Marigolds, Mischief, and Murder Earns 5/5 Bouquets … Engaging & Clever!
Justin Hunt had serious issues with his friend Chris Crawford. They were schoolmates, teammates, and even tangled up in a few pranks together, but this disagreement was different. Chris dismissed it, and Gwen Stevens thought they’d work it out like they always had before. But, it’s unlikely now. Gwen got a text from Chris at two in the morning about an “emergency,” and although she’s embarrassed about always being at Chris’s beck and call, she thought it could be trouble, and she’s right … murderous trouble. Justin dead, and Chris is nowhere to be found, and the new resident, Detective Finn Butler, is sure he knows why.
Erica Wynters’s debut cozy is an exciting small town gem! I was hooked right off with the teasing friendship between our star Gwen and her longtime friend Chris Crawford being interrupted by Justin Hunt raising all kinds of hell with Chris. The rumors reveal money problems (of course), infidelities (great motive), scorned significant other (they’re always in the mix), long-time grudges (know someone long enough there’ll be grudges), and no honor among felonious partners (hey, they’re criminals). A small town should be the easiest setting to solve a murder with fewer people and gossip as an art form, but Gwen finds some are eager to share what they know and others refuse, some are an open book and others have secrets, and she’s in the way or maybe a target. Clever drama … engaging all the way to a surprise conclusion.
The crime, the plot, and having a surprise result are all important and well-developed by Erica Winters’ creativity, but, for me, it’s the characters I need to be respond realistically and in some way, capture my interest. Here they do. Gwen is a strong female portrayed with realistic strengths and weaknesses, boyfriend issues, and an engaging place in the family dynamic. The cast is loaded with diverse figures, but it is still relatively easy to follow everyone’s connection to the crime. I enjoyed the romantic triangle pitting Gwen’s longtime friend Chris against the obvious spark she feels for the new detective. Sides are formed, yet there is no definite decision made, however, I am firmly on Team Finn! I greatly enjoy the dance between him and Gwen with good steps mixed with the bad, and it’s a nice giggle following Gwen’s efforts to uncover Finn’s real name since he knows hers. I didn’t learn much about “marigolds.” I would have liked to have had some interesting insights or historical thoughts included about the flower, or maybe a connected clue discover because of the flower. Delightful fun!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Gemma Halliday Publishing. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.