Death and Daisies

September 17, 2018
In Flower’s gentle sequel to Flowers and Foul Play, Tennessee-born florist Fiona Knox, who has recently moved to the tiny Scottish fishing village of Duncreigan, is set to open her new shop, the Climbing Rose, named after the 300-year-old rose growing in her cottage garden, a legacy bequeathed to her by her godfather, who has enjoined her to use the magic the garden contains to help others. The day before the shop’s official opening, Quaid MacCullen, the local parish rector, drops by to make it clear that Fiona and her hocus pocus are not welcome in town. The next day, MacCullen’s body is found on the beach. Bruising on his neck indicates that he has been murdered. Fortunately, handsome Aberdeen-based Chief Insp. Neil Craig, with whom Fiona is smitten, is on hand to deal with the official investigation, while Fiona assists by piecing together gossip and her own observations. Those with a taste for fantasy-tinged cozies will want to see more of the appealing Fiona. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency.

November 1, 2018

When Fiona Knox inherited her godfather's cottage and magic garden in Scotland in Flowers and Foul Play, she thought she'd be welcome in the village where the MacAllisters have lived for centuries. Instead, the village rector, Quaid MacCullen, bars her at the church door. He disapproves of the family and the garden. Then on the eve of the opening of her new Climbing Rose Flower Shop, he threatens her. Even so, the opening is a success until the volunteer village police chief announces he's found the minister's murdered body. Although Chief Inspector Neil Craig never treats her as a suspect, Fiona feels accused because she had recently been a suspect in another murder investigation. After losing her flower shop in the States, Fiona is determined not to see another business succumb to rumors and suspicion. VERDICT Introduce this series, with its charming characters and enchanting setting, to readers of other Scotland-set cozies, such as those by Paige Shelton and Molly MacRae. The magic realism aspect may appeal to fans of Ellery Adams and Sarah Addison Allen.{amp}mdash;Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2018
A young woman moves to Scotland to take up a strange inheritance.Besides inheriting the cottage of her godfather, Ian MacCallister, Fiona Knox has become the 12th keeper of the magic garden of Duncreigan that goes with it. Now that her flower shop back home in Nashville has been forced out of business, she's opened the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in the town near the cottage. For the most part, Fiona's kindly treated by all the locals except for the minister, Quaid MacCullen, who so strongly disapproves of the magic garden and cherishes such a long-standing grudge against the family who tends it that he's refused her entry to the church. Fortunately, Fiona has plenty of support from her new friends Presha and Raj, who own several businesses in town. And many of the parish members are angry with MacCullen for his treatment of her. So she feels she must take a hand in investigating when his body is washed up on shore. Fiona's worked with Chief Inspector Craig before (Flowers and Foul Play, 2018, etc.), and the tentative feelings they have for each other lead him to discount her as the killer. The other suspects include Seth MacGregor, the great-nephew of Fiona's gardener, Hamish, who's supposed to be in medical school in Aberdeen. Seth has a notorious gambling habit, and Fiona's seen him skulking around town. Her inquiries produce disapproving frowns from Craig and threatening letters from someone who doesn't like her snooping. Her sleuthing helps unmask a killer and reveal some big surprises about her own life.A surprising killer, oodles of local color, and a touch of mysticism all add up to a charming read.

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