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A Posthumous Mystery #1
Do Not Go Gentle
If you thought your child had just killed you, would you want to know? In this sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-wrenching DIY posthumous mystery, single mom Lulu implores the reader to help solve her murder before the granny-beckoning tunnel swallows her whole. Did her beloved boy really stab her in the back? Over chocolate cake?! Or is there something even more disturbing going on? Help Lulu sort the dead herrings from the clues in the latest, stand-alone mystery from the best-selling author of The Agatha Christie Book Club and Ghostwriter Mystery series, C.A. Larmer.
A quick, fun read with Aussie colloquialisms and some mild adult language.
A quick, fun read with Aussie colloquialisms and some mild adult language.
226 pages, Paperback
Published December 30, 2016
31 people are currently reading
781 people want to read
About the author
C.A. Larmer
32Ìýbooks238ÌýfollowersAuthor Christina (C.A.) Larmer was born in remote Papua New Guinea where close encounters with witchdoctors and cannibal progeny (no, really), gave her a morbid taste for mystery that has culminated in more than a dozen crime novels, including four in the Amazon-bestselling Agatha Christie Book Club series, two Posthumous Mysteries, seven Ghostwriter Mysteries, a thriller/suspense, and a stand-alone novel called An Island Lost, which is set in deepest Papua—where else?
When she's not politely bumping people off (they are mostly 'cozies', folks), Christina can be found in the hinterland behind Byron Bay (Aus) where she runs an indie publishing biz, teaches, freelances, and hangs out with her muso hubby, two sons and one very cheeky Blue heeler. For news, views, calarmer.com //
When she's not politely bumping people off (they are mostly 'cozies', folks), Christina can be found in the hinterland behind Byron Bay (Aus) where she runs an indie publishing biz, teaches, freelances, and hangs out with her muso hubby, two sons and one very cheeky Blue heeler. For news, views, calarmer.com //
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 9, 2018
I seem to be having a good run on Australian authors at the moment! is the second good writer of mysteries who also hails from Aussie that I have discovered just this week.
is original and very enjoyable. Lulu, the main character, is actually dead, stabbed in the back by persons unknown, and she asks the reader to help her find out the identity of the killer before she has to go off 'into the light.' She is a highly unreliable narrator but she is lots of fun and her outlook on the police investigation of the crime is very entertaining.
I missed a few clues along the way and totally failed to identify the killer. That was okay because Lulu worked it out herself before going on to join her granny in the hereafter.
Light reading. lots of fun and definitely recommended.
is original and very enjoyable. Lulu, the main character, is actually dead, stabbed in the back by persons unknown, and she asks the reader to help her find out the identity of the killer before she has to go off 'into the light.' She is a highly unreliable narrator but she is lots of fun and her outlook on the police investigation of the crime is very entertaining.
I missed a few clues along the way and totally failed to identify the killer. That was okay because Lulu worked it out herself before going on to join her granny in the hereafter.
Light reading. lots of fun and definitely recommended.
October 24, 2020
This is a light, fun murder mystery written in an an engaging way. The main character Lulu has just been stabbed in the back by an unknown person and her spirit wants to hang around long enough to find out who killed her before heading off into the forever world.
Lulu is worried that it is her 13 year old son Bob who stabbed her in a fit of rage after they argued over a chocolate cake. Now that she is dead she can eavesdrop on the police investigation as her life and loves are all laid bare as the police delve deeper into who hated her enough to kill her, all making for an entertaining cosy mystery. 3.5�
Lulu is worried that it is her 13 year old son Bob who stabbed her in a fit of rage after they argued over a chocolate cake. Now that she is dead she can eavesdrop on the police investigation as her life and loves are all laid bare as the police delve deeper into who hated her enough to kill her, all making for an entertaining cosy mystery. 3.5�
July 18, 2018
Lulu was dead � she recalled the slight feeling of pain in her back, then the darkness. But she wasn’t ready to join her grandma, who was beckoning toward the brightly lit tunnel. She wanted to know who murdered her; she wanted to prove her son Bob didn’t kill her. So Lulu enlisted the readers to help as they read along!
Lulu watched as the police arrived; the neighbours gawked; a few cried (she was impressed) � but mostly the shock on Bob’s face, the grief she saw. Lulu knew she’d been harsh with Bob when he’d played up before his thirteenth birthday. She couldn’t believe she’d cancelled his party. Was it that? Or was it the chocolate cake she’d baked him then wouldn’t let him eat?
Well that was a strange read! Do Not Go Gentle by Aussie author C.A. Larmer was nothing like her other novels, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. A light mystery; a quick read � it’s still a whodunnit with the usual twists and reveals � definitely different! But worth recommending 😊
Lulu watched as the police arrived; the neighbours gawked; a few cried (she was impressed) � but mostly the shock on Bob’s face, the grief she saw. Lulu knew she’d been harsh with Bob when he’d played up before his thirteenth birthday. She couldn’t believe she’d cancelled his party. Was it that? Or was it the chocolate cake she’d baked him then wouldn’t let him eat?
Well that was a strange read! Do Not Go Gentle by Aussie author C.A. Larmer was nothing like her other novels, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. A light mystery; a quick read � it’s still a whodunnit with the usual twists and reveals � definitely different! But worth recommending 😊
June 30, 2018
A very straightforward and fun read. I bought this book after seeing it on the BookBub newsletter for $0,99, its blurb hooked me immediately. Something completely different and just perfect for a lazy weekend.
January 18, 2017
This is the second book I have read by C. A. Larmer. It is a different series than the first one I read and I wasn't sure what I was expecting when the book started out. I thought the premise was interesting and it was. It starts out with a murder and it gets interesting from there. I don't want to give the story away but I have to say I liked this book and the unusual way it was written. It gave me a few chuckles, kept me guessing I could resonate with the character. C. A. Larmer is an excellent mystery writer.
May 18, 2018
I first read C.A. Larmer's debut of The Agatha Christie Book Club and found it to be a good read. That lead me to see what else she had written. The synopsis of Do Not Go Gentle intrigued me enough to read it and I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunnit with a different writing style. My usual reading genre is mystery, particularly cozy mysteries and was very surprised that I have named this book "the best I've read so far in 2018". C.A. is a brilliant author! I cannot wait to read more of her!
April 28, 2018
I read this book for my book club and for the ATY 2018 Challenge Week 29: Clue weapon on the cover.
It is a unique concept to write a book that involves the reader in the solution, but it cannot happen. She could never hear my voice, nor would the plot change from reader to reader. Good thing it is a relatively short book because each chapter is pretty much the same. That is until the end. It is supposed to be funny, but I did not find it so. But then again, I rarely laugh at books that are supposed to be funny. Could be a book to read on a rainy afternoon. Or, when all of your other books have been read and you haven't anything else to read.
It is a unique concept to write a book that involves the reader in the solution, but it cannot happen. She could never hear my voice, nor would the plot change from reader to reader. Good thing it is a relatively short book because each chapter is pretty much the same. That is until the end. It is supposed to be funny, but I did not find it so. But then again, I rarely laugh at books that are supposed to be funny. Could be a book to read on a rainy afternoon. Or, when all of your other books have been read and you haven't anything else to read.
May 3, 2017
“What if you died thinking your child was the killer? Would you hand around to find out the truth?�
I thoroughly enjoyed this book --- wasn’t sure what I was expecting but it was a fun murder mystery as us readers helped the deceased figure out who murdered her! And is now hopefully having a ball at the end of the light!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book --- wasn’t sure what I was expecting but it was a fun murder mystery as us readers helped the deceased figure out who murdered her! And is now hopefully having a ball at the end of the light!
May 8, 2018
A different...
.... chatty sort of a murder mystery that defies usual patterns. It’s a light easy read that one feels the need to speed through in order to find out what happens. However, the fact is that one is inspired to keep going to figure it out despite episodic pontificating.
.... chatty sort of a murder mystery that defies usual patterns. It’s a light easy read that one feels the need to speed through in order to find out what happens. However, the fact is that one is inspired to keep going to figure it out despite episodic pontificating.
September 14, 2017
This is a heart-wrenching story of one woman's quest to uncover the truth. The reader is invited to help solve a murder and maybe save a boy along the way. Lulu is murdered in her own kitchen. The last thing she sees is a pair of black Converse sneakers. Do they belong to her son? Did he really kill her over a birthday cake?
--
Author: C. A. Larmer
Genre: Murder Mystery
If you thought your child had just killed you, would you want to know? In this gut-wrenching posthumous murder mystery, single mother Lulu implores the reader to help solve her murder before the granny-beckoning tunnel swallows her whole. With her dead Grandma beckoning furiously from the tunnel, Lulu is desperate to solve the mystery of her own murder before she heads off into eternity.
Christina Larmer is a talented storyteller and a gifted author. Do Not Go Gentle is as original as it gets with a plot that is easy to follow with a plethora of clues that are not easily figured out. Her writing flows with colorful details and realistic dialogue. Told from the view of the deceased this story is intriguing and entertaining.
The cast of characters ranges from Lulu, the victim who may not be all that likable at times, to kiss stealing grumpy teenagers, cheating ex’s, neighbors and so-called friends. Most don’t seem to care too much about the victim or who killed her. They are a diverse group interspersed with realistic traits that either make you love them or hate them. There is no real hero, and the killer turns out to be someone the reader is unlikely to point at. There persists a sensation within the pages that everyone has a secret they fear will come out through the investigation into Lulu’s death. Their fears may well be justified as the investigation unfolds and the entire neighborhood is scrutinized.
The neighborhood setting is a small area that limits the victim’s movements and what the audience can see through her eyes but feels as if it spreads across the entire country. The homes are average, the kind you would see anywhere in the world. It is an archetypal neighborhood, with vast quirks and peculiarities.
Do Not Go Gentle is a wonderfully written highly entertaining book that will leave readers happy and sad at the same time. The story ends just a bit too abruptly, but this does not distract from the overall fun and enjoyment of the story. This book is highly recommended to lovers of the not so normal whodunit.
--
Author: C. A. Larmer
Genre: Murder Mystery
If you thought your child had just killed you, would you want to know? In this gut-wrenching posthumous murder mystery, single mother Lulu implores the reader to help solve her murder before the granny-beckoning tunnel swallows her whole. With her dead Grandma beckoning furiously from the tunnel, Lulu is desperate to solve the mystery of her own murder before she heads off into eternity.
Christina Larmer is a talented storyteller and a gifted author. Do Not Go Gentle is as original as it gets with a plot that is easy to follow with a plethora of clues that are not easily figured out. Her writing flows with colorful details and realistic dialogue. Told from the view of the deceased this story is intriguing and entertaining.
The cast of characters ranges from Lulu, the victim who may not be all that likable at times, to kiss stealing grumpy teenagers, cheating ex’s, neighbors and so-called friends. Most don’t seem to care too much about the victim or who killed her. They are a diverse group interspersed with realistic traits that either make you love them or hate them. There is no real hero, and the killer turns out to be someone the reader is unlikely to point at. There persists a sensation within the pages that everyone has a secret they fear will come out through the investigation into Lulu’s death. Their fears may well be justified as the investigation unfolds and the entire neighborhood is scrutinized.
The neighborhood setting is a small area that limits the victim’s movements and what the audience can see through her eyes but feels as if it spreads across the entire country. The homes are average, the kind you would see anywhere in the world. It is an archetypal neighborhood, with vast quirks and peculiarities.
Do Not Go Gentle is a wonderfully written highly entertaining book that will leave readers happy and sad at the same time. The story ends just a bit too abruptly, but this does not distract from the overall fun and enjoyment of the story. This book is highly recommended to lovers of the not so normal whodunit.
July 18, 2018
Do Not Go Gentle by Christina Larmer
A real mystery of who killed Bob’s horrible, nagging, suffocating mother? We don’t find out until the very end of this novel. It is wonderfully written and is narrated by Bob’s mother, who only now that she is dead, realises how overbearing she was to live with, especially when she hears why her first love really broke up with her. It was a nasty shock to realise how unpleasant a person she had become, and instead of showering her son with love, she had been smothering and not allowed him any enjoyment of life. However she was facing all these truths in the pursuit of finding her killer so as to keep Bob safe. He is still the most important person in her life and she will not allow him to be wrongfully put under arrest and charged with her death.
