For fans of Richard Osman's Thursday murder club, this is another series for you!
Luxury retirement condos in Florida - a realtor falls off a penthouse balcony in advance of an open house. Or was she pushed?
The senior investigating detective assigned to the case immediately writes it off as a suicide. The other is - silent.
The retired protagonists are asked by the deceased realtor's parents to investigate. Lizzie, the former forensic specialist, deduces that the trajectory of the body indicates the victim was pushed. The foursome then interviews colleagues at the real estate agency as well as the employees & owners of the building.
The building's schematics and access points are kept secret from the quartet (proprietary info), but they have outside resources to assist, including the junior investigating officer.
In the midst of their sleuthing, the realtor's boss is murdered...in the same apartment...
There are a few side stories:
A relationship ensues between 2 of the retirees, Rick & Moira
Flashbacks of Moira's previous career in the UK & what led to her early Florida retirement
Rick's estranged daughter & granddaughter that no one knew about suddenly appear on his doorstep
Philip's health issues alluded to in previous novels
The ending is predictable, but no less enjoyable because of it. A solid contribution to a summer easy breezy whodunnit series.
Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, and net galley for an advance reading copy of this novel. It will be released on July 27th, 2023.

About 50% of the way through when Rick says that Jessie’s boss “already said she would help our investigation “… Rick and Moira never told her they were investigating so she would not have said she would help since Moira had the panic attack during their showing. it would not make sense for him to call and have her open the penthouse for them.

I have read the first two books in this series and would not recommend jumping into this series without starting at the beginning. This series is not Thursday Murder Club - it is not old people getting together with witty banter solving crimes. This is four, retired detectives that had successful careers that are not ready to completely be done with their past lives.

The third book in this series follows the format of the others, jumping back and forth between characters perspectives. I feel we didn't get much from Lizzie in this one.

This one felt rushed and a lot more far fetched. There were also some inconsistencies in the story line - when the characters say they had filled someone in on their investigation, and that person was willing to help out, but they had actually never told the person they were investigating and had been under cover when they met them. A little unbelievable to be able to call all of the suspect together and just have them show up as well...

I did like the relationship between Phillip and Lizzie in this book and how it has evolved from the first book. They have worked through health issues and betrayals and seem to have found each other again.

The ending for this has set Moira up into a dilemma from her past life with a huge decision that could change her future. It has set it up for a fourth book. My issue with this is that it seemed to throw this huge plot into the last few chapters of this (it had sprinkled little bits of the storyline in the other books, but not much detail) after Moira 'all of a sudden' remembered details from the night of the failed sting that she had forgotten and conveniently found solid evidence to help close her case.

This was an enjoyable read, I have liked the series. I think that the next book could be interesting based on the setup from this book.

Das ist jetzt für mich der zweite Fall, bei denen ich die „retired detectives“ begleite, und ich hatte mich hierauf schon sehr gefreut. Gleich vorab: Hat wieder Spaß gemacht, dabei zu sein!
Der Club der Detektive im Ruhestand, das sind Lizzie, ehemalige Spurensicherungs- und Tatortspezialistin, ihr Gatte Philipp, ex-Chefermittler, und ihre Freunde Rick und Moira, ebenfalls frühere hochkarätige Ermittler. Zusammengefunden hat sich das Team in einer Seniorenwohnanlage in Florida – allerdings sind die 4 weit entfernt davon, in Ruhe ihre Rentnerdasein zu genießen.
Im aktuellen Fall nun werden die Detektive von den Eltern der verstorbenen Jessie Beckton engagiert. Jessie ist von einer Penthouse-Dachterrasse gestürzt. Die lokale Polizei hat den Fall als Selbstmord abgetan, was die Eltern aber nicht glauben. Und tatsächlich deutet alles auf Mord hin – die Frage ist nur, wie können die 4 Ermittler das beweisen? Es wird spannend…..!

Der Charme des Buches, bzw. der Serie, wird natürlich von dem originellem Ermittlerteam bestritten. 4 Oldies, die es immer noch draufhaben und mittlerweile auch von den lokalen Behörden geachtet (und gefürchtet) werden, das ist natürlich cool. Die 4 passen gut zusammen, sind eine super Truppe, und nehmen die Fälle aus purem Enthusiasmus und Wahrheitsliebe an. Geld brauchen sie nicht mehr zu verdienen, ihnen geht es darum, den Leuten zu helfen und Verbrechen aufzuklären. Sehr sympathisch.

Dieses Mal haben wir auch noch ein paar ernstere Untertöne dabei. Wir kommen den vieren auch privat etwas näher: Zwischen Rick und Moira haben sich gerade ein paar zarte romantische Bande entwickelt, als Estelle die Szene betritt – Ricks Tochter samt Baby, die Rick schon seit ein paar Jahren nicht mehr gesehen hat. Rick und Estelle haben so einiges aufzuarbeiten, und das war ein sehr interessanter Nebenschauplatz.
Aber auch Moira hat eine Vergangenheit, die sie immer wieder einholt. Wer die Serie schon etwas länger verfolgt, weiß, dass sie, die ehemaliger Londoner Polizistin, in Florida in ihrem mehr oder weniger selbstgewähltem und selbstgestaltetem Zeugenschutzprogramm lebt, und auch Moira wird erneut mit alten Geschichten konfrontiert. Ebenfalls eine sehr interessante Sidestory, mit einem fiesen Cliffhanger – jetzt will ich natürlich wissen, wie es mit Moira weitergeht und muss aufs nächste Buch warten.

Die Kapitel sind abwechselnd mit den Namen der 4 Ermittler betitelt, wir sind also abwechselnd immer ganz nah bei den verschiedenen Protagonisten dran. Wir haben hier aber keine abwechselnden Ich-Perspektiven, sondern immer einen auktorialen Erzähler, und das fand ich auch sehr gut bei der Anzahl der Hauptfiguren.

Flüssig geschrieben, viel Action, viele Dialoge, viel Witz, aber auch wie gesagt, einige ernstere Untertöne – der Mix hat mir sehr gut gefallen.

Ich fand es erneut klasse. Könnte ich mir als Serie super gut vorstellen, das wäre eine Verfilmung wert 😊, und ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Teil!

Vielen Dank an Netgalley und den Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar!

I found this one hard going. Neither the crime nor the investigators held my interest. I had not really reckoned on it being a cozy mystery and American. Skim read a lot of it before I gave up . Sorry not for me .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC , a shame I cannot be more positive about the book

I love this series, which is a lovely marriage of British police procedural and sunny, beach side Florida living.
Steph Broadribb shows us that retirement is simply the start of a new chapter and there's a great mystery too for the reader to get their teeth into. Recommended.

Death on the Beach refers to the death of a young, up-coming realtor from a penthouse ledge while she is attempting to show the property. The two couples, or four retired sleuths, decide soon that the so called suicide is not that, it was murder. Then, when another murder associated with the same firm occurs, they are even more invested in finding out who the murderer is. This book is bit slow moving and circuitous, but the characters are well-developed.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

The author must revise page 111 and the following, where Moira recalls what her colleague McCord said just before he jumps. Nonetheless, in book 2 of the series, Moira remembers that Harry George, her boss was dirt, what she learned when going to meet him unannounced.

I read the book and noticed that this was the 3rd book of the Retired Detectives series. Therefore, I read the other two books before writing my review, and I loved it. I loved the previous two books. Ms. Broadribb writes linearly and, at some points, advances and returns to recall important points. I will suggest to my acquaintances to read it.

3.5 stars. This is a pleasant albeit a little slow mystery. I have not read the previous book/books but was able to follow along just fine, although I must say the main characters are not exceptionally likable, especially Philip. I didn't feel much attachment or connection to them as I would have liked to until the last few pages of the book. The pacing of the mystery-solving was good.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC.

This is the third novel in the Retired Detectives Club, featuring the retired investigators Moira, Rick, Lizzie and Philip as they try to solve murders the police has not been able to solve. This novel definitely fits in the "cozy crime" category, featuring elder people who use their wit and understanding of society to render justice to the victim and their family. The characters were interesting, the plot points solid and coherent and the writing good, even though I would have preffered slightly longer chapters.

My main criticism probably stems from the fact that I had not read the first two books in the series, but jumped straight to the third book. I normally like cozy crime, but here I missed some base for the story. It is mentioned several times that they don't have a PI license, so why does everyone talk to them? If my family member had been murdered, I wouldn't have spoken to anyone without credentials. Also, what evidence could they find that would stand up in court? I know that this is fiction, but I would have needed more justification for the investigation to seem realistic to me. If you're an avid reader of the series, you might disagree with my point though,

I absolutely loved this book! I had no clue that this was a series until I was already into the book. It was simply amazing. I have to go get the rest of the series!! I love a group of retired detectives trying and accomplishing solving crimes and murders! 6 out of 5 stars!!
I just reviewed Death on the Beach by Steph Broadribb. #DeathontheBeach #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Foul Play…?
The third outing in the Retired Detectives Club series and another case arises when a real estate estate agent is found deceased on the stunning beachfront retirement community of Shimmering Sands. Did Jesse jump or fall from the balcony of the penthouse she was selling, or was she pushed? Was this a murder? With the local police determining this a no foul play death, the retired detectives decide to step up. With a plethora of suspects and a soon to be second death the group have their work cut out. An enjoyable and entertaining entry in the series with an engaging plot populated with a deftly drawn and credible cast, a firm sense of place and many intertwined threads.

Death on the beach is the 3rd book in the Retired Detective Club. I really enjoyed this story, The people who are in the club are Moira Flynn, a retired undercover agent, Rick Denver, ex-DEA agent, Phillip Sweetman, a British ex-detective chief inspector and Lizzie Sweetman, British ex CSI. They are husband and wife. They all are retired detectives that solves crimes in age-controlled communities called Retired Detective Club. They all live in a retirement community called The Homestead.

Jessie Beckton is a real estate agent who works for Sindee McGillis at Beachseekers. It is her first showing at a new apartment in the Surf-Sand Visa building at Shimmering Sands Resort. She was quite excited about it. Two people come in and are surprised to see Jessie. They approach her and put her over the railing on the balcony. it is reported as a suicide.

Rick gets a phone call from Jim Beckton about the death of his daughter, Jessie. He would like them to take his case as he does not believe she committed suicide. They live at Shimming Sands resort. They take the case and arrive at the resort. After meeting Jim and his wife, Doreen, Lizzie goes to where Jessie fell to determine if it was suicide or murder. She decides that it was murder. There are other characters in the story that contribute to the story. This is where the story takes the reader on a wonderful adventure to find out who and why Jessie was murdered. There is so much to tell in this story that it is impossible to put it all on paper. The climax is very exciting and the reader does not know who killed her and also Sindee until the end.

There is a second ending with Moira deciding if she will go back to England to head up a special unit. She was called and asked back because she sent material about her late boss, DS Harry George. This is another story in itself. She must decide to go back to her old life or will she stay with her friends.

I liked the series so much that I plan to go back and read books one and two.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas-Mercer for this ARC.

Brilliant I loved it, front the first page I was enthralled, I can’t wait to see what’s next though hopefully it won’t be too long to wait

As a big fan of the previous books in the series, I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I enjoyed both the current mystery as well as learning more about the lives of the four retired detectives. In this book, they go to another community to investigate a death, and they have much better insight than the local police. I liked that they had a different perspective and were clever in how they approached the investigation. Although this mystery gets resolved. there are at least 2 major issues with the main characters that are left up in the air. I look forward to seeing what happens with this "club". I recommend reading the books in the series in order, and I highly recommend the series.

Death on the Beach is the latest instalment in Steph Broadribb's Retired Detectives Club series. The books feature former British Cops Lizzie,Philip and Moira and local sidekick Rick who live in a Florida retirement complex where very odd and often fatal things happen.
In this episode the quartet of former top cops are contacted by the parents of a young realtor who has fallen to her death from a balcony in another retirement complex ,the local police rule out foul play but her parents are not convinced. After a group discussion they agree to investigate. All is not well within the group with Rick and Moira's "hush hush" relationship being strained when a mystery woman appears on the scene and Lizzie and Philip hitting hard times as well.

I struggled with this at times,the plot is good and there are some good twists but quite often the characters meander for a couple of pages pondering various issues at great length that contribute very little to the story and there are parts that border on the ridiculous,some of the dialogue and the odd pantomime villain. That aside it's entertaining and the ending leaves things wide often and the next book potentially going in one of 2 very different directions,and I know which one would interest me the most.

Good rather than great but a decent enough read.

Rick, Moira, Philip and Lizzie are known as the Retired Detectives Club and their recent investigative successes have made them locally famous. So it is no surprise that Jim and Doreen Beckton contact them for help. Their daughter Jessie, a realtor, fell from a penthouse balcony while she was preparing for an open house. The police ruled it a suicide but her parents are sure she was killed. The detectives have problems of their own. Lizzie is worried about Philip’s heath, Rick has family problems and Moira has to make a difficult decision about her future. However, they sympathize with the grieving Becktons and drive to Tampa and the Shimmering Sands resort. Shimmering Sands and their home base, The Homestead, have much in common. A fitness and spa center, individual villas, a beach restaurant - classic Florida retirement community amenities. And among the palm trees and pools lurks a murderer. A second death finally leads to an exciting conclusion and an ending that it is real cliffhanger.

Death on the Beach, with a cast of mature characters and a fast-paced plot is a fun read. Stephanie Broadribb describes Florida retirement communities perfectly. After that last chapter, I can’t wait for the next in this series! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Steph Broadribb for this ARC.

This is the third book in the Retired Detective's Club series. In this fun and fast mystery the women must come together despite differences to solve the murder/suicide of a dead woman.

The characters and their all to real issues are finely tuned. The book about retired women who remain quite active is a delight in a field where most protagonists are young.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. This is a quick story of mystery and intrigue. The main four characters are likable and realistic. Trying to discern the ending is not easy. This talented author has written a cannot put down novel. I enjoyed reading about the setting of Florida. This is fiction that reads like nonfiction. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

Honestly I was drawn to this thanks to Richard Osman and his entertaining set of books with a similar premise. Was this as good? No. Was it entertaining? Absolutely.

A good read which at first I feared was a little predictable but not at all! Kudos to the author for keeping me guessing. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series and I feel like perhaps I should have done to understand motivations a little as there’s a bit going on for the characters in the background but it is standalone as a book.

The Retired Detectives Club consists of four ex police, Moira, Rick, Lizzie and Phillip, who all live in a retirement community in Florida, and have come out of retirement to band together and solve crimes. In Death on the beach they are asked by a grieving family to solve the so-called suicide of their beautiful young daughter. The sleuths realise quite quickly this was murder and then our story begins.

I didn’t love the use of the third person present tense and the way that switched back and forth between past tense - it was jarring for the reader honestly.

Enjoyable with twists toward the end. I’d read more!

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.