Best-Laid Plants

“Best Laid Plants” earns 5+/5 Gardens of Flowers, Herbs, and…Fun!

Although Marty Wingate’s Potting Shed Mystery series has received well-deserved rave reviews, I am a newbie starting with book six, cleverly titled “Best Laid Plants,” and after only a few pages, I am now a big ‘fan.’ Marty Wingate has penned a well-written mystery with descriptions creating delightful mental pictures, intriguing dialog, and lots of possible conclusions that I couldn’t put down. Don’t overlook the way she begins each chapter with a poignant phrase from what was suspected and turned out to be the victim’s journals that were more a memoir than gardening diary of tips and plant descriptions. Right off Marty illustrates the wonderful relationship between ex-pat, Texas native Prunella “Pru” Parke and her husband former Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse revisiting in passing the fact that the two met over a murder investigation, calls attention to Pru’s limited cooking skills, and introduces the new gardening project that would be combined with a bit of a ‘getaway.’ Wrap all that into an informative myriad of gardening ideas and details of the local flora, descriptions of local homes and stately manors, setting in my favorite Cotswolds along a few hiccups like a woman from Christopher’s past, quirky villagers, and a dead body in the garden? Just the right recipe for the most engaging ‘cozy’ story for fans and newbies alike.

Really enjoy this series-setting, characters and the gardening setting.

When I began to read the first Potting Shed Mystery, I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy it. In this 6th in series, Pru is an old friend, especially as she and Christopher walk memory lane. It has been three years since they met. They are now newlyweds, having met at a crime scene and got to know each other at a fete, of which this year’s is ready to take place. They are in the Cotswalds for a short job Pru accepted. They will attend this year’s fete while visiting friends Pru met that first year she was in England.

Coral Summersun contacted Pru to review the plans and journals of Batsford Bede, current owner of Glebe House, per his request, and advise regarding restoration of the gardens at Glebe House. Coral refers to the owner as Uncle Batty; she grew up on the property because of her late mother’s friendship with Batsford. Constance had helped him put the gardens in during her years there. The gardens are in the Arts and Crafts style, which Pru was very excited about seeing and sounds fascinating.

Coral left when she was an adult, returning when her mother was dying. She left about a year later, not returning again until hearing of Batsford’s illness. She returns to take care of him and mend fences. Dr. Cherrystone, aka Cherry, comes to check on Batsford every day and he seemed to be improving. Pru began to look at the gardens and reading Batsford’s detailed journals.

Pru arrived one morning and Coral’s car was gone. She knocked on the door and out of concern for an ill man, heard terrible crashing noises, went indoors, found nobody in the house, and followed the din to the gardens. She found Mr. Bede under a huge, heavy statue. She called Christopher, who contacted the local police station. One thing Pru noted when verifying if the man had a pulse is that the statue did not land on Batsford. There was a small gap between the statue and Batsford. It looks like someone bashed over the statue to cover up a murder or make sure it was successful.

Each character is defined as petals unfurl from a rosebud. Pru is very well defined and as the mystery progresses, so is Coral. Dialog flows naturally, and even when Pru isn’t sure how to handle a situation, she does very well. I admire her tact when talking with someone she doesn’t really doesn’t want to, her comfort to Coral after breaking the news about Uncle Batty, and trying to stall for time to get away from the culprit(s) who tries hard to kill her.

There is humor even in unlikely events, and multiple, seemingly unrelated crimes. Each chapter begins with a quote from Mr. Bede’s journals. There are plot twists and turns that keep the mystery as fascinating as the unique gardens designed by Batsford and Constance. There was one tiny clue that showed me who the killer was but I wasn’t 100% clear of the motive until later; I had also guessed the location of a very important document. There are sufficient red herrings I was tempted to follow, but they didn’t stand up to the one in the back of my mind. I was surprised at the resolution of the other mysteries, was overall satisfied with the end, and enjoyed watching the newlyweds celebrating a special memory. I highly recommend Best Laid Plants as an extremely well-written cozy mystery, especially if one has an interest in England, preparing gardens, and a bit of English history.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.