In Murder Among the Tombstones by Kim Carter, Iris and Clara are two senior citizens who have retired and decide to open their own private investigation office. Their first client, JaQuita quickly convinces them to hire her as their office manager/consultant telling them they are a “goldmine” because they’re old and no one will ever suspect them of anything. As they begin work as investigators they quickly learn how easy it is to do surveillance because no one notices them anyway.

While Iris and Clara become involved in several cases along the way, Detectives Pitts and Nettles with the Atlanta Police Department get called in to investigate the murder of a young girl whose body is dumped in Oakland Cemetery, one of the landmark cemeteries of Atlanta. They make very little progress however, and are soon sidelined by a drive-by shooting related to another of their cases.

As Clara and Iris experience success, it’s only a matter of time before they are approached by the young murder victim’s sister and agree to take her case because of the sympathy they feel for her. That sets Clara and Iris up to renew their acquaintance with Detective Pitts and begin an investigation which ultimately leads to the satisfactory conclusion of the young woman’s murder.

Clues that lead to solving the murder mystery are sparse, and unless the reader is well acquainted with misdirection typical of mysteries, it is unlikely they will solve this one prior to the final reveal. Instead, the book’s strength is sitting back and enjoying the two delightful senior citizen detectives and the accompanying cast of characters including Detective Pitts and JaQuita along with some notable minor characters who will, hopefully, find their way into future books.

Initially, I found the book to be a bit choppy as the chapters are short and there are several threads that are introduced separately, with each one being given chapters of their own. This trend follows through the entire book, and about ten percent into the book, I began to not only expect this, but appreciate the way it defined the book’s pace. The only thing I would have liked to have seen was clues and red herrings sprinkled more liberally throughout the book so that the conclusion was one the reader had an opportunity to reach along with the detectives as opposed to it feeling more as if it were sprung on the reader.

All in all, I would like to see more books featuring the adventures of Iris and Clara along with the rest of the secondary and tertiary characters introduced here. It is a delightful mix of police/detective fiction populated by characters more often found in cozy mysteries.

Clara and Iris are older, which made them fun. They are in their 60-70's but want to help people. After all, life is still more than just knitting and gardening.. So these two open a PI service. Happily they have solid assistant who can navigate technology that is frustrating for them. Somehow they know this other detective, Pitts. So he's a help, and I gather he might have been in a prior book. That said, this book stands along easily,

Iris and Clara take up the murder case of a deceased 19 year old, Jasmine. With this, we have a big mystery, an intriguing case, and a fast reading story. It's a good balance of in depth and yet easy enough to read quickly, with witt and humor. The ending was good, and I hope to read more of this author's books.

My digital copy came from Net Galley. This review is mine, left of my own volition and contains my option of this book.

Such a great book. Makes for a wonderful read. I can not wait to read more from this author. I love books like this.

Would give this 3.5, as I did like it overall and it kept my interest. I liked Clara and Iris, and their sidekick was a hoot too. Like Detective Pitt as well. Didn't like being in the mind of the killer, and feeling the emotional fear of the young victims. Also felt the ending was a little too quickly wrapped up, without more reasoning for the killer. Still though, the story is good and the writing is fine, just felt like I could do without the thinking of the killer. Ended up skimming those chapters after a bit. Would still recommend though, and hope there are more adventures of Clara and Iris, retired and newly PIs.

When several girls go missing and some turn up murdered, its a case that the police are baffled with, but when two spunky older ladies step in to try and help find the killer, its bound to lead to some interesting developments...

This was a great read! I enjoyed it!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Raven South Publishing and the author, Kim Carter, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Murder Among The Tombstones in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Please, bring on more Clara and Iris mysteries!!! What an incredible read.
I was drawn to this book from the start. The cover art really catches the eye and the premise of the storyline certainly catches the imagination.
The storyline was well thought out and written with very likeable and relatable characters, especially Clara and Iris. I really enjoyed reading this book and it provided a great story mixed with LOL moments.
I certainly can't wait for more in this series.b4.5 stars.
Well worth a read.

Murder Among The Tombstones is a great mystery full of twists. This story is well written and has great characters.

-- I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Many thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity. --

Clara and Iris, two old ladies bored with retirement, decide to open a private investigation office, supported by their first client, and later office manager, JaQuinta. Their business starts doing well, until they are confronted by the case of the murder of a young lady, whose sister asks them for their assistance. They connect with the detective originally in charge of the case, but now on medical leave, to try and find her killer. While they end up discovering invaluable evidence connected to the case, the ultimate solution of the mystery is very far fetched and does not involve them anymore. The story is further convoluted by a second case, which as far as this novel goes, is unconnected to the main plot's resolution. It is a charming read, and Clara and Iris are very endearing, so it begs to be seen how the series develops.

I loved this story in spite of the murders. The teo sluths that are hired to solve the case are 2 grandmotherly ladies in their 70's. I laughed at their antics because I can remember my aunts saying and doing some of the same things. Would recommend this book to everyone.

What an enjoyable read! The story had depth, twists, turns and a great plot. Those novice sleuths? Well the great duo of Clara Samples and Iris Hadley; two women in their 70's who will stop at nothing to find a killer!

Princess Fuzzypants here: When two senior ladies start their own PI business, nobody pays attention to two elderly women- which gives them a big advantage on stake-outs. They are not to be dismissed easily as a veteran homocide detective learns after a failed assassination attempt and he is on medical leave.. But for their unlikely alliance, a serial murderer would walk free.
This book has the “goods”- believable characters about whom the reader can care, lots of twists and turns, a gripping story, lots of suspense and action and a final twist I did not see coming until the characters did.
I am not sure where this will go in the future, but I can say I will be willing to take the trip with them.
Five purrs and two paws up.

Murder Among the Tombstones is cumbersome with a mystery that is intriguing.
A young woman is found wrapped in a blanket ad dead in tan Atlanta Cemetery. The cops have no leads and when the detectives involved in the case are shot in a drive by, the trail runs cold. The sister instructions her sister's case to an pair of elderly PIs and their young assistant. Can they figure out what happened to the girl when the police could not.
Murder Among the Tombstones is way too long. There were too many branches off the central story. The story begins between two stories and that works. Half way through another story picks up and then yet another. While one story is interesting, trey other is just distraction. The story could have been told more succinctly and therefor keeping the action going.
I was taken with the story and the overall story that follows the title. I wish there had been more digging into his mind instead of just a few statement.
Overall, I enjoyed the story but there was just too much info to slog through.

I love this book, characters were well developed. The plot had many twist and turns. Great read., cannot wait for the next book..

Not a bad book just a bit uneven. 2 or 3 plots at the same time without characters overlapping until Pitts a bit. Some of the parts with the P.I.s is rather boring but by did keep reading
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for a knowing me this arc in exchange for an honest review

When the body of a young woman is found in a cemetery in Atlanta, homicide detectives are looking for the killer. Clues and suspects dry up and the case grows cold. Ginger Baines, the sister of the victim is determined that she not be forgotten. She hires Iris and Clara, two private eyes that just opened their business. They are in their seventies and refuse to sit at home, crocheting for the rest of their lives. A second victim is found in another cemetery. Is it the work of a serial killer or someone with a vendetta? Both had blankets wrapped around them. Is there any other connection? Iris and Clara are on the case. With the help of police detectives, they follow the trail of the killer. Will they be able to solve the murders that police have not? I loved them. Fun personality with humor and wit that makes you laugh, but don't be deceived. They are great detectives with skills that only they have. Loved this mystery. I received this book from Net Galley and Raven South Publishing for a honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review by 2shay..........

This book was fun from beginning to end. Two elderly women who aren’t ready to call it quits becoming gum-shoes is just too precious to miss. Clara and Iris don’t have a clue how to even use an iPhone, how are they going to do all the background searches needed to run a deceive agency? They fortuitously run into LaQuita, a young woman who needs a job and has a knack with technology.

When Ginger Baines learns that her sister’s murder case is going cold and both the police detectives on the case are shot, she hires Clara and Iris to look into the murder.

This gets a little complicated. Police detectives Pitts and Nettles were working the Baines murder when called to another homicide. They were both seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting very soon after the second homicide...which had nothing to do with the Baines murder. As soon as Pitts is allowed visitors, Iris and Clara ask his help in solving their first murder case.

This author, Kim Carter, has created lovely characters. Very normal ladies of a certain age...ahem...who don’t want to spend the rest of their lives wielding crochet needles. They have some limitations, but with Quita’s help, they’re learning.

If you get a little tired of the perfect 30 something women in fiction...you know the ones, perfect bodies and faces...you’ll fall in love with Clara and Iris. Pick up a copy and...

Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by Raven South Publishing and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

This book was hard for me to judge as it felt like two different books, sort of stitched together. One was a cozy - two retired 'grandma' types with the street wise side kick are starting off a new career as PI - and the other was a gritty police procedural - bodies, autopsies, cops getting shot and nearly killed, serial killers chasing and debating on how to hide their victims. It was odd.

I picked this up in part because it sounded like a cute cozy and because of the reference to Oakland Cemetery but I'm not sure I would have if I'd known it's hybrid nature. I found myself reading the cozy parts in detail then almost skipping over the procedural pieces.

I'd rate the cozy pieces a 5, but given that I'm not that fond of police procedurals, I'd rate it a 2 for an average of 3.5, rounding up to 4.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and voluntarily chose to review.

a great story about to older women working as private investigators. A murder has to be solved and they work for a client and help the police. an ususpected end.

What a good murder mystery. Murder Among the Tombstones has a good plot and two quirky sleuths. Mystery fans will enjoy this book. I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I loved this cover and the premise of the book. But the cover doesn't really match the story - which is more of a cozy mystery. The characters are good. These two old ladies are a bit of a hoot but there is not enough to get me super invested in the characters. I also felt like we were following too many storylines and trying to keep track got a bit confusing.