Niki Danforth
A fifty-something divorcée turned private eye, Ronnie Lake turns the pages on her current case with her beloved German Shepherd at her side. Adultery, betrayal, and romance are the main characters until murder steals the scene and plunges her into the exclusive–and unlikely–world of rare book collecting. When a first edition valued at half a million dollars goes missing, everyone becomes a suspect…and a target in this stand-alone mystery in the Ronnie Lake Series. Be sure to enjoy the bonus to Ronnie Lake’s story in the first several chapters of Hush, Hush, the next stand-alone novel in the series.
“A middle-aged private investigator looks for romance—and a murderer—among the moneyed in this mystery novel. In Danforth’s new series installment about detective Ronnie Lake, the born-to-money but down-to-earth protagonist…In addition to plenty of intrigue and a whiff of scandal, Danforth offers readers lots of engaging information on collectors’ books, rare coins, and Birkin bags. Readers of a certain generation may also feel nostalgic as songs by such artists as the Beach Boys and Sade serve as the soundtrack while Ronnie traipses from parties to polo matches in her red Mustang ragtop. Overall, the mystery isn’t too difficult to figure out, but the writing is breezy in tone and characters are unconventional—particularly Ronnie, who has a black belt in aikido, looks great in a sleeveless dress, and hasn’t succumbed to many challenges in her life, including a divorce and a son’s recent death in Afghanistan. Readers may guess the killer before the big reveal, but they’ll also find that the journey is just as enjoyable as the destination.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Searching For Gatsby (A Ronnie Lake Murder Mystery) by Niki Danforth is a marvelous sleuth mystery novel with a unique protagonist. Ronnie may be in her fifties, but she proves that life isn’t over once you hit the infamous ‘over the hill’ mark. Quite the contrary, her character is admirable and inspiring. After experiencing grief and loss, Ronnie’s character, despite her age, picks up the pieces of her life and, using her natural deductive skills, begins fresh. I love this aspect of her murder mystery series. I am looking forward to reading more of her sleuthing exploits. This novel is a fantastic choice for those who are fans of cozy mysteries and is age appropriate for young adults on up.”– Readers’ Favorite rates it 5 Stars!
“Just when I thought I had figured out the plot, the author threw in some intriguing twists and turns…This is a fast-paced, humorous, mystery romp.” – Library of Clean Reads “A fascinating cast of characters, which includes an aged cat burglar, a dashing sportsman and a mysterious romantic interest, all inhabit Ronnie’s rarefied and fully realized world. Like Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, this new Gatsby book evokes the splendor, but also hints at the corruption behind the American Dream of mansions and millionaires.” – Amazon customer “The Great Gatsby is such a popular topical reference point that you might think you know what this is about. Trust me, you don’t! Using Gatsby as both a tangible missing object and a metaphor, Danforth’s “accidental” detective Ronnie Lake makes the mystery fun but also serious.” – Amazon customer