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Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite
There are very few books starring characters in their later years, but Gabi Plumm features them in Scandal at Sunset. Set in an old folks' home, or described in a more genteel fashion as a retirement retreat, it begins with the arrival of Frank Chambers, an unwilling new resident placed there by his son. He is still in his prime and the other residents are keen to make friends. Three old dears in their early seventies, Dee, Dot, and Dulcie, who drink copious cups of Earl Grey tea, are curious, but the most interested and predatory is Joan Holoway-Potts-Jones on the hunt for husband number five. Joan is mentally unstable, but she owns a large part of Rosehill, a rambling building set in a rural area outside Cairns in northern Queensland, Australia. There is no way the staff or management can persuade her to leave. When she discovers that Frank only has eyes for one of the three Ds, she sets out to get her man, whatever it takes. She thinks up many nefarious schemes and her advances are outrageous. At first, her antics are amusing but, as she becomes more desperate, events escalate and turn dangerous.
I loved Scandal at Sunset by Gabi Plumm so much that I have downloaded the other two books in the series. I can relate to a retirement village and characters who are closer in age to me than most. This author has brought her imaginary characters to life and you feel you know them, connect with them, and laugh and cry with them. Who would ever have guessed there could be so much drama in a retirement home? Amid the revolving repast of ham, salad, and tiny tinned potatoes, I laughed and cried with the residents, poor Samuel who is hopelessly in love with Joan, and Prudence who in turn is hopelessly in love with Samuel. As the secret of the three Ds is revealed, it throws everyone into a frenetic new scenario. Set near the edge of a tropical forest, and surrounded by landscaped gardens, there are beautiful descriptions of the local trees and flowers. It's a fun yet thoughtful read which highlights that desires of the heart do not wither with age. Recommended.
