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 calms. … Crime quiets. … But does it really?After getting involved in two murder cases in the short time she’s lived … cases in the short time she’s lived in picturesque Kelowna, divorcee and gardener Doreen Montgomery has developed a reputation almost as notorious as her Nan’s. The only way to stop people from speculating, is to live a life of unrelieved boredom until the media and the neighbors forget about her. And Doreen aims to do just that with a tour of Kelowna’s famed Carnation Gardens. Plants, more plants, and nothing whatsoever that anyone could object to.
But when she sees a fight between a beautiful young woman and her boyfriend, she can’t help but be concerned. Concerned enough that she follows the couple out of the parking lot and through town. And when gunshots interrupt the placid afternoon, it’s too late to worry about how her nemesis, Corporal Mack Moreau, will feel about her getting involved in yet another of his cases.
With bodies turning up in the carnations, and a connection to a cold case of a missing child from long ago, Doreen has her hands full, not least with trying to keep her involvement in the investigations a secret from her Nan, Mack Moreau, and especially the media. But someone’s keeping up with Doreen’s doings… and that someone can’t afford for her to find the answers to the questions she’s asking.
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Doreen is on a roll solving cold cases. Still trying to figure out how to cook 🙂 Mack is helping with that. This is a wonderful cozy mystery, the kind you want to curl up in your favorite chair with a cup of tea or coffee. I like when I am not sure who did it. I like Doreens out of the box thinking and she made a friend in Nathan. Everyone needs friends. Mack is starting to be a little more friendly him self. I do have to say though that sometimes Mack seems a little slow compared to Doreen and what about Nan, is she a hoot or what. Indulge your self with Lovely Lethal Gardens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Corpse in the Carnations by Dale Mayer
Lovely Lethal Gardens Series Book Three
Doreen Montgomery is at it again. She doesn’t mean to fall into mysteries…mostly dead bodies…but they keep seeming to find her.
Along with her basset hound, Mugs, her inherited Maine Coon cat, Goliath, and the ever chatty African Grey, Thaddeus; they find adventure and sometimes danger. Poor Mack, the police detective, has been pulled along into her adventures. Although, in the end he gets the credit for solving the case. Even some longtime cold cases.
And then there is Nan, Doreen’s grandmother who left her the house…and pets. She may be living in Rosemoor, the retirement village, but Nan is busy. Mostly playing bookie.
As always, another fun-loving, page-turning adventure.
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The third book in this series makes you feel even better than the first two. Doreen continues to build her relationship with Mack, while she solves another murder! She’s getting quite the reputation in her little town. In this mystery, Doreen meets the murder victim before she dies. She then proceeds to help solve the mystery.. We also find out that all the “junk” granny has accumulated is worth a ton and someone seems out to get Doreen. But the animals are ever vigilant, even if the parrot needs to watch his language !! Another sweet mystery and great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Doreen is a most curious soul at heart… With Mack’s willingness to help her find avenues to earn a living, while trying to keep her out of serious strife… Doreen finds herself researching the local council’s gardening competition for gardening idea’s and inspiration to further her plans as a professional garden landscaper… oh boy does she find more than she could ever imagine.
Doreen… our intrepid, wanna be? amateur sleuth is at it again in CORPSE IN THE CARNATIONS – Lovely Lethal Gardens – Bk 3. It all it takes is a harmless research trip for gardening inspiration, to find herself in all sorts of bother that will have bullets flying and more mystery to solve. Don’t forget that body you find amongst the carnations.
After a prolonged time of being subjected to her ex-husbands control… this lady is growing her wings, setting down roots, and learning to fly. She is a most curious soul at heart.
And you thought her darling menagerie of animals could behave themselves for just a moment? No… they are back finding more in this creek. The creek that’s holding a wealth of secrets.
Dale Mayer continues to weave her magic with this series and her wonderful cast of quirky characters. Readers are afforded heart breaking cases, solving a mystery or two amid but fun, quirky banter and hilarity at the same time. They are a wonderful, page-turning escape to brighten your day, Doreen style. I highly recommend this new series. If you love mysteries and humour this book delivers… I’m looking forward to what await’s Doreen.
