A Deadly Bouquet

Bretta Solomon #4

by Janis Harrison

Janis Harrison's gardening mysteries combine a popular "cozy" pastime with a delightfully populated small Missouri town and juicy mysteries. In her fourth outing, Bretta Solomon has been hired along with a few other River City business owners to put together the town's wedding of the year. But when the landscaper responsible for the nuptial's setting and the bride's hairdresser both die suspiciously on the same day, Bretta can't help but think there's something more sinister in the air than love and marriage. It's up to her to figure out just exactly what's going on before the guests arrive for the big event, and with Janis Harrison at the controls it's sure to be another fantastic outing in an admirable series.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 4, 2002

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small town florist, Bretta Solomon has taken on the job of flowering up a park for a very wealthy set of nuptials. The mother of the bride is a constant ache of persnickety annoyance. Even when a hired landscaper drops dead at her feet of a heart attack and the designated hairdresser is found murdered in the back of her salon, hoity toity Evelyn Montgomery focuses only on perfecting her daughter’s day, brushing off the deaths as no more than setbacks to her plans.

In a carry over from her last book, a man of desire re-enters her life as her new neighbor and they meekly try to start a relationship, until an attempt of her life waylaid their steps. Meanwhile, the father that deserted her and her mother is now living with her and trying to make amends while adding his own sleuthing abilities to keep her safe and find out why there is a need to.

There is a deep dive into philosophy with Aristotle’s works playing a major role and giving this read a more provoking stance than the general mystery. Quite enjoyable. Plus, an added lesson on the not-so-lovely language of flowers and a bit of botany. Nothing beats an entertaining book that has a lesson or two added into the pages.

Harrison’s books just get better and better.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this series one behind the other and I preferred this book over the first three. The story in this book seemed so much more realistic, having all the characters working on the same project...Evelyn's wedding for her daughter. I'm glad Bailey came back into this book, but how cleverly Janis Harrison kept him from getting too involved in Bretta's investigation.
The ending was very exciting, I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. I didn't guess who the murderer was, which made for a very good story.
Hope the next book is just as good, if not better.

[Hannah F · Rating 1 out of 5]

ugh another bumbling dumb interfering female who just must do an investigation because people tell her "she figured things out "

What she does figure out is how to annoy people / accuse them of things and bully them into telling her stuff that is not her business.

Oh and the whole mind game/ make feel guilty she does with the guy (who deserves it if he likes an insecure ijiot) and her dad is insulting .

bored/ not clever not interesting .. and once again it wasnt brains that helped her out but her stumbling around and dumb luck ..

will never read this writer again

I should quit trying out "cozy "mysteries by women theyre all the same .and almost NEVER funny despite "reviews"

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, quick read! It was fun!

[Meghan]

I helped chose this book for Oct. 2007 book club, book 14, but didn't realize it is 4th in a series. I also did not read it yet.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sort of sappy - author is a florist and the main character is a florist, so she knows her subject, but feels the need to over emphasize how difficult a job it is. The mystery is silly but interesting enough to keep you reading to find out how it will be solved.

[Soraya Pierre-Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t need to read the previous books to follow the plot in this book. A very quick read and the development of the characters and backstories allow the reader to feel comfortable not reading other books in the series.

[souffle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book and the ending makes a complete sense when you get to it but not anytime before. I was so confused unil the mystery was solved because a lot of the stuff didn't connect

[Eunira · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful cozy, I would certainly read more books by this writer.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Kimberly Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful series, doesn't cut corners on the plot…great heroine; flawed, funny and fierce.