71-year-old widow Loretta Plansky is relieved that her hip replacement hasn't affected her tennis game. She's settling into her Florida retirement, keeping an eye on her feisty 98-year-old father, and being inundated with requests for money from her children and grandchildren.
All's well until she's rudely awakened in the wee hours of the morning by a phone call from someone claiming to be her grandson Will, who needs $10,000 to get out of a jam. Of course, Loretta sends him the money. That's what grandmothers are for.
A few hours later, Loretta has lost everything, and law enforcement has informed her that it was no use to try to find the scammers behind the theft. Once the humiliation wears off, Loretta becomes furious and refuses to become just another victim.
She's only got one clue, but it's enough to have her board a plane to Romania in an attempt to regain her money and her dignity.
~
If you're in the mood to suspend your disbelief for a few hours, Mrs. Plansky's Revenge is guaranteed to be a light, fun read. Of course, you may first have to overcome the desire to lock up all her family members who take her for granted as their Cash Cow of Choice.
It's easy to find yourself firmly on Loretta Plansky's side as she navigates tidal waves of humiliation and fury. Loretta is no fool, yet a pair of young Romanian scammers take her in. This book is even better because author Spencer Quinn makes those two scammers, Dinu and Romeo, sympathetic. They aren't mere cardboard villains.
Loretta really doesn't have a clue of how much danger she's courting once she's in Romania, but Quinn keeps it light by showing how so many of her life experiences save the day. We should all be so lucky in our own adventures.
If you've enjoyed Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie mysteries (as I have) and are in the mood for something light and fun, you should give Mrs. Plansky's Revenge a try.
Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn
eISBN: 9781250843340
Forge Books © 2023
eBook, 294 pages
Amateur Sleuth
Rating: B+
Source: Net Galley
Spencer Quinn does have talent, Cathy, and I can see how this one would appeal. I like Loretta's character, too. Oh, and that's a really interesting touch to use that modern scam as an important plot point. Sadly, it's happening these days, and it's awful!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. It's horrible how they take advantage of people.
DeleteI hate scams like this ...but the fact that Loretta jumps on a plane and heads to Romania to track down her scammers already has me laughing. I have to read this one! :D
ReplyDeleteShe's a very special woman, that's for sure!
DeleteLiked Chet and Bernie. I'm still recovering from Killers of a Certain Age, so older sleuths, even amateur ones, will wait awhile. That book is
ReplyDeletehilarious, but it was shockingly violent. No off-the-page killings, but
rather brutal killings, but quite funny. And it's fiction!
Killers of a Certain Age had caught my eye, but I am definitely not in the mood for violent or brutal, so I'll leave it alone for awhile. Thanks for the heads up, Kathy.
DeleteIt is cool that women 60 or older have bumped off bad people, but they want to retire. Then they learn that some people plan to assassinate them, so they band together and use their brains and skills -- and humor. But I don't need detailed descriptions of how they do it, but they do outsmart their would-be killers. Well, The Lincoln Lawyer second half of season 2 started tonight, so I'm off to watch some of it.
ReplyDeleteDenis and I will be watching it tomorrow night.
Delete