There is a certain mystique about the theater–especially ones that are rumored to be haunted, like the Grand Phoenician Theatre. The venue is hosting a tour stop of “The Wizard: A Space OZpera” and Ivy’s best friend Candy is with the company. But something is clearly amiss, not just with the theater, but with Candy, too. Ivy is shocked to see her best friends who seems to be dangerously thin and missing the more sparkling aspects of her spunky personality. And then, before Ivy can fully uncover just what is going on with Candy, she’s missing. Time for Ivy to put on her almost-P.I. cap and pick up the Case of the Disappearing Starlet.
I’ve long been a fan of Cindy Brown’s Ivy Meadows mystery series, but The Phantom of Oz stands out among the rest. There’s an extra element of creepiness in the story that almost led me to turn on an extra light in the room while I read. Even now, having finished the book, the descriptions of cobwebbed tunnels underneath a theater leading to a spring room with a body of water of unknown depth still gives me a bit of a chill. The story stands out for another reason, too, that being the theme of body image that is woven into the mystery, humor, and bits of romance. Ivy learns some fairly significant lessons in Oz, lessons about judgement, friendship, and reliable cell phone providers. It feels a bit more serious than previous books in the series, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, the slight shift grounds Ivy a bit, making her seem a touch more mature – and a lot more ready to take on whatever comes next for her.
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About the Book
The Phantom of Oz (An Ivy Meadows Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Henery Press (January 30, 2018)
Paperback: 268 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635112924
E-Book ASIN: B0772Z1CSP
Creepy munchkins. A mysterious phantom. And a real Wicked Witch. Are you ready for it?
Actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows has been hired to uncover the cause of the creepy accidents that plague the roadshow The Wizard: A Space OZpera and find out who dropped a chandelier on the Wicked Witch of the East.
Was it the ghost who haunts the Grand Phoenician Theatre? A “wicked witch” in the cast? Or is it someone—or something—more sinister?
It’s Ivy’s most personal case so far.
Her best friend Candy, who’s touring with the show, is caught in a downward spiral of self-destruction, and is in more danger than she knows.
To save her friend and the show, Ivy must answer even tougher questions: Do spirits really exist? What is real beauty? What does friendship mean?
Ivy needs to learn the answers, and fast—before Candy reaches the point of no return.
Books in the Ivy Meadows Humorous Mystery Series:
MACDEATH
(#1)
THE SOUND OF MURDER(#2)
OLIVER TWISTED(#3)
IVY GET YOUR GUN(#4)
The Phantom of Oz(#5)
About the Author
Cindy Brown has been a theater geek (musician, actor, director, producer, and playwright) since her first professional gig at age 14. Now a full-time writer, she’s lucky enough to have garnered several awards (including 3rd place in the 2013 international Words With Jam First Page Competition, judged by Sue Grafton!) and is an alumnus of the Squaw Valley Writers Workshop. Though Cindy and her husband now live in Portland, Oregon, she made her home in Phoenix, Arizona, for more than 25 years and knows all the good places to hide dead bodies in both cities.
Author Links
Website & Blog: www.cindybrownwriter.com
Twitter handle: @friendlybrown
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cindy-Brown-author/288210721356802?ref=hl
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The Girl with Book Lungs 
I really enjoy this series as well. Looking forward to reading this one.
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