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WORK TITLE: Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 17-Jun
WEBSITE: http://robinmerrill.com/
CITY:
STATE: ME
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
http://robinmerrill.com/contact/; married with two children.
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born June 17; married; two children.
EDUCATION:University of Southern Maine, Stonecoast M.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, editor, performance poet, and creative writing workshop facilitator. Has worked as high school English teacher and college writing instructor.
AWARDS:Emerging Artist Award, St. Botolph Club Foundation, 2013.
RELIGION: ChristianWRITINGS
Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction published in periodicals, including Cafe Review, Ledge Magazine, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Stolen Island Review.
SIDELIGHTS
Robin Merrill is an author of poetry, nonfiction, Christian fiction, and mysteries. Her “Gertrude, Gumshoe” mystery series is in the “cozy” category, featuring little graphic violence but much humor and many quirky characters. The protagonist is amateur sleuth Gertrude, an eccentric older woman living in a trailer in the small town of Mattawooptock, Maine. She has a curmudgeonly nature, a blunt manner of speaking, and a fondness for cats, and she gets around with the aid of a walker. She is also a diligent detective.
Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe
As the title implies, this novel is the first in the series. Gertrude takes on her first case when, searching for one of her cats, she encounters two abandoned children living in a trailer near hers. She sets out to find their missing mother, Lori, but has no success at Private Eyes, the strip-tease club where Lori was most recently employed. Her quest soon turns into a murder investigation, and Gertrude uncovers several scandalous local secrets, some involving her town’s unscrupulous mayor, Lance Pouliot.
Some critics found Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe funny and appealing. With her tendency to say whatever is on her mind, “Gert is an absolute hoot,” remarked a contributor to the Caffeinated Reviewer Website, who pronounced the novel “a quick fun read.” Susan Sewell, writing online at Readers’ Favorite, added: “You can’t help but laugh out loud as you read how Gertrude finagles, manipulates, and bumbles her way to a satisfying conclusion.” A Publishers Weekly commentator concluded: “Gertrude’s inept doggedness will entertain readers who don’t take their mysteries too seriously.”
Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill
In the series’ second installment, on a Christmas-shopping trip to the local Goodwill store, Gertrude discovers the body of a young woman who has been beaten to death with an unsightly lamp. Soon the murder weapon disappears, though, but Gertrude is determined to find both it and the person who wielded it to kill twenty-five-year-old Tislene Breen. As part of her investigation, she takes a job at Goodwill, where she proves to be less than a model employee. One of her neighbors, Calvin, also known as “Old Man Crow,” assists, somewhat reluctantly, in her detective work.
Some commentators thought Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill another winning story. “This was a quick, funny, and clever case that I quite enjoyed,” reported the Caffeinated Reviewer contributor. A Publishers Weekly critic called Merrill’s second entry in the series “even funnier than her first,” concluding: “Readers who enjoy tongue-in-cheek whodunits will find themselves grinning frequently.”
Gertrude, Gumshoe and the VardSale Villain
The third book in the series, Gertrude, Gumshoe and the VardSale Villain, has Gertrude looking for a missing woman, Samantha Cooper, the girlfriend of Andy, the janitor at Private Eyes. It emerges that Samantha had met with a seller from VardSale, a Web site similar to Craigslist. Gertrude decides to become active on the site. She persuades Calvin to let her use his computer and to drive her around to meet sellers.
The novel is “hilarious and daring,” featuring “another interesting case,” remarked the Caffeinated Reviewer critic. Each book in the series, the critic noted, is “stronger than its predecessor.”
Gertrude, Gumshoe: Slam Is Murder
Merrill has participated in poetry slams, and these competitions provide the setting for another Gertrude mystery, Gertrude, Gumshoe: Slam Is Murder. Two people have been murdered after leaving a poetry slam in Portland, Maine. Their deaths appear to be unrelated, but Gertrude’s curiosity is piqued. To investigate, she decides to become a contestant in the slam, with Calvin driving her to Portland.
The “eccentric and audacious” Gertrude continues to be an appealing character, and even her poems are humorous, Sewell related at Readers’ Favorite. She is a “one-of-a-kind sleuth,” the reviewer continued, noting that the novel also benefits from a well-paced story and intriguing secondary characters. The “fantastic novel,” although part of the series, can be enjoyed equally as a stand-alone book, Sewell added.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, Ocober 10, 2016, review of More Jesus Diet: More of God, Less of Me, Literally, p. 73; February 13, 2017, review of Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe. p. 54; .September 4, 2017, review of Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill. p. 69.
ONLINE
Author Culture, http://authorculture.blogspot.com/ (April 23, 2016), review of The Jesus Diet: How the Holy Spirit Coached Me to a 50-Pound Weight Loss.
Caffeinated Reviewer, https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com.(December 11, 2017), review of Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe, Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill, and Gertrude, Gumshoe and the VardSale Villain.
Readers’ Favorite, https://readersfavorite.com/ (December 31, 2016), Susan Sewell, review of Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe;(September 9, 2017), Susan Sewell, review of Gertrude, Gumshoe: Slam Is Murder.
Robin Merrill Website, http://robinmerrill.com (May 9, 2018).
Welcome
robin 04 web (2)
Writer. Editor. Performance Poet. Creative Writing Workshop Facilitator. I like to fill the fire with irons and then complain about being too busy.
My poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have appeared in hundreds of publications, including The Cafe Review, Ledge Magazine, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Stolen Island Review. Three of my poems have been featured on The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor, and I received an Emerging Artist Award from St. Botolph Club Foundation in 2013. I have featured at dozens of venues all over the country and proudly represented Portland, Maine at the 2013 National Poetry Slam, the 2014 Individual World Poetry Slam, and the 2015 National Poetry Slam. I graduated from the Stonecoast MFA program in 2006. A former high school English teacher and college writing instructor, I now lead creative writing workshops for writers of all ages and abilities.
Thanks for visiting my virtual home. When technology makes it possible, I will begin serving dark chocolate and coffee here.
Robin Merrill is an award-winning writer from rural Maine where she lives with her husband, their two children, and several furry friends. She has authored several books, including Shelter; The Jesus Diet; and the Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Series. Her individual poems, essays, and short stories have appeared in hundreds of publications, and three of her poems were featured on The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor. She has performed her poetry and fiction in venues all over the country and has represented Maine at three national poetry slams. Sign up at robinmerrill.com to be the first to hear about new releases and free goodies.
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Print Marked Items
Quoted in Sidelights: “even funnier than her first,”
“Readers who enjoy tongue-in-cheek whodunits will find themselves grinning frequently.”
Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill
Publishers Weekly.
264.36 (Sept. 4, 2017): p69.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill
Robin Merrill. New Creation, $6.99 trade
paper (156p) ISBN 978-0-9985198-0-7
Merrill's second comic mystery featuring a curmudgeonly sleuth (after Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe) is
even funnier than her first. Gertrude, who lives in Mattawooptock, Maine, stumbles upon a murder victim
during what should be a routine shopping trip to the local Goodwill to buy Christmas presents. After
picking up gifts for her niece and nephew, she heads to the perfume section, only to find a young woman's
bludgeoned corpse next to the murder weapon--an ugly lamp adorned with decorative birds. But by the time
a crowd has gathered in response to her scream, the lamp has disappeared. Gertrude manages to get hired at
the Goodwill so that she can search for the missing weapon and learn more about the victim, 25-year-old
Tislene Breen, who was unemployed and unmarried. Gertrude is as comically inept at sorting donated items
as she is at most everything else. Readers who enjoy tongue-in-cheek whodunits will find themselves
grinning frequently. (BookLife)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill." Publishers Weekly, 4 Sept. 2017, p. 69. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A505468070/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=06af8f6f.
Accessed 23 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A505468070
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Quoted in Sidelights: “Gertrude’s inept doggedness will entertain readers who don’t take their mysteries too seriously.”
Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe
Publishers Weekly.
264.7 (Feb. 13, 2017): p54.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe
Robin Merrill. New Creation, $6.99 trade paper (156p) ISBN 978-0-6926-8909-7
Cozy fans who enjoy ample servings of tongue-in-cheek humor may find Merrill's (The Witches of
Commack, Maine) series debut to their taste. Oddball Gertrude, who lives in Mattawooptock, Maine, is
concerned about a nearby trailer, occupied only by two young neglected children. She noses around and
finds a pay stub indicating that their mother, Lori, works in a strip club, Private Eyes. Gertrude adroitly gets
the local transportation service for the disabled to give her a lift to Private Eyes, but strikes out there. She
has more luck when she conducts a thorough search of Lori's belongings, uncovering some compromising
photographs, including ones featuring the town's slimy mayor, Lance Pouliot, who once tried to burn down
Gertrude's church. Gertrude's inept doggedness will entertain readers who don't take their mysteries too
seriously. (BookLife)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe." Publishers Weekly, 13 Feb. 2017, p. 54. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A482198164/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=09ca8b51.
Accessed 23 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A482198164
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More Jesus Diet: More of God, Less of
Me, Literally (The Jesus Diet, Book 2)
Publishers Weekly.
263.41 (Oct. 10, 2016): p73.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
More Jesus Diet: More of God, Less of Me, Literally (The Jesus Diet, Book 2)
Robin Merrill. New Creation, $6.99 trade paper (62p) ASIN B01A3DMNH6
Merrill (More Jesus Diet: How the Holy Spirit Coached Me to a 50-Pound Weight Loss) returns to the
themes begun in her self-published work about the value of incorporating the spiritual into one's desire to
lead a more healthy and active lifestyle. Each of the 30 meditations in this slim volume present a short
portion of scripture, followed by the author's thoughts on how it applies to our ongoing struggle to live
healthy lives. She ends with a prayer that she hopes will lead the reader to a more intimate relationship with
God. Merrill doesn't dwell on self-help exercises or deliver rousing encouragement, but instead points
readers away from the self and reminds them that "God is in control." With simple language and a tight
scope, Merrill again hammers home her lofty tenet: once you are able to let go of the idea that health goals
can be achieved alone and acknowledge the power of God, victory becomes certain. (Jan.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"More Jesus Diet: More of God, Less of Me, Literally (The Jesus Diet, Book 2)." Publishers Weekly, 10
Oct. 2016, p. 73. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A466616220/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=92ef5f20. Accessed 23 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466616220
“eccentric and audacious”
“one-of-a-kind sleuth,”
“fantastic novel,”
Gertrude, Gumshoe
Gertrude, Gumshoe
Slam Is Murder
by Robin Merrill
Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth 113 Pages Reviewed on 09/09/2017Buy on Amazon
This author participates in our Review Exchange and Book Donation Program. Click here to learn more.
BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
Gertrude, Gumshoe: Slam Is Murder by Robin Merrill is an entertaining sleuth mystery that will keep you in stitches. Gertrude is a gumshoe; never mind that she doesn't have a car and has to use a walker to get around. Nothing will deter Gertrude from doing what she sets out to do; she is determined to fight crime. Two unrelated deaths, which occurred after both of the deceased had left a poetry slam, caught Gertrude's avid attention. Now she is determined to find the link between the two and bring a killer to justice. Dragging Calvin, her reluctant neighbor and part-time partner and driver to a poetry reading in Portland, Gertrude goes undercover as a participant in the poetry slam. After the killer keys Calvin's car, can he be induced to continue chauffeuring Gertrude in her investigation? Can Gertrude find the murderer before he or she strikes again?
Hilarity follows Gertrude as she bungles her way through her case in Gertrude, Gumshoe: Slam Is Murder by Robin Merrill. Gertrude is such a sensational character, who is so eccentric and audacious that you can't help but like her, even though she is brash. Jessica Fletcher's character from the television series, "Murder She Wrote" may have been gracious, but she was never this compelling nor intuitive! Engaging characters, a well thought out plot, a storyline that moves along with a flourish, and Gertrude's amusing and pithy poems make a captivating combination. This is one book in a marvelous one-of-a-kind sleuth murder mystery series, and I am looking forward to more of Gertrude's antics. It is a fantastic novel that works well as a standalone and will delight cozy mystery fans everywhere!
Quoted in Sidelights: “Gert is an absolute hoot,”
“a quick fun read.”
“This was a quick, funny, and clever case that I quite enjoyed,”
“hilarious and daring,”
“another interesting case,”
“stronger than its predecessor.”
Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Box Set By Robin Merrill
December 11th, 2017 Kimberly Review 21 Comments
Gertrude Gumshoe
The Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Box Set by Robin Merrill contains the first three installments in the hilarious Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery series: Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe, Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill and Gertrude, Gumshoe and the VardSale Villain. Come meet this zany old lady for laughs, mysteries, and cats.
Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Box Set by Robin Merrill
Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe
by Robin Merrill
Series: Gertrude Gumshoe #1
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Gertrude has been called a lot of things: a hoarder, an odd duck, and a crazy cat lady—but she's never been called a gumshoe. Until now. When her neighbor goes missing, she can't help but get involved, no matter how many people ask her not to.
In Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe we meet Gertrude (Gert to her friends) a disabled cat lady whose a bit of a curmudgeon. After taking a count of her cats she discovers one has escaped her trailer and sets out with her walker to find Tornado (the missing cat). A woman and her two young children have recently moved into one of the trailers and it is here she discovers Tornado. Only the kids aren’t at school and their mother is missing. What began as a quest to find their mom soon leads to a murder mystery. The cops dismiss, Gertrude’s investigative skills and encourage her to go home, but she has evidence and sets out to save others and catch a killer! Oh lord, Gert is an absolute hoot. Rude, surly, and apt to say whatever pops out of her mouth, I couldn’t help but laugh at her over the top antics. I wouldn’t call her lovable but she is entertaining. She gains help from the disability van service, a friend and even enlists her reluctant neighbor Old Man Crow. Humor, a little suspense and Gertrude’s over the top mannerisms, conversations, and actions made this a quick fun read.
Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Box Set by Robin Merrill
Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill
by Robin Merrill
Series: Gertrude Gumshoe #2
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Gertrude is back! When she finds a murder victim at her local Goodwill, she tries to tell the Sheriff's Department everything she knows. Of course, they don't listen. So of course, she must solve the mystery herself. And the only way she can figure to do this is to go undercover—as the Mattawooptock Goodwill's newest team member. Anyone who knows Gertrude knows this probably isn't the best idea. She'll probably get fired. Or arrested. Or worse.
Gertrude is back in Gertrude, Gumshoe: Murder at Goodwill. Needing to get her Christmas shopping done, she calls the van and gets a ride to the local Goodwill. It’s Saturday and quite crowded. After rummaging through the children’s section she heads off to the perfume section where she makes a ghastly discovery. She discovers the body of a dead woman and the ugliest green lamp she has ever seen. She lets out a scream and is soon discovered by employees. She turns to tell them she simply found the body and that quick the lamp disappears. Hale the local handsome detective is shocked to find Gert at another murder scene and angers Gert when he isn’t upset about the missing lamp. Once again Gert beings investigating, even going to so far as to secure a job at Goodwill. A burglary, boobytraps, and trouble insue as Gert and her reluctant neighbor investigate. For me, this was a stronger story and I enjoyed seeing familiar characters. This was a quick, funny, and clever case that I quite enjoyed.
Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Box Set by Robin Merrill
Gertrude, Gumshoe and the VardSale Villain
by Robin Merrill
Series: Gertrude Gumshoe #3
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Samantha Cooper is missing and her boyfriend is desperate to find her. Desperate enough to hire Gertrude, Gumshoe. Thrilled to have her first real client, Gertrude gets right to work. But is she really ready for a real case? Can she catch a kidnapper without getting herself kidnapped?
Again we see a tie-in from a former character in Gertrude, Gumshoe and the VardSale Villain. In the first story, we met Andy a janitor who works at Private Eyes (a dance club) His girlfriend is missing and Gertrude has her first paying customer. Thanks to a calendar she learns Samantha Cooper was met by a seller from a wildly popular site called Vardsale. She enlists the help of Calvin (Old Man Crow) since she needs A. his computer and B. a ride. Gertrude’s investigations have her meeting sellers, gathers clues and getting herself in trouble. Hilarious, and daring Merrill delivered another interesting case.
You can buy these books individually or grab The Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Box Set containing all three cozy mysteries. These are fast reads and total about the length of a full novel. Gertrude is hilarious from her jitterbug to interactions with Hale, a local police officer. If you are looking for a hilarious, light cozy mystery these are great fun. Each book was stronger than its predecessor and I enjoyed Gertrude’s antics.
Gertrude, Gumshoe Cozy Mystery Box Set by Robin Merrill was filled with 3 mysteries that will make you laugh as you solve cases with the heroine #cozymysteries CLICK TO TWEET
About Robin Merrill
Robin Merrill
Robin Merrill has authored several books, including the #1 Amazon bestselling Shelter and the popular Jesus Diet devotionals. Her work has appeared in hundreds of publications, and three of her poems have been featured on The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor. She is a 2013 recipient of an Emerging Artist Award from St. Botolph Club Foundation of Boston and has represented Maine at three national poetry slams.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. She's a self-professed Whovian, as well as a Supernatural, and Sherlock Holmes junkie, She enjoys sharing books, tips, recipes and hosting the Sunday Post. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat...Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016
The Jesus Diet: A Book Review
When I first saw this book, I immediately thought it would regale me with the food Jesus ate--things like bread, wheat from the stalk, fish, bread, well water, wine--and wondered how someone managed to make a weight loss program out of the few items we knew for sure that Jesus consumed. Upon closer inspection, though, I noticed it was a devotional book, and it started to make sense.
After reading The Jesus Diet, though, it made complete sense. Robin Merrill, a freelance writer who specializes in Christian projects, struggled with overeating tendencies for years before she "nailed her fat to the cross" one day. Her decision to include Jesus in every facet of her weight loss journey resulted in this book, a sensitive and compassionate guide to losing weight with the Holy Spirit alongside us every step of the way, and a 50-pound weight loss. She reminds us that it isn't what we eat (for all food is created by God and suitable for consumption), but why we eat it. We are to use food, not be mastered by it.
Merrill leads the reader through her own struggles with humor and transparency, assuring us that Jesus is with us all the time, not just when we're eating what we're supposed to be eating, when we're supposed to eat it, and for the right reasons. We all stumble, and Merrill was no exception. She outlines what worked (and continues to work) for her and gives us the tools to start losing weight in ways that will glorify Jesus and bring success to us.
The Jesus Diet is short (the eBook is 67 pages long). It may not appeal to all dieters, particularly those who are not Christians, but it certainly encouraged me to stop "going it all alone" and open my eyes to the Holy Spirit Who resides within this body of mine--a body that houses God Himself and should reflect his glory.
I found The Jesus Diet on Amazon (http://tinyurl.com/hqf6neo) and noticed Merrill has written another book continuing her journey. That book, More Jesus Diet: More of God, Less of Me, Literally, is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (http://tinyurl.com/zhkczpf). I haven't read the second one yet, but you can bet I will.
Quoted in Sidelights: “You can’t help but laugh out loud as you read how Gertrude finagles, manipulates, and bumbles her way to a satisfying conclusion.”
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe by Robin Merrill is an entertaining cozy mystery. Searching for her missing cat, Gertrude stumbles upon two children whose mother didn't come home from work the night before. Going through the woman's mail, Gertrude finds that she works at a local strip club. Concerned and displeased, Gertrude leaves her cat in the custody of the children and goes to retrieve their mother. Unexpectedly, Gertrude discovers a corpse and, not happy with the way the police are handling the murder, she decides to investigate it herself. Relying on a walker to get around and with no transportation of her own, Gertrude finagles her crabby old neighbor, Old Man Crow, into being her partner. Unfortunately, Gertrude's hi-jinks have caught the attention of the murderer. Will she be the next victim found face down in a pool of balls?
Introducing Gertrude, Gumshoe by Robin Merrill is an amusing sleuth/murder/mystery. Although Gertrude is elderly, a hoarder, and has difficulty walking, the spunky woman won't admit to any of these attributes. As a matter of fact, she is affronted when they are mentioned and becomes quite indignant. Gertrude questions everything and everybody without discretion and doesn't comprehend the word no. Gertrude's strong and obstinate personality and her indefatigable capacity to overcome what others insist is impossible accomplish what the police cannot. You can't help but laugh out loud as you read how Gertrude finagles, manipulates, and bumbles her way to a satisfying conclusion. Gertrude is a remarkable character and I loved her ability to live life, letting nothing stand in her way. I highly recommend this outstanding, humorous novel to those who enjoy an entertaining cozy mystery.