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The Herbalist #1
Murder & Moonflowers
Murder awakes in the town of Catalonia, Arizona.
Melissa Michaels is an herbalist and nutritional healer operating a market in the sleepy town of Catalonia, Arizona. When a client dies mysteriously from something even the Medical Examiner cannot decipher, gossip runs amuck and local law enforcement officials make wild speculations.
When Melissa herself, along with other townspeople, fall under suspicion, a local doctor hires a handsome private investigator to give Melissa a hand, and the two of them race against time to solve the mystery before mounting evidence leads to wrongful accusations and false arrests.
Melissa Michaels is an herbalist and nutritional healer operating a market in the sleepy town of Catalonia, Arizona. When a client dies mysteriously from something even the Medical Examiner cannot decipher, gossip runs amuck and local law enforcement officials make wild speculations.
When Melissa herself, along with other townspeople, fall under suspicion, a local doctor hires a handsome private investigator to give Melissa a hand, and the two of them race against time to solve the mystery before mounting evidence leads to wrongful accusations and false arrests.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2015
44 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 20, 2015
Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk
This started out okay, but I got bored.
The characters in this irritated me. The Sherriff and his staff were so mean towards Melissa, and if I had been her I would have been really upset at the way they insinuated that she had committed murder, and that her business was fraudulent.
I found the mystery in this just dragged too much, and I got really bored. The whole thing seemed a bit dull and I was glad to get to the end.
4 out of 10
This started out okay, but I got bored.
The characters in this irritated me. The Sherriff and his staff were so mean towards Melissa, and if I had been her I would have been really upset at the way they insinuated that she had committed murder, and that her business was fraudulent.
I found the mystery in this just dragged too much, and I got really bored. The whole thing seemed a bit dull and I was glad to get to the end.
4 out of 10
March 25, 2015
Murder and Moonflowers is the first book in The Herbalist series. It’s very short at just over 100 pages, but it’s a complete story. And one I enjoyed quite a lot! I liked that it was a simple easy read but I also connected very much with the main character, Melissa. I can imagine living her life as we have so many things in common. I loved the way she thought and how laid back she was. She’s someone I’d really want to be friends with.
This is a cozy mystery and the mystery aspect was done well. I didn’t guess who it was and was wrong in who I thought it was. Though only partially wrong. The small town aspect was done really well. With the townsfolk you can’t help but love and those you can’t help but hate. It was done in a way that it was low angst but still had enough drama to keep it engaging.
There’s a touch of what could become a romance. In this book there wasn’t enough time for things to really go anywhere but I loved their interactions and how drama free they were. I’m looking forward to see where it goes romantically.
I really enjoyed this book and am anxious to continue the series!
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
This is a cozy mystery and the mystery aspect was done well. I didn’t guess who it was and was wrong in who I thought it was. Though only partially wrong. The small town aspect was done really well. With the townsfolk you can’t help but love and those you can’t help but hate. It was done in a way that it was low angst but still had enough drama to keep it engaging.
There’s a touch of what could become a romance. In this book there wasn’t enough time for things to really go anywhere but I loved their interactions and how drama free they were. I’m looking forward to see where it goes romantically.
I really enjoyed this book and am anxious to continue the series!
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
March 9, 2015
My Thoughts...
This is the first book in this series,(The Herbalist) but it is also a stand alone book.. It was a "quick read" cozy mystery. It could be read in an afternoon or evening. I like a book that is fast moving and not so full of unnecessary filler. It has a nice storyline, and not a lot of crazy, or unnecessary characters, which I also liked.
This book is part of my Kindle library and I enjoyed it enough to award it 4 "Moonflower" stars.
This is the first book in this series,(The Herbalist) but it is also a stand alone book.. It was a "quick read" cozy mystery. It could be read in an afternoon or evening. I like a book that is fast moving and not so full of unnecessary filler. It has a nice storyline, and not a lot of crazy, or unnecessary characters, which I also liked.
This book is part of my Kindle library and I enjoyed it enough to award it 4 "Moonflower" stars.
March 5, 2015
Interesting plot. I found the writing slow in places, but overall, I enjoyed the book. I'm intrigued by the ending and can hardly wait to start book two!! For $.99, this story is a great afternoon's entertainment!
May 31, 2015
This was a fun read from the first page all the way until the last, which promises more enjoyment to come in this charming series. Entertaining and interesting, this is an intelligent cozy.
Set in a small community where gossip flies regularly and no one's business can be kept completely private,
when local artist Lauryl is found dead after only having had a cold, murder is not suspected, but what did cause her sudden demise?
