This is a tongue-in-cheek thriller about Imogene, who just came off a 12-year stint for murdering her husband, whom she deeply loves and misses. Imogene has a sad little job and lives in a sad, little apartment, but she still manages to find trouble and keep excitement in her life. From her friends next door in the cat house, to the neighborhood thug, to various friends and not-so-friends who cross Imogene’s path, she just can’t seem to live a boring life, which is bad when you’re on parole.
I enjoyed the plot of this story but found it difficult to follow along with the characters. This book would make a fun comedy crime movie, and I hope someone considers that. But I couldn’t stay focused on the story.
Thanks so much to IBPA, Members’ Titles for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is July 9, 2024.

A 75-year-old protagonist recently released from prison for killing her husband? Imogene is out on parole working at Dentco. Yes, it sells dented goods and she needs this job.

Imogene is one of those people who seem to attract mayhem. Part of the problem stems from the time she spent in prison penning threatening letters to POTUS, eventually writing a book she called Peekaboo POTUS. It got their attention and a coveted place on the “crazy” list.

Separate is the introduction to “The Cigar”, a local street thug bent on providing “protection” to those already struggling shop owners in the grimy strip center. Imogene has several friends, her next-door neighbor, and Ange, her erstwhile philosophical bunkmate in prison who still intrudes often in Imogene’s ear.

This thing goes over the top more than once, but it provides some hilarious scenes, quirky characters, outrageous dialogue, unexpected twists, and pure escapism when you need it most. Lighten up and enjoy.

1970s, septuagenarian, ex-cons, situational-humor, verbal-humor, snarky, secrets, gangsters, survivors, noir, spoof, mystery, bodies, historical-fiction****

Laughed my sox off!
In 1973, in the rundown part of town, the lived an odd little old woman on parole who worked in a discount store and hung out with the disadvantaged and dodged the creeps running the protection racket. And then she got involved with some crazy stuff. Good fun and not totally unbelievable.
I requested and received an EARC from Level Best Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley. Thank you!
#TheBlindDevotionofImogene #NetGalley

Enjoyed the humor in this story of Imogene, Suz and Ange! A quick read, well developed characters and unusual events that kept getting better and better. Such tragic situations for a 75 yr old woman to have to experience. Accidents happen and sometimes forgiveness is warranted, but not for Imogene. Her emotional well-being must just be a wreck, to love someone and then not being there to love. She is a survivor and spunky enough to stand up for herself !! Though, Imogene needs to cut back on the Marlboros!!! Really enjoyed the Author's Note, too!! Thanks Net Galley for a wonderful read!!!

I was intrigued by the premise of the story but it failed to hold my attention. I struggled to make my way through it. This one just wasn’t for me.
Thank You to NetGalley, Level Best Books and David Putnam for the invitation to read this ARC.

I did my best to like this one. The main character is a spirited older woman who knows what's what and is willing to do what's needed to get things done. It should have been a sure thing for me to love it, but the writing is repetitive and boring and there was no getting into the story.

There's something about Putnam's writing that never clicked with me. I recognize that there are great moments in the plot and some excellent creative choices were made, I just couldn't get into how they're presented. Completely on me, but this is ultimately about me sharing my opinion of the book. Sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for the read.

The real question to be answered in this frenetic plot is, "Who is decomposing in the hidden box in Imogene's neighbor's garage?" Now, if that doesn't get you to give this book a try, what will? We are taken on a thrill ride examination of this quackadoodle's mind and antics. She may not have been rehabilitated while in prison. Her "tail" may turn out to be 007. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
I wish I could give this book a good review but in the minority with a few other people, I could not get into this book. I guess it just wasn’t my cup of tea but many others loved it so don’t go by my opinion.

