What do you think?
Rate this book
Miss Dimple Kilpatrick #2
Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause
Life in small-town America during World War II springs vividly to life as schoolteacher Miss Dimple and her fellow townspeople battle valiantly against worry, rationing, and crime at home as well as abroad.
It's September 1943, and the town of Elderberry, Georgia, including their beloved first-grade teacher, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, has exciting plans for the Bond Rally to support the troops fighting the war abroad. Miss Dimple's friend, Virginia Balliew, has agreed to chair the big event, with the help of Buddy Oglesby. But when children discover a skeleton at the edge of a field, and Buddy disappears along with the war bond money, it's clear that something is amiss in the little town; and Miss Dimple, along with her fellow teachers, is soon on the case.
It's September 1943, and the town of Elderberry, Georgia, including their beloved first-grade teacher, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, has exciting plans for the Bond Rally to support the troops fighting the war abroad. Miss Dimple's friend, Virginia Balliew, has agreed to chair the big event, with the help of Buddy Oglesby. But when children discover a skeleton at the edge of a field, and Buddy disappears along with the war bond money, it's clear that something is amiss in the little town; and Miss Dimple, along with her fellow teachers, is soon on the case.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published November 22, 2011
9 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Mignon F. Ballard
31 books78 followersMignon Franklin Ballard grew up in a small town in Georgia, and now lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 19, 2019
A nice period cozy.
April 9, 2017
3.5 stars, these books are a delight to read!
March 11, 2019
The citizens of the small town of Elderberry, Georgia are doing their best to support the troops during World War II in the fall of 1943. As everyone prepares for a bond rally and parade, a body is found during a school field trip.
The grisly discovery is only the beginning of shady events, as blackmail, mysterious comings and goings, and murder descend on the small Southern town and no-nonsense elementary school teacher Miss Dimple Kilpatrick is determined to unravel it all.
The story moves at a decent pace, and captures the feel of a small town during wartime as characters make ready to bid farewell to sons preparing to ship off to battle, and fear the appearance of the boy on the black bicycle delivering news of soldiers lost overseas. Scant attention is paid to certain parts of history, such as race relations and the segregation laws that divided such towns; Odessa Kirby, the cook for Miss Dimple's boarding house, seems to be the only supporting character who's African-American and makes only brief appearances here and there in the book, but I didn't expect much in that regard. There were some nice side stories featuring fellow teachers Charlie Carr and her best friend Annie who both miss the young men in their lives and enjoying their brief visits from training camp.
The mystery is neatly woven together. Suspicion and rumor keep the local residents on edge, as the story draws to a conclusion, and the author is adept at keeping the reader engaged in wondering whodunnit?
One criticism I have is that it was difficult to keep track of all the characters. As this is the second book in the Miss Dimple series, it's possible that reading the first book might have made things easier, but I still enjoyed the book and rate it at three stars.
The grisly discovery is only the beginning of shady events, as blackmail, mysterious comings and goings, and murder descend on the small Southern town and no-nonsense elementary school teacher Miss Dimple Kilpatrick is determined to unravel it all.
The story moves at a decent pace, and captures the feel of a small town during wartime as characters make ready to bid farewell to sons preparing to ship off to battle, and fear the appearance of the boy on the black bicycle delivering news of soldiers lost overseas. Scant attention is paid to certain parts of history, such as race relations and the segregation laws that divided such towns; Odessa Kirby, the cook for Miss Dimple's boarding house, seems to be the only supporting character who's African-American and makes only brief appearances here and there in the book, but I didn't expect much in that regard. There were some nice side stories featuring fellow teachers Charlie Carr and her best friend Annie who both miss the young men in their lives and enjoying their brief visits from training camp.
The mystery is neatly woven together. Suspicion and rumor keep the local residents on edge, as the story draws to a conclusion, and the author is adept at keeping the reader engaged in wondering whodunnit?
One criticism I have is that it was difficult to keep track of all the characters. As this is the second book in the Miss Dimple series, it's possible that reading the first book might have made things easier, but I still enjoyed the book and rate it at three stars.
October 4, 2016
The citizens of Elderberry, Georgia are doing their part to support the war effort with a war bond rally. Miss Dimple's friend Virginia has been roped into helping out by Emmaline Brumlow, who is insisting her nephew Buddy Oglesby be allowed to assist. Buddy has been a bit of a drifter and Virginia does not relish the prospect of working with him and his tyrannical aunt. While the school children and their teachers are helping with the cotton picking, Miss Dimple's fellow teacher Annie discovers the remains of a human washed up by recent rains. The police identify the woman as Cynthia Murphy, a local woman who ran off two years ago, leaving her husband bereft and her child without a mother. Everyone knew Cynthia was "fast" but who would want to kill her? Something is bothering Miss Dimple's friend Phoebe and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. Could Phoebe's problem be connected to the murder? Annie and her best friend Charlie are caught up in wartime romances but Charlie's mother Jo and Aunt Lou are curious enough to check things out and Miss Dimple is on hand to ask all the right questions.
This is a pretty good mystery. I was expecting it to be slow, like the first book, but the body was discovered early on but not identified right away. That kept the mystery going. I thought I had it all figured out. Phoebe's problem was incredibly obvious and why Miss Dimple never figured it out before, I don't know. I also thought I knew who the murderer was. I had two suspects and I thought I knew what had happened. I was totally wrong about the identity of the murderer but right about what had happened. I was largely intrigued by the romantic plots. I want to keep reading the series to find out which young men make it home. The author is a skilled writer. The first book in the series is recapped as part of the story instead of just dumped in for recap purposes. The author also works in numerous historical details as seamless parts of the story. I did question where they would get coffee when it was rationed but that was sort of answered at the end. I also wondered at a Hershey bar wrapper but it's October 1943 and such things may have been left over from before rationing or from a serviceman passing through town. I also liked the autumnal details, being set this time of year. It was a little jarring to read about 80 degree weather and peach harvests but that worked to set the scene firmly in the south.
Miss Dimple is a little too matter-of-fact for me. She likes to read mysteries and I suspect she is a throw back to the golden age mystery novel characters. She's not in this book as much as I expected and she doesn't have a lot to do except ask questions. She's more in the background to support her friends and ask the right questions. This is more of an ensemble piece with several people working to put together the clues and solve the mystery. I especially felt sorry for Phoebe and Virginia, who were unwittingly dragged into the mystery. They're both kind people who didn't deserve to be unhappy, especially Phoebe whose husband was not so nice.
I really liked Charlie and Annie and their youthful romances but found them interchangeable. They're both intelligent young women who remain sensible despite being in love during wartime, though they consider giving in to desire. Charlie's Aunt Lou is totally crazy. Not only is she nosy, she comes up with dangerous schemes and drags her sister into them. Charlie's sister Delia and her baby make more of an appearance in this book. Delia is a young mother, lonely and missing her husband. She is torn between missing her carefree youth and being a responsible adult. I think even non-mothers can relate. I felt horrible for Reynolds since everyone knew his wife was fast but he seemed to not know what she had been up to.
There were numerous secondary characters. There are some newcomers to Elderberry: Buddy Oglesby, who I wasn't crazy about but he turned out to have some depth. I even liked him in parts but he is a bit immature for a middle-aged man. There's also Coach MacGregor and his wife Millie. I don't know what to make of them. I was surprised at the direction their story took. There's also a new deputy, H.G. Dobbins who seems to be a creepy womanizer. He doesn't respect Annie at any rate and doesn't understand women. He may also be a murderer... or not.
I liked this book enough to want to keep reading, but I don't have the time right now. Maybe this winter I will return to this series.
This is a pretty good mystery. I was expecting it to be slow, like the first book, but the body was discovered early on but not identified right away. That kept the mystery going. I thought I had it all figured out. Phoebe's problem was incredibly obvious and why Miss Dimple never figured it out before, I don't know. I also thought I knew who the murderer was. I had two suspects and I thought I knew what had happened. I was totally wrong about the identity of the murderer but right about what had happened. I was largely intrigued by the romantic plots. I want to keep reading the series to find out which young men make it home. The author is a skilled writer. The first book in the series is recapped as part of the story instead of just dumped in for recap purposes. The author also works in numerous historical details as seamless parts of the story. I did question where they would get coffee when it was rationed but that was sort of answered at the end. I also wondered at a Hershey bar wrapper but it's October 1943 and such things may have been left over from before rationing or from a serviceman passing through town. I also liked the autumnal details, being set this time of year. It was a little jarring to read about 80 degree weather and peach harvests but that worked to set the scene firmly in the south.
