The Deadliest Bouquet

The Deadliest Bouquet #1-5

by Erica Schultz, Cris Peter (Cover Art), Adriana Melo (Cover Art)

In 1998, three estranged sisters trained by their Nazi-hunting mother come together to solve their mother's murder…and try not to kill each other in the process. Follow the Hawthorn sisters in THE DEADLIEST BOUQUET as they explore what "family" truly means and discover the lengths they would go to keep a secret.

Collects THE DEADLIEST BOUQUET #1-5

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Mystery, Fiction

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2023

About the author

Erica Schultz is an American comic book writer, letterer, and editor. She is the first woman to write a Spawn comic, and is best known for her writing work at Marvel on titles like Daredevil, X-23, and Hallows' Eve.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting enough concept -- a kick-ass mother raises her daughters to kick ass, but they all end up estranged due to the brutal nature of their childhood -- gets frittered away as the murder mystery that draws the family back together takes the dumbest and most obvious solution and leaves me wondering why I bothered.

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Live by the gun…
No, that isn’t just some sort of American motto, it’s the theme and the moral of this story…as in those brought up on violence will have their lives shaped by it.
Specifically, when three somewhat estranged sisters get together at last to bury their murdered mother, their fraught with violence dynamics come through, resulting in tragedy.
This graphic novel is a complete story, which I appreciate, but also not that much of one.
The characters are written and drawn in a rather clichéd manner, and the overall result is a quick but not especially interesting, exciting, or memorable read.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the concept way more than the execution on this one. The cover is a stunning piece of art and the idea of three sisters trying to solve the murder of their Nazi-hunting mom hooked me. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough development between the sisters and the ending was not at all satisfying. I wish it was longer than a five-issue arc so we could've spent more time exploring their family dynamics and complicated pasts but there sadly isn't enough as it is. Please give me recommendations for books with kick-ass, nuanced female characters.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment. The story flowed decently through the first 4 chapters (nothing spectacular, but enough to keep you reading). Then, came the 5th and final chapter. It felt like the author had not yet decided on an ending, but the publishers rushed them and they just threw something together and moved on with life.
*If you are an artist of any skill do not let the big wigs rush your talent and vision. You will only make them happy not yourself or your fans.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started off so well, but that ending? Ooof! I don't know how the series can go on after that and it just started!

[Vanna Book-Mage · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.

[kubelot · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,5*

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Somehow took 5 issues to tell a two issue story.

[Odo · Rating 1 out of 5]

2/10

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story with characters I hope we get to learn even more about in the future! The worst part was that this was so short because Rose, Poppy, and Violet are the kind of messy that you don't want to look away from.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bei diesem Comic hat mir das Konzept bzw. die Idee an sich viel besser gefallen als die eigentliche Umsetzung. Das Titelbild ist ein atemberaubendes Kunstwerk und verspricht mehr als dass es letztendlich war.

Die Idee von drei Schwestern, die versuchen, den Mord an ihrer Nazi-jagenden Mutter aufzuklären, hat mich gefesselt. Leider gab es einfach nicht genug Entwicklung zwischen den Schwestern und das Ende war überhaupt nicht befriedigend, ganz im Gegenteil, der Abschluss hat die ganze Atmosphäre/Mysterium zerstört. Es wäre besser, man hätte der Geschichte mehr als fünf Kapitel spendiert, damit man ihre Familiendynamik und ihre komplizierte Vergangenheit weitschweifiger und ausführlicher hätte erforschen können, aber so ist es leider nicht genug gewesen, da wäre noch weitaus mehr Potential in der Story drin gewesen, es gibt weitaus interessantere Comics mit tiefgründig ausgearbeiteten Frauencharaktere.

Die Figuren sind insgesamt alle äußerst klischeehaft beschrieben und gezeichnet, und das Gesamtergebnis ist eine schnelle, aber nicht besonders interessante, spannende oder erinnerungswürdige Lektüre.

[Robert Bussie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you read a book where a large majority of it stinks, but the ending is good? Well, this book easily falls into this category. After reading the first four out of five chapters I was ready to give it two stars; even the art is not good. But the last chapter throws a wrench into the murder mystery and after the killer is discovered there is a surprise final ending. For me, this made trudging through a majority of the book worth it and raised the rating up another star. If the book was longer I may have changed my mind.

I did enjoy the aspects of the different personalities of the sisters. Violet needs her own comic book series as a bad ass spy or assassin for hire. The bickering between the sisters was refreshing early on; it showed a realistic side of their dysfunctional family. However, the flashbacks and bickering got old quickly. And seriously, why would Poppy's husband bring the kids into the middle of a murder investigation. Dumb parenting.

The art is not impressive. The expressions on the characters faces are dull and stale. The lips on the women look weird. The coloring is flat.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure I supported this novella on Kickstarter.

There is very little that can be said without delving into significant spoilers.

Three sisters are reunited by their mother's murder. Family secretes come out, and recriminations all the way around.

Don't expect a Hallmark movie ending.

[Júlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Las portadas me parecen geniales. Y ya. El arte es normal, el argumento empezaba bien pero en el último número como que todo va muy rápido y el ambiente/misterio de los anteriores se rompe. Le dejo las 3 estrellas porque aunque me ha decepcionado los personajes tenían potencial. Una pena.

[Lilybeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I deleted my original review like a dumdum.
Ugh!

Basically, I wanted more from this.
Great opportunity to develop the relationship between the sisters that was sorely missed and needed in order for the ending to have a greater impact.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This three sister who done it story was a little to predictable for me. Three sisters who had a very competitive mother, (not sure what the mother actually did) found out the mother was murdered. So the estranged family reunites to figure out what happened.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork is great, the concept is great, I read it straight through to the ending in one sitting and was horribly disappointed. This is not the ending the rest of the story sets up so it’s a kick in the reader’s teeth on multiple levels. Sigh.

[Laïni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the story and the art. The writing was compelling, the art was readable and dynamic, and the ending (even though it was farfetched) was unexpected. Thank you for the hard work. May God bless you.

[Amanda Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs way more of a back story. It was ridiculously rushed and THAT'S the ending they came up with? After all that history...

[Larakaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cool, solid murder mystery but a bit too obvious with the twist and a bit too abrupt at the end.

[BJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

As many reviews noted, the concept is interesting, but the execution (especially the rushed ending) tanks it. I could have seen this being a series instead of a single collection.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad concept but the whole thing was rushed and too quippy. The substance was missing.

[tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed like a story which needed more.

[Kat Beitzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5... 1-4 were great. wish the ending was better

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was emotionally confusing.

[Edd Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Weak 4/5 Family Drama Graphic Novel about estranged sisters with dangerous past.

[toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

​Three sisters - Rose, Poppy, and Violet - try to solve the mystery of the murder of their mother, Jasmine. Jasmine and Rose ran a flower shop together, but previously, Jasmine hunted Nazis in World War II, and even brought home an older pistol as a trophy. She trained all of her daughters to be fighters, even to regard each other as competitors and enemies, in order to strengthen them for the violent world they would grow into. Now, Poppy is married with two kids, Violet has a successful modeling career, and none of them speak to each other nor use the fighting skills they honed. But, they come together and try to follow leads faster than the detective on the case so they can deliver their own brand of justice to whoever murdered their mother.

The first four chapters of this book are really satisfying and build up a great amount of suspense. I was with the sisters through every step and clue, and I especially liked the touches about Jasmine's past in World War II. But, the ending was a pretty huge let-down, and it's really coloring the rest of the book for me. Perhaps the author is trying to make a statement about generational trauma and critique how the mother raised her three daughters, but I also could be grasping at hidden meanings to try to make it more satisfying. It seems like the series got cut short and this was the failsafe ending that could lead to a “tidy” resolution.

There is some cussing and violence, so this might be better for older readers.

Sara's Rating: 6/10
Suitability Level: Grades 11-12

Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Deadliest Bouquet” is a comic created by Erica Schultz, with art by Carola Borelli, & front cover by Kevin Wada. Three estranged sisters, raised by their Nazi-hunting mother, must find out who killed said mother. The comic was helped into existence via Kickstarter (which I backed). The comic is beautifully drawn & colored & deals with intergenerational trauma. It’s a fairly bloody & tragic affair, though the ultimate ending is somewhat bittersweet. Ultimately, the comic has a moral about the need to confront trauma, otherwise one will continue the cycle of trauma (& violence). All in all, I enjoyed the comic, but I don’t know if I loved it. I’m glad to win it & possibly re-read it, as it definitely seems like a story that will affect one differently depending on when one reads it. Also, I’m very glad to own a comic with a cover by the talented Kevin Wada (on of my favorite artists).