Book Review
The Blind Devotion of Imogene
David Putnam
reviewed by Lou Jacobs

readersremains.com | Goodreads

From the genius of David Putnam, who masterfully penned the eleven-book Bruno Johnson series, comes a radically different and entertaining comedic noir crime mystery. Subtitled The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor #1, this is the first in a series featuring the quirky seventy-five-year-old Imogene. She’s in her second year of parole after serving ten years in prison for the “murder” of her husband, Wayne.
She awoke from a fitful sleep to hear and perceive a shadowy intruder entering her bedroom and instinctively reached for her gun, discharging her weapon. Unfortunately, it was Wayne, sheepishly trying to sneak home from a night of debauchery. The court deemed this murder, rather than the more appropriate manslaughter. During her prison time, she vented her anger by sending threatening letters to the POTUS, doing extensive research on the law, and penning a novel, Peekaboo POTUS, revealing her tongue-in-cheek plans to assassinate the president. She even submitted this book to multiple publishers.
To satisfy her parole conditions, she works for slave wages at Dentco, a store that offers discount prices for dented canned goods, damaged dry goods, and out-of-date pharmacy products. Her clientele are the poor and destitute. She sits behind the counter on her stool, endlessly chain-smoking Marlboros. She frequently finds herself doing internal soliloquies in times of stress and indecision, mirroring the advice of Ange (her best friend in lock-up). Whenever the President travels through a nearby area, she must accept a lunch date from Eugene, a Secret Service agent assigned to her case. After all, her prison letters placed her on a list of “crazies” assigned a “threat assessment.” Additionally, she is frequently harassed by Nancy Do-Right, the “Black Witch” of a parole officer, who continually pesters her at work and assures her of the probability of returning to prison. To make matters worse, she is subjected to a “shake-down” by low-level thug Sam Giancana, aka “The Cigar,” for weekly protection money. All of the other businesses in the strip mall are also accosted, including the Cherry Liquor Store and even Madame Woo’s: The Lotus Massage and Tea Parlor.
Then Imogene’s best friend and next-door neighbor, Suz, experiences a crisis when her father dies. He was a terrible hoarder and left a garage full of boxes of junk. Suzanne pleads for Imogene’s help. At the very bottom of the humongous pile, they find a mysterious large box. To their surprise, they reluctantly open it to find a “long-dead” woman. Suz immediately assumes this was her mother, who reportedly “abandoned” the family long ago. Imogene convinces her to bury the box in her backyard, under “Mr. Majestic,” the large avocado tree. All is well until Thelma, Suz’s mother, suddenly arrives after seeing her husband’s obituary notice.
As you can imagine, a comedy of errors ensues.
David Putnam proves to be a wonderful storyteller as he skillfully weaves multiple plotlines together, featuring a cast of colorful and quirky multi-layered characters. Tension and intrigue are ratcheted up as the cast of characters inexorably collides with unexpected twists. Utilizing pitch-perfect dialogue, this mélange of mystery, humor, and a series of misadventures evolves into a page-turner with an exhilarating denouement. Themes of redemption, love, friendship, and the ramifications of secrets are explored.
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for providing an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. Hopefully, Imogene’s misadventures will continue to unfold with the same degree of entertainment

If you want laugh out loud funny, theres no holding back here. Imogen is a character as are others in this book, and the tale is mind bendingly hilarious. The escapades she gets up to will leave you in stiches the fact that shes in her 70s makes it all the funnier.

First and foremost, thanks to NetGalley for the arc of The Blind Devotion of Imogene.

This is an adventure story- the adventures of Alice Putnam, whose name change to Imogene is due to a lover who loved his dog named Imogene. That is weird! And it is just the beginning of A LOT of weird, funny, hilarious, crazy, over-the top antics of murderess and now parolee Imogene. I LOVED IT! I don’t read “cozy mysteries” but if the author writes a sequel, I will buy it. It’s that good.

What makes it “that good”? First it is a caper that is outrageously funny but not stupid silly. Second, The dynamic characters are well developed. Imogene, is a dynamic, round, three dimensional protagonist who drives the storyline. There is only one thread in this storyline: the adventures of Imogene trying to stay good against outside forces; Imogene is in her second year as a parolee and her parole officer is a mean spirited witch named Nancy. Nancy’s character is not well developed, so the reader is not privy as to her motivation to be the albatross around Imogene’s neck. But, she surely is because everything that happens indicates Nancy can’t wait to “violate” Imogene until she breaks parole. Everything that happens, and all of Imogene’s decisions are influenced by this fear of returning to prison to finish her fifteen year sentence. Thus, the adventure begins and the fun takes off in earnest.

I won’t delineate all the hysterical predicaments; there are many and they held my interest. The fear of being returned to prison is the undercurrent throughout. She is drawn into scenarios not of her own doing and that is the gem of the rising action as she is completely innocent in the scenarios thrust her way. One of the first threats to her safety is that she is subject to a protection scam and chooses to not call the authorities. Her choices are poor, but that is due to her fear of any interraction with the police. The protection scam follows her throughout the book , resulting in an exciting, tense and hysterical climax. Dangers escalate, including finding a dead body, desiring an undesirable neighbor, practice shooting with an imbalanced yet sweet, ditzy new friend. Another feature making this book “that good” is Imogene channeling her cellmate’s voice in her head. Being a lifer, Angie’s voice in her head may not be a good influence, but it is the basis for many laughter out loud moments!
Another intriguing adventure is doing lunch with the Secret Service… what? Submitting a book based on her vivid imagination of assassinating the US President - and writing threatening letters delineating how she would do it. ( This fact earned her the Secret Service luncheons while POTUS is in town). When the publishing company sends her a letter- she’s so sure it is a rejection letter, she doesn’t open it; she’d rather be deluded than to face rejection. This is just a sampling of the fun parts. There are many, many more that kept me intrigued in the quirky and dangerous life of Imogene. But I said I wouldn’t delineate! 😳

This novel is easy to read and fun to read. I was thoroughly invested in the storyline and engaged with the characters.The author took care to limit offensive language ( a lot of “ dern” in lieu of d**mn. A few sexual references, but not descriptive or graphic scenes. This is a standalone novel and I am hoping it will be the first in a series. This genre is a departure of the norm for this author, proving what a great author he is transitioning to something so very different than his usual pieces.. Kudoes, Mr Putnam! This was a delight to read and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a fast, fun read, not matter what genre is their go-to. One thing for sure, David Putnam will be a new go-to author for me!

David Putnam, former California law enforcement officer, put his name on the crime fiction map with 11 well-regarded books about ex-cop and paroled ex-con Bruno Johnson. Putnam has been branching out a bit recently with sheriff’s deputy Will Donnelly and homicide detective Dave Beckett but still staying within the construct of policework. With his newest book he travels further afield, to the life of a paroled chain-smoking elderly lady who spent 10 years in jail for murder.

The Blind Devotion of Imogene: The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor (Level Best Books, July 2024), released July 9, is an alternately entertaining and somber look at the life of a parolee who had few resources before spending time behind bars and even less now that she is a convicted felon. The only job Imogene Taylor can find is in a rundown scratch and dent store in a low-rent strip mall. Her parole officer relentlessly looks for ways to demonstrate Imogene has violated the terms of her probation, leaving Imogene in a constant state of fear. At the age of 73 she knows she won’t survive prison to be released a second time.

Her neighbor thoughtfully maintained her house while she was gone so Imogene does have a roof over her head. She also has her neighbor Suze to confide in. Suze’s father dies as the book opens and Imogene is busy trying to support the bereft only child. Suze’s mother left years ago when Suze was small so Suze is the only person left to handle everything. In clearing out the junk-filled garage, they find the body of a long-dead woman. They both assume it’s Suze’s mother. Suze is horrified, believing her father killed her mother, and Imogene is terrified that her parole officer will twist this discovery around to blame Imogene for a second death. They agree to hide the body a second time.

Then a thug visits the stores in the strip mall and tells them what will happen if they don’t start paying him protection money. And Imogene gets a visit from Eugene, her assigned Secret Service agent. While she was in prison, she wrote a series of threatening letters to the president of the United States. Her letters were convincing enough for her to become an object of interest to the Secret Service and whenever the president is in the vicinity, Eugene stops by to check on Imogene. The book that she wrote while she was incarcerated is another thread. Imogene is a woman of many parts.

This is an offbeat story full of eccentric but relatable characters. It seems overlong in places but the rambling narration reflects the stream of conscious inner dialog of Imogene’s mind. Putnam has planned another two books about Imogene; it will be interesting to see what she’s up to in the next volume. For fans of unusual character-driven crime fiction.

"The Blind Devotion of Imogene" has to be one of the most unusual novels I have ever read. The humor is dark or wry or ornery, or some combination of those three.

Imogene is on parole, although that's information she keeps close to the vest. She was convicted of killing the man she loved, although it truly was an accident. Imogen thinks about him often, and misses him.

The voice in her head advises her, often unwisely. Fortunately, Imogene seems to have pretty good instincts. However, when her neighbor and friend Suz wants her help with something shady, Imogene is all in.

David Putnam's characters are one-of-a-kind and the storyline will keep you turning the pages. What makes Imogene different is that, even though she was innocent of the crime for which she did time, she now has the ability to think like a criminal. It comes in handy!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader's copy. This is my honest review.

I found this a bit difficult to get into but I am so glad I stuck with it. This is a gem of a book with complex and quirky characters and scenarios. Every detail, from the avocado tree to the “tail” is perfect. The author creates a world which seems so real and even the way the characters’ dialogue is presented seems totally authentic.

ARC received! Thank you so much, Swell Media!
I provide this review voluntarily, and the opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

THAT was a crazy ride! Please go into this book knowing that the characters and events are based on real characters and true events. Otherwise, you would often think ... NO WAY, NO HOW!! I was strangely fascinated with this book. While there was some bad language and Imogene smoked more than a chimney of a factory, I didn't consider this a turnoff since that is how times were back then. If you know me, you know I love a good morally gray character. Imogene fits this description perfectly and I loved reading the book from her POV. The author did a great job with the world and character-building. While Imogene was a fascinating character, I think my favorite character was Thelma. She was a hoot! Please, give Imogene and Suz some more cases! Or make it a Charlie's Angels trio with Imogene, Suz, and Thelma lol.

This story takes place in 1973 and features 75-year-old Imogene Taylor, an ex-con working at Dentco, a store that sells dented and damaged goods to the less fortunate. It sounds like a good idea to me but there are probably health regulations against it these days.

To be honest, I think the book blurb gives too much away; not that there's much of a mystery, but the blurb is more of a synopsis that covers all the highlights so there isn't much left in the book to surprise the reader. Trouble seems to find Imogene no matter what. She's an engaging character and the story is okay but I wasn't immersed in it and didn't feel that I wanted to pick it up every chance I got. There's no bad language and no steamy romance which is always a plus. I love the cover though and the author's note explaining how the book came about. It seems like this is probably the start of a new series.

My thanks to the author and Level Best Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 9, 2024

This book, provided through Net Galley by Lisa of Swell Media, certainly puts the standard hero of the story on its head--in this case, a 72-year-old chain-smoking ex-con named Imogene Taylor. Imogene is on parole after serving 10 years of her sentence for accidently killing her husband Wayne when the story starts. Trying to fit back into life, she helps her neighbor Suz clean out her garage after Suz's father dies. The fun starts when they get to the center of a pile and find a crate clearly marked "do not open", which, of course, means they have to open it. What they find and how they handle the revelation provide the basis for an interesting story as Imogene tries to keep her friend and herself out of trouble--she is, after all, on parole and does not want to be sent back to prison. In fact, she spends a good portion of the book having an inner monologue with Ange, who was her cellmate, with Ange providing commentary on all of the events Imogene is experiencing in the present. (Spoiler Alert: Imogene's parole officer, whom Imogene refers to as "Nancy Do-right", insists Imogene never shared a cell with anyone named Angi, leaving readers to question Imogene's sanity, which is appropriate given some of the insane things that she does!)

This book is a juxtaposition of emotions for the reader ! I found myself laughing out loud and enjoying this book to conclusion .

