One of the funniest murder mysteries I’ve read in ages

Macdeath (An Ivy Meadows Mystery Book 1)

By: Cindy Brown

Rating: 5 of 5

Author Cindy Brown who has several books in this series that I have read. I originally read this book just after reading the second book in this series but have only since decided to publish my review. This book, “Macdeath” is Cindy Brown’s debut novel. Whether it is a debut book or one written by a long standing novelist, it is outstanding. The plot is fun and different, the characters memorable (for both their good and bad traits) and the mystery was a great whodunnit – pointing you this way and that before being solved.

Ivy Meadows (aka Olive Zeigwart) is an actress – well, she has just been cast as a witch in Macbeth. So what if it took literal somersaults and cartwheels to get the part. This version of Macbeth is being set in a circus. All seems going well when one of her cast mates ends up dying on opening night. While everyone, police included, are figuring the death was natural causes, Ivy is not so sure. She starts investigating and ends up well over her head in clues and false starts.

The situations and characters in this book made me laugh out loud. From the beginning, as Ivy is struggling to get to her audition, to her constant issues with her (accidentally shrunken) too small costume to the unveiling of whodunnit, Ivy is hysterical. Her cast mates from Candy Moonpie (her buddy who shares her dressing room) to Bill Boxer, the face of Channel 10, made for a memorable and amusing read.

In addition to a fun mystery, the book also gives the reader a peek at what goes on backstage. I was not surprised to read (afterward) that the author has a background in theater. The book has a very authentic feel to the theater setting.

I plan to continue reading books in this series as each of the books so far has been better than the last. I am looking forward to Ivy/Olive’s next adventure in sleuthing.