Death and Daisies

Death and Daisies
Amanda Flower
Publication Date: 23 November 2018

Book Blurb:
National bestselling author Amanda Flower returns with her second floral Magic Garden mystery, perfect for readers of Paige Shelton and Sheila Connolly.

Florist Fiona Knox left behind her gloomy life for a magical garden in Scotland, but a murder on her shop’s opening day spells doom.

Fiona Knox thought she was pulling her life back together when she inherited her godfather’s cottage in Duncreigan, Scotland—complete with a magical walled garden. But the erstwhile Tennessee flower shop owner promptly found herself puddle boot-deep in danger when she found a dead body among the glimmering blossoms. One police investigation later (made a trifle less unpleasant by the presence of handsome Chief Inspector Neil Craig), and Fiona’s life is getting back on a steady, thoughbewitched, track. Her sister Isla has just moved in with her, and the grand opening of her new spellbound venture, the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in Aberdeenshire, is imminent.

But dark, ensorcelled clouds are gathering to douse Fiona’s newly sunny outlook. First, imperious parish minister Quaid MacCullen makes it undeniably clear that he would be happy to send Fiona back to Tennessee. Then, a horrific lightning storm, rife with terribly omen, threatens to tear apart the elderly cottage and sends Fi and Isla cowering under their beds. The storm passes, but then, Fi is called away from the Climbing Rose’s opening soiree when Kipling, the tiny village’s weak-kneed volunteer police chief, finds a dead body on the beach.

The body proves difficult to identify, but Kipling is certain it’s that of the parish minister. Which makes Fiona, MacCullen’s new nemesis, a suspect. And what’s worse, Isla has seemed bewitched as of late…did she do something unspeakable to protect her sister? The last thing Fiona wanted to do was play detective again. But now, the rosy future she’d envisioned is going to seed, and if she and Craig can’t clear her name, her idyllic life will wilt away in Death and Daisies, national bestselling author Amanda Flower’s second enchanting Magic Garden mystery.

I must confess: I was a little suspicious of this book once I realized it involved a flower store and was written by someone named 'Flower' - it just seemed too cutesy.

However, I enjoyed this novel.  It wasn't great literature (with a capital L), but it was a fun read.  The protagonist is Fiona, an American who's recently inherited a cottage and magic garden in Scotland. She's in the midst of the opening day of her new flower shop when the local minster shows up, telling her she's evil. Less than a day later, his body is found on the beach.  While the inspector never openly states she's a suspect, Fiona takes it upon herself that she is, and must clear her name.  

The plot wasn't too complicated (above the level of a Scooby-Doo mystery, but not much), and the characters tended to be a little stereotypical - either really nasty or almost too good to be true.  I would have liked to see more of the garden, since it seems like it's a central part of the series.  Fiona was also rather dense regarding Chief Inspector Craig.  But overall, it was an entertaining way to spend a few hours.

Four stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley and voluntarily chose to review.