A new cozy mystery series from USA Today best-selling author Dale Mayer. Follow gardener and amateur sleuth Doreen Montgomery—and her amusing and mostly lovable cat, dog, and parrot—as they catch murderers and solve crimes in lovely Kelowna, British Columbia.Riches to rags. … Chaos continues. … Murders abound. … Honestly? Doreen Montgomery’s new life in Kelowna was supposed to be a fresh start … was supposed to be a fresh start after a nasty split from her husband of fourteen years, plus a chance to get her bearings and her life back on track. Instead her first week in her new hometown was spent digging up dead bodies, chasing clues, and getting in Corporal Mack Moreau’s way.
But now that the old cold case has been solved, and the murderer brought to justice, Doreen believes things might go her way this week. When Mack hires her to whip his mother’s garden into shape, it seems like a second chance, both for Doreen’s new beginning in Kelowna and for her budding relationship with Mack.
But, instead of digging up Mrs. Moreau’s struggling begonias and planting them in a better location, Doreen discovers another set of bones … and another mystery to solve. As the clues pile up, Mack makes it abundantly clear that he doesn’t want or need her help, but Doreen can’t resist the lure of another whodunit. As she and Mack butt heads and chase red herrings, Doreen’s grandmother, Nan, sets odds and places bets on who solves the crime first.
All while a murderer is watching …
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This was a delightful second book in the series. Along with the further development of the relationship between Doreen and Mack, we also have more antics by the three animals – in fact, at points in the story they stole the show. Love how Doreen is coming more into her own the longer she is away from her ex-husband and having to deal with every day issues as they come up. I’m looking forward to seeing what awaits Doreen in the future books.
I was kindly provided this book as an ARC; in exchange for my honest review. If you’re a loyal reader of this authors books; I feel I must warn you that this book (a second in her new series) is VERY different from anything else she’s written before. It’s not a bad thing; there is zero romance/heat, minimal curse words (I’d allow my young teen/pre-teen) to read this book.
Some may find it to be a little “young,” but as with most of Ms. Dale’s work, it is well written and a fast, easy read.
Doreen Montgomery moves to Kelowna (BC) to live in her Grandma Nan’s home after a nasty split from her husband of 14 years.
Her her first week in her new home she “discovered “ a few dead bodies (with the assistance of her new family; her Basset Hound Mugs, her Grandmas pets a cat named Goliath and a vocal African Grey Parrot named Thaddeus).
She meets RCMP Detective Mack Moreau and seems to always be in his way while playing amateur detective.
In this book, Mack hires her to repair his mother’s garden, and they find bones in the begonias. Another morbid, but silly mystery ensnares Doreen and Mac to a somewhat expected conclusion.
This is an entertaining and somewhat silly story. The next book in the series will be Corpse in the Carnations.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I normally don’t read mystery, but like Dale Mayer so I thought I would check it out. I was addicted with the first book and this one was just as good. I literally laughed out loud at the things that happen with Doreen. You never know what will happen with her and her family of pets….poor Mack.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved Bones in the Begonias, its full of laughter and mystery. Everything that Dale Mayer writes is simply amazing.
This series is so much fun to read!
A cozy by Dale Mayer..what..really.. omg yes really and it is a page turner of laughs and mystery.
Doreen is still the talk of the town, and along with her band of merry pets she’s looking into yet another cold case.
Poor Mack is trying hard to be the Corporal in charge, but Doreen does seem to find out information faster than the RCMP Corporal.
Nan is still up to mischief at the retirement home, and manages to help out Doreen even from a short distance. The love is clear in this book, and you will catch yourself smiling more often than not.
A great read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is another wonderful book in this cozy mystery series. Doreen continues with her struggle to start over and rediscover who she is after her marriage fails. Who knew?! She was such a magnet for mysteries that won’t stay buried. The story is engaging, fun, cute, and suspenseful. I love the slow simmering attraction and chemistry between Doreen and Mack, the long suffering detective she aides along the way. If you’ve read book one you should remember her hilarious pets (which are back) and if not wait until you discover these scene-stealers! I also was very happy to see Nan, Doreen’s Gram make a return because she adds so much to the book. Simply excellent! I’m already looking forward to book three.
I enjoyed this 2nd book in the series as much as the first. The animals and their antics have just made me smile thru this entire book. I am also enjoying the “is there going to be a relationship or not” with Doreen and Mack. The ending of the book teases you about book three, which you are definitely going to want to read also.
This is a 6 books series. Books 1 and 2 are self contained (no cliff hangers) but I would suggest starting with Arsenic in the Azaleas. These books are written in a classical style — hints, so many twists and turns, and just the beginnings of romance (friendship building). Doreen, fairly new to a small town, is getting quite a reputation for herself. She helped the police solve a cold case (with several bodies) and has stumbled upon yet another, more or less. Doreen is ably assisted by her 3 pets (a parrot, a basset hound, and a Maine Coon cat). She is also a lady who is finding out who she is and discovering her strengths as she embraces her soon-to-be divorce status.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.