Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe

By: Robin Merrill

Narrated by: Darlene Allen

Length: 3 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Gertrude has been called a lot of things: a hoarder, an odd duck, and a crazy cat lady - but she's never been called a gumshoe. Until now. When her neighbor goes missing, she can't help but get involved, no matter how many people ask her not to.

©2016 Robin Merrill (P)2016 Robin Merrill

It brought me home.

This story reminded me of so many of the old ladies from my own little home town in Maine. Gertrude is hilarious! I mean who really does lock there house up there? So many Maine tendencies, like saving everything "just in case". Adding in a few Maine staples like LL Bean and Gifford's Ice Cream made me feel at home. Not a Tim Sample or Bert & I narrator when it came to accent. She muffed up ayuh and a few other typically Maine phrases, but my head eventually just gave up wanting to hear the accent. Getting ready to listen to more of Robin's books, can't wait!

I'm NOT old!

Robin Merrill does an excellent job of introducing us to Gertrude who is not only a classic "old cat lady" but also a hoarder and a tactless old crank! She is also quite nosy and doesn't stand by when she finds two small neighboring children left all alone. The shenanigans she gets into as she searches for their mother and then for her killer will keep you in stitches. I listened to this book on Audible and the narration by Darlene Allen is spot on! She makes each character unique and brings this book to life!

Supremely silly, in the best possible way

What a fun story!

Gertrude is a cantankerous busybody with a walker and an attitude, who takes matters into her own hands when she discovers that her neighbor is missing. Full of hilarious antics (I chuckled many times while listening), colorful supporting characters, excellent narration, and a good mystery at the center of it all. I love how Gertrude needs a walker, yet is capable of Jackie Chan-like antics when the need arises.

Light and frothy. A great comedic mystery for a short(ish) car trip.

Sweet Mystery

The narrator of this story did an excellent job of portraying the cantankerous Gertrude Gumshoe. I look forward to listening to the next novel in this series!

Gertrude- Detective

This is a good detective story. Gertrude is an old lady that is on a mission to solve a murder. She is determined and does it her way. This is the first book in the series. I will definitely listen to the rest of the books. Darlene Allen did an excellent job narrating this book. Her voice is perfect for these stories. If my review is any help will you please click on the helpful link below. Thank you

Laugh out Loud

Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe made me laugh out loud till I almost cried. Gertrude is a sassy, snarky older lady who stumbles upon a mystery of a missing mother after searching for her cat Tornado. The case takes on many twist and turns from a strip club to a crappy waterpark. The story flows well and will have you guessing and laughing till the end. Gertrude truly rolls no punches or bites her tongue for no one. Darlene Allen does the book justice with her voices and comedic timing she really gives the story a life of it's own. I highly recommend this book.

Fun and light cozy mystery

These books are so much fun! I've read up to book 4 now and I'll going back through to review them. They're light on the actual mechanics of the mystery, wonderfully full of quirky characters, and just a plain hoot! Gertrude is highly competent...at being Gertrude. Which I'm thinking is a full time job in itself. I loved so much her roundabout way of doing things, her absolute pride at owning a cell phone (ha!) and her banter with Calvin. I laughed out loud a lot!

If you enjoy cozy small town mysteries with quirky characters, I'd highly recommend this!

I received a free review copy at my request and happily left this review.

What a fun book

Gertrude is so funny. She doesn't take no for an answer and gets the job done. It's been a long time since I've laughed so much. So glad I took the time to listen.

Gert the Gumshoe

This cozy will keep a smile on your face from the opening line until the last word. When Gertrude finds the body of a young mother (who worked as a stripper) dead, she embarks on her new calling - "gumshoe ". I was gifted this from the author.

Gertrude is Great!

I loved Gertrude from the first sentence. Her quirky, feisty, cat loving attitude is a breath of fresh air, and I'd like to get to know her better! I will definitely be reading or listening to the rest of the series. A very well-written story with believable characters that is at times laugh-out-loud funny. I am looking forward to more Gertrude antics.

Don t call me ma'am: I'm not old.

Meet Gertrude, an elderly (though she'd dispute that) and grouchy woman who lives with her assortment of cats in her trailer piled high with all sorts of odds and ends that might come in useful. She wields a walker to help her get around and is not, perhaps, the sharpest needle in the pack now, and somewhat out of touch with modern technologies. But when her beloved cat goes missing and is discovered in a neighbouring trailer being petted by two young children, alone and scared at the failure of their mother to return home, her natural nosiness and need to assert her right to interfere, has Gertrude first looking for the mother then tracking down a killer - with the reluctant assistance of her 71 years old neighbour. After all, he has a car. She is, quite frankly, a refreshingly unpleasant old women, pushy, judgemental, foolish but also determined and with a streak of kindness buried below the surface. Great characterisation by the author.

The whole book is quick and easy to read, the who-dun-it? plotline very much taking second place to the abrasive and bumbling obsession of Gertrude's investigation. It's funny and somehow very believable. And this reader, for one, felt an empathy with her. Narrator, Darlene Allen, does a good job with her portrayal of Gertrude and gives voice to the other protagonists also. She helps bring the whole story to life although I personally found speeding the replay to 1.25 beneficial in covering the odd little pauses which sometimes occured.

My thanks to the rights holder of Introducing Gertrude, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me a complimentary copy. It was refreshingly different from the usually slick private eye stories and I wish Gertrude success in her gumshoe career: I'm looking forward to reading about more of her cases.

Great new amateur detective with a difference

A great introduction to a new amateur detective with a difference. Quite different from most amateur detective stories. Well written with lots of twists and turns. Well read with good characterisation. Makes you want to hear more about the main character.

Gumshoe and cats what more could you want

I enjoyed this book.it is the first book by this author I have listened to but I have already downloaded the next book. I wish it could have been longer at 3 hours and 46 minutes it is a bit shorter to the 9 or so hours I am use to but other than that I liked it. Gertrude is a fun character with plenty of spunk and a walking frame but she is not old. It is a fun light hearted and often humorous story. Well worth the listen.
When one of Gertrude's many cats goes missing she tracks it down to a neighbours caravan. Where she finds to children left alone with only her cat for company. There mother has gone missing and Gertrude has her first case, the only clue is to start at the strip joint where she works. Gertrude needs to enlist many of her fellow neighbours to help, mainly because she needs there car not there detecting skills, that she can manage by her self. It is not long before she stumbles over naughty photos, a blackmail scam and a dead body. Will Gertrude first case turn from investigation to body guarding? She fears for another strippers life and vowels to not let her become the next victim even if it means beating the killer off with a walker. Now if she could just master technology and cell phones as easy as it is to become a pi.
I liked the narrator and thought she was perfect for the elderly sluth. I did listen to is speeded up though.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.