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 continues to grow on me. This is another hilarious installment of Doreen and her crazy menagerie. I think Thaddeus steals the show every time. What danger can Doreen get into this time after finding some saucy pink handcuffs. She unravels evidence piece by piece while Mack investigates. I actually think she’s the better cop of these two. She and Mack’s friendship grows closer as he helps organise her yard and cooking lessons.
A brilliantly written tale of mystery and fun.
This fun and entertaining series continues to get better as Doreen and her pets catch murders and solve crimes in Kelowna, British Columbia when she stumbles over a pair of pink satin handcuffs in her neighbors heather patch. This fast-paced well-written mystery had me glued to the book through twists and turns and ups and downs through prostitution, embezzlement and murder. Ms. Mayer has given us another winner and I look forward to book nine in her must-read Lovely Lethal Gardens series. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Handcuffs in the Heather by Dale Mayer
Lethal Gardens Series Book Eight
Doreen is getting more well-known by the day in this town she’s lived in for such a short time. Known as the bone lady…after finding bones and bodies. Which she prefers over the crazy animal lady…as she goes everywhere with Mugs, her basset hound—Goliath, the Maine coon cat that came along with her Nan’s house—and Thaddeus, the African Grey, also her Nan’s previous pet.
Add Nan, who runs the local betting ring in the retirement home she now lives in. Mack, her detective friend that she keeps busy…along with all the local law-enforcement…as she accidentally continues to fall into cold cases…and manages to solve them. Never a dull moment in this wonderful cozy mystery series.
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Handcuffs in the Heather is part of the Lovely Lethal Garden Series. Once again we find Doreen in the middle of a cold case investigation. Usually I don’t like reading the amateur sleuth genre, but what makes this book different are the characters. Doreen is an ex-trophy wife, who has never lived alone, can’t cook, work or take care of the house. Then there’s the animals that Doreen inherited the cat Goliath, the dog Mugs, and the parrot Thaddeus who seems to know the appropriate comments for the occasion. Then there is Mack, the police officer friend that helps her out. There is definitely chemistry between Mack and Doreen and Mack spends a lot of time at her house. I am waiting for them to move things to the next level. Once Doreen feels that she knows who the suspect is she goes and confronts them. When the suspect goes on the attack, her menagerie holds off the suspect until Mack is able to come to the rescue. If your looking for a steamy romance this isn’t the book for you, but if your looking for a story with characters you will love, this book is for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Hopefully with Macks brother on the case, Doreen will get back what’s due to her. Mack and Doreen are moving closer and closer. Though I’m not sure Doreen knows it or not? And the animals save the day again. I’m loving these stories immensely!
Doreen really doesn’t try to make more work for Mack but she just seems to attract attention and evidence like a magpie and what magpie would love some shiny cuffs! I know Mack seems to get irked at the cases Doreen comes across as they do tend to get dangerous but she is doing so much good with solving them. . There were some good twists in Manny’s mystery, a now extremely upset neighbor, along with some laughs, cooking lessons, a difficult time working out who the bad guy is and answers that bring sadness but comfort.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This series of Dale Mayer’s involving the “bone lady” or more affectionately Doreen never fails to delight. Watching Doreen stumble onto these cold cases and look for closure along with her family of pets is highly enjoyable. Finding pink satin handcuffs in the front yard of an unlikely owner is the start of this tale. Although, besides her menagerie, our sleuth has a promising friendship deepening with RCMP Mack, hmmm. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Doreen and the gang are at it again. I love Doreen and all of her friends. Poor Corporal Mack has to be so long-suffering but I like how the relationship is developing at the right pace and not a rushed thing. At this point Doreen is solving more than the police, but she does it with such a fun way. The Pets and Nan make such great sidekicks!! Can not wait for the next one, maybe Corporal Mack will move in permanently.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Doreen strikes again and solves another mystery! Really love this series and this entry sees Mack and Doreen solving a case with “pink satin handcuffs”. The animals as always play their part. Lot’s of hints to the mystery and great characters along the way. This mystery involves Doreen’s cranky neighbor, Richard, and what Doreen finds in his yard! This leads to another mystery, more cooking lessons for Doreen and fun with the animals. As always Doreen solves the mystery and saves the day!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I totally adore Doreen and her fur babies, I love Doreen’s journey to find herself, now she’s not as clueless as before, and I also love when Mack teasing her, they’re just so cute together. And then there’s the cold case, although I found it a bit rushed and the portion of the mystery is not as much as I wanted, it’s still very entertaining and I really enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery read, this is for you.
The cozy books only get better. Not only are the mysteries all cold cases, but they are also very different. Mack is always after Doreen to stay out of police business and naturally, she falls right into each and every one by accident. Each one is generally about a social issue that plagues all countries and does need addressing. Dale does it masterfully and with empathy.
This one I got to see my last name as a district and a street. It was cool. Not that I think it was intentional but I loved it. Thanks, Ms. Dale. If you want an easy read with some drama and murder mixed in, you cannot go wrong with one of Dale’s Cozy Mystery Books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is another book in the series that is awesome! If you like a mystery with some laughter and three crazy animals you will love this book! The main characters interact so well and their constant banter keeps you laughing! Loved this book and look forward to the next in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is another wonderful entry in this simply super series. Once again suspense, danger, mystery and secrets are drawn to amateur sleuth (and pro trouble magnate!), Doreen. The story is very engaging, well written and captures and holds your interest easily. This cozy mystery makes sure things don’t get too intense or dark by adding liberal splashes of humor, a heavy dollop of zaniness and some sweetness from a slowly developing romance. Along with Doreen, all of the old friends make their return as well. So you can expect plenty of laughs from Nan (who’s a real character!), Mugs, Goliath and Thaddeus (Doreen’s devoted, furry and feathered assistants) and of course, the long-suffering Corporal Mack Moreau. So enjoyable!
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
This is the 8th book in the Lovely Lethal Gardens series and Doreen and her trio of fun loving animals are on another amateur sleuthing case when she finds handcuffs in her neighbors garden.
This story is well-written and the storyline is well thought out, I love the interaction between Doreen and Mack. They are definitely getting closer and closer. Nan is always a hoot, what a wonderful grandmother. I honestly can’t wait for the next story
A lovely outing. Even though there is murder, prostitution, this is truly an enjoyable cozy mystery which also brings some light on the homeless. To me when a cozy mystery still has tidbits of real issues in the world it is due some kudos. Doreen is still looking for closure on the last case, after all they found bodies when she stumbles onto this one. She also makes some real headway on her own garden and plans are starting to become a reality. Mac (the police detective ) tosses out an innuendo here and there that made me laugh and Doreen blush. We see Nan (her grandma) and of course her pets, Goliath (cat) Mugs (the dog) and Thadeus (the bird) as they are part of Doreen’s life. I smiled when Doreen thought how nice it was waking up to her pets instead of her ex. Speaking of the ex Macs brother (who we still havent met) sent some info Doreen’s way. I couldn’t get passed her saying Handcuffs in the Hydrangeas and then that’s what she finds in the Heather. Except for that I loved this book, I enjoy watching her grow, learning to cook (thanks to Mac) and her compassion for people. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions, all unsolicited and recommend this as a put up your feet, grab your drink of choice and see if you figure out the culprit.
I really love this series, it seems no matter how hard she tries Doreen ends up in the middle of something police related.
As we watch the wrap-up of the previous book, Doreen stumbles across a pair of pink satin-covered handcuffs in her neighbor’s Heather plants. Now Mack and Doreen had a good chuckle over that, at least until the next day.
A grumpy Mack shows up early in the morning and proceeds to make coffee while she finishes getting ready for the day. He also cooks up breakfast for her when he discovers she only had some cheese and crackers before bed.
That’s not all that’s found in her neighbor’s garden either and you know of course Doreen will be neck deep in this.
Mack isn’t happy about that but we also see their relationship growing in this one. I swear he’s planning on moving in the way he helps her plan changes to her backyard.
I love her Nan and the way there’s a betting pool on almost everything. Let me not forget Thaddeus, Goliath and Mugs, these guys are the absolute best! Always with her and always protective of her.
Plenty of fun, laughter, suspense and so much more!
I really can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Doreen and her gang are back hoping to relax and get the gardens cleaned up perhaps build a deck but no such luck. Doreen borrowed some top soil from her grumpy neighbor and thinned out his heather in return. She finds Pink satin handcuffs tangled in the roots and this one item starts her on her way to solve another cold case mystery.
This is a fun series with characters who are unbelievable but so enjoyable. As soon as I finish each of these stories I can’t wait until the next one is published!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Doreen is at it again wrapped up in another cold case when she discovers pink satin handcuffs in her stuffy neighbor’s garden. She, with her 3 mischievous pets, start on another adventure. She now has the files to help which were left to her by a journalist friend of her grandmother Nan. Nan lives in a retirement home which is also full of information as the residents have memories of the area. This plus Corporal Mack Moreau her friend who not only is helping Doreen learn to cook but also does some helping in the mystery when he is able. He also is busy trying to slow down her treading into dangerous territory reminding her often that she is not a detective.
Doreen wound up going to Kelowna, British Columbia after a bitter divorce from a rich man who wound up managing to take everything in a devious way. Doreen, now without any money, went to her grandmother’s home to recover and help out.
This is a delightful cozy mystery series. Perfect to relax and enjoy Doreen’s precious pets, her investigations into cold cases, her relationship with Mack, her interest in gardens and finding her way in a new life.
Love this series…. The more books that I read in this series, the more that I enjoy them. Doreen’s discovery of pink satin handcuffs in her neighbor Richard’s garden sets Doreen on another cold case. Meanwhile, Mack is helping her with case information, more cooking lessons and planning a larger deck for her yard. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I love this series. I admire Doreen’s energy in her gardening and her curiosity in looking at cold cases. I also enjoy watch Doreen’s and Mack’s relationship slowly grow. This is such an intriguing series.
The next anticipated book in the ongoing cozy mystery series. I always look forward to the next book to see what new cold case Doreen finds herself in the middle of and the crazy stuff that her animals get into. As I’m reading the animals antics, I find myself chuckling out loud and being able to actually picture it in my mind