Mrs. Plansky's a Grannie Who Rocks!

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Spencer Quinn entertains readers with his quirky and brave main character in his new release, Mrs.Plansky’s Revenge. In this adventurous tale when widow Loretta Plansky gets a late night call for her grandson asking for help, like all grandparents she immediately does all she is asked. But, when the bank and her financial advisor calls the next day, to find out why her accounts were wiped out, Mrs. Plansky finds that she has been the victim of a scam, one that is almost out of this world, finding out that the thieves are far away in another country.

While that would be the end for all others, after reporting the crime to the FBI and their cyber division, being told that now, it is time to wait, Loretta Plansky decides that things need to move a little faster than she has been told. So, Loretta decides to take the matter on herself, and then, the criminals. Because, after she is told where a program is thought to originate from, the one that she was told to use to send the money to her “fake grandson” is, she flies out of America to a small village in Romania.

Readers will enjoy this tale as much as I did, surely reminded of a feisty old woman they know or knew in life, as I was. While Loretta was not the exact replica of either of my grandmothers (or anyone else of the elderly female persuasion I knew in life), I found myself reminded of both of them while reading the book, thinking, if this had happened to either of them, if a thief had managed to wipe them of 97% of their total life savings and money left to live on and leave her with almost nothing; would either have done the same, flew to a small European country trying to find the culprits? Oddly, yes, I could see either of them doing this, even the grandmother who was never brave enough to learn to drive herself, in her embarrassment, for having been “scammed”, would want some kind of quick solution. Not to have to tell the family that she had fallen for a con. This, too, is the response of the main character, Mrs. Plansky.

Spencer Quinn keeps readers hooked until the very end, when learning whether all Mrs. Plansky does, will she get her reward, or only have created more trouble? Much of the time I sat hoping Loretta did not end up dead somewhere in this small Romanian country, the woman not aware of the trouble she could have really found herself, in a country where she is unaware of the politics, the players, the customs, or what could really happen if anyone dangerous in the country, connected to the scam, found out who she really is.

Loretta goes to Romania totally unprepared, with no plan, very ignorant of the dangers she could face. It made the book a nail biter and definitely, fictional. I don’t think one would or should ever advise their mother or grandmother to do any of what Loretta does in reality, and if one finds the elderly chasing scammers overseas, stop them or fly to get them and drag them home. Even in the book Loretta goes to the U.S. Embassy in Romania to find out about her case and after a discussion with a secret agent about what will happen, is promptly put on a plane home, escorted even, by another officer.

But, in a better world, one less dangerous, it is a cute, made up story, for enjoyment and pleasure only. This is not a “how to” lesson plan for any of the elderly that have been scammed, for individuals to copy and travel overseas to meet their scammer(s). More of a cozy tale, one where, in the end, Mrs. Plansky has a good chance of getting revenge on the culprits, getting her money back (most of it) and, possibly, saving the lives of some of those tied up in the scam. Because sometimes those who prey on others, are prey themselves, forced to do things by others for their own survival. Because, Loretta thought the call that came was from her grandson, who is a young man. That means that a boy from Romania impersonated him. And, to solve the tale of where her money went, Mrs. Plansky must first find this caller, somewhere in Romania, who may be closer to her than she may think. And, when she does, she may find that she is not the only one who needs help and saving.

Happy Reading!