DENVER, Colo., August 18, 2025 — When the body of beloved gold prospector Old Al is discovered at the long-abandoned Sunshine Mine in the quiet mountain town of Oresville, Colorado, a collective gasp of shock echoes throughout the close-knit community. Was it a tragic accident — or something far more sinister?
So begins The Last Hurrah — a cozy mystery with more twists than a pretzel factory — and readers are calling it “a perfect summer read.” Set against the rugged backdrop of Colorado’s mining country, The Last Hurrah from award-winning authors Judilee Butler and GaGa Gabardi introduces readers to Deputy Phoebe Korneal, a determined investigator grappling not only with a baffling case but also with the emotional weight of personal ambitions.
As Phoebe delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding Old Al’s death, she uncovers more than just clues: a rumored stash of missing gold, Al’s secret relationship with the elusive Augusta and long-buried truths that threaten to shake Oresville’s tranquility.
Eager to solve Old Al’s death, Phoebe races to crack the case, wrestling with her vow to steer clear of romantic entanglements. Alongside the mixed web of clues and suspects, she learns about Colorado's rich mining heritage and the resilient spirit of the town's founding women.
“This story is meant to entertain,” Gabardi said. “There’s a mystery here, of course — but also humor, history and the very real tension women face when their goals collide with their relationships.”
With sharp dialogue, eccentric characters and a compelling feminist core, The Last Hurrah has earned critical attention, being named a Colorado Authors League Finalist and winning third place from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. It is the first book in the Phoebe Korneal Mystery series.
“Readers will fall in love with the town of Oresville, where the residents are delightfully odd, justice hangs in the balance and the stakes couldn't be higher,” Butler added. “So, grab your magnifying glass and detective hat and get ready for a wild ride!”
The Last Hurrah: A Phoebe Korneal Mystery
Publisher: BnG Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1736123904 Available from https://www.amazon.com/dp/
About the Authors
Both GaGa Gabardi and Judilee Butler are passionate about bringing awareness through their writing to the trials women face in an often male-dominated world. Their female characters rise above the challenges faced in the workplace and at home to demonstrate how strong, capable and resilient women can be.
GaGa Gabardi retired from a career in telecommunications with a master’s degree in project management, another in business, and an advanced project management degree from Stanford. After completing her pilot’s license, she went back to work to fund aviation fuel — this time consulting, teaching and course development. She lives in the Colorado mountains with her husband, lots of outdoor toys and the thin air of 8,000 feet above sea level. Her first grandson named her GaGa, and it stuck.
Judilee Butler was born and raised in New York and attended SUNY at Brockport. After nine years teaching elementary education, she left the snowy winters of upstate New York for the beautiful climate of North Carolina. While completing her master’s studies, she was hired by a tech company and did a 180-degree change into an exciting marketing career. Upon retirement, she and her husband first moved to the coast of Maine and then to the beautiful Arkansas Valley in Colorado. One more move found them settled in Wyoming — no more moves!
