The Gladstone Bag

Aunt Emma Kelling is happy to take over for an ailing, aging friend when the latter asks her to take her place on the private island of Pocapuk, Maine, where the friend had long hosted summer visitors, usually artists in need of a place to work in peace. This time, however, the invited guests are unknown to the friend and, of course, to Aunt Emma, who is less than pleased when it turns out that they are hoping to find pirate treasure rumored to be hidden on the island; when a stranger appears and in short order turns up dead, Emma knows she must summon help from the family, in this case Aunt Theonia, to nip a potential series of murders in the bud….The ninth (of 12) Sarah Kelling mysteries has very little Sarah Kelling in it; in fact, show more she and her husband Max Bittersohn only show up as voices on the telephone providing helpful information to Emma as needed. No matter; this book treats us to a longer acquaintance with Emma and Theonia, two delightful elderly ladies whose strengths of character complement each other to great effect. One wishes there was such an island as Pocapuk and that one could be invited to visit these two stalwarts there over a summer, sans the mayhem of course! Recommended. show less

Emma Kelling, a widow of middle age, has energy and enthusiasm to burn. Always willing to help in a good cause, she has agreed to fill in for a friend as hostess on an island off the coast of Maine for the summer. What she doesn't know, is that before her duties even begin she will be drugged, robbed and called upon to solve a murder.

This was a fun light read, humor and amusing antics galore. The mystery was perhaps not the most difficult, but good enough for me. The characters made this book an enjoyable read which I would be happy to recommend to my friends.

Emma Kelling presides over an island retreat pestered by murder and burglery