Book Reviews and More: The Case of the Mixed-up Marathon - Karen Kelly Boyce and Sue Anderson Gioulis

Thursday, 27 February 2025

The Case of the Mixed-up Marathon - Karen Kelly Boyce and Sue Anderson Gioulis - Sisters of the Last Straw Book 9

The Case of the Mixed-up Marathon

Sisters of the Last Straw Book 9

Karen Kelly Boyce
Sue Anderson Gioulis (Illustrator)
TAN Books
ISBN ISBN 9781505133448

eISBN 9781505134513

eISBN 9781505134520

ASIN

The Case of the Mixed-up Marathon - Karen Kelly Boyce and Sue Anderson Gioulis - Sisters of the Last Straw Book 9

I have now read the 9 volumes currently in print in this series. My youngest daughter has read them to me as well. She was so excited when this released and wanted us to read it together. A few years ago, I read the fifth book in this series, The Case of the Christmas Tree Capers, a Christmas story. And I was hooked. My daughter is insisted that she reread them all to me as part of her reading challenge time, and we were both excited to finally have this one in print. I have enjoyed each of the volume, even more so now with my daughter reading them to me. These are great fun, and excellent reads for younger readers or really for readers of any age. I previously stated that the series reminds me of Tales of a Magic Monastery by Theophane the Monk. These books have great lessons; lessons that kids will pick up on and learn from, but also lessons that we as adults can appreciate and be challenged by. It is an excellent story in a very entertaining and amusing series. Maybe my new favourite!

As always the sisters in this story are fun, and their adventures and mishaps are often funny, and in this case a little surprising. The sisters are:

Sister Krumbles

Sister Shiny

Sister Lovely

Sister Wanda

Sister Lacey

Mother Mercy

And special guest:

Amanda Kate

The volume contains the black and white illustrations by Sue Anderson Gioulis and they continue to add to the story. The book teaches us about human nature, about living the gospel, and about trusting God, prayer and maybe a miracle. This one focuses around training for an participating in the inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Marathon, and Sister Krumbles is determined to win the prize to donate the money to the food bank. From the chapter titles you always have a preview of what is about to happen next:

Big Dreams

Reading Labels

Running Shoes

The Pokey

A Pound of This and That

Dancing & Dastardly Plans

Peanut Butter & Bananas

Justice is Served

This one the familiar villain and for long time readers of the series I give you 3 guesses and the first two do not count! The sisters And Amanda Kate are concerned about the level of food at the parish Food Bank. They decide to be more austere during Lent to be able to donate a little more than normal. They are also supporting Krumbles in her training. They have a guest at the convent, Amanda Kate who runs marathons, and her dog Runner. And even though he boasts he will win, Mr. Lemon seems to never train.

The description of this volume is:

“Meet the Sisters of the Last Straw, a community of Sisters working hard to overcome their bad habits. Join these loveable misfit nuns as they learn to love God and forgive one another. When Amanda Kate comes to visit, Sister Krumbles gets the idea to run the Saint Patrick's Day Marathon. But will she be up to the challenge? What is Mr. Lemon up to? Will he win the prize money for himself? Will the Sisters solve the mystery of the missing items?”

The story includes a recipe for Irish Soda Bread that is not far off the family recipe my family has been cooking for over 100 years (no raisins ever in our). There is also a lot of information at Saint Patrick, who is a family favourite. So there are a lot of personal connections to this story, though to be honest no marathons.

There are great lessons for the young readers of the series for whom it is written for, and for us older folks who might read it with or to them, and in my case have it read to. Or even just on our own. It is a great story in a wonderful series. We always look forward to reading the next story and hope there are yet more to come. The next one announced at the end of this volume is: The Case of the Saintly Staircase. I am certain that if you pick it up and laugh along with the sisters of the last straw, and be greatly entertained.