In GARDEN OF DEATH, Chrystle Fiedler's third Natural
Remedies mystery, main character and small business
owner Willow McQuade is under fire from disgruntled local
business people who are sure she somehow cheated to win a
coveted plot of land. Willow is turning the land into an
educational apothecary garden in honor of her late aunt,
but when dead bodies (and pirate treasure?) start turning
up she finds herself embroiled in mystery again, this
time to defend her boyfriend who is suspect number one in
the eyes of the police.
Although not a standalone, GARDEN OF DEATH is well able
to be enjoyed without reading the prior books in the
series. The plot is well-constructed and kept me guessing
with the mysteries just complex enough to engage my mind
while still remaining a relaxing read. There were a few
moments of intensity well-spaced throughout the more
mundane action and a wonderfully strong dose of
excitement at the end. Like most cozy mysteries, the
characters who people the pages surrounding the main
heroes are part and parcel of the setting, adding texture
and a touch of complexity to the whole. Chrystle Fiedler
has the skill to drop just enough hints throughout to
make the identification of the villain uncertain yet
leave readers with an 'Aha!' when all is revealed.
My favorite part though? Surprisingly, I am particularly
fond of the bits of herbal knowledge heading each
chapter. Not only do you have an entertaining mystery to
add to your shelves, the well written concise
descriptions of herbs both common and uncommon can really
spark a new interest in herbalism for those who might
start out only peripherally intrigued.
Chrystle Fiedler backs the herbal information used in her
mysteries with solid knowledge, not surprising
considering she is a respected author and co-author of
many nutritional and naturopathic guides, particularly
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Natural Remedies as well as
numerous articles in several publications.
When a local doctor is found dead in Willow McQuade’s medicinal
garden, she must find the killer to clear her boyfriend’s
name in this
third clever book in the Natural Remedies Mystery series.
Dr. Willow McQuade, owner of Nature’s Way Market & Café, has
put the
finishing touches on a new medicinal plant garden for
Greenport’s
annual Maritime Festival and is ready for the festivities to
begin.
But it’s not all flowers and sunshine at the grand opening,
when
Willow discovers the body of another contestant, Dr. Charles
White,
face down in her garden.
Willow’s hunky boyfriend, Jackson Spade, immediately becomes
a suspect
due to a recent fight with Dr. White. Willow knows she has
to remedy
the situation, but it won’t be easy with the other applicants’
vendettas and vandals wrecking her garden at every turn. And
when she
finds buried treasure in her garden that just might belong
to the
legendary Captain Kidd, the stakes become even higher. Was
Dr. White
searching for that treasure? Did someone kill him to get to
it first?
With the help of Jackson and her eccentric ex-boyfriend, Willow
follows the clues to uncover the truth that someone wants
buried…
But can she dig up enough evidence before she becomes the
killer’s
next victim?
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