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Granny Vigilante #1
Back in the Game
An eccentric old lady with a dark past. A self-deprecating detective thrust into the spotlight. Criminals beware!
A cozy mystery from International Bestselling Author Susan Harper
Fran spent her younger days making bad guys pay for their sins. At 79, those days are long behind her. But then she rents a room to an awkward young man who just happens to be a suddenly-rising detective. Fran finds herself thrust back into the world of crime and punishment. And she loves it. Can Toronto survive now that Fran is back in the game?
Back in the Game is the first book in the dark, comedic Granny Vigilante Cozy Mystery series. If you like stories where the criminals get what’s coming to them, you’re going to enjoy watching the Granny Vigilante in action.
A cozy mystery from International Bestselling Author Susan Harper
Fran spent her younger days making bad guys pay for their sins. At 79, those days are long behind her. But then she rents a room to an awkward young man who just happens to be a suddenly-rising detective. Fran finds herself thrust back into the world of crime and punishment. And she loves it. Can Toronto survive now that Fran is back in the game?
Back in the Game is the first book in the dark, comedic Granny Vigilante Cozy Mystery series. If you like stories where the criminals get what’s coming to them, you’re going to enjoy watching the Granny Vigilante in action.
- GenresAmazonCozy MysteryCozy
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2020
396 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 18, 2024
Good Concept but Execution Needs Work
I was intrigued by the blurb and the cover, regardless of the mixed reviews. What could have been very entertaining came off as campy and absurd. It made me think of the Scream movies, which are a parody of horror movies. Even that would have been fun, but two things bothered me. First, not enough effort went into character development. I felt no sympathy or understanding for Fran or Ronnie. Fran came across as a bored serial killer. One that picks murderers as her victims, but still, she came off as more of having fun killing someone than as a person who wants revenge for the victims of killers. As for Ronnie, he was so inept I could not imagine him making it to detective. Really, fainting because he saw Fran enter the police station? Really? If we had been given more sympathetic background on him to better understand his situation, maybe I would have been sympathetic. But the fact he was pushed into trash cans as a child, that is bullying yes, and bad yes, but not enough to make his severe anxiety believable. The second problem I had was the style of writing. It was choppy and mainly observations or inner dialogue of what someone is doing or thinking. There was only a smattering of real dialogue between characters. I felt like someone was telling me a story rather than as if I was there experiencing it with the characters.
I was intrigued by the blurb and the cover, regardless of the mixed reviews. What could have been very entertaining came off as campy and absurd. It made me think of the Scream movies, which are a parody of horror movies. Even that would have been fun, but two things bothered me. First, not enough effort went into character development. I felt no sympathy or understanding for Fran or Ronnie. Fran came across as a bored serial killer. One that picks murderers as her victims, but still, she came off as more of having fun killing someone than as a person who wants revenge for the victims of killers. As for Ronnie, he was so inept I could not imagine him making it to detective. Really, fainting because he saw Fran enter the police station? Really? If we had been given more sympathetic background on him to better understand his situation, maybe I would have been sympathetic. But the fact he was pushed into trash cans as a child, that is bullying yes, and bad yes, but not enough to make his severe anxiety believable. The second problem I had was the style of writing. It was choppy and mainly observations or inner dialogue of what someone is doing or thinking. There was only a smattering of real dialogue between characters. I felt like someone was telling me a story rather than as if I was there experiencing it with the characters.
May 21, 2020
Wow, Granny Vigilante is totally back. Watch out if you are a criminal, you could be her next target. This is one fun and entertaining story. You will enjoy the world building and the care taken in creating the characters in the book. If you love seeing justice served you will love Fran. It is not every day you see a seventy-nine-year-old fighting for justice. If you need a good laugh try this book, it will keep you wondering how Ronnie copes with his new roommate Fran.
June 13, 2020
Looking for crime, humor, insecurity and human flaws. Look no further, a clever read, looking forward to learning more about Fran and what would have moved her to be a Vigigranny.
May 21, 2020
Love this new cozy series. No one would suspect than a sweet 79 year old who calls her roommate Boobie would be a source of vigilante justice but that is what her new "Rooms" Toronto PD officer Ronnie discovers when he moves in, giving her the connection she needs to be back in the know. They rush to identify a serial killer that targets thrift shop buyers in hopes to prevent another murder by the killer or by Granny.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 30, 2020
Great Story......
I'm enjoying reading this author, she has made the characters a fun group of detectives to fellow. The series should be easy to stick with.
I'm enjoying reading this author, she has made the characters a fun group of detectives to fellow. The series should be easy to stick with.
May 23, 2020
At 79, Fran was miserable. She craved the old days of hunting down criminals and finding justice when she worked as a detective for the NYPD. She resigned to start her own private investigation firm – sort of a rogue cop. When a man who had lured and killed a child got released, the victim’s mother hired Fran to get justice for her. Fran set up a rooftop tryst with the guy, who was again hanging around chat rooms to find a victim, then kicked him off the roof! It was ruled a suicide.
Fran called her ex-roommate again to get his boxes out of her home. He had moved in with his girlfriend and kept putting her off about the boxes. So she gave a final warning that if she got a rental, his stuff would go straight out to the garbage. To her surprise, someone finally answered her ad!
Detective Ronnie Moor worked for the Toronto Police and seemed very insecure in his job. When Chief Gonsalvas called a meeting of everyone, Ronnie immediately thought it must be about him and something he overlooked or didn’t do right. Instead, their lead detective, the strongest and smartest of all of them, had been injured badly in a car accident and they needed someone to replace him on a case. When the Chief found Ronnie hiding under his desk, he promoted him to lead detective! Now he could afford to move out of his centipede-infested basement apartment! He had no idea how his life was about to change! And when Fran finds herself back in the world of crime and punishment, will Toronto survive with Fran back on the job? Will the serial killer in their first case who is targeting thrift shop buyers turn himself in to get safely behind bars?
I have high hopes that Fran will be able to mentor her roomie and turn him into a fine detective one day if he can teach her moderation. Welcome to a crazy world where you might wish for justice while fearing it might be a violent way to stop the crime. Grab your copy and see how these two cope now that Fran has a front-row seat for the worst of the crimes. A mass exodus by the criminal element from Toronto would not surprise me . . .
Fran called her ex-roommate again to get his boxes out of her home. He had moved in with his girlfriend and kept putting her off about the boxes. So she gave a final warning that if she got a rental, his stuff would go straight out to the garbage. To her surprise, someone finally answered her ad!
Detective Ronnie Moor worked for the Toronto Police and seemed very insecure in his job. When Chief Gonsalvas called a meeting of everyone, Ronnie immediately thought it must be about him and something he overlooked or didn’t do right. Instead, their lead detective, the strongest and smartest of all of them, had been injured badly in a car accident and they needed someone to replace him on a case. When the Chief found Ronnie hiding under his desk, he promoted him to lead detective! Now he could afford to move out of his centipede-infested basement apartment! He had no idea how his life was about to change! And when Fran finds herself back in the world of crime and punishment, will Toronto survive with Fran back on the job? Will the serial killer in their first case who is targeting thrift shop buyers turn himself in to get safely behind bars?
I have high hopes that Fran will be able to mentor her roomie and turn him into a fine detective one day if he can teach her moderation. Welcome to a crazy world where you might wish for justice while fearing it might be a violent way to stop the crime. Grab your copy and see how these two cope now that Fran has a front-row seat for the worst of the crimes. A mass exodus by the criminal element from Toronto would not surprise me . . .
May 24, 2020
This book is a 'grower', by the end I thought that it was a very clever and funny story, but it did take a while for me to get in to it. Fran is a retired detective who has gone rogue and has been dealing out deadly justice to miscreants who get off too lightly (in her opinion) she is looking for someone to share her apartment in Toronto, and at the same time Ronnie who is an officer with the Toronto PD is looking to move to somewhere more comfortable. Naturally Fran gets involved with Ronnie's murder case and tries to hijack it to dispense her own brand of justice.
The first half is rather too concentrated on Ronnie's lack of self confidence, to the point where it just stops being amusing and becomes rather tedious and completely unbelievable for a police officer.
The second part of the book improved considerably for me, and there were some real laugh out loud moments and more about solving the mystery. If the following books maintain the standard of the second half of this first in series then I think that they should be great reads.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The first half is rather too concentrated on Ronnie's lack of self confidence, to the point where it just stops being amusing and becomes rather tedious and completely unbelievable for a police officer.
