Poison Me
By Cami Checketts
Cami Checketts has done it again! She's created another fun read for those who aren't into heavy gritty fiction.
Chanel Roberts has just had her life ruined by a man she thought she loved and it's time to start over someplace new. And someplace new is Cub River Retirement Palace as the new activities director. But her new job isn't as easy as it should be. Someone is killing off the residents at least according to Ruby Merrill.
When her friend Anne suddenly dies, telling Ruby just before her last breath that "She...poisoned...me," Ruby is determined to find the murderer. But who wants to kill the residents of the Palace and why? As the body count starts to rise Ruby begins to despair of ever finding the proof she needs to stop the killer that threatens them all.
In the midst of the "investigation" Ruby and her best friends Ellie and Marissa decide to play matchmaker for Chanel and Ruby's grandson Doctor Jack Merrill. As the three friends scheme to bring these two together, they fight and egg each other on, often culminating in humorous exchanges that could destroy friendships that had not survived a lifetime.
But more than murder is hiding in the Palace. Secrets abound and Ruby is at the center of the biggest one of all. But Ruby's secret could effect the lives of everyone she loves. Secrets have a way of making themselves known and Ruby's has had more than half a century to try to to free itself.
For a reason that Jake can't figure out his grandmother seems to loath Michael Trapper. And even more puzzling is that Michael seems to have eyes only for Ruby in a population of 20 women to 1 man.
As the past catches up with the present the lives of all involved are about to get more tangled than they already are. Can they let go of past pain and guilt so that they can embrace second chances or will they all succumb to a mysterious murderer whom the police doubt even exists?
If you like a who-dun-it with a splash of fun and romance you should enjoy Poison Me.
I was provided a digital copy of this book by the author Cami Checketts for the purpose of this review.
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Excerpts provided by Cami
1
Jake pulled out a leather-upholstered chair and reached for her hand. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.” She sniffed.
Jake tilted his dark head to the side and lowered his long-lashed eyes. “Don’t you lie to me. You look upset.”
Ruby bit her lip, wiping at a tear that escaped. “I’m…” She searched for a cuss word that was strong enough. “Darn mad.”
Jake lifted one eyebrow. “Grandma, such strong language.”
Ellie chortled. “You almost got her to swear, Jakey.”
Ruby clenched her jaw as heat flooded her face. “Well, I am darn mad. It wasn’t Anne’s time. Someone killed her, and the policeman thought I was an idiot.” Her eyes narrowed. “He said, ‘Old people just die.’ The punk.”
“Are you mad at the police, or upset because one of your closest friends is gone?” Jake asked.
Ruby looked away. “A little of both.” She exhaled slowly. “No, you’re right. I’m more upset about Anne. Hang the police.” She stared at her grandson for half a second before pursing her lips and snapping a finger at him. “Stop psychoanalyzing me, Jake.”
He grinned.
“Whoo-ee,” Ellie said. “With a smile like that you can psycho-whatever me, anytime you like.” She extended her thin fingers and leaned her gray head to the side. “If you’ll hold my hand.”
“I’m okay.” She sniffed.
Jake tilted his dark head to the side and lowered his long-lashed eyes. “Don’t you lie to me. You look upset.”
Ruby bit her lip, wiping at a tear that escaped. “I’m…” She searched for a cuss word that was strong enough. “Darn mad.”
Jake lifted one eyebrow. “Grandma, such strong language.”
Ellie chortled. “You almost got her to swear, Jakey.”
Ruby clenched her jaw as heat flooded her face. “Well, I am darn mad. It wasn’t Anne’s time. Someone killed her, and the policeman thought I was an idiot.” Her eyes narrowed. “He said, ‘Old people just die.’ The punk.”
“Are you mad at the police, or upset because one of your closest friends is gone?” Jake asked.
Ruby looked away. “A little of both.” She exhaled slowly. “No, you’re right. I’m more upset about Anne. Hang the police.” She stared at her grandson for half a second before pursing her lips and snapping a finger at him. “Stop psychoanalyzing me, Jake.”
He grinned.
“Whoo-ee,” Ellie said. “With a smile like that you can psycho-whatever me, anytime you like.” She extended her thin fingers and leaned her gray head to the side. “If you’ll hold my hand.”
