Deck With Flowers

by Elizabeth Cadell

Madame Landini’s memoirs promised to be sensational. Rodney, who had captured them for his publishing house, and Oliver, his literary agent friend who would handle the business side of the book, could congratulate themselves on a brilliant coup. But having covered her childhood as a Russian princess, her years of exile in Paris, the discovery of her phenomenal voice, the prima donna reached her first husband’s death—‘man overboard’—and declared she would write no more. Rodney suspected there was more to this than a display of temperament. He scented a mystery . . . and he was right.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Violet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.

Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.

She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously funny

Perhaps my favourite Cadell so far. This one has a really perplexing mystery, an engaging love story and a nice twist or two. It is full of eccentric yet likeable characters, and, one of the things I like best in Cadell's books, a real mix of generations and people from all over. Lots of funny family interactions and a satisfying ending. Read it!

[Sharon Stine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisty plot that kept me turning pages. Quirky characters I enjoyed

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story from a master storytelling. The believable mystery unfolds slowly but surely, with sympathetic main characters who get their happy ending..

Having read several of her books in a row now, I'm amazed at how Cadell can do pages of more-or-less ordinary conversation and keep it interesting. I also really enjoy the way her romances develop in a realistic way, with feelings and attractions incorporated into the main story rather than being the main story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another charmer by Cadell. Stayed up most of the night to finish it.

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a very odd book. It began, nothing ever really happened, and then it ended. 🥴

[Ruth A. Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much improved proofreading

The story is typical Elizabeth Cadell: nice characters, gentle romance, pleasant mystery. I always love her.

The real news is that Amazon seems to have noticed that the proofreading in last month's book was an absolute disaster after deteriorating steadily through the last several books. This book was clearly done carefully by a more professional eye and you'll be very pleased.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written so many years ago, but still so enjoyable...no 4-letter words, no graphic sex, but lost of intelligent repartee, and very likeable characters.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

see review of the Golden Collar. no exotic locations in this book, though some characters have spent time in India and our heroine has ties to Switzerland

[Bonnie Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites!

There is a mystery, there is romance, there are many interesting characters and happy ending. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story with a little mystery!

[Terry McDermid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fun Read With Some Mystery

Elizabeth Cadell charms with this story of Rodney and his time getting Madame Landini's memoirs published. Twists and turns, unrequited and new love, and annoying girlfriends keep things from going smoothly. But Rodney doesn't lose his way and in the end, finds a new beginning. A very pleasant way to spend an evening.

[Morggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice characters. So-so mystery.

[Jannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky and fun as usual

[Yue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Idk what happened, I wasn't engaged, I wasn't rooting for Oliver and Angela at all; Rodney took so long, the mystery was just ok...

[Debbie Gascoyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was always one of my favourites, but I'd forgotten what fun it was. I love all the eccentric characters and the multi-stranded plots that all interweave.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eight minutes! What happened in those eight minutes that caused the diva to throw out her assistant and quit writing her memoir? Can Rodney pick those minutes apart to solve the mystery? Does someone else hold the key? What about the flowers? What about Uncle Julian? And what about Oliver? Someone says nothing happened, but...why did Rodney go to Switzerland?