A Sticky Wicket - An Embarrassing Problem or Situation - A Comic Mystery (Paperback)

The retirement community of Oxbridge Estate is slam-bang in the middle of Dudberry, England, but life on its premises is just a tad askew. New resident, Corrie Flowers, has returned to England after many years on an Arizona Dude Ranch. She has linked up with a cultured, cricket-loving, hermit-like Scotsman, Jim McPhail. After their questionable acquisition of an old railway ticket, Corrie suspects that one of the residents at Oxbridge may be a member of the old "Johnny Hibiscus" gang-a group of "gentlemen crooks" responsible for an infamous and daring local robbery nearly forty years earlier. After all, she reasons, "Even criminals have to retire." Corrie and Jim then investigate the mix of odd bods, misfits, and quirky residents that constitute the denizens of Oxbridge. Their sleuthing mishaps include arthritic bouts of breaking-and-entering, "senior moments" with regard to crucial evidence, and investigations constantly interrupted by unscheduled sleep. Meanwhile, the lovely Patricia Witherspoon, "the dish of Oxbridge" is flabbergasted when she runs into her old boyfriend (and new resident)-the handsome Ronny Summers, after standing him up for a date nearly thirty-five years earlier. Corrie's intuition leads her to suspect that this same Ronny Summers and his peculiar, shadow-like accomplice, J.C. Finch, have something to "hide." Is there really a retired criminal in their midst? Will their evidence lead them to the real culprit? And will Ronny Summers win back the lovely Patricia or lose her to the exasperating cricket player, Charlie Burton? Or, would everyone be better off just to have a nap and play some cribbage? Readers will discover the answers as they smile at the twists andturns of Corrie, Jim and the other fascinating and loveable characters of Oxbridge Estate and their attempts to resolve the long-forgotten past with the realities of the present. About the Author John Kemp studied photography at Plymouth College and Watford College in England. He worked in London as a civilian photographer for the Metropolitan Police. Following this, he took a position working onboard luxury cruise ships which allowed him to travel and also acquire a much needed suntan. He is married to Michelle, whom he met at a lifeboat station, "at sea" on a quaint little ship that used to sail up and down the California coast line. He has worked closely with retirees for a number of years. He was continually inspired by them, and this prompted his most recent book. He can be found reading or writing most days, and very rarely, will you see him playing cricket.