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. … Everything is under control, … until it isn’t. And Doreen’s in the middle of it!The four boxes of files Doreen … boxes of files Doreen inherited from journalist Bridgeman Solomon have already helped her solve one crime, and Doreen hopes they’ll continue to assist her as she sticks her nose into future cases. But, when she stumbles over a pair of pink satin handcuffs in her standoffish neighbor Richard de Genaro’s heather patch, it’s hard to believe that those reporter’s files could have anything useful to offer regarding that.
Doreen takes a look though, and soon she’s headed down a merry trail of prostitution, embezzlement, and, of course, murder. But the minute the files suggest a connection to Doreen’s specialty, a cold case, her beau and partner in crime, Corporal Mack Moreau, starts breathing down her neck.
With her trusty animals leading the way, Doreen sets out to find the connection between the reputable banker who died in an unsolved hit-and-run and the prostitute who owned the pink satin handcuffs. As Doreen puts it all together, even she is surprised at the outcome of her latest investigation.
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This series is utterly delightful, it might me a murder mystery / cold case but it isn’t to deep, some lovely light hearted moments with Doreen and her animals as well as the banter with Mack make this not only a bit different but a really enjoyable read. I love sitting down and just getting lost in the mayhem and mischief that they get caught up in, I do feel a bit sorry for the police because quite honestly she is making them all look stupid with her solve rate of all these old cases that have just been sitting in the station gathering dust. I love how her mind works, it can be a little quirky or scatterbrain but in the end the logic wins out every time. The animals make me smile as I picture them all going for a walk or an outing in the car, even invading various flower beds to find the clues that set them all onto the next case. Nan is also such a great character, loving and supportive of her granddaughter but also quite wiley with her betting schemes and the sheltered housing. With another case investigated I cant wait for the next one. It is refreshing to get something unique and such a great mix of humour, suspense and even some action.
Gardener and sometime sleuth Doreen Montgomery (plus her cat, dog, and parrot) are resting after the closure of her previous case and having looked at the 4 boxes of files she inherited from journalist Bridgeman Solomon have begun thinking how they might help her in the future with even more cold cases. So, when she stumbles over a pair of pink satin handcuffs in her standoffish neighbour Richard de Genaro’s heather patch, she wonders if those reporter’s files could have anything useful to offer regarding that. She starts to look into it and is headed down a merry trail of prostitution, embezzlement, and, of course, murder. But the minute the files suggest a connection to Doreen’s speciality, a cold case, her beau and partner in crime, Corporal Mack Moreau, starts breathing down her neck. However, she is not in the habit of listening to Mack about that after all, it has always worked out fine before. With her trusty animals leading the way, Doreen sets out to find the connection between the reputable banker who died in an unsolved hit-and-run and the prostitute who owned the pink satin handcuffs. As Doreen puts it all together, even she is surprised at the outcome of her latest investigation.
This is a delightful addition to the series which step by step follows Doreen through her investigation into the murky world of prostitution and which also delves into the areas of love and betrayal. Well written and easy to both read and understand it will keep you hooked as you get drawn into the story. This can be read even if you have not read the series before and contains no sexual content,
Book 8 in this fun mystery suspense series from Dale Mayer. I love Doreen, her nan, the animals and Mack. After finishing one case it looks like Doreen’s skills are need again when a Goliath find a pair of handcuffs in next doors Heather. She is hot on the trail as she interviews witnesses, people who knew the victim etc. Mack is under pressure yet again as he is trying to close the other cases she helped solve. I can’t get enough of this series. Next up is the letter I. I want to know when will she get her divorce and golly i hope there will be some court scenes written down.
I love this series, and I loved this book!
Doreen is working on another cold case, and pink satin handcuffs play a part in it. Doreen shows so much empathy, you can’t help but love her.
Doreen and her little furry and feathered companions make me smile. Corporal Mack is the perfect friend to have. Helping Doreen learn to cook, and slowly but surely he seems to be letting her do more investigating without telling her to stay out of it. Nan is fairly docile in this book hahahaha.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book
Doreen is back, trying to take a rest she decides to work on her garden and askes her neighbor for a bit of his plants which is the start of another cold case. Mack is busy trying to close these cases but keeps getting dragged into more. First a ring, than a handbag has questions being asked. From the homeless mate to the very movers and shakers of the town no stone is left unturned. With the introduction of 6 more bodies Mack seems to be getting busier and busier. Doreen is planning a new deck in her yard but will get ever get the time to complete it?
A nice pace story keeps you turning the pages.
Go Doreen go……
I really enjoyed reading Handcuffs In The Heather . This is book eight in The Lovely Lethal Garden series . Doreen and her
unique family of pets are at it again . Finding evidence in cold cases and helping Corporal Mack Moreau and his fellow officers solve them . This story is just as intriguing and entertaining as the others in the series . The growing relationship between Doreen and Mack is a delightful addition to the cozy mystery . I cannot forget Doreens Nan , she is always amusing . I love reading this series . I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An Old Life for a New Life
Doreen has been able to find several missing persons since her arrival in Kelowna. This one, however, is unlike any of the others. So much is going on here. Her cranky neighbor, Richard, has agreed to let Doreen do some yardwork for him in exchange for the large quantity of dirt she had “borrowed” during the Guns in the Gardenias case. Her intent was to show appreciation when she asked whether she could look to see the reason why one of his hydrangea bushes looked a little small. Imagine her and Richard’s surprise when her eye caught sight of something in the nearby blooming heather. You guessed it, handcuffs! BUT, these were not ordinary handcuffs…more the recreational type, pink satin similar to the ones sex workers use, but covered with the filth that can only come from years in the dirt. A prostitute in Richard’s yard? Are the handcuffs the key to unlocking another one or two old open cases? The title of this review is another key. Armed with the box of files she inherited from Nan’s old journalist friend, Doreen has a plethora of resources to support her extracurricular volunteer work.
And now, so do you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have been reading the Lovely Lethal Gardens from the very first book. The series is an old fashioned who done it series for all ages. Handcuffs in the Heather is a standalone book but is even better when read within the series. This is a book about solving a cold case involving a prostitute with issues, the vulnerability of people on the streets, and the nibbles that keep appearing to solve the cold case. Doreen and her legion of investigators/protectors (Mugs the bass hound, Goliath the Maine coon cat, and Thaddeus the parrot) are a force to be recognized. This is a fun and warm book, rich in detail, and one that will keep you guessing until the end. I found myself thinking . . . what about? wait, what about ? could it be ? Wow!. Another wonderful page turner in The Lovely Lethal Gardens.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Doreen is just getting over last case and trying to straighten out her garden when she happens to finds a new cold case in the neighbor’s yard. She’s really settled into life in Kelowna and of course Nan, the gang of animals and Mack are always there to help her. I enjoy the growing friendship between her and Mack, but hope eventually it will become more. Nan and the rag tag group of furry animals are always a delight. You can tell the police guys love her even though she is causing them more work. It’s a great read. I volunteered to read this book via Booksprout.