Death and Daisies by Amanda Flower - Book # 2 in A Magic Garden Mystery series
About: "Florist Fiona Knox left behind her gloomy life for a magical garden in Scotland, but a murder on her shop’s opening day spells doom.
Fiona Knox thought she was pulling her life back together when she inherited her godfather’s cottage in Duncreigan, Scotland—complete with a magical walled garden. But the erstwhile Tennessee flower shop owner promptly found herself puddle boot-deep in danger when she found a dead body among the glimmering blossoms. One police investigation later (made a trifle less unpleasant by the presence of handsome Chief Inspector Neil Craig), and Fiona’s life is getting back on a steady, though bewitched, track. Her sister Isla has just moved in with her, and the grand opening of her new spellbound venture, the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in Aberdeenshire, is imminent.
But dark, ensorcelled clouds are gathering to douse Fiona’s newly sunny outlook. First, imperious parish minister Quaid MacCullen makes it undeniably clear that he would be happy to send Fiona back to Tennessee. Then, a horrific lightning storm, rife with terribly omen, threatens to tear apart the elderly cottage and sends Fi and Isla cowering under their beds. The storm passes, but then, Fi is called away from the Climbing Rose’s opening soiree when Kipling, the tiny village’s weak-kneed volunteer police chief, finds a dead body on the beach.
The body proves difficult to identify, but Kipling is certain it’s that of the parish minister. Which makes Fiona, MacCullen’s new nemesis, a suspect. And what’s worse, Isla has seemed bewitched as of late…did she do something unspeakable to protect her sister? The last thing Fiona wanted to do was play detective again. But now, the rosy future she’d envisioned is going to seed, and if she and Craig can’t clear her name, her idyllic life will wilt away in Death and Daisies, national bestselling author Amanda Flower’s second enchanting Magic Garden mystery."
Now before you say, "Oh no, I don't like things about magic. That's too silly for me...", I will tell you that magic isn't a constant in the book. The garden allegedly is "magic", in that it only blooms if the caretaker is living there (my deduction). There is a menhir (tall oblong ancient stone) that if touched by certain people, the person may have visions of the future. In this story, Fiona receives warnings and help in the murder investigation. Also, a fox that inhabits the garden may or may not be the reincarnation of Fiona's godfather, the last caretaker of the garden. But the fox doesn't talk or anything like that.
Death and Daisies is a wonderful cozy mystery. The setting is new and different for a mystery. Fiona has inherited Duncriegan garden and the responsibilities of a magic garden. New to the village of Aberdeenshire, Fiona is receiving threatening notes on and in her newly opened flower shop, The Climbing Rose. Parish minister Quaid MacCullen has publicly banned Fiona from the church and paid her a very unfriendly visit. What is behind is dislike for Fiona? When MacCullen turns up dead, many eyes are upon Fiona. She can't help herself but get involved in the investigation, which puts Fiona in more danger. Fiona visits her garden for guidance from the fox and the menhir. Chief Inspector Neil Craig is trying to keep Fiona out of the investigation and out of harms way. Fiona's sister Isla, visiting from Memphis is acting suspicious and moody, which isn't helping. The books is very well written, wonderful description of the village and garden. The characters are well developed and interesting, including the garden. There are relationships developing between the characters and some romantic interests brewing, making for great next books in this series.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more in the series to see what happens next to Fiona. I am hoping to learn more about the garden also. I do need to go back and read book one: Flowers and Foul Play.
About the author:
Amanda Flower, a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. In addition to being an author, Amanda is librarian in Northeast Ohio.
Amanda also writes Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, Magical Bookshop series and the Appleseed Creek series.
http://www.amandaflower.com/
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