Ariadne Winter Mystery: Book 1
Publication Date: October 2, 2024
Stumbling across a dead body could be the making … or breaking of an aspiring reporter.
During 1958, when the workforce is predominantly male, societal norms dictate women should be compliant, fashionable housewives. To Ariadne Winter, the sole tradition she aims to embrace is that of being fashionable. Amidst the ambiance of Ivy Tree Inn, where she’s been dispatched as a writer for Ladies’ Lifestyle Magazine, her focus wavers as she grapples with an interview assignment concerning a Hollywood starlet on the cusp of royal matrimony—an event hailed as the “Wedding of the Century.” While Ariadne dutifully attends to her task, her heart yearns for the pursuit of her collegiate ambition: to be an investigative reporter for a renowned newspaper.
However, fate intervenes when she discovers a dead body and recognizes the opportunity it presents to write her way into the role she desires. Yet, as Ariadne delves deeper into the lives of the inn’s inhabitants, she uncovers a labyrinth of intertwined relationships and long-buried secrets among guests and staff alike, yielding a plethora of suspects. With a murderer on the loose, her magazine deadline looming, and the inn cordoned off by authorities, Ariadne faces a race against time to untangle the web of deceit and solve the murder before she loses more than just her job.
Ellen Butler’s Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn occurs in the 1950s. The tone of the book felt authentic.
Ariadne pushed boundaries to be given a chance to write investigative articles at a time when men dominated journalism. She had been relegated to working at a desk at her job and not allowed to write serious articles, as “she was just a woman”. It was strange to be plunged into a time where women didn’t have a voice, were spoken to condescendingly, and were treated as if they were little girls or playthings.
Despite all the hurdles Ariadne jumped, she solved the mystery and wrote more than the fluff pieces she was assigned to.
At one point in the book, Ariadne is able to contribute a piece to the local paper where she is visiting. The editor of the paper wants to know if she is a local writer, and I think, why can’t she telecommute? I forgot this book was set in 1958. The progress we have made in the past 60+ years is truly amazing.
Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn was a highly entertaining romp back in time with a strong, confident, go-getter female lead. The plot and pacing were spot-on, and I truly enjoyed this book.
Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Multiple books in the series have hit #1 on Amazon bestseller lists in the US and abroad. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism.” Butler is also the author of the award-winning historical suspense novel, The Brass Compass. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, 2018 Indie Reader Discovery Award, 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner. Butler started writing in the romance genre and won the The Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award 2015 with her novel Planning for Love. Her 12th book Operation Blackbird, a Cold War Spy novel, was published in October 2022 and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction.
October 23 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 24 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 25 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 25 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
October 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 28 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
October 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
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November 1 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
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November 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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