Still Life and Death by Tracy Gardner

 Still Life and Death

Book Summary

A murder at the flower shop.
An uncle suspected by the cops.
Savanna and her sisters are on the case.

Savanna Shepherd, a former art authenticator turned grade school art teacher, is delighted when her Uncle Max and Uncle Freddie move to Carson. Uncle Max takes a job at Libby’s Blooms, where Savanna teaches a still life painting class for adults. But one morning, Uncle Max finds a dead body in the rooftop greenhouse…and even worse, it looks like an inside job.

Savanna and her sisters—Skylar, a lawyer, and Sydney, the owner of a pet shop and grooming salon—dig in to find the real murderer. With their connections to the community and Savanna’s keen eye for details, they uncover long standing resentments and horticultural clues. Meanwhile, Savanna’s dating local doctor Aidan Gallager, but she worries it’ll cause a scandal, since his daughter is in her class. As Savanna’s investigation leads her into thorny situations, the killer may be arranging another murder: her own.

My Thoughts

Still Life and Death by Tracy Gardner is the 3^rd book in The Shepherd Sisters Mysteries.  It can be read as a standalone, but I believe it is better to read the books in order.  It will allow you to get to know the characters and their backstories.  When Uncle Max finds Libby dead on the roof of Libby’s Blooms, the Shepherd sisters rally around him.  No one can believe that someone shot Libby.  Sydney, the youngest sister, was close to Libby and is particularly distraught over her murder.  Savanna with her keen eye for detail, searches for clues to help aid the investigation.  The author has created friendly, relatable characters and a charming town.  The Shepherd sisters are close, and they care about their family.  I like the town of Carson, Michigan with its friendly residents.  There are great shops too.  Savanna is dating Dr. Aidan Gallager and she is worried about what other people will say especially at the school.  Sydney is dating Aidan’s brother, Finn.  She cares about him, but his job takes him around the country.  Libby’s murder has the Shepherd sisters digging up clues.  The mystery was not the focus of the book.  I did not feel the author took the time to develop it as much as the other aspects of the book.  There are a couple of suspects along with a red herring.  All the details of why are provided at the end.  Still Life and Death has a heartwarming ending that will leave readers smiling.  Still Life and Death is a charming tale with precious pups, close sisters, a friendly family, a senseless slaughter, beautiful blooms, and a rewarding relationship.

Still Life and Death is available from Amazon*.  The first two novels in A Shepherd Sisters Mystery series are Out of the Picture and Behind the Frame.  You can follow Tracy Gardner on Amazon so you can receive updates on her latest releases.  I appreciate you joining me today.  I hope you are staying cool.  August is proving to be hot and humid.  Tomorrow I am featuring Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson.  It is the first book in Prince Edward Island Shores series.  May you have a joyful day. Recently, I told you about the planter I was going to assemble and I discovered that it was missing the legs.  The manufacturer responded back and sent me a new planter.  I am going to put it together this afternoon.  It is great that the seller went above and beyond to rectify the problem.  See you tomorrow.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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