In for a Penny

Seasoned Southern Sleuths #1

by Kelsey Browning, Nancy Naigle

When Lillian Summer Fairview’s husband up and dies on her, it leaves the last living member of the most prestigious family in the small town of Summer Shoals, Georgia, in a hot money mess. Desperate to keep up the family name and give the man a decent burial, penniless Lil cooks up a shady deal that lands her smack-dab in the slammer.

Burdened by her shameful secret and a crumbling family estate, Lil entrusts Summer Haven’s care to her best friend, Maggie, who recruits two more over-fifty ladies to help. But when Maggie discovers that Lil’s restitution is ten times the amount she “borrowed” from the federal government, she’s convinced Lil has taken the fall for someone else’s crime.

Will these gals be able to get some vigilante justice for Lil, or will the swindler get away with hoodwinking a sweet little old lady?

Recipes included!

(Originally published as In for a Penny in the Granny/G Team series)

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Humor, Ebooks, Contemporary

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2013

About the author

Kelsey Browning writes sass kickin’ love stories and Southern cozy mysteries.

Originally from a small Texas town, Kelsey has also lived in the Middle East and Los Angeles, proving she’s either adventurous or downright nuts. These days, she hangs out in northeast Georgia with Tech Guy, Smarty Boy, Bad Dog and Pharaoh, a former Canine Companions for Independence puppy. She’s currently at work on the next book in her Texas Nights contemporary romance series and The Granny Series cozy mysteries.

For info on her upcoming releases, subscribe to her Sass Kickin’ News or drop by www.KelseyBrowning.com.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am writing this review with a huge smile on my face because I just finished this hilarious book. From this point on, I will always smile when I think of the grannies because it was one of the funniest books I have read. I laughed through most of it. Somehow, even the serious parts were kind of funny. These grannies are just hysterical! One of the best things about this book is you see the silliness from all perspectives. You see it from the grannies' perspectives, which actually makes all of their actions seem rational and make sense, such as climbing up onto the roof. However, you also see it from a non-granny character's point of view, such as Teague, which makes the grannies seem crazy. My favorite parts are the toilet scene, and then the fight scene towards the end. Plus, Lillian's "vacation resort" and how she handles being there was just great. This whole book was just wonderful! It can take anyone's frown and turn it upside down. It is impossible to not love each and every one of these characters. Such a great book! I highly recommend it, but be careful where you read it. I got some weird looks when I read it at work or in public because I would just randomly start laughing out loud. :)

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title attracted me to this book and the fact that it had two authors. This meant that it was a "twofer." It met two requirements for my bookclub - a book written by two authors and filled the Bingo square "a form of money." For "icing on the cake" this book was on my kindle and it was free!

In For A Penny made me smile, and sometimes made me laugh aloud. It made me forget about the pandemic and think about Lillian and her spunk and determination. Her good friend, Maggie, went above and beyond friendship, and Abby Ruth and Sera added to my enjoyment of this cozy mystery.
If you are looking for a quick, fun, humorous read, I recommend this book. 4 stars

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

In for a penny, is about 4 women who may be old enough to be grannies, but have enough spunk to be in their twenties. If you love grannies like Grandma Mazur in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, then this book is for you. Be prepared to laugh out loud.... and you may just see a little glimpse of future self in one of these kick-butt grannies....

[MaryJo · Rating 1 out of 5]

The choice was: give the book a two-star rating and an honest review or give it one star and keep my mouth shut.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! Four women over the age of 50, a handsome young policeman and a plot I've never encountered before. And this book is funny. I love eclectic characters and this bunch is that. Everything from manners and money to a flower child from California. Lillian goes to prison when she gets caught up in a Social Security Scheme. She asks Maggie to look after her home and keep her location a secret. Together with two other older women, Maggie tries to figure out how Lillian's life took such an odd turn. In the meantime, Lillian is dealing with the hierarchy in prison. I enjoyed it very much. I will be reading more from this series.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was hilarious!

Lillian is in a financial mess. After her husband, Harlan, died she found out he had spent the family fortune on lottery tickets. Because Lillian is the last living member of the Summer family in Summer Shoals, it's her responsibility to keep the family name in good standing, so she doesn't let on that she's broke. She borrowed money from Nash making a deal to pay him back with her husband's Social Security checks. Yes, he's dead, so the checks should have stopped. Lillian didn't tell the government about that, so she landed in jail. Meanwhile, she leaves two friends to look after her home, Summer Haven. One of her friends sees the amount Lil was accused of taking was much, much more than Lil said it was so the friends investigate, hoping to clear Lillian's name.

What a hoot to watch these grannies become sleuths to help their friend. The three of them were very different from each other but worked together to find the truth. I liked that some of the things the women each did even surprised the others. But it worked.

It did have a bit of a slow start, but I quickly fell in love with these grannies and was chuckling all the way through.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun romp of modest length featuring two older feisty Southern ladies. Best friends for decades, they're now both widowed and moving in together. With help from a couple of "guests", they can certainly take care of themselves. It's not a murder mystery, just a mystery. The writing is smooth and clear. I picked this up for free during a sale at Amazon, and liked it well enough to buy the sequel... which is currently swimming in my infinitely deep TBR pool.

[Renee C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

TeaTime

A delightful story and enjoyable read.
The energy and cleverness of the senior ladies of various backgrounds kept me interested and chuckling from the beginning to the very end of their adventure!

[Adrienne Giordano · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I'm saying is there is a scene with a toilet bowl that made me roll with laughter. :)

[Hanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

do you ever finish a book and realize you wasted 5 hours of your life and negatively added value to your life?
yeah?
well that was this book

the storyline was stupid and not thought out well, and the characters didn't make sense?
and it wasn't even a clean book: there was a ton of language?
it was a little bit humorous in some parts but it wasn't great
the whole thing was super cliche and unrealistic
and like
it was just stupid
anyways
I don't usually review/roast a book this hard
but man was this a bad book
i have no idea how it has so many five star reviews bc this was hot garbage

[Julie Gansler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mess with these Grannies!

Funny and wonderfully written. Love how these ladies, so different from each other, manage to thwart the bad guy and compliment each other.

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

In In for a Penny by Nancy Naigle and Kelsey Browning, Lillian Summer Fairview comes from one of the oldest and most prestigious families in Georgia, but her late husband had a gambling problem and used up all the family money. Too proud to let anyone, even her best friend who lives with her, know about her plight, Lillian tries to keep up Summer Haven, her Southern mansion, by pawning her items one by one. One day Serendipity, known as Sarah, ends up living on her property in her van that she has been using to travel around the country as a 50-year-old California flower child. Then, Lillian leaves Summer Haven with just a note asking Maggie, her best friend, to pick up her father's highly valuable car, which she promised him on his deathbed never to sell, from an unnamed address. When Maggie arrives there, she discovers that Lillian is in federal prison.

Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

IN FOR A PENNY (Seasoned Southern Sleuths #1 ) by Kelsey Browning and Nancy Naigle was a recent book club read. The cover is adorable, and since mature character mysteries are popular now, I was looking forward to it. Published in 2014, the book features an entertaining, humorous storyline that feels like a cable TV movie—almost like a script.

The characters are pleasant and have some spunk, adding to the story of community and friendships, both old and new. However, it starts off slowly, and there are too many metaphors and similes for my taste. While it wasn't my favorite, it was cute and might appeal to fans of cozy Southern mysteries.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern all the way

A funny and entertaining mystery filled with Southern colloquial phrases and humor.
When Lillian checks herself into a minimal security prison her best friend is adamant about finding out why a lady of such esteem as Lillie could find herself in this predicament. Sheriff Teague has added ladies to help Lillian at her mansion and they form a united front to get to the bottom of Lillian's prison stay and to preserve the old home she so loves.
Kick *** ladies that keep the reader in stitches throughout this tale of Senior Sleuth Power!

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the story opens the reader has some concerns re Lillian, a genteel Southern woman, who is acting like she is going away on a long journey leaving her best friend Maggie behind. And yes she does go on a journey but not quite the expected one. Maggie is left behind to maintain the upkeep on a mansion that has seen its better years many many years ago and yet Lillian has entrusted the upkeep to her so it must be done even if there is no money to do it with. Enter Sera who is a true 'California' girl and Abbey who gives new meaning to a diamond in the rough!!
What these ladies scheme and the plots that go awry have you laughing out loud again and again. These are truly delightful women down to Big Martha!!

[Fleurtje Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never mess with a woman with duct tape...

[Debbie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still grinning about this book. In For A Penny, is about an older woman who has lost her husband, only to find out that she really did not know him at all. Lillian has invited her best friend, Maggie, to live with her at Summer Haven, so that she can be in charge of Lillian's home, when she has to go on vacation to the big house, prison! Because her deceased husband blew all of their money, she had to do some illegal stuff to bury him. This book will have you laughing out loud, with every page that you turn. Not only are Lillian and Maggie, hilarious, but with the help of Teague, the sheriff, they end up with two other ladies to help them along the way. Once Lillian is locked away, it is up to the other three grannies, to try to take care of her money pit home, figure out how she got into so much trouble to begin with, and keep Teague from finding out the truth at the same time. Just wait until you read what they did to Nash! All of the grannies are different in personality, but they are all about the same thing, helping each other. The funny part is that I can see parts of myself in these ladies.
If you want to read a book that will have you laughing out loud, and forgetting any problems that you may have, then this is definitely the book for you. Get your tissues ready, you will need them, because you will laugh until you cry. Nancy Naigle and Kelsey Browning, did a fantastic job with this story, even the parts that should be serious are not.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors Nancy and Kelsey did a wonderful job on this story. I just LOVE the grannies, they are a hoot! This book had me giggling through the whole book. All of the grannies have a different personality but they work together for a common ground to help Lil save her precious house. They are also determined to find out who took the money that Lil is having to serve time for and accused of taking. The grannies have hilarious moments including one scene where one of them falls through the floor while sitting on the toilet. I loved them all, and can't wait to read the next book in this series. If you want to read a wonderful and funny book, that will make you fall in love with all of these characters, then you need to read this book!!

[Terric853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but not as good as the ratings on Amazon indicated.

Lillian Summer Fairview is getting her life in order because she's about to head off to jail for Social Security fraud. Her family founded the town she lives in and she's loath to let anyone know that she's going to jail because her husband spent all their money on lottery tickets.

Lillian's best friend from college, Maggie, and two other women (Sera and Audy Ruth) decide to investigate Lillian's strange jail circumstances and high jinks ensue.

One of the reviews I read said "I'm still laughing," but I wasn't that invested in the book. It was cute and amusing, but not engaging enough that I would read more in the series.

[Sandy Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of four over-50-type grannies, Lillian, Maggie, Sera and Abby Ruth, and the lengths three of them will go to help the fourth. You definitely want to stay on their good side. There is a funeral home director and his Father who has Alzheimer's, duck tape, a lock picker, a broke granny, one good with guns, and another that is really into yoga. And let's not forget the good looking Sheriff Teague Castro! You will definitely want to read this book and I am sure you will be just like me…eagerly awaiting the sequel!

[Emmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The moment when you notice too many 5 star ratings and double take to ensure you're reviewing the same book.
Check.
And double check.

The first chapters come together easily enough and the characters were charming as well.
Then it falls apart when Lillian goes to jail. It's like it fell out of the sky and since we're supposed to be in her shoes, it felt like being discarded with her hundred jumbo trash bags.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters here made a lot of stupid decisions and things could have gone a lot better if they’d only brought in the authorities at an earlier point. That would obviously ruin the “cozy mystery” vibe, but it would be more realistic behaviour. I also didn’t like all of Maggie’s self-deprecating remarks about her weight.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful book!
I still cannot stop laughing after reading the book. The four ladies are old enough to be grandmothers and the way they act brought out many laughs. The mystery was simple and it added to the special flavour to the story making it a delightful read.

[Rosemary Generali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read


This was a fast, fun read. the likeable and original characters drew me in quickly. Can't wait to read the rest of this series!

[Karen ReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great caper. Although swindled, the seniors were vibrant characters. Definitely enjoyable. Should be a Hallmark series.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a laugh out loud reading experience! As a woman of an older age, I thoroughly enjoyed their story!

[Spencer Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun mystery!

I love how the woman work together to get what they want. A cute fun mystery. Small town mystery to solve.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud!! If you are looking for a fun read, this is it!!

[Celia Buell (semi hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my recent review of Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse, I said the book reminded me why I don't read cozy mysteries much. But let me tell you, Harper Lin's book was a literary masterpiece compared to what I just finished.

In In for a Penny, respected senior Lillian Summer Fairview is accused of embezzlement in her small Georgia town, but her best friend Maggie realizes something's up when the amount she owes is far more than the amount she claims to have used.

I've always liked the idea of old lady detectives, but In for a Penny was the first book I read with that type of character. Maybe it's because I'm used to mysteries, cozy or otherwise, that center around murder, but I didn't really feel anything about this story. In many ways, there was just no conflict between characters when there really should have been, and even when there was, it was very lacking.

Other reviewers have commented on the impressive humor in this novel, but I didn't see too much of that either. Sure, Sera's interactions were kind of funny, and Abby Ruth was quite a character, but that was about it. The main characters and their POV's were, quite frankly boring.

All in all, there's not too much I specifically didn't like about this book, which is why I'm not rating it lower, but it just didn't hold my interest. I know for sure I will not be continuing with this series, again because I just don't care about the characters enough. It's just not for me.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lillian Summer Fairview is the last living member of the Summer family responsible for caring for the Summer Haven estate. As such, Lillian has a reputation to uphold in Summer Shoals, Georgia. Following her husband Harlan’s death, he left her in a difficult situation beyond her wildest anticipation. For the past 5 years, Lillian has barely held everything together, but holding together and maintaining appearances is precisely what she has accomplished. But the jig is up, and even her best friend Maggie, who has been living with Lillian since her husband died, has no clue how dire the circumstances and the ongoing dilemma Lillian has faced alone. By the time Maggie finds out, Lillian will be behind locked doors and won’t be home for 14 months.

A delightful, cozy, bursting with charm and friendship. This is cozy mystery fun southern style. Rest assured, if you visit Summer Haven while Maggie is in charge, you’ll be offered a glass of special iced tea with extra ice and a pitcher of tea available on her serving tray. Each character in the tale contributes something unique, and everything may not be as it seems.

Recipes for Maggie’s Special Iced Tea, Mama Pat’s Meatloaf, and Dottie’s Cheese Grits are included at the end of the cozy mystery.

Reviewer’s Note: Originally published as "In For A Penny" in the Granny/G Team series.