Customer Reviews

Bye Bye Bertie: Ivy Towers Mystery Series #2

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

This cozy mystery is skillfully written and is a wonderful followup to the first book. Heart strings are tugged, the importance of family. I didn't guess who-dun-it right away. I think this is a delightful cozy mystery, better than the first of the series.

There is a lot of Christian thinking and speaking in this series. I find it very comfortable but others might not.

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!

I beieve younger readers (13-18) would like this book, but for older readers it is slow and predictabld

I've read every book in Nancy Mehl's Ivy Tower series and each one is better than the one before. For readers looking for a clean, fun read and a great mystery to boot, I can't recommend Mehl's books highly enough.

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.

I've enjoyed both Ivy Towers mysteries as they were fun to read, quick, but still had a good problem to solve. I like the atmosphere of the small town and the old bookstore.

Another enjoyable book in the Ivy Towers Mystery series. Ivy finds a "treasure map" in a jewelry box and sets off to find the treasure - possibly the Gamblers Lost Gold treasure. While digging the treasure from the earth in the peach orchard, she discovers what she thinks are human bones. The treasure box is a Bonanza Lunch Box filled with track medals and a pendant that had been owed by Bertie Bird (Ruby's son). Ivy's parents come to visit her in Winter Break KS all the way from China. Ivy and her mother get along so much better. I look forward to book three.

This is the second in this series of Ivy Towers. Great real life stories

Let's have some truth in advertising here. Nancy Mehl's books are Christian fiction with a mystery thrown in. That's fine if it is what you're looking for - which I wasn't. Even if I had been, Ms. Mehl's novel would have been a disappointment. It is very possible to weave subtle religious messages and symbolism into a story and provide the reader with much food for thought - think C.S.Lewis. Unfortunately,Ms. Mehl chooses to hit the reader over the head with evangelical zeal. And she does it a lot. Her religious fervor does nothing to further her plot. Rather,it becomes a distraction. In addition,her characters are one dimensional and her writing is mediocre. For me,this was a rare book - one that I couldn't finish no matter how many times I tried.