The Ivy Beasley Mysteries
The Hangman’s Row Enquiry
In the first of a new detective series to be published in May 2010, our old friend Ivy Beasley from Round Ringford days has moved to an old folks` residence in Barrington, a small village in Suffolk. Stroppy and autocratic as ever, she is busy shaping the place up to her standards, when Augustus Halfhide, tall, thin and oddly attractive in a wispy kind of way, moves into Hangman`s Row in the village. He is a mystery, determined to give nothing away about his past, and when he offers to see Ivy home from church one day, it is the beginning of an unlikely and fruitful relationship.
Alongside Ivy, Gus enlists Ivy`s much younger cousin Deirdre, and Ivy`s admirer, Roy Goodman, in setting up a detective agency called Enquire Within. Almost immediately, their first case makes its shocking appearance in the village. Another resident of Hangman`s Row, an old woman known for her sharp tongue and persecution of her hapless daughter Miriam, is found far from well on the floor of her cottage.
Enquire Within is in business!
This first of a series starring Ivy Beasley, can be pre-ordered on Amazon, Amazon UK and Barnes & Noble.
74 Responses to “The Ivy Beasley Mysteries”
Leave a Reply
Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there will be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. Patience is a virtue; there is no need to re-submit your comment.
Jill – Very nice of you to send a message. My nose is to the grindstone! Best wishes – Ann
Ann, I have read all your Lois Meade books and loved them. Then I recently came across The Handman’s Row with Ivy Beasley. What a joyful book. I am an occupational therapist who see seniors in independent living and assisted living, and have recommended that book to all. Wonderful that you gave seniors that feel discarded a purpose again. Can not wait for the next book. Sherry
Thanks, Sherry, for a heart-warming message! I like the term `seniors`- so much better than `old people`. They have so much to give. Happy reading and best wishes to all – Ann P.
Just finished The Measby Murder Inquiry. Loved it. Will there be more? Hope so
Thanks for yours, Erin. Yes, another Ivy mystery is on the way. Watch the website for further news. Good wishes – Ann
Ms. Purser,
I just heard of your books, and purchased “The Hangman’s Row Enquiry”. Will I be able to read this series as a stand alone series, or is it best to read your Louis Meade series first? Thank you.
Many thanks for your message, stripey68. Yes, the Ivy Beasley Enquiries are more of less separate from Lois Meade stories. The only connection is Ivy Beasley herself! She has been a character running through all my books – Round Ringford, Lois Meade detective series, and Ivy`s own series, where she becomes a private enquiry agent … Woe betide anyone who falls foul of Ivy!
I do hope you enjoy reading them all. Best wishes – Ann P.
Hello again,
I have a question because I’m sort of confused. So far I’ve read Murder On Monday and Terror On Tuesday, but have read reviews of the other two series. It says Ivy is in all three series, but I’ve not run into her yet in the first two Lois Meade books. Where does she come in or did I miss her so far? She’s also in the Ringford series?
Are the towns in all three series fairly close to each other? Is Lois in the other two series as well? Guess I need to hurry up and read faster!
Thanks…Susan Moore (Orange County, Calif.)
Hello, Susan! Thank you for your message – and sorry you are confused. Ivy Beasley is quite important in the Round Ringford series, where she is living in the English Midlands, in a small village. She next appears quite briefly in the Lois Meade series, again set in a Midlands village of Long Farnden, and may be easily missed! However, she comes into her own in the Ivy Beasley Enquiries, where she has moved to Suffolk, an Eastern Counties area, to an old folk`s home. From there, she conducts a detective enquiry agency with her usual panache. She moved because her only relative, a much younger cousin called Deirdre, very rich and rather lovely, lives in the Suffolk village of Barrington, and thinks it would be nice for Ivy to be near a family member. Ivy is reluctant, but makes the move, and quite often Deirdre has second thoughts!
I hope this answers your queries. Happy reading! Best wishes, Ann P.
Dear Ann Purser
As a huge fan of the Round Ringford books I am delighted to see you have brought Ivy Beasley back into our lives! I did email you about three years ago asking if we might see any of the characters from Ringford so cant wait so see what she is up to.
I have just ordered the first novel and am looking forward to see what happens – I see she has moved to a new village too!
loving the Lois books too! pure escapism from my life as a busy mum to two little boys
kind regards
Lynn
Hello Lynn! Many thanks for your nice message. Yes, Ivy is launched into a new life. and certainly making the most of it! I do hope you will enjoy Hangman`s Row, and the new one just out, The Measby Murder Enquiry, too.
I sometimes look after my two little grandsons, aged 4 and 7, and know exactly what you mean!
Best wishes, and happy reading – Ann P.
I LOVE your Ivy Beasley books! Just wondering how to be informed as to when the next one will be out.
I love all your books. My idea of a great time is to have one of your books to read. I just read the Hangmans Row Enquiry. I loved it and could hardly put it down. Thanks so much for your books.
Thank you, Lois, for your lovely message! And nice to hear of another Lois ….
I am in the finishing stages of the third Ivy Beasley enquiry – title The Wild Wood Enquiry. Ivy goes from strength to strength! Best wishes – Ann P.
Dear Ms. Purser, I read one of the Lois Meade books but am hooked on Ivy Beasley! I love the seniors being so adventurous, the lovely Dierdre, and fabulous Gus. I have read both of those and loved every minute. A bit of suspense but good fun and they don’t leave me with nightmares! I do hope more are coming,,,, can’t wait! Cheer, Bryn in Vancouver
Lovely to hear from you, Bryn, in British Columbia! I am so pleased that you like Ivy and her colleagues. In the Round Ringford novels, Ivy first appeared, and although she was physically grinding to a halt, her brain was as sharp as ever. She moved reluctantly to Suffolk, but it has turned out to be a whole new life for her! And Roy …. Well, it just shows what love can do, at any age. All best – Ann P
The first book of yours I read was the Measby Murder Enquiry about 3 weeks ago. I was hooked searched my library,amazon etc and manage to obtain the whole Lois Meade series so far. Have read the lot in just over 2 weeks and pre ordered your next. Thankyou for a very enjoyable series …Regards Ann..Manchester UK
Many thanks for your comment! So glad you are enjoying Lois and Ivy. Foul Play at Four is next (Lois), and Ivy and Roy, Gus and Deirdre, are busy solving the Wild Wood Enquiry at the moment. Happy reading! Ann P
Love the Ivy Beasley series so far! I live in Alberta, Canada and came across the 1st two books at (of all places) a grocery store in the U.S! I started reading and was unable to put either book down. Now I’m desperate for more. I can hardly wait for the next book to come out in this series. I guess I will just have to check out the Round Ringford and Lois Meade series while I wait! The added bonus of the Ivy Beasley series for me is that it brings back lovely memories of our visit to the U.K. a couple of years back. Can hardly wait to go again!
HI, Anita – Thanks for yours. Ivy Beasley reappears next spring in The Wild Wood Enquiry, when she is in fine fettlle! Keep watcing the website. I hope you`ll enjoy Lois Meade as well. Ivy does play a part in those stories, too, and in the Round Ringford series (not mysteries) she shows up as a highly important member of the village scene. You can`t keep a good girl down!
Give my regards to your grocer!
Best wishes – Ann.
PS – Lots more to see in the UK …..
.
Are there any plans to publish your back catalogue for ebooks such as Kindle.
Christine, thank you for your message. If you look on Amazon, the books show the option of Kindle. Some don`t, I realise, and I will see what I can discover! Best wishes, Ann P
I simply love your books! I’ve read all of the Lois books except Threats at Three, and Foul Play at Four, (which i will gobble up soon enough), and all three of the Ivy books. I’ve always loved a good mystery and I find yours so refreshing. I do love a good ‘thriller’, too, but often find myself overwhelmed by the cursing and/or violence. I know when I read one of your books that I will get the mystery I love, but also a taste of the English village life that I would one day like to experience in person. I never feel ‘creeped out’ after reading one of your lovely books. Thank you and I hope you keep writing about Lois, and Ivy, for many years to come!
Hi, Lisa – thank you so much for your lovely message! I means such a lot to know that readers are enjoying the books. More Lois and Ivy stories are in the pipeline, so keep in touch – and if you ever make it to this country, do let me know. Ann P.