychelles and Gabon and now that she and her husband are back in America, they are tackling a new adventure, starting a daughter-work church in a new city while trying to raise a family. Lisa’s most recent novel, An Unscripted Courtship came out in January 2015. Her latest novel, The Peacock Throne released in the UK in November 2015 and in the US in January 2016. You can find Lisa online at her group blog: http://inkwellinspirations.com or her website http://lisakaronrichardson.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews
March 3, 2018
What do you do if one of your best friends , after an unusual discussion at lunch, is run down practically in front of you and you are convinced that it wasn’t an accident? Well, if you’re a Nosy Parker, you take matters into your own hands, after teaming with a cute Secret Service Agent, of course.
Gemma and Carol are childhood friends and after acting strangely at lunch, Carol is involved in a hit and run and doesn’t survive. Gemma finds several pieces of paper in her purse that could only have been put there by Carol. Now she has to find out what it all means while running from the bad guys.
It seems the new tenant in her apartment building is a Secret Service Agent who was trying to gain information from Carol.
Havoc ensues and there is much more than meets the eye. Why would anyone want to kill Carol? Who would kidnap Gemma’s roommate Jilly? Is it a case of mistaken identity?
Gemma’s active imagination goes into overdrive as she tries to piece together the clues and what they mean!
Lisa writes with 50’s flair, from her vintage dialogue to her description of the sleazy hideout of the criminals.
This is a very enjoyable mystery for fans of a young adult Nancy Drew. Find out what happens and if Gemma gets back to real life with the deadline of her writing assignment for her real job looming over her.
Gemma and Carol are childhood friends and after acting strangely at lunch, Carol is involved in a hit and run and doesn’t survive. Gemma finds several pieces of paper in her purse that could only have been put there by Carol. Now she has to find out what it all means while running from the bad guys.
It seems the new tenant in her apartment building is a Secret Service Agent who was trying to gain information from Carol.
Havoc ensues and there is much more than meets the eye. Why would anyone want to kill Carol? Who would kidnap Gemma’s roommate Jilly? Is it a case of mistaken identity?
Gemma’s active imagination goes into overdrive as she tries to piece together the clues and what they mean!
Lisa writes with 50’s flair, from her vintage dialogue to her description of the sleazy hideout of the criminals.
This is a very enjoyable mystery for fans of a young adult Nancy Drew. Find out what happens and if Gemma gets back to real life with the deadline of her writing assignment for her real job looming over her.
October 17, 2017
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January 8, 2022
The Counterfeit Clue is one I picked up from the Ohioana book festival and the author described it as an amateur sleuth inspired by a girlhood love of Nancy Drew. The back cover blurb talks about the main character, Gemma’s, youth in the post-war era (which struck me as why does this only refer to WII when we’ve had several wars since) But my first problem is it takes a little too long to really set the time period in this. I’m assuming it’s the 1960s or even the late 50s but outside of typewriters and the Red Scare it doesn’t do much to set the theme (and a few comments are very modern and distracting).
Don’t get me wrong, I did like this well enough but Gemma does some things that are highly annoying (like not listening to common sense especially coming from Erik who works for the Secret Service). Gemma gets involved with the case when her girlhood friend meets up with her, passes her some mysterious papers with quotes and scribbles on them and is then run over by a car. Gemma doesn’t think it’s an accident due to her friend’s fears and naturally she’s right.
The case itself is interesting and the final solution is rather clever. I didn’t like some of Gemma’s choices but over all it didn’t distract totally from the case. (the lack of setting did that). This was about what you expect cozy mystery wise, with the bad guys making some choices that would enable her to get away/live that a real criminal doing this probably wouldn’t do (but like I said, in cozies you expect less violence). It was a quick read and I’d probably read another.
Don’t get me wrong, I did like this well enough but Gemma does some things that are highly annoying (like not listening to common sense especially coming from Erik who works for the Secret Service). Gemma gets involved with the case when her girlhood friend meets up with her, passes her some mysterious papers with quotes and scribbles on them and is then run over by a car. Gemma doesn’t think it’s an accident due to her friend’s fears and naturally she’s right.
The case itself is interesting and the final solution is rather clever. I didn’t like some of Gemma’s choices but over all it didn’t distract totally from the case. (the lack of setting did that). This was about what you expect cozy mystery wise, with the bad guys making some choices that would enable her to get away/live that a real criminal doing this probably wouldn’t do (but like I said, in cozies you expect less violence). It was a quick read and I’d probably read another.
April 4, 2022
Think Nancy Drew for grown-ups! Seriously, harness your inner Girl Detective and come along for a fun, campy ride back in time when The Books were still being written. Eeeeeppppp! And we meet Gemma as she's nervously waiting to interview for a chance to ghost write under the Carolyn Keene pseudonym. She's fresh out of college and eager to make her living as a writer but works modelling gigs at a posh fashion store to make ends meet.
Did I mention this is sooooo much fun!!!! From the fifties vibe that comes through in setting and slang and, of course fashion (a girl can't have too many sweater sets!) to the madcap adventures that mirror Nancy Drew at her finest. In fact, Gemma's encyclopedic knowledge of the Girl Detective serves her well when she's faced with danger and peril! Not to mention clue gathering. Would you mind if I said fun again? Because, well, it is!!!! There's even a hint of light romance -- but, just like Nancy, Gemma isn't one to wait around for a hero to save her. She's often the one doing the saving! :-)
This is the first book in a multi-authored series -- Nosy Parkers Mystery. I've read the second book as well which is also fabulous. Set in Scotland, with a different heroine -- another alumni of the Olentangy Heights Girls' Detective Society, of course! And I'm about to order the third book because it's set in Ireland -- eeeeppp!
Did I mention this is sooooo much fun!!!! From the fifties vibe that comes through in setting and slang and, of course fashion (a girl can't have too many sweater sets!) to the madcap adventures that mirror Nancy Drew at her finest. In fact, Gemma's encyclopedic knowledge of the Girl Detective serves her well when she's faced with danger and peril! Not to mention clue gathering. Would you mind if I said fun again? Because, well, it is!!!! There's even a hint of light romance -- but, just like Nancy, Gemma isn't one to wait around for a hero to save her. She's often the one doing the saving! :-)
This is the first book in a multi-authored series -- Nosy Parkers Mystery. I've read the second book as well which is also fabulous. Set in Scotland, with a different heroine -- another alumni of the Olentangy Heights Girls' Detective Society, of course! And I'm about to order the third book because it's set in Ireland -- eeeeppp!
March 30, 2019
I received a complimentary copy this book through Voracious Readers. I enjoyed the book. The characters are engaging. The story is entertaining and well written. I am happy I discovered this author and I will read her other books.
August 26, 2017
This was a good and fast paced cozy. I enjoyed reading my 1st book by Mrs. Richardson and hope to read more of her work. I am now going to read the next book in the Nosy Parkers Mystery series.
I was gifted a copy from a different Author and was not compensated in any way for my review.
I was gifted a copy from a different Author and was not compensated in any way for my review.
August 20, 2017
Enjoyable!!!!
Quick read.....fastly paced...nice bit of romance.....nicely done over all. Getting ready to read the next book in the series. Worth the read
Quick read.....fastly paced...nice bit of romance.....nicely done over all. Getting ready to read the next book in the series. Worth the read
July 5, 2018
This is a delightful little read about murder and mayhem.
The mystery is well plotted and tied up quite nicely by the end of the novel. There's a fair amount of action, and it's well-described.
This novel definitely has an old-fashioned vibe - aside from references to some more modern conveniences, it would have been perfectly at home had it been set in the 1920s. The intrepid female protagonist reminded me a lot of novels my grandmother passed down to me: The Honor Girl (Grace Livingston Hill), A Girl of the Limberlost (Gene Stratton-Porter), etc. While this definitely appeals to me in and of itself, one of the weaknesses was not having a clear (in my mind, anyway) setting in time.
The other area that I felt could be improved was in the suspense of the story. There are times when Gemma begins to have suspicions about other characters, but she seems to dismiss these instincts (with little added evidence), and yet, manages to be right. I think this element of distrust could have helped ratchet up the tension even further.
Overall, this was a good read - I always appreciate a plucky heroine.
I received a copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.
The mystery is well plotted and tied up quite nicely by the end of the novel. There's a fair amount of action, and it's well-described.
This novel definitely has an old-fashioned vibe - aside from references to some more modern conveniences, it would have been perfectly at home had it been set in the 1920s. The intrepid female protagonist reminded me a lot of novels my grandmother passed down to me: The Honor Girl (Grace Livingston Hill), A Girl of the Limberlost (Gene Stratton-Porter), etc. While this definitely appeals to me in and of itself, one of the weaknesses was not having a clear (in my mind, anyway) setting in time.
The other area that I felt could be improved was in the suspense of the story. There are times when Gemma begins to have suspicions about other characters, but she seems to dismiss these instincts (with little added evidence), and yet, manages to be right. I think this element of distrust could have helped ratchet up the tension even further.
Overall, this was a good read - I always appreciate a plucky heroine.
I received a copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.
June 21, 2018
Nancy Drew started me on my way as a lover of mysteries, especially the cozy variety, and I thoroughly enjoyed The Counterfeit Clue and its references to the famous girl detective. Aspiring author Gemma and her friend Carol, with whom she had been a member of the Olentangy Heights Girls' Detective Society (otherwise known as the Nosy Parkers), renew their friendship only to have it cut short when Carol is killed in a hit and run. Gemma gets entangled in the mystery that ensues and is instrumental in discovering Carol's murderer and the events that led up to that fateful day. In addition, there might be a romance beginning! I look forward to following how the characters develop in future books. This story is well written and paced to keep my interest. A truly refreshing premise added to my reading enjoyment as it is a long time since I have thought about all the Nancy Drew books that I have read in the past. I look forward to the next Nosy Parkers Mystery!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of The Counterfeit Clue from the author through Voracious Readers.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of The Counterfeit Clue from the author through Voracious Readers.
June 8, 2018
While at school Gemma Gaines belonged to a society known as the Nosy Parkers but now she wants to write mysteries for a living. But when a friend is killed in a hit and run she is suspicious and becomes embroiled in events when she starts to follow the clues.
This was an enjoyable fast paced story.
Received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
This was an enjoyable fast paced story.
Received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
June 18, 2018
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Gammas friend is killed in a hit and run, being one of the Nosy Parkers society, she can't help but get caught up in finding out the how, who and whys of the incident This is a great wee story that keeps you entertained.
Gammas friend is killed in a hit and run, being one of the Nosy Parkers society, she can't help but get caught up in finding out the how, who and whys of the incident This is a great wee story that keeps you entertained.
September 29, 2018
Amazing story
This is the second book I've read by this author, she tells an excellent story. Keeps you glued to reading and reasonably will happen next. Looking forward to future books.
This is the second book I've read by this author, she tells an excellent story. Keeps you glued to reading and reasonably will happen next. Looking forward to future books.
October 30, 2020
Awesome
It is an absolute thriller. The story was intriguing and fast paced. I enjoyed reading it. It deserves a five star rating. Kudos to the author for coming up with an excellent book.
It is an absolute thriller. The story was intriguing and fast paced. I enjoyed reading it. It deserves a five star rating. Kudos to the author for coming up with an excellent book.
August 30, 2017
Fast paced and enjoyable!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews