I picked up Mother Goose's Bicycle Tour expecting a cozy mystery, and while it is that, it’s also so much more. It completely charmed me.

The Story

When beloved, elderly librarian Elara Greeves (nicknamed 'Mother Goose' by everyone in town) vanishes, her neighbors are stunned. The only clues are her classic bicycle, gone from its usual spot, and a vague note. Instead of calling the police, a small group of her friends—a baker, a retired teacher, and a teenage library volunteer—decide to find her themselves. Their search becomes a scavenger hunt through her past, uncovering hints she left in library book margins, with local shopkeepers, and in stories she told. They discover she wasn’t just a librarian; she was an adventurer with a history full of surprising turns, and her 'bicycle tour' is a final journey to tie up the loose ends of a long, secretive life.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a quiet celebration of ordinary people. There’s no car chases or villains, just the deeply relatable mystery of another person’s inner world. The real joy is watching the searchers grow as they learn about Elara. It makes you look at the 'Mother Goose' in your own life and wonder what stories they’re holding onto. Bonnell writes with a warmth that feels like a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon—comforting, thoughtful, and surprisingly moving.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories, gentle mysteries, or tales about small-town life and hidden connections. If you enjoy books where the puzzle is about a person’s soul rather than a crime, this tour is one you’ll want to take. It’s a heartfelt reminder that everyone has a story worth discovering.