Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate created
by Corinne Holt Sawyer
Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate are the elderly
protagonists in Corinne Holt Sawyer's mystery novels set in a Southern
California retirement community. The two elderly women are drawn into
investigating criminal wrongdoings in a continuing series that Emily Melton in
Booklist dubs "fun, lighthearted, cleverly plotted entertainment."
Born in Chisholm, MN, Corrine Holt married second husband,
Hugh Alton Sawyer, Jr. August 28, 1965. She attended the University of
Minnesota, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in 1945, and a Masters in 1947.
She earned her Ph.D. at University of Birmingham 1954. She worked in Radio and
Television media at several places, and she is an assistant professor of
English, since 1966, at Clemson University. She is a sometime panelist, actress,
and commercial announcer on radio and television besides her successful writing
career.
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 Murder Olé!.
The residents from Camden-sur-Mer retirement home think
Halloween south of the border is pretty frightening.
Terrifying tableaus, mummies, candy skulls ... and one of
their group suddenly dead of a heart attack. Then, on their
next outing, there's another tragedy -- murder on a dark beach
in Ensenada. The good news is that those unsinkable senior
sleuths Angela and Caledonia have a fascinating new crime to
investigate. In fact,
 with a ruthless killer calling the
shots, they may have several ... if only they can stay off
the casualty list. [Call 850-606-2665 to reserve this item.]
Ho-Ho Homicide. When the
body of a resident is discovered under the lobby tree, the
pair are thrilled when Lieutenant Martinez asks them to
compile short descriptions of the residents on the dead
woman's side of the building. While Martinez thinks he's
keeping them busy and out of his hair, Angela and Cal decide
that they've been deputized and proceed to question their
fellow residents, most of whom, they learn, didn't think too
highly of Birdy Benton. They also get involved with the dead
woman's family and discover that the relatives are
squabbling over Birdy's possessions. But, based on
preliminary evidence, Martinez thinks
 the death will be
declared accidental. Loath to give up their investigation,
however, Angela and Cal pursue leads until they track down
the killer.
The Peanut Butter Murders [PAPERBACK]
The dead man was a mere fifty, too young to have much in
common with the well-heeled oldsters at the beautiful
Camden-sur-Mer retirement community in southern California.
His death looks like an accident, but when those ever-alert
senior sleuths Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate discover
that he was courting one of their neighbors, they can't help
hoping they'll luck into a nice murder investigation. A
second murder confirms t heir suspicions that a dangerous
killer is on the loose. But between Angela's shameless curiosity and Caledonia's blitzkrieg, a mere murderer
hasn't a chance. Unless he can eliminate them, too. . . .[Call 850-606-2665 to reserve this item.]
Murder
Has No Calories.
When a beautiful staff member at a California fat farm is
found brutally murdered, the owner pleads with the plucky
senior sleuths from Camden-sur-Mer to investigate. So Angela
Benbow and Caledonia Wingate quickly join the edgy little
party at The Time-Out Inn to check out their fellow guests:
grumpy Marceline, face-lifted Carmen, dimpled Cracker, saggy
Judy, and roly-poly Tilly, among others. Very nice ladies,
too--on the surface. But beneath one
 of those mud-packs
lurks a killer. Too bad that Angela's and Caledonia's
impulsive sleuthing is pushing them toward a fate worse than
aerobics. Namely death...
Murder in Gray and White. Just as things are beginning to settle down after the murder
of "Sweetie", the "golden girls" get wind of yet another
murder that has taken place on the premises. This time they
help investigate the beating death of unpopular new
retirement home resident Amy Kinseth. Idiosyncratic
personalities, witty remarks, and pertinent details flow
through the narrative with few impediments, as Angela Benbow
and Caledonia Wingate conduct surreptitious searches and
interviews. Spry fun for the most part, with emphasis on
character and locale.
[Large Type]
The J. Alfred Prufrock Murders. Four residents of a seaside retirement complex in Southern
California investigate the murder of a friend in this lively
and entertaining mystery. A former librarian, "Sweetie" was
neither sweet nor popular, but her sudden violent death
inspires curiosity in the imposing breast of the well-to-do
and imperious Caledonia. She, coy Angela, quiet Nan and the
decorous Stella give up craft classes and bridge games to
discover why Sweetie was killed. A nighttime foray into her
apartment reveals she'd been blackmailing other residents of
Camden-sur-Mer, many of whom turn out to have secrets they'd
pay to keep hidden. A second murder ensues, and the
detective in charge begs the ladies to leave the case to
him to no avail. Relying on gossip, a growing taste for
adventure and the considerable wisdom of their age, they
finally reach the bittersweet solution to the mystery.
Neither sentimental nor patronizing, this tale of geriatric
adventure is as heartwarming as a glass of Caledonia's
sherry.
[LARGE TYPE]
R E T
U R N T O O L D E R A M E R I C A N S M O N T H
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