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Book Summary and Reviews of Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge

by Spencer Quinn

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  • Jul 2023, 304 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge is bestselling author Spencer Quinn's first novel in a new series since the meteoric launch of Chet and Bernie―introducing the irresistible and unforgettable Mrs. Plansky, in a story perfect for book clubs and commercial fiction readers.

Mrs. Loretta Plansky, a recent widow in her seventies, is settling into retirement in Florida while dealing with her 98-year-old father and fielding requests for money from her beloved children and grandchildren. Thankfully, her new hip hasn't changed her killer tennis game one bit.

One night Mrs. Plansky is startled awake by a phone call from a voice claiming to be her grandson Will, who desperately needs ten thousand dollars to get out of a jam. Of course, Loretta obliges―after all, what are grandmothers for, even grandmothers who still haven't gotten a simple "thank you" for a gift sent weeks ago. Not that she's counting.

By morning, Mrs. Plansky has lost everything. Law enforcement announces that Loretta's life savings have vanished, and that it's hopeless to find the scammers behind the heist. First humiliated, then furious, Loretta Plansky refuses to be just another victim.

In a courageous bid for justice, Mrs. Plansky follows her only clue on a whirlwind adventure to a small village in Romania to get her money and her dignity back―and perhaps find a new lease on life, too.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. What made Mrs. Plansky vulnerable to cybercrime? On the flip side, what gives her the strength to take on her thieves—with far more success than the authorities achieved? What traits make her the ideal sleuth?
  2. What were your first impressions of Dinu? How did your opinion of him shift throughout the novel, including the revelation about why he made the second call?
  3. As Mrs. Plansky cares for her cantankerous dad (Chandler Banning) and recalls her mom's final moments, what do we discover about her relationship with her parents? How did they shape her expectations for herself as a mother and wife?
  4. Dinu was born into the tragic legacies of his parents and the cruelty of Uncle Dragomir. Nina and Jack were born into a stable, ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Mrs. Plansky is a wonderfully memorable heroine, full of wit and equally plausible as an ace tennis player and a motorcycle-driving detective with Romanian gangsters hot on her tail. Readers will be eager to see what Mrs. Plansky gets up to next." —Publishers Weekly

"Fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series will appreciate the latest addition to the ranks of older sleuths, by the best-selling author of the 'Chet and Bernie' mysteries." —Library Journal

"I absolutely adored this book. Really fun but with a few teeth, as well. Mrs. Plansky is a terrific character. The story ticks along like a good watch." ―Stephen King

This information about Mrs. Plansky's Revenge was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

Write your own reviewwrite your own review

MANISH D MENDON

The revenge story was thrilling.
It was unbelievable the story I have seen it was unimagined and it is very good I was seen in book the Planskys Revenge.

kdowli01

Such a fun book
Oh my gosh, this so completely charming and fun to read, I loved it!

Mrs Plansky, a 71-year-old widow, is woken up in the middle of the night by a call from her grandson who needs $9k to bail himself out of jail after a DUI. Mrs. Plansky happily helps him out, only to discover the next day it was a scam who wiped out her entire life savings, nearly $4 million. She refuses to be a victim, and decides she will do whatever she has to do to get her money back.

Ok yes, this requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief, but what an amazing premise, and I have not rooted for a character as much as I have for Mrs Plansky in a really long time. I'm not usually one for cozy mysteries (and this isn't that either, but a somewhat similar feel), but I absolutely loved this and couldn't wait to see how it all unfolded.

I also thought it was really interesting to get the perspective of the scammer himself, making him an actual human being who, while maybe doesn't have a heart of gold, is not evil.

I also really enjoyed all the other aspects of Mrs Plansky's life we got to see, even though nearly every family member she has is pretty terrible, it made her very real.

Shawna (TX)

Add to your summer reading list!
What a delightful read! A fresh story (from today's headlines) written engagingly and intelligently. Mrs. Plansky is a charming character with relatable family relationships - both her 98-year-old father and adult children. Book groups will have several topics to discuss depending on the age and interests of the group. It would make a very enjoyable summer read - light, interesting, and entertaining. Recommending this book to all my friends!

Lori K. (Palm Harbor, FL)

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge
I so enjoyed reading this book, which had me smiling and even chuckling in various places throughout this fun story. The author's writing style and character development of the wonderful Mrs. Plansky made this a fully engaging read from beginning to end. Through her many adventures, some harrowing and others wonderful, I was drawn in to her experiences and how she got through them. Mrs. Plansky definitely has moxie!

Toward the end of the book there was one brief page or two which made me first think that the ending might be too exaggerated or rushed but as I read on, the story's ending all came together and I decided that it was just right.

I'm hoping that additional books featuring Mrs. Plansky or possibly some of the other characters in the book could spin off new stories.

Mitra V. (Stamford, CT)

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge
Mrs Plansky has far exceeded my expectations. She is one of the most likable heroines in a strange tale that could be anybody's plight in the modern day world of greed and avarice. Her agonizing experience epitomizes the ruthlessness that has taken over humanity when it comes to cheating and money. I especially loved the focus given to the targeting of senior women and the belief that they are sitting ducks for exploitation.

Unfortunately, they very often are.

And this is the reason the portrayal of the doughty Loretta strikes me as a very topical necessity. It gives beleaguered victims the energy to find a way and the hope that resistance is better than meek acceptance.

The upbeat message of the book neutralized some of the truly ambitious, sometimes unrealistic forays into fantasy, like Loretta's march into romance with much younger men. It is the strength of the writing that makes the reader identify completely with Loretta and cheer for her when she succeeds in resolving the issue without any help from her rather self-absorbed children.

A great read.

Molly O. (Aurora CO, CO)

I love Mrs. Plansky
What a refreshing romp I had with Loretta Plansky as she takes matters into her own hands to recover funds that cyber criminals stole in a telephone scam. Armed with a new hip and an indefatigable spirit, she travels alone to Romania to track down her money and to recover her pride. Author Spencer Quinn exhibits his usual clever humor as he treats us to quirky characters both foreign and domestic. At the forefront, though, is Mrs. Plansky who, bolstered by her memories of her dead husband, Norm and skills she gained in her 71 years, proves that a septuagenarian with verve and courage can complete a nearly impossible mission.

...31 more reader reviews

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Author Information

Spencer Quinn Author Biography

Photo: Diana Gray

Spencer Quinn is the pen name for Peter Abrahams, the Edgar-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Chet and Bernie mystery series, as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling Bowser and Birdie series for middle-grade readers. He lives on Cape Cod with his wife Diana and dog Pearl.

Author Interview
Link to Spencer Quinn's Website

Other books by Spencer Quinn at BookBrowse
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