Review - Death and Daisies

Amanda Flower is the bestselling author of the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries, Living History Museum Mysteries, India Hayes Mysteries, Magical Bookshop Mysteries, and the new Magic Garden Mysteries.  I reviewed the first in this new series, Flowers and Foul Play (click here).  I finally got around to the second book in the series and here is my review.

Author: Amanda Flower

Copyright: Nov 2018 (Crooked Lane Books) 308 pgs

Series: 2nd in Magic Garden  Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery with magical touches

Main Characters: Fiona Knox, recently relocated to Scotland

Setting: Modern day, Duncreigan Scotland

Obtained Through: Library

From the cover:  "Fiona Knox thought she was pulling her life back together when she inherited her godfather’s cottage in Duncreigan, Scotland—complete with a magical walled garden. But the erstwhile Tennessee flower shop owner promptly found herself puddle boot-deep in danger when she found a dead body among the glimmering blossoms. One police investigation later (made a trifle less unpleasant by the presence of handsome Chief Inspector Neil Craig), and Fiona’s life is getting back on a steady, though bewitched, track. Her sister Isla has just moved in with her, and the grand opening of her new spellbound venture, the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in Aberdeenshire, is imminent. 

But dark, ensorcelled clouds are gathering to douse Fiona’s newly sunny outlook. First, imperious parish minister Quaid MacCullen makes it undeniably clear that he would be happy to send Fiona back to Tennessee. Then, a horrific lightning storm, rife with terribly omen, threatens to tear apart the elderly cottage and sends Fi and Isla cowering under their beds. The storm passes, but then, Fi is called away from the Climbing Rose’s opening soiree when Kipling, the tiny village’s weak-kneed volunteer police chief, finds a dead body on the beach. 

The body proves difficult to identify, but Kipling is certain it’s that of the parish minister. Which makes Fiona, MacCullen’s new nemesis, a suspect. And what’s worse, Isla has seemed bewitched as of late…did she do something unspeakable to protect her sister? The last thing Fiona wanted to do was play detective again. But now, the rosy future she’d envisioned is going to seed, and if she and Craig can’t clear her name, her idyllic life will wilt away."

Fiona Knox is in the midst of opening her new flower shop when a murder takes place.  Not only does she need to ferret out the real killer who is among them, she discovers more about her relationship between her family and her godfather who left her the magic garden.  Isla, Fiona's sister, has suddenly moved in after her graduation and is a spoiled and pampered character.  Things don't go smoothly between the sisters either. Hamish, the rustic, unassuming, and down-to-earth caretaker of the property is a character I simply love.  Chief Inspector Neil Craig is the cop romantic interest.  And then there are the great animal characters including a mischievous blue-eyed fox that Fiona believes (somehow, someway) is her godfather Ian, a cat who adopted Fiona named Ivanhoe, and Hamish's companion red squirrel, Duncan, that are additional magical touches.

Duncreigan and the nearby town, Aberdeenshire, are charming and picturesque, adding atmospheric and delightful Scottish touches.  The ruins of an old stone church ruins that are to be preserved also lend some creepy additions to scenes.  Nicely done overall.  

The plot is all around who would kill the sanctimonious minister, because it was a minister after all.  The pacing had plenty to keep the story moving swiftly along.  The killer reveal was wonderfully suspenseful and couldn't have been better.  The wrap up answered final questions and was satisfying on all counts.  

Although it is traditionally published, there were a number of typos and out-of-place words.  Which goes to show it isn't just self-published works. That didn't effect the story for me any.  The magical touches are just enough to make the story delightful. This was a delightful second book in the series that is fast becoming one of my favorite cozies.  I can't wait for the next book

Rating: Excellent - Loved it, a fun read that had a good grip on me! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list