This is the first book in a brand new series released on May 18 by Ohio-based author, Amanda Flower. I just love her Magical Bookshop series and was happy to find that this book has a lot of those same types of elements, even two pets that are at times at odds. Her caretaker has a pet squirrel that has a cute little personalty, sometimes a little stinker too since he likes to tease the cat, Ivanhoe.
I’m excited to read the next one in the series and was happy when I got approved by NetGalley to do that. I’m so tempted to start it soon but I do have a few I need to read first. Stay tuned!
My Goodreads review:
Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book! It has the elements that I enjoyed so much in the Magical Bookshop series but it was set in beautiful Scotland near the sea.
Fiona Knox’s uncle and godfather Ian MacCallister had left her his cottage and grounds. After a disastrous folding of her flower shop in Nashville, TN and losing her fiance to their cake decorator, Fiona had nothing left to lose. She packed herself up and went to Scotland only to find her uncle’s dead lawyer in the garden and the handsome chief inspector looking at the elderly caretaker as a person of interest. Fiona had to learn about the garden as well since a letter outlining everything from Ian was somehow lost in the mail or was living at her parents’ house. Trying to get police attention away from Hamish, take care of the magic garden which thrived beautifully now that she was there and questioning possible suspects took most of her first few days in Scotland.
I had suspected the person behind it but definitely didn’t know the motive behind it. The showdown was pretty exciting and the ending was very satisfying and sweet. I loved the last couple of sentences and had leaky eyes even though I had suspected that all along. I won’t spoil it, you’ll just have to read it and see! My favorite characters were Fiona of course, Hamish and Neil Craig, the chief inspector. Hamish had a few secrets but I also knew down deep he was a good man.
I’m hoping something definitely develops between Neil and Fiona. He really seemed to care about her as he gave her the usual warnings about investigating. I think he honestly was worried about her more than worried that she’d mess up his case. The character of the police chief was kind of a comic relief, at least to me. He was a volunteer and seemed so ridiculous I had to giggle at him once when he stormed into the pub saying if he’d been in charge of this murder, it would have been solved. I kind of pictured Constable George’s character on the Murdoch Mysteries, only with a little more bravery to his voice lol.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley. I’m anxious to read the next book and am happy to have been approved by the publisher to read and review it as well.
Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery 