The charm of the Ivy Meadows mysteries live largely in lead character Ivy Meadows (aka Olive Ziegwart). She’s clever and sassy and can think on her feet–when she hasn’t been knocked on the head, that is! And her take on the day-to-day complexities of life as both an actor and a private investigator is endearing: a little bit bumbling, a little misguided, by always full of heart.

Another charming aspect of the series is the amusing mash-ups of musical theater. In this case, author Cindy Brown pairs Camelot with the Renaissance Faire and a world renowned playwright’s desperate attempt to recapture former glory. The resulting fictional world is vibrant and amusing. If you’ve yet to read an Ivy Meadows mystery, you’re missing out on an entertaining and very enjoyable series!

About the Book
A jouster, a playwright, and a detective walk into a faire…but it’s no joke when one ends up dead.

Actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows is thrilled when she learns that the famous playwright behind Hello Dolly Madison is in Arizona. Not so much when she realizes he’s a suspect in the murder of a Renaissance faire jouster.

As is her friend Riley. And about a thousand other people, all disguised in Renaissance costume during the fatal jousting match.

When Ivy is hired to investigate the killing, she goes undercover as a Cockney belly dancer at the faire and finagles her way into the playwright’s Kennedy-inspired version of Camelot—as Marilyn Monroe, no less.

Then, in the midst of her toughest case ever, Ivy has to solve another dilemma: Will she follow her lifelong dream of being an actor or settle down with the love of her life?

The murder investigation, the play, and real life come together in a twist that begs the question: Is there a happily-ever-after for anyone?

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.