There Goes Santa Claus
An Ivy Towers Mystery
by Nancy Mehl
Ivy and Amos are in the middle of it AGAIN!! Sheriff Hitchens is really put out with Ivy, he once again tells her she is not Jessica Fletcher. Ivy and Amos are headed to bed a few days before Christmas when they hear a horrible racket on their roof. They run out to find a man in a Santa Suit lying dead in their driveway. Who was he and why was he on their house?? Those are the big questions in their minds. Ivy sets out to find out the who and why of the mystery man, while Amos is dealing with a string of diesel thefts from the local farms.
Of course the townsfolk asking Ivy and Amos if they really killed Santa, prods Ivy into really poking her nose in, even though the Sherrif told her to stay out of it, but his casual disregard for the whole situation makes Ivy more determined and it also makes her suspicious. Follow along as she solves the mystery with a twist at the end of the book. A wonderful and exciting book!!
Ivy’s natural inclination to help wherever she can, such as directing the church’s Christmas play, or trying to help a friend’s romance and you have another wonderful Ivy Towers mystery. Nancy Mehl has truly thrilled us again with Ivy, a character that we all can relate to, and feel like we would love to have her as our friend. You understand as Amos deals with the rejection of his father, who has now become a Christian, and you see the faith of Ivy and Amos as they deal with these problems head on. Another hit for Nancy Mehl, I definitely give this book a 5 star rating.
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
Laura Hilton January 16, 2009
Title: THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS
Author: Nancy Mehl
Publisher: Heartsong Presents Mysteries
2008
ISBN: 978-1-60260-289-2
Genre: Inspirational/cozy mystery
Its just a few days before Christmas. Ivy and her new husband, Amos, are cozied up in bed, sleeping, when a noise wakes Ivy. She shakes her husband awake and sends him to investigate. But Amos isn’t out of the room yet when Santa Claus falls past their window.
Santa is dead by the time they reach him, and the only clue to his identity is a letter written by a young girl, named “Ho Ho.”
It doesn’t take long for word to get around town that Ivy has killed Santa Claus. In order to keep kids from tearing up, Ivy is quick to change Santa’s name to “Chuck.” But even though the local sheriff is not remotely interested in an unknown drunk who slipped off Ivy’s roof, Ivy can’t let it go. Who is he? And why was he on their roof?
THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS is the fourth book in the Ivy Towers Mystery series. The first three are available in a collection called Cozy in Kansas. I hope that since there is a fourth book, Ms. Mehl continues to keep the series going a bit longer.
I love this series, hands down my favorite cozies so far. Ivy is a spunky heroine, and her hero Amos, is a true sweetheart. And the residents in the town of Winter Break, Kansas are so real, I almost feel like I know them. Don’t miss THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS, or any of the cozies by this talented author. A recipe is included at the end. $6.95. 242 pages.
Reviewed by Laura Hilton