The Turtle Mound Murder

A Daffodils Mystery #1

by Mary Clay

IS THERE LIFE AFTER DIVORCE? YOU BET! Meet the DAFFODILS*

(*Divorced And Finally Free Of Deceitful, Insensitive, Licentious Scum)

Rebecca Leigh Stratton is divorced, depressed, and thoroughly disgusted. Thanks to her two-timing, asset-hiding, lawyer husband, Leigh faces the prospect of starting over at forty-six. Fortunately, her sassy, Southern sorority sisters, Penny Sue Parker and Ruthie Nichols, are old hands at divorce. The three single-again ladies take off for New Smyrna Beach, their college-days haunt. What they don't bargain for are old flames, fist fights, and gunfire. And, that's just the first day!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2003

Reviews

[Cynthia Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud! I enjoyed this fun romp with females of a certain age still having fun and solving a murder along the way.

[Vicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has been on my daughter's shelf for a long time, so we decided to read it together aloud. It sounded so interesting from the teaser on the back cover. We were very disappointed. There were a few small bits that were funny, and we did chuckle out loud, but the plot seemed to drag on forever. We didn't think we'd ever get to the denouement. Leigh was the serious one. Ruthie was the scaredy cat with a mystical touch. Penny Sue, the leader of the pack, was an obnoxious, egotistical, and shameless flirt. My daughter and I were grateful she wasn't our friend. She would have driven both of us crazy before long. The hatching turtles were the best part of the story. If there is a new Smyrna Beach, it sounded like an attractive place to visit.
Not a keeper on our shelves.

[Crystal Marsico-Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun lighthearted read. It got really good at the end. Liked reading about key spots in New Smyrna. Enjoyed this book!

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Light and silly
Liked local references

[D.L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

If only we could give negative ratings!! Ugh.

[Haley Hewson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy beach read! If you’re familiar with the New Smyrna Area it’s fun to catch the local references!

[Jennifer Cannady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this entertaining read at our Flagler city library. Set first in Atlanta and then the rest in New Smyrna Beach, it was fun to see “local” spots featured. The characters are fun, if a bit limited in dimension, and the plot pretty well paced. A quintessential beach read for those familiar with New Smyrna

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and reminded me of the Southern Sisters Mysteries that were written by Anne George. The reason this was so interesting is because it is set in New Smyrna Beach and is all about the area. So places that were discussed were familiar.

The editing could have been a little better, but the story was good and I enjoyed it. The story moved along and the people were interesting. I would try the next one when I find it. I really like the Southern side of it, because it is pretty believable. I have experienced some of these Southern friendships and it brings fond memories of those.

I am giving this book 3 out of 5 stars, as I would have liked the story to have moved along a little faster, and there seemed to be a few too many characters to try and keep track of. I enjoyed it and hope to find the 2nd in the series.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

These women visit psychics. Penny Sue is ga-ga-guy crazy. Ruthie is deep into the occult. Leigh is recently divorced. All head to Florida to Penny Sue's father's condo where troubles seem to lurk right on the beach. A baggie of powder is found in the condo which Ruthie and Leigh figure is chemicals from the pest control guy who was just in a fight outside with another guy. They move the powder to a "safer" area. Turtle eggs are moved. A dead body on a turtle mound. Motorcycle dudes who hound them and a red pickup truck which follows them. An imminent hurricane but because of the recent murder they can't leave cos they're under orders to stay put.

Because they don't know who they can trust even after going to the authorities, they do some sleuthing on their own.

[CozyFan · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I just learned that the TV/MOVIE rights for the whole series were optioned.**

If you enjoy light mysteries/capers featuring middle-aged Southern women with plenty of humor, the DAFFODILS series is for you. I laughed out loud more than once. I've read the entire trilogy and recommend that one read them in order--Turtle Mound Murder, Bike Week Blues, and Murder is the Pits. There are plot lines that carry over from book to book.

If I were to compare the series to other authors (in terms of style and pacing) I'd say they're somewhere between Anne George and Janet Evanovich's Plum series. I thoroughly enjoyed the series. They are not great literature, just fun beach reads.

[C. Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good beach read. Although I am not divorced, I could see so many of my friends in it and really laughed out loud many time because I knew or could imagine friends doing the same thing these middle-aged women did. Not to mention the hormone problems. I thought it was hysterical, especially the New Age part. I have friends into New Age who've done similar things! It will lift your Spirit!

[Glenda · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are a fan of the tv shows housewives of ______________. You will probably love this cozy mystery series. I could not get into it. Why are cozy mysteries running the theme of new age, fortune telling, alternative lifestyle talk? Political agenda here..political agenda there. No thanks. Too many books to get bogged down with someone forgetting the mystery angle and instead spouting their personal agenda. I'll move on....

[Dahlia · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment! DAFFODILS sounded like such a great set up.
D-ivorced
A-nd
F-inally
F-ree
O-f
D-eceitful
I-nsensitive
L-icentious
S-cum

But talk about dumb broads! They find zip lock bags of 'white powder' and put it away believing it's powdered pesticides! duh-dumb

[Julieasmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as one of my first Kindle reads- a new cozy every time I want one- available at just a click. The plot and story were fun, the characters lovable, if not believable. I will read another in the series

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum did for Chambersburg/Trenton, NJ, Mary Clay's Daffodils are doing for New Smyrna Beach, FL. This light-hearted who-dunnit is an easy read with goofy, stereotyped characters and just enough plot twists to keep you guessing.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mediocre mystery but it takes place in New Smyrna Beach and was written by a local writer, so had fun reading about places with which I'm familiar. I read the first three and see she has another but I'll pass on reading it.

[Peggy Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a fast paced who-done-it with well developed interesting characters, this is the book to read. It is a well written cozy mystery. One you can curl up in front of the fireplace with or under the covers to read and enjoy.

[Sarita]

It was delightful book for an afternoon at the beach or lounging in the backyard. An easy read with enough twists to keep it interesting.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun read, if you're from this area.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun beach read