Hi. I’m Kate, the youngest member of the Old Dames Protection Agency (ODPA). I’m in my forties, half the age it takes to be a full-fledged member of the organization. Flo Wellington is the founder, and I was hired by Flo’s father before he died to look after her.
Looking after Flo is actually an impossible task—she has a mind (and a mouth) of her own—but what I can do is try hard to keep her safe. I keep in shape and I’m good with guns and computers.
Flo seems to think I’m headed for the CIA or maybe that I’ve been working for them for years. All of this is because of our latest adventure—Spy vs. Spy—in which we had some run-ins with good and bad CIA agents, not to mention a few hoodlums along the way. Who knew Florida could harbor such a group of questionable characters?
I have to say I got my workout in this one. Flo, Maude (her partner in crime—I mean preventing crimes) and I flew from Boston to Florida, then hid out in St. Augustine when it was clear the bad guys were after us. That gave us a little time to enjoy the city’s famous ‘Nights of LIghts’ before we headed to Naples for the final denouement!
To think I started out imagining this might be a quiet holiday season! I have a new boyfriend, Max, that I’m pretty serious about. He has a grandmother who lives in Naples, and I wanted Flo and Maude to meet her. Those two are my adopted family, you might say, and I knew Max’s grandmother was too frail to come to Boston.
It had been a slow season for us—it seemed no one needed to hire us to prevent a murder this Christmas. Flo was beside herself for a couple of reasons. First off, this was the first season since she founded her ODPA organization that someone didn’t need us to stop a murderer in his—or her—tracks. The second reason was a more secret one—Flo was terrified of flying and the only way we could get to Florida when she finally gave up on a case materializing was by flying.
I have to give it to Flo—she’s brave. She white knuckled the first part of the flight until she found someone who needed to be rescued. Can you believe that? On board a flight to Florida, Flo found a woman who said she was retired CIA and appeared to be scared to death of someone else on the flight. It was a man she thought intended to kidnap and kill her—she called him a rogue CIA agent.
Well, that’s only the beginning of the story. It was a wild ride, and for the rest of it, you’ll have to read the book. I never did get to introduce Flo and Maude to Max’s grandmother, but that may happen in our next adventure.
In the meantime, if you need a little break from the holiday season, try Spy vs. Spy or the other two books that came before: Flo and Maude Christmas Capers and Flo and Maude Save a Santa. I promise you they’ll give you a laugh or two and won’t raise your blood pressure the way the rest of the holiday season can do.
Spy vs. Spy, A Flo and Maude Christmas Cozy Mystery #3
Genre: Cozy
Release: November 2022
Purchase Link
The Old Dames Protection Agency (ODPA) has no one to protect this holiday season!
Has their organization run out of steam?
Octogenarian Flo hates to fly, but sacrifices must be made. She’s promised to meet the grandmother of Kate’s boyfriend in Naples, Florida if no one needs their protection this Christmas. Little does she know that one terrifying flight will lead Maude, Kate, and Flo to the greatest adventure of their lives.
They land in the middle of a spy thriller in St. Augustine with the Nights of Lights glittering around them. But will everyone survive? Including a hapless, greedy and unsuccessful politician who claims to have invented a machine guaranteeing eternal youth? And will Flo be able to tell the good spies from the bad ones?
About the author
Sarah Osborne is the pen name for a physician and writer who has lived all over the US from California to Ohio to Georgia and now Cape Cod. She grew up with cozy mysteries and continues to love them for their humor and comfort in troubled times. She writes them to bring that same comfort to others. Sarah believes if we get to know one another our differences diminish and if we trust in the power of women our world will be a better place. That’s how her second series—Flo and Maude Christmas Cozies—was born. These carefree, funny stories are meant to show the wisdom and untapped energy found in women of a certain age.
Want to know more about Sarah? Check out her website at doctorosborne.com, and on Facebook. Sign up for her monthly newsletter here.
GIVEAWAY: Sarah has generously offered to give away a signed copy of Spy vs. Spy. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends November 16, 2022. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds like a fun book. I’ve read other books by this author but not this series. I’ve got to check it out!
Hi Mary, I’m delighted you’ll be looking into this series. It’s meant to be funny, light reading when the tasks of the holiday season might feel overwhelming.
Looks like a great read. I have not heard of this author and look forward to reading the series.
Thanks, Shawn. Let me know what you think.
I love the awesome cover of this new book 📕! It really sounds like a fantastic and exciting cozy! I absolutely love the series “A Ditie Brown Mystery” by Sarah Osborne and look forward to reading this new series of hers! Thank you so much dear Dru and Sarah for the chance to win! 😊📚
Hi Beverly, I’m delighted you like my Ditie Brown Mystery series! This series is supposed a little lighter and ideal for women of a certain age (or for people who love women of a certain age). Email me and let me know what you think if you do read it.
Hi Sarah…. I absolutely WILL read this awesome new book 📕 of yours regardless of whether I win…..do I will most definitely let you know how very much I like it…..just saying that because I love 💕 your other books 📚 so I know this one will be spectacular too!! Hugs 🤗 💜📚😘
Hi Beverly, I doubt you’ll see this reply but I’ll try anyway. Thank you very much for being such an enthusiastic fan and I meant to reply to your first note that I also love the cover. I have a wonderful cover designer, Aisha Akeju, who captures what I want for my books–I feel very lucky to have her.
Sounds like a fun book, with older protagonists for a change.
Hi Sharon, Thanks. Yes! Older protagonists–so often not given their due. Flo comes with her crusty exterior but her brain is working just fine!
It sounds like fun, I have come to appreciate older main characters as I get to my senior years.
Hi Jeanie, Shoot me an email with your favorites if you have some in the cozy mystery genre. You can reach me at sarah@doctorosborne.com Thanks. I’ll try to post them in my newsletter.
Sounds like a fun holiday read. I like that the Sleuths are older women. They make for some entertaining situations.
Hi Dianne, Somehow I missed this message. Thanks.
Well it sure sounds like it’s a wild ride ! I love the name of the agency, Old Dame’s Protection Agency (ODPA). This certainly sounds like a book/series I want to read & oh yes I am on the downside/ backside of 69 years!
Thanks Dru & Sarah this book is now on my TBR list
Thanks, Sheryl. I hope this gives you a laugh and more confidence in being the age you are!
I really enjoyed the other two books. Happy to see another installment!
Hi Alicia, I’m so glad you like these! Thanks
I’ve enjoyed your books.
Hi Sue, I really appreciate your support. Good luck in the drawing.
Sounds like a fun read. I love the characters and that it takes place at Christmas.
Thanks, Anita. Good luck in the drawing.
This story sounds delightful and entertaining. A month from today I will be 75. Happened too fast.
Hi Ellie, Happy Birthday ahead of time. At some point the years don’t matter–much your health and attitude. I hope you enjoy the story–if you do read it let me know what you think.
Your series would be greatly enjoyed. Older characters are very much appreciated and add an enjoyable component to the book. Best wishes.
Thanks, Sharon Good luck on winning a signed book.
I’m laughing at the title, Spy vs Spy. I hope the ladies of the ODPA have better luck than the spies of Mad magazine!
LOL. I think the answer is yes. A friend found that title for me.
A new author for me, I’d like to be included!
Hi Teresa. Good luck on the giveaway!
Love the ODPA.
Thanks, Mary. Love the picture!
**** WINNER ****
Spy vs Spy is Alicia
Congratulations!