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!

Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry

Happy Book Release Day!  Dead as a Door Knocker by Diane Kelly, Hot Fudge Murder by Cynthia Baxter, The Gun Also Rises by Sherry Harris, Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves, Ellie's Redemption by Molly Jebber, What Doesn't Killer Her by Christina Dodd, Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry plus Murder, She Meowed by Liz Mugavero are a few of the new books that were published today.

Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry takes us on a jaunt to Goosebush, Massachusetts.  Lilly R. Jayne is a widow who lives in Windward, the family home.  Lilly has been reclusive since her deceased husband took ill and then passed away.  Lilly made a promise to her husband, Alan to host a garden party every year on their anniversary and she is holding the inaugural garden party today with the assistance of Delia Greenway.  Unfortunately, her first ex-husband, Pete Frank crashes the party with his insufferable third wife, Merilee.  No one is surprised when Merilee overindulges in the alcoholic refreshments and then shoves Tamara O’Connor into the koi pond.  Security ushers Merilee off the property much to everyone’s relief.  On clean up day for Alden Park, Delia opens the shed to find Merilee dead on bags of mulch with hedge clippers protruding from her chest.  When Pete Frank finds himself at the top of Chief Haywood’s list of suspects.  Lilly, with the aid of her friends who are dubbed the Garden Squad, dig into the case in the hopes of identifying the killer.  When not discussing the case, the group is trying to outwit the town clerk with her penchant for permits to spruce up select areas of the town.  Can Lilly Jayne and the Garden Squad root out the killer?

 

Pruning the Dead is the debut novel in A Garden Squad Mystery series.  I appreciated that the author took the time to establish the main character and her sidekicks who compose the Garden Squad. I like the town and most of the residents (there are always a few bad eggs).  Lilly comes across as a do-gooder (I am surprised there is not a golden halo shining over her head).  Goosebush is a small town that needs a little TLC.  Lilly has not been paying attention the last four years as she dealt with her husband’s illness and then grieving for her lost mate.  Now, she is aware that things have not been kept up around town and she has plans to rectify it.  Unfortunately, Pat French, the town clerk, has numerous rules in place to prevent the simplest task (like pulling weeds and installing plants around the flagpole).  Pruning the Dead is nicely written with steady pacing which makes for an easy to read book.  The mystery was very straightforward.  It is easy to distinguish who would die and who did the deed before the crime had been committed.  The why was equally obvious (insert disappointed sigh here).  There was repetition of case details as the Lilly and the Garden Squad got together to discuss the case.  Also, that Lilly creates order out of chaos was frequently mentioned along with Delia’s researching skills.  The friends like to get together to socialize, eat good food, and discuss gardening.  The gardening details are not lacking in Pruning the Dead.  There are gardening tips at the end of the book.  The story could have used more action (less gardening, talking and eating).  The pace slowed down when I was a quarter of the way through and did not pick back up until the end.  There is a hint that romance may blossom between Lilly and her new neighbor, Roderick Lyden as Lilly rejoins the living and becomes immersed in town matters.  I am giving Pruning the Dead 3 out of 5 stars.  Pruning the Dead is a good start to A Garden Squad Mystery series.  I will be reading Tilling the Truth (August 27) when it releases later this summer. 

Thank you for stopping by today.  I will share my thoughts on Ellie's Redemption by Molly Jebber next time.  By the way, it is National Puzzle Day.  The perfect day to stay inside and work on a jigsaw puzzle.  I hope you have a lovely day.  Take care, stay warm and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader