A famous fiddler has been kilt. A magic garden’s left to wilt. Does Fiona Knox’s father hold the guilt? Will florist Fiona’s blood be spilt?World-famous fiddle player Barley McFee arrives in blustery Bellewick, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, for a grand homecoming concert organized by jeweler Bernice Brennan. Fiona Knox, owner of the Climbing Rose Flower Shop, is starting to regret volunteering to help … volunteering to help with the concert. Bernice is an exacting taskmaster, and Fiona has enough tension dealing with her parents, who have traveled from Tennessee to visit Fi and her younger sister, Isla, and to reveal a secret about Fi’s birth. But when Barley is found dead in his trailer during the concert’s intermission, and his death is shockingly tied to Fiona’s father, Fiona discovers there are more secrets surrounding her family than she realized.
Much to the chagrin of handsome Neil Craig, Chief Inspector of the County Aberdeen Police, Fiona delves into the case to clear her father’s name. To make matters worse, Fiona learns that Duncreigan, the magical garden that she inherited from her godfather, is dying. At some point during the concert, someone broke into the garden and cut the centuries-old climbing rose–the source of the garden’s magic–from the standing stone.
The stakes are higher than ever and Fiona could lose all that she’s grown unless she’s able to dispel this terrible curse and dig up the truth–fast.
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Barley McFee, the world famous fiddler, has come to town for a grand homecoming concert that has been put together by local jeweler Bernice Brennan. Fiona volunteered to aid in anyway she can but is now regretting jumping in to help. With her parents in town Fiona already has more than she can handle right now. They’ve flown all the way from Tennessee to spend time with her and her sister. Fiona soon learns of secrets that surround her birth that her parents have been keeping from her. When Barley is found dead during the concerts intermission she soon learns there are more secrets being kept than she could imagine. Even though she knows she should leave the investigation to the police she can’t help but try and figure things out herself. She knows some of her families secrets surround the man’s death and she can’t just let it all go. Follow Fiona as she tries to bring to light all the secrets that have been kept from her and find a murderer in the process.
Mums and Mayhem by Amanda Flower is the 3rd A Magic Garden Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not delved into Flowers and Foul Play or Death and Daisies. Fiona Knox is the Keeper of a magical garden at Duncreigan in Bellewick, Scotland. She also recently opened her flower shop, Climbing Rose. Fiona is a smart, friendly, and caring woman who has embraced her new life in Bellewick. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Chief Inspector Neil Craig when not at her shop or working in her garden. Of course, Fiona’s sister, Isla is still in town. She is the flighty sort who acts before she thinks. Isla has fallen in love with Seth MacGregor who has dropped out of medical school and has a gambling problem (every mother’s dream). I believe he changes jobs more often than his socks. Isla’s talkativeness gets Fiona into more than one jam. Mums and Mayhem is a delightful book to read. Great characters, a charming town, and a murder. Barley McFee, a famous fiddler, is performing his Coming Home Concert. This is a big event for their small town. When Barley fails to return from a break, Fiona volunteers to track him down. She soon regrets it when she finds Barley choked to death in his tour bus. I am sure that Fiona would have been digging into the mystery anyway, but when her father becomes a suspect, it is a given. I like that Fiona passes information onto Neil (no holding back). The whodunit was not a challenge to solve, but I still enjoyed following the investigation. There were several viable suspects, good clues, and a red herring. There is good action plus some suspenseful moments. Mums and Mayhem is a busy book. The concert, the parent’s arriving in town, a murder, and then trouble with Fiona’s magical garden. Someone breaks into her garden and cuts the yellow rose blooming on the menhir. This breaks the magical bond and causes the flora to wither and die. Fiona needs to restore the magic to the garden, or it could be gone forever. Hopefully, the little blue-eyed fox can help her out. I liked the humor throughout the book. I laughed out loud on several occasions. The story is well-written, and it has swift pacing. Mums and Mayhem was over way too quickly. I am eager for the next A Magic Garden Mystery. Mums and Mayhem is an enchanting tale with a fine fiddler, elderly enthusiasts, apprehensive parents, a forceful reporter, a friendly fox, a spontaneous sister, and a macabre murder.
Mums and Mayhem by Amanda Flower is the 3rd A Magic Garden Mystery. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order.
This is my favourite series by Amanda Flower, and once again I was pulled in and taken on a wonderful journey to Scotland and the magic of Duncreigan. This series also has a nice hint of the paranormal that runs throughout each story. I don’t think it is overpowering and I enjoy how the garden sends Fiona visions on what she needs to solve a mystery.
The mystery was well written and carries through the entire story. There were a couple of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming which added to the mystery. I was surprised at who the murderer was and why they did it.
This book had me hooked from the beginning and I finished in a couple nights. I hope there will be more books in this series because I am looking forward to seeing how things turn out for a few of the main characters.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of
this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I am a fan of author Amanda Flower and haven’t met a book or series that didn’t capture my attention. Mums and Mayhem is the third book in the Magic Garden Mystery series. The Scottish setting is a nice change of pace and one that serves well as the backdrop for the series. Fiona is coming into her own as the keeper of the garden but this time we find her challenged on many fronts. First, there is an emergency with the garden and as the caretaker Fiona feels she is failing. I loved watching her work through figuring out what needed to be done to save the garden. If that wasn’t enough, her parents are in town and she has to deal with the questions surrounding her parentage. On top of all that, there is another murder in the village. While this might seem like a lot going on in a book, this author crafts a well plotted, engaging story that draws the reader in and windes up all of the story lines nicely. I enjoyed watching Fiona and her sister Isla come into their own. The sibling relationship is portrayed well, even though they both have very different personalities. The villagers that make up the secondary cast of characters complete the story and always add something to narrative that helps Fiona resolve her problems.
The mystery was well done, and I liked that the victim ties into the past of Fiona’s parents and her Uncle Ian. There were several viable suspects with varying motives – including, however briefly, Fiona’s father. The mystery was resolved and the killer revealed in a climatic conclusion that left me a bit surprised by the identity of the killer.
This is a wonderful series that has a great setting, terrific characters and just a hint of the paranormal. I am hoping for many more books to come as we watch Fiona blossom into her role as the caretaker of the garden.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
I should be ashamed I had this on my NetGalley for so long but I was sad to learn this was the last of the series so I held off on reading it.
It was an enjoyable read. I was happy we got to learn more about Fiona’s parents and their past. The situation was handle in a realistic manner. I still was not a fan of her little sister but I do need to remember the age difference. Her little sister is a grown-up brat.
This series is perfect for fans of Scotland. The descriptions of the town are beautiful.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
This is a fun series with a main character that makes me laugh. The suspenseful storyline is good, and I enjoyed the flirty relationship between the main character and the detective.
Magical, mysterious, and intriguing! The village of Bellewicke in Scotland is preparing for a concert featuring famous fiddled, Barley McFee. On top of this, Fiona and Isla’s parents are visiting from the United States and Fiona’s garden at Duncreigan is broken into and vandalized, causing it to start dying. Fiona finds Barley murdered on his tour bus during the concert and his band mates and manager are all suspects. Unfortunately, Fiona’s father is also a suspect, adding to the tension that is already there from the secrets surrounding her parentage. This was an intriguing story with obvious suspects and not-so-obvious suspects, making it interesting to try to figure out the killer. I enjoyed seeing Fiona and her parents finally talk about her real parentage and come to peace. I hated to see the garden dying and was hopeful Fiona would be able to save it. I enjoy this bit of magic and Fiona and her friends in Scotland. I look forward to seeing what’s next for Fiona and Craig as well as Isla and Seth!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Secrets on top of secrets are revealed within the pages of Mums and Mayhem.
Fiona’s parents arrive from the States for a visit while she has her hands full with her flower shop, her magic garden, and helping with a concert to welcome back Barley McFee. Barley is a fiddle player known around the world but calls Bellewick, Aberdeenshire, Scotland home. Sadly his concert comes to an abrupt halt when he is found dead. Fiona’s world is rocked when she learns her father is the prime suspect in his death.
To add to her troubles someone broke into her beloved Duncreigan, the magic garden she inherited along with her cottage from her godfather while she was at the concert. She has been entrusted with the garden’s care and some thief has taken the source of the magic and everything is dying.
Will Fiona be able to save her father and her garden? or will the killer come after her next?
I really enjoy these escapes to Scotland and while under dire straights I was happy the garden took more of a leading role in this story than the last. The author’s descriptive writing style clearly paints pictures of the whole area but especially Duncreigan. The turmoil of the dying garden brought tears to my eyes. Something so beautiful and magical struck down was truly heartbreaking. I felt so bad for Fiona.
Speaking of Fiona, she is an incredible protagonist. She continues to find her way in Scotland and learning about the precious gift she has been given. In this book, she has many things thrown at her at once but in the end, she perseveres. The relationship with her sister continues to immerge. They are as different as night and day. Fiona is the responsible one, Isla is more by the seats of her pants. I love the way they banter. Having their parents in town brings a new twist especially because they have a history in this town. Also, Fiona’s relationship with Chief Inspector Neil Craig continues to evolve but with her dad in the hot seat, romance could be pretty difficult.
To bring together all the many facets of this story the author has to be steadfast with a clear plan. Her plotting twists all the plotlines together in a way that grabs the reader right away and holds them in her grasp until the final word. She provides plenty of suspects and plants clues precisely making it so much fun to follow each seed right along with Fiona. I was kept guessing until the very end when all the clues come together to bloom.
Well-crafted characters and an exciting mystery make Mums and Mayhem a compelling cozy. One I thoroughly enjoyed. Mums, mystery, mayhem, and magic make for a marvelous read. A Perfect Escape!
Barley McFee is a fiddler who’s famous worldwide and he’s returned home for a special concert. Fiona Knox volunteered to help put the concert together but is starting to regret her decision especially when she finds Barley’s body on his tour bus. As she’s pulled into the investigation, she soon has trouble closer to home when someone breaks into the magic garden and cuts the climbing Rose away from the stone. Is the magic gone for good, or can Fiona restore it?
This is a wonderful series and this book is no exception. While there were a few typos throughout the book, overall it was a fabulous read. It was well-written with wonderful characters. Full of action and intrigue, this book will grab you from the beginning and keep you engaged until the end. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
This the first series I’ve read of Amanda Flower. The Scottish setting was a wonderful change of pace from other series that I have read.
Fiona the keeper of the garden. She working hard figuring out what needed to be done to save the garden. Poor Fiona her parents are in town and questioning surrounding her parentage. As usually there’s a murder in the village!
While there is a lot going on in this book, as the reader I have enjoyed as the characters have been growing in this wonderful series and just a little hint of paranormal!
Mums and Mayhem is book three in the A Magic Garden Mystery series by Amanda Flower. It can be read as a stand alone as Flower does a great job bringing in the previous back story.
This time a famous fiddler, Barley McFee, and his band are back in town for a concert. The village is excited and full of concert goers. Also, Fiona’s parents are visiting and hoping to take her sister back to the states.
When Barley is found murdered on his tour bus, Fiona decides to stay out of this investigation but then, she finds out her father has a history with the fiddler. He goes on the list of suspects and Fiona goes into investigation mode. On top of everything on her plate, she is also dealing with her garden. Someone has broken in and has tried to destroy it.
As with all of Flower’s books, you get plenty of plot twists, great characters, both main and secondary, a wonderful setting, humor, family, and a touch of romance.
This is an easy to read Cozy you will not want to put down.
I was given an ARC by Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an honest review.
it’s good to be back in Bellewick, Scotland. I enjoy spending time with Fiona, a transplanted Yank from Nashville, Tennessee. She owns a lovely flower shop and is the caretaker of a magical garden. Over the course of her new residency she has become enmeshed is more than one murder investigation – much to the dismay of her boyfriend, Neil Craig who is Chief Inspector of the Aberdeen police.
Now, as a local merchant, Fiona is involved in putting on a homecoming concert featuring Barley McFee, world famous fiddler. Too bad his return rubs many the wrong way and tensions start to mount. Somebody has reached the breaking point and, when Fiona goes searching for him at the intermission, she finds him dead in his trailer. While that seems to be her only connection to the case, she soon finds that her parents, visiting from the US, are hiding secrets that start the police looking at her father as a possible suspect. Fiona’s life becomes even more complicated when her parents make it clear that they want Fiona and her sister, Isla, to return with them so they can run the family farm. As Fiona has put down roots and is the caretaker of the magical garden, she has no intention of returning with them. She finds that the garden has been vandalized and is dying – how will she manage to save it? And what secrets are her parents keeping from her? Unmasking the killer and finding answers to those secrets make for a very good mystery.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 stars
MUMS AND MAYHEM, the third entry in the Magic Garden Mystery series, is charming with its Scottish setting, endearing characters, and complex murder mystery.
Protagonist Fiona Knox finds her plate overflowing when her parents come to visit from Nashville, a superstar fiddler is murdered, and the garden she inherited from her godfather is vandalized and dying. The village is abuzz with excitement because now-famous local boy Barley McFee is putting on a homecoming concert. However, when Fiona finds Barley murdered during the concert’s intermission, it quickly becomes apparent that Barley is not so beloved after all; it seems there are plenty of people who would not mind if he kicked the bucket. Of course, Fiona is interested in finding the killer since she discovered the body, but investigating jumps into high gear when her own father becomes one of the police’s suspects.
I adore this series. The magic garden brings the smallest touch of the metaphysical, but I would not classify these books as paranormal cozies. The Scottish village setting is pretty unique in the cozy mystery world, and it is fresh and inviting. I love all of the village’s supporting characters, including some that are cranky in the best way possible. I like Fiona a lot though she is a bit of a worry wart. She is curious without being outright nosy and thoughtful with her actions and words. I enjoy how she works out a way to restore her garden. It is nice to get to know Fiona’s parents a bit, and I appreciate that they and Fiona have cleared the air about the circumstances of her birth. Craig makes a nice romantic interest for Fiona, and I like that the romance takes a backseat to the mystery. I do not, however, like Fiona’s sister Isla at all. She is immaturely impulsive, often bratty, and just plain annoying.
The mystery within these pages is well thought out and executed. There is much going on in the tale, but all of the threads come together in one way or another to make a cohesive, compelling read. There are plenty of clues sprinkled throughout the story, but I was still a bit surprised by the killer’s identity. The pace of the book is nice and steady with the suspense and danger ratcheting up to quite a climactic resolution.
MUMS AND MAYHEM is delightful, and I cannot wait to read the next adventure featuring Fiona and her family, friends, and neighbors. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley from Crooked Lane Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts and opinions here.
Mums And Mayhem is the third book in The Magic Garden Mystery series.
Fiona’s flower shop is doing great, as is the magical garden at her quaint cottage in Bellewick, Scotland. Fiona is busy getting ready for her parents coming to visit with her and her sister, Isla. She’s facing the visit with mixed emotions, as she wants to know more about her Uncle Ian, who she recently learned, was in fact, her father.
Before heading for the town to help to put the finishing touches on the site of the concert featuring the former resident Barley McFee, she stops by her magical garden. She is shocked to see that the garden seems to be slowly dying and finds evidence that the garden has also been broken into. She needs to finish setting out potted mums around the stage and will investigate the garden later.
The festival has drawn a good crowd and McFee is greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. McFee ends the first set and returns to his tour bus for a break. When McFee fails to show to start the second set, Fiona sets off to find him, when she enters the tour bus she finds his lifeless body.
She begins to investigate McFee’s death and soon learns that there seems to be no shortage of possible suspects. She will also learn that her father may have been the last person to see him alive. She knows her boyfriend, Chief Inspector Neil Craig won’t want her to be involved in the investigation, but she doesn’t want her father to be arrested for murder.
I love this series. The books are all well-written and plotted. The writing is descriptive so that the reader can feel they are there. The characters are well-developed and believable. Fiona’s sister Isla is the only character that I’m not fond of, she seems to be a little self-centered. But then, I find that usually have a character that rubs me the wrong way
I will be watching for the next book in this very interesting series.
From the renowned author Amanda Flower comes the third installment Mums and Mayhem in the “A Magic Garden Mystery” series published by Crooked Lane Books.
Fiona is a likable character who has a passion for flowers and floral design. She also has a magic garden that allows her to receive visions of things to come or events that have already happened. She worries about taking care of the garden, her inheritance from what she thought was her godfather. Image the surprise when she finds out that he was actually her biological father.
There is a torrent of twists and turns throughout this book, Fiona’s parent issues being only one of many more. The characters are colorful, with eccentricities that will both delight and worry readers. However, even with their many flaws, these are characters that readers can identify with and enjoy. The location is a beautifully exotic area of Scotland; you can hear the brogue dripping from the dialogue. I like the idea of the garden being hidden away and the blue-eyed fox being Fiona’s godfather. It gives that unique magical touch readers need. The garden itself feels like an additional character, and it takes on a life and story of its own.
The victim appears to have several enemies, mostly those close to him and old friends, even family. This dynamic makes the story compelling with just the right amount of mystery. The motives have a wide range and make for an enjoyable few hours of speculation and what if’s for the reader. Throwing in another mystery, who tried to destroy the garden, keeps readers engaged throughout the book. When the killer is revealed, it may be a surprise for many but will leave them satisfied with the results.
Mums and Mayhem is a pleasure to read; it is absorbing and thought-provoking. The characters, location, and garden all work to make this a highly provocative book and one I am happy to recommend to readers who love exotic locations, flowers, and lively characters.
Cozy Mystery in a Magical Garden in Scotland
This book has a lot of neat stuff going for it. There is a magical garden, a talented florist, a small Scottish village, and a cozy mystery to solve. There is a romance or two, and an international music star who is returning to his roots for a concert. The story is very good and quite absorbing. I have read many books by this author and am really enjoying this series. I would have never guessed the outcome when the big denouement arrived. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
I love this series. I like the setting, it sounds beautiful and the premise of a magical garden is enchanting. In this book Fiona is dealing with a major concert that is being held in the village and sponsored by the Merchants organization. On top of that her parents are coming to visit and they don’t know that her sister Isla is planning to stay in Scotland nor that either of them have significant others. To top it off, the star of the concert is murdered! Fiona tries to find the killer to exonerate her Father (lots of mysteries there) as well as her village.
These books are fun and such a nice escape. They are easy to read and very entertaining. The characters are fun and add to the charm of the village and the story. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and offer my honest opinion of this book.
Barley McFee a world-famous fiddle player has arrived in town for a homecoming concert. While Fiona is helping to prepare for the concert, her parents arrive in town to visit Fiona and her sister. Fiona’s parents seem to have more secrets for Fiona to get to the bottom of but before they can talk, Barley McFee is found dead. Fiona’s father is somehow connected to Barley. Can Fiona clear her father and find out what her parents have been hiding from her?
Mums and Mayhem is the 3rd book in the series and in my opinion the best one so far. In this book, we learn more about our protagonist and the real reason she inherited the garden. The characters are realistic and for the most likable. The mystery was well-written. The plot moves at a fast pace with several twists and turns along the way to the big reveal. I was surprised at who the murderer was and why they did it. I recommend this to cozy mystery lovers especially if you enjoy a touch of supernatural.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.
Mums and Mayhem by Amanda Flower is the third book in her Magic Garden series which is set in the small Aberdeenshire community of Bellewick.
This was an engaging mystery with a few twists and turns and a smoothly paced plot that kept me turning the pages. Ms. Flower introduced us to Fiona and Isla’s parents in this one and Fiona’s mysterious past was finally explained. I confess that Isla’s is a trial for me while reading. She’s “over the top” about everything in life and decidedly self-centered. Fiona is smart and dedicated but I was disappointed in her change of heart about the character that vandalized the garden. The reveal regarding the murder was sad but satisfying. I loved the epilogue regarding the garden party and the fox. Perfect!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Mums and Mayhem is the third book in the Magic Garden Mystery series. Duncreigan, the Magic Garden has began to die. Fiona Knox who has been left the garden by her godfather, discovers someone has invaded the garden and cut the yellow rose that clung around the stone in the garden. Neil Craig, Chief Inspector of the County Aberdeen and boyfriend to Fiona, comes to investigate and makes a cast of a footprint found. Can Fiona find the answers to bring the garden back?
Also in Bellwewick, Averdeenshire, Scotland a Homecoming Concert has been planned by Bernice Brennan, town jeweler. The concert will feature hometown boy, Barley McFee a world famous fiddler. Fiona, proprietor of the Climbing Rose Flower Shop, is assisting Bernice by decorating the stage area with mums. Fiona’s parents are coming from the United States to see their daughters. This adds to much concern by Fiona since her younger sister has not told her boyfriend aka almost fiance and that she will not be returning to the farm.
How will Fiona work through all these things and also get the many answers she is looking for? Will her parents be impressed by Fiona and her achievements? There are a lot things to come out.