2
Ellie and Marissa had dressed for the occasion: black shoes, pants, turtlenecks, and hats. Ellie couldn’t find ski masks, so she’d painted their faces and hands with black craft paint. Ruby suppressed a giggle. They might not believe or even want to listen to her theory about the murders, but both her friends were excited to be involved in a second covert operation. This time they would investigate Richard’s and Anne’s rooms. Ruby prayed they’d find something.
“You supposed to be detectives or criminals?” she whispered.
Ellie’s black-rimmed eyes narrowed. “We are private investigators, and don’t you forget it. My secretary will bill you for our services in the morning.”
Ruby and Marissa laughed, and this time Ellie gestured for silence. Ruby clamped her mouth shut, her chest rumbling from withheld merriment.
Soon, they reached Richard’s door. Ellie tried the knob, but it was locked. Ruby sighed. “I am such an idiot. Of course they would lock it.”
Ellie grinned. Her black cheeks crinkled and the thick paint began to flake. She reached into her pocket and withdrew a silver key. “Lucky for you, I am not an idiot.”
“Good girl,” Marissa said.
Ruby’s heart sped up. “Oh, Ellie. Richard’s room key?”
“Even better.” Ellie ran her hand the length of the key like she was Vanna White displaying the next item. “The master,” she drawled out.
Ruby’s jaw dropped. They would be in trouble if they got caught sneaking around the Palace like this, but stealing the master key? That could be a valid reason for expulsion. Ruby didn’t want to be cast out of her home again. “How did you get that?” she asked.
“How dare you question me?” Ellie retorted.
Ruby folded her arms across her chest, staring until Ellie squirmed. “Where did you get it?”
Ellie opened her eyes wider. Ruby scowled more fiercely. It was a staring contest, and she wasn’t about to give in. She wasn’t going to be dragged down with Ellie this time.
“You supposed to be detectives or criminals?” she whispered.
Ellie’s black-rimmed eyes narrowed. “We are private investigators, and don’t you forget it. My secretary will bill you for our services in the morning.”
Ruby and Marissa laughed, and this time Ellie gestured for silence. Ruby clamped her mouth shut, her chest rumbling from withheld merriment.
Soon, they reached Richard’s door. Ellie tried the knob, but it was locked. Ruby sighed. “I am such an idiot. Of course they would lock it.”
Ellie grinned. Her black cheeks crinkled and the thick paint began to flake. She reached into her pocket and withdrew a silver key. “Lucky for you, I am not an idiot.”
“Good girl,” Marissa said.
Ruby’s heart sped up. “Oh, Ellie. Richard’s room key?”
“Even better.” Ellie ran her hand the length of the key like she was Vanna White displaying the next item. “The master,” she drawled out.
Ruby’s jaw dropped. They would be in trouble if they got caught sneaking around the Palace like this, but stealing the master key? That could be a valid reason for expulsion. Ruby didn’t want to be cast out of her home again. “How did you get that?” she asked.
“How dare you question me?” Ellie retorted.
Ruby folded her arms across her chest, staring until Ellie squirmed. “Where did you get it?”
Ellie opened her eyes wider. Ruby scowled more fiercely. It was a staring contest, and she wasn’t about to give in. She wasn’t going to be dragged down with Ellie this time.
Poison Me by Cami Checketts
Jake Merrill was raised by his grandmother, Ruby, and her hilarious friends. After a suspicious death at the retirement home where Ruby lives, she enlists Jake and Chanel, the beautiful activities director, to help her find the killer.
But secrets Ruby has kept for decades threaten her family and the man she’s always loved but could never have. Chanel’s unstable ex-boyfriend, a presumably dead relative, and vicious criminals add to the confusion. Time is running out as Jake, Chanel, and Ruby desperately search for clues to solve the murders and fight to save those they love.
Poison Me made me laugh out loud and thoroughly enjoy myself. I wish I had a friend like Ruby! Snappy dialogue, romance, and a strong sense of family made this book well worth reading.
Rachel Ann Nunes, bestselling author of Line of Fire and Before I Say Goodbye
Author Cami Checketts
Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She's never been happier.
A portion of the proceeds from Cami's books will be donated to The Child & Family Support Center. For more information on this worthy cause, please go to www.cachecfsc.org
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Thank you for the fun review!
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