I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out who the killer was and I was kept guessing right up until the end of the book. I was recommended this terrific book by my sister. We both will read this novel more than once, it was just that good. We both bought Do Not Go Gentle from Amazon and the review is entirely my own.
A real mystery of who killed Bob’s horrible, nagging, suffocating mother? We don’t find out until the very end of this novel. It is wonderfully written and is narrated by Bob’s mother, who only now that she is dead, realises how overbearing she was to live with, especially when she hears why her first love really broke up with her. It was a nasty shock to realise how unpleasant a person she had become, and instead of showering her son with love, she had been smothering and not allowed him any enjoyment of life. However she was facing all these truths in the pursuit of finding her killer so as to keep Bob safe. He is still the most important person in her life and she will not allow him to be wrongfully put under arrest and charged with her death.
I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out who the killer was and I was kept guessing right up until the end of the book. I was recommended this terrific book by my sister. We both will read this novel more than once, it was just that good. We both bought Do Not Go Gentle from Amazon and the review is entirely my own.
December 24, 2020
Do Not Go Gently: A posthumous Mystery � C. A. Lamar (Prologue + 50 chapters + Epilogue) December 21-23, 2020
This was a funny cozy in which the recently deceased enlists the help of the reader to solve the mystery. Only, basically, it was more of a thinking out loud process then anything else.
This book was written by an Australian, so the terms and spellings are regional to that area. This has been on my To-Read list for awhile and I chose to knock it off before the end of the 2020 year.
This book had great humor, and also great sadness, as the reader grapples with the victims awareness of things unknown to her (Lulu.)
It’s the least expected criminal, but also the victim calls attention to some sad realities of the crime as well. I was crying a little at the end.
Good, unique story.
Three stars.
This was a funny cozy in which the recently deceased enlists the help of the reader to solve the mystery. Only, basically, it was more of a thinking out loud process then anything else.
This book was written by an Australian, so the terms and spellings are regional to that area. This has been on my To-Read list for awhile and I chose to knock it off before the end of the 2020 year.
This book had great humor, and also great sadness, as the reader grapples with the victims awareness of things unknown to her (Lulu.)
It’s the least expected criminal, but also the victim calls attention to some sad realities of the crime as well. I was crying a little at the end.
Good, unique story.
Three stars.
May 21, 2018
Something completely different
You don't often get a murder mystery where the victim is allowed to view the progress of the police investigation into her death. Lulu, the deceased, is far from perfect. She has been a controlling and suffocating mother. She resents her ex-husband and his new family having a good relationship with her son. She dislikes even those who try to offer friendship; but, although she is unlikable, could any of these things be a motive for murder? This is an enjoyable cosy mystery which takes the reader down several blind alleys before we learn the truth. The supernatural aspect, while constantly present, is not pushed too much and I did not find it off-putting,
You don't often get a murder mystery where the victim is allowed to view the progress of the police investigation into her death. Lulu, the deceased, is far from perfect. She has been a controlling and suffocating mother. She resents her ex-husband and his new family having a good relationship with her son. She dislikes even those who try to offer friendship; but, although she is unlikable, could any of these things be a motive for murder? This is an enjoyable cosy mystery which takes the reader down several blind alleys before we learn the truth. The supernatural aspect, while constantly present, is not pushed too much and I did not find it off-putting,
April 18, 2018
I looked up the Australian word cheeky and learned that it means: impudent or irreverent in an endearing or amusing way. It's cheeky of the author to give us valuable insights about love, family, friendship, and self- understanding from a murdered woman's point of view.
The images are familiar--floating above ones own dead body, bright light in a tunnel, grandma holding out a welcoming hand. But the way the mystery unfolds while we learn gradually more about the dead woman, even as she learns more and more about herself, makes for an imaginative story.
I chuckled over the dry humor and the Australian slang used by the characters. But I came away with solid ideas and lessons to mull over.
The images are familiar--floating above ones own dead body, bright light in a tunnel, grandma holding out a welcoming hand. But the way the mystery unfolds while we learn gradually more about the dead woman, even as she learns more and more about herself, makes for an imaginative story.
I chuckled over the dry humor and the Australian slang used by the characters. But I came away with solid ideas and lessons to mull over.
April 7, 2019
Very different
I have read other books by C A Larmer and they are all good, but this one is so totally different from the usual mystery books. You are invited on a voyage of discovery that is unique and enjoyable. Murder from the point of view of the victim, and along the way some uncomfortable discoveries are made. Excellent writing as always and guaranteed to make you reassess your own life, actions, family and friends.
I have read other books by C A Larmer and they are all good, but this one is so totally different from the usual mystery books. You are invited on a voyage of discovery that is unique and enjoyable. Murder from the point of view of the victim, and along the way some uncomfortable discoveries are made. Excellent writing as always and guaranteed to make you reassess your own life, actions, family and friends.
January 30, 2023
A strange Adventure
I have read other series by Ms. Parker but I am not I to ghost mysteries. But having just finished her murder club mystery (the latest). I was looking for something new to read. I tried this book and was caught up. I was surprised at who done it, I would not make a good detective.. But did enjoy following the deceased from clue to clue. Try something different give this book a try.
I have read other series by Ms. Parker but I am not I to ghost mysteries. But having just finished her murder club mystery (the latest). I was looking for something new to read. I tried this book and was caught up. I was surprised at who done it, I would not make a good detective.. But did enjoy following the deceased from clue to clue. Try something different give this book a try.
May 4, 2020
Loved this book. I enjoyed being part of the investigative team so to speak. A mother is killed and the whole neighborhood is a potential suspect. This book makes one think about how we are treating our children and provides a look from the outside in on how we may need to find changes in ourselves.
June 19, 2018
Death!
Lulu was obsessed with her son, overloved him, so much that he had a storker watching him who snucked , into his room, he was 13,years old he hated her but tragedy struck!
Bit of a weired book this one, good reading, but! Just but!
Lulu was obsessed with her son, overloved him, so much that he had a storker watching him who snucked , into his room, he was 13,years old he hated her but tragedy struck!
Bit of a weired book this one, good reading, but! Just but!
June 12, 2017
Super fun read!
June 19, 2018
LOVED it - cool concept to be written in the first person by someone just murdered. Great read !
October 3, 2018
I truly enjoy this series by C.A. Larmer. I wish there were more available.
April 4, 2023
I didn’t love the writing style.
March 12, 2021
I liked the premise of the story -- a murdered woman who hangs around to try to solve the mystery of her own demise, instead of heading into the great beyond, where the spirit of her grandmother beckons and waits. The story is told in a first-person narrative from the view point of the deceased woman, Lulu, who recruits the reader to help solve her murder. My only gripe with this book is that the plot was not complicated enough for my liking and everything unfolded in a rather predictable linear pattern, hence the OK, 2.5-star rating.
The investigative portion of this mystery mostly involves the backstory of the other characters (aka potential suspects) and of their relationship to the victim. Being somewhat circumscribed to a locus near and around the crime location, Lulu's spirit is able to 'eavesdrop' on almost every part of the investigation, which is narrated in a show-and-tell manner. For me, this lacks intrigue and suspense. In any case, the chocolate cake in the story might have helped in making this read more palatable.
* Read for the '2018 Around the World in 52 Books' Challenge task: A book featuring a murder
The investigative portion of this mystery mostly involves the backstory of the other characters (aka potential suspects) and of their relationship to the victim. Being somewhat circumscribed to a locus near and around the crime location, Lulu's spirit is able to 'eavesdrop' on almost every part of the investigation, which is narrated in a show-and-tell manner. For me, this lacks intrigue and suspense. In any case, the chocolate cake in the story might have helped in making this read more palatable.
* Read for the '2018 Around the World in 52 Books' Challenge task: A book featuring a murder
February 1, 2017
Considering this is the murder of a mother who leaves behind a fifteen-year-old son, a story that could be maudlin, the author handles it with a light touch by writing it from the point of view of the murdered mother, looking down from some intermediate place while her grandmother beckons her on into the light. The mother, Ludovica Gold, is a suffocating single parent who many might feel like murdering but only one actually carries it through. Her ex-husband lives across the street with his second wife and family. They provide the support network for the son that keeps us from feeling too sorry for him. The story centres on the son’s teenage friends, and the information they withhold, as teenagers do. The clues are there but carefully understated. Not bad. I think teenagers would enjoy it particularly.
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