Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley is a quick, fun read.

Gina finds herself recently on her own as her husband left her suddenly. She takes a job as a companion to an older woman. The job develops into a caper as the lady wants Gina to help her solve a mystery.

The story is engaging and cute. It is not truly fraught with tension or danger but manages to be entertaining, nonetheless. I found myself chuckling several times at the cheeky dialogue.

Despite an apparently light storyline there are also deep themes of loss, love, identity, family and the power to reinvent yourself at any age.

The story ends in a way that leaves it open for other books about Gina and Dorothy. I would happily read a sequel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood book for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Told in alternating viewpoints by Gina and Dorothy, we get to see these two women becoming friends. Gina is seventy-one and has just been told by her husband that he no longer wants to be married. No real reason other than the fact that he's bored with his life and thinks she's boring as well. So, while she's trying to figure out what her next steps are (with little help from her daughter who seems to blame Gina though her son is somewhat more sympathetic,) she sees an ad for a companion.
Dorothy's granddaughter is getting married and, though she is generally just fine on her own, her family want someone to keep an eye on her; she just had a fall and she is older.
Dorothy does her best to run off all of the potential caregivers but she clicks with Gina. But she doesn't want Gina as just a companion, she wants help getting back a painting that was stolen from her husband. The person who she believes took the painting is the same person hosting the wedding at his estate, Leonard. So the opportunity has presented itself.
But there may be more than just a stolen painting that Leonard has that includes shady dealings. And it's those dealings that may be leading to the many "accidents" happening to Leonard. Before the book is over, will there also be someone dead?

Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 23, 2024
ARC kindly provided by Boldwood Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

At the age of seventy-one and after over forty years of marriage, could there be anything more demoralising than to be told by your departing husband that you’re “beige and unexciting”? Faced with forced changes to her life, Gina answers an advertisement for a live-in companion – something eighty-nine year old Dot’s family think she’s in need of, but she’s equally determined she doesn’t. But, with her background in art history, she does think Gina’ll be just perfect to help her solve a mystery – the theft of a painting that resulted in her husband’s death – and bring the villain behind it to justice.

All of which comes as rather a surprise to Gina – who finds herself in a grand house on the Norfolk estate where they’re attending a family wedding party, desperately searching for evidence. Dot watches her back – she’ll text her if she’s in danger of discovery, if she can remember to charge her phone – and she also has some dubious “help” from Dot’s tech-obsessed teenage granddaughter Juliet.

As a cosy mystery, I thought the whole story was brilliantly told – mostly from Gina’s perspective, in her clear and likeable voice, as she frequently finds herself well outside her personal comfort zone, but with occasional chapters through Dot’s critical eyes. There’s a suitably large cast of characters – all really well drawn – many of them with well-hidden secrets and other agendas, and plentiful red herrings and surprises along the way as Dot’s plan comes ever closer to fruition.

But in addition to the mystery itself, this book was tremendous fun. Host Leonard is a magnificently over-the top character intent on making the wedding party one to remember, with activities planned for every waking hour – and that’s how Gina finds herself roaring cross-country on a quad bike with Dot clinging on the back. The second chance elements of the story aren’t the usual romance – instead, there’s a focus on moving forward, finding friendship, recovering self-belief, and being able to look forward to what the future might hold. And there’s certainly a considerable emphasis on never being too old for some fun – in fact, for just about anything you could think of.

As well as being an intriguing and page-turning mystery with a distinctly uncertain outcome, this really was such an uplifting read, with a few emotional moments and plenty of gentle laughter along the way – and if the author decides to continue Gina and Dot’s adventures together, I’ll be looking forward to reading more. An unexpected delight – and a book I’d certainly be happy to recommend to others.

Lovely easy summer holiday read. Eccentric characters proving that you are never too old for anything. Good detective mystery and characters to live and hate in equal measure.

Love this cozy mystery that has older ladies looking for proof that who they know must be the villain is guilty. When Dorothy’s son and daughter-in-law hires a companion for her for the week long wedding event of her grandson, she is against it. Till she finds out that Gina is a bit of an art expert. The wedding will be held at the manor house of the man she knows is the reason her beloved husband died. And with the help of Gina she will finally find justice.
I really enjoyed that the whole dun-nit was known in the beginning, but the why wasn’t. Looking forward to reading more by Kate Galley.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #OldGirlsBehavingBadly #BoldwoodBooks

EXCERPT: COMPANION WANTED FOR ELDERLY WOMAN - NORTH NORFOLK
Temporary position.
Live-in.
BOX:765034
Job specifications: Live-in companion wanted for an elderly woman. You will have your own room with a private bathroom in a substantial home on a large country estate in North Norfolk.
The position is temporary - seven days in the last week of August during a family wedding party.
Your duties will be light. No persona care is involved. The woman requires, in essence, a friendly person to be her companion while the family are otherwise engaged with wedding preparations.
You must be efficient, quick-witted and happy to join the family for their very special occasion.
If the applicant is successful, there is the potential for a permanent position in the woman's London home. . .

