Today’s Reader Friday book is a cozy mystery by Amanda Flower. It’s my first Amanda Flower book but it won’t be my last! I loved this book. Amanda did a great job with the mystery and the character. Here’s the back cover copy.
Fiona Knox lost her fiancé and her flower shop—but when she flies to Scotland to inherit her godfather’s cottage and possibly magical walled garden, she may lose her life as well when she’s swept into a murder investigation.
Florist Fiona Knox’s life isn’t smelling so sweet these days. Her fiancé left her for their cake decorator. Then, her flower shop wilted after a chain florist opened next door. So when her godfather, Ian MacCallister, leaves her a cottage in Scotland, Fiona jumps on the next plane to Edinburgh. Ian, after all, is the one who taught her to love flowers. But when Ian’s elderly caretaker Hamish MacGregor shows her to the cottage upon her arrival, she finds the once resplendent grounds of Duncreigan in a dreadful shambles—with a dead body in the garden.
Minutes into her arrival, Fiona is already being questioned by the handsome Chief Inspector Neil Craig and getting her passport seized. But it’s Craig’s fixation on Uncle Ian’s loyal caretaker, Hamish, as a prime suspect, that really makes her worried. As Fiona strolls the town, she quickly realizes there are a whole bouquet of suspects much more likely to have killed Alastair Croft, the dead lawyer who seems to have had more enemies than friends.
Now it’s up to Fiona to clear Hamish’s name before it’s too late in Flowers and Foul Play, USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s spellbinding first Magic Garden mystery.
My take:
This was an intriguing story and the setting – Scotland was so well described. It has all the things that make a cozy a cozy–small town setting, quirky characters, and an inquisitive heroine. The day Fiona arrives at her godfather’s ancestral home, she finds the body of her godfather’s lawyer in the garden.
The interaction between Chief Inspector Neil Crag and Fiona makes me wonder if there will be a romance in the next book in the series. If not, Fiona needs her head examined, because Neil is totally swoon-worthy!
There are plenty of suspects from the gardener who has a pet squirrel to almost everyone in town who didn’t want the land deal the lawyer was brokering to go through. Flower had me guessing all the way. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Flowers and Foul Play is on sale for $1.99 at Amazon.
Leave a comment about whether you like cozy mysteries and I’ll enter you in this month’s drawing for a book from my library…unless you’d like this one for your Kindle. (I may be a little late answering comments tomorrow as I’ll be at the MidSouth Christian Writers Conference!)
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none” inject=”#giveaway”]Fiona Knox lost her fiancé and her flower shop. Will she lose her life when she flies to Scotland to claim her inheritance?[/tweet_box]
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Comments 42
I actually have not read any cozy mysteries. I should try it one day.
Author
Yes, Mindy, and I think you’ll love them!!
Cozy mysteries are near the top of my favorite genre list
Author
Yay, Joni! I hope to have one written by the middle of the summer. 🙂
I love all kinds of mysteries.
Author
Me, too, Janet! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m not sure if I’ve read any cozy mysteries. This may be a new genre for me, but it sounds intriguing!
Author
Linda, I think you’d really enjoy one! Thanks for stopping by.
I just read Amanda for the first time. Cute cozy.
Author
Isn’t she good, Amy! Thanks for stopping by.
I won that book a little while ago. It really sounds cute. Looking forward to reading it. I love cozies. Try Ann Gabhart or E.E. Kennedy (EEK) or Julianna Deering( DeAnna Julie Dodson) . All Christian authors. Annie’s Attic Mysteries is a favorite with me, too!
Author
I think you’ll really enjoy this story, Paula. And I love Ann Gabhart and E.E. Keenedy’s writing.
I enjoy them on occasion but don’t want a steady diet of them. I like to mix it up.
Author
I’m glad you read them at least on occasion, Edward. “Cause I’m going to write one. 🙂
I haven’t read any cozy mysteries, but this one certainly has me interested!
Author
I’m glad I’ve interested you in one, Betti. Thanks for stopping by.
I haven’t read any cozy mysteries–Scotland sounds fascinating!
Author
MS Barb, Amanda is so good at putting you there. And she’s having a writing retreat in Ireland this summer! Thanks for stopping by.
I agree with Edward. I occasionally read them as long as the author doesn’t try too hard to be cute. I am concerned about the “magical” garden. Is there a lot of new age or paranormal stuff?
Author
No new age and not really any paranormal stuff, Christine. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
love cozy mysteries!!
Author
Yay, Shelia! Thanks for stopping by.
I love cozy mysteries. I have read several of Amanada’s Books and really enjoyed them, Thanks so much for the opportunity to win this book!
Author
Aren’t they good, Faith! I really enjoy cozies.
I read a lot of cozy mysteries and have, in fact, read this one. The Amish Candy Shop Mysteries is another one that she writes that is good. She also writes another Amish mystery series as Isabella Alan. I like most everything that she writes. I do enjoy other mysteries as well as other genres.
Author
I have to get the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries, Gloria. And the other books in her series. Thanks for stopping by.
I love reading cozy mysteries! I like that they have relatable characters and an interesting plot.
Author
Me, too, Dianne! I’ve really enjoyed researching these cozy mysteries. Thanks for stopping by.
I have never heard of Amanda but this book sounds interesting. I love cozy mysteries!
Author
It’s very interesting, Jessica! I hope you get a chance to read it. Thanks for stopping by.
I don’t know that I have read anything that would be considered a ‘cozy mystery’, but I’m sure I would if the plot looked good enough!
Author
Colleen, cozy mysteries are all about solving the crime and quirky characters and a small town environment–not necessarily an actual small town. 🙂 Thanks for stopping in.
I enjoy cozy Mysteries. Something different.
Author
Me, too, Lucy! Thanks for adding your comment.
I haven’t read a lot of cozy mysteries but I want to read this one and the author has been highly recommended to me by her agent (and mine). Plus I love Scotland, have great friends there, and have visited four times–hoping to go again–BUT I DON’T want to find a body in their lovely garden.
Author
It’s a lovely story, Delores, murder and all. lol Thanks for stopping by.
I’m late commenting because I was with YOU! 🙂 I like cozies – I read more suspense, but since I cut my reading teeth on Agatha Christie, I love the occasional cozy! Can’t wait to read yours!
Author
I really enjoyed what little time we had together, Regina! And I can’t wait for you to read mine, too. lol
Hello Pat, I’m not a big fan of cozy mysteries. Happy Weekend!
Author
I hope you have a happy weekend, too, Caryl!
I’ve not read a lot of cozy mysteries, but I do like them 🙂 The small town settings, quirky characters, precarious pets and the classic who-dun-it mystery! It all rolls into one great read.
My good reader friend loves anything Amanda Flowers puts out and has highly recommended her. I may have to check out this writer sooner rather than later! Thanks for bringing this one to our attention Patricia.
Author
I think you’ll really like Amanda’s books, Trixi! I wish I could go to her retreat this year–It’s in Ireland…