BLOOM AND DOOM is Book 1 in Beverly Allen's Bridal Bouquet Shop cozy mystery series. Audrey Bloom is the co-owner of a flower shop and amateur sleuth. I like the close family relationships in this story with Audrey's cousin Liv, Liv's sweet-natured husband Eric, and the many friends of their beloved departed Grandma Mae. Audrey is a sympathetic and reluctant sleuth. The only reason she gets involved is because the prime suspect for the murder is a former friend, and the murder weapon has ties to her flower shop. Both things make it understandable for Audrey to want to get involved.
The language of flowers tidbits thrown in BLOOM AND DOOM are interesting and add a nice element to the story's background. The story follows a logical progression and kept my interest from start to finish. The number of suspects were varied and kept me guessing. There are many puzzles to solve in addition to the murder mystery itself - Audrey's friend Jenny who is suspected of the murder acts very odd at times and hard to figure out; suspicious activity surrounding a supposedly vacant property; and an elusive red-haired woman thrown into the mix. All of these things give Audrey a feeling of unease about a small town that she thought she knew so well. I enjoyed trying to figure out how everything fit together. There is a little element of danger toward the end of the story, but no more than any other cozy mystery.
I love the potential for romance between Audrey and the cute bakery owner Nick. Nick ended up helping Audrey in her investigating and the chemistry between them is great and they make a good detective team. I hope the relationship between them evolves in future books.
BLOOM AND DOOM has all the ingredients that make up a charming cozy mystery -- likable characters, good mystery, and a little fun and romance thrown in. I look forward to reading more books in this cozy mystery series!
As the co-owner of The Rose in Bloom, Audrey Bloom
creates
magnificent flower arrangements for brides to be. Though
helping to plan a wedding can be stressful, itβs nothing
compared to the groom turning up dead.
A designer of eye-catching bridal bouquetsβmany of them
based on the Victorian meanings behind each flowerβAudrey
Bloom is used to celebrations that end with happily ever
after. In fact, every couple sheβs worked with is still
together, living in wedded bliss. But her perfect record
is
about to be broken.
Her childhood friend Jenny Whitney has reeled in the most
eligible bachelor in Ramble, Virginia, and sheβs hired
Audrey to design the bouquet. But before Jenny can walk
down
the aisle clutching her blend of anemone, scabious, and
pussy willow (a floral disaster in Audreyβs mind), the
groom
is found deadβsprinkled with bits of a bouquet. This is
bad
for businessβnot to mention for Jenny, who has become the
prime suspect. So Audrey decides to do a little digging
herself, hoping she wonβt be the next Ramble resident
pushing up daisies
No excerpt available.
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