Carnations & Collateral

by Jade Curry

A hometown celebration, a deadly blast and fireworks with fatal consequences.

The Labor Day Carnations Festival should’ve gone off with a bang, but not like this. When a fiery explosion at the fireworks finale leaves prominent town matriarch Maxine Whitaker dead, florist Iris Bennett finds herself tangled in a mystery as layered as her floral arrangements.

The red carnations she dyed for the festival now feel like a warning especially as whispers of sabotage, secrets, and long-buried grudges ripple through the town.

With Winston, her one-eyed Persian cat, keeping close watch, and Detective Mark Cooper asking all the wrong questions, Iris begins digging into secrets someone desperately wanted to stay hidden. But in a town where everyone owes someone something, collateral damage is inevitable.

As Iris follows the trail of smoke and betrayal, she’ll have to how much truth is too much and is justice worth the cost?

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Awesome
It was very entertaining and delightful. Great easy read. Characters were charming and endearing as well as a bit complex. Loved it.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Carnations & Collateral is a great story about Iris a Florist and her special, clever cat Winston. Something happens at the Labor Day Carnation Festival and a mystery starts. Iris assists Detective Mark to look for the clues as she interprets clues in a different way and they work as a team.
Excellent story and series that I highly recommend you read.

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2025

About the author

Welcome friend!

Jade Curry is a cozy mystery author inspired by slow mornings, good coffee, and the familiar charm of friendly neighborhoods. A longtime lover of crime stories and classic whodunits, she enjoys creating stories that feel like a warm escape at the end of a busy day. And she knows busy.

Jade lives in the U.S. with her family, where most days include warm drinks, relaxing moments, and the simple joy of spending time with the people she loves. Those quiet, everyday routines often spark the ideas that grow into her books.

When she isn’t writing, she enjoys exploring local shops, visiting craft stores, and planning her next weekend getaway.

Settle in, get comfortable, and enjoy the cozy mysteries waiting for you here.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This charming mystery was full of small-town quirks and characters that, all to often, had secrets they wanted to buty - deep. Town florist, Iris, and her one eyed cat Winston, are determined to ensure the proper killer of the town bully, Maxine Whitaker, is revealed - much to Mark's frusteration (local police and Iris' self appointed safety guardian). While she may not go looking for trouble, Iris does nothing to discourage it (including refusing to comply with giving a heads-up when needed). Her "just couldn't let it go" didn't hold weight with me, and only frusterated me as I read further into the book. Honestly, if you enjoy a heroine who willingly places herself in questionable situations, withholds pertinent clues, and disregards her promises, then you will likely find this mystery right up your alley.
As for the mystery, full of red herrings the final clue doesn't have meaning until Iris explains the history of it. Left little room for determining the culprit until revealed. Again, the story was solid, lacking any loopholes or significant grammar errors, it simply didn't hit the right notes for me.

I voluntarily reviewed a gift copy of this book. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Labor Day Carnation Festival goes with a bang ,it has those around a little harangue. Fraught and it’s not for nought that Iris Bennet finds herself amidst the flowers ,just not like this and an investigative hours . It was red flowers that she’d died for the festival,not planning on having someone died . But this is just what has occurred ,though it seems a little absurd. Well it is Detective Mark Cooper who isn’t actually doing his job ,nothing odd there but it does mean that the intrepid sleuth Iris and one eyed cat Winston does with a purr and showing she does care…Maxine Whitaker is dead ,but there’s no time to be filled with dread as Iris know ,every second counts when trying to gather the clues and their recounts of the last hours to create a picture of the previous and present and maybe find the devious intentions and if there’s anything worthy of mentions to bring to the fore for evidence setting a precedence … Creative writing that’s oh so inviting and all . With this story ,had a ball.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time, the murder happens during the fireworks display!

It’s that time of year again in Cedar Grove again, time for the Labor Day Carnations Festival. Maxine Whitaker is in charge of the event and once again, she is angering everyone she speaks to, finding fault with everything. So when she winds up dead, there are plenty of suspects to pick from, which of course, Iris does, well, along with her one-eyed cat Winston. I really enjoy these Iris Bennett Cozy Mysteries. There’s plenty of action and danger. They are all fast-paced and Winston is amazing with how he finds clues. And we also have just a hint of romance between Iris and a certain detective. All of these stories are the perfect escape from a bad day, so just sit back, start reading and be taken into the world of Jade Curry’s imagination!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is time for the Labor Day Carnation Festival and Iris Bennett, a florist and her incredibly brilliant clue finding one-eyed cat Winston are excited to be there. That was until the town matriarch, Maxine Whitaker is found dead during the finale of the festival. Who wants her dead and why? With Winston's help, Iris decides to help find a murderer especially since Detective Mark Cooper was chasing things that was not really relevant to the case. What are the secrets being held? What did Maxine Whitaker do to people in the town. Iris and Winston are on the case and each clue Winston finds brings them closer to a killer and danger. This is a really fun, fast paced read that keeps you turning pages and guessing right to the end. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely cozy murder mystery set in Cedar Grove. Iris is the local florist but is such a character for getting into stuff she really shouldn’t. Such an intriguing story woven with secrets and blackmail. It kept me guessing till quite near the end who the perpetrator was. Winston well how adorable a one eyed cat who likes to be quiet mischievous he made the perfect partner for Iris.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

Jade Curry

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carnations & Collateral is a great story about Iris a Florist and her special, clever cat Winston. Something happens at the Labor Day Carnation Festival and a mystery starts. Iris assists Detective Mark to look for the clues as she interprets clues in a different way and they work as a team.
Excellent story and series that I highly recommend you read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia Woodlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superbly written mystery; Winston and Iris make a great team, and Winston's sarcasm adds so much to this wonderful book. This book has a little bit of everything, which is what makes it so great. The mystery in this book kept me guessing right until the end, which I absolutely loved. I will definitely be reading more books by this author. I couldn't put this book down because it had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book; you will not be disappointed.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really fun Iris is a florist and she is providing flowers for the Carnation festival. When the fire works go off a woman is killed and Iris investigates. This was a exciting read and I recommend it.