From the author of the fantastic Bruno Johnson series, comes this standalone ‘The Blind Devotion of Imogene’.

It’s the year 1973 when we meet 75 year old Imogene Taylor. Twelve years ago she was imprisoned for the murder of her husband Wayne. She loved Wayne deeply and said his death was an accident.

She’s now out on parole and working at Dentco, a store that sells dented goods to those less fortunate. She hates the fact that her parole agent constantly turns up at work out of the blue, but part of her parole conditions is that if she has a job, she has to keep it, and also that she stays out of trouble, so she definitely needs to keep her nose clean in order to comply and retain her freedom. This however, is going to be very difficult to achieve considering what awaits her in the coming few weeks!

All manner of mayhem and madness are about to take place, tempered with lots of humour, and it makes for a great read.

2.0. Although humorous in a low brow way, this book was not a good read. It is the story of a 70 yo woman who is an ex-con trying to avoid being re-incarcerated for violating her parole. Involves some criminal activity, surprising friendships and relationships, but is totally unbelievable to this reader. Enjoyed and laughed a little at the beginning, but from the middle to end, it was a slog. Do not recommend.

I have no idea how I can have such a different response to this book than every other reviewer, but I could not get into this one at all. It felt like a hot mess of all over the place to me... I love the cover and was highly intrigued by the concept, and the title is fabulous. Unfortunately once I started reading, all of that interest fled almost immediately. I could not connect with the characters, the plot, or the pacing. This was definitely not the right book for me...

Thank you NetGallery,Level Best Books and author,David Putnam for the ebook novel,The Blind Devotion of Imogene. Book on sale,July 09,2024. I loved the quirky story! It was a fast read and all characters were funny and a bit off the wall.It takes place in 1973 in So.Calif when 75 year old,Imogene,has recently been paroled after many years in prison,for mistaking her beloved husband as a robber in her dark bedroom and kills him. She’s a two pack a day cigarette smoker and beer guzzler who has conversations in her head with her former cell mate when she gets stressed out which is constant.Her day to day experiences are quite funny happening to a 75 year old and her memories of her late husband are bittersweet. There is a bit of mystery and romance too. The story was written by a former police officer and much of it is based on his true relatives and storyof a true crime that he knew about and said you may Google,if interested. This is a first of a trilogy and I can’t wait to read the next two.

Alice/aka Imogene had a life with Wayne, the husband she adored, but who had his faults. When a neighborhood burglary takes place and the police are hunting for the suspect, Imogene tries to wait up for Wayne to return from the bar, but falls asleep instead. Upon waking in the dark, she sees a huddled form hiding in the corner of her bedroom and fires a warning shot. Unfortunately, the victim is Wayne, not the burglar. Sent to prison for killing her husband, Imogene spends ten long years before she is released with a parole officer on her tail just waiting for her to make a mistake and get sent back to prison.

Filled with unique characters, (based on real relatives according to the author's note) readers will be kept wondering if some of these characters are real or just figments of a 75-year-old, beer swilling, cigarette smoking, ex-con's imagination. Imogene is a survivor and she isn't about to take any crap from anyone. When a body is discovered in a crate in her neighbor's garage, buried under years of trash, Imogene must figure our who is in the box, why they are in the box and who put them there before the perpetrator figures out exactly what Imogene and her friend Suz know and comes gunning for them.

With descriptions of people and places so vivid that you feel that you're in the scene with them, this novel will keep you turning the pages to the very end. Will Imogene wind up back in prison? Read and find out!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In David Putnam's novel, "The Blind Devotion of Imogene: The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor," readers are treated to a delightful blend of mystery, humor, and unexpected twists. Imogene Taylor, a seventy-five-year-old ex-convict, finds herself embroiled in a series of misadventures that will keep you turning the pages.

Plot Summary:
Imogene, on parole for murder, works at a store selling dented canned goods. But her life takes an unexpected turn when she sends threatening letters to sitting Presidents during her prison stint, catching the attention of the Secret Service. Her novel, "Peekaboo POTUS" , about the assassination of a US President, lands her in a web of intrigue.

As if that weren't enough, the local mobster, known as "The Cigar," extorts protection money from the store where Imogene works. The entire strip center faces the threat of firebombing. Meanwhile, Imogene's neighbor dies, leaving behind a hoarder's mess. Imogene and Suzanne, the neighbor's daughter, discover a hidden box containing a long-dead woman. Imogene must navigate an overzealous parole agent while dealing with the corpse in the garage. But she can't report it to the police—after all, she's on parole for murder.

Imogene and Suzanne suspect the dead woman is Suzanne's estranged mother. Rather than expose Suzanne's father as the probable killer, Imogene convinces her to bury her mom under the avocado tree in the backyard. But when Thelma, Suzanne's mother, reappears after reading her own obituary, the race to uncover the real killer begins.

What Makes It Stand Out:

- Imogene's Unconventional Charm: Imogene is no ordinary protagonist. Her quirky personality, sharp wit, and unapologetic attitude make her a refreshing departure from typical mystery heroines.

- Humor and Heart:
Putnam weaves humor into the darkest moments, creating a unique blend of suspense and laughter. Imogene's interactions with the parole agent, the mobster, and the dead woman's unexpected return add layers of depth to the story.

- Layered Mystery:

The novel isn't just about solving a murder; it's about Imogene's redemption, her relationships, and the secrets buried in the past. The plot unfolds like a well-crafted puzzle, keeping readers guessing until the end.

Final Verdict:

"The Blind Devotion of Imogene" is a captivating read that defies genre conventions. If you enjoy mysteries with unconventional protagonists, witty dialogue, and unexpected twists, this book is a must-read. Imogene Taylor's misadventures will leave you both amused and intrigued.

I loved Imogene, and I highly recommend this book, it is a breath of fresh air, from an extremely talented and imaginative author.

This book, first in a series, is hard to characterize. Murder mystery, comedy of errors, mayhem, social commentary? That and more. There is a lot happening all the time. It’s not hard to follow but as I was reading, I was thinking it was too much, too fast, and it made me lose interest. The characters are in a constant state of upheaval, under threat by a variety of forces. Really over the top.

Imogene is a 75-year-old ex con on parole, convicted for killing her husband. She served ten years and when the story begins, she has been out for two years. She works in a store that sells dented cans and surplus damaged goods. Her nasty parole officer is determined to find her committing an offense that will put her back in jail. She has a best friend Suz, whose father has just died and while Imogene helps clean out the garage, they find a body in a box. Rather than reporting it to the police, they bury it in Imogene’s yard.

At the same time, mafia type hoods are threatening hers and neighboring businesses to pay weekly protection. On top of this, Imogene is involved with the secret service for activity while in jail, she has an infatuation with a neighbor, and her friend Suz’s long lost mother shows up to create more confusion. And if that is not enough, Imogene has a voice in her head that may be that of her former roommate in jail or not. I won't even try to tell you about her back story.

Threaded throughout is commentary about the law since the author is former law enforcement.

All in all, it was an exhausting read and I can’t imagine what this character will be up to in future books.

I’m giving it three stars. It was not for me but if you are someone who likes to read zany, fast moving plots with many twists and turns, real and absurd, then you might like this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books to read and honestly review this ARC.

How to give a review on this all engaging delightful book about Imogene! You have to read it to understand my review. I truly could not understand where David Putnam came up with the novel’s content ….. until I read his notes at the end of the book. A comical , often crazy, charming and gratifying read. I was fully entertained!

What an engrossing and interesting story. I was wondering how the author thought of all this mayhem and drama and then I read the author’s note at the end. The cadre of characters are delightful, malevolent and funny. If you want a light, out of the ordinary book to read, pick this one up for sure! Thank you NetGalley and Level Best Books and Lisa from Swell Media for granting me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #TheBlindDevotionofImogene, #NetGalley.

A senior citizen...finally out of jail...a murder...her husband...the antics of this woman are, at times, comedic...at others, sad...this talented author has written a page turner. The title is intriguing...devotion...blind? Imogene? it is refreshing to read about the elderly sometimes...That being said, the language…doesn’t add to the story…I do look forward to more books by Putnam...unique...Thanks Netgalley.