ABOUT 'OLD GIRLS BEHAVING BADLY': Something old, something new, something stolen…?

Gina Knight is looking forward to the prospect of retirement with her husband of forty-three years. Until, to her surprise, said husband decides he needs to 'find himself' – alone – and disappears to Santa Fe, leaving divorce papers in his wake.

Now Gina needs a new role in life, not to mention somewhere to live, so she applies for the position of Companion to elderly Dorothy Reed. At eighty-nine, ‘Dot’ needs someone to help her around the house – or at least, her family seems to think so. Her companion’s first role would be to accompany Dot for a week-long extravagant wedding party.

But when Georgina arrives at the large Norfolk estate where the wedding will take place, she quickly discovers Dot has an ulterior motive for hiring her. While the other guests are busy sipping champagne and playing croquet, Dot needs Georgina to help her solve a mystery – about a missing painting, which she believes is hidden somewhere in the house.

Because, after all, who would suspect two old ladies of getting up to mischief?

MY THOUGHTS: I loved these two main characters! Eighty-nine-year-old Dot Reed and seventy-one-year-old Gina Knight just seem to hit it off. Dot really didn't want a companion until she met Gina, who has a skill that Dot needs to fulfil her quest. Gina just wants out of the marital home which is in the process of being sold.

Gina doesn't have a lot of self-confidence, shaken by a departing husband who describes her as 'beige and unexciting.' Dorothy tends to be impulsive and a holder of grudges. At first glance these two have nothing in common, but in truth both are quick-witted and suspicious. Juliet, Dot's thirteen-year-old granddaughter makes the third person in the search for stolen goods in the host's home.

Old Girls Behaving Badly is humorous romp (without being at all silly!) under cover of the upcoming nuptials in a large and stately manor house with staircases, cellars and hidden rooms. Dot and Gina made me think of an aged Nancy Drew!

This read is a lot of fun. It deals with divorce in the elderly, grief, finding your feet again and finding new friends in unexpected places. Every time I think about Old Girls Behaving Badly, I smile. The way Kate Galley has ended this book makes me believe there may be a second book on the horizon. I sincerely hope so.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#OldGirlsBehavingBadly #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Kate Galley lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband, children and Meg, their Patterdale Terrier. Much of Kate's inspiration co0mes from the varied lives of her client as a mobile hairdresser.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

What are you supposed to do when your husband has a “mid-life” crisis at 73 years of age and leaves you? Well, for Gina Knight, aged 71, needing something to occupy her time and also somewhere to live, the advert for a week-long companion to 89-year-old Dorothy Reed while her family are busy with wedding plans seems perfect. Dorothy is certain she doesn’t need any help but humours her daughter in law and when former art historian Gina is interviewed, Dorothy has a light bulb moment. For she believes the uncle of the bride and her late husband Philip’s business partner, Leonard, was behind the theft of a competition prize painting from their home which resulted in Philip’s death. And what better chance to find it and put Leonard behind bars than to get Gina to search his home, Walstone Hall, as he hosts the wedding? Of course, she neglects to mention this until their first night under his roof. At first Gina is horrified but soon comes round to Dorothy’s way of thinking after meeting their odious show off host and the two unlikely sleuths set about their mission impossible but when the accidents start it looks like Dorothy may not be the only person Leonard has been upsetting.
What follows is a hugely humorous charming and highly engrossing story. There are plenty of diverse family members introduced but each is perfectly described and easy to envisage immediately. Gina and Dorothy are both incredibly likeable characters and soon become firm friends as well as co-conspirators. The ending gives a strong hint there may be more detecting to come for Gina and I certainly hope so! 5*

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

I chose this book, because I thought it just sounded like fun, and on first impressions, there was something about Gina's general spirit that made me smile, something about her that I admired. It seemed that she was going through a tough time, but handled it very well. I thought Dorothy was a very funny character too, and some of her interactions with the other characters made me smile. The characters felt quite relatable and real to me.

A few chapters in, I realised there was an additional element to the story that I found interesting, and that motivated me to keep reading.