After the first two books where bones were found buried in gardens, I started to wonder how so many bones could be found buried in the gardens of one town. This book changed it up a bit. Mack starts out thinking about having Doreen help with a cold case, but before they can focus on the cold case, Doreen discovers the body of a murdered women whose body was dumped in a bed of carnations. Like in the other books in the series the recent murder and cold case tie together. This is another hit I enjoyed reading.
This series gets better with each book!
I love Doreen’s personality and how she has become attached to her menagerie although she had Mugs when she inherited the other two. I think they are as adept at finding clues as she is, maybe moreso.
I often feel sorry for Doreen but then I remember she has Mack and I think he will always be there to take care of her.
This series is an absolute awesome mystery from the first book and each one gets better. I find these books a little different because there is an obvious attraction between Doreen and Mack but it’s only noticeable in the bickering they do and I think it’s sweet.
I realized yesterday there are 6 books in this series and I’m excited to read the next three. I already added to my TBR list so you may want to do the same.
I love the style of writing in this book. The characters are awesome and love that animals are part of the book! If you like a good mystery this book is for you! If you like a good laugh this book is for you! Dale caught my attention from the beginning and kept it all the way till the end! Loved it!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this entertaining and fun mystery that I couldn’t put down from beginning to end. I feel like I know Doreen Montgomery and her amusing and lovable critter family. Her chemistry with RCMP Corporal Mack Moreau is undeniable and I’m hoping their friendship might blossom into romance. The Lovely Lethal Gardens series gets better with each book and I can hardly wait to read book four. I received an advance reader copy from Booksprout and this is my voluntary review.
I think this is my favourite so far in this series, I laughed out loud several times at the bird’s antics. Doreen is finding antiques that will bring her a lot of money. Nan is gambling on everything in Doreen’s life. Doreen and the animals are solving a cold case and a current murder. Her ex is closer to getting what’s coming to him. Mack is more and more intrigued with her, there’s not really chemistry yet but I enjoy their banter. This series is cruising along and I’m enjoying every minute.
These books just get better and better! Mack has been visiting more and more, whether to try to keep Doreen in line or just because is still in question.
Doreen has been getting by with the money she’s found stashed in pockets and pinned in the clothing her Nan left behind when she moved to assisted living. She really wants a job, and she really wants to clear some addition space in the home. So much furniture is cluttering the space, some antiques, so she needs to get someone to appraise the items.
Mack does have an idea for her to make money though and that is to bid on the flower bed around the town sign. The Town Council is taking bids as they prepare to replace the current sign.
Of course this wouldn’t be a murder mystery without a body so, yes she does manage to find one of those in a display of carnations by the Family Planning Center that was currently closed.
However, I found her other little investigation just as interesting and heartrending. That starts when Thaddeus finds a license plate buried by the creek.
Antiques, murder, a cold case, a break-in or two, her animals, her Nan, Mack and his team all will have you turning the pages.
I really think Mack is interested, we get a little clue in this one and he does give Doreen a kiss on the forehead.
Laughing, crying and holding my breath seem to be things I do while reading this series.
I wish it was April, because that’s when the next book in this series is scheduled to be released.
Even when she’s not looking for trouble…
Trouble seems to follow Doreen, even when it appears that things have calmed down, though reporters still watch her, waiting for her to find another body part and then treat her as if she’s somehow responsible for the murder. Mack has nixed Doreen’s desire to perhaps get a job helping him in case-solving since they made such a good team in working through the bones mysteries.
Fortunately, the Kelowna City Council is running a competition among locals to create a beautiful flower garden at the entrance to the city. Sounds innocent enough, yes? She is thinking carnations. Due diligence requires that Doreen visit florists to assess the feasibility in cost and color selection. In her travels, she comes across a man and woman having what seems a disagreement and then driving off separately but in the same direction. Her curiosity demands that she follow along to assure herself that the man in the truck is not following the woman to do her harm. When she sees them enter a building together, she realizes that her imagination must be in hyperdrive. She then proceeds to the city entrance to view the place where the flower garden will be.
