I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
After inheriting her grandparent’s lavish New England estate, horticulture Professor Heather Moore discovers more than she bargained for as an attempt to restore her estate’s garden turns up human remains and puts her in the crosshairs of a deadly killer in author Krista Lockheart’s “April Showers Bring Dead Flowers”, the first book in the Murder on the Vine series!
The Synopsis
There’s something growing in the garden . . . and it’s not a flower. A mystery is growing in the garden!
Greenhouse expert and horticulture Professor Heather Moore gets a new lease on life when she inherits her grandparents’ estate in New England. But the garden she loved as a child has seen better days. Determined to restore her grandfather’s garden to its former beauty, she’s accompanied by Ant, her charming chihuahua, and Pansy, her grandfather’s cat.
But wait, what? Heather suddenly digs up an even bigger challenge when she finds some human remains in an old potting shed. As she discovers clues and follows the evidence, a few suspects cross her mind, but ultimately they point to one wily and clever killer. Suddenly in danger herself, can Heather solve this puzzling mystery, restore her family’s legacy, and bring about justice?
Meanwhile, her chance meeting with fellow flower enthusiast, Lars Oslo, turns her world upside down as she falls in love with that handsome and kind man. Their dates are off the charts romantic, & Heather feels like she won the lottery as their relationship progresses. Read how her fresh clean romance bursts into bloom in an unforgettable way.
April Showers Bring Dead Flowers is the first novel in the Murder on the Vine series. Join Heather and Ant as they explore the seedy underworld of gardens, greenhouses, and flower shops in this ‘unputdownable’ murder mystery!
The Review
This was such a delightful read. The author did an incredible job of capturing the lightheartedness of the cozy mystery and the spine-chilling danger that comes with any murder mystery read. The atmospheric story really brings readers into the world the author has built effortlessly, and the juxtaposition of the raw beauty and inspiration that nature brings and the author’s passion for horticulture with the horrors of the murder case brings Heather into an entirely new world she never asked to be in was highly creative.
The thing that stood out to me was the depth of emotions and character development that the author poured into this narrative. The first few pages set up the dynamic shift in Heather’s life when she meets Lars, and the romance that sparks between them is palpable. The humor and love that the protagonist brings to her relationship with her pets as well as a great character trait to explore in this story, providing a great balance to the author’s clash with the killer in this story.
The Verdict
Harrowing, thoughtful, and engaging, author Krista Lockheart’s “April Showers Bring Dead Flowers” is a great first entry into the Murder on the Vine series and a beautiful cozy murder mystery read. The dive into horticulture and the world of planet preservation and study was a unique character direction that highlighted a community many don’t understand, and the rich dynamics at play in both the character’s relationships and the narrative overall will have readers invested with each twist and turn that comes their way. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Critically acclaimed and award-winning author Krista Lockheart writes irresistible cozy mysteries filled with humor and buzzworthy characters and plots. Her favorite activity is interacting with her readers from all over the world, and she enjoys their feedback and comments on her social media platforms. She loves good food, good conversation, and good books! Cooking is a passion, and she especially enjoys making pasta with vegetables. Chocolate, avocado, and seafood are her favorite foods to celebrate with.
Krista comes from an artistic background, and her art workshops sell out within a few hours of signup. Her work has earned cultural council grants and has been featured in newspapers, magazines, and on TV and on the radio.
In the past few months, her memoir, travel travels, and short stories were published four times in the Writer & Readers’ Magazine, and her travel tale about her expedition to Peru was the editorial feature in DRIFT Travel magazine.
She contributed a short story to a Halloween anthology and her debut novel was #1 in 12 categories on Amazon during its initial release (including in the Free Kindle Store and in New release categories).
It also earned five book awards including First Place at TheBookFest in Humorous, a Second Place and Honorable Mention at TheBookFest, a First Place award from Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, and a Silver Award from Literary Titan, along with five star editorial reviews. It was recommended by US Review of Books, and the Chick-Lit Cafe, as well as featured in the Midwest Book Review.
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