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Peggy Lee Garden Mystery #3
Poisoned Petals
Peggy Lee is just about to deliver some endangered sunflowers to Darmus Appleby when a gas explosion blows out his door-and Peggy finds her fellow botanist dead on the kitchen floor. Two weeks later his brother dies, with an overpoweringly sweet purple hyacinth tucked in his pocket. Now Peggy must follow her nose-and some cryptic clues from an internet informant-to root out a killer before he strikes again.
262 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
10 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Lavene
78 books645 followersaka Elyssa Henry and Joye Ames, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant
Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene are a wife and husband team who have written and published more than 70 books since 1999. They live in North Carolina with their family and enjoy cooking, photography and ghost hunting.
Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene are a wife and husband team who have written and published more than 70 books since 1999. They live in North Carolina with their family and enjoy cooking, photography and ghost hunting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 16, 2016
I have read most of this series and enjoyed it. This book is poorly written and confusing in places. It did add the missing parts to the series.Peggy is slowly recovering from her husband's death. Peggy visits a friend, Darmus and is there when the house explores. Peggy goes into recused her friend, but she is too late as he is dead. Darmas was head FEED AMERICA. His brother Luther takes over the organization and is later found murdered. Peggy's parents are visiting her and Steve is becoming important, The botanical information is excellent as always in this series. The Potting Shed is growing. Peggy becomes a forensics consultant to the corner's office
April 25, 2018
This is a new series for me, so we'll see how it goes!
**
I was wrong- I had read this series before. And in fact, I thought I remembered liking it, but this book didn't do anything for me. There was no joy, which I expect in a "cozy" novel. Oh well. Lots more books out there to start!
**
I was wrong- I had read this series before. And in fact, I thought I remembered liking it, but this book didn't do anything for me. There was no joy, which I expect in a "cozy" novel. Oh well. Lots more books out there to start!
December 30, 2015
After identifying Joyce Lavene’s second novel, I resumed “Poisoned Petals”. Details had been irksome in several places: a possessive boyfriend at Steve’s mature age, authors’ remarks about dogs solely understanding key gestures and words; demonstrating misunderstanding of animals. Peggy is suddenly vegetarian on paper, further indicating that these authors plop down well-meaning concepts without genuinely being in the know about them. Worse: Steve messes about, kissing Peggy, before attending to animal emergencies! No veterinarian would behave that way!
Dialogue comes across like snatches of popular phrases and personality types pasted in, instead of exuding life of their own. A road-worker played an ignorant oaf, who asked Peggy why she wished to save “a bunch of plants” from a ditch; valuable native varieties. It made a difference after I continued in order. I began to enjoy this novel more, because the false-starts were out of the way and I reprised upon interesting chapters. I would venture to say too, that Joyce hit her stride partway into this story. I groaned over a fifty year-old’s anxiety that having a younger boyfriend might shock her Mother. Thankfully that was the final stereotype.
Peggy’s Dad started as a rubberstamped southerner but ended up lifting the whole book. I enjoyed it tenfold, because Peggy included him in all of her sleuthing. Her family portfolio becomes stronger for readers and Ranson Hughes is an enjoyable gem. Peggy’s botany friend, Darmus, and his reverend brother, Luther, perish one after another. I love the twist pertaining to one outcome and familial revelations too. I didn’t buy the motive at all, nor the immature attachment of a person going along with the criminal. Again, natural behavioural psychology didn’t gel. Nobody acts criminally for someone they recently met. However I own the next several stories and will indeed read them.
Dialogue comes across like snatches of popular phrases and personality types pasted in, instead of exuding life of their own. A road-worker played an ignorant oaf, who asked Peggy why she wished to save “a bunch of plants” from a ditch; valuable native varieties. It made a difference after I continued in order. I began to enjoy this novel more, because the false-starts were out of the way and I reprised upon interesting chapters. I would venture to say too, that Joyce hit her stride partway into this story. I groaned over a fifty year-old’s anxiety that having a younger boyfriend might shock her Mother. Thankfully that was the final stereotype.
Peggy’s Dad started as a rubberstamped southerner but ended up lifting the whole book. I enjoyed it tenfold, because Peggy included him in all of her sleuthing. Her family portfolio becomes stronger for readers and Ranson Hughes is an enjoyable gem. Peggy’s botany friend, Darmus, and his reverend brother, Luther, perish one after another. I love the twist pertaining to one outcome and familial revelations too. I didn’t buy the motive at all, nor the immature attachment of a person going along with the criminal. Again, natural behavioural psychology didn’t gel. Nobody acts criminally for someone they recently met. However I own the next several stories and will indeed read them.
March 8, 2021
Set in Charlotte, NC, the owner of a garden shop decides to investigate when her friend, a fellow botanist, dies in a gas explosion. Then his brother dies.
Interesting main character. Murder plot so-so. Enjoyed the chapter openings with a plant and information on it.
Interesting main character. Murder plot so-so. Enjoyed the chapter openings with a plant and information on it.
May 8, 2017
Well a lot happened in this book. Peggy went thru a lot of suspects.
February 22, 2019
These Peggy Lee books have so much interesting plant lore, which weaves it's way into the story. Her conscience gets her into all kinds of trouble in pursuit of the truth.
October 12, 2021
Was on my shelf for a few years. Glad I chose to read it.
June 23, 2017
I'm not even 10% into the book and already I'm annoyed. Peggy-the-doctorate had to look up what Monarch butterflies eat?!?!?! Really? Because my kids could have told you that when they were five years old.
Unfortunately, it didn't get much better for me. Too many less-than-plausible occurrences.
Unfortunately, it didn't get much better for me. Too many less-than-plausible occurrences.
January 18, 2021
The 3rd book in the Peggy Lee Garden Mystery series. Peggy is a botanist turned amateur sleuth. Fun and entertaining cozy mystery. Good for fans of cozies and plants.
March 7, 2018
Have you ever read a book, figured out what was going on about halfway through and then really wanted the book to be done so you can see if you are right? Yeah, that's how this book was for me.
I found this story to be so...so...well, unbelievable. I mean, most "cozy mysteries" are unbelievable to a certain degree, because WHO really keeps finding dead people and then solving their murders like the people in the "cozy mysteries" do? But, most of the time, there is some ring of truth in the stories..you can actually, maybe see that happening, so its not so glaring like it was in this one. And to be honest, I am sure that things like what happened in this story DO happen. But it just was so convoluted that it made it ludicrous to me.
I am not sure how far I am going to go with this series. There were many things about this book that bothered me, not just the murder/murderer. It was almost like someone else was writing this book. Which bothered me. And this is the 3d book where I sort of enjoy the story, but am not overwhelmed by it and I SO knew what was going on AND why (because I agree with Kay that sometimes its OK to know who did it as long as you don't know the "why". If its a good OR great story, you don't mind knowing the "who").
I cannot even write a review about this book because anyone with a brain would figure it out just from what I write about the story (Yeah, its THAT obvious). What a disappointment., I do love the characters though. But that, right now, isn't enough to keep me reading!
May 2, 2014
Professor Peggy Lee is busy again. While trying to decide to leave her position at Queens College and devote all her time to her retail venture, The Potting Shed, her good friend Darmus Appleby dies in a gas explosion in his home. Two weeks later, Darmus's brother, Luther is found murdered in the Feed America garden. Thinking this is too much of a coincidence, Peggy starts to become suspicious.
Her neighbor and new best friend, Steve warns her to stay safe. Her son Paul, a member of Charlotte's police department, where her husband John was a Detective before his untimely death, urges her to stay out of it. Peggy cannot! All this is complicated when her mother and father arrive with an elderly aunt and cousin to spend a few weeks with her. How will she cope? And, now, Nighflyer, her online chess partner and friendly informant is contacting her. For this investigation, he wants to meet! Should she meet a person she only knows from the internet at midnight in a city park? Her brain screams no, but also she is interested to know him and see what he has to tell her.
This is the last in the Peggy Lee Garden Mystery trilogy and I liked it as much as the first two. As always, I am sorry to see it end. Joyce and Jim Lavene weave a good mystery with lots of information about flowers and leaves and how they can be beautiful but deadly.
ps: I just discovered that this series was not a trilogy, I just had the first 3 books. They were given to me by my daughter-in-law. There are 3 more at least. Hooray.
Her neighbor and new best friend, Steve warns her to stay safe. Her son Paul, a member of Charlotte's police department, where her husband John was a Detective before his untimely death, urges her to stay out of it. Peggy cannot! All this is complicated when her mother and father arrive with an elderly aunt and cousin to spend a few weeks with her. How will she cope? And, now, Nighflyer, her online chess partner and friendly informant is contacting her. For this investigation, he wants to meet! Should she meet a person she only knows from the internet at midnight in a city park? Her brain screams no, but also she is interested to know him and see what he has to tell her.
This is the last in the Peggy Lee Garden Mystery trilogy and I liked it as much as the first two. As always, I am sorry to see it end. Joyce and Jim Lavene weave a good mystery with lots of information about flowers and leaves and how they can be beautiful but deadly.
ps: I just discovered that this series was not a trilogy, I just had the first 3 books. They were given to me by my daughter-in-law. There are 3 more at least. Hooray.
July 20, 2012
I enjoy these books.
Peggy Lee has her hands full in this book. Her mother and fatehr have come to visit and brought along Aunt Mayfield and Cousin Melvin. The two are, as her father says, "rubes". Peggy goes by to see Darmus Appleby who founded Feed America to take him some rare native sunflowers. As she approaches the house, she smells gas and the house explodes. She calls 911 and goes in to save him and barely makes it out. Unfortunately, he is dead. His brother Luther is asked to take over Feed America. Then Luther is found dead in the Community Garden from an asthma attack brought on by a purple hyacinth in his shirt pocket. Or at least, Peggy suspects it. Peggy is very troubled and suspects Darmus' assistant Holles of killing Luther. Things are complicated when Holles turns out to be Sam's lover, causing a rift between her and Sam. Nightflyer, too, returns informing her that Darmus is not dead, but gone into hiding. She refuses to believe it! But Luther's assistant pastor, Naomi, delivers a package to her after Luther's death with a letter from Luther. So who killed who? and why?
She had gone to see Rosie, Darmus' ex-wife and her former best friend who disappeared when she and Darmus divorced. She realizes that Rosie was pregnant when they divorced and her son looks much like Darmus.
Peggy has a difficult time juggling clues, family, friends and work. And gets herself into trouble again.....
Peggy Lee has her hands full in this book. Her mother and fatehr have come to visit and brought along Aunt Mayfield and Cousin Melvin. The two are, as her father says, "rubes". Peggy goes by to see Darmus Appleby who founded Feed America to take him some rare native sunflowers. As she approaches the house, she smells gas and the house explodes. She calls 911 and goes in to save him and barely makes it out. Unfortunately, he is dead. His brother Luther is asked to take over Feed America. Then Luther is found dead in the Community Garden from an asthma attack brought on by a purple hyacinth in his shirt pocket. Or at least, Peggy suspects it. Peggy is very troubled and suspects Darmus' assistant Holles of killing Luther. Things are complicated when Holles turns out to be Sam's lover, causing a rift between her and Sam. Nightflyer, too, returns informing her that Darmus is not dead, but gone into hiding. She refuses to believe it! But Luther's assistant pastor, Naomi, delivers a package to her after Luther's death with a letter from Luther. So who killed who? and why?
She had gone to see Rosie, Darmus' ex-wife and her former best friend who disappeared when she and Darmus divorced. She realizes that Rosie was pregnant when they divorced and her son looks much like Darmus.
Peggy has a difficult time juggling clues, family, friends and work. And gets herself into trouble again.....
June 15, 2012
I love this Peggy Lee series, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first two. I'm reading them one behind the other, so that may be why.
I enjoyed her relationship with her Dad and how he got caught up with her investigation, not wanting to hang out with his wife and the aunt and uncle going to all the malls. Funny stuff.
Didn't like how they treated the Nightrider situation...it was kind of abrupt, but I think he'll be back in the following books...at least, I hope it just didn't end that way.
All in all, I enjoy the gardening information I get from all of these books, it's an education, even though I know a lot of it already, as I'm a gardener, too. The information on the poisons of plants is very useful, to make sure we don't plant certain plants that could endanger our families and pets.
I enjoyed her relationship with her Dad and how he got caught up with her investigation, not wanting to hang out with his wife and the aunt and uncle going to all the malls. Funny stuff.
Didn't like how they treated the Nightrider situation...it was kind of abrupt, but I think he'll be back in the following books...at least, I hope it just didn't end that way.
All in all, I enjoy the gardening information I get from all of these books, it's an education, even though I know a lot of it already, as I'm a gardener, too. The information on the poisons of plants is very useful, to make sure we don't plant certain plants that could endanger our families and pets.
March 4, 2014
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
June 6, 2011
Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Lee is a Botanist taking special Sunflowers to a fellow Botanist. Upon arrival at his home the house blows up and her friend is killed, or is he? Someone is dead.
Peggy's family comes to visit from South Carolina, and along with her friends and co-workers soon join in to help solve this dilemma. The police seem to not want to search all lines of enquiry.
And, Peggy's secret admirer? Nightflyer? Is he part of the crime or the solution?
This was an excellent read and makes me want to get the next book in the series quickly.
Peggy's family comes to visit from South Carolina, and along with her friends and co-workers soon join in to help solve this dilemma. The police seem to not want to search all lines of enquiry.
And, Peggy's secret admirer? Nightflyer? Is he part of the crime or the solution?
This was an excellent read and makes me want to get the next book in the series quickly.
August 17, 2012
#3 in the Garden Mystery series. For me, horticulture and the Charlotte, NC setting add to the appeal of this series. Others may want to remove a star from the rating.
A Garden Mystery - Peggy Lee is just about to deliver some endangered sunflowers to Darmus Appleby when a gas explosion blows out his door-and Peggy finds her fellow botanist dead on the kitchen floor. Two weeks later his brother dies, with an overpoweringly sweet purple hyacinth tucked in his pocket. Now Peggy must follow her nose-and some cryptic clues from an internet informant-to root out a killer before he strikes again.
A Garden Mystery - Peggy Lee is just about to deliver some endangered sunflowers to Darmus Appleby when a gas explosion blows out his door-and Peggy finds her fellow botanist dead on the kitchen floor. Two weeks later his brother dies, with an overpoweringly sweet purple hyacinth tucked in his pocket. Now Peggy must follow her nose-and some cryptic clues from an internet informant-to root out a killer before he strikes again.
July 20, 2008
Peggy Lee is a botanist, widow of a police detective and owner of a new gardening shop in an urban area. But the p[lot was very scattered and the ending depended on to many coincidences for me. And the anonymous Internet informant...pluueese...Peggy is smart enough to find the clues herself, this is a lazy plot tool! I enjoyed the characters but the next outing I'll be looking for a more solid story line.
July 16, 2014
This is yet another amazing adventure with Peggy Lee, Botonist and owner of the Potting Shed. In this book her family comes to visit her and I love the relationship she has with her father. It is sweet and very real. All the other characters are very well developed as well. Her relationship with Steve progresses in a very real manner. The mystery is exciting and has a lot of twists and turns throughout the story. I look forward to reading Peggy's next adventure!!!!
August 18, 2013
Number 3 in the Peggy Lee Garden Mystery series. Peggy along with her friends and family manage to fumble their way through yet another mystery, thanks to her knowledge of poison plants. Her parents are visiting this time. They even actually think Peggy's "boyfriend" is very nice and Peggy finally admits how she really feels about Steve.
August 11, 2016
This one was not my favorite. It was about a botanist that works with the police. She is connected to two bothers who die and she is helping to find out who murder them. Nothing technically wrong with this book. I just had a hard time connecting to the main character. I did not really like her and was really not rooting for her. Will probably not try the other ones in the series.
March 8, 2015
Peggy Lee has her family coming to visit and she has gotten herself involved in a murder investigation. This time her good friend Darmus has died in a gas fire, and then his brother Luther does soon after.
Her boyfriend Steve helps to keep her family entertained, and Peggy's dad likes to help her.
An enjoyable read with an interesting plot.
Her boyfriend Steve helps to keep her family entertained, and Peggy's dad likes to help her.
An enjoyable read with an interesting plot.
September 8, 2012
At first the book started off rather slow and uninteresting, but as I continued to read the book I was quite impressed from then on. Very good read and I am looking forward in finding more books in this particular mystery series.
September 22, 2013
This mystery did not grab my attention as much as the previous two did. I didn't feel as if the author gave us enough time to understand how important Darmus was to Peggy. I actually figured out whodunit this time around, too!
February 11, 2013
This mystery did not grab my attention as much as the previous two did. I didn't feel as if the author gave us enough time to understand how important Darmus was to Peggy. I actually figured out whodunit this time around, too!
July 28, 2011
A somewhat predictable mystery. The plant information was interesting, and the characters were likable.
August 28, 2011
Love this book! Will have to get myself the other books from this series
November 3, 2014
The writing was ok but, when they introduced the bad guy, I knew right away who done it. :( that was a big disappointment.
August 25, 2015
This book was very good! Kept you guessing on what was happening!
July 20, 2013
Could not get my hands on Fruit of the Poisoned Tree (book 2) but it seems I didn't miss anything between the 1st and 3rd in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews