From the publisher:

In 1973, Imogene Taylor is seventy-five years old, on parole for murder, and works at a store that sells dented canned goods. Twelve years earlier, she went to prison for killing her love-of-her-life-husband, Wayne. She called it an accident. The judge and jury called it murder. Imogene’s parole agent is constantly on her case, looking to send her back to prison.

During her time in prison, Imogene had to vent her angst at someone and sent the sitting Presidents (during the ten years in prison) threatening letters bringing her to the attention of the Secret Service. She does extensive research and writes a novel, Peekaboo POTUS, about the assassination of a US President. She sends the book "over the transom" to one publisher. The publisher, after being unable to contact Imogene, comes looking for her.

The Cigar, an organized crime gangster, walks into Dentco, where Imogene works, and extorts the store for protection money. Pay up or get firebombed. The entire strip center is under this threat.

At the same time, Imogene’s neighbor dies of natural causes and leaves a hoarder’s mess to his daughter, Suzanne. Imogene helps Suz clear out a pyramid of boxes filled with junk in the garage. At the bottom of the pile, they find a box with a dead woman who has been hidden for many years.

Imogene must dodge an overzealous parole agent while dealing with a dead woman in the neighbor’s garage. She’s on parole for murder, so she can’t report it to the police. No one would believe her. Imogene and Suz think the woman in the box is Suz’s long-estranged mother. Rather than reveal Suz’s father as the probable killer, Imogene convinces Suz to bury her mom under the avocado tree in the backyard. Until Thelma, Suz’s mother, appears after reading the obituary.

It's a race to uncover the real killer as Imogene dodges gangsters, family members, and a publisher on her quest to find the truth.

My thoughts:

Imogene has a lot on her plate. Manager at Dentco, in love with Bernie, friend to neighbor Suz are just a few of the roles she plays. Add on to that that a thug calling himself The Cigar is extorting her for protection money for the store which she does not own. And Eugene, a friendly Secret Service agent, is looking to take her to lunch on the government's dime to help keep the president safe. Oh, and Nancy Do-right, her parole officer is seeking any excuse to throw her back into prison.

I really enjoyed this book. Imogene and Suz were my favorite characters. Imogene is well characterized as a 75 yr old ex-con who likes to drink Schlitz after work and enjoys a good Marlboro cigarette. She proves again and again that she is smart and savvy in the ways of dealing with other people. Although she does make some mistakes. The supporting characters were interesting too. A quirky cast all around.

When Suz's father dies and leaves behind a hoarder's mess in the garage, Suz asks Imogene to help her clear it out. Finding a dead body in the mess was totally unexpected and triggers further problems. Who is the lady in the box? Suz's mother? Or a neighbor? Imogene and Suz must find out before they are next on the agenda to be murdered.

The book moves along at a good pace. Once I got into it, I found myself reading quickly. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to Imogene. I felt the ending was satisfying too although there is a flurry of activity there at the end.

Overall, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's well written. The characters are interesting. And it moves along at a good pace. The final twist is a good one too. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a good mystery with quirky characters. This is the first in a planned trilogy. I am looking forward to book two.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.

The Blind Devotion of Imogene by David Putnam is expected out July 9, 2024 from Level Best Books.

What a fun, fun read. I loved all the characters but particularly Imogene. I was very happy to see it's part of a series. Highly recommend this book.

Imogene is one of those characters that if there is something bad, awful, odd or scary that can happen, it will happen to poor Imogene. From being incarcerated ( but claims innocence), to having to deal with a shady parole officer who wants to send her back to prison, to finding a body while helping out a friend clear a mess, she always gets the shorter end of the stick. You will enjoy the different characters, multiple stories happening and a mystery all in one. A great read for those who enjoy a nice complex read that feels like it was written for us adults.

The style of storytelling in this novel is absolutely awful. Save your money, there are plenty of wonderful books out there- this isn’t one of them!

Imogene is a 75 year old ex-con out of parole after serving 10 years for the murder of her husband. Imogene now works at Dentco, a discount grocery store. She's just trying to keep her head down and stay out of trouble, but things heat up when she helps her next door neighbor dies and Imogene agrees to help his daughter clean out the garage. At the bottom of a huge mound of junk, they find a box labeled "DO NOT OPEN, NO MATTER WHAT. I"M NOT KIDDING." Imogene wants to haul it to the dump unopened, but Susie, the neighbor, just has to open it. inside they find a dead body. Things are further complicated with a man called "The Cigar" walks into the store one day demanding protection money and Imogene receives a letter back from the publisher to whom she submitted a manuscript she wrote about assassinating the president.

This book is entertaining and fun, though sometimes a little over the top campy. It definitely requires some suspension of your disbelief (as does most fiction). For the most part, I was immersed in the events of the 1970s and things were fine. However, there were probably four or five times that one of the characters used a phrase that was straight out of the 1990s instead of the 1970s and it pulled me right out. Still, things were going along great until the very, very end. I'm not a fan of cliffhangers! (Especially when I didn't realize from the beginning that the book was part of a series).


Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Imogene I love you, this is a great read with all the elements in place for a wonderful series of books. Imogene is an ex-con and 75 years old. that in itself opens the door to this brilliant thriller that seems to be something that Imogene stumbles upon in her attempt to live life on the outside of prison....
This lady is unpredictable and very resourceful taking the character to different levels and bringing this mystery to a delightful read.
I loved the gangster "The Cigar" who extorts the store where Imogene works, and Suz the neighbor who brings another dimension to the book

This can only be described as a great read with twists and turns along the way. I loved it and will be reading the Bruno Johnson series on my next TBR list.

It is a five for me because I love love love, Imogene. I hope there is more from this lady and David Putnam of course

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I am a fan of David Putnam's Bruno Johnson series and soptted this novel by him and thought I would give it a read. This is definitely a different story from those. This is the story of Imogene who had a misfortune happened 12 years earlier when she was 63 years old. The story picks up with her life as she starts over. It explains how she came to be where she is at now and what events happen that almost gets her in trouble. Meet her friends and co-workers as she travels this new life.

If you enjoy David Putnam, then you should give this story a chance. As you read along, you will discover it was worth it.

The Blind Devotion of Imogene is a noirish crime caper set in a small USA town in the early 1970s, by the author of the Bruno Johnson thriller series. I beta read this for the author nearly two years ago, but had forgotten most of what happened (that’s my memory at fault, not a commentary on the plot by the way) so reread a review copy through NetGalley. It’s taken me three weeks to finish, which is long for me, and that could be because I found it a bit slow, or perhaps I just wasn’t as engaged the second time round. I liked rather than loved it - partly because of the characters and also because I felt it ended with several questions unanswered and fates unresolved. It’s still a fun madcap read with a rather unique heroine.

Imogene spent ten years in prison for accidentally killing her husband, and is now out on parole, working in a store selling cut price dented cans of food in a poor part of town. All Imogene wants is to be left alone to smoke Marlboros and dream about her neighbour Bernie, and getting her book published, but people keep coming to her for help. Then her problems start to pile up when her parole officer tries to get her thrown back in jail, a local gangster shows up demanding protection payments, and her best friend unearths an unpleasant surprise in the basement…

Stories about curmudgeonly elderly protagonists have become very popular in recent years, so this should appeal to those who like bleak comedy and wacky characters rather than action & thrills. Imogene is not a nice lady - she’s broken after her time in prison and losing her beloved Wayne, but she still tries to do the right thing, even when her friends and acquaintances are driving her nuts with their idiocy. There’s a lot going on, with subplots about her relationship to the Secret Service and the book she wrote about an elderly woman’s attempts to assassinate the president, flashbacks to her past, both recent and distant, and a couple of minor mysteries. I felt it ended too abruptly when I wanted to know how everything turned out. It’s possible a sequel could be planned which would resolve this issue. The author’s afterword explains which elements were inspired by real life people he knew, including his grandmother, who raised him.

Thanks to NetGalley and David Putnam for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily and all opinions are my own. The Blind Devotion of Imogene Is published on July 9th.

I absolutely adored this book. Imogene is just the right kind of crazy. The story had a few twists and all the characters were awesome. I was thrilled to find out this will be a series.

And where has David Putnam been all my life? I was really happy to see he has several series out there and immediately bought two books. I'm really looking forward to more of Miss Imogene.

David Putnam's "The Blind Devotion of Imogene" is a compelling mix of crime, mystery, and a touch of dark humor, offering readers a unique protagonist in the form of Imogene Taylor. Imogene, at seventy-five, is on parole for the murder of her husband, Wayne, a crime she insists was an accident. Her life is a patchwork of odd jobs, run-ins with her parole agent, and a knack for stumbling into trouble, making for an engaging, if somewhat uneven, narrative.

Set in 1973, the story delves into Imogene's tumultuous post-prison life. Imogene is a character defined by her resilience and resourcefulness. Despite being constantly scrutinized by her parole agent and having a past that has brought her to the attention of the Secret Service, she navigates her life with a mix of stubbornness and ingenuity. Her history of sending threatening letters to sitting Presidents and writing a controversial novel adds layers to her character, making her both intriguing and unpredictable.

The plot takes several unexpected turns, especially with the introduction of a gangster known as The Cigar, who extorts the store where Imogene works. This subplot adds a sense of danger and urgency to the narrative, but at times it feels disjointed from the main storyline. The discovery of a dead woman in her neighbor’s garage further complicates Imogene’s life. The twists involving her neighbor Suz and the supposed dead mother, who later appears alive, keep the reader guessing, though they occasionally strain credibility.

One of the strengths of the book is its vivid depiction of Imogene’s inner world and her interactions with the various characters she encounters. Her relationship with Suz, in particular, provides emotional depth and highlights Imogene’s complex personality—tough yet compassionate, pragmatic yet haunted by her past.

However, the book is not without its flaws. The narrative occasionally meanders, and some plot points feel contrived. The multitude of storylines—Imogene’s parole struggles, the gangster threat, the mystery of the dead woman—sometimes clash rather than complement each other, leading to a somewhat scattered feel. Additionally, while Imogene is a fascinating character, other characters lack the same depth, often serving more as plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals.

Despite these issues, "The Blind Devotion of Imogene" is an entertaining read, particularly for fans of crime fiction and character-driven stories. Putnam's portrayal of a woman determined to live life on her own terms, even under the weight of her past and the constant threat of returning to prison, is both engaging and thought-provoking.

In conclusion, "The Blind Devotion of Imogene" earns three stars for its unique protagonist and intriguing plot twists. While it may not be a perfect read, it offers a memorable journey with a character who defies the odds and keeps readers invested in her story.

Well, this was certainly quirky with some interesting characters, although I stll havent quite decided if I enjoyed it or not! the pace was a bit uneven and I did find my attention wandering at times but I was interested to know what would happen at the end.. Not sure I'll be reading the sequel though.
Thank you to netgalley and level best books for an advance copy of this book.

There’s a lot going on this book. A lot of storylines, a lot of characters, and lot of stuff that could fill a bunch of books, but all put into this one. It was enjoyable and entertaining, albeit a little slow moving.

Cheers to David Putnam, Swell Media, and NetGalley for the invitation to read this quirky, noir-esque tale full of eccentric and unique characters.

The Blind Devotion of Imogene - Totally, an enjoyable read, filled a bit of everything from romance to murder, tragedy and humor. In the author's notes, Putnam explains how the book came together. Well written story lines and interesting characters make for an easy to read, hard to put down entertainment. Source: Netgalley. 5*

The Bruno Johnson Series:
I cannot put these books down. They are so intense, well written and well thought out, realistic with a variety of characters and dialog, and interesting story lines; the new blending well with the old. At the end of each book, the author explains some of the real life events that actually happened to him, which transform into the life and career of Bruno Johnson.

There is very little cursing, and rarely vulgar language, mainly character related. Similar to the pre-60s movies, there is no graphic or detailed violence or sex acts, maybe some bad acting.

In each book, there is just enough of the past mentioned to get the story going without having the previous book(s) rehashed. There is no fairy godmother and regurgitated hollywood swill. I place this author on par with Ludlum, Follett and the other masters of their craft when writers could spin a yarn and knew their material.

Also, the series is broken down into Young Bruno and Older Bruno. Since I have read these books in published order I am not sure how to recommend the reading order, published or chronological. The Young Years are The Innocents, The Relentless, The Heartless and The Ruthless, books numbers 5 - 8. While the first four books are Older Bruno, which give spoilers to the Young set. BUT the published order gives you background that makes the Young set more intense and hard to put down since there is more to the story. The impacts are probably reduced to ho-hum if read chronological. On second thought, stick with the published sequence.

Quality paperback with easy to read font, thick pages and the only way to read a book. The Disposables I read as an ebook. See the individual book for its complete review. These have been edited for length. 5*

The Disposables, #1 - Awesome read! Realistic action. 5*

The Replacements, #2 - As intense as The Disposables was, The Replacements exceeds it. A good deed done 25 years previously comes back to haunt Bruno. Drago is well done. Takes place nine months after The Disposables end. 5*

The Squandered, #3 - The books just keep getting better! This book is intense. The question is a constant "how are you getting out of this one, Bruno"? This story takes place three months after The Replacements ends. 5*

The Vanquished, #4 - Best yet, which is saying a lot. A gamut of emotions. Fast-paced. Lot of drama. 5*

The Innocents, #5 - This book starts in the past to about eight months after Sophia leaves the Sheriff's Department. Her surprise visit changes the lives of Bruno and his dad. I would have liked to read this book before 4*

The Reckless,#6 - Intense. Interesting. Sad; while many real life experiences and real people are in all of the author's books, there is one character based on a very important person from the author's life. Read it to experience it first-hand. 5*

The Heartless, #7 - It hard to write a review because there is so much to Putnam's writing it is easy to write a book report. Pretty intense emotions. Drama aplenty. 5*

The Ruthless, #8 - Awesome! The truth about several things comes out in this book. 5*

The Sinister, #9 - A lot of happenings. Picks up two months after The Vanquished, #4, ends. Still recovering but ready to leave when trouble rears its ugliness in plain sight and Bruno is back at it. 5*

The Scorned, #10 - A tangled mess and Bruno wants to slap someone. OK, shoot someone but whom? The new father is back in the muck and with the help of Drago is putting a stick in a lot of spokes. 5*
The Bruno Johnson Series end.

A Fearsome Moonlight Black - A new series by Mr. Putnam that rivals his Bruno Johnson Series. The author brings his past as a law officer into the story(ies) blending fact well with fiction. Do not expect graphic gore, graphic sex, etc. The cursing is plain ole cussing used infrequently and for emphasis. Mr. Putnam is a talented storyteller. Well written and well thought out story lines along with a variety of characters make it difficult to put down this book, or any of Bruno's. Since I read the Bruno series, I recognized when fact came into the story and I thought I was reading Putnam's autobiography. I heartily recommend the work of Mr. Putnam and look forward to more of his books. If you enjoyed the books of Wambaugh, you will enjoy Putnam. 5*

With a nod to 1970s neo-noir, this book is an adventure. The author’s career in law enforcement shines throughout the story, in the textures and details of the criminal world and those struggling or thriving within it. But the gritty tone set by the end of the first page is perfectly balanced with colorful characters, and a wild and entertaining plot. It’s Elmore Leonard and Janet Evanovich, but with a bit more depth of character and emotion.

Imogene is a well-developed and richly-imagined character – complicated, hilarious, unlikeable and yet lovable. She’s a 75-year-old chain-smoking, Schlitz-guzzling ex-con who has had more than her share of pain, but still has a soft heart. And as the plot twists and turns we learn of her misfortunes that explain her loneliness, grief and regrets; and we see her intelligence, strength and love revealed in her increasingly desperate acts as she tries to keep out of trouble with the law and stay alive.

This is a surprisingly captivating read – though the pacing is a bit uneven, it’s still fun. The end note is a must read as it provides details that greatly enhance the plot. It also is revealed that this is the first of a trilogy. I am looking forward to another adventure with Imogene.
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for an advanced reader copy of this novel [due to be released on July 9th}.

Well, this was fun! Imogene and her memories of doing time, the voice of her cellmate still in her ear as she navigates returning to society, husbandless, smoking, drinking Schlitz, and somehow still having trouble know her location is just the kind of combination serious and light-hearted, book I needed right now.

David Putnam has written some brilliant thrillers and has become high on my list of favourite writers. His crime stories have always entertained me and kept me engrossed in their characters and suspense. I seem deficient in humour, as I rarely enjoy a book of that type. The author has made a departure to humour, which was well-written and absorbing for most readers. I regret it didn't work for me.
The year is 1973, and 75-year-old Imogene has been released after ten years of imprisonment for the murder of her beloved husband. She insists it was a mortifying accident. She dreads the possibility of being returned to prison. One of the conditions of her parole is to have steady employment. She works in Dentco, a chain selling damaged cans of food, discarded goods, and pharmaceuticals that regular stores provide at a significant discount rather than sending them to the dumpster. Imogene's Parole officer frequently visits her workplace, hoping she will be fired and he can send her back to prison. Her boss, who owns the store, may know she is an ex-con but chooses to ignore the fact. Still, she is frightened every time the parole agent shows up.

When she was confined, she wrote threatening letters to the Presidents. This came to the notice of the Secret Service. Their unconventional solution is to treat Imogene to dinner when the President conducts official business to lessen any danger she may present. She also wrote a book describing the assassination of a US president, "Peekaboo POTUS." The publisher wants to sell the book and is searching for her. Dentco is one of several stores in a strip mall, and a mob boss, 'The Cigar', collects regular payments from those businesses to keep them from being firebombed. He intimidates Imogene, who promises Dentco will pay protection money but delays telling her boss. Later, Imogene is helping a friend, Suz, clear out a hoarder's garage, and a dead body is discovered. She is afraid to report it to the police, as they may add it to her offences. It is decided to bury the body under a tree in the yard. Her friend thinks the body is that of her estranged mother, but then her living mother turns up, adding to the comedy.

The book continues with many amusing events, including encounters with eccentric characters. I think you will find this a very entertaining read if you enjoy crime stories mixed with humour and featuring a quirky older woman. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy of this book. Its publication is set for July 9.

A Quirky But Enjoyable Gem

This is a novel about a 75-year-old woman two years into her parole. She works in a grocery store selling dented canned foods, damaged dry goods, and out-of-date pharmacy products. She needs to stay employed, or she will be returned to prison to finish her remaining 15 years. Her parole officer comes in to check on her employment status. She believes that Imogene did not tell her employee that she is on parole as the law requires. The parole officer approaches the owner and looks back at Imogene to see if she will beg for her not to tell the owner. She asks the owner if he knows that he hired a murderer on parole. He does not react. The parole office tells him that she is a murderer. Finally, he says that yes, he does know. From this close call, this novel starts.

There is only one thread in the main storyline. This, for me, is an adventure novel. First, there are dangers of being returned to prison, and in the second chapter, Imogene is targeted for a protection scam. Second, the dangers escalate, and new, more significant threats appear. They do not stop until the last chapters of the novel. Third, there are plenty of plot twists as Imogene has her way of making decisions, including discussions in her head with her former cellmate. Her choices lead to intriguing results. She has additional difficulties plaguing her. As a result of sending threatening letters to the President, she has made the Presidential Protection Detail’s take-a-wingnut-to-lunch list. Imogene is the sole narrator, so all events are seen through her eyes.

This novel is a very easy read. Imogene’s antics kept a smile on my face throughout the book. I was hooked on reading this quirky but engaging novel.

Imogene is a very well-developed character. There is extensive use of flashbacks to provide information about her young life, her meeting her husband, and their life together until she goes to prison. In the present time, there are discussions in her mind with her former cellmate, who, for ten years, gave her advice and kept her sane while in prison. More information on Imogene is provided in a B-storyline thread with a coworker, next-door neighbor, and girlfriend of their employer.

This novel should be fine for most readers. There are no intimate scenes, just references, one of which is best described as canoodling. There is a noticeable use of impolite language but very little vulgar. There is some impious language. There are some of the after-effects of violence, but only one event is described in detail. This is a standalone novel, so there is no dependence on previous books.

I had no issues with this novel. There are many things that I like. First was how the author introduced and reinforced a critical element in the novel. Unfortunately, that element is a spoiler, but is obvious when they occur. Also, I discovered that this author’s notes at the end are a treasure trove of interesting information about elements in the novel. I do recommend reading it. I found this novel an easy and captivating read as I have two other of his novels. His usual publisher did not publish this novel, but this novel is not subpar. My rating as a Must-Read author was reaffirmed. I recently purchased the rest of the Bruno Johnson series. I highly recommend reading this novel and rating it with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Level Best Books. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Level Best Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

I have read several of David Putnam's books, this one was way different! I found it mostly boring, until the last part. I didn't like any of the characters, so couldn't get into it much. It was well done as far as the story went, but really so many questions at the end!!!! I have to say I would not recommend this book to anyone that likes David Putnam's David Beckett series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for the ARC

This was an entertaining book. I usually love it when the mc is an older person and Imogen was really something for herself. It was so fun to follow her and see all her antics. The book has several twists so I was never bored. A different, but enjoyable novel from Putnam

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book! I loved the storyline and really enjoyed the characters a great deal. The book kept the story going and with a few different twists and turns I was always wondering what would happen next. Imogene is quite the character, and the detail made me feel as if I was right there with the characters. This book had just the right mix of comedy, drama, suspense to keep me entertained. I found myself wanting to know more when I got to the end of the story, highly recommend!