Elaine’s latest novel, Mrs. Odboddy-Hometown Patriot a WWII tale of chicks and chicanery, suspicion and spies is a riotous romp with Agnes Odboddy, a self-appointed scourge of the underworld. Agnes fights WWII from the home front, collecting cans, volunteering at the Ration Stamp office and knitting argyles for the troops, while seeing conspiracies and Nazi spies around every corner. When Mrs. Roosevelt unexpectedly comes to town to attend a funeral, Agnes is called upon to prove she is, indeed, a hometown patriot.
Mrs. Odboddy – Interview
My friends call me Agnes. I live with my Siamese cat, Ling-Ling, and my granddaughter, Katherine. She lost her fiancé last year at Pearl Harbor. She works at the Curls to Dye For Beauty Salon and does the hair and make-up at the local Whistlemeyer Mortuary, here in Newbury. Clyde Hoffelmeister just passed away. He fell off the roof trying to save a cat. Don’t worry. The cat survived. Clyde didn’t.
I spend my time volunteering. I go several times a month to the USO at the Boyles Springs Military Base USO, just up the Northern California coast. I also roll bandages at the hospital and collect paper on the paper drive. Our ladies’ group at the church knits socks for the military. Probably my favorite service is at the ocean watch tower every other Wednesday watching for a Japanese invasion, and let me tell you, that becomes quite an adventure.
As I’m sure you’re aware, these days, every citizen is a home front warrior and must be alert to Nazi-Jap spies. They’re everywhere! Speaking of Nazi spies, I told Chief Waddlemucker, the Chief of Police, that I’m convinced that Sofia Rashmuller from our knitting circle at the First Church of the Evening Star and Everlasting Light is a Nazi spy. I know it’s true because of the awful shade of red she dyes her hair.
Oh, yes, MY hair is also red. Quite natural, I assure you. Oh, I may freshen it from time to time with a henna rinse but I would never dye it, because only fast women and European spies do that. I should know. I saw enough of them during WWI as an undercover agent for the US government. My stars, yes! We saw some action, but I never hurt anybody. Well, there was that one time. . . Of course, I can’t talk about the details. If I did, I’d have to kill you.
Did I mention that I also volunteer at the Ration Book Center, sending out the ration coupon books to the neighborhood? This week, while addressing ration books, I’m sure I ran across a Black Market conspiracy. Someone is stealing ration books from the mailboxes at empty houses. We’re planning a secret mission to catch the thief in the act. How exciting!
Now that we’re at war, we must all endure rationing. Imagine! Only one pound of coffee per adult every six weeks! And the price of eggs! Actually, I’ve solved that problem. I’m getting six chickens this afternoon. I’m not quite sure what we’ll do with them. Guess we’ll just stick them in the bathroom until we can get a coop built this Saturday. They’re just chickens, after all. What could possibly go wrong?
Mrs. Odboddy – Hometown Patriot is Elaine’s latest novel, publlished February 2016.
About the author
Elaine lives in Elk Grove, CA, with her husband and four house cats, the inspiration for her Black Cat 
Mysteries. (The cats, not the husband).
Elaine Faber is a member of Sisters in Crime, Inspire Christian Writers and Cat Writers Association. Mrs. Odboddy – Hometown Patriot is her most recent novel. The Agnes Odboddy character is a figment of Elaine’s vivid imagination and not at all based on her own quirky personality. Visit Elaine at mindcandymysteries.com, Amazon page and Facebook. You can also email Elaine here.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a kindle copy of Mrs. Odboddy – Hometown Patriot. The giveaway will end March 11, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
I absolutely adore this idea. I bet this is a wonderful addition for anyone who loves history mysteries. Plus who loves to live in the past like I do, what a great idea and I love the cover.
Pamela: So happy you like my concept. You will like reading the book even more! Hope you buy one and if you win, by chance, I’ve published three other books you can choose from!.
I’m so excited to learn about Mrs. Odboddy. She sounds so delightful; I can’t wait to read about her interaction with Ekeanor Roosevelt. Thank you, Dru, for this opportunity to win Elaine Faber’s WWII romp with Mrs. Odboddy.
When you read my book, you will learn a little known historical fact about Mrs. Roosevelt and J. Edgar Hoover, written into the plot. (Situation is real, but included in a fantasy manner involving Mrs. Odboddy). Tee Hee! Intrigued? Buy the book!
On Thursday, March 3, 2016, drus book musings wrote:
> Dru posted: “Elaine’s latest novel, Mrs. Odboddy-Hometown Patriot a WWII > tale of chicks and chicanery, suspicion and spies is a riotous romp with > Agnes Odboddy, a self-appointed scourge of the underworld. Agnes fights > WWII from the home front, collecting cans, volunte” >
Reading the whole book will bring you much more fun. Hope you’ll buy it and learn about life in the USA during WWII.
Great post and review. I have this on my TBR list so thank you for the chance to win.
Hope its a short list! Every day you put off reading my book, you cheat yourself from a fun read… Just sayin’…
I would loved to read this!! It is my kind of book, love the adventures she goes on!!! Sounds so interesting would love a copy of this!!!!
Good luck to be the winner. But, the book is just $3.99, so skip a cup of Starbucks, and get five hours of fun reading instead!
She sounds perfect to me and her name is fabulous! Thank you for this head’s up!
We checked first names with ‘current popular names of the 1940’s’ but the last names of the characters are all made up and just lots of fun. Hope you get a chance to read the book.
I’m so glad to featured this author. I had never heard of her. This book sounds like a lot of fun. I’m fascinated by stories about that period in time.
I added a lot of ‘local flavor of the times’ in addition to the plot lines involving the rationing, coast watch and volunteering. Adding ‘yellow dye’ to the margarine, the victory garden, Agnes’s corset with laces and garters and…. so much more.
This is soooo funny. I love it.
Love it even more for the bargain price of $3.99 for the e-book.
Mrs. Odboddy sounds quirky and fun. Since this is my favorite time period to read about, this book will be a “must read”. Thanks for the chance to win.
Good luck. Make a note of it, and if you don’t win, you can always buy the book for a song and $3.99. (On sale this week.. Song not required).
Sounds delightful. Thank you.
Even more fun when you move into Agnes’s world of conspiracies and spies. Oh my!!!
Mrs.Odboddy sounds hysterical someone I would love to read about.
Old enough to remember all these things-the knitting, the ration books, the Roosevelt sightings–0nly on the East Coast. Sounds like fun!
Oh, Linda! You MUST buy this book. Don’t wait to see if you win it. You will SOOO enjoy the events we share, especially if you are old enough to remember some yourself. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
What a hoot! I would love to win this book.
Good luck, but remember, only $3.99 to buy. Won’t break the bank!
What a story! I can’t imagine having chickens in the bathroom.
Someone said to me, ‘why didn’t she put the chickens in the garage?” Truth is, I never even thought about it. They just HAD to go into the bathroom!! LOL
How fun! A new series and character to love. I have been reading many different mysteries with a WW2 theme so I am anxious to try this one. Sounds like Mrs Odboddy is someone to fall in love with, and learn about the past.
Mrs. Odboddy’s sequel is already written and #3 in the computer, so go ahead and fall in love. Lots more fun with Agnes to come in the near future. Thanks for stopping by.
What a great approach to war! Go, Mrs. O!
With warriors on the home front like Mrs. Odboddy, how could we NOT win the war!
What a great time for a cozy mystery, would love to win, ty
Good luck, Betty. Glad you enjoyed the premise of the story.
I’m laughing already. Mrs. Odboddy sounds like quite a character. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
You’ll laugh a whole lot more if you read the whole story. I even make myself laugh writing it, but then, maybe I’m a little bit crazy too???? Like Mrs. O.
Oh, I love the famous,”What can go wrong?”!
Absolutely nothing, if your heart is in the right place, right? Right? Right?
I wonder what the cat will do with those 6 chickens. Sounds like a hysterical read!
Here’s a spoiler. Ling Ling now has her face on the post office wall in chicken coops around the county… Go figure….
What a great time period for a cozy. Ms Odboddy sounds wonderfully quirky. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
We have enjoyed researching little known events in the USA during WWII and incorporated things into the plot line. So you get humor and historical facts. What’s not to love?
Agnes sounds hilarious. I would love to read this book!
Buy it now. If you name is chosen, I’ll send you one of my other novels. Good luck.
I love Mrs Odboddy! Definitely on my TBR pile.
Hurry TBR list!. Ling Ling waits with baited breath outside the bathroom door. Those chickens inside are driving her nutty!!!
This sounds like a fun read. Really enjoy historical mysteries. Would love to read “Mrs. Odboddy”.
Don’t delay! The sooner you buy, the sooner you get to enjoy the whole story.
My mind is exploring ways that things could go wrong. Endless possibilities! This book sounds like quite a romp!
It is indeed a hilarious romp and even with the best of intentions, things can go wnrrog…worgn…wngro… astray.
I feel like Mrs. Odboddy has been seen in our town. Can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the introduction. robeader53@yahoo.com
Looking forward to hearing about your experience following reading. An Amazon review would be wonderful!
My kind of book!
Glad you feel the book is your kind of book. Hope you enjoy reading it.
Can’t wait to read this I love history and stories about WWII anfmd this sounds woderful. Sure hope I win.
You will win whether you win a free book or not!. At $3.99 for the e-book, even BUYING the book is a win-win situation. Thanks for stopping by with a comment. Good luck.
Mrs Odboddy looks like quite a character. A fun read. New author. Is exciting. So hoping for an early start. Thanks for that chance to do so
Indeed she is. Hope you will purchase the book for $3.99 at Amazon, even if you don’t win a free copy. If you want a free copy of one of my books, I’ve put up my second cat mystery, Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer on amazon this week for free. http://tinyurl.com/q3qrgyu
Enjoy.
Looks like a fun book.
See comment above about receiving my cat mystery, Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer on Amazon, free this week. http://tinyurl.com/q3qrgyu
Hope you will buy Mrs. Odboddy, once you learn to enjoy my writing. Thanks for stopping by to comment.
This cover just grabbed me!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
LOL. Yes, Agnes is quite a girl and her story is loads of fun. Even if you don’t win, the ebook is only $3.99, so how can you lose? Thanks for visit and comment.