Gray is the New Black

by Jo Michaels, Tia Silverthorne Bach (Editor)

These aren’t your typical grannies.

Pearl Etta Riggs just buried her husband of a million years (no, not literally, but it felt that way sometimes), and her dear friends are trying to find a way to cheer her up. So, they meet for coffee and cheesecake at their favorite place, the Cheesy Cream Café. Ah, the taste of childhood.

Ethel spots the story of a local bank robbery in the paper, and pitches solving it as “it will give us something to do.” She begs, she pleads, and she… Flirts with the waiter?

Alma, always the level-headed one, cites the fact that the man may be one of those panty-sniffing rapists for the reason they shouldn’t. Consider that she was raised by a Southern Baptist preacher and always naysays; her friends rarely listen to her sage advice.

Opal and Minerva are all in, as usual, and they work with Ethel to wear Pearl down. Eventually, she caves, gets Alma on board, and…

You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens after that. What? Did you expect the author to give it all away in the blurb?

It’s a crazy thrill ride full of laughs and shenanigans as these women take the law into their own hands. What happens after is anyone’s guess.

After all, gray is the new black.

115 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2019

About the author

Jo Michaels loves writing novels that make readers gasp in horror, surprise, and disbelief. While her browser search history has probably landed her on a list somewhere, she still dives into every plot with gusto, hoping "the man" will realize she's a writer and not a psychopath about to go on a rampage. Her favorite pastimes are reading, watching Investigation Discovery, and helping other authors realize their true potential through mentoring. She's penned the award-winning Pen Pals and Serial Killers series and the best-selling educational book for children, Writing Prompts for Kids, which has rocketed the kids that use it into several awards of their own.

Most of Jo's books feature the places she's lived: Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia. That's given her a special amount of insight to what makes those locations tick. Her works are immersive and twisty, and she wouldn't want it any other way.

Reviews

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the cover of this book and had to see what it was about. I read the blurb (you should too if you want a summary of the story without a lot of spoilers) and found out it was about funny old ladies and except for the negative comment about Southern Baptist ministers, which I take exception to, found the blurb compelling. So here I am to tell you the story is great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sindhu S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had an interesting premise—a group of grannies, who have been friends all their lives, come together to fight crime. Although over 50, they are quite unlike the ‘normal’ sweet little old ladies that the word granny conjures up.
They have wildly colored hair and frequent bars and strip clubs in their fact-finding missions. And if that is not enough, their professions are anything but run of the mill—ballistics expert, chemical engineer, edged weapons expert, master of martial arts, and former police officer.
After living away from each other, they are now back together in Atlanta. Because they’re bored, they put their skills to good use and solve a crime. If you thought that is the whole story, you’d be mistaken. This is just a prelude to them being recruited by a secret organization named CDC and to further adventures to be expected in later books in the series. Therein lies the problem.
I started reading the book because of the exciting premise and was looking forward to what these guerilla grannies were about to do. But not in this book, they don’t. They solve the crime and catch the criminal in the first half. The rest of the book is pretty much getting recruited by CDC and getting set up in new homes that have a command center and all the latest gadgets they need in their future adventures.
Although the book alludes to the grannies’ professions and expertise, there is no clear mention of what exactly they were anywhere, except in the case of Ethel, the former law enforcement officer.
I enjoyed the book for its premise and its future possibilities. However, I felt that it functions only as a series of incidents that sets the scene for the books to come.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Krystyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

When boredom sets in, the Grannies step out

A good start. It could have used some humour thrown in - there were loads of opportunities for some one liners at least. The plot is simple. Five single (whether by death or their husband's disappearance) middle aged women suddenly find a new lease of life and purpose. Find the perpetrator of a recent bank robbery and bring him to justice. Yes the three have some unique talents from their youth, these are brushed up and put into action. Enjoying the takedown and leaving the perpetrator gift wrapped for the police they are astounded when a secret organisation asks them to join. New homes, a new command centre, new toys and having family around is all they want (as well as excitement and feeling alive again). There are two problems on the horizon though is one of the daughter's husbands playing away from home and is one of the dead husbands not as dead as he should be?

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an unexpected, lighthearted adventure that also included several heartfelt moments too. Kat was a bit hard to like, but the rest of the characters were wonderful, including the bad guys. There were plenty of creative details, fun jokes, and steamy insinuations, and the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was sometimes it felt a little too noisy if that makes sense, but overall it was highly enjoyable, and I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received a free copy of Gray is the New Black, but that did not affect my review.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it...

Gray is the New Black is the first book in the Guerrilla Grannies series. I loved this story of retired ladies banding together to fight crime because they are trying to cheer up their friend, Pearl Etta Riggs. Their crime-solving antics do not go unnoticed by law enforcement.

I cannot wait to read the next story in this delightful new series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grannies come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and ages. Yet still blue-haired, little old ladies come to mind at the mere mention of the word.

Fuhgeddaboudit.

While two of the group are grandmothers… and Pearl has blue hair… there isn’t anything granny-like about this group of fifty-something lifelong-friends.

Though they’ve lived normal lives apart and experienced too many of life’s milestones—betrayal, loss, divorce, and widowhood—Pearl, Ethel, Opal, Minerva, and Alma are back together now, living on the outskirts of Atlanta.

And they’re bored.

So what do a ballistics expert, a chemical engineer, an edged weapons expert, a martial arts master, and a former member of law enforcement do for excitement? They find a crime to solve before the police can muck up the works.

It’s while solving a bank robbery that this snarky, irreverent team of badass boomers come to the attention of a secret government agency and are recruited into service. Far-fetched? Okay, a bit, but it’s a good look for this group.

Gray is the New Black is such a fun read because the characters are so relatable. These women are not prim and proper matrons of society. They talk about aches and pains and aging, but they also discuss flirting, dating and sex. Especially Ethel! Insults and f-bombs are part of the endless banter but without rancor or spitefulness. These women are family and the deep love and respect they have for each other is the running thread through the story.

Bits and pieces of each woman’s life are shared as the story unfolds and while some questions are answered, I couldn’t help but want to know more.

I volunteered to read an ARC of Gray is the New Black as part of a book tour, but 1-clicked a copy even before I finished, and I’ve preordered book two. This is Golden Girls meets James Bond meets Mission Impossible and I’m here for it!

Enjoy!

[Andra Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This group of life long friends provides non stop laughs and action. You will find yourself laughing out loud and even raise your eyebrows a time or two at some of their antics. I am very much looking forward to seeing what the Guerilla Grandmas have in store for us next!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenny Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIO REVIEW

OVERALL: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PERFORMANCE: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
STORY: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story was HILARIOUS!!! This reminds me of Steel Magnolias/Golden Girls meets Charlie's Angels (Mature TV version).

The characters were AH-MAZING!!! Pearl, Ethel, Alma, Opal and Minerva made us love this story from the beginning. They kept us laughing out loud and entertained!! My fiance and I enjoyed listening to them banter at each other, and their shenanigans and adventures kept us on the edge of our seats!! And the plus they are so comical!!

The story-line was unforgettable!! The things these ladies went through made us crave to know what would happen next and we had to sit and listen to it in one setting!! But that ending has us NEEDING to know about their next adventure!! So we hope we won't have to wait too long!!

The narrator was phenomenal!! This narrator was so incredible with the different voice overs and we loved listening to her!! We will be following this narrator and we highly recommend this story!!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was asked if I wanted an ARC of Gray is the New Black, I was beyond excited. Jo Michaels has writing some awesome psychological thrillers, fae and Christmas stories. So was interested on a bunch of “Grannies” going super spy.

How can I explain this...it is Lucy and Ethel meets The Golden Girls gone all Charlie’s Angels! The book is hysterical! The relationship the Grannies have is amazing and what we wish we had growing up and now as an adult. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was more than happy I read this ARC because it's entertaining and fun to read.
I liked the plot, the well developed characters and the humour.
I hope to read other books in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gray is the New Black - This is my first read by this author and it is better than I expected. The cover caught my eye and I like that this is set in the South. Loveable Southern characters, their speech, their thoughts, their friendships and their attitudes make this a fun, interesting read.

This book is actually three parts: their history; the bank crime; and the mystery of their new employer. There is plenty of ribbing between the friends, which adds character to the story. The ladies are an interesting group of 50somethings, all professional women.

While the bank job is simplistically solved, the book is heavy into the five women. The last haIf of the book deals with their mysterious employer. I found this book on Booksprout. 4*

[Stalking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!

I love these ladies! Their spirit and spunk jump out of the pages and they feel like they’re in the room with you. The adventure was fun and that ending was everything!

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah finally a book about my friends when we get old(er) lol. A group of older ladies who have been friends forever decide to solve a mystery. In the process they end up in bars, strip clubs…I don’t want to the ruin the storyline for you! If y’all know me when I get my wild hair colors going, just picture me and my fellow friends lol

Thanks NetGalley for the laughs!

[Christine Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect from this book but who can resist a cover with a cute dog in a wig and cool shades? Obviously not me. This book is about five women of a certain age who are life-long friends. They are more than capable of creating a plan and carrying it to fruition. When they work together just about anything is possible. I like these characters and was cheering for them during their capture of a criminal. The story has just the right amount of humor. The first book in the Guerrilla Grannies series is a hit with me.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the publisher through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#GrayistheNewBlack #NetGalley

[Jo Michaels]

To read chapter one of this novel, go here: https://www.writejomichaels.com/gg1ex...

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. :)