The second part of the book improved considerably for me, and there were some real laugh out loud moments and more about solving the mystery. If the following books maintain the standard of the second half of this first in series then I think that they should be great reads.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 29, 2023
Odd and peculiar but humorous moments abound in this campy book. It reminded me of the pulp fiction books full of predictability and some outrageous actions. It was entertaining, but the current officer in charge of the investigation (Ronnie Moor) was so afflicted by nerves that it was hard to take the character seriously or to understand the author's over zealous disgusting assigned traits to poor Ronnie. Then there's Fran-longing to be back in action, and comes off as a slightly deranged vigilante.
Oddly enough I liked many parts of the book and am contemplating reading another in the series. But regardless, I can't give it a 4* rating because I like it, but it doesn't compare to other books with that rating. The author obviously has a dark, but vivid imagination. Honestly folks, it's a little like a square peg being fitted into a round hole.
Oddly enough I liked many parts of the book and am contemplating reading another in the series. But regardless, I can't give it a 4* rating because I like it, but it doesn't compare to other books with that rating. The author obviously has a dark, but vivid imagination. Honestly folks, it's a little like a square peg being fitted into a round hole.
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July 2, 2020Fun read!!
One feisty detective, seventy-nine, former detective, now gone vigilante seeking her own form of justice against criminals, under the rise of an elderly P.I.
One anxiety-ridden detective, full of self doubt and with no self esteem, suddenly thrust into leading a murder investigation with multiple victims seemingly killed by the same perpetrator, and with no clue how to lead an investigation.
The two end up as roommates accidentally which horrified the lead detective, and invigorated the rogue P.I.. A great story unfolds full of laughs, suspense, action, and twists you never see coming! Looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
One feisty detective, seventy-nine, former detective, now gone vigilante seeking her own form of justice against criminals, under the rise of an elderly P.I.
One anxiety-ridden detective, full of self doubt and with no self esteem, suddenly thrust into leading a murder investigation with multiple victims seemingly killed by the same perpetrator, and with no clue how to lead an investigation.
The two end up as roommates accidentally which horrified the lead detective, and invigorated the rogue P.I.. A great story unfolds full of laughs, suspense, action, and twists you never see coming! Looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
May 26, 2020
Back in the Game is the first book in the dark, comedic Granny Vigilante Cozy Mystery series and is a fabulous start to this series.
Fran is going to clean up Toronto and a fledgling detective is along for the ride. The characters in this book are delightful and likable. The storyline is well written and has lots of humour, mystery, intrigue, and entertainment. Toronto will never be the same.
I loved this book and cannot wait for the next book in this series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Fran is going to clean up Toronto and a fledgling detective is along for the ride. The characters in this book are delightful and likable. The storyline is well written and has lots of humour, mystery, intrigue, and entertainment. Toronto will never be the same.
I loved this book and cannot wait for the next book in this series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
May 26, 2020
Granny Vigilante was a fun read. The characters were unique. Ronnie is a very insecure policeman who bumbles his way through a murder investigation despite his bouts of debilitating anxiety. He meets, and moves in with Fran, a 79-year-old ex-policeman/ private investigator with a unique view of justice. Together, you have a humorous story of their murder investigation. Can’t wait to see what they get into next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2020
Fran is retired after being a cop-turned-PI-turned-vigilante. Although being 79, she desperately wants to go back on the hunt. She gets a golden opportunity when an anxiety-ridden detective, Ronnie, bumbles into being her roommate. This hilarious mystery had me laughing out loud at the antics of the slightly homicidal main character.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2020
Granny Vigilante: Back in the Game by Susan Harper is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I have loved reading . I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about cozy mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2020
An NYPD detective turned vigilante has trouble staying retired
A humdinger of a pistol packing granny is on the trail of catching and dispatching bad guys, helping the cops and staving off boredom
A deadly fun mystery and adventure drama in KU format
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A humdinger of a pistol packing granny is on the trail of catching and dispatching bad guys, helping the cops and staving off boredom
A deadly fun mystery and adventure drama in KU format
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2020
Hard at first
At first this story was too much. What I mean was the characters were not believable. I thought the author swelled too much on the weak detective and the over the top old lady, but, then the storyline for better. I want to read the next book in the series to see if it continues to get better.
At first this story was too much. What I mean was the characters were not believable. I thought the author swelled too much on the weak detective and the over the top old lady, but, then the storyline for better. I want to read the next book in the series to see if it continues to get better.
December 11, 2020
A little bit dark, but I liked it! Fran is a total spitfire. A former detective gone rogue, she takes care of the justice for the victims. Ronnie, a new detective, is an anxiety filled mess. But together, they are fun!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2025
I know this is supposed to be comical and funny, but I just can't get past the fact what the character Grannie is doing and did is wrong. There are too many weak minds out there, who will take a premise like this story and run with it. Call me a spoil sport, but I just can't give the story accolades.
May 23, 2020
Great start to a new series! I love books with feisty older characters and this gal checks all the boxes. It’s a fun, fast-paced read filled with interesting characters. I’m looking forward to the next book. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
May 23, 2020
This is the first book in what promises to be an interesting series! Fran is a complete nut job but is also a complete hoot! I really like her. She will probably have a positive influence on her new roommate Ronnie. I really enjoyed reading this!
May 24, 2020
Entertaining and interesting characters. Fun whodunnit with a great character in Granny. Easy to read and entertaining page turner. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 27, 2020
Not my cup of tea
Interesting Premise, but didn't appeal to me. Doesn't make police look good. Not does it make Granny look good. Solving the initial murders was good work, then it fell apart. May please some, but not me. Sorry.
Interesting Premise, but didn't appeal to me. Doesn't make police look good. Not does it make Granny look good. Solving the initial murders was good work, then it fell apart. May please some, but not me. Sorry.
May 30, 2020
Anxiety,murder, vigilante sand humor all in one book.
I loved this book and the characters. They all grew during the story and strengthened their relationships. I look forward to the next one.
I loved this book and the characters. They all grew during the story and strengthened their relationships. I look forward to the next one.
June 5, 2020
A different type of book
A detective so nervous he made me nervous. A far different type of book then I usually read. Never thought I would pull for someone breaking the law. But it's so far out of normal that it's funny
A detective so nervous he made me nervous. A far different type of book then I usually read. Never thought I would pull for someone breaking the law. But it's so far out of normal that it's funny
June 21, 2020
Never say one is too old.
I gave it a five because it's the first book I've read about someone over 50. It was quite interesting. Characters were realistic. Looking forward to the next one.
I gave it a five because it's the first book I've read about someone over 50. It was quite interesting. Characters were realistic. Looking forward to the next one.
August 6, 2020
Almost quit reading several times
Not my choice of writing style. I'm in my 70a so I may be out of date but I would guess the reading level to be about 7th grade. Since there was a good twist at the end I will try book 2 in hopes that I like the writing style better.
Not my choice of writing style. I'm in my 70a so I may be out of date but I would guess the reading level to be about 7th grade. Since there was a good twist at the end I will try book 2 in hopes that I like the writing style better.
September 24, 2020
Fun little story
Peopled with characters with strange maladies, this story elicits smiles and even giggles from time to time. Events seem a bit too structured and players a bit too shallow, but a decent read nonetheless. Recommended as very light reading.
Peopled with characters with strange maladies, this story elicits smiles and even giggles from time to time. Events seem a bit too structured and players a bit too shallow, but a decent read nonetheless. Recommended as very light reading.
July 3, 2021
Missing the action
Granny's retirement from the police Department drives her nuts and the addition of aNew Boarder from the police Department gives her Hope that she can get involved again as a hIt man Light but fun !
Granny's retirement from the police Department drives her nuts and the addition of aNew Boarder from the police Department gives her Hope that she can get involved again as a hIt man Light but fun !
November 15, 2022
This held my interest and had a very good story with action and humor. There characters are very believable and work well together. I like this type of short story in a series because I want to start the next one in the series.
July 6, 2023
Reviews.
Fran and her dog Larry were looking for a new room mate. Fran had been with the NYPD till she left and became a P.I. She hunted bad guys but didn't turn them in. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Fran and her dog Larry were looking for a new room mate. Fran had been with the NYPD till she left and became a P.I. She hunted bad guys but didn't turn them in. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 14, 2023
An unorthodox murder mystery in Toronto
Ronnie is thrown into the role of lead detective on a serial murder investigation when the original detective is in a car accident. At the same time he moves into a new apartment with an older women who has a strange story.
Ronnie is thrown into the role of lead detective on a serial murder investigation when the original detective is in a car accident. At the same time he moves into a new apartment with an older women who has a strange story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews