A forty-year-old art heist with repercussions in the present is the catalyst for yet another adventure for the Naked Poker Club.
Newlyweds Josephine and Norman are moving into their new home in the Brookside Retirement Community when they receive a letter containing a clue to a forty-year-old heist that netted paintings worth over one hundred million dollars. Norman, who has spent a career recovering stolen art, can’t resist the appeal of the mysterious clue which leads to another adventure for Josephine and friends.
A former Air Force brat turned clinical chemist, toxicologist, and university professor, Ann's life took another turn in 2001, when she began writing fiction. After completing a perfectly dreadful novel (she didn't know it was at the time) she talked her way into a graduate writing seminar and followed that up with several years of study as she continued to write. Along the way she made friends with other writers who have supported, critiqued, and eventually praised her novels. Her debut novel, Dreams for Stones, was a finalist for the Indie Next Generation Book Award.
Ann's novels take advantage of the many unusual settings she's traveled to or lived in including New Zealand, Australia, Peru, San Francisco, Wrangell Alaska, Colorado, Boston, and Puerto Rico. As well, her experiences as a toxicologist have added fillips of intrigue to many of her stories.
In Ann's novels, the consequence of choosing to love or not to love is an underlying theme, as characters face crises and complications that force them to dig deep within themselves to discover their own resilience.
Members of the group will receive a link to a short story along with insider information about Ann's writing process, the stories behind the stories, and recommendations of books Ann has enjoyed.
I love this series. The plot is always well researched and the characters have depth and believability. I like the characters and having lived in Cincinnati for 22 years, the setting brings back wonderful memories.
It helps to read the books in order as it helps you to get to know the characters.
If you want an interesting read that is entertaining, this series is for you!
Another fun adventure with Josephine, Norman, Lillian, Edna, Devi, & Mac!
Norman & Josephine are married & living in one of the Brookside Retirement Community's cottages. Norman receives a mysterious letter from a woman in Indianapolis containing a clue about a 40 year old heist of paintings worth over $100 million! Norman can't resist the appeal of the mysterious clue which leads to another adventure for Josephine & friends!
Norman receives a Priority Mail envelope & inside was a page with just 3 words on the page "Elizabeth Kent Oakes". Norman uses Google maps to look up the return address on the envelope & finds a huge stone house with no clues as to who owns it. They decide to go today to find out who lives there & what they knew about the Elizabeth Kent Oakes Museum! They decide to pack for overnight.
The butler--dressed in jeans & t-shirts tokens the door. After showing him the envelope, he takes them to a beautiful room with uncovered windows & lots of plants. There is a large painting of a severe man in medieval clothing hanging over the fireplace that catches Josephine's attention. Norman sucked in an audible breath, staring at the painting. The butler asks Norman if he recognizes it. Norman nodded & says " The Duke of Northumberland" & it is currently listed as missing from the Antwerp Museum. The butler tells them Mrs. Scott's orders were if they didn't recognize the painting, he was to serve them tea & fiction before showing them the door.
This begins another fun adventure for Norman, Josephine, & their friends!
Norman receives an invitation and is told it is in connection with a 40 year old heist, millions of Dollars worth of paintings. Norman and Josephine are chosen to return the paintings, but keep the names and address of the "owner" a secret. The first priceless paintings arrive at their home and things get out of hand. The FBI gets involved who suspect Norman and Josephine to be part of the original robbery and also nosy neighbours at the retirement home are very interested. And then there is Maddie....
The Naked Poker Club is not what you think, unless you've read the previous stories - then you know!
This mystery is set in the world of art, very desirable, very expensive, very beautiful art. What happens when a criminal tries to go straight? How is it possible to set the affairs in line so that all will be forgiven? What happens when the nosy neighbor intrudes? Lots of diverse characters make this a very interesting and fun story. It is a delightful look at personalities and how they can be affected by the issues which appear in this collection of circumstances.
This series is full of fun, elderly sleuths and some other adopted characters who become a family, solving silvery, criminal mysteries. This last book, number 4 (so far) is the best, but I did miss Phillipa, the professional crime writer and her conman husband Richard from book 2. All of the books can be read as stand-alone novels but it's more fun to meet all the the rest of the.members of The Brookside Naked Poker Club.
I really enjoyed reading all 4 books. The characters are 3-dimensional and very well developed. The storyline is so readable. The development of the characters' personalities as you progress through the story is so believable. And there is a range of emotions as the reader moves through the pages- love, embarrassment, humor, neediness, and so on. I highly recommend the series. Is there a Book Five?
Not a murder mystery. But a great who stole the paintings mystery. I loved how the tale unfolded. And I love the new character, Maddie. But the poor parrot. Nobody gives it attention except to cover its cage up. And the cage is too small for the bird. Come on, I don't like to read about mistreatment of animals. It is not funny, penis joke does not make up for the treatment of the bird. Animals need attention; They are not ornaments.
I read all four books in this series. Anxiously awaiting book five! I love reading book series that continue with people I’ve read about in book one onto the rest of the series. These books are funny, feel good and taught me something about the world of art. Loved them!!
I LOVE this series! Each book just keeps getting better than the last and this book was no exception! The main characters are quite believable, increasingly endearing, and leaves the reader hungry for the next book. The plot is easily followed and the clues are fun to find. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.
This book really needs the first 3 to keep the characters straight. Its somewhat different to have each chapter told by a different character thus giving each ones insight to what's going on, extra details, etc. Another reason to be sure to read books 1-3 first. New characters are introduced as the series progresses.
Her. Books breath with the lives of her characters. They are so dimensional.they just leap off the page, and are so much fun. I love this series and I think you will too. Welcome to Ms. Warmers world I can't wait to start another one of her books.
I was surprised to find the fourth book in the Naker Poker Club had come out. Once again, Josephine, Lill and friends are involved in another fun, engaging adventure, while introducing us to Maddie,our newest character! Can't wait for Book 5!
This might be my favorite in the series though I loved the first three, especially the opening book. There is an intriguing setting of an old mansion and some interesting twists but I can't give anything away. I sure hope there will be a book 5.
I totally enjoy this series. The plot is fun and the characters become a large whacky family. A great easy and fun read. Really enjoy the plots, the people, and the mystery.
All of Ann Warner’s Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club stories are filled with a delightful mix of suspense, heartfelt love between her characters, and a rousing element of adventure.
When you have a good title stick with it. This was book four and was very good. I like that each book is a self contained story but some things grow with each book.
Another fun entry in the Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club series. The characters feel like old friends by this fourth book in the series. While it could be read alone since Ann Warner includes a brief synopsis of the previous books at the front of the book I'd recommend starting with the first one and enjoying them all. This time out some of the paintings stolen in a famous Boston heist might be recovered but are they the originals or masterful forgeries?