This had the cosy, feel-good quality that I was hoping for, I found the tone of the writing was warm and lighthearted, and it sparked joy to read it.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I absolutely adored this book. This was my first by Galley and it most certainly won’t be my last.

Told in alternating chapters between octogenarian Dot and her 71 year old recently hired companion, Gina, this was a funny, warm and mysterious story. Do not let the charming cover fool you into thinking this is only light and fluffy–at its core, this is a strong mystery set in an English manor house. Galley isn’t afraid to tackle tough topics like divorce, grief and moving forward and she balances all that with such heart.

The setting was so vivid I felt like I was right there with Dot and Gina, surrounded by an eclectic art collection and wondering who I could trust. I simply loved this five star read. Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club series.

I first discovered Kate and her amazing books when I had the good fortune to pick up one of her earlier books. I enjoyed it so much that I have been impatiently waiting for her new book to be released. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because Kate's new book is called 'Old Girls Behaving Badly' and it was released on 13th May 2024. It's another cracker of a story from Kate. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Old Girls Behaving Badly' but more about that in a bit.

As soon as I started reading 'Old Girls Behaving Badly' I quickly realised three things - firstly that I was reading something special, secondly that I was going to become addicted to the story and thirdly that I would take to the main characters of Dot and Gina so well that I would come to think of them as being friends rather than characters in a book. I was spot on with all three predictions. I had initially picked the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I became so immersed in the story that I was still sat there reading several chapters and a couple of hours later. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have done because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. Besides I needed to find out how the story panned out for Dot and Gina. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I was so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the characters that I didn't realise just how quickly the time was passing and how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Old Girls Behaving Badly' and had to say goodbye to Gina, Dot and the rest of the characters. I found 'Old Girls Behaving Badly' to be a joy to read from start to finish with lots of laughs, love and uplifting moments.

'Old Girls Behaving Badly' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Kate Galley. Kate has one of those writing styles that grabs the attention of the reader and draws them into what proves to be one hell of a story and then some. Kate clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. In fact Dot and Gina ended up feeling more like friends than characters in a story. I could just imagine sitting down with both ladies and putting the world to rights over a cup of tea. Both ladies show that just because you reach a certain age, the fun doesn't have to stop. there. This was a funny and uplifting story which made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. I love the way in which Kate makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Old Girls Behaving Badly' and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. I hope to read much more of Kate's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I read this book so fast and loved every minute of it! I will be recommending this for purchase to be placed into circulation at my library! What a great read!

Well.... this book was a hard read at the start for me...
My marriage has suddenly come to an end so reading this in the first few pages, really struck a chord with me.
Once I got over that and the descriptions of how she was feeling and what was said, I really enjoyed the story.
It made me laugh quite a lot and Dorothy is such a brilliant, fiesty character that I could chat to her all day but wouldn't want to get on her wrong side!!
Overall, a brilliant, comical and emotional story that I would recommend
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

First, I want to thank Kate Galley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

Oh I knew this was going to be a fun easy read when I saw the title of Kate Galley’s book Old Girls Behaving Badly! I had never read anything by Kate Galley before so I was not sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

The beginning of this book was very unique as it was a help wanted ad for a caregiver for a week at a wedding. That instantly caught my attention and made me want to read on.

I loved and appreciated how Gina accepted her son Chris’s sexuality and his marriage to Gavin. Unlike his father Douglas who couldn’t comprehend the concept of love is love.

Speaking of Douglas he was totally shady on the way he broke off his marriage to Gina. He was not one of my favorite characters.

Within Old Girls Behaving Badly a mystery was to be solved of where Dorothy’s late husband's painting went.

I love novels that talks about women who have a lot of zest for life or are able to move on and change their life.
As it happens when you’re over the big 5 there’s fun but there’s also sadness and you’re aware that you’re lively and having fun but you’re not young.
As someone said I earn all my wrinkles.
Gina is a woman who is affected by a former husband who’s suffering from over-big-5-crisis, this means she must start again and find a job.
She becomes the companion of Dorothy, a 89 years old with plenty of stamina. Dorothy’s family are convinced she needs a sort of nurse to assist her. Dorothy wants someone to help her in finding a painting that disappeared.
There’s a lot of fun and there’s some poignant moments. I laughed, rooted for the ladies and was moved by some parts.
It’s a life affirming and compelling read that makes think about how it is possible to live at full speed regardless of your age but it’s also a moment when people can see you as a nuisance.
I loved these ladies, and their stories kept me turning pages as it’s well plotted and well written.
Good night, Gina and Dorothy, I was happy to meet you.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.

What a lovely story of two more mature ladies and the mischief they get up to together.. I don’t usually read the ‘cosy mystery’ genre but this book was the exception. A heartwarming story that was a joy to read. I will definitely look to read more by this author.

Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley is an amusing, yet poignant story of two older women: one, 71 and the other, 89. Dorothy, at 89, has recently lost her husband. Their house got burglarized and he chased the burglar, fell, hit his head, and was dead in a week. Dorothy believes she knows who the perpetrator is and when Gina interviews for a job as her companion, she reverses her opinion regarding her need for a companion and hires her on the spot. They are to attend the week-long wedding celebration for her grandson. The wedding is being held at the home of Leonard, the bride’s uncle and the man Dorothy believes is responsible for the theft of her husband’s painting and ultimately, his death. It is a week of Gina observing another family while looking for the painting. It helps start to put her life into perspective.

Gina is a feisty 72 year old who has just been informed by her husband of 43 years that he needs some excitement in his life and is leaving. She was taken aback but is now regaining her strength. She is clever and determined. She worked, before in marriage, in the art world and is still knowledgeable. She has to be convinced to be a sleuth but once she meets Leonard she sees the need to stop him. She finds the painting, but not because she is a great sleuth, but rather because she is friendly and open to others, netting her more information that all of her sneaking around. Dorothy is amazing for 89. Meeting Gina has convinced her she has plenty more life to life and she intends to do just that. Both are wonderful, thoughtful characters whom one wishes they knew. The plot, searching for the missing painting is excellent, but it is so much more. For one, many other stolen objects were discovered. For another, there was much blackmail going one and people stood up and took responsibility. It was a fabulous read. Thanks, Kate Galley!

I was invited to read Old Girls Behaving Badly by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #KateGalley #OldGirlsBehavingBadly

cute and cozy

This is the first book I have read by Ms Galley and, probably, the first of the 'cozy' genre. I definitely enjoyed it, being of an age with our heroine. There's mystery, a wedding, relatives with their foibles, husbands with THEIR foibles, a lovely estate in England; what's not to love!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

After her husband of forty-three years leaves seventy-one-year-old Georgina “Gina” Knight to “find himself,” she is forced to rethink her plans for the future. With her adult children well settled in their own lives and the family home about to be sold, Gina not only needs to find a place to live but also a means to supplement her income after splitting the proceeds from the impending sale. When she sees an advertisement for a Companion to an elderly lady for a well-paying week-long assignment that would require her to accompany the family to Norfolk for a family wedding, she is quick to apply for the position.

Eighty-nine-year-old Dorothy “Dot” Reed isn’t too keen on having a Companion following her around, but when she meets Gina, whom she instantly likes and shares common interests, she has a change of heart. Unbeknownst to Gina at the time, Dorothy has a hidden agenda – a quest to find the culprit responsible for the theft of a piece of art from her home. She believes that the thief will be a part of her grandson’s wedding being held in the sprawling estate of a family friend (whom Dorothy despises) who also happens to be the bride’s uncle.

The narrative follows Gina and Dorothy as they attempt to locate the stolen painting (along with Dorothy’s thirteen-year-old granddaughter Juliet who convinces them to let her join in their efforts) without making it too obvious – not as easy a task as they had anticipated, with the full schedule of festivities that have been planned and the watchful eyes of their host not to mention having to navigate the rising tensions between members of the wedding party, quite a few of whom have their own secrets to protect.

I thoroughly enjoyed Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley. Heartwarming and humorous with cozy mystery vibes, this was an entertaining read. I loved the descriptions of the lavish estate and Leonard’s home. Both protagonists are interesting characters and I loved their dynamic. I particularly liked Gina’s trajectory and how she emerges from her shell as the narrative progresses. The narrative, shared from the perspectives of Gina and Dorothy, flows well and the characters are well thought out (even the unlikable ones). There is a rather large cast of characters to follow, but this in no way detracts from the overall reading experience. The novel touches upon sensitive issues such as aging, loneliness and grief with compassion. I liked how the author chose to end the story and if I’m not mistaken, the ending indicates that we may get more stories featuring Dot and Gina in the future. If you also enjoy stories that feature mature protagonists who are smart, quick- witted and can hold their own in any situation, you won’t be disappointed.

This was my first Kate Galley novel and I look forward to exploring more of her work.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When women reach a certain age, they find that the life that defined them is no longer there. These women decide they will not sit idly by and wait to die. This book reminds me so much of the movie Secondhand Lions. They have earned the right to live as they wish and if you don't like it.....too bad. 5 easy stars

Kate Galley is a relatively new author for me, but I found this book light-hearted and funny in many places. It is very well written. Thank you for the ARC.