In for a Penny: A Cleopatra Jones Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) [Hardcover]

Maggie Toussaint (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in Hogan's Glen, Md., this witty cozy from Toussaint (No Second Chance) introduces Cleopatra Jones, accountant, avid golfer and single mother of two. Still reeling from her divorce from her cheating ex-husband, Charlie, Cleo is stunned to discover Charlie's best friend from childhood, Donny Davis (aka Dudley Doright), lying on the golf course, a bullet hole between his eyes. When the police suspect Cleo's own childhood friend, Jonette Moore, of the crime, Cleo goes into action to flush out the real murderer. A handsome golf pro's offer of romance gives Cleo a boost as she deals with her mother, her children and the Saint Bernard dumped on her by her ex-husband. While filled with clichéd prose and stereotypical characters, the story takes some unexpected and dangerous turns as it builds to a satisfying conclusion. (June)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 243 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (June 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594146462
• ISBN-13: 978-1594146466
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,040,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In for a Penny - worth every penny., February 8, 2010

By 

JJ LYNN "Voracious reader" (MidMissouri, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In for a Penny: A Cleopatra Jones Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

In the opening chapter, Cleopatra Jones, a divorced accountant who lives with her mother while raising teenage daughters on her own, stumbles onto the murder scene of her ex-husband's long-time best friend Donny Davis - otherwise know by childhood friends as "Dudley Doright." Cleo's longtime friend Jonette is not only with her for the discovery, but becomes a prime suspect in the murder investigation. As more of Cleo's friends and neighbors become suspect, and another murder happens in her small town, Cleo determines to solve the mystery and make the town safe again for her family.

The characters are plausible, the setting and situations mostly realistic. The reader is drawn into the camaraderie and comedic activities including rainbow salad, St Bernard mating rituals, a sexy golf instructor, and a botched land development scheme. Written in conversational language, this G-rated material is pleasantly devoid of the sexual and violent details that many authors sometimes employ simply to fill pages.

The cover of this book by Maggie Toussaint calls this a Cleopatra Jones Mystery. It is hoped by this reader this indication of a possible series is more than just a hint. Will she or won't she continue to drive the Gray Ghost, or take golfing lessons at the Hogan's Glen Golf Club? What happens now that Cleo's ex-husband Charlie has suddenly realized what he gave up? Just how long is a St Bernard pregnant, and how many puppies do they have in a litter? There are definitely more story lines waiting to be told. In for a Penny: A Cleopatra Jones Mystery (Five Star Mystery Series)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun amateur sleuth, July 2, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In for a Penny: A Cleopatra Jones Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

In Maryland at the Hogan's Glen Golf Course, Cleopatra Jones and her best friend Jonette are playing around. Jonette is killing Cleo at their game because the latter "sees" the figurative face of her ex-husband Charlie on her ball so she slams it for the seats. On the sixth hole, her ball lands in the inseam of deceased local banker Donny "Dudly" Davis who lies in a sand trap.

Detective Britt Radcliffe leads the investigation into the homicide in which Jonette is acting strange. Soon Jonette becomes the prime suspect with Cleo, dodging her mom and battling daughters Charla and Lexy, investigating in order to prove her best friend is innocent even as she is attracted to club pro Rafe Gordon and ignores her cheating ex spouse who wants a second chance.

Though Cleo's mom can be a distracting hook as she overwhelms her scenes, fans will enjoy this amateur sleuth as the heroine displays her moxie and loyalty by investigating the homicide expecting to prove her best friend is innocent. However every clue Cleo finds adds a nail to the case against Jonette. Fans will enjoy this fun mystery wondering whether the golf pro, the ex husband or no one will score with the heroine.

Harriet Klausner

2.0 out of 5 stars Wrong victim, April 1, 2011

By 

catlady - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In for a Penny: A Cleopatra Jones Mystery (Wheeler Large Print Cozy Mystery) (Paperback)

This was a reasonably fun read but I think the author should have bumped off Cleo's mother as well. She is an interfering old biddy who has a "heart attack" whenever it looks like she won't get her own way. I'm unlikely to purchase more in this series assuming there are any.