Bye Bye Bertie: An Ivy Towers Mystery

This is, for me, the best novel in the In the Dead of Winter/Bye, Bye Bertie/For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll collection. I didn't see the end (mystery part) coming. The relationship between Ivy and the deputy sheriff is really cute, especially when she calls him pet names, and he says something and adds, "And don't call me (whatever it is)." The style is smooth, and I really looked forward to reading it at bedtime. Perhaps the very end is a little far-fetched, but it's an inspirational cozy!

Ivy Towers is back with the second in this exceptional series of cozy mysteries. Spring has come to Winter Break after a lingering winter. On hand again are the same delightful town characters, and Ivy's Bygone Bookstore is in the black. Her life is back on track. And with the first thrall of Spring, Ivy is beginning to think she might be in love with childhood friend turned Deputy Sheriff, Amos Parker. Will their budding romance survive Ivy's latest investigation and the unexpected arrival of her parents in Winter Break? When Ivy discovers a map hidden in an old music box, the legend of gambler's gold resurfaces. The legend of hidden gold has been a topic of interest in Winter Break for more than a century. Does the faded map represent hidden gold, or something far more sinister? Ivy simply has to know, of course, despite Amos's warnings and concerns. Mehl scatters enticing hints for readers to relish as Ivy investigates and the plot thickens. Someone tries to burn down the bookstore. Who and why? The arrival of Ivy's parents -- especially her mother -- complicates an already difficult situation. Why did her missionary parents suddenly leave China and head for Winter Break? Helping Ivy dig for answers is entertaining, and great fun. Mehl's plot and character development makes for a satisfying read. Even the brief appearance by a passing character becomes memorable and adds an interesting dimension to the story when Nancy Mehl spins a tale. Winter Break resident, Mavis Baumgartner, is the perfect example: "Mavis Baumgartner was a force to be reckoned with, and she ran her family like a drill sergeant cursed with an unruly command. Although all our volunteers had been given firefighters' outfits by the Stevens County Fire Department, only the men had them on. Mavis was so massive she couldn't fit into hers. Instead, she wore a big, bright yellow rain poncho over her long flannel nightgown. As she clomped around in enormous black rubber boots, with her poncho flapping in the breeze and her overly bleached bun beginning to come loose from the hairpins that were trying valiantly to keep it secure, she looked like Big Bird with an attitude and a bad dye job." We have two more books remaining in the Ivy Towers mystery series. Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with intriguing plots and delightful characters won't want to miss even one book in this series. Ivy Towers and the gang from Winter Break will be back soon in book three, For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls. I wonder if Ivy gets married in this one or if that tolling bell signifies a mystery? We'll have to read the book to find out.

The second in the series, An Ivy Towers Mystery, all the original town characters reappear with their loveable eccentricities. Ivy finds a map in the music box. Is it the map of local legend? Will it lead to buried treasures? What happened to Ruby's son, Bert? How will Ivy manage her visit with her mother? Who started the fire? Questions outnumber the answers in this small Kansas town. The suspense is excellent and the characters quickly become your friends. This book is a happy way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon.