Tilling the Truth by Julia Henry

Happy Sunday!  Three Widows and A Corpse by Debra Sennefelder (I am featuring on October 31 as part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour), Nogged Off by Barbara Ross and Shot Through the Hearth by Kate Carlisle come out on October 29.  Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen releases November 5.  Is there a new release you are looking forward to reading?

Tilling the Truth by Julia Henry is the second A Garden Squad Mystery.  Lilly Jayne lives in Goosebush, Massachusetts where she keeps herself busy with beautification projects plus as executor of Harmon Dane’s estate.  Tamara O’Connor, a local realtor, is up in arms because her open houses keep getting sabotaged (dozens of mice and black goo backing up drains).  On the town recycling day, Lilly finds Tamara standing over Gladys Preston with a bloody faucet in her hand.  It is evident that Tamara has been set up.  Lilly Jayne and the Garden Squad set out to root out the real culprit.   Tilling the Truth can be read alone for those who did not read Pruning the Dead.  However, I recommend reading the series in order, so you are familiar with the characters.  It helps to know the players when it comes to solving the mystery.  We are introduced to Goosebush, Massachusetts as well as a host of its residents.  Gardening is a passion for several of the townspeople including Lilly Jayne.  Lilly Jayne and a group of her friends called the Garden Squad work under cover of darkness to fix up neglected areas of the town.  This same group also helps Lilly Jayne to solve Gladys murder.  Gladys was not well liked which gives us multiple suspects.  There is plenty of gossip to discern and a few clues as well.  You will need to weed through the suspects to find the killer.  To me the killer was a red rose stuck in the middle of a bouquet of white roses (easy to spot).  There are cozy moments as the group drinks tea or wine, has a nosh, and chats.  Gardening is a hot topic and there are gardening tips at the end of the book.  Tilling the Truth is a character driven cozy mystery and this author has provided a lively set of characters.  Tilling the Truth is a charming cozy mystery with floral fanatics, avaricious heirs, stinky smells, runaway roses, and a sly saboteur.

Tilling the Truth can be purchased here on Amazon (Amazon UK).  Pruning the Dead is the first novel in A Garden Squad Mystery series.  As you can see, I still have my migraine (shortened review).  Tomorrow I am featuring Christmas at Foyles Bookshop by Elaine Roberts.  The third tale in The Foyles Girls series. My neighbor has been decorating their front yard for Halloween.  It has my browsing the Halloween Shop on Amazon.  I am just amazed at the variety of decorations available.  I hope that you have a relaxing day. I am going back to my dark bedroom to rest and hope that my migraine soon goes away (nothing is touching it).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Perfect Gnome for my Garden!