Killalot (An Ivy Meadows Book Six) by Cindy Brown

Ivy Meadows goes undercover at a Renaissance Fair as a sashaying, mute, belly dancer ...with a sign hanging on her bum. She plunges into her sleuthing to find out who had killed a Jouster. The Knight's horse that had been stolen- ended up at a famous Broadway Producer's Ranch. Strictly in the name of following a lead she puts herself up for an acting job as Marilyn Monroe. The characters at Renaissance include a bird training act, a fellow jouster who has been arrested and a Wizard who partakes of magic dust a little too often.

Cindy Brown writes from a strong background in the Theater. Her cast of characters are finely drawn and ring true to form. The hilarious Ivy, who is always late, drinks too much coffee and has a boyfriend she worries about- adds a great touch to these cozy mysteries. The action keeps the book a fast read because you never know what Ivy/Olive will get into next. The character is someone you would love to have as a friend though.

 The Renaissance Fair plot provides a lot of magic, color and fabulous people. If you enjoy funny, fast- paced mysteries this is the one for you. I do and so I am giving it 5 stars.


Blurb:

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?