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 … 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.
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THE PHANTOM OF OZ by Cindy Brown | A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.
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I really enjoy this series and this one did not disappoint. The Phantom of OZ has come to town and Ivy’s best friend Candy is appearing as Glinda. When strange things start happening at the theater Ivy decides to investigate. Then Candy disappears and a reality star is murdered. There is a lot going on in this book and Ivy has her hands full. I really enjoyed the theater setting and the characters. All the mysteries get solved and the solutions make sense. The book does tackle some serious subjects but there is also a lot of humor. Enjoy this fun fast paced cozy mystery.
Ivy is excited when she learns that her best friend and fellow actress Candy is in town as part of the touring cast of The Wizard of Ozpera. However, in the months since the two have seen each other, Candy has lost a dangerous amount of weight and doesn’t seem like herself. Then Ivy learns about the accidents that have been happening on this tour, especially once they arrived in Phoenix. Can Ivy figure out what is happening and save her friend?
The book includes a fun mash up of The Wizard of Oz and The Phantom of the Opera, working elements of the later into the plot of the mystery. The mystery might not be super traditional with the murder happening pretty late in the story, but there is so much going on you really don’t need it to happen earlier. I was certainly never bored as the story moves forward quickly toward the climax. The book is filled with great humor, yet there is a more serious side as well, which we see as we get to know the characters, especially Ivy who has some great growth here.
“The Phantom of Oz” earns 5/5 Crystal Chandeliers…Clever and Entertaining!
I am a newbie turned fan of Cindy Brown’s Ivy Meadows Mystery series, and although I decided to start with the most recent book five, “The Phantom of Oz,” there are enough references to background situations and character connections to keep me engaged. Yes, five books into the series, the situations (some resolved, some ongoing) and characters (some that come, some that go) have evolved, matured, and without spoilers, their personal stories highlighted, but this only encourages me to go back and read from the beginning to enjoy how the characters and storyline got from there to here.
Brown has created Ivy Meadows, a delightful, clever woman, whose strengths and flaws lend credence to some of the “oops” she deals with and a storyline that addresses some important contemporary issues (body image, sexism, making judgments—fair or unfair). Ivy reconnects with her friend Candy who is acting in the The Wizard: A Space OZpera, but creepy accidents have been plaguing the production, and when the chandelier falls on the Wicked Witch, Ivy is asked to help. A paranormal twist has been to this storyline…all old theaters have their stories and legends, so having a “ghost” pop up seemed reasonable, not juvenile hocus-pocus, just fun!
I highly recommend this book, and series, from a clever title with nods to both The Wizard of Oz and The Phantom of the Opera, engaging plot primed for book club discussions on several social issues, clever mystery, and rich characters you enjoy revisiting.
This was a fun book. Ivy/Olive is a bit eccentric. She talks to herself a lot and stumbles through her investigation. However, she really does try to improve herself and be a kinder, gentler person. The book also brings serious topics into play, but not in a force it down your throat kind of way. She and an old friend come together again. But the relationship is strained. Also there are weird things happening around a “haunted” theater where her friend (Candy) is performing. There are many suspects, but they all seem so nice (except for the victim), so I wasn’t sure who the murderer would be. I enjoyed Ivy and her family and friends. I would read another book by this author.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
This is the first book that I’ve read in the series, I liked the theatrical setting and all the behind the scenes of putting on a play.
Ivy’s best friend Candy has come back to Phoenix from Hollywood to star in the theatrical version of “The Wizard: A Space Ozpera, which is being directed by the famous Arrestadt Giry. There is also a famous reality star, Babette Firman who is looking for her next “It Girl”. It’s a major coup for the actress who she chooses. Could Candy be the next “It Girl”?
When Ivy finally meets up with her friend Candy she’s hardly recognizable what has Hollywood done to her best friend? Candy is no longer the voluptuous, fun loving person she was just a few months ago. She’s a shell of her former self, Ivy jumps to several conclusions as to what is happening to her friend and none of them are good. She’s also a bit envious of Candy’s sudden success which is not like her. She should be happy for her friend, but it’s obvious that something is seriously wrong with Candy.
There are a lot of great characters in this book; the young munchkin, Madison who is wise beyond her young years who is being pushed by her stage mom, Desiree to stay with the tour. Then there is the wonderful pear-shaped Eden, who worships “The Goddess” and sends some sage advice to the readers about why we should embrace our body image regardless of our flaws. There are too many remarkable characters to list. Ivy’s little brother, Cody who is about to make a momentous change to her eccentric Uncle Bob the private investigator who she works for part-time while juggling her own theatrical career.
This was a fun book, from the Lady in White who seems to haunt the theater to one of Eden’s own ideas of how to “embrace your true beauty”. We must not forget the awful reality star, Babette Firman who is looking for her next “It Girl”. She’s got everyone kissing up to her while she rips up their self-esteem by calling them such names as “Brownie Butt” and other unflattering things. Ivy finds herself wanting to get next to this pretentious, publicity hound because of her fame in Hollywood until she finds herself being on the receiving end of Babette’s acerbic remarks. Not to mention all the mayhem Babette is responsible for regarding the paparazzi’s stalking everyone’s moves.
This is the fifth installment in this series, but you can just dive right in and become familiar with the major points in Ivy’s past. I have already purchased the first book in this series because I want more of Ivy Meadows.
Disclosure: I was provided with an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. The opinion stated above is my own.
Cindy Browns brings the Phantom of Oz to life with humor, heart and action. She applies her special magic to create her wonderful believable characters. The novel highlights serious issues while Ivy’s antics and bad luck keep us laughing out loud.
As soon as Ivy sees her best friend for the first time in way too long she recognizes that Candy has a deadly secret. That thought barely registers before a one ton chandelier lands right where they had been sitting just second before. To top it all off, Ivy is spooked when there seems to be no explanation for the ghostly visits that haunt the theater that even she witnesses. In spite of frustration from her friend’s many secrets, denials, evasions, and lies, not to mention innuendoes and half hints from actors, crew and stage mothers, Ivy’s race to resolve several mysteries is fast paced.
I was delighted to see Ivy’s sweet brother Cody continuing to push for his independence, but of course, Ivy isn’t so ready to let him experience all of bad that too often comes with the good that life has to offer for the innocent.
I have to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of this wonderful novel. It is my pleasure to shout to the world that Phantom of the Opera is an OUTSTANDING novel. Loved, loved, loved it.