This is the third in the series featuring retired botany professor turned reluctant sleuth Lawrence Kingston, but my first encounter. There are a few references to prior events, but little to spoil prior books or make the reader feel out of step.Anthony Eglin is a fine writer, who produces an acceptable plot that is more of a methodical amateur detective story instead of the typical cozy murder mystery. Kingston is easy to like, and the author does a good job of immersing us into his daily life. A life that is disrupted when an old friend and colleague goes missing without a trace!The overall impression I had with this novel is that it was Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew adventure for adults. The structure and general progression of the plot is very similar to those series...threatening notes, concussions and kidnappings. That is NOT an insult (I loved those books as a kid and still do), because the end result is a light, enjoyable read. There are a few head-shakers in the plot (the degrees of reaction Kingston received in the helicopter and then at the compound don't fit), but not enough to ruin the experience.Eglin gets extra credit for performing a rare act: gently educating on two subjects (desalinization and English gardens) and making it a) interesting and b) integral to the plot.I will certainly revisit Lawrence Kingston.
I am really enjoying this series. The main character, a retired botany professor is a character. He can go on and on about things and not care or seem to pick-up on the fact that people are getting glassy eyed with boredom or just the fact that they are overloaded with information. Yet, have someone try to bend his ear and he gets impatient. I guess it's just okay for him to talk - he apparently loves to hear himself - but don't do the same thing to him.Despite the lack of self awareness or denial in the character, I find the stories well crafted and interesting. It is not heavy on information regarding plants and flora, so don't be worried about that. He does overstep bounds by continuing his own personal investigation into the disappearance of an old friend and misrepresenting himself as helping the police in the investigation. While these things can irritate me in a cozy mystery, these books are well crafted and interesting enough for me to overlook these faults. Have gone on to next in the series. Hope the fun continues.
This "cozy" British garden mystery was a nice summer read. I liked the ex-professor turned gardening expert and sleuth, but his very intense investigation of a friend's disappearance really strains credulity. Let's just say I'd certainly like to have one such loyal friend as he---as he chased around Britain for sin search of someone he hadn't seen in years.That said, as light mysteries go, Anthony Elgin has the rudiments of a promising series. A charming sleuth who is definitely "smarter than the average bear"; the promise of learning something (anything will do) about gardens and gardening; and a pleasant, literate diversion. This is not a book that will leave the reader pondering the meaning of life, but on a 95 degree day it was sufficient reason to stay inside.
—Nancy
This has been a moderately interesting series and I've learned a lot about English gardens in particular and horticulture in general. The plot for this offering of the series held my attention, but I had trouble with amateur investigator, Dr. Kingston's thought processes in this book. For a man of his obvious intelligence, I found him to be very gullible and naive (I'd put him in the class of a highly intelligent person who has very little common sense this time around.)So far, of the 3 I've read, I liked the 2nd in the series best. I'll see how the next two compare
—Deborah
Less botanical than I had hoped. The garden-y part was mostly about famous gardens in England. If I had the time, they would be fun to research and look a pictures but I doubt that will happen.On the other hand, I liked the main character.In some ways this reminded me of the Agatha Raisin books, pretty simple story and the "detective" mostly bumbles along and just happens to solve the mystery. The setting and character was appealing in this one. I've read lots of AR, just finished one in fact, and find that I've lost my taste for them. They are just so pat. This series might be fun for awhile.Note: "Pat" is sometimes just what I want, something easy and relaxing.
—Laura
