Of course, the facts that Ron Ritchie gets to be interviewed on air or that Joyce has a crush on the suave Mike Waghorn are nice side perks while running their investigation. 😉

Elizabeth continues to show us not only her grit but also her softer side, as she grapples with her beloved husband’s dementia, and realizes that she now considers Joyce to be her best friend! Meanwhile, Elizabeth is receiving anonymous texts that culminate in a threat: kill a former love and KGB agent or face deathly consequences.I love these characters: Elizabeth whose husband Stephen is slowly succumbing to dementia; Joyce and her dog Alan; Bogdan who provides muscle when needed and unobtrusively babysits Stephen when Elizabeth is otherwise occupied.

I love the 4 main characters and their voices. I love that they're old but instead of sitting around talking about the good old days, they're still out there squeezing every last drop out of life. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim find an old cold case that interests them, and they’d like to solve it. When they’re on the prowl, they’re going to get their way. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, she’s also dealing with a personal issue when someone from her past threatens her future. She’s reluctant to share this with her friends, but by keeping it to herself…is she putting them in danger? Elizabeth, once again, draws on her considerable talents as a former spy, good-natured Joyce continues to show she’s MUCH smarter than people take her for, Ron’s tough, street-smart ways are still on display, though softer this time around, and Ibrahim’s wisdom and intelligence work their magic. Each are a unique part of the puzzle that makes them such a formidable team, and I know I wouldn’t want to try to outsmart any of them! I think she is a hoot, plus – as Elizabeth notes – she may be naïve, but that isn’t the same as stupid She is smart and has great instincts for ferreting things out.The joy of reading Osman’s novel is being immersed in the antics the characters get themselves into. Osman’s prose is clever and hysterically funny. Yes, it’s fun to try and solve the mysteries, but the true delight is being a part of their inner musings, the hijinks they get themselves into. This was the perfect audiobook for my solo-road trip for Christmas holiday. It kept me fully entertained and I was legitimately laughing out loud. It is not all laughs – Osman doesn’t milk it for pathos, but Elizabeth’s battle with Stephen’s developing dementia is heart-wrenching. “Can I ask you something, as a pal… Am I alright, do you suppose?… Something is muddled somewhere. Something isn’t straight,” Stephen says to his friend and chess buddy Bogdan. Life is about understanding opportunities. Understanding how rarely they come along, and then rising to meet them when they do.