Miss Dimple is a little too matter-of-fact for me. She likes to read mysteries and I suspect she is a throw back to the golden age mystery novel characters. She's not in this book as much as I expected and she doesn't have a lot to do except ask questions. She's more in the background to support her friends and ask the right questions. This is more of an ensemble piece with several people working to put together the clues and solve the mystery. I especially felt sorry for Phoebe and Virginia, who were unwittingly dragged into the mystery. They're both kind people who didn't deserve to be unhappy, especially Phoebe whose husband was not so nice.
I really liked Charlie and Annie and their youthful romances but found them interchangeable. They're both intelligent young women who remain sensible despite being in love during wartime, though they consider giving in to desire. Charlie's Aunt Lou is totally crazy. Not only is she nosy, she comes up with dangerous schemes and drags her sister into them. Charlie's sister Delia and her baby make more of an appearance in this book. Delia is a young mother, lonely and missing her husband. She is torn between missing her carefree youth and being a responsible adult. I think even non-mothers can relate. I felt horrible for Reynolds since everyone knew his wife was fast but he seemed to not know what she had been up to.
There were numerous secondary characters. There are some newcomers to Elderberry: Buddy Oglesby, who I wasn't crazy about but he turned out to have some depth. I even liked him in parts but he is a bit immature for a middle-aged man. There's also Coach MacGregor and his wife Millie. I don't know what to make of them. I was surprised at the direction their story took. There's also a new deputy, H.G. Dobbins who seems to be a creepy womanizer. He doesn't respect Annie at any rate and doesn't understand women. He may also be a murderer... or not.
I liked this book enough to want to keep reading, but I don't have the time right now. Maybe this winter I will return to this series.
August 15, 2016
Shrewd and observant Miss Dimple once again puts together the pieces of several puzzles to solve a murder, uncover a blackmailer and recover missing War Bond money.
The two books in the series I've read so far are very skillfully done both in the plotting of a some very puzzling crimes and the inclusion of clues and also in the creation of setting and mood. The small town in Georgia and its interesting cast of inhabitants is the centerpiece of the series and becoming richer in this second book. The details of the home front in war time are woven in very well and the sense of the time is very strong.
I know very well that this was a dreadful stressful time with ordinary people carrying enormous worry and fear but somehow going about their daily lives. While that comes through, these books are still somehow calming to read. It may be the picture of people caring about each other and coming together to help each other and solve problems while accepting each other's flaws. Very engaging.
The two books in the series I've read so far are very skillfully done both in the plotting of a some very puzzling crimes and the inclusion of clues and also in the creation of setting and mood. The small town in Georgia and its interesting cast of inhabitants is the centerpiece of the series and becoming richer in this second book. The details of the home front in war time are woven in very well and the sense of the time is very strong.
I know very well that this was a dreadful stressful time with ordinary people carrying enormous worry and fear but somehow going about their daily lives. While that comes through, these books are still somehow calming to read. It may be the picture of people caring about each other and coming together to help each other and solve problems while accepting each other's flaws. Very engaging.
February 3, 2022
More of a 2.5 - in between a "it was ok" and "liked it". I feel it was a better than the first book. Maybe because with all the characters, I'm finally sorting out who is who and who belongs with who. Unfortunately, a few more characters were added.
I finished this book about 10 days ago. I've read a different book, and now in the midst of #3 in the Miss Dimple Kilpatrick series.
It's September 1943 and it's the second year of WWII in small town Elderberry, Georgia. Miss Dimple finds a corpse, solves who is blackmailing a friend, and who stole the war bond money all while teaching her the first graders, and doing her part in helping bring the town's folks spirits up with a pageant and parade.
I found the author did a very good job of making it feel of the time with events and how people thought. H.G. Dobbins is a creep. I feel he might play a role in a book to come with taking it further than he did in this book re: to do with one teacher. He doesn't understand the word NO!
Unfortunately, I didn't solve any of it on my own.
I finished this book about 10 days ago. I've read a different book, and now in the midst of #3 in the Miss Dimple Kilpatrick series.
It's September 1943 and it's the second year of WWII in small town Elderberry, Georgia. Miss Dimple finds a corpse, solves who is blackmailing a friend, and who stole the war bond money all while teaching her the first graders, and doing her part in helping bring the town's folks spirits up with a pageant and parade.
I found the author did a very good job of making it feel of the time with events and how people thought. H.G. Dobbins is a creep. I feel he might play a role in a book to come with taking it further than he did in this book re: to do with one teacher. He doesn't understand the word NO!
Unfortunately, I didn't solve any of it on my own.
June 8, 2017
Although Ballard is an accomplished author, there was a little bit of the sophomore jinx about this story of an unearthed corpse, blackmail, and stolen war bond money. The exposition of the villain, set in italics at each chapter's beginning, exposes the culprit(s) a little soon. Plus, many of the descriptions feel lifted from the first book. Therefore, you won't feel confused if you start the series with this episode. But I'd advise starting there and possibly skipping this.
Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause is far from being a bad book: it just feels a little threadbare and worn, like the synthetic rubber tires Ballard seems obsessed about.
Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause is far from being a bad book: it just feels a little threadbare and worn, like the synthetic rubber tires Ballard seems obsessed about.
October 6, 2025
2025 bk 144. Slow moving at first (a signature of Ballard's writing style), the action comes as part of everyday matters in this town at war. A need to raise money for war bonds results in a committee - to sponsor a parade, a war bond rally, and a show. While that is going on, local farmers need help with the cotton harvest - you know cotton is needed for uniforms. So the local schools send their students at teachers for a day learning to harvest cotton. When lunchtime comes, the kids find food and one finds a decaying body. This book has several mysteries going at once and the reader is left wondering if it is one combined mystery, multiple ones. What is going on in this community!
January 4, 2019
I'm still not entirely sure what to make of this one. It took 50 pages to get into it (and longer to keep the many many characters straight), but it kept my attention throughout its meandering stroll of a mystery and got me interested in the lives of seemingly every person in this small town. Maybe if I had read the first one first it would have been easier.... Regardless, this was my last book of 2018, and a nice way to end the reading year.
July 3, 2017
I am loving this series, with its hometown, patriotic and simple life vibe. The mystery is almost an added bonus. The author does a great job making the characters feel like long time friends. Dimple Kilpatrick and her fellow neighbors solve another mystery of a murdered woman, stolen bond money and blackmailer. A wonderful book to curl up in bed and read til the end!
March 3, 2019
A typical cozy. It's 1943 in Elderberry Georgia and the town is preparing for bond rally and parade. A skeleton is found and someone has stolen the bond money. Similar cozy to those of Susan Wittig Albert's books on the Darling Dahlias. I enjoyed the Albert characters more than the Ballard's.
December 4, 2019
This book (like the first) started slow and was hard to get into. However, by about halfway, I felt connected and engaged in the story. A great, usually unexplored aspect on how WWII affected those left behind in the US.
April 2, 2024
If you like cozy mysteries, you'll love the sensible Miss Dimple! It's also a well written period piece, so that adds a layer of interest. I only docked a star because of the other Miss Dimple Mysteries, this particular mystery wasn't my favorite.
September 7, 2017
Loved it... Never could figure out whodunit !@!!
December 20, 2018
Light reading. I'll be ordering the next in the series. It's kinda hard to keep all the relatives in the proper order. Soon, I will know all of them.
March 25, 2019
This is a "cozy" mystery set in a small town in Georgia during WWII. It was a delight to read.
December 15, 2021
I really enjoyed the fun characters, as well as the realistic time period and setting details mixed in by the author. Engaging - I read this book in only a couple days.
dnf
April 1, 2024The narrative does some baffling head hopping and temporal shifts that confused me, and then I realized that I didn't care enough to go back and tease out the confusing threads.
April 5, 2025
Too many characters with little to offer. Central character lame. Ending a disappointment.
December 16, 2016
Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause by Mignon F. Ballard
3★'s
From the Book:
life in small-town America during World War II springs vividly to life as schoolteacher Miss Dimple and her fellow townspeople battle valiantly against worry, rationing, and crime at home as well as abroad.
It's September 1943, and the town of Elderberry, Georgia, including their beloved first-grade teacher, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, has exciting plans for the Bond Rally to support the troops fighting the war abroad. Miss Dimple's friend, Virginia Balliew, has agreed to chair the big event, with the help of Buddy Oglesby. But when children discover a skeleton at the edge of a field, and Buddy disappears along with the war bond money, it's clear that something is amiss in the little town; and Miss Dimple, along with her fellow teachers, is soon on the case.
My Thoughts:
First I need to say that "Cozy" Mysteries are NOT my cuppa tea...at all. I read this one for two reasons...my mother loves "Miss Dimple" and it was for a sub-genre challenge on another group.
I guess I just don't get how these non-professionals without any training that would even classify them as private investigators, can insert themselves into crime solving situations...and manage to not only catch the bad-guy but live to tell the story. Not just once, mind you, but through 20 or more books.
It does have some historical value however. A small Georgia town during WWII is the setting and Miss Dimple, the heroine is a teacher. Soon she is joined by some fellow teachers and several locals. She's not very grateful for the extra help as she considers them to be in the way. I wondered how the local police viewed her. Even though I will never go out of my way to read this genre I do have to say that Mignon Ballard has managed to produce a pretty good period piece and will appeal to those that 1. love this slant on history and 2. don't care for lots of blood, guts and violence in their reading.
3★'s
From the Book:
life in small-town America during World War II springs vividly to life as schoolteacher Miss Dimple and her fellow townspeople battle valiantly against worry, rationing, and crime at home as well as abroad.
It's September 1943, and the town of Elderberry, Georgia, including their beloved first-grade teacher, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, has exciting plans for the Bond Rally to support the troops fighting the war abroad. Miss Dimple's friend, Virginia Balliew, has agreed to chair the big event, with the help of Buddy Oglesby. But when children discover a skeleton at the edge of a field, and Buddy disappears along with the war bond money, it's clear that something is amiss in the little town; and Miss Dimple, along with her fellow teachers, is soon on the case.
My Thoughts:
First I need to say that "Cozy" Mysteries are NOT my cuppa tea...at all. I read this one for two reasons...my mother loves "Miss Dimple" and it was for a sub-genre challenge on another group.
I guess I just don't get how these non-professionals without any training that would even classify them as private investigators, can insert themselves into crime solving situations...and manage to not only catch the bad-guy but live to tell the story. Not just once, mind you, but through 20 or more books.
It does have some historical value however. A small Georgia town during WWII is the setting and Miss Dimple, the heroine is a teacher. Soon she is joined by some fellow teachers and several locals. She's not very grateful for the extra help as she considers them to be in the way. I wondered how the local police viewed her. Even though I will never go out of my way to read this genre I do have to say that Mignon Ballard has managed to produce a pretty good period piece and will appeal to those that 1. love this slant on history and 2. don't care for lots of blood, guts and violence in their reading.
January 11, 2012
Refreshing, nostalgic, homespun, warm, humorous all describe Mignon Ballard’s evocative descriptions of small town life. With this, the second eagerly awaited story in the Miss Dimple series, we return to Elderberry, Georgia. It is 1943 and the townsfolk are absorbed in news of the war, all fearing a visit from “the boy on the black bicycle who delivered telegrams, and doing everything they can to support their country.
To that end a war bond rally is being planned ( despite many not wishing to work with the dictatorial, five foot nine Emmaline Brumlow). There’s much excitement as the rally will include a “womanless” wedding performed by male actors. Bus driver Buddy Oglesby has come up with some terrific ideas for publicity. However, the excitement quickly dissipates when the school children are playing by a creek during a visit to the Hutchinson’s farm to pick cotton. They’d been told to stay away from the creek but nine-year-old Willie Elrod and his pal, Junior, couldn’t resist. When a teacher came looking for the boys she found a grim surprise - the remains of a skeleton, which had probably been exposed when the creek over flowed.
