Shadows on the Ivy

Antique Print #3

by Lea Wait

Antique print dealer Maggie Summer is teaching a college course on "Myths in American Culture," using prints by Currier & Ives and other nineteenth century artists to illustrate her points. As a faculty advisor, she's also dealing with the problems of students who are single parents: problems that turn dangerous when a young mother is poisoned, and events twist Maggie's own thoughts about motherhood. She suspects a sinister connection between the past and the present, and her prints could provide valuable clues. But some secrets are too hard to see -- even for an expert like Maggie -- and some crimes hit too close to home...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

Maine author Lea Wait writes the NYT-praised 8-book Shadows Antique Print Mystery series, the latest of which is SHADWS ON A MORNING IN MAINE, and the USA Today best-selling Mainely Needlepoint series which debuted with TWISTED THREADS in January, 2015, and was followed by THREADS OF EVIDENCE in August, 2015, THREAD AND GONE, in January, 2016, DANGLING BY A THREAD in late October, 2016, and TIGHTENING THE THREADS in March, 2017. Wait also writes acclaimed historical novels for ages 8 and up set in 19th century Maine, the latest of which, UNCERTAIN GLORY, takes place in a small northern town during the first two weeks of the Civil War. Lea's LIVING AND WRITING ON THE COAST OF MAINE, about being an author and living year 'round in Maine with a husband who's an artist also includes writing tips. Lea did her undergraduate work at Chatham College (now University) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and her graduate work at New York University. While she was raising the four daughters she adopted as a single parent she worked as a manager for AT&T. Now she writes full time and speaks at schools and libraries. She loves rowing, visiting historical sites, and, of course, reading and writing. See her website,
www.leawait.com, and the blog she writes with other Maine Mystery writers, http://www.mainecrimewriters.com, friend her on FB and Goodreads, and, if you'd like to be on her email list to find out when her next book will be published, send her your email address write to her at leawait@roadrunner.com

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite in the series, so far. The college where Maggie is a professor has set aside a new dormitory solely for 6 single parents and their children, with the caveat that at least one be a single dad. The school's large donors who are responsible for funding the project, the Whitcombs, hold a cocktail party in the students' honor but one student falls into a coma after coming back to the dorm from the party. Maggie and Mrs. Whitcomb keep a vigil at the hospital and questions about the student's daughter lead to new revelations. When another student is found dead right before she had an appointment to speak with Maggie, the police realize they are on the hunt for a killer. Meanwhile, the college president is worrying about negative publicity and wants the dorm closed down immediately. As Maggie digs deeper for the truth, she realizes she is putting herself in harm's way.

[Samira · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is simply not enough character development to make the plot make sense!

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of the Antique Print Mystery series by Lea Wait !! I fell in love with Shadows at the Fair, the first book in this series and was hooked when I read the second book, Shadows on the Coast of Maine and now after reading the third book, Shadows on the Ivy, I am a CRAZED fan !!

In Shadows on the Ivy we are hanging out with main character Maggie Summers in her hometown. Things in this book allow the reader to get up close and personally with Maggie as she goes to Somerset Community College where she teaches as well as advises a house of single parents who attend the college under scholarships. Even though Maggie is preparing for an antique show later in the week, that is not her main focus and this side of Maggie will have the reader loving her even more. We found out in the second book that Maggie is feeling the tug of wanting to be a parent but no one would have thought that might happen when one of the single mothers in the Whitcomb House is poisoned !!

Maggie is pulled in so many directions as she tries to find out who poisoned Sarah and why....and when another resident at the Whitcomb House is found dead in the kitchen, her need to help and protect goes full force !!!

Again author Lea Wait will have the reader on the edge of their seat turning the pages so fast, they may get a paper cut....but if they do, it will be well worth it !!! Readers will love everything about this series and will want to continue hanging out with Maggie until the end !! And after reading the LAST page, there will be no stopping !!!!

[Marilyn Fontane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shadows on the Ivy by Lea Wait has protagonist Maggie Summers, a community college teacher and seller of antique prints on weekends, facing a problem in a dormitory on her campus set up for six single-parent students and their under-5-year-old children. One of the six has been poisoned at a faculty-student party and is in a coma while another has been murdered by a different poison. Maggie spends one-third of her time wondering who the killer on campus is, another third going on about antique prints (either as long headings to each chapter or as lectures to her students) and the last third worrying about her own single status while wanting to be a mother.
The murders are interesting although it seems rather long for the one who had nicotine poisoning to conveniently remain in a coma while the one poisoned with fish pond cleaner hardly seems to be talked about much. It also seems strange to have any dormitory on a community college campus, much less one set up for single parents and their children (one child each under five, no less, and one of the six must be a male). Touch unrealistic and that is background. All the material on antique prints is irrelevant to the story (although she did try to find a print slightly related to the chapter, and with one--only one--the gold fish--it actually was relevant). I got a bit bored, but fortunately it was a short book and generally pleasant. However I don't think I'll try another by Wait.

[SCH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 3rd book in the Maggie Summers series for reasons similar to the first two books: the descriptions of antique prints at the beginning of each chapter and the insight into Maggie's antique print business. This story is set at the college where she teaches American History and I appreciate the way she integrates the prints into her lectures to help her students understand certain events or time periods. The author shares Maggie's actual lectures, rather than just describing them, which I find to be very informative.

This wasn't my favorite story line, however. The setting was unimpressive although the single-parent campus housing situation was something different. The crimes were unusual but I didn't feel a very strong connection with the victims or with any of the other characters. Much of it felt like a vehicle to push Maggie's interest in adoption forward which make sense since it feels like it will become more important in the future, especially where Will is involved. However, at times it felt uncomfortable as Maggie considers what it means to be named a legal guardian to a little girl, coming across as too desperate at times or overthinking the situation.

I enjoy the fact that so far in the series, all three books have taken place in different places. While I love a good cozy mystery, always amazes me when so many murders take place in one small town! I'm thankful this series is different in that way.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) This is the third book in the series. Maggie is acting as an advisor for a new residence facility for students who are single parents. When one single parent becomes violently ill and ends up in coma after attending a party hosted by the school, Maggie feels obligated to help find out whether or not this was a deliberate attack. Maggie is also struggling with her own feelings about having a child or the possibility of adopting, and is shocked to find that she has been named as guardian in event of the young mother’s death. When another member of the community ends up dead, Maggie begins to pull together evidence of bad behavior behind the scenes in the college and may end up risking her own life in order to find out the truth. As usual, each chapter begins with a description of an antique print.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

My lovely nephew, who is not (YET) a mystery reader for this for me for Christmas such is the ONLY reason I finished it. It had such promise: A vaguely cozy set-up (antique print dealer teaching college in a small town on the East Coast) combined with a more up-to-date premise (said college creates a dorm for single parents to provide them support and one of the residents is poisoned). And it started off with a bang but man! Just not solid. Our heroine is a ditherer who seems to be ruled by her need for a man and/or a child, it’s not at all clear which is most important. Unbelievable plot points (said ditherer withholding info from the police for no very good reason)... I could go on. So, hard pass.

[Lora Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opened the book to see what it was about and couldn’t put it down! It was a nice, relaxing read. I did not solve before the final chapter and yes, the murderer was a logical conclusion. Sometimes the reader can tell that the author threw in clues at the end to justify their choice of criminal. However, the author gave substantiating clues throughout the manuscript. I always love that the author gives clues so that the reader can be involved in solving, “the crime”. Also that those clues are logical and not just thrown in the mix at the end. ( Sorry if I’m being repetitive.) I’m sorry about Ms. Wait’s passing and my condolences to her family. I look forward to reading others in this series and others of hers.

[Ann Boytim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Summer is an antique print dealer but her main job is as a professor teaching art at a local college. Maggie is also a faculty advisor to a small group of students living in single family housing. One of the students falls ill at a faculty party and ends up in a coma and then her roommate is found dead. The one woman in a coma has a four year old daughter and this little girl is being taken care of by the other single parents at the house. Maggie's office is trashed and someone tries to break into her home. The police believe the two women were poisoned and the list of suspects grows.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antique Print Mystery #3. Maggie is at work as an American Studies professor at a New Jersey community college, where she is also the advisor to the six single parent students in Whitcomb House. When Sarah, a quiet young mother feels faint, nauseous and falls into a coma at a reception at the home of wealthy college Trustees sponsoring the Whitcomb House program, including residential space for parent and child, full scholarships and childcare, life becomes dangerous, secrets are threatened and future of college is endangered.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the continuation of the series about Maggie Summer who is a college professor at a community college in Somerset, New Jersey. When one of the students at a dorm the college has just set up ends up poisoned, Maggie decides to try to find out how it happened. How she unravels the mystery makes for a very interesting addition to the series. Highly recommend this book and the series.

[Lady Galaxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The focus this time was more on the university than the sale of antique prints. I'm having a little trouble warming up to the main character. It's frustrating that I've had to skip a book because it's not available for Kindle and my eyes can't handle the small print in paperback books. I liked the idea that the university was attempting to accommodate single parents.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting mystery/who done it featuring Maggie’s Summers and her fantastic prints. The mystery is twisty but so are the other characters.
My favorite part is the descriptions of prints. How I wish there were reproductions of the prints!

The ending is a real surprise as is the killer.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very impatient with the main character by the end. She withholds evidence for absolutely no reason and I find that maddening behavior. It's very odd to have a fiction narrative include birth and death dates for artists in parentheses.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another new author for me. I am listening to audio books as I go about my sewing and household tasks. This books was perfect for listening. Good storyline and narrator made the day just fly. Will look for other cozy mysteries by this author.

[Perlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the book was going to be more about the antique print business.
At times I wondered if the protag was the author herself, which she sort of indicates.
Some thoughtful points about foster care and adoption.
Likeable protag. Not sure I'd read more of the series, though.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this mystery book. I love the series. Love the protagonist, Maggie and all the other characters

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Killer was pretty obvious, story really wasn't that interesting.

[WroteTrips · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought this because it was nominally set in NJ.
Interesting side bars about art prints; wish it had included more.

[KimB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, light mystery. Information on antique prints was interesting.

[Dawean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining in that the main character is an American Studies professor (and antique print dealer) at a community college set in Somerset NJ.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly soap opera story, with a healthy dose of history lessons.

The first in the series that I've read, since my local library only has #3 as an audiobook.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't decided whether I preferred this book, or the 2nd one in the series (Shadows on the Coast of Maine). And as I mentioned in a few of my status updates, some of the suspense of this book was removed because I got 80 pages into book #4 before realizing I'd gone out of order. However, enough suspense remained that I did enjoy this. There was an adequate - but not absurd! - amount of plot twists to keep me guessing. The final resolution did feel a bit too sudden and left a few loose ends, but was satisfying overall.

As in Book #2, I liked how the print descriptions at the beginning of each chapter loosely tied into the action of the chapter. And I appreciated the brief mini-lectures about prints and American culture (as Maggie is teaching her classes). But they did feel vaguely out of place - to be reading a light modern mystery and have weighty 19th century social issues dropped in your lap. Likewise with the dates (e.g. "Famous Illustrator (1840-1902)") that were casually dropped into the prose. This didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book, but it did seem strange and might be off-putting to some potential readers.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a Jane Langton mystery, this book is an intellectual's mystery, packed with facts regarding Currier & Ives prints, nineteenth century depictions of African-Americans, and miscellaneous background on a variety of artists and lithographs. However, with the exception of one classroom scenario, author Lea Watt manages to blend seamlessly historical information and mystery. A classic whodunit, complete with multiple motives and false trails. Maggie Summer is a conflicted and interesting protagonist-sleuth, who I look forward getting to know better in the rest of the series.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning to a theme of personal importance to her, Wait’s third mystery in the Maggie Summers series involves the antique print dealer/college professor supervising a college dormitory designed to support single parents and their children. Wait’s knowledge and understanding of the challenges involved and her pragmatic, honest handling of the students’ thoughts and behaviors support her skillful writing. The plot again is most unexpected with characters revealing secrets and sometimes despicable behavior. Reading Wait’s books out of order has allowed me to observe her writing develop while immersed in a character I have grown to care about.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never read Lea Wait before, I was intrigued by her premise of the antique print angle. I started the book, was captivated by the chapter-specific "illustrations" and didn't put the book down until I had finished it. Loved the character of Maggie and her tricky status of recent widow who's learning to trust again. The location of the college and the student housing setting made it especially relevant and was a nice reminder of what people are capable of when given the chance (in both good and bad ways--it's a murder mystery after all).

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audio book. I did enjoy it. The only problem that I found was that the author spent more time than necessary relating the content of some of the main character's lectures. The content of those really didn't have anything to do with the story. If this were a paper book I would have just skipped over those pages, but being audio- I listened. I thought that the plot was interesting and I wasn't really sure who the culprit was until that person was unveiled. I always enjoy a book in which i cannot guess "whodunnit."

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oddly addictive series about a dealer in antique prints who is also an university professor. Wherever she goes, dead bodies turn up. Each chapter starts with a description of an antique print with price. I savor these descriptions, so I learn while reading a quick read of murder with unexpected results.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series of an American Studies professor who also has a business selling antique prints at markets and fairs. This one takes place on her campus. It was good and I enjoyed it. The inclusion of print descriptions has me googling their images. Mostly, too, the prints dovetail with the chapter.