Ellie's friend Dorcas Critchley, now Lacrosse coach at their old boarding school St. Roberta's, asks Ellie for help in recovering the Loverly Cup. Ellie has more than her share of misgivings to go back to her old school, because she only seems to have not so fond memories of her time there being the pudgy girl and all that. Nevertheless Ellie agrees to use her sleuthing skills in order to uphold the school's reputation. The indomitable Mrs Malloy cannot accompany her to St. Roberta's, so Ellie has to rely on her own impressions and enlists the help of Ariel Hopkins, daughter of Ben's cousin and now "inmate" at St. Roberta's. She meets her old nemesis Rosemary Martin and Philippa Boswell, the cause for Ellie's still gnawing conscience. Ellie soon learns that nothing much has changed: the school is still a den of alliances, rumors, accusations, friends and false friends..

Do you remember the "St. Clare's" series by Enid Blyton ("Hanni und Nanni" in German)? I was an addict. And "Goodbye, Mrs Chips" pleasantly reminded me of the St. Clare series. Add misdemeanor, a possible felony plus quirks and witticism and you have "Goodbye, Mrs Chips".

"Goodbye, Mrs Chips" was an easy and entertaining read. If the mystery part had been a tad more developed and the end a little less rushed, it would have merited five stars!