2 1/2 StarsHave you ever read a book, figured out what was going on about halfway through and then really wanted the book to be done so you can see if you are right? Yeah, that's how this book was for me. I found this story to be so...so...well, unbelievable. I mean, most "cozy mysteries" are unbelievable to a certain degree, because WHO really keeps finding dead people and then solving their murders like the people in the "cozy mysteries" do? But, most of the time, there is some ring of truth in the stories..you can actually, maybe see that happening, so its not so glaring like it was in this one. And to be honest, I am sure that things like what happened in this story DO happen. But it just was so convoluted that it made it ludicrous to me. I am not sure how far I am going to go with this series. There were many things about this book that bothered me, not just the murder/murderer. It was almost like someone else was writing this book. Which bothered me. And this is the 3d book where I sort of enjoy the story, but am not overwhelmed by it and I SO knew what was going on AND why (because I agree with Kay that sometimes its OK to know who did it as long as you don't know the "why". If its a good OR great story, you don't mind knowing the "who"). I cannot even write a review about this book because anyone with a brain would figure it out just from what I write about the story (Yeah, its THAT obvious). What a disappointment., I do love the characters though. But that, right now, isn't enough to keep me reading!
Professor Peggy Lee is busy again. While trying to decide to leave her position at Queens College and devote all her time to her retail venture, The Potting Shed, her good friend Darmus Appleby dies in a gas explosion in his home. Two weeks later, Darmus's brother, Luther is found murdered in the Feed America garden. Thinking this is too much of a coincidence, Peggy starts to become suspicious. Her neighbor and new best friend, Steve warns her to stay safe. Her son Paul, a member of Charlotte's police department, where her husband John was a Detective before his untimely death, urges her to stay out of it. Peggy cannot! All this is complicated when her mother and father arrive with an elderly aunt and cousin to spend a few weeks with her. How will she cope? And, now, Nighflyer, her online chess partner and friendly informant is contacting her. For this investigation, he wants to meet! Should she meet a person she only knows from the internet at midnight in a city park? Her brain screams no, but also she is interested to know him and see what he has to tell her. This is the last in the Peggy Lee Garden Mystery trilogy and I liked it as much as the first two. As always, I am sorry to see it end. Joyce and Jim Lavene weave a good mystery with lots of information about flowers and leaves and how they can be beautiful but deadly. ps: I just discovered that this series was not a trilogy, I just had the first 3 books. They were given to me by my daughter-in-law. There are 3 more at least. Hooray.
What do You think about Poisoned Petals (2007)?
#3 in the Garden Mystery series. For me, horticulture and the Charlotte, NC setting add to the appeal of this series. Others may want to remove a star from the rating.A Garden Mystery - Peggy Lee is just about to deliver some endangered sunflowers to Darmus Appleby when a gas explosion blows out his door-and Peggy finds her fellow botanist dead on the kitchen floor. Two weeks later his brother dies, with an overpoweringly sweet purple hyacinth tucked in his pocket. Now Peggy must follow her nose-and some cryptic clues from an internet informant-to root out a killer before he strikes again.
—Ed
