Glad One: Crazy is a Relative Term (Val Fremden Midlife Misadventures Book 1)

Glad One is a cozy mystery without a murder, centered on Val Fremden, a 45-year-old woman who has lost her life savings in Germany and returned to Florida broke, divorced, and struggling to start over. When her only friend dies and leaves behind a will that attracts con artists and crackpots to Sunset Beach, Val sets out to find the true heir. Determined to solve the mystery, Val enlists help from three unlikely companions: a boozehound, a redneck, and a snarky beach bum. Their bumbling investigation draws the attention of a local police officer, complicating matters further. The novel combines mystery with comedic timing and situational humor, featuring quirky, flawed characters navigating small-town secrets and unexpected connections. The story explores themes of later-in-life reinvention, found family, and discovering true friends when circumstances force you to the bottom of the barrel.