Murder and a Sunflower

A Sunrise Flower Shop Cozy Mystery #1

by Elizabeth Clover

In Sunrise City, the flowers are killer, the secrets are thorny, and laughs are always in season.

Running a flower stand was never in my life plan—especially since I always assumed “full sun” was a vacation preference, not a plant’s growing condition.

But here I am, Dove Davis, back in my hometown after trading designer fashion for dirt-covered gardening gloves. My grandma Sharon—a persnickety powerhouse of sass and stubbornness—recently acquired a run-down campsite, and somehow, I got roped into managing the flower stand. I figured it’d be a quiet life. Peaceful. Low stakes.

Then my dog, Ladybug, sniffed out a body in a sunflower patch. So much for that.

The victim? A talented florist who was last seen crafting boutonnieres for an extravagant high-society wedding. Now, the only thing blooming faster than town gossip is my suspect list. With the help of my new friend Rose—who is definitely...not...a jewel thief—we crash the wedding to root out a killer hiding among the guests. But as we dig deeper, we uncover secrets more twisted than a vine…and someone willing to kill to keep them buried.

Armed with my grandma’s gardening tools, an eye for detail, and a very nosy dog, I’m determined to weed out the murderer. But if I’m not careful, I might end up pushing daisies myself.

Grab your gardening gloves and dig into the first book of the Sunrise Flower Shop Cozy Mystery series!

Expect a charming small town, an over-the-top wedding, and a colorful cast of characters—including one very opinionated grandma.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2025

About the author

Hey there! I’m Elizabeth Clover, and I write cozy mysteries full of sunshine, laughs, and pups.

I like to slather on fun and adventure like I put on sunscreen. (Don’t get me started on sunscreen! Ask any other redhead about this topic–we’ll go on for hours!).

Check out my newsletter for a super special reader bonus novella that you can read for free. It’s a complete mystery you can finish with your morning coffee. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, all at @elizabethcloverwrites

Well, I gotta go refill my coffee to get back to work on a mystery that will surprise and delight you.

Reviews

[Tambi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Murder and a Sunflower," Dove Davis finds herself uprooted from a glamorous life in the fashion world after discovering her husband Kit's deceitful plot to use her for insider access to designer labels. Left with nothing but counterfeits, Dove realizes she must leave town before Kit's crime boss, Matteo Ross, makes her disappear for good. At the perfect moment, Matteo's wife, Rose, decides to join Dove as a getaway driver, leading them both from Scottsdale, Arizona to the sunny shores of Dove’s hometown, Sunrise City, California.
With few options at her disposal, Dove embraces her role in helping her grandmother, Sharon Davis, manage a newly acquired campsite. However, the peaceful retreat turns thorny when Ladybug, a German Shepherd who recently entered Dove's life, leads her through towering sunflowers to discover a body buried beneath the blooms. Determined to keep a low profile and avoid being pruned from her new life, Dove, with the help of Sharon and Rose, sets out to solve the mystery and restore order to her world.
Elizabeth Clover plants an intriguing tale with Murder and a Sunflower, a cozy mystery that keeps readers entertained from start to finish. The novel flourishes with a delightful array of characters, each bringing their own unique personalities to the plot. Elizabeth Clover masterfully crafts individuals who are certainly intriguing. The dialogue is captivating, almost as if you can hear the characters speaking as you turn the pages, with interesting exchanges and intriguing conversations that add layers to the story.
Elizabeth Clover's descriptions of the picturesque scenery are vivid and immersive, with subtle character details that add depth to the narrative. Her talent for painting a scene is evident in the way she captures the atmosphere that feels both magical and mysterious. While the storyline maintains interest, it does experience occasional slow patches. But this was easy to overlook as the story also provided a garden of suspects, plenty of twists, and red herrings that keep readers guessing and ultimately lead to a satisfying conclusion.
Overall, Murder and a Sunflower is a blooming success as the first book in the series. Readers will be eager to see how Elizabeth Clover continues to cultivate this series with Murder and a Dahlia. With her knack for crafting compelling mysteries and endearing characters, Elizabeth Clover sets the stage for what promises to be an engaging and delightful series that will keep fans coming back for more. I'm looking forward to the second installment of A Sunrise Flower Shop Cozy Mystery with Murder and a Dahlia.
Book Rating:
Originality: 5.0/5.0
Plot Structure: 5.0/5.0
Pacing: 4.0/5.0
Dialogue: 5.0/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.25/5.0
Cover Design: 4.5/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 4.65/5.0 (Rating will be rounded up due to platforms not allowing partial ratings.)

[Michelle Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“MURDER and a Subflower” by Elizabeth Clover is the first installment in the intriguing murder novel in the “A SUNRISE FLOWER SHOP COZY MYSTERY” series, self-published by Elizabeth Clover.

Dove Davis is running for her life, and every second counts! Her husband, Kit, has dragged her into a perilous world of counterfeit luxury goods alongside his shady boss, Matteo. As the top employee of a high-end boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dove knows a fake when she sees one. But the shocking truth hits her hard when Kit gifts her with a counterfeit Gucci Jackie 1961 shoulder bag – the moment her peaceful life shatters and danger looms. Now, with Matteo on her tail and a target on her back, Dove must flee into the unknown.

On the run and desperate, she teams up with none other than Rose, the wife of her husband's crime lord boss. They seek refuge at a rundown campsite in Sunrise City, California, owned by her grandmother, Sharon, where hiding becomes their only priority. But just when Dove thinks she can catch her breath, fate throws her a curveball! Stumbling upon the lifeless body of Emily, the beloved local florist linked to her grandmother, Dove knows she can't turn away. Someone has ruthlessly taken Emily's life, and justice must be served!

Emboldened by the desire to bring peace to Emily's grieving family, Dove embraces the role of amateur detective, diving headfirst into a tangled web of mystery. Joined by Rose, her fierce grandmother, and her new furry companion, Ladybug, they embark on a thrilling hunt for the killer.

This gripping tale is an exhilarating ride filled with suspense, intrigue, romance, and even a splash of humor! Fans of the Sunrise Cafe series will be delighted by the familiar characters who make cameo appearances, but this story truly centers on Dove’s fierce journey. Elizabeth has penned a fantastic new addition that will leave you on the edge of your seat, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Dove's life, and what fate awaits her and the shadows of her husband's past!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MJ Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

Not the murder, of course. But this book was just fun to read, with strong, likeable characters, interesting relationships, and an intriguing storyline. I did not guess who done it! And with the cliffhanger of an ending I can't wait to see what's coming in the next book. I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary review.

Dove is a city girl who quite enjoys the finer things in life, which makes for a rocky start to her life in hiding at her grandmother's campground, which is quite devoid of all the finer things! Adding to the weirdness is the fact that she's in hiding with the wife of the man she's hiding from! And the dog that appears out of nowhere and adopts her. Then let's not forget the dead body she stumbles across in her grandma's garden. It never does get any less weird! But it did capture my attention from the start and pull me right through the story as Dove tries to figure out how the clues fit together while also trying to figure out how to get back to her old life and husband. Definitely an enjoyable read.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read of Elizabeth Clover. The author gets you right into the story as soon as you start to read her books. Dove Davis and Rose Rossi are going undercover to stay away from Rose's husband who is a crime boss and has counterfeit highend merchandise. They are going to Sunrise City in California to get away from him and try and figure out how they can deal with him. They are staying Dove's Grandmother and trying to stay out of site. When they get there they find a lost dog which Dove names ladybug and when they get to her grandmother's house they find a dead body in the front yard among the sunflowers. Well Dove can't not try and solve this mystery and there ae so many suspect but Dove just keeps looking to see what is going on. It is a great story with lots of twist and turns. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoy a great mystery while they try and figure out who the murder is. I finally went back to the fist book Murder and a Rose to see how it all started.

[Rachel Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dove has a lovely life with a job she loves and an adoring husband. Until her husband gets in with the wrong crowd and she has to go into hiding....with the wife of a person from the wrong crowd. She goes back to her hometown where her grandma lives. Only to get tangled up in a murder mystery. I enjoyed the premise and it has some promise with where the story can go. Although it made no sense to go back to her hometown to hide out. That seems like the first place someone would look. Aside from that, I did enjoy the story. There are many fun characters that I would like to see more of and get to know more of their stories. Dove's grandma is a hoot! The victim seemed really sweet, which made it really sad to see Dove interacting with people who loved her. This book had some humor, sadness, and intrigue. The ending had a few twists. I guessed who the culprit was, although it doesn't quite make sense to me. It was explained but it just isn't really logical to me with the given motive. I think with a different motive, it would have made much more sense.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dove Davis is on the run from mobster Mateo Rossi for uncovering his counterfeit luxury bag scheme. With her is Rossi’s wife Rose, a jewel thief. They go back to Dove’s hometown of Sunrise City to stay with her grandmother, Sharon, who runs a campsite/RV park. After Ladybug (Dove’s newly acquired dog) finds the body of the flower stand owner, Dove vows to bring justice to Emily. Can she find the killer before Rossi finds her?

Clover weaves an entertaining tale of murder that includes eclectic characters, interesting side stories, humorous exchanges and a bit of romance. There are plenty of possible suspects to keep the reader guessing until the very end. I found this book to be a fun and fast read and think other cozy mystery fans would enjoy it.

*I was given an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and a Sunflower is the first cozy mystery in the A Sunrise Flower Shop series. Dove Davis is in Sunrise City hiding out after she uncovered shady business dealings back home. She’s trying to escape the trouble she left behind, but trouble seems to follow her when she stumbles upon a dead body in Sunrise City. Dove is invested in the mystery and finds herself digging into the strange events until she can unravel all of the secrets surrounding it.

I am a cozy mystery fan and this series now has me hooked. I thought this was a great first cozy mystery in the series and it leaves great potential for a long running series. I enjoyed all of the characters and getting to know them. This book pulled me in from the first chapter and I didn’t want to put it down as I followed along through the twists and turns. The mystery kept me guessing and I enjoyed the ending. This was a great start to a new cozy mystery series and I look forward to seeing more.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dove Davis has had to leave her home & husband in a hurry, because she’s upset a counterfeiter of high value goods. Amazingly, she is driven into hiding by his soon to be ex-wife! They have gone to live with her grandmother who has a big love of all flowers, but, it seems, especially sunflowers. The night of their arrival they are at the campsite where Dove is going to work. Dove’s brother Simon comes rushing up being chased by a wolf, he says! Turns out to be a large dog, who is named by Dove “Ladybug” because a ladybug had landed on her nose. Ladybug adopts them all and on going into her Grandmother’s garden, Ladybug rushes off & uncovers a dead body! Finding out who murdered the person and also who stole an heirloom necklace becomes Dove’s self-appointed job, but, the local detective is happy!

[Bibliophile Foodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a charming and cozy mystery, I had a great time reading it. I instantly loved the warm, small-town setting and the cast of quirky, lovable characters.

The story follows Dove, who returns to her hometown and ends up staying with her feisty grandma at her campground. Things get complicated fast when a local florist is found murdered in a sunflower patch, and Dove just can’t help but get involved. There were so many suspects and secrets, I was genuinely guessing until the end.

I really liked the way the mystery unfolded, with clues sprinkled throughout and little twists that kept me hooked.

Overall, this was an easy and fun read. I’m definitely excited to continue the series and see what other mysteries Dove gets caught up in.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed the contents of the book for the most part, but the end and figuring out the mystery was kind of rushed to me. there were a lot of aspects of the crime — i feel like a character was just randomly picked and then thrown in jail. the detective whisked her away and that was that. some details there just didn’t add up in my head.

then the second epilogue, after making matteo the biggest enemy, i personally don’t see he would just come find dove and ask her for help. not with how he was painted. the whole thing with teddy was set up being the ‘boss’ but it wasn’t acted on. maybe in the second book? but i think it should’ve been discussed a bit more..

i did like the story of dove having to run from him, the reconnection with her husband was short but made sense for circumstances.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH WOW this was interesting story. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. It was a page turner and the suspense will shocked you 😮. It was a cozy summer night read . Now Dove Davis is back in Sunrise City she has to hiding out after she has uncovered shady business dealings back home. But time was running out for her will she be able to escape from the danger in this moment or will the secrets come out all over town and will the culprit be caught right now.
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book and via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones

[Books Magically Appear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dove and Ladybug do not find the peace and calm they were hoping for. They go on adventure of who did it, when they find the body in the garden. The gossip and drama is turned way up in this one. It was a fun, adventurous tale that left me with a dizzying whirlwind of facts. The feel of this book was silly in an uplifting sort of way. The way they all came together to solve this was a warming feeling. The ending will knock your socks off. The author did a wonderful job at keeping it entertaining without rushing to the end. It will have you giggling as well. I definitely recommend this if you have time to sit and drink your favorite beverage, you won’t want to put it down.

[Goldie Fishbaum · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading the prequel and loving it, giving it 5 stars, I had high hopes for this book but OMG it was soooooooo bad. Not only were there two woman who really didn’t know each other on the lame, there was a jewel thief, a murder (and the murderer’s reason was they always wanted to go to Italy to eat authentic Italian food), two lame brothers who didn’t know each other existed were reunited , a counterfeit scheme, and so much more nonsense, with equally bad dialogue. To top it off there were two epilogues which were even dumber than the book. I had all intentions of reading the next book in the series but after reading this I need to give my eyes an eye enema.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series and judging by this one it should be a great series. Dove is on the run with her new friend Rose who just happens to be the wife of the mob boss that Dove is running from. She's run home to her grandma and unfortunately is drawn into a murder mystery when her new dog finds a body in her grandma's flower garden, so not quite the low profile she was hoping for.
A great quick read with a good plot and characters, plenty of twists and turns and suspects, I definitely look forward to book 2.

[Stella Brighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author was new to me, but I'd heard about her and wanted to give this one a shot. What's not to love about a character called Dove? I loved the chemistry between her and Sharon, the bellicose grandmother, and after chuckling over this town's obsession with flower stalls, I settled down to what turned out to be a pretty good book. The pacing was great, the campsite was quirky, and there were some interesting side characters. And we've got a wedding. And a dog. Ladybug. The killer isn't obvious, and every chapter ends with a teaser that leaves you wanting more. Recommended.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in the series. The main character is Dove Davis. Dove is on the run from Matteo her husbands boss. She found out about his business of remaking expensive items such as a Gucci bag. She sold these kind of items and her husband would steal them for his boss Matteo. Now Matteo wants her dead. She ends up at her Grandmother's place and right in the middle of a murder. As she tries to figure out who did what, Matteo keeps getting closer. Can she figure out who did the murder before Matteo figures out where she is?

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 2 out of 5]

A woman runs away from her husband (who just "happened" to get in wrong with a mobster), but goes to her grandmother, in her hometown, and expects not to be found. Oh, and she travels with the mobster's wife, an accomplished jewel thief. She takes calls from her former boss. Way to hide, Dove! Oh, yeah - her husband gets to visit her for dinner; her childhood friend agrees to role-play, but the scene isn't in this book -- one hope it's in the next.

The cliffhanger isn't.

This entire book is superficial and less-than-credible.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dove and her friend Rose are hiding out with Dove's grandma Sharon who has her finger in everybody's business. She gets Dove to her with the trailer park and suddenly a dog appears, she is named Lady Bug. Sharon has a flower garden in her front yard that is almost maze like and Dove finds a body among the Sunflowers. Lots of twists and turns to solve this mystery but a great story.
I received an arc and this is my honest review.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought that when Dove hides away in her hometown she gets roped into solving a murder case? A wonderful cozy mystery with quirky characters that will make you smile and enjoy the story. And a storyline that is fun to follow along with enough surprises along the way. Wonderful to read.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

My First Elizabeth Clover Mystery, Awesome.

I don't like cliffhanger, but it there it was at the end and I don't have the next book. The characters in this story are developing very well and most are likeable. The murderer was a complete surprise, just the way I like my cozy mysteries. Great start to this series.

[Dawn Ireland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of errors

An editor was listed in the front of the book, so what happened? Dove’s husband, Kit, was mentioned a few times and he showed up in one scene. Matteo was mentioned several times, as the reason why Dove was in hiding and he showed up at the end. The story made little sense and the ploys didn’t play out. I’d fire that editor and get a refund.

[Chastity Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable cozy mystery. I had so much fun reading this one over the summer. I cannot remember specifics as I read it in the summer of 2025 but I know I loved the characters and the banter. The murder really was a great focus of the story and didn't bog it down.

[Mariko McCrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Read

There were multiple mini mysteries all wrapped up within this main mystery.

Some of the mini mysteries, I had an idea on but there's still storylines set up to be resolved in the next book and I'm so excited to read it

[Katherine "Kj" Joslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up as a buddy read for a reading challenge and was pleasantly surprised. It was a cute cozy that had a quick pace and fun characters. I picked up the next book in the series to see what happens next and can foresee reading this series again! Pick it up for a fun time!

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid mystery with not too many moments of inspiration. Logic plays the biggest part of the deductive process. Nicely done.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written cozy mystery with likable characters and entertaining dialogue. I look forward to more the next one in the series.

[Princesspeach · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very fast paced. I like that but it was definitely lacking the cozy atmosphere that I'm used to in a cozy mystery. I will not be continuing the series.

[E'Who'Reads'a'Thousand'Mysteries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vibrant characters

This high quality cozy mystery is loaded with vibrant characters and the dialogue flows well too. Glad to see another book in the series for my next borrow...

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of mystery

This is a new to me author. I enjoyed reading the story. The ending was really good and I look forward to seeing what happens next.