Customer Reviews

Lost in the Ivy

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the perfect contemporary mystery. It has three-dimensional characters, innovative plot twists, cryptic hints, and an unpredictable, nail-biter of a conclusion. Not to mention the love/sex/profession subplots, all against a highly detailed backdrop of Chicago and Wrigleyville from someone who clearly knows and loves them well. An outstanding first novel, and I hope not the last from this author.

Lost in the Ivy was an excellent mystery, especially for a first book--believeable hero, interesting plot and twists, and it kept me going to the end. I particularly appreciated the added information about Wrigley Field and the Cubs. I'm old enough not to want to waste my time, so will be buying Richardson's subsequent books, knowing I'll get my time and money's worth.

It's hard to give a detailed review of this book without giving some of it away. In fact, that comment may give too much away. I'll stick with the 10,000 foot view.
The text drips of Chicago. The primary locale - Wrigleyville. The Drink - Goose Island Honker's Ale. The people - Chicagoans. And of course, The Cubs.
While I make no claim at literature scholarship, Mr. Richardson tells a good tale and includes a few surprises. There's deception. There's intrigue. There's a love interest. There are interesting characters. There's even a getaway scene. I was interested until the very end.
His characters are all well-developed and believable. Even the soft-hearted Chicago cop. Unless you're a real bad guy, most of them are softies.

A John Irving-esque cast of colorful characters, ranging from drag queens to call girls to hard-drinking Irish reporters, with names like Buzz and Piper and Elvis, make this a fun Chicago mystery novel. This insistently Chicago story takes you on a crazed pub crawl from Ginger Man to Sheffield's to the Manhole, invoking, along the way, ghosts of Cubs past, like Kenny Hubbs, Tuffy Rhodes, and even ballgirl/Playmate Marla Collins. This goes down like your fifth after-the-game Honker's Ale.

Though based in a comfortable setting for Chicago familiar readers (bars, Cubs, Honker's Ale and a very, very large hole in the ground), Lost in the Ivy folds in intriguing characters and steamy romance to keep the reader on the edge as the mystery slowly unfolds. A great read further demonstrated by the amount of sleep I skipped to read it...

This book has it all, a love story, murder mystery and even sports trivia. I loved the way the story began with the judge in the chamber, and then flowed through to the big scene at the courthouse. The characters introduced in the beginning were very well developed as the book went on. The best part was that I had no inkling until the last chapter, who was actually doing what to whom. A true mystery and expertly written. I would reccomend this book to all of my friends, whether they are sports fans or not. A truly great read!

This is a great mystery. The story is suspenseful and it keeps you guessing. Like the other reviewers, I found it hard to put the book down. The writer does an excellent job of helping you visualize the settings and the characters. I love the Cub innuendos (i.e. reporter Grace Marks). Great book for the avid Cubs fan---I know there are a lot of you out there! When is the movie coming out? John Hughes can direct and I see John Cusack as Charley.

Holy Cow! Lost in the Ivy is a superb mystery - well-written and intriguing to the last page. There is plenty of action, exceptional dialogue, and memorable characters. I couldn't help but root for the underdog Charley as he navigated his way through Wrigleyville and the mysteries of his past. A great read - don't expect to put Lost in the Ivy down until you are finished. I can't wait to read more from this talented writer. With Mr. Richardson in the writing game, it truly is a season of hope for readers everywhere.

I've never been an avid reader...after the first 30 pages I usually become bored and never finish a book. However, this was not the case with "Lost in the Ivy." I started reading the book and couldn't put it down until I read the entire book. The story flowed from chapter to chapter introducing a new character or mystery and, therefore, at times I felt I was lost in the ivy. I can't wait to read more books by this talented writer. He has given me a reason to read again.

My son gave me this book to read and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I liked the 'twists and turns' of the story and also that the location was in a Chicago area familiar to me (also Thorton quarry). It was a good travel book for me.