We are introduced to our main character Imogene who is 75 on parole for the murder of her husband that she claims was an accident. The jury did not agree with her . During her time inside prision she developed survival skills that will serve her well in her new life on the outside. She is not intimidated by anyone and one tough lady. She is particulary focused on survival and a neighbor she is in love with. While inside she wrote threatening letteres to the white house so she has the attention of the Secret Service. One funny side story is when the President comes to town the Secret Service takes her to lunch to keep an eye on her. She has submitted a book proposal about a President to different publishers with disappointment.
She has a low end minimum wage job in a dented can store that sells to low income people. She hates her clueless boss and the job but her parole officer is relentless and wants her back in prison. She has one friend who does not understand her but is needing her help clearing out a garage. That leads to suspicion and mysteries for Imogene. When a gang member enters the shop and demands monthly payment her life begins to spiral in directions she cannot stop.
The laugh out loud moments are many and Imogene is fearless as she configures the answers to her problems and plots revenge. A publisher now wants to publish her book and arrives at her house at the wrong time. This conclusion of characters was a chaotic showdown that this reader found very exciting and funny.
A enjoyable read that is funny to conclusion.
Thank you to the publisher, the author and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinon is my own.

The title character of David Putnam's new novel The Blind Devotion of Imogene is not your average little old lady. She's served 10 years in prison. She works for minimum wage in a discount grocery store. And trouble seems to follow her no matter how hard she tries to live a quiet rest of her life. First, there's a gangster who wants money from the grocery store. Then, there's a dead body in her neighbor's garage. And is the voice in Imogene's head really that of her prison friend?

All of these zany scenarios would fit right into the novel Imogene wrote, but they also fit right into Putnam's novel. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this novel is that everything in it came from Putnam's real life.

It took me a REALLY long time to get into this book. I'd say I had to push through the first 20-40 percent, and I almost didn't finish it. But I'm not one to quit a book so easily (except for The House of the Seven Gables and Atlas Shrugged) so trudge on I did, and ultimately, I wasn't totally disappointed.

However, I felt like I was missing something in the beginning of the book. Almost like there had been a first book, and this one was the sequel, but I hadn't read the first book, so I didn't know what was going on. I also couldn't figure out what the time period was for this book. Turns out, it takes place in the 1970s, but I only realized that after going to the Goodreads page and reading the synopsis.

I'm not sure that I'd recommend this book. It's a departure for what Putnam usually writes, so if you're a fan of his books, be wary of this one. If you like books that are a little quirky, then this one might be a fit for you.

The Blind Devotion of Imogene is published by Level Best Books and is available to purchase now. I received a free e-ARC in exchange for this review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Oh, my, where do I start? At first, I wasn't sure I wanted to even read this book, but I am SO GLAD I did!! It is at times hysterically funny, unbelievably sad, frightening, and just crazy!

Imogene is a 75-year-old woman who spent the past ten years in prison for what was obviously an accident, but is now out on a two-year parole and her parole officer is eager to violate her and return her to prison for the remaining 10 years of her original sentence. The only job she has been able to get is as a clerk at a bent cans store in a strip center, whose owner is the tightest of tightwads. Her neighbor, for whom she has a secret lust, took care of her home and yard for all the time she was away, so she at least has a roof over her head. But that neighbor just sees her as a friend, so her secret may just remain a secret. She also has a previous cellmate in her head (or DOES she?) who carries on a constant stream of comments about any and all things she does. Then there is the neighbor on the other side who is a young woman whose father has recently died and who relies on Imogene for moral support and friendship, although she hardly knows her.

So when a small-time hoodlum threatens the stores in the strip center with dire consequences if they don't pay him for "protection", Imogene knows she is in trouble. She knows her boss won't pay, and if she takes action, her parole officer will be all over her. So, what to do?

There is a lot more going on, but that gives a taste of the book. And, if you enjoy the book, which I think most will, don't neglect to read the Author's Notes at the end - because he explains how most of the book is "sorta" true!!