Customer Reviews

Stranded (Ivy Malone Mysteries, Book 4) (Ivy Malone Mystery)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thanks to her broken down RV Ivy Malone, that spunky little old lady, has found herself stuck in the town of Hello. Her and her sidekick Abilene are worried that they might be stranded in a boring little place but since it's Ivy, of course they soon find themselves in the middle of an unsolved murder. The townspeople believe that the murdered man's niece committed the crime, but Ivy isn't so sure. Thanks to the guys' multiple marriages, everyone appears to be suspect. Soon Ivy and Abilene don't have time to worry about the Braxtons or Boone as they are fully immersed into the town life of Hello. Between helping out (aka growing romance) the town vet for Abilene and sorting through the personal library and assisting the props for the yearly revue for Ivy, the two also fill their days looking for the real murderer. Using her investigative powers and her never failing invisibility ability, Ivy is able to once again draw the reader into another page turning, side aching adventure.

Once again Ivy has another hilarious and suspenseful adventure. I laughed and I laughed while reading this book. Who knew grandmas wore thongs?!! There are so many times in this book where you'll be reading a paragraph and start to giggle from either the actions going on or Ivy's reaction to the situation. Abilene didn't have much of a presence as she had in the last book, but I was glad that her situation was happily resolved. Each book has had their own unique set of characters, but I must say this one has had my favorite. From Nutty Norman and his brain wave dance to the potbellied pig (Ivy's thoughts about pork chops were a hoot) to group of LOLs doing a chorus line, the townsfolk are lively and exciting albeit a bit on the judgmental side. And yet again, I wasn't aware of the real culprit until the very last chapter of the book. This is the type of book you just want to read while curled up in a blanket on a cold winter's day with a hot chocolate by your side. I really hope there will be another Ivy Malone book. What will happen with her and Mac??? This is one of the best book series I have ever read. Mystery, romance, humor-you name it, Ivy Malone's got it.

Senior citizen Ivy Malone and her young traveling companion Abilene are on their way to Arizona when their RV breaks down outside the small town of Hello. Ivy is on the run from a criminal family the Braxtons, as her testimony is sending one of them to jail. Abilene is on the run from an abusive husband who has vowed to kill her. When they arrive in Hello, the resident mechanic tells them the vehicle needs a new engine.

Unable to pay for the repair, Ivy gets a job at the library and Abilene obtains work training to be the vet's assistant. Lawyer Kelli Keifer invites both women to stay at her uncle Hiram's home now empty since he was murdered two months ago. The townsfolk believe she is the killer but Ivy who has taken an immediate liking to the attorney decides to find the real killer because she believes Kelli is innocent. There are plenty of other suspects with strong motives.

Readers who like a warm, entertaining, small town cozy with no blood or gore will definitely enjoy STRANDED. The small town welcomes the new visitors and people go out of their way to make them feel at home. The support cast is well developed and fleshes out the ambience of the small town yet the focus stays on Ivy who demonstrates getting old doesn't mean immovable rocking chairs. The mystery itself is well crafted and readers should be very surprised when they learn who the killer is.

With so many well-deserved positive reviews, I doubt that anyone will get around to reading my opinion. However, I'm hoping that a publisher will read these comments all clamoring for another book and quickly set Ms. McCourtney and Ivy off on another adventure! I read all four books in quick succession and am hoping to read another soon!

Stranded on a winding mountain road in a broken-down motorhome . . . Then stranded in a town where a prominent citizen was murdered . . . And ending up a houseguest in his empty mansion . . . Right before getting roped into helping with the town's annual show, featuring a chorus line of can-canning grandmas! Just when I think Lorena McCourtney can't possibly come up with any more hilarious and hair-raising adventures for her senior sleuth, Ivy Malone, she does it again. The hijinks in this one are not to be missed. And the intriguing developments at the end. Wow! Let's just say my interest is piqued. I hope this isn't the last we'll hear about Ivy.

When their mobile home breaks down in a tiny town, Ivy Malone and her traveling companion, Abilene, find themselves stuck in Hello. Before long, the pair becomes involved in the community, working in a vet's office, sorting out a library, and dealing with a mystery. Murder happens even in the smallest towns, and Ivy is an expert on how to solve mysteries. What's more, she's determined to prove that the victim's niece isn't the one "who done it."

*** If you enjoy small town mysteries reminescent of "Murder She Wrote", then this is your cup of tea. Though billed as inspirational, there really is not a message, but it is a clean, non-gory detective story. ***

Amanda Killgore

Ivy Malone is at it again. Traveling across country to keep ahead of those who are after her and her friend, Abilene, Ivy finds herself in the midst of a murder mystery. Due to a series of unusual events, Ivy and Abilene even find themselves living in the house where the murder occurred. How could Ivy resist snooping and investigating when the killing took place almost under her nose?

When her motor home breaks down in the middle of the Colorado Mountains, Ivy and Abilene take up temporary residence in Hello. This quiet town is hiding a secret, though, and Ivy is determined to expose the hidden killer. For her, everyone in Hello is a suspect.

With wit and grace, and a penchant for ending up in the wrong place at the right time, Ivy ferrets out information in the most unlikely places.

From friendships formed with colorful local characters, to an encounter with an amorous eccentric, Ivy is inundated with suspects that she doesn't want to suspect. Yet, being Ivy, she refuses to discount any possibility. Through her job, and her help with the town's annual Revue, Ivy continues to gather information that will uncover a killer.

Stranded is a delightful book. Ivy is an older heroine who will keep readers entertained with her antics. Her bumbling attempts at subtlety will give some chuckles, but you won't be in doubt as to Ivy's sincerity in doing right by the dead. Her goal is to solve the crime--and she is determined.

I recommend reading Stranded and giving this book to friends.

Armchair Interview says: It is a fun and inspirational read.

Ivy Malone heads for the hills and stays there. For now.

Of course Ivy runs into a body. Not literally because most of the times she's stranded by the RV gone tempermental.

While Ivy waits on repairs, she busies herself with the unsolved murder. Everyone in town knows exactly who did it, but Ivy's not buying what they're selling. Could a woman who names a cat after a supreme court judge and gets the origin of Koop's name kill her uncle?

Ivy manages to unearth twists and turns so the reader has to regroup a time or two, and as usual she has a run-in with the killer.

A story line or two get neatly tied up in the fourth book of the Ivy Malone series. I cheered over one especially heartwarming event.

But we're left with the questions.Are her running days over? Will Ivy find happiness and security in Colorado?

I hope she does. But on a selfish note, I feel better knowing that Ivy is out there not missing a clue.

In Lorena McCourtney's fourth book of her Ivy Malone Mystery series, Stranded, Ivy Malone and her young companion, Abilene, are literally stranded in Hello, Colorado. The first chapter reels you in when their motor home breaks down in the middle of a winding mountain road in a blinding blizzard. They are towed to Hello, Colorado where Ivy Malone's curious ways lead her to become deeply involved in solving the town's latest murder. But solving murders is nothing new to widow-turned-detective Malone.

When Ivy discovers her motor home requires a new engine, she is desperate and accepts the generosity of the town's biggest suspect, Kelli Keifer--the niece of the murdered victim. Ivy's not going along with the crowd. Kelli offers her uncle's old Victorian mansion to accommodate them while they wait on motor home repairs. While living in the old house once occupied by the eccentric but wealthy victim, Ivy has an irresistible opportunity to snoop. The book is brimming with entertaining and loveable characters but beware. When someone sets the old home on fire, the story heats up and Ivy's life could be in jeopardy.

Like all cozy mysteries, every character in the book is a suspect with legitimate motivation. Ivy Malone is an adorable LOL (little old lady as she defines herself) and she kept me laughing with her humorous antics throughout the book. I'm not normally drawn to reading cozy mysteries, but I highly enjoyed this and recommend it for those looking for a good whodunit mixed with hilarious characters including a chorus line made up of LOLs.

The author does not disappoint with this 4th book in the Ivy Malone Mystery series. In fact, it just may be her best yet. Not only did I think I solved the case on page 79 only to find out I was at least partially mistaken at the end, but I laughed the whole way through. Ivy's funny LOL (little old lady) thoughts and antics are hysterical.

Running from danger resulting from a previous murder mystery, Ivy continues to travel in her camper, which breaks down in the mountains of Colorado. She must find money to fix her engine and a place to stay. Thankfully, at least for Ivy, she manages to stay at the home of a recently murdered man (no big surprise). Of course her mutant curiosity gene kicks in high gear as she tries to find the murderer before someone else gets hurt.

Not overtly Christian, Ivy does share her faith in God, help people in need when possible, and pray. I like the non-preachy approach. There are still lessons to be learned and a whole lot of enjoyment along the way.

I highly recommend this book for mystery lovers.

Having read all the reviews, I don't need to say much about the story-line. But what a ride and I wish it wasn't over! I want to know if Ivy marries Mac, and if Abilene and Mike have a dozen kids, and if the Braxtons ever give up trying to make road-kill out of Ivy. Miss Lorena, you can't leave your fans hanging out here! Seriously, Stranded was another fascinating cozy mystery that kept me laughing and wanting more! Agatha Christie wrote many, many books, so what does that editor know who said four in a series is enough. Sorry, editor, not when the characters are CLASSIC! I highly recommend this five star series.
Dawn Kurtz author of Christian novel: Secret of the Mexican Doll