What do you think?
Rate this book
Retired Detectives Club #1
Death in the Sunshine
Four ex-cops in a retirement paradise. Sure they’ll rest…when the killer is caught.
After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will mean she can finally leave the detective work to the youngsters and focus on a quieter life. But it turns out The Homestead is far from paradise. When she discovers the body of a young woman floating in one of the pools, surrounded by thousands of dollar bills, her crime-fighting instinct kicks back in and she joins up with fellow ex-cops—and new neighbours—Philip, Lizzie and Rick to investigate the murder.
With the case officers dropping ball after ball, Moira and the gang take matters into their own hands, turning undercover homicide investigators. But the killer is desperate to destroy all the evidence and Moira, Philip, Lizzie and Rick soon find themselves getting in the way—of the murderer and the police.
Just when they thought they could finally relax, they discover that someone has infiltrated their ‘safe� community. Can they hunt down the murderer and get back to retiring in peace? And after all the excitement, will they want to?
After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will mean she can finally leave the detective work to the youngsters and focus on a quieter life. But it turns out The Homestead is far from paradise. When she discovers the body of a young woman floating in one of the pools, surrounded by thousands of dollar bills, her crime-fighting instinct kicks back in and she joins up with fellow ex-cops—and new neighbours—Philip, Lizzie and Rick to investigate the murder.
With the case officers dropping ball after ball, Moira and the gang take matters into their own hands, turning undercover homicide investigators. But the killer is desperate to destroy all the evidence and Moira, Philip, Lizzie and Rick soon find themselves getting in the way—of the murderer and the police.
Just when they thought they could finally relax, they discover that someone has infiltrated their ‘safe� community. Can they hunt down the murderer and get back to retiring in peace? And after all the excitement, will they want to?
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
6789 people are currently reading
8301 people want to read
About the author
Steph Broadribb
13books309followersSteph Broadribb was born in Birmingham and grew up in Buckinghamshire. A prolific reader, she adored crime fiction from the moment she first read Sherlock Holmes as a child. She’s worked in the UK and the US, has an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) and trained as a bounty hunter in California.
Her latest novel is DEATH IN THE SUNSHINE - the first book in her new Retired Detectives Club series featuring four recent retirees living in a luxury 55+ resort community in Florida, USA.
Her other novels include the Lori Anderson bounty-hunter series and the Starke/Bell psychological police-procedural books (writing as Stephanie Marland). Her books have been shortlisted for the eDunnit eBook of the Year Award, the ITW Best First Novel Award, the Dead Good Reader Awards for Fearless Female Character and Most Exceptional Debut, and longlisted for the Guardian Not The Booker Prize.
She provides coaching for new crime writers via .
You can find out more about Steph at , and get in touch via Facebook (@CrimeThrillerGirl) and Twitter (@crimethrillgirl).
Her latest novel is DEATH IN THE SUNSHINE - the first book in her new Retired Detectives Club series featuring four recent retirees living in a luxury 55+ resort community in Florida, USA.
Her other novels include the Lori Anderson bounty-hunter series and the Starke/Bell psychological police-procedural books (writing as Stephanie Marland). Her books have been shortlisted for the eDunnit eBook of the Year Award, the ITW Best First Novel Award, the Dead Good Reader Awards for Fearless Female Character and Most Exceptional Debut, and longlisted for the Guardian Not The Booker Prize.
She provides coaching for new crime writers via .
You can find out more about Steph at , and get in touch via Facebook (@CrimeThrillerGirl) and Twitter (@crimethrillgirl).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 902 reviews
February 1, 2022
This book sounded promising but, after an initial good start just seemed to drift along without much happening. It was quite a disappointment. I even wasn’t particularly bothered to find out who did the murder but I did in the end.
March 10, 2022
The reviews for this book are mixed, but I decided to try it because it is based in Florida. And what is more entertaining than Florida???
The first book in what is to be a series, and told from four different points of view, I thought a bit too much time was spent on repetitive ruminations. Also, a pet peeve of mine..it bothered me that Moira had these newly adopted dogs but could be away from them all day and until late at night without walking or feeding them…let’s be real!
I did enjoy some of the stereotypical characters that one would find at a large Florida retirement village!
In addition to the main mystery, the detectives have secrets of their own from their past. Some are revealed but a big one is only hinted at..perhaps to be revealed in the next book?
Despite some misgivings about this first in a series, I will try the second one in hopes that it will be more engaging.
The first book in what is to be a series, and told from four different points of view, I thought a bit too much time was spent on repetitive ruminations. Also, a pet peeve of mine..it bothered me that Moira had these newly adopted dogs but could be away from them all day and until late at night without walking or feeding them…let’s be real!
I did enjoy some of the stereotypical characters that one would find at a large Florida retirement village!
In addition to the main mystery, the detectives have secrets of their own from their past. Some are revealed but a big one is only hinted at..perhaps to be revealed in the next book?
Despite some misgivings about this first in a series, I will try the second one in hopes that it will be more engaging.
February 5, 2022
Congratulations, I started a whole new shelf category for this drivel.. abandoned!
I've decided life's too short to carry on reading something that.. at a quarter way through, I have absolutely no interest or investment in.
Only saving grace is that it was an Amazon First Read so I got it for free.
I've decided life's too short to carry on reading something that.. at a quarter way through, I have absolutely no interest or investment in.
Only saving grace is that it was an Amazon First Read so I got it for free.
February 21, 2022
I liked the premise of 'Death In The Sunshine'. I was hoping for an American twist on Richard Osman's 'The Thursday Murder Club'. In terms of the situation, there are a lot of similarities but the way the story is written is quite different.
For some reason, Steph Broadribb decided to write 'Death In The Sunshine' in the third person present tense. I found this very distracting. I kept translating it in my head to third person past tense, which seems a more natural way of describing things. I've seen third person present tense used in short stories to increase a sense of immediacy and or intimacy but this story doesn't deliver either of those things. The story feels like it's being told at arm's length. Even though each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the main characters, you don't get inside their heads. It reads like a screenplay with added notes for the actors.
I stuck with the book because I'd hoped that the plot might make up for the storytelling but it hasn't so far. The choice of tense continues to flatten out the storytelling. The characterisation is minimal. The writing is sparse. The 'I have a secret that the others mustn't discover' stuff is heavy-handed and repetitive.
When I reached the 35% point and realised that I was not even slightly invested in the people or the murder mystery, I decided to abandon the book Life's too short to struggle through a book that isn't working for me.
March 2, 2022
Do cops ever really retire? Philip, Lizzie, Rick, and Moira, will be the first to tell you that once the badge goes on, it never really comes off. These four ex-law enforcement officers represent retirees from CSI, DEA, and DCI and have settled in at The Homestead, a 55+ retirement community in Florida.
As is the case with the other residents, the attraction was the safe community advertising zero crime. Just when they started to relax and enjoy retirement, they discover that someone has infiltrated their gated community; a body of a young woman surrounded by thousands of dollar bills is found floating in one of the pools. The four discover that the zero crime statement is just an illusion. Can they hunt down the murderer and get back to retiring in peace? Do they still want to?
I loved this cozy mystery with mature characters! Told in alternating point of view from the four cops, you’ll read about how far The Homestead will go to keep their lie about zero crime alive. The banter between them will make you smile and trying to figure out Moira’s history will ignite your inner detective. What made me stop in my tracks was the push and pull between the generations. It was interesting to realize that the retirees didn’t trust the younger generations of law enforcement officers to adequately do the job. Believing that they had hindsight and wisdom on their side, the retirees responded in frustration when doubted and ignored. Conversely, to be called a “washed up has been, some guy who’s lost his marbles,� was condescending for someone who was at the top of his game prior to retirement.
This mystery really was like solving a puzzle. What I found noteworthy was that the author didn’t give too much away too quickly and the characters weren’t really who they appeared to be. The puzzle pieces were iridescent and changed just when you thought you had it figured out. Suddenly, the character you had pegged for the crime, wasn’t the one you wanted. The puzzle piece didn’t fit and the image on the cutout wasn’t what you thought it really was at all. Very good! I was invested in the story, loved the characters, and wasn’t able to solve the murder before the retired detectives…and that’s a good thing!
I’m really looking forward to Death At Paradise Palms, Retired Detectives Club #2, when it’s published on November 29, 2022.
If you are an armchair detective and love cozy mysteries, this is one you’ll want to pick up now.
I was gifted this copy by Steph Broadribb, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
As is the case with the other residents, the attraction was the safe community advertising zero crime. Just when they started to relax and enjoy retirement, they discover that someone has infiltrated their gated community; a body of a young woman surrounded by thousands of dollar bills is found floating in one of the pools. The four discover that the zero crime statement is just an illusion. Can they hunt down the murderer and get back to retiring in peace? Do they still want to?
I loved this cozy mystery with mature characters! Told in alternating point of view from the four cops, you’ll read about how far The Homestead will go to keep their lie about zero crime alive. The banter between them will make you smile and trying to figure out Moira’s history will ignite your inner detective. What made me stop in my tracks was the push and pull between the generations. It was interesting to realize that the retirees didn’t trust the younger generations of law enforcement officers to adequately do the job. Believing that they had hindsight and wisdom on their side, the retirees responded in frustration when doubted and ignored. Conversely, to be called a “washed up has been, some guy who’s lost his marbles,� was condescending for someone who was at the top of his game prior to retirement.
This mystery really was like solving a puzzle. What I found noteworthy was that the author didn’t give too much away too quickly and the characters weren’t really who they appeared to be. The puzzle pieces were iridescent and changed just when you thought you had it figured out. Suddenly, the character you had pegged for the crime, wasn’t the one you wanted. The puzzle piece didn’t fit and the image on the cutout wasn’t what you thought it really was at all. Very good! I was invested in the story, loved the characters, and wasn’t able to solve the murder before the retired detectives…and that’s a good thing!
I’m really looking forward to Death At Paradise Palms, Retired Detectives Club #2, when it’s published on November 29, 2022.
If you are an armchair detective and love cozy mysteries, this is one you’ll want to pick up now.
I was gifted this copy by Steph Broadribb, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 8, 2022
As a huge fan of Steph Broadribb’s Lori Anderson series, I was excited to see what direction she would go in with The Retired Detectives Club but admittedly also quite worried, as that book description reminded me just a little bit too much of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. The comparisons between the two are rather inevitable and for me, personally, this one falls a tad short.
Moira is a retired DCI, who moved from London to Florida to start enjoying an early retirement in a rather luxurious and, supposedly, incredibly safe community. But The Homestead is not the paradise it promises to be in the brochures. As Moira discovers when one morning she comes across the body of a woman floating in a pool. The local police force doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to investigate so Moira and three other residents of The Homestead, also former law enforcement, take matters into their own hands.
It’s clear that investigating has never really left these characters. Despite initial reluctance, it takes them no time at all to start looking for clues and digging up information. Who could blame them? This retirement stuff sounds awfully boring to me. Swimming, golf, bocce, crochet �. yawn. Wouldn’t you want some excitement in your life? Go chase a criminal or something? Furthermore, these pensioners are remarkably good at it too. It makes you wonder why they left their jobs as early as they did. That’s a thread that runs through the storyline because there’s no doubt there are very interesting background stories to discover, especially where Moira and Philip are concerned.
As for the murder mystery, I have to say that had me completely stumped. I didn’t even have a list of suspects and had no idea where to even begin. That is not to say the reveal comes from nowhere but just that it was hidden well and made me think I missed hints somewhere along the line. As the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together, it was all very plausible.
‘Death in the Sunshine� is an entertaining crime fiction story. There’s a good pace to it and surprisingly, it is quite a bit more action-packed than I expected. These retirees are fit, man! I enjoyed it for the most part but I also got thoroughly annoyed at half the cast of characters. Some I wanted to kick, some I wanted to grab by the collar and tell to grow a pair. Also, I am not a patient person, people. I don’t like it when I know there’s something to discover and this vital information is kept from me.
That said, it’s a pleasant way to start a new series and there is definitely more than enough here to set up a second book in this series.
Moira is a retired DCI, who moved from London to Florida to start enjoying an early retirement in a rather luxurious and, supposedly, incredibly safe community. But The Homestead is not the paradise it promises to be in the brochures. As Moira discovers when one morning she comes across the body of a woman floating in a pool. The local police force doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to investigate so Moira and three other residents of The Homestead, also former law enforcement, take matters into their own hands.
It’s clear that investigating has never really left these characters. Despite initial reluctance, it takes them no time at all to start looking for clues and digging up information. Who could blame them? This retirement stuff sounds awfully boring to me. Swimming, golf, bocce, crochet �. yawn. Wouldn’t you want some excitement in your life? Go chase a criminal or something? Furthermore, these pensioners are remarkably good at it too. It makes you wonder why they left their jobs as early as they did. That’s a thread that runs through the storyline because there’s no doubt there are very interesting background stories to discover, especially where Moira and Philip are concerned.
As for the murder mystery, I have to say that had me completely stumped. I didn’t even have a list of suspects and had no idea where to even begin. That is not to say the reveal comes from nowhere but just that it was hidden well and made me think I missed hints somewhere along the line. As the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together, it was all very plausible.
