# In for a Penny

By Kelsey Browning & Nancy Naigle · Seasoned Southern Sleuths, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/in-for-a-penny-49fab67e/

Widowed Lillian Summer Fairview wants to preserve her family’s good name in Summer Shoals, Georgia. Her attempt to cover the bills puts her in prison instead. Back at her deteriorating estate, Maggie and two more women over fifty discover that the restitution demand is far larger than Lil’s offense. They set out to find who has made her the fall guy.

## What makes it funny?

Lil is trying to maintain the appearance of a proper Southern lady while serving a prison sentence. Outside, her friends take on a swindler and, as readers on Google Books describe it, hoodwink the sheriff. Their methods attract as much attention as the mystery.

### The comedy at work

The women have a reputation and a house to preserve, which gives them reasons to behave respectably and reasons to break the rules. Their friendship supports the amateur investigation, with older women doing the scheming instead of watching from the sidelines.

### Try this if…

Older heroines, a Georgia small town and a group of friends pursuing justice are the attractions here. Book Him Danno describes a cozy mystery with little violence and subtle humor.

### Good to know

The book includes recipes and was previously published in the Granny/G Team series. Reactions to the characters and pace vary: Observations from a Simple Life found the opening slow and the women foolish rather than funny.

## What to expect

- Genre: Mystery
- On the shelf: Amateur sleuth · Cozy mystery
- Kind of humor: Situational comedy
- Format: Novel

## A few distinguishing details

- Older amateur sleuths protecting an imprisoned friend
- Southern respectability under financial strain

## Sources & further reading

- Review: [Book Him Danno review](https://bookhimdanno.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-in-for-penney-by-nancy.html)
- Author commentary: [Author reading order](https://www.nancynaigle.com/_files/ugd/159d0a_e241c4fa83484f7b9b904926962baaf8.pdf?index=true)
- Book information: [Google Books listing](https://play.google.com/store/books/details/In_For_a_Penny_A_Humorous_Amateur_Sleuth_Cozy_Myst?hl=en_AU&id=QDHeDwAAQBAJ)
- Review: [Observations from a Simple Life review](https://observationsfromasimplelife.blogspot.com/2023/06/in-for-penny-disappointing-cozy-mystery.html)