Can you guess what she finds there and whose it is?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow I just love this series . This is a fantastic story . Doreen and her fabulous family of critters continue to solve coldcases and drag Corporal Mack along . This story is full of colorful characters, action , intrigue and a sensational story line . I look forward to the takes continuing . I highly recommend taking the time to read . You will get pulled right in and you will want to continue the journey .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This one definitely my fav so far from this Lovely Lethal Gardens series.
More mystery and it feels more emotional somehow.
By now I can’t not rooting for Doreen’s happiness, the more I know her the more I became a big fan, I getting used to her antics, her quirkiness is what makes her Doreen.
I Love to see the sparks between Doreen and Mack that getting deeper and deeper (I loveeee those flirting moments) and those furry pets, they’re a big part of the story, Doreen’s antics mix with freakish cat, dog and parrot solving cold case, the outcome is a very captivating story.
Amazing characters and page turner mystery, oh yes I love this book.
If you’re a cozy mystery fan, I think you’ll love this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’m not a huge reader of cozy mysteries so I guess maybe it’s taken me a little while to warm up to this series but it just seems to keep getting better and better. There were so many laugh out loud moments in this story – especially with the antics of the animals. We’re definitely getting to know more and more of the citizens of Kelowna along with watching the progression of the relationship between Doreen and Mack. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
This third book in a new series involves discovery of body in a bed of carnations and a old case as well. So Doreen hears a couple arguing and this leads to her following them, hearing gunshots and quickly leaving the area to call her friend RCMP Mack Moreau to report her findings. He does not find anything but quickly after this Doreen is checking out a carnation garden in her search for a job and finds the body of the woman she heard arguing. The town isn’t sure what to make of Doreen who seems to find bodies on a weekly basis. All in all, this is the charming adventure of a newly almost divorced woman finding her way with her animal friends helping at every turn. Her grandmother is at a retirement place not far away and adds to the interesting mix as she books bets on almost everything. These stories are witty, funny, mysterious and definitely entertaining. I hear this is to be a series of six books but could we could hope for more as there are a lot of letters left in the alphabet.
This is the third book in this series and just as delightful as the two previous books. This time Doreen finds an actual body instead of just bones. With help of her pets (a dog, a cat and a bird) Doreen follows clues to help Mack find the killer.
The characters in these stories are very likeable and the animals are hilarious. Doreen’s grandmother is fun and the relationship between Doreen and Mack is developing into a simmering attraction. Can;t wait to see where this goes!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow again and wow. I thought the first two books were good but they just keep getting better and better. Between finding a dead body in the title of the book, someone warning her off the house, opening a cold case and needing money Doreen has another busy life to deal with. I love the pets so much as they always seem to have a sixth sense. Her Nan as usual was in tip top form and I can really see things going far between her and Mack. Will she be able to solve the two cases? Or will Mack stop her? A fantastic read and can’t wait for the next one.
The series just keeps getting better and I cannot wait for Daggers in the Dahlia’s. I have to see what is happening with the antiques and now people are sending Doreen request to find missing loved ones. She had no idea she would get a reputation for finding bodies and bones. Closing cold cases was the furthest thing from her mind when she went to live in her Nan’s house. Her Nan’;s house is so full of stuff, and to find out quite old and valuable but its not her cup of tea. Now what to do with all the stuff. Then of course there is Mack.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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 (the third 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).
Doreen has somehow gotten involved in two murder cases in the time she’s lived in Kelowna, BC. During a tour of the “famed” Kelowna carnation gardens she witnesses a fight between a young woman and her boyfriend, she can’t help but be concerned. Doreen follows them and believes she’s overheard a murder… More mayhem and adventure ensues for Doreen, Mac, and Doreen’s pets. The bird is a crack up and Grandma Nan is a hoot.
This is an entertaining and somewhat silly story. The ending was quasi expected, but entertaining all the same. I’m amazed at the quality and quantity of works that Ms. Dale puts out!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Doreen and Mack are my new favorite characters. She gets into trouble everytime she turns around, and he is the detective that she gets in the way of….and usually solves his cases. Looking forward to reading more about them and see where the next mystery takes them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.