To complicate the matter, Lauryl was in a May December relationship, making the other middle aged women envious.
Melissa, the local herbalist, had been giving Lauryl some natural remedies. So it is no surprise that she is being investigated, but the sheriff's dept is going about it with an obvious and heavy hand.
Enter a private eye who is easy on the eyes, and this case starts heating up.
Even the people Melissa thinks she knows well give up a few secrets.
A fantastic beginning to a wonderful series with characters I look forward to getting to know better.
Set in a small community where gossip flies regularly and no one's business can be kept completely private,
when local artist Lauryl is found dead after only having had a cold, murder is not suspected, but what did cause her sudden demise?
To complicate the matter, Lauryl was in a May December relationship, making the other middle aged women envious.
Melissa, the local herbalist, had been giving Lauryl some natural remedies. So it is no surprise that she is being investigated, but the sheriff's dept is going about it with an obvious and heavy hand.
Enter a private eye who is easy on the eyes, and this case starts heating up.
Even the people Melissa thinks she knows well give up a few secrets.
A fantastic beginning to a wonderful series with characters I look forward to getting to know better.
April 12, 2015
The charm of this novella lies in the descriptions of the herbalist's life, environs and routine as she cares for the people of her home town which happens to involve solving a murder.
September 22, 2015
I liked this freebie - it was a quick easy read. Going to read more from the series.
March 19, 2015
I really enjoyed this story. It was a lot of fun and had a nice mystery. Mellisa was a fun character and I liked her interactions win all of the customers at her shop. The small town feel is always nice.
The main things that keeps me from rating this higher are the shortage on characterization (although I do appreciate how much the author was able to fit in such a short book) and the mystery itself. It was a little too obvious from the beginning who the murderer was.
Overall it was a really enjoyable read and if I get the chance with the rest of my reading I will pick io the rest of the series. A fun, short read.
The main things that keeps me from rating this higher are the shortage on characterization (although I do appreciate how much the author was able to fit in such a short book) and the mystery itself. It was a little too obvious from the beginning who the murderer was.
Overall it was a really enjoyable read and if I get the chance with the rest of my reading I will pick io the rest of the series. A fun, short read.
August 27, 2015
I liked the idea of an herbalist as a cozy sleuth and looked forward to reading the book. Although there was nice herbal info, the characters and story were rather weak. The writing was simplistic and not very polished. Perhaps as the series progresses, the writing and character development will improve.
November 20, 2023
I have had this on my Kobo for years because I had this period when I downloaded every freebie that piqued my interest. This is one those. I don't know what to say. The setting was interesting and the main character was nice enough and the writing and the story too, although very simplistic, but this was just so incredibly dumb in many ways. Like I don't think the author did any research on how sheriffs and doctors and other authorities work because they all seemed to act incredibly unprofessionally. Of course this is cozy mystery but it still kind of felt like it was insulting my intelligence. Goodreads reminded me that I have read another cozy mystery from this author before and it seems that it was suffering from the same issues so maybe I shouldn't be reading more of their work.
October 30, 2017
fluffy fun, (yet, slightly scary and stressful) i loved her cottage and the town. and the idea that she is a nosy herbalist! her shop would be a nice place to visit for real.
March 4, 2018
Cute book, nice story. Fun to read.
Now, where can I get the other 4?
Now, where can I get the other 4?
March 20, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book. Suspense and murder. Characters are detailed and I care about them and what will happen to them.
May 24, 2018
Started out as an interesting story, but got boring about 3/4 of the way through.
October 5, 2016
My review
I was curious how it would turn out, and wasn't disappointed. It was great!
Melissa Michaels is the owner of market in Catalonia, Arizona selling herbs, fruits and other goods. One day one of her customers dies mysteriously and ME can't figure what was the cause of death. Local police suspects everyone - Melissa especially since she have the knowledge and would know which poison use. Local doctor want to help her and hires PI to find what really happened. Detective Brian Byrne comes to town and together with Melissa try to find the real culprit.
There is great chemistry between Melissa&Brian so I hope there is more of them in next book. I also would like to lnow more about other staff in shop (and customers too!) - they seem to be interesting people :)
Good work!
Cheers!
Gosia
I was curious how it would turn out, and wasn't disappointed. It was great!
Melissa Michaels is the owner of market in Catalonia, Arizona selling herbs, fruits and other goods. One day one of her customers dies mysteriously and ME can't figure what was the cause of death. Local police suspects everyone - Melissa especially since she have the knowledge and would know which poison use. Local doctor want to help her and hires PI to find what really happened. Detective Brian Byrne comes to town and together with Melissa try to find the real culprit.
There is great chemistry between Melissa&Brian so I hope there is more of them in next book. I also would like to lnow more about other staff in shop (and customers too!) - they seem to be interesting people :)
Good work!
Cheers!
Gosia
March 8, 2015
"It’s like what Steve Jobs said about creativity. When you ask a creative person how they know something, they give you this deer-in-the-headlights look because they just know. If they worked really hard they could reconstruct some of the analysis, but the majority of it is making connections and from connections, leaps.”
So says the private investigator hired by an unknown friend, to help Herbalist Melissa find out not only who killed her artisian friend, a jeweler and crafter, but why. From the death we are introduced to a small rogues' gallery of suspects: her boyfriend Nash, her neice Cindy, as well as others. The political nature of the sheriff and his cronies makes them virtually useless in the investigation, so, someone hired Brian, the PI to help cut through all the mess.
The sheriff thinks he owns the town, and what he says goes. So, Nash is arrested, Melissa is under suspicion, the neighbor holds one of the answers however, he's not talking to anyone because he doesn't like the political nature of town government. And when the person who actually did it is arrested, no one actually seems suprised.
I will definately find other books in this series
So says the private investigator hired by an unknown friend, to help Herbalist Melissa find out not only who killed her artisian friend, a jeweler and crafter, but why. From the death we are introduced to a small rogues' gallery of suspects: her boyfriend Nash, her neice Cindy, as well as others. The political nature of the sheriff and his cronies makes them virtually useless in the investigation, so, someone hired Brian, the PI to help cut through all the mess.
The sheriff thinks he owns the town, and what he says goes. So, Nash is arrested, Melissa is under suspicion, the neighbor holds one of the answers however, he's not talking to anyone because he doesn't like the political nature of town government. And when the person who actually did it is arrested, no one actually seems suprised.
I will definately find other books in this series
August 11, 2015
Herbalist is accused of having poisoned an old lady and, with the help of a PI, solves the murder herself.
There was nothing wrong really with either the plot or the narration style, but I just could not get into this story. For me, it was just too slow, the characters' dialogues were unreal, and their actions not very probable, either.
The plot sounded so interesting, and maybe if the story had been longer, it and its characters could have been fleshed out a bit and gained more depth.
I would not go as far as calling this book bland and boring, but, as sorry as I am, for me it was not that far off.
There was nothing wrong really with either the plot or the narration style, but I just could not get into this story. For me, it was just too slow, the characters' dialogues were unreal, and their actions not very probable, either.
The plot sounded so interesting, and maybe if the story had been longer, it and its characters could have been fleshed out a bit and gained more depth.
I would not go as far as calling this book bland and boring, but, as sorry as I am, for me it was not that far off.
March 8, 2015
I posted this one on Book Buddies as a 'quick read' and a chance to sample the beginning of a series. It is exactly that, and a good read as well as a quick one. When the protagonist is an Herbalist/Dietitian (registered and properly licensed to operate her own shop) it opens the door for interesting sub-plots, both genuinely humorous, and serious. The death of one of her customers being blamed on her was a good hook. Adding a bigoted sheriff to accuse her of practicing medicine without a license was a nice touch. I will definitely look for more from this author.
March 16, 2015
Excellent, easy, entertaining read!
This mystery was wonderful in many ways: Leslie Leigh made the Market, the town, & the surrounding areas sound like I place I would want to visit; the characters were well developed & what I experienced having grown up in a small town; the plot was interesting & all of the food sounded so yummy. The mystery kept me thinking & guessing throughout its entirety and I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. I will be lending my kindle edition to my friends. I am anxious to read the rest go the series!
This mystery was wonderful in many ways: Leslie Leigh made the Market, the town, & the surrounding areas sound like I place I would want to visit; the characters were well developed & what I experienced having grown up in a small town; the plot was interesting & all of the food sounded so yummy. The mystery kept me thinking & guessing throughout its entirety and I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. I will be lending my kindle edition to my friends. I am anxious to read the rest go the series!
March 1, 2017
I liked it
I really liked this book. A quick read but held my attention. The Herbalist slowly pieces together the scents of a murder with the help of friends and a yummy looking detective.
I really liked this book. A quick read but held my attention. The Herbalist slowly pieces together the scents of a murder with the help of friends and a yummy looking detective.
March 14, 2015
Melissa is a certified Herbalist but a few people think that she is some kind of witch. When one of her clients is found dead, Melissa is determined to find out what happened to her friend.
I like the story and the characters. If the stories were available on Kindle Unlimited I would probably read the rest in the series. But I have so many books to read I just don't like it enough to pay to read the others in the series.
I like the story and the characters. If the stories were available on Kindle Unlimited I would probably read the rest in the series. But I have so many books to read I just don't like it enough to pay to read the others in the series.
April 4, 2015
A young woman herbalist who has a prosperous shop in a small Arizona town, discovers she is in the middle of a murder investigation. Clues point to a poisoning and so all eyes are directed to her. With determination, she and a private detective set out to find clues to uncover the murderer and it looks like more than one suspect seems to have a valid motive.
An easy reading mystery that aside from a good plot, also gives some interestng notions regarding the use of herbs!
An easy reading mystery that aside from a good plot, also gives some interestng notions regarding the use of herbs!
April 22, 2016
Remedy for any reading dilemma
I love cozy mysteries. However, the ones that combine "fun" facts with a mystery and romantic comedy take the cake. Melissa's herbal know-how and puzzle-solving intellect draw you in and encourage you to review the facts with her to solve the case. This particular case reminds you that even the seemingly best intention can have an ulterior motive and things aren't always what they seem.
I love cozy mysteries. However, the ones that combine "fun" facts with a mystery and romantic comedy take the cake. Melissa's herbal know-how and puzzle-solving intellect draw you in and encourage you to review the facts with her to solve the case. This particular case reminds you that even the seemingly best intention can have an ulterior motive and things aren't always what they seem.
January 1, 2018
I
My wife said"Read this! " and I thought On boy"but I did want dinner so I followed her advice. I am glad I did..A really good read with a story line I could follow,characters I enjoyed and a solution that I could accept.By that I mean it made sense and it solved all the questions I had about the crime and the people involved but did not jump out at you in the first sentence. Good job,Leslie!I
My wife said"Read this! " and I thought On boy"but I did want dinner so I followed her advice. I am glad I did..A really good read with a story line I could follow,characters I enjoyed and a solution that I could accept.By that I mean it made sense and it solved all the questions I had about the crime and the people involved but did not jump out at you in the first sentence. Good job,Leslie!I
March 12, 2015
'Murder & Moonflowers' was a good mystery book. I enjoyed the storyline and how it played out. Melissa turned out to be quite the detective while she paired with Brian. They made a good team. Flora is a complex character that I'd like to read more about. This is a fun series that I'll follow. A great add to your tbr list.
March 14, 2015
Fast, fast read! Was actually pleasant to have an 'amateur sleuth' who wasn't timid. Melissa Michaels, an herbalist, nutritional healer, baker, shop owner, etc. isn't easily intimidated.
A quick (again LOL) cozy mystery that was interesting, light & fun. Was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, and I'll probably buy more in the series (if they're cheap ).
A quick (again LOL) cozy mystery that was interesting, light & fun. Was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, and I'll probably buy more in the series (if they're cheap ).
March 26, 2015
I enjoyed this cozy mystery novella quite a bit... Despite the ending, being a bit to convenient and a tad cheesy. I figured out who the killer was about halfway through, but couldn't figure out the why and was rewarded at the end as to the answer to that question.
Murder and Moonflowers is the 1st novel in The Herbalist series.
Murder and Moonflowers is the 1st novel in The Herbalist series.
May 31, 2015
I enjoyed this mystery and want to read the next book in the series.
I give it a three star rating for a few reasons. There were only a few characters in the book so I found it a bit easy to determine who was the murderer. Also, other than the main character, I found the characters to be somewhat one-dimensional. Other than that, I enjoyed this unique mystery and would recommend it.
I give it a three star rating for a few reasons. There were only a few characters in the book so I found it a bit easy to determine who was the murderer. Also, other than the main character, I found the characters to be somewhat one-dimensional. Other than that, I enjoyed this unique mystery and would recommend it.
May 23, 2015
This is a quick read book, but an enjoyable book. I like to read murder mysteries with female main characters and this is such a book. It is a good gook of that genre and should be interesting for folks who like mysteries.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
May 29, 2015
really enjoyed this book. good fast read.
I thought that the story line was well developed with interesting characters. I am looking forward to seeing how the story and characters are change and adapt in future books in the series.
this is the first book that I read by Leslie Leigh and look forward to reading more.
I thought that the story line was well developed with interesting characters. I am looking forward to seeing how the story and characters are change and adapt in future books in the series.
this is the first book that I read by Leslie Leigh and look forward to reading more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews