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Retired Assassin's Guide #2
The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting
Assassin. Gardener. Reluctant cat adoptee.
All Dante wants is to be left alone in the small New Zealand town no one’s heard of. No drama. No bodies. No questions.
But then, of course, the orchid convention comes to town, and Dante is knee deep in suspects, intrigue, and red herrings.
On top of all this, Dante must navigate a mysterious woman from his past, cat issues, and the terrifying prospect of a first date.
And he has to do it while fighting his instinct to solve problems the old-fashioned way: permanently.
The ‘Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting’ is a cosy paranormal mystery with found family, ghosts, a grumpy assassin and a sunshine gardener.
Come for the murder, stay for the cat, the gardens, and the chaos.
All Dante wants is to be left alone in the small New Zealand town no one’s heard of. No drama. No bodies. No questions.
But then, of course, the orchid convention comes to town, and Dante is knee deep in suspects, intrigue, and red herrings.
On top of all this, Dante must navigate a mysterious woman from his past, cat issues, and the terrifying prospect of a first date.
And he has to do it while fighting his instinct to solve problems the old-fashioned way: permanently.
The ‘Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting’ is a cosy paranormal mystery with found family, ghosts, a grumpy assassin and a sunshine gardener.
Come for the murder, stay for the cat, the gardens, and the chaos.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2025
About the author
Naomi Kuttner
11 books280 followersNaomi Kuttner writes urban fantasy and cozy mysteries.
Living in New Zealand, Naomi spends her free time (ha!) raising her twin son and daughter, writing, taking the dog to the beach, and getting out on the water whenever possible.
Living in New Zealand, Naomi spends her free time (ha!) raising her twin son and daughter, writing, taking the dog to the beach, and getting out on the water whenever possible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 450 reviews
January 7, 2026
I have to confess I really enjoyed reading this book,
So at the others in this series I now wish to look!
This is a cosy murder mystery with characters who
Had me laughing at their antics all the way through!
An ex MI6 assassin has retired to this New Zealand town
But not being left alone brings on many a frown.
He's not used to being friendly or staying in one place
But killing again would bring on his disgrace!
When a symposium for Orchid Hunters comes into town
One of the locals collapses and stays down,
Was it a heart attack or murder, he needs to discover
With the help of his friends and another!
Get ready for laugh out loud comments and moments, too,
As the investigation is carried out by this crew.
With secrets, discoveries and so much more
This is the kind of read that I adore!
So at the others in this series I now wish to look!
This is a cosy murder mystery with characters who
Had me laughing at their antics all the way through!
An ex MI6 assassin has retired to this New Zealand town
But not being left alone brings on many a frown.
He's not used to being friendly or staying in one place
But killing again would bring on his disgrace!
When a symposium for Orchid Hunters comes into town
One of the locals collapses and stays down,
Was it a heart attack or murder, he needs to discover
With the help of his friends and another!
Get ready for laugh out loud comments and moments, too,
As the investigation is carried out by this crew.
With secrets, discoveries and so much more
This is the kind of read that I adore!
January 19, 2026
I absolutely love this series. Dante is so controlled and to be surrounde by Charlie and Eleanor just makes a hilarious situation. The morally ambiguous situations are added to with the friendship of Marcus, the police officer. The mystery is always interesting giving you a few options, has hilarious setups, and wraps up with a satisfying ending. Already looking forward to the next release. A cozy mystery must read for anyone who enjoys Richard Osman type stories.
Read
December 21, 2025Cute, but ultimately a little too silly and soft for me. DNF
February 3, 2026
This story is quite boring. The whole discussion of orchids feels very repetitive. The author has some interesting characters with unique past-times and she should use this more.
Charlie can see and speak with the dead, yet we only see 2 ghosts in the entire novel. I'm sadly done with this series.
Charlie can see and speak with the dead, yet we only see 2 ghosts in the entire novel. I'm sadly done with this series.
June 1, 2026
This mystery wasn’t as compelling as the first novel - perhaps I’m not just interested enough in orchids. But i get a kick out of the trio so I will continue to read this series
January 10, 2026
This is book 2 in the Retired Assassin mystery series but I was able to pick it up easily without having read book 1 first. The characters were instantly memorable and enough of their backstories introduced organically as the story unfolded to make me feel like I understood them. That’s not to say I don’t recommend reading book 1 however… more on that shortly!
I absolutely love love love the characters in this book, especially the core three of Dante (retired assassin), Eleanor (semi-retired con-artist) and Charlie (gardens and sees ghosts). They form an adorably quirky found family that just instantly worked for me and conveniently also works well in terms of combining their talents into investigating murder and mayhem!
The plot is full of warmth and humour, and is inevitably somewhat far-fetched but forms a clever and entertaining mystery plot anyway, if you are willing to suspend your disbelief. You begin by accepting that a retired assassin might attend their own version of online AA meetings to support them in abstaining from murder, one day and one annoying person at a time. Personally, I was sold immediately and happily went all in on everyone and everything in this book, upto, including and especially, Dante’s cat.
The paranormal elements, weaving together Charlie’s spiritual sensitivities with New Zealand cultural beliefs, flora and fauna, was lovely and integrated well to bring both local flavour and a touch of magic to proceedings. I was particularly touched by Charlie’s meeting with an old childhood friend at one point, in a way that had never occurred to me before and yet carried real emotional impact.
In short, this story was a brilliant read – right up my street, with a touch of everything I enjoy: friendship, the paranormal, murder mystery, found family, humour, a fascinating setting, a little romance and a cat. All written with warmth and wit, and very easy to get lost in.
I am definitely going back to catch myself up on the first book in the series now and have bookmarked the author in keen anticipation of more to come!
I absolutely love love love the characters in this book, especially the core three of Dante (retired assassin), Eleanor (semi-retired con-artist) and Charlie (gardens and sees ghosts). They form an adorably quirky found family that just instantly worked for me and conveniently also works well in terms of combining their talents into investigating murder and mayhem!
The plot is full of warmth and humour, and is inevitably somewhat far-fetched but forms a clever and entertaining mystery plot anyway, if you are willing to suspend your disbelief. You begin by accepting that a retired assassin might attend their own version of online AA meetings to support them in abstaining from murder, one day and one annoying person at a time. Personally, I was sold immediately and happily went all in on everyone and everything in this book, upto, including and especially, Dante’s cat.
The paranormal elements, weaving together Charlie’s spiritual sensitivities with New Zealand cultural beliefs, flora and fauna, was lovely and integrated well to bring both local flavour and a touch of magic to proceedings. I was particularly touched by Charlie’s meeting with an old childhood friend at one point, in a way that had never occurred to me before and yet carried real emotional impact.
In short, this story was a brilliant read – right up my street, with a touch of everything I enjoy: friendship, the paranormal, murder mystery, found family, humour, a fascinating setting, a little romance and a cat. All written with warmth and wit, and very easy to get lost in.
I am definitely going back to catch myself up on the first book in the series now and have bookmarked the author in keen anticipation of more to come!
April 13, 2026
I love this series. I can't read them one after the other, as they really are a bit silly and my logical mind would reject the characters' antics after a time. That said, Dante is a wonderful main character. He reminds me of Bruce the shark from Finding Nemo, including the existence of an AA (Assassin's Anonymous) support group. The existence of ghosts adds depth to plots in unexpected ways, as does the sweet nature of Charlie the gardener.
Dante's fury at the attack on his cat is both admirable and hilarious as it invokes a strong need for revenge and retribution. He has to find alternatives to his historical means, though, and hence the plot is thickened!
Side plots regarding the budding romance between art fence Eleanor and Inspector Avery are amusing albeit requiring considerable "suspension of reality".
I will likely read another of these in time.
Dante's fury at the attack on his cat is both admirable and hilarious as it invokes a strong need for revenge and retribution. He has to find alternatives to his historical means, though, and hence the plot is thickened!
Side plots regarding the budding romance between art fence Eleanor and Inspector Avery are amusing albeit requiring considerable "suspension of reality".
I will likely read another of these in time.
December 25, 2025
In the first book, I enjoyed the characters and their interesting quirks. In this 2nd book, they all seemed watered down and more "normal". I wasn't crazy about the orchid plot line either.
I would have liked to see more of Charlie's abilities and a lot more of Dante - he seemed more like a secondary character this time with Eleanor in the spotlight.
Again, there were a couple of errors ie. I think words were attributed to the wrong person near the end of the book (unless I read it wrong but I don't think so ).
Another year until book 3.....
I would have liked to see more of Charlie's abilities and a lot more of Dante - he seemed more like a secondary character this time with Eleanor in the spotlight.
Again, there were a couple of errors ie. I think words were attributed to the wrong person near the end of the book (unless I read it wrong but I don't think so ).
Another year until book 3.....
December 30, 2025
Love it
This is a well-written comedic whodunit. I loved the first one as well and can't wait for the next one.
This is a well-written comedic whodunit. I loved the first one as well and can't wait for the next one.
April 26, 2026
Set in New Zealand, I loved the small town picturesque vibes. The book is a cosy fun mysterious read with great humour; Assassins Anonymous in particular make me chuckle too much.
This is the second book in the Retired Assassin’s Guide series and I wish I had of read the first book prior to get to know the characters better but I don’t think it affected my enjoyment of the book. I will be going back to read it now though as I want to know more.
I really loved the concept of a retired assassin, someone cold, methodical and practical, reluctantly adopting a cat and becoming best friends with it. The surprise at the end and his reaction too was adorable. Dante is a great character, I love watching him adapt to ‘normal’ life and struggling not to solve all of his problems the assassin way.
I loved the mix of characters and personalities. I wasn’t expecting the paranormal element and wish it was pursued a little bit more but maybe this is something that features more in other books in the series.
Overall, this was 4⭐️ for me. It’s fun, quirky, well paced and an easy read. I can’t wait to read more of the series.
This is the second book in the Retired Assassin’s Guide series and I wish I had of read the first book prior to get to know the characters better but I don’t think it affected my enjoyment of the book. I will be going back to read it now though as I want to know more.
I really loved the concept of a retired assassin, someone cold, methodical and practical, reluctantly adopting a cat and becoming best friends with it. The surprise at the end and his reaction too was adorable. Dante is a great character, I love watching him adapt to ‘normal’ life and struggling not to solve all of his problems the assassin way.
I loved the mix of characters and personalities. I wasn’t expecting the paranormal element and wish it was pursued a little bit more but maybe this is something that features more in other books in the series.
Overall, this was 4⭐️ for me. It’s fun, quirky, well paced and an easy read. I can’t wait to read more of the series.
July 21, 2026
Loved it as much as the first!
What a fun, unique series with a wonderful mishmash of characters. The series has a bit of something for everyone: murder mystery, generally friendly ghosts, espionage, relationships, found family, and more. I cannot wait to read the next one later this year!
What a fun, unique series with a wonderful mishmash of characters. The series has a bit of something for everyone: murder mystery, generally friendly ghosts, espionage, relationships, found family, and more. I cannot wait to read the next one later this year!
September 25, 2026
Still great but nothing can live up to the first.
December 31, 2025
*3.5 Stars*
September 8, 2026
3.75 stars rounded up. These characters are just that.....characters. They are delightful. A very good read. Changing to a 4 because I am still thinking about this one. I am still thinking about this book and these quirky characters. I am changing my rating to a solid 4.
December 21, 2025
Intelligent storytelling, great characters, and unusual plot elements make this a really great series and entertaining read.
Rating: 5⭐️
I love this series so much. Intelligent storytelling, great characters, and unusual plot elements make this a really great series and entertaining read.
A paranormal cozy murder mystery that takes place in a unique small town in New Zealand, the author continues to explore her fascinating town and its unique inhabitants, many of whom have secret identities and unique backgrounds.
Including Dante, retired assassin, master wet worker, reluctant gardener and now cat owner. He’s trying to learn how to integrate into society, stop being an assassin (no small task when killers still pop up), and have a “normal life”. His small group of friends now include a neighbor and former con artist, Eleanor, and Charlie, a gardener who sees and communicates with ghosts.
Along with his AA group/(Assassins Anonymous), Dante has a full time just getting into the day. Here it’s an Orchid Society holding a special event in the town where events of the story are set to take place.
Kuttner uses New Zealand, from its gorgeous flora and fauna, to its connection to nature and its people here with the orchid and a special moth. The moth in particular turns into a powerful and beautiful aspect of the story.
Charlie, sweet yet deep in his beliefs connected to the land is one character who is evolving into a spectacular person. So is Eleanor. Rock on, Scooby gang!
The writing is so good. The flow of the story is fast, and the entire book goes way too quickly because it’s over before I’m ready for it to be.
Highly recommended. But start with the first book and then read on. Fabulous!
Love the simplicity of the covers.
Retired Assassin's Guide (3 book series):
- [x] The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening #1
- [x] The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting #2
- [ ] The Retired Assassin's Guide to Amateur Theatrics #3 - Dec 7, 2026
Rating: 5⭐️
I love this series so much. Intelligent storytelling, great characters, and unusual plot elements make this a really great series and entertaining read.
A paranormal cozy murder mystery that takes place in a unique small town in New Zealand, the author continues to explore her fascinating town and its unique inhabitants, many of whom have secret identities and unique backgrounds.
Including Dante, retired assassin, master wet worker, reluctant gardener and now cat owner. He’s trying to learn how to integrate into society, stop being an assassin (no small task when killers still pop up), and have a “normal life”. His small group of friends now include a neighbor and former con artist, Eleanor, and Charlie, a gardener who sees and communicates with ghosts.
Along with his AA group/(Assassins Anonymous), Dante has a full time just getting into the day. Here it’s an Orchid Society holding a special event in the town where events of the story are set to take place.
Kuttner uses New Zealand, from its gorgeous flora and fauna, to its connection to nature and its people here with the orchid and a special moth. The moth in particular turns into a powerful and beautiful aspect of the story.
Charlie, sweet yet deep in his beliefs connected to the land is one character who is evolving into a spectacular person. So is Eleanor. Rock on, Scooby gang!
The writing is so good. The flow of the story is fast, and the entire book goes way too quickly because it’s over before I’m ready for it to be.
Highly recommended. But start with the first book and then read on. Fabulous!
Love the simplicity of the covers.
Retired Assassin's Guide (3 book series):
- [x] The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening #1
- [x] The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting #2
- [ ] The Retired Assassin's Guide to Amateur Theatrics #3 - Dec 7, 2026
December 25, 2025
lovely read
Not quiiiiite as good as 1 but close. Happily, all the characters (including the cat) are growing. The whodunnit part is perhaps a bit predictable but still fun. Easily skimmed-in a good way- when you want to be entertained without working too hard at it. Looking forward to #3!
Not quiiiiite as good as 1 but close. Happily, all the characters (including the cat) are growing. The whodunnit part is perhaps a bit predictable but still fun. Easily skimmed-in a good way- when you want to be entertained without working too hard at it. Looking forward to #3!
February 27, 2026
Another 5-star read in this series! I love the paranormal, retired assassin, and found family aspects. And the mystery is always top notch— I don’t give two craps about orchids, but I enjoyed every single second of this book.
Read
April 24, 2026The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting is the second book in this series, but it can be read standalone, which is what I did.
The story follows retired assassin Dante who hopes to enjoy a new, quiet life with his cat named…Cat. Unfortunately, when the Orchid convention comes to town, complete with an intriguing albeit a bit stuck up group of gardeners, Dante ends up exactly where he doesn’t want to be - investigating a mystery. Not to mention juggling the other normalities that come with being a regular, retired man.
I was interested in The Retired Assassin’s Guide because the plot sounded like a grumpy James Bond trying to enjoy his retirement, not make friends, and stay in the shadows with his shaken martini, but the book is actually a lot more focused on family and friendship. He’s trying his best to start a new life for himself, one where he doesn’t have to keep one eye open while he sleeps and if that means trying to be a better person, then that’s what he’ll do.
But, of course, it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery without a little intrigue. And the mystery here is pretty fun. Readers are introduced to a whole host of characters, from gossipy old ladies to a gardener who can actually see and talk to ghosts. I enjoyed the little details and the way the characters are described, but the book definitely started out slow for me. It took a while for me to really get into the story and I found myself putting it down a lot. Once things picked up though, it was a fun time that reminded me of some of the light humor in The Thursday Murder Club.
The story definitely focuses a lot more on character development than it does on the overarching mystery, so if you’re looking for something that’s full of crazy twists and turns, something that will make you want to desperately keep turning the pages, you won’t find that here. But what you will find is a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist and a focus on found family and friendship.
The story follows retired assassin Dante who hopes to enjoy a new, quiet life with his cat named…Cat. Unfortunately, when the Orchid convention comes to town, complete with an intriguing albeit a bit stuck up group of gardeners, Dante ends up exactly where he doesn’t want to be - investigating a mystery. Not to mention juggling the other normalities that come with being a regular, retired man.
I was interested in The Retired Assassin’s Guide because the plot sounded like a grumpy James Bond trying to enjoy his retirement, not make friends, and stay in the shadows with his shaken martini, but the book is actually a lot more focused on family and friendship. He’s trying his best to start a new life for himself, one where he doesn’t have to keep one eye open while he sleeps and if that means trying to be a better person, then that’s what he’ll do.
But, of course, it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery without a little intrigue. And the mystery here is pretty fun. Readers are introduced to a whole host of characters, from gossipy old ladies to a gardener who can actually see and talk to ghosts. I enjoyed the little details and the way the characters are described, but the book definitely started out slow for me. It took a while for me to really get into the story and I found myself putting it down a lot. Once things picked up though, it was a fun time that reminded me of some of the light humor in The Thursday Murder Club.
The story definitely focuses a lot more on character development than it does on the overarching mystery, so if you’re looking for something that’s full of crazy twists and turns, something that will make you want to desperately keep turning the pages, you won’t find that here. But what you will find is a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist and a focus on found family and friendship.
April 21, 2026
The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting was brilliant. It was such a fun and cosy read. I adored the story and thought the concept was really good.
The cover was cute and it definitely gave off the cosy vibes the book provides. I loved the colours and thought it was an excellent design job.
The writing is really good and I thought the story flowed well. The book is written in third person and does feature multiple points of view. Although we do mostly follow Dante
I loved the setting. The book is set in a small town in New Zealand. This town sounds so idyllic and I definitely thought it was perfect for the book.
The cast of characters was wonderful and extremely well developed. Ioved Dante. He made me laugh and I thought he was a good man despite the past!
Without reservation, I one hundred percent recommend The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting! I can't wait to check out the other books in the series.
The cover was cute and it definitely gave off the cosy vibes the book provides. I loved the colours and thought it was an excellent design job.
The writing is really good and I thought the story flowed well. The book is written in third person and does feature multiple points of view. Although we do mostly follow Dante
I loved the setting. The book is set in a small town in New Zealand. This town sounds so idyllic and I definitely thought it was perfect for the book.
The cast of characters was wonderful and extremely well developed. Ioved Dante. He made me laugh and I thought he was a good man despite the past!
Without reservation, I one hundred percent recommend The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting! I can't wait to check out the other books in the series.
April 23, 2026
I finished this book in a day! I was so excited to be back with these dry humored characters! There is something so hilarious in a retired assassin trying to find ways to solve him problems that do not include just immediately “taking them out.”
In this book an Orchid Hunters convention comes through town but when one person from the convention suddenly passes away it is up to this unlikely group of people to figure out if it was from a heart attack or something more sinister.
If you are looking for a cozy witty mystery these books are going to be something you might want to check out! The Retired Assassins Guid to Orchid Hunting is the second book in its series, so you need to read the first to be properly introduced to everybody but i highly recommend these books!
In this book an Orchid Hunters convention comes through town but when one person from the convention suddenly passes away it is up to this unlikely group of people to figure out if it was from a heart attack or something more sinister.
If you are looking for a cozy witty mystery these books are going to be something you might want to check out! The Retired Assassins Guid to Orchid Hunting is the second book in its series, so you need to read the first to be properly introduced to everybody but i highly recommend these books!
June 26, 2026
Super cute book again, I think I liked the first one more but loved Dante’s attachment to his cat in this one. Also love each individual character and how they bring something great to the team, however not really a flower girl so kept losing track of the orchid storyline but other than that a cosy read!
August 16, 2026
This is a “just buy it” series. This was the change of pace in my usual reading that I wanted/needed. Interesting characters (I want in on this group of friends), great story with a twist, a little paranormal help along the way, and set in a far away place. I would sit in my car to finish a chapter well after I parked. Waiting with anticipation for book 3.
April 19, 2026
The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting by Naomi Kuttner
This one was just plain fun. Dante is back! He is a retired agent, still grumpy, and starting to enjoy the whole cat situation. When an orchid symposium comes to town, you already know things are about to get exciting.
A mystery drops right in their lap when one of the big orchid growers turns up unalive, and the whole crew gets pulled back together to figure it out. What follows is a mix of chaos, laughs, and fun sleuthing. You’ll be wandering through backyards, side-eyeing every suspect, and wondering who wore the fedora.
The characters are great! Plus, it tosses in some paranormal twists, found family, and laughs.
This one was just plain fun. Dante is back! He is a retired agent, still grumpy, and starting to enjoy the whole cat situation. When an orchid symposium comes to town, you already know things are about to get exciting.
A mystery drops right in their lap when one of the big orchid growers turns up unalive, and the whole crew gets pulled back together to figure it out. What follows is a mix of chaos, laughs, and fun sleuthing. You’ll be wandering through backyards, side-eyeing every suspect, and wondering who wore the fedora.
The characters are great! Plus, it tosses in some paranormal twists, found family, and laughs.
Read
December 19, 2025This series delights me and I'm so sad it's only on KU because I want to recommend it to so many people!
January 26, 2026
I love the understated humour of this series, as well as the characters. Will definitely read again, and look for more books by this author.
March 16, 2026
So cozy. Also, I quite enjoy how much Dante loves his cat.
(Read with 👀)
(Read with 👀)
March 26, 2026
This was a cute wee read! I loved that it took place in NZ and loved the orchid plot. Was a tiny bit predictable but it was still fun anyway
April 3, 2026
I totally enjoyed this. She keeps you guessing all the way. I enjoyed the slow pace and lack of violence. The characters were pleasant...you would want them in your neighborhood.
April 15, 2026
Fun book, almost bailed from cringe at the scene that ends with Ketchup, but glad I didn't.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 450 reviews