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Potting Shed Mystery #1-4
The Potting Shed Mysteries Books 1-4
In this 4-book box set:
BOOK 1: THE GARDEN PLOT
Dallas gardener Pru moves to London on a whim, to find no one wants to hire her. Except for wealthy Vernona Wilson, who’s desperate to be rid of her unsightly old potting shed. Pru dusts off her spade and gets to work. She expects to dig up dirt. But nothing like this. An ancient Roman mosaic and a bludgeoned body. Whose secrets has she stumbled on, buried in the soil?
BOOK 2: THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE
Pru lands her dream head gardener at rambling old Primrose House. But someone’s determined to be a thorn in her side. Local widower Ned Bobbins was supposed to be pruning the yew trees. Instead he’s the one who got the chop. Pru checks her tool shed — to find her trusty hatchet is missing. Can she catch the killer before anyone else comes under the ax?
BOOK 3: BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
Bride-to-be Pru moves to Edinburgh to start a new project. But trouble soon follows. When Pru’s new colleague turns up dead, the police have just one suspect in their sights — Pru herself! Now the clock is ticking to catch the real killer. Unless this bride wants to walk down the aisle in handcuffs . . .
BOOK 4: THE SKELETON GARDEN
Pru leaps at the chance to work at majestic Greenoak Manor — alongside the house’s hostile head gardener. Who happens to be Pru’s long-lost brother. But when the green-fingered siblings unearth a skeleton, tangled in the roots of a half-dead tree, things take a sinister turn. Before long, a fresh dead body turns up in the grounds. And Simon’s the prime suspect!
BOOK 1: THE GARDEN PLOT
Dallas gardener Pru moves to London on a whim, to find no one wants to hire her. Except for wealthy Vernona Wilson, who’s desperate to be rid of her unsightly old potting shed. Pru dusts off her spade and gets to work. She expects to dig up dirt. But nothing like this. An ancient Roman mosaic and a bludgeoned body. Whose secrets has she stumbled on, buried in the soil?
BOOK 2: THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE
Pru lands her dream head gardener at rambling old Primrose House. But someone’s determined to be a thorn in her side. Local widower Ned Bobbins was supposed to be pruning the yew trees. Instead he’s the one who got the chop. Pru checks her tool shed — to find her trusty hatchet is missing. Can she catch the killer before anyone else comes under the ax?
BOOK 3: BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
Bride-to-be Pru moves to Edinburgh to start a new project. But trouble soon follows. When Pru’s new colleague turns up dead, the police have just one suspect in their sights — Pru herself! Now the clock is ticking to catch the real killer. Unless this bride wants to walk down the aisle in handcuffs . . .
BOOK 4: THE SKELETON GARDEN
Pru leaps at the chance to work at majestic Greenoak Manor — alongside the house’s hostile head gardener. Who happens to be Pru’s long-lost brother. But when the green-fingered siblings unearth a skeleton, tangled in the roots of a half-dead tree, things take a sinister turn. Before long, a fresh dead body turns up in the grounds. And Simon’s the prime suspect!
1241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2024
609 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Marty Wingate
32 books698 followersUSA Today best-selling author Marty Wingate writes The First Edition Library series (Berkley) set in Bath, England, about the curator of a collection of books from the Golden Age of Mystery. Book one, The Bodies in the Library, concerns murder among an Agatha Christie fan-fiction writing group, and in book two, Murder Is a Must (October 2020), an exhibition manager is found dead at the bottom of a spiral staircase. Marty also writes historical fiction: Glamour Girls (Alcove Press, January 2021) follows Spitfire pilot Rosalie Wright through both the physical and emotional dangers of the Second World War. Marty writes two further mystery series: the Potting Shed books (Alibi) feature Pru Parke, a middle-aged American gardener transplanted from Texas to England, and the Birds of a Feather series (Alibi) follows Julia Lanchester, bird lover, who runs a tourist office in a Suffolk village.
Marty prefers on-the-ground research whenever possible, and so she and her husband regularly travel to England and Scotland, where she can be found tracing the steps of her characters, stopping for tea and a slice of Victoria sponge in a café, or enjoying a swift half in a pub.
Marty prefers on-the-ground research whenever possible, and so she and her husband regularly travel to England and Scotland, where she can be found tracing the steps of her characters, stopping for tea and a slice of Victoria sponge in a café, or enjoying a swift half in a pub.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 26, 2024
Good cozy mystery series
I found enjoyment in all four books of this series. It's an engaging cozy mystery featuring Pru, an American gardener who relocates to England, her mother's homeland. As she settles into her new life, she finds herself unraveling mysteries. The series blends romance and action, all while avoiding profanity.
I found enjoyment in all four books of this series. It's an engaging cozy mystery featuring Pru, an American gardener who relocates to England, her mother's homeland. As she settles into her new life, she finds herself unraveling mysteries. The series blends romance and action, all while avoiding profanity.
July 20, 2024
Fun but slightly disturbing
Great fun meeting Pru, Christopher, and their friends and family, but Pru definitely has her run ins with the bad people.
An American gardener who moves to England to fulfill a lifelong dream. Her English mother raised her on stories of her English upbringing and when the moment came, Pru decided to take the leap to become an English gardener. One that finds herself embroiled in solving murders. Luckily, that's how she meets Christopher.
It was educational learning how much I did not know about gardening, and relearning the tiny bits I knew about London.
Great fun meeting Pru, Christopher, and their friends and family, but Pru definitely has her run ins with the bad people.
An American gardener who moves to England to fulfill a lifelong dream. Her English mother raised her on stories of her English upbringing and when the moment came, Pru decided to take the leap to become an English gardener. One that finds herself embroiled in solving murders. Luckily, that's how she meets Christopher.
It was educational learning how much I did not know about gardening, and relearning the tiny bits I knew about London.
August 21, 2024
Lovely feel good book with a touch of crime for good measure
I am definitely not a romance book person. But this was labelled as garden mysteries so I have bought the whole set.
It starts out as an American running from the USA to her Mothers original home in England. She has no family, that she knows of, but is hopeful that staying in the area her Mum was born may lead to finding long list cousins etc. She gave herself a year to settle and get a job. That doesn't look on the cards, so she is going to return to Dallas to get old job.
Then the stories really start. No spoilers, hate that.
These are crime stories, but with a lovely back story of how she, at the last moment before returning to the USA, she gets involved in a crime. The rest you need to read.
I am looking forward to the rest of the sets, not sure if they are the same characters or not. But if they continue in the same vein I am sure I will enjoy them.
I am definitely not a romance book person. But this was labelled as garden mysteries so I have bought the whole set.
It starts out as an American running from the USA to her Mothers original home in England. She has no family, that she knows of, but is hopeful that staying in the area her Mum was born may lead to finding long list cousins etc. She gave herself a year to settle and get a job. That doesn't look on the cards, so she is going to return to Dallas to get old job.
Then the stories really start. No spoilers, hate that.
These are crime stories, but with a lovely back story of how she, at the last moment before returning to the USA, she gets involved in a crime. The rest you need to read.
I am looking forward to the rest of the sets, not sure if they are the same characters or not. But if they continue in the same vein I am sure I will enjoy them.
September 26, 2025
Excellent storyline and characters
I so enjoyed this installment of this series. Being a gardener I can relate to the digging and rearranging of plants trees and shrubs to achieve a pleasing looking garden. Pru and Christopher make an excellent team and Orlando turned out to be an interesting young character. Well done!
I so enjoyed this installment of this series. Being a gardener I can relate to the digging and rearranging of plants trees and shrubs to achieve a pleasing looking garden. Pru and Christopher make an excellent team and Orlando turned out to be an interesting young character. Well done!
October 1, 2024
Excellent!
I started this series not being sure but after the first book I couldn’t put it down. Read all through the first four and now I’m working my way through the second book (5 to 8)and loving it. I hope there are more!
I started this series not being sure but after the first book I couldn’t put it down. Read all through the first four and now I’m working my way through the second book (5 to 8)and loving it. I hope there are more!
October 6, 2024
Terrific Read!
Modern British detective stories interwoven with World War II history. So refreshing to read stories of multiple generations, each with great character development and none who used foul language.
Modern British detective stories interwoven with World War II history. So refreshing to read stories of multiple generations, each with great character development and none who used foul language.
October 20, 2024
The Potting Shed Mysteries
A delightful set of four books which follow the escapades of Pru and her husband. They provide much entertainment as they investigate murders which leads them into dangerous situations.
A delightful set of four books which follow the escapades of Pru and her husband. They provide much entertainment as they investigate murders which leads them into dangerous situations.
March 15, 2025
slow to start
A charming mystery. Pru and Christopher have a lovely relationship. I loved how they had their own murder investigation room. Kept me guessing to the end. Looking forward to the next book. Thankyou Marty
A charming mystery. Pru and Christopher have a lovely relationship. I loved how they had their own murder investigation room. Kept me guessing to the end. Looking forward to the next book. Thankyou Marty
June 11, 2025
Well, I've read them all now. Each book was marred by a lack of editing with a lot of poor grammar and missing words overlooked. A shame because the main stories kept me persevering to the end of these four. I don't think I'll go on to the fifth, though!
June 30, 2024
Cozy fun and good reads
These traditional Briish cozy mystery tales feature charming characters, interesting plots, fascinating garden lore and just a touch of romance. Enjoy!
These traditional Briish cozy mystery tales feature charming characters, interesting plots, fascinating garden lore and just a touch of romance. Enjoy!
July 29, 2024
read all four books one after the other
Loved the stories and the characters. 4 Great reads. Definitely good holiday reading if you like a murder and mystery
Loved the stories and the characters. 4 Great reads. Definitely good holiday reading if you like a murder and mystery
August 2, 2024
Great last book of the series
So many twists and turns and answers to previous questions. Suspense right to the end with a typical Pru like ending.
So many twists and turns and answers to previous questions. Suspense right to the end with a typical Pru like ending.
September 21, 2024
Brilliant
I loved all the books ...I'll miss Pru and Christopher and Orlando. I want to know more of their story. Highly recommend
I loved all the books ...I'll miss Pru and Christopher and Orlando. I want to know more of their story. Highly recommend
March 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this series and didn't want to put them down. I liked the evolving relationships and gardening information.
May 1, 2025
witty, funny & mystery
Never knew gardeners could be in the middle of so many mysteries & murder. Solve crimes and find love also.
Never knew gardeners could be in the middle of so many mysteries & murder. Solve crimes and find love also.
May 17, 2025
Excellent
Very easy relaxed reading. Excellent to unwind too in holiday. Thoroughly enjoined the mixture of gardening and crime. Into the next set.
Very easy relaxed reading. Excellent to unwind too in holiday. Thoroughly enjoined the mixture of gardening and crime. Into the next set.
July 23, 2024
Finished 1st book. I enjoyed it even though it was a bit long and drawn out. Good characters.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews