Getting Old Will Haunt You

Lakin’s shtick-filled ninth Gladdy Gold mystery (after 2018’s Getting Old Can Hurt You) finds Gladdy and her ragtag band of septuagenarian sleuths, whose motto is “Never Trust Anyone Under Seventy-Five,” bored and cranky. They haven’t had a case in months, and the activities on offer at their Fort Lauderdale, Fla., retirement residence aren’t enough to keep them amused. Fortunately, Gladdy gets a call from the Wassingers of Key West, who ask the old girls to investigate the death of their lawyer, Robert Strand. Aided by the large and colorful cast of an amateur production of La Cage aux Folles and a blackmailing ghost, Gladdy and her cronies set out to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Gladdy’s pal Ida gets on the trail of an errant husband, the pesky curmudgeon Hy Binder. The slight mystery element is padded out by multiple digressions, including a discussion of the pros and cons of retirement home living, a lengthy exchange of opinions on favorite Columbo TV episodes, and a list of various types of tacos. This installment is for die-hard fans only. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary. (Apr.)