Miss Dimple believes the skeleton is that of a woman as clinging bits of cloth in bright colors seemed to be what a woman would have worn. But who could it have been and why was the body left in such a place? As if that weren’t enough to dampen everyone’s spirits the theft of some $2,000 raised in the war bond rally is later discovered.
Never one to run from a challenge Miss Dimple is determined to solve both mysteries. Cozy mystery fans will thoroughly enjoy the latest rom Mignon F. Ballard.
- Gail Cooke
To that end a war bond rally is being planned ( despite many not wishing to work with the dictatorial, five foot nine Emmaline Brumlow). There’s much excitement as the rally will include a “womanless” wedding performed by male actors. Bus driver Buddy Oglesby has come up with some terrific ideas for publicity. However, the excitement quickly dissipates when the school children are playing by a creek during a visit to the Hutchinson’s farm to pick cotton. They’d been told to stay away from the creek but nine-year-old Willie Elrod and his pal, Junior, couldn’t resist. When a teacher came looking for the boys she found a grim surprise - the remains of a skeleton, which had probably been exposed when the creek over flowed.
Miss Dimple believes the skeleton is that of a woman as clinging bits of cloth in bright colors seemed to be what a woman would have worn. But who could it have been and why was the body left in such a place? As if that weren’t enough to dampen everyone’s spirits the theft of some $2,000 raised in the war bond rally is later discovered.
Never one to run from a challenge Miss Dimple is determined to solve both mysteries. Cozy mystery fans will thoroughly enjoy the latest rom Mignon F. Ballard.
- Gail Cooke
December 20, 2011
Though they expected excitement at their upcoming rally to raise money for the war, the citizens of the town of Elderberry, Georgia certainly didn't expect to be embroiled in a mystery! However, the glories of the parade, humor of the womanless wedding and overall thrill of the war bond rally are overshadowed by the grisly discovery of a corpse in one of the town's small creeks. The discovery is quickly followed by a slew of bewildering events, including the disappearance of some of the bond money along with the prime suspect in the case. The town is in an uproar and it's up to Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, a spinster schoolteacher, to uncover the solution to the mystery. Miss Dimple doesn't stand for any nonsense, whether it be from her boisterous first graders, a wicked murderer or malevolent blackmailer intent on harming her friend and landlady, Phoebe Chadwick. Dressed in her trademark purple, armed with her handy parasol and fortified by her infamous "Victory Muffins," Miss Dimple sets out to solve the mystery of the uncovered corpse as well as to identify the person causing such emotional turmoil to her friend. She must go it alone, however, for her young friends Charlie and Annie are caught up in the angst of young love hindered by the war to yield much assistance to the investigation.
Once again, Ballard perfectly captures the essence of small town Southern life during the second world war. Full of Southern charm, delightful characters and just a little bit of spice, the book has all you could want in a cozy mystery.
Once again, Ballard perfectly captures the essence of small town Southern life during the second world war. Full of Southern charm, delightful characters and just a little bit of spice, the book has all you could want in a cozy mystery.
January 27, 2016
This was a cute book, set during WWII, in the area around Atlanta. I enjoyed reading about some of the cities that I am familiar with as they were described at that point in time. I also enjoyed the descriptions of conditions that people lived with during the war.
A body is discovered that had been hidden a few years before and it leads to a chain of mysteries - who was it? who killed her? who fired the shot backstage after the follies? who stole the bond money? who set fire to the house? and so on. Miss Dimple, a spinster school-teacher, along with help from her friends, begins to sift through clues and the answers are found.
This is one in a series of books about these characters. It is a cute book, with light humor. The characters are interesting, if not somewhat predictable, but the mysteries were that and there were enough conflicting clues to make the solving of the mystery a fun story line.
A body is discovered that had been hidden a few years before and it leads to a chain of mysteries - who was it? who killed her? who fired the shot backstage after the follies? who stole the bond money? who set fire to the house? and so on. Miss Dimple, a spinster school-teacher, along with help from her friends, begins to sift through clues and the answers are found.
This is one in a series of books about these characters. It is a cute book, with light humor. The characters are interesting, if not somewhat predictable, but the mysteries were that and there were enough conflicting clues to make the solving of the mystery a fun story line.
April 12, 2013
Great story, but I wish I had read this 2nd in the series closer to the first book. Many allusions to events that took place in the first book that I could not recall, so make sure you read the books in order and fairly close together. The characters were all so likable...even the "murderer"! I hope there is a 3rd book in the works
"It's September 1943, and the town of Elderberry, Georgia, including their beloved first-grade teacher, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, has exciting plans for the Bond Rally to support the troops fighting the war abroad. Miss Dimple's friend, Virginia Balliew, has agreed to chair the big event, with the help of Buddy Oglesby. But when children discover a skeleton at the edge of a field, and Buddy disappears along with the war bond money, it's clear that something is amiss in the little town; and Miss Dimple, along with her fellow teachers, is soon on the case."
"It's September 1943, and the town of Elderberry, Georgia, including their beloved first-grade teacher, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, has exciting plans for the Bond Rally to support the troops fighting the war abroad. Miss Dimple's friend, Virginia Balliew, has agreed to chair the big event, with the help of Buddy Oglesby. But when children discover a skeleton at the edge of a field, and Buddy disappears along with the war bond money, it's clear that something is amiss in the little town; and Miss Dimple, along with her fellow teachers, is soon on the case."
March 28, 2015
Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause is another gentle mystery, taking place during WWII. In this installment, War Bonds are stolen, people are being blackmailed, and the people of
Elderberry, Georgia are dealing with rationing, and everyday worry of 1943. Things seem to escalate with a skeleton is found by a river.
This book is interesting on two levels, the mystery and finding out who the skeleton is, who the thief is and who the blackmailer is kept me reading. On another level though, reading about the everyday lives of the people during the war was very appealing and made me want to know more. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
Elderberry, Georgia are dealing with rationing, and everyday worry of 1943. Things seem to escalate with a skeleton is found by a river.
This book is interesting on two levels, the mystery and finding out who the skeleton is, who the thief is and who the blackmailer is kept me reading. On another level though, reading about the everyday lives of the people during the war was very appealing and made me want to know more. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
September 9, 2016
Had a little bit of a hard time getting into the story, but I persevered and in the wnd it was worth the effort.
October 8, 2012
The second mystery in the Miss Dimple series is set in September 1943 in the small town of Elderberry, Georgia. During a school field trip a teacher discovers a skeleton and then the War Bond money is stolen following a rally. A man is shot and another disappears. Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, teacher of the town's first graders, takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of the skeleton's murderer and the missing money.
This series needs to be read in order, starting with Miss Dimple Disappears. Having failed to do that, I was constantly confused by the many characters and their intricate relationships.
Ballard is also the author of the seven mysteries featuring angelic sleuth Augusta Goodnight.
This series needs to be read in order, starting with Miss Dimple Disappears. Having failed to do that, I was constantly confused by the many characters and their intricate relationships.
Ballard is also the author of the seven mysteries featuring angelic sleuth Augusta Goodnight.
September 18, 2012
The small town of Elderberry is far from the excitement of the war in September 1943, but some local excitement occurs when a dead body is found near a local cotton field. First grade teacher Miss Dimple Kilpatrick and her friends try to leave the investigation to the sheriff, but when other mysterious events occur they are drawn in.
In addition to the mysteries, this is a story of wartime romance, life on the home front, and the importance of friendship. This series is a pleasure to read and I am anxiously awaiting the next title.
In addition to the mysteries, this is a story of wartime romance, life on the home front, and the importance of friendship. This series is a pleasure to read and I am anxiously awaiting the next title.
February 3, 2012
The little town of Elderberry, GA seems to be in the throes of a crime wave after a body is found buried near a cotton field. Someone shoots an inoffensive store clerk, the genteel boarding house keeper is being blackmailed, and thousands of dollars from a victory bonds rally are stolen. Fortunately, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, the town's beloved first grade teacher, starts to put things together in her clear-thinking mind, and comes up with some dismaying suspicions.
August 21, 2015
It is the second year of World War II and the residents of Elderberry, Georgia are doing their best to support each other and their "boys" in the war effort. Unfortunately, the finding of a body creates many questions that must be answered in order to prevent blackmail and murder. Miss Dimple and her friends are up to the task however. I enjoyed reading about a time when people felt joined together in a good cause and both mourned and celebrated together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews