The Measby Murder Enquiry
An Ivy Beasley Mystery, No 2
Ann Purser

Berkley
May 2011/ ISBN 978-0-425-24156-1
British Mystery / Cozy
Amazon

Reviewed by Laura Hinds

Author Ann Purser presents her second book in a series featuring elderly sleuth Ivy Beasley. Ivy isn’t easy to like, but she is still sharp as a tack. Assisted living has changed her life and prompted her to start her own detective agency, “Enquire Within”

A murder that remains under the radar of the press finds Ivy more than willing to investigate, and Ivy sure isn’t shy about finding out the secrets of the other elders at Springfields Luxury Residential Home in Barrington. She has plenty of help from her fellow snoops, Gus, Deirdre and Roy, but will they be of enough assistance to stop a murderer in his tracks?

This second entry in the new series by established mystery author Ann Purser doesn’t disappoint in its character development and well plotted paths. I enjoyed reading it very much and feel confident that other cozy mystery readers and, in particular, fans of Ann Purser, will feel the same.

As a spin-off of the Lois Meade mysteries, it’s a hit. That is some thing that is not easily done- taking a character from one series and giving her a whole new series of her own in the same genre. I must say I give kudos to Ann Purser for pulling it off in a spectacular fashion.

Unique, clever, smart, fun, all words that sum up this book, and I recommend it to mystery lovers, cozy mystery lovers, and those who just enjoy the comfort of reading about folks past middle age who are still active and productive. I look forward to a long life for this new series and feel very proud of the author, Ann Purser, for her ability to take characters from one series and give them a life of their own.

Reviews of other titles in this series

The Measby Murder Enquiry, No 2
The Wild Wood Enquiry, No 3