Book Review: KILLER FLOWERS (A Christie's Flower Shoppe Mystery) by P. J. Peterson

About the Book 

The message is murder… 

After ten years in the big city, accountant Christie O'Mara is back in her hometown — and thrilled to take over her deceased grandmother's Flower Shoppe, known for its hidden floral “messages”. But while preparing for opening day, Christie finds a note that hints at a decades-old murder, taped to the underside of an antique desk drawer. Even ditzy Aunt Doris has no idea what it could mean — and she knows everyone and everything in town. 

When a man is poisoned by a Flower Shoppe bouquet with a “be careful” message, the police chief turns up on Christie’s doorstep with tricky questions. 

But he may be the least of her worries. Someone knows what happened forty years ago. And they’re laying the past to rest — one victim at a time. 

Review 

A letter taped to a desk leads Christie to investigate a murder. Her aunt has no clue but as time passes, and the flower shoppe is implicated in yet another murder, Christie needs answers before more people die.

This is an engaging story, mostly because of the characters - who doesn't like a "ditzy" character? The story moves along at a steady pace and Aunt Doris does her part to help Christie. This is the first in the series and a great start to establishing the core characters. I may have to pick up KILLER WEDDING.

 AMAZON

About the Author PJ Peterson began writing mysteries once she retired from her career as an internal medicine physician. It was a natural choice considering that she had read all the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books when she was younger, graduating to Agatha Christie and other mystery authors over time. 

Her novels include a touch of humor with her sidekick sister Carly providing much of that. And with her medical background, she sprinkles in something related to health or disease whenever it fits the story. She says a doctor is just a detective wearing a white coat. 

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Book Review: SILENT FALL (Sanders Brothers Book 2) by Barbara Freethy

About the Book 

Dylan Sanders is attending a wedding in the mountains when his trip takes a terrible turn. A former lover appears out of nowhere, demands a private conversation, and lures him into the woods, then leaves him there, drugged and disoriented. The next morning, the woman has disappeared, and Dylan is accused of her murder. 

Catherine Hilliard, a beautiful psychic haunted by her own dark past, is reluctant to offer up her cryptic visions to help skeptical Dylan figure out what's going on, but she can't leave her best friend's brother-in-law on his own ... or deny the powerful, inexplicable connection between them. 

Review 

As usual, Freethy has written a romantic mystery of high calibre.

There is suspense, unexpected twists and turns, a murder to be solved and a romance. It will keep you guessing (and reading) until the end. I liked the growing relationship between Dylan and Catherine.

Needless to say, the pacing of the story is fast-paced and the story is well-written. This is the second in the Sanders Brothers series. I didn't read the first one in the series, and I had no trouble following along. This one goes in the "Books Worth Reading" category.

AMAZON

About the Author 

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and women's fiction. Barbara has sold more than 11 million copies of her books worldwide. In 2014 she was named the Amazon KDP bestselling Author of ALL TIME! 

Twenty-eight of her titles have appeared on the NY Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Barbara is known for writing emotional, page-turn

ing novels that often include family drama and always have a surprising twist. 

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Book Review: DYING FOR A DUDE (Laurel McKay Mysteries Book 4) by Cindy Sample

About the Book 

A 2015 LEFTY AWARD Finalist Best Humorous Mystery and 2015 NEXT GENERATION AWARD Finalist for Best Mystery 

When Laurel McKay agrees to perform with the Sassy Saloon Gals during Placerville's annual Wagon Train parade, her greatest fear is a wardrobe malfunction. Before she can lace up her corset, a 150-year-old skeleton turns up on her grandmother's property. Did Laurel's great-great-grandfather murder his mining partner? 

Gran insists not and wants Laurel to prove it. 

Then the body of a prominent citizen is discovered shortly after Laurel's ex-husband decked him. When her detective boyfriend throws her ex in jail for murder, Laurel, with the help of her zany friends and family, must find the real killer. 

Juggling two kids, a new boss, a wilting romance, and two murder investigations would be enough to turn any woman into a chocolate addict. Extra pounds are the least of Laurel's worries as she and her Mustang-driving octogenarian grandmother try to unearth some long-buried secrets before the killer adds their names to the town's bloody history. 

Review 

This is an entertaining story with quirky characters who are relatable and, in most cases, likable.  The story showcases a lot of local places and lore, plus fun characters. Laurel's mixed allegiances to her current detective boyfriend and her ex-husband who he arrests, adds a layer of tension to determining the killer not only of the her grandfather's partner but also a figure in the community.

This is the 4th of 9 in the series. It's always best to start at the beginning only I didn't and it was very readable as a stand-alone mystery. It's well-written and fast-paced. A humorous cozy mystery just right for when you need something light and engaging.

AMAZON 

About the Author 

Cindy Sample is a former corporate CEO who decided plotting murder was more entertaining than plodding through paperwork. She retired to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a mystery author. Her experiences with online dating sites fueled the concept for Dying for a Date, the first in her national bestselling Laurel McKay Humorous Mystery series. The nine-book series is primarily set in the California Gold Country, unless Cindy feels like traveling. Then the characters tag along with her on trips to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Las Vegas. 

Cindy is a five-time finalist for the LEFTY Award for Best Humorous Mystery, a two-time finalist for the SILVER FALCHION Award for best traditional mystery, and a two-time finalist for the Chanticleer MURDER & MAYHEM AWARD. 

Cindy is a past president of the Sacramento chapter of Sisters in Crime and has served on the boards of the Sacramento Opera and the YWCA. She has two wonderful adult children, a lovely daughter-in-law, and a grandson who live too far away. 

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