‘Death in the Sunshine� is an entertaining crime fiction story. There’s a good pace to it and surprisingly, it is quite a bit more action-packed than I expected. These retirees are fit, man! I enjoyed it for the most part but I also got thoroughly annoyed at half the cast of characters. Some I wanted to kick, some I wanted to grab by the collar and tell to grow a pair. Also, I am not a patient person, people. I don’t like it when I know there’s something to discover and this vital information is kept from me.
That said, it’s a pleasant way to start a new series and there is definitely more than enough here to set up a second book in this series.
September 25, 2023
Thank you NetGalley. I really appreciate it.
This is a story of crime, mystery, and nostalgia. This book features four retired law enforcement officers; Moira, a retired undercover Detective Chief Inspector from London; Rick, a retired DEA; Phillip, an ex DCI, and his wife, Lizzie who she used to be a crime scene investigator.
PLOT: These four people are currently living in a retirement community in Florida and it's called The Homestead. It seems like the perfect place to retire, a small paradise, until burglaries happen and a body is discovered in the pool. Our four protagonists decide to solve the crime on their own, since they see that the police doesn't really show any serious interest. And, the mystery begins. Secrets, secondary characters, attacks, and some really determined characters are seen in this tale.
THOUGHTS: The premise of the story is really interesting. Four retired officers solving a crime is very enticing to read. I like the mystery of whodunnit, the crime scenes, the attacks, the mysterious retired residents of the Homestead, and even the mystery behind the past of each of the protagonists.
There are four different points of view, which is understandable, since we have four main characters, but I think, this constant switch of perspectives loses the momentum of the story sometimes. And, while it really holds the interest throughout, the ending is quite anticlimactic, to be honest. I would expect something more. The pace of the story is quite slow, as well.
I like the relationships between the characters, and I expect that there will be more buildup in future books. I want to learn more about them. They are very different protagonists and their past is still quite hidden. There is room for more development.
On the whole, the story is great, but it could be even greater. I would read the next one though. I would like to discover more about the characters.
This is a story of crime, mystery, and nostalgia. This book features four retired law enforcement officers; Moira, a retired undercover Detective Chief Inspector from London; Rick, a retired DEA; Phillip, an ex DCI, and his wife, Lizzie who she used to be a crime scene investigator.
PLOT: These four people are currently living in a retirement community in Florida and it's called The Homestead. It seems like the perfect place to retire, a small paradise, until burglaries happen and a body is discovered in the pool. Our four protagonists decide to solve the crime on their own, since they see that the police doesn't really show any serious interest. And, the mystery begins. Secrets, secondary characters, attacks, and some really determined characters are seen in this tale.
THOUGHTS: The premise of the story is really interesting. Four retired officers solving a crime is very enticing to read. I like the mystery of whodunnit, the crime scenes, the attacks, the mysterious retired residents of the Homestead, and even the mystery behind the past of each of the protagonists.
There are four different points of view, which is understandable, since we have four main characters, but I think, this constant switch of perspectives loses the momentum of the story sometimes. And, while it really holds the interest throughout, the ending is quite anticlimactic, to be honest. I would expect something more. The pace of the story is quite slow, as well.
I like the relationships between the characters, and I expect that there will be more buildup in future books. I want to learn more about them. They are very different protagonists and their past is still quite hidden. There is room for more development.
On the whole, the story is great, but it could be even greater. I would read the next one though. I would like to discover more about the characters.
April 8, 2022
Wish I hadn't wasted one of my Amazon free reads on Death in the Sunshine. But, I felt like I had to pick it, because I am friendly with a widow who lives in The Villages in Central Florida, and have heard many stories about the place from her adult children, with whom I have been friends for decades. (The lady and her husband moved their together after their retirement and shared many, many happy times together before he died. As far as I know, however, burglary and murder never played a role in ther lives.)
Anyway, the premise was great. The execution? Let's say not so much. Some of the characters were just flat-out unlikeable, a few were unbelievable and/or caricatures of a type, and there was _way_ too much angsty deep dark secret malarkey going on for my taste. Like, I literally started rolling my eyes any time any of those dead horses got beaten again after about a third of the way through the book.
Also, Steph Broadribb's writing got in the way of her story some because of how she had British phraseology in play when the characters in a given situation were Americans. Sorry, love, you need to write everything in American English except for what the British characters are saying and/or thinking. (A descriptive sentence about a car by the kerb and several references to "hospital" instead of "the hospital" were particuarly irksome.) That's me saying this as a real Anglophile, too!
I would probably read the next book in the series if I found a paperback copy of it in a beach condo rental and knew I could consume both the story and a frozen adult beverage concurrently.
Nah. Probably not.
Anyway, the premise was great. The execution? Let's say not so much. Some of the characters were just flat-out unlikeable, a few were unbelievable and/or caricatures of a type, and there was _way_ too much angsty deep dark secret malarkey going on for my taste. Like, I literally started rolling my eyes any time any of those dead horses got beaten again after about a third of the way through the book.
Also, Steph Broadribb's writing got in the way of her story some because of how she had British phraseology in play when the characters in a given situation were Americans. Sorry, love, you need to write everything in American English except for what the British characters are saying and/or thinking. (A descriptive sentence about a car by the kerb and several references to "hospital" instead of "the hospital" were particuarly irksome.) That's me saying this as a real Anglophile, too!
I would probably read the next book in the series if I found a paperback copy of it in a beach condo rental and knew I could consume both the story and a frozen adult beverage concurrently.
Nah. Probably not.
February 9, 2022
Great Read
I found this book to be oddly refreshing and surprising, especially the choice of heroic characters. I love this stories about retired seniors who are intelligent, full of life and ambition. For seniors like me, it shows that their is excitement and hope after retirement. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I found this book to be oddly refreshing and surprising, especially the choice of heroic characters. I love this stories about retired seniors who are intelligent, full of life and ambition. For seniors like me, it shows that their is excitement and hope after retirement. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 5, 2022
Ok book. I’ll read the next for sure. Oh, also, it was an amazon free ebook.
March 5, 2022
Death in the Sunshine is a well-crafted murder mystery about four retired investigators, three from England and one from America. They all find themselves in a Florida retirement community known as The Homestead. The association prides itself for its safety with a nightly watch group of residence to make it even more so. So, when Moira, a pretty new resident and former DCI Investigator from England returns from her morning walk and finds a dead body floating in one of the pools on the property with thousands of dollar bills surrounding the corpse, needless to say she is pretty shaken.
Another resident, Philp, a former detective from London sees Moira in distress as she is speaking with the police and tries to help. Not only do the police not want his help, but Moira, who is trying to keep her former life a secret from the residence just wants him to go away. But Philip is persistent and insists Moira come and meet his wife Lizzie, a former CSI person, and Rick a former police officer.
As they begin to discuss the evidence Moira has witnessed at the crime scene, they come to the conclusion that not only do the police not want any outside help but have missed important clues. They decide that as a group they will secretly investigate the death and if they find out anything then they will bring it to the police.
The first piece of the puzzle falls into place when they discover there have been a rash of burglaries at the property which seem to have been squashed by the higher ups at the retirement community, perhaps because they fear it will not look too good to potential residence. The question becomes are the two crimes connected and what evidence can they gleam from the stolen property which could tie into the murder.
As Moira tries to keep her past from becoming her present, she finds herself being stalked by someone. Unfortunately, she is not sure the person is after her for looking into the recent crimes, or for the reason she decided to retire from a job she loved but due to her last case which had such a devastating ending, she needed to leave.
And Philip and Lizzie seem to have some skeletons in their past as well. Although Philip retired due to health issues, Lizzie seems to believe there is more to his story than he is telling her which breaks her heart that he feels he needs to keep secrets from her.
Retirement should never be this hard! As the group works together to solve the puzzles, they begin to open up to each other about their past lives and what brought them to this retirement community which they hoped would be so relaxing it would solve all their previous worries! But the group, through their questioning of suspects, has put themselves in danger. Can they solve these crimes before one of them becomes the next victim? Why does it seem the police continually seem to look the other way?
Death in the Sunshine is a terrific cozy filled with murder, mayhem and mystery. Enough so that I am sure book two will continue to give us more information about the retirees� past lives as they continue to try and enjoy The Homestead.
Thank you #ŷ #Thomas&Mercer #StephBroadribb #DeathintheSunshine for the advanced copy.
Another resident, Philp, a former detective from London sees Moira in distress as she is speaking with the police and tries to help. Not only do the police not want his help, but Moira, who is trying to keep her former life a secret from the residence just wants him to go away. But Philip is persistent and insists Moira come and meet his wife Lizzie, a former CSI person, and Rick a former police officer.
As they begin to discuss the evidence Moira has witnessed at the crime scene, they come to the conclusion that not only do the police not want any outside help but have missed important clues. They decide that as a group they will secretly investigate the death and if they find out anything then they will bring it to the police.
The first piece of the puzzle falls into place when they discover there have been a rash of burglaries at the property which seem to have been squashed by the higher ups at the retirement community, perhaps because they fear it will not look too good to potential residence. The question becomes are the two crimes connected and what evidence can they gleam from the stolen property which could tie into the murder.
As Moira tries to keep her past from becoming her present, she finds herself being stalked by someone. Unfortunately, she is not sure the person is after her for looking into the recent crimes, or for the reason she decided to retire from a job she loved but due to her last case which had such a devastating ending, she needed to leave.
And Philip and Lizzie seem to have some skeletons in their past as well. Although Philip retired due to health issues, Lizzie seems to believe there is more to his story than he is telling her which breaks her heart that he feels he needs to keep secrets from her.
Retirement should never be this hard! As the group works together to solve the puzzles, they begin to open up to each other about their past lives and what brought them to this retirement community which they hoped would be so relaxing it would solve all their previous worries! But the group, through their questioning of suspects, has put themselves in danger. Can they solve these crimes before one of them becomes the next victim? Why does it seem the police continually seem to look the other way?
Death in the Sunshine is a terrific cozy filled with murder, mayhem and mystery. Enough so that I am sure book two will continue to give us more information about the retirees� past lives as they continue to try and enjoy The Homestead.
Thank you #ŷ #Thomas&Mercer #StephBroadribb #DeathintheSunshine for the advanced copy.
February 1, 2022
(2.5 stars) - Hard to get invested
I don't generally care about the person or tense of a book's narrator as I'm pretty flexible, but this is told in 3rd person present tense, which is unusual, and it took a little getting used to.
The story is told in turns from the perspectives of the 4 investigators: Moira, Phillip, Lizzie & Rick. The investigation is combined with exposition of what led to their retirements & how they've been faring since.
It's interesting, but I didn't find it quite as engaging I'd hoped. The crime itself was rather pedestrian & existed more to bring our 4 main characters together than as an intriguing puzzle for the reader. The puzzle is solved by the convenient finding of a cell phone that apparently isn't password protected - seriously?
As is common in a first book setting up a series, it struggles to juggle pace & interest with the development of their world.
The ending concludes this episode while providing the set up for the next, but I probably won't be returning for more.
CONTENT
A little over a dozen uses of the Lord's Name trivially with 5 as curses
Moderate use of the most common swears, ie some 3 dozen d-mns & h-lls, a few uses of sh-t
I don't generally care about the person or tense of a book's narrator as I'm pretty flexible, but this is told in 3rd person present tense, which is unusual, and it took a little getting used to.
The story is told in turns from the perspectives of the 4 investigators: Moira, Phillip, Lizzie & Rick. The investigation is combined with exposition of what led to their retirements & how they've been faring since.
It's interesting, but I didn't find it quite as engaging I'd hoped. The crime itself was rather pedestrian & existed more to bring our 4 main characters together than as an intriguing puzzle for the reader. The puzzle is solved by the convenient finding of a cell phone that apparently isn't password protected - seriously?
As is common in a first book setting up a series, it struggles to juggle pace & interest with the development of their world.
The ending concludes this episode while providing the set up for the next, but I probably won't be returning for more.
CONTENT
A little over a dozen uses of the Lord's Name trivially with 5 as curses
Moderate use of the most common swears, ie some 3 dozen d-mns & h-lls, a few uses of sh-t
September 25, 2022
In the U.K. with the recent success of The Thursday Murder Club any book sent within a retired community is going to struggle by comparison. However, The Retired Detectives Club within Steph Broadribb’s novel doesn’t struggle due this alone, it fails fundamentally because of the Homestead’s reality which within the text alludes to being Stepford in nature and more in keeping with The Truman Show.
More concerning; is the burying of bad news from the residents and a sense of conspiracy against the community. Seen by an inadequate Security Systems and an incompetent Police Force serving the neighbourhood.
Against this background we meet the four individuals who have held jobs within law enforcement who come together to form this amateur detective group when one of their number stumble over a dead body.
I liked the interchanged of characters driving and revealing the story as each chapter is written from a difference person’s perspective. The author also maintains a degree of uncertainty as the mystery unfolds. She holds in tension many of the secrets some of the main protagonists have and despite the solving of the crime we have the prospect of future books where more truth needs to be revealed.
Since this is the first of a series it suffers from this need to set the scene in book one. On the basis of this initial novel I would say another episode would be welcome and read with some anticipation.
This is based on the location which holds promise and the main characters that make up The Retired Detectives Club
More concerning; is the burying of bad news from the residents and a sense of conspiracy against the community. Seen by an inadequate Security Systems and an incompetent Police Force serving the neighbourhood.
Against this background we meet the four individuals who have held jobs within law enforcement who come together to form this amateur detective group when one of their number stumble over a dead body.
I liked the interchanged of characters driving and revealing the story as each chapter is written from a difference person’s perspective. The author also maintains a degree of uncertainty as the mystery unfolds. She holds in tension many of the secrets some of the main protagonists have and despite the solving of the crime we have the prospect of future books where more truth needs to be revealed.
Since this is the first of a series it suffers from this need to set the scene in book one. On the basis of this initial novel I would say another episode would be welcome and read with some anticipation.
This is based on the location which holds promise and the main characters that make up The Retired Detectives Club
February 2, 2022
Well written
I liked the characters and the plot. It kept my interest and I look forward to the next book in this series
I liked the characters and the plot. It kept my interest and I look forward to the next book in this series
March 14, 2022
I really enjoyed the suspenseful moments and the retired characters. A few twists and my theories were quite wrong , maybe because I was going into a different direction from what the story actually went in the second half of the book.
Suspenseful and very enjoyable read overall.
The book is available now and free with kindle unlimited.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.
Suspenseful and very enjoyable read overall.
The book is available now and free with kindle unlimited.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.
February 6, 2022
An interesting read
I really enjoyed this book. If you like mysteries that are short on gore you will enjoy this book. The characters in Death in the Sunshine are all hiding secrets but they manage to come together to solve a mystery in their retirement community. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. If you like mysteries that are short on gore you will enjoy this book. The characters in Death in the Sunshine are all hiding secrets but they manage to come together to solve a mystery in their retirement community. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 7, 2022
Excellent and engaging!
I loved the whole premise and setting, and the personalities. As things moved along, it was nice to not be able to guess at what's coming! I'm looking forward to #2!
I loved the whole premise and setting, and the personalities. As things moved along, it was nice to not be able to guess at what's coming! I'm looking forward to #2!
September 5, 2022
I chose this as an Amazon first read pick several months ago and just finally picked it up. Having so enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series so far (another murder series featuring adults in a retirement community trying to solve murders) I figured I’d give it a try! Overall it was enjoyable enough and I was interested in the conclusion. However there were a few issues that prevented me from rating it higher than three stars. First, there were some inconsistencies with British phrases being used by American characters. I know the three main characters were from England, but the character Rick was supposed to be from Boston but spoke as if he was British at times. Not a huge issue but could’ve maybe been picked up by an editor. I didn’t feel too invested in the characters and felt there were too many mysteries surrounding each of their backgrounds. As mentioned previously, overall it wasn’t bad but not sure that I would pick up #2 in the series.
May 5, 2022
Great concept that did not deliver. 4 retired police detectives investigating a murder in their new community could have been much more. The book went round and round in a circle and barely resolved. Character development was weak. The story of UK officers retired in Florida with a lot of British English terms and spellings was supposed to attract a larger group of readers but was just disconcerting. Moira’s 3 dogs were there to attract dog lovers but again short shrift. The police officers investigating the crime were mean and dumb characters, which was offensive.
No depth in the identities of the victim or the suspects, which meant a quick and shallow ending.
No thanks. I’m moving on.
No depth in the identities of the victim or the suspects, which meant a quick and shallow ending.
No thanks. I’m moving on.
March 27, 2022
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a book that I didn’t want to put down. I loved the mystery of each of the characters� backgrounds and, of course, it left you hanging at the end. It was a crime book that didn’t leave me double checking all the locks and sleeping with my light on which I appreciate:) Looking forward to book number two!
February 20, 2022
Good Idea Poor Execution
Should not be writing about people you don't know or understand. There are American people speaking in British idioms, syntax and accents. Poor plotting with only 1 clue that mattered. They only solved the case by accident.
Should not be writing about people you don't know or understand. There are American people speaking in British idioms, syntax and accents. Poor plotting with only 1 clue that mattered. They only solved the case by accident.
February 28, 2022
A clean read involving four ex-police in a retirement community working together for a fresh start, clean slate and to solve a murder mystery in the middle of paradise.
March 5, 2022
Finished reading: March 5th 2022
"Sometimes doing the right thing means you have to step into the danger zone."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews .
June 10, 2022
I listened to the audiobook of this one, and I think that’s why I had a hard time getting into it. It was narrated by the same person for all POVs. Some characters were British and others were American, so the accent felt off. However, once I got past that the plot sucked me in and I kept going because I had to know what happened next. It unfolded slowly at first but by the end I was on the edge of my seat. The dynamic between the characters was interesting to see unfold. They different perspectives and personalities that they brought to the table made the solving of the case more interesting to me. I liked the multiple POVs because I felt like you got to know each character well. The plot did not go where I expected it to go, nor did the relationships between Moria, Rick, Lizzie, and Phillip. I liked the surprise of that. The thrill of something bigger looming. However it seemed that some of the sub plots were left hanging at the end of the story. That there were still secrets to reveal. I get that this is a series, so I’m sure those elements will carry over into the next book. For me, the loose ends left this book feeling slightly unfinished. I will definitely be reading the 2nd book in this series when it comes out.
February 2, 2022
A great premise but rough start to this new series.
I was really looking forward to this book/series about retired cops who find each other in a senior community in sunny Florida. It was funny that 3 of the 4 main characters were from the UK and all ended up at the same small place. That will probably figure into the storyline in following book(s). There are many British spellings used throughout the text, fyi. Under normal circumstances, I could read a book like this in 2 hours but not the case with “Death in Sunshine�
Told in alternating POV’s between the four main characters, this cozy mystery struggles to gain its footing for a very long time. Character development is slow and immature. Sure, some key items are clearly being reserved for future volumes but there was barely enough information to manage relationships between the primaries and provide structure. My mind kept wandering and I even fell asleep a few times!
All that sounds like 3* is too many and if there were nothing else, it would be. For all its shortcomings, the mystery is actually quite good. There’s no way to figure it out. You might get pieces of it but the actual “who done it� is undiscoverable. There are a LOT of threads for future books to delve into and 2 of the characters I’d like to know much better, (Moira & Rick).
Certainly not a smashing success but left me willing to try the next book📚
I was really looking forward to this book/series about retired cops who find each other in a senior community in sunny Florida. It was funny that 3 of the 4 main characters were from the UK and all ended up at the same small place. That will probably figure into the storyline in following book(s). There are many British spellings used throughout the text, fyi. Under normal circumstances, I could read a book like this in 2 hours but not the case with “Death in Sunshine�
Told in alternating POV’s between the four main characters, this cozy mystery struggles to gain its footing for a very long time. Character development is slow and immature. Sure, some key items are clearly being reserved for future volumes but there was barely enough information to manage relationships between the primaries and provide structure. My mind kept wandering and I even fell asleep a few times!
All that sounds like 3* is too many and if there were nothing else, it would be. For all its shortcomings, the mystery is actually quite good. There’s no way to figure it out. You might get pieces of it but the actual “who done it� is undiscoverable. There are a LOT of threads for future books to delve into and 2 of the characters I’d like to know much better, (Moira & Rick).
Certainly not a smashing success but left me willing to try the next book📚
September 25, 2024
The book has a good premise but I didn't warm up to the characters a lot. I didn't like how the four protagonists, as retired police officers/detectives, are quick to question the professionalism of the young generation of law enforcement officers, especially when they are hiding work related secrets of their own. I also listened to the audiobook and I don't think Sarah Zimmerman was the best choice for the narrator because while listening to her, I had a tough time imagining the characters being in their 50s-70s and retired.
I received an e-Arc of the book from the publisher Amazon Publishing/Thomas and Mercer and the author Steph Broadribb via NetGalley.
I received an e-Arc of the book from the publisher Amazon Publishing/Thomas and Mercer and the author Steph Broadribb via NetGalley.
July 15, 2022
4.5⭐️ Death in the Sunshine is the first book in a series featuring the self-declared “Retired Detectives Club�, a group of 3 Brits and an American, each formerly a DCI, CSI, or DEA agent. Having retired for various reasons, they find themselves living in the same retirement community in Florida, and decide to team up to solve a murder that is being virtually ignored by local police. The four RDC members have plenty of secrets of their own too, which I’m sure will continue to play a role in later books in the series.
February 7, 2022
This is the first book in the Retired Detective’s Club and it was pretty good. I could use less expletives, but that’s me and I was happy there weren’t any f-bombs lurking in the least likely places. I found the blending of British DCI’s and an American DEA agent interesting as well as hearing the inner thoughts of each of the four main characters.
If she writes a book two, I liked this one enough to read another.
If she writes a book two, I liked this one enough to read another.
January 6, 2023
I loved this book! It was about a group of retired police force who come together to take action of a murder since the main sheriff won’t do anything about it. It was very catching and the person who done it you wouldn’t believe! Definitely a must read!
February 6, 2022
Death in the Sunshine was just okay. It was a fairly predictable detective mystery involving four retired detectives who decide to investigate a murder in their retirement community. It was an Amazon Prime First Read. I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 902 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.