Nice cozy with interesting characters and a few fun twists in the story.
A quick read for a rainy day. I look forward to spending more time with a “professional busybody.”

Barbara Ross has created another great series!

Jane Darrowfield is a retired VP who is happy having time to enjoy her home and friends. Her people skills enable her to help others solve their social situations; from changing hairdressers to confronting senior fraud fallout. When Jane is asked to help sort out the social situations at a local retirement village, she finds herself being paid to live in a guest suite at Walden Spring. Ah the life of a professional busybody! Can Jane stay ahead of the lies and reveal a killer?

Genuine characters with age appropriate action and humor mixed with tension and suspense.
I am looking forward to more cozy books in this series.

I really like jane. She is very level headed and observant. She is the kind of person I'd love to solve a mystery with!

Jane is bored. When a fellow bridge player recommends her to Paul, who runs a retirement community she decides to check it out. She is known for looking at a situation and figuring out what needs to be done to improve the situation. When she gets to the community, and decides to spend a little time there, she quickly notes the cliques and problem people. When one of the main ones, Bill, is found dead she steps in to help investigate. A fun cozy mystery, and look forward to more. This is the start of a new series. Highly recommend.

This book was exactly what it is described as....a cozy mystery. Loved it!
Jane, a retired, single woman, is known amongst her friends as somewhat of a busybody., But over the years she has used her skills to help a few friends out of situations they couldn't figure out. One of her friends gives her name to the manager of a 55 and older development who is in need of some help. Apparently the residents of the home, compared to those of a high school, are quarreling amongst themselves and have separated into groups, with hostile interactions only. Desperate to ease all the tension, he asks Jane to move into an empty apartment and see if she can figure out a way to unify the residents. While there, a man is found murdered, and Jane may have seen the murderer. But when she helps the police investigate further, it seems the residents of Walden Spring are not at all who or what they say they are. Things will get tricky before this mystery is solved.
Loved this simple, easy read filled with a bit of mystery, light suspense, humor and a sprinkle of romance. I truly hope there is a next book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This cozy mystery is a bit of a change from the usual. Jane is retired, and in between taking care of her large house and gardening, she finds time to discreetly help her friends with sticky personal problems. Word has gotten around, and now she’s been hired by the director of an up-scale condo community to dispel hostilities among the residents. Going undercover and living on the premises, she finds many of the 55+ residents act like they are in high school. Jane suggests a few changes to the director, and soon one of the men involved is found dead on the golf course. Jane intends to find who is responsible. Working with her new guy friend, Harry, and another new friend, Detective Alvarez, they eventually are able to determine who committed the murder. I very much enjoyed this first book in a new series, and am looking forward to the next one. It was fun to ”meet” and follow all the characters. I hope there will be more of Jane, Harry and Detective Alvarez in the next book. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries and might like to try a new series. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

I knew I was going to love this from the very first chapter! I enjoyed the characters, the humor and the unique mystery at a 55 and over community that made this book stand out among other cozies. This is the first in the Jane Darrowfield cozy mystery series. I’m looking forward to the books to come!

This was a fun read and I finished it in an afternoon. The older sleuth is called to a retirement community where the residents have cliques, food fights and general hostilities. I think the author is on to something with older characters and funny dialogue. The plot seems unique as well.

Loved this book the title drew me in the story kept me turning the pages.A brand new series I will be following.#netgalley#kensingtonbooks

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for letting me read this copy in exchange for my review. This story was full of charm, humor and warmth. I wanted to be part of Jane's circle of friends, I would have had so much fun! The mystery portion of the book was also entertaining. I really liked the author's narration style. This is one new author for me and I look forward to reading more from her!

Loved this book! Immediately grabbed my attention. I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the mystery was interesting. I didn't figure out who the murderer was, which is always nice. We have an older sleuth for this series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. - I hope for many more in this series.

I loved everything about this book. A first in a new series by Barbara Ross, Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody is like a breath of fresh air.
Jane is retired, but loves helping people, so when certain people need to have “things done “, Jane is just a call away.
The director of an active senior living community seeks Jane out for some delicate services regarding residents and social cliques.
The inquiries go awry when a murder takes place, and Jane finds herself in the middle of a bizarre investigation.
I loved everything about this book. Jane is a great character, she’s sassy and sweet and doesn’t let her age stop her.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

A new series off to a promising start. Jane Darrowfield is a smart and unapologetic character whose work and life experience led her to a straightforward, no nonsense approach. The secondary characters are interesting and believable. I look forward to reading about Jane’ s future adventures.

Delightful and assured debut of a new series by Barbara Ross, author of the Maine Clambake cozy mysteries.

Recently retired executive Jane Darrowfield has already reorganized her spices and is starting to meddle in her friends' lives. She lands a paying gig as a consultant to a senior living community that is divided by high-school-like cliques. Jane quickly identifies the root cause and makes remedial recommendations -- the very night one of the troublemakers is beaten to death on the golf course.

I enjoyed this unusual take on a cozy mystery. Jane is an appealing protagonist, with a complex backstory hinted at in this debut. The senior living setting is well drawn, down to its "smell of underseasoned food." Though there are many characters, with many secrets, most of the characters are distinct and sympathetic. Even bad actors have redeeming qualities. Jane's origin story as a professional busybody is touching and romantic.

It's almost a shame this is a murder mystery. The beginning of the book is winningly droll, recounting the way Jane inflicts her corporate problem-solving skills on such annoyances as swapping out one's hairdresser. After the murder, the tone sobers, and Jane's problem-solving approach shifts more toward traditional amateur sleuthing instead of demonstrating the expertise she has gained from "toiling in the bowels of corporate America."

I hope to see the Jane of the first part of this book again. She offers something different and distinctive in the crowded cozy market.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love senior sleuths! Jane Darrowfield, author Barbara Ross' answer to the beloved Miss Marple, is asked to go undercover at a retirement complex to discover who's causing problems, but when a resident is found dead on the golf course she may be in for more than she bargained for! I loved it, and can't wait for more in this fun new series!

Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody by Barbara Ross is an excellent beginning to a new cozy mystery series. I loved Jane and thought she was a hoot.

The dialogue was witty, sassy, and sharp. The concept and the murder/mystery plot were creative and kept me engaged. I loved the full cast of characters. There is plenty of material here for future books.

Ms. Ross has the beginnings of another successful series. I love it.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

5/5 stars