| Ivy Beasley is a spitfire of
a senior citizen. She takes no sass from anyone and has a
sharp tongue and strong opinions. She’s also smart as
a whip and attends a college class at the nearby Manor House
College. Ivy intends to write her memoirs, and it comes as
no surprise that she takes the classroom in hand, and charms
both the tutor and her classmates.
Meanwhile, the lady of the Manor House, Eleanor Winchen Blatch,
is in fear for her life, feeling the ghost of her husband
is trying to lure her to join him in the afterlife. Just in
case her tormentor is real, she hires Enquire Within, Ivy’s
agency, to look into it and to protect her.
Ivy’s team of investigators is on the case. However,
even with everyone giving their best efforts, they encounter
several dead ends. When Mrs.Blatch is indeed found at the
bottom of the fire escape attached to Manor House, the inquiries
take on a sense of urgency. After all, one of their own, Gus
Halfhide, was on duty to protect her when her death occurred.
Gus isn’t a suspect, but the whole team is determined
to find the killer and the truth. Leave it to Ivy to keep
her ear to the ground and learn about more than creative writing
at the college.
What do I like about this series, and this book? Everything!
I love Ivy, and her romance with confirmed bachelor Roy Goodman,
and I can’t wait for their oft-postponed wedding to
happen. Their love is a bright spot for the staff and other
residents of Springfields, the local retirement home. They
try the patience of their “gaoler,” Mrs. Spurling,
who runs the facility. The rest of Ivy’s Enquire Within
staff consists of Gus, and also the widow Deirdre Bloxham,
Ivy’s younger cousin.
The mystery itself is well plotted, and clues are cleverly
planted to seed themselves in the reader’s mind. I’d
begun to put the pieces together, but until everything was
spelled out for me, I hadn’t solved it entirely. I love
the ending, and must confess to a tear or two in my eyes.
Ann Purser has produced yet another wonderful Ivy Beasley
mystery, and whether you are already a reader of the series,
or if this book is your introduction, you are in for a fun
read!
Kudos Ms. Purser!
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