What do you think?
Rate this book
The Gardener Mysteries #5
Murder in Season: A completely gripping and unputdownable British cozy mystery!
Steph Williams and her trusty sidekick, Mouse, are back in the fifth instalment in this much-loved cosy crime gardening series.
For fans of Richard Coles, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, and Fiona Leitch, this a delightfully witty and gripping cosy crime novel where the stakes are high, the gardens are lush, and murder is always in season.
What readers are saying about the Gardener Mystery
'If I could rate it higher I would . . . I am genuinely obsessed and cannot wait for the further books to come out!!!' Reader Review, 5 stars
'A series I can get behind on so many levels! . . . This book is enchanting with a capital EEEEEE! Steph is so relatable and utterly adorable' Reader review, 5 stars
'I absolutely LOVED this . . . a lot of twists and turns along the way and the 'who dunnit' element is exceptional' Reader Review, 5 stars
'Such a brilliant cosy mystery with a unique twist' Reader Review, 5 stars
'Fantastic . . . Each book gets better and better' Reader Review, 5 stars
'Read this in one sitting on a stormy Sunday afternoon' Reader Review, 5 stars
'A complex and twisty mystery with a unique gardening setting' Reader Review, 5 stars
For fans of Richard Coles, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, and Fiona Leitch, this a delightfully witty and gripping cosy crime novel where the stakes are high, the gardens are lush, and murder is always in season.
What readers are saying about the Gardener Mystery
'If I could rate it higher I would . . . I am genuinely obsessed and cannot wait for the further books to come out!!!' Reader Review, 5 stars
'A series I can get behind on so many levels! . . . This book is enchanting with a capital EEEEEE! Steph is so relatable and utterly adorable' Reader review, 5 stars
'I absolutely LOVED this . . . a lot of twists and turns along the way and the 'who dunnit' element is exceptional' Reader Review, 5 stars
'Such a brilliant cosy mystery with a unique twist' Reader Review, 5 stars
'Fantastic . . . Each book gets better and better' Reader Review, 5 stars
'Read this in one sitting on a stormy Sunday afternoon' Reader Review, 5 stars
'A complex and twisty mystery with a unique gardening setting' Reader Review, 5 stars
380 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 21, 2026
An enjoyable and well crafted elevated Cozy Mystery.
Generally speaking the books in this series function just like other elevated cozies, though I think they’re notably well structured and well crafted atmospherically.
The mystery itself was pretty good, which is encouraging five books into a series like this. And I really appreciate that the supporting characters function like actual humans rather than tropey caricatures, a problem that shows up pretty consistently in cozies.
Though I wish there had been more of it, the gardening content was fun and interesting and felt like a little something extra in the same manner that historical detail does in historical cozies.
I hope there are plans to continue the series, as I’d happily read another.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Generally speaking the books in this series function just like other elevated cozies, though I think they’re notably well structured and well crafted atmospherically.
The mystery itself was pretty good, which is encouraging five books into a series like this. And I really appreciate that the supporting characters function like actual humans rather than tropey caricatures, a problem that shows up pretty consistently in cozies.
Though I wish there had been more of it, the gardening content was fun and interesting and felt like a little something extra in the same manner that historical detail does in historical cozies.
I hope there are plans to continue the series, as I’d happily read another.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
May 25, 2026
2026 Summer Reading [FLP] Challenge: #15
Steph and her trusty pup Mouse are doing a new job in Essex and it is a very complex one that she is really looking forward to. What she is not expecting is disgruntled villagers who are unsure about a community garden [for good reason it turns out]. When everything finally settles down and the clearing/digging starts, two skeletons are unearthed [much to the dismay of poor Steph's parents LOL], everyone starts acting very shifty, and as the esteemable Sherlock Holmes says, 'the GAME is afoot!'.
When you add in angry villagers [the mill that employed everyone was closed after mismanagement and they were rightfully furious], a vicious poison-pen writer [in the local paper] who seems to want to target Steph, a V E R Y incompetent village constable, and THEN a "fresh" dead body, and you have quite the mystery that keeps you guessing for some time. The reveal is very good, but very unexpected and left me really appreciating the author's writing even more. I really hope there will be more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Sandler, and Embla Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Steph and her trusty pup Mouse are doing a new job in Essex and it is a very complex one that she is really looking forward to. What she is not expecting is disgruntled villagers who are unsure about a community garden [for good reason it turns out]. When everything finally settles down and the clearing/digging starts, two skeletons are unearthed [much to the dismay of poor Steph's parents LOL], everyone starts acting very shifty, and as the esteemable Sherlock Holmes says, 'the GAME is afoot!'.
When you add in angry villagers [the mill that employed everyone was closed after mismanagement and they were rightfully furious], a vicious poison-pen writer [in the local paper] who seems to want to target Steph, a V E R Y incompetent village constable, and THEN a "fresh" dead body, and you have quite the mystery that keeps you guessing for some time. The reveal is very good, but very unexpected and left me really appreciating the author's writing even more. I really hope there will be more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Sandler, and Embla Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2026
4.5 stars
A new instalment in the Gardeners Mystery series is always something to look forward to. Steph and Mouse are such great characters and as always Rosie Sandler has written a great mystery. The characters in Murder In Season are a great mix and provide plenty of suspicious activities for the reader to suspect.
I always love the plant descriptions in Rosie’s stories and the ideas Steph has for the garden designs. Her collaborative approach to working with the community is always to be admired and I love how the mystery is woven into the story.
A new instalment in the Gardeners Mystery series is always something to look forward to. Steph and Mouse are such great characters and as always Rosie Sandler has written a great mystery. The characters in Murder In Season are a great mix and provide plenty of suspicious activities for the reader to suspect.
I always love the plant descriptions in Rosie’s stories and the ideas Steph has for the garden designs. Her collaborative approach to working with the community is always to be admired and I love how the mystery is woven into the story.
July 28, 2026
3.5 rounded up. Really enjoyable cosy mystery
May 25, 2026
Murder in Season by Rosie Sandler is part of The Gardener Mysteries series about a young woman named Steph who is an English garden designer. She goes from place to place to build gardens, mostly public ones, in a variety of places. She is divorced from a man who stole all her money and destroyed her business. Now she has a lovely boyfriend, Mike, and a new, successful business. Although she and Mike were not in the same place most of the time, the internet was helping them make it work. She had met Avery Sinclair today who was the point person for this newest garden. Avery had organized some volunteers and a place to live. Things were looking good. When she saw the garden, she realized it had been neglected for years. It was a mess and would take a lot of work to get it ready for planting and building. She lucked out with a roommate, who was an artist and an excellent cook, which Steph was not, so she ate very well.
Steph seems to be present when there a bodies discovered. The first two were skeletons which were dug up by the motorized digger. Obviously they had been dead for years. The next she discovered when she went to visit “the lord of the manor” who had texted her the night before. Her instincts could not help but investigate. The local detective was respectful of that instinct, although she tried to get Steph to back off. This is a terrific series and Steph is an excellent character. Nearing middle age, it appears her life is finally coming together. The mystery is a good one. The characters of the town are interesting and mostly well-rounded. It is a true cozy mystery. In spite of the deaths, it is a very relaxed and pleasant read.
I was invited to read Murder in Season by Embla Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #EmblaBooks #RosieSandler #MurderInSeason
Steph seems to be present when there a bodies discovered. The first two were skeletons which were dug up by the motorized digger. Obviously they had been dead for years. The next she discovered when she went to visit “the lord of the manor” who had texted her the night before. Her instincts could not help but investigate. The local detective was respectful of that instinct, although she tried to get Steph to back off. This is a terrific series and Steph is an excellent character. Nearing middle age, it appears her life is finally coming together. The mystery is a good one. The characters of the town are interesting and mostly well-rounded. It is a true cozy mystery. In spite of the deaths, it is a very relaxed and pleasant read.
I was invited to read Murder in Season by Embla Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #EmblaBooks #RosieSandler #MurderInSeason
July 14, 2026
Steph Williams and her lovely dog Mouse arrive in Greenhaven, Essex, a village built in the 1920s for workers of the nearby, and now closed, factory. Steph is there is to design a Centenary Garden.
She discovers soon that though some are eager and happy for a community greenspace, there are others highly suspicious of anything Steph might create.
Steph is housed in a charming cottage with artist Nellie Dawn, and her irrepressible and energetic dog Timmy. Nellie is there to create a sculpture for the revitalised garden.
Steph soon meets those who are not happy about what they think she's going to do, as well as the despised son of the former factory owner, who claims she'll need to run any design past him (not true, as he has no say on the garden project, which is funded by village council). There's also a gossipy column/poison pen in the local paper, which airs locals' secrets. The writer initially calls Steph's plans into question, before changing tune when Steph solicits ideas from everyone in town for her design.
In the meantime, Steph decides to just get on with clearing the place, which is in the centre of town, with the help of volunteers. When a digger she hires unearths two skeletons, this naturally halts any progress she and the volunteers have made so far with clearing years of overgrowth.
Then the despised son is found murdered. Steph begins digging, naturally, into his and the village's past. She becomes convinced that the various animosities and secrets she's beginning to learn about in town contributed to the man's death, and even tries to aid the police, who repeatedly shut her down, though she does eventually figure out what's going on.
Five stories in, and I'm still thoroughly enjoying this series. Steph seems more settled, calm and happy than when I first met her in book one, and I love how her previous designs have earned her such a great reputation.
Mouse remains adorable, and poor guy, he really had a lot to deal with with older and smaller Timmy. But, Steph and Nellie have become good friends, so I hope we meet them again.
I look forward to more of Steph's and Mouse's escapades, as I found this entry to be compelling.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Embla Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
She discovers soon that though some are eager and happy for a community greenspace, there are others highly suspicious of anything Steph might create.
Steph is housed in a charming cottage with artist Nellie Dawn, and her irrepressible and energetic dog Timmy. Nellie is there to create a sculpture for the revitalised garden.
Steph soon meets those who are not happy about what they think she's going to do, as well as the despised son of the former factory owner, who claims she'll need to run any design past him (not true, as he has no say on the garden project, which is funded by village council). There's also a gossipy column/poison pen in the local paper, which airs locals' secrets. The writer initially calls Steph's plans into question, before changing tune when Steph solicits ideas from everyone in town for her design.
In the meantime, Steph decides to just get on with clearing the place, which is in the centre of town, with the help of volunteers. When a digger she hires unearths two skeletons, this naturally halts any progress she and the volunteers have made so far with clearing years of overgrowth.
Then the despised son is found murdered. Steph begins digging, naturally, into his and the village's past. She becomes convinced that the various animosities and secrets she's beginning to learn about in town contributed to the man's death, and even tries to aid the police, who repeatedly shut her down, though she does eventually figure out what's going on.
Five stories in, and I'm still thoroughly enjoying this series. Steph seems more settled, calm and happy than when I first met her in book one, and I love how her previous designs have earned her such a great reputation.
Mouse remains adorable, and poor guy, he really had a lot to deal with with older and smaller Timmy. But, Steph and Nellie have become good friends, so I hope we meet them again.
I look forward to more of Steph's and Mouse's escapades, as I found this entry to be compelling.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Embla Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 28, 2026
Garden designer Steph digs into more than dirt - she digs into murder investigations.
Sometimes, she digs too deep and becomes a suspect herself as is the case in this story.
When Steph is hired to build a community garden in Greenhaven, a small town in Essex in the UK, she and her band of volunteer helpers uncover two skeletons.
Police limit work on the garden to manual labor and the work drags as does the story. Long-winded sections are devoted to descriptions of grappling in the dirt, meal preparation and dog antics.
I've never read a book that features dogs more prominently, unless it is solely a dog story. Dog lovers, of which I am one, will love it, but those who don't care for dogs will think it's over the top.
Mouse (I know, a stupid name for a dog) and Timmy (a fur ball of energy) will stop just short of stealing the show and possibly your heart as well. Mouse, who is the main character's dog, is with Steph almost every step of the way and is an intelligent and charming pet. Timmy belongs to resident artist Nellie, who is Steph's roommate during the garden project. Steph and Nellie develop a mutual respect and a sisterly relationship.
The Green Raven, an anonymous gossip columnist for the community newspaper, keeps everyone on their toes with juicy rumors and jabs. The Raven adds a nice touch with a series of cryptic comments.
The cast of garden helpers, community leaders and possible suspects is well-done and their bickering and other interactions are intriguing.
The story gathers steam when the body count suddenly rises - and these are fresh bodies.
Will Steph get arrested or will she solve the case? You'll root for Steph and her loyal companion Mouse all the way.
Sometimes, she digs too deep and becomes a suspect herself as is the case in this story.
When Steph is hired to build a community garden in Greenhaven, a small town in Essex in the UK, she and her band of volunteer helpers uncover two skeletons.
Police limit work on the garden to manual labor and the work drags as does the story. Long-winded sections are devoted to descriptions of grappling in the dirt, meal preparation and dog antics.
I've never read a book that features dogs more prominently, unless it is solely a dog story. Dog lovers, of which I am one, will love it, but those who don't care for dogs will think it's over the top.
Mouse (I know, a stupid name for a dog) and Timmy (a fur ball of energy) will stop just short of stealing the show and possibly your heart as well. Mouse, who is the main character's dog, is with Steph almost every step of the way and is an intelligent and charming pet. Timmy belongs to resident artist Nellie, who is Steph's roommate during the garden project. Steph and Nellie develop a mutual respect and a sisterly relationship.
The Green Raven, an anonymous gossip columnist for the community newspaper, keeps everyone on their toes with juicy rumors and jabs. The Raven adds a nice touch with a series of cryptic comments.
The cast of garden helpers, community leaders and possible suspects is well-done and their bickering and other interactions are intriguing.
The story gathers steam when the body count suddenly rises - and these are fresh bodies.
Will Steph get arrested or will she solve the case? You'll root for Steph and her loyal companion Mouse all the way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder In Season is the 5th book in Rosie Sandler's The Gardener Mysteries and it is a good addition to the series. Each book takes Steph Williams and her dog Mouse to a different area of England and to a new garden project. Steph is a garden designer and is working on a centenary garden in Greenhaven, Essex. She and Mouse are sharing a house with Nellie and her rambunctious dog Timmy. The story has all new people with a few mentions of her boyfriend Mike and her family. The garden volunteers include Norma, Marian, Leo, Christy, and Eloise. The locals include Martin Patterson, Avery, Stella and Jeremy, Kieran, and a few others. The characters overall weren't very interesting and not ones I got invested in except for Steph and Nellie who are both wonderful characters. Steph brings in a backhoe to dig out the garden and they find two skeletons. We quickly learn who they were and then the story lags a little. The local newspaper has a gossip column and no one knows who writes it. The articles start off with humor but turn vindictive. Even Steph and the garden project are mentioned. The weekly newspaper adds to the story. Steph finds an unpopular local dead and ends up a suspect. The other suspects are not strong prospects nor are their motives. The resolution of the mystery was good and there were some twists that were interesting. I read and liked other books in this series and while this book was good it wasn't as engaging as the others. #MurderInSeason #TheGardenerMysteries #NetGalley #EmblaBooks
May 17, 2026
Thank you so much Embla book for the ARC.
This honestly felt more like a village gossip drama with murder on the side and I mean that in a good way 😭
I wouldn’t say this is the type of mystery that had me aggressively making theories while reading, but it was very easy to follow and strangely relaxing to read. I actually ended up enjoying just following Steph around and watching the chaos unfold in this small community where literally everyone seems to know everybody’s business.
I also read a previous book in this series before, and I used to find Steph a little nosy sometimes. But in this book, I completely understood her more because she was personally involved and honestly needed to help herself too. That made me more emotionally invested in her side of the investigation.
Mouse was absolutely adorable and honestly one of the highlights of the book for me. Cozy mysteries with lovable pets always work on me.
This isn’t a super intense thriller type of mystery. It’s more cozy, community-driven, and easy to binge when you want something lighter but still entertaining.
This honestly felt more like a village gossip drama with murder on the side and I mean that in a good way 😭
I wouldn’t say this is the type of mystery that had me aggressively making theories while reading, but it was very easy to follow and strangely relaxing to read. I actually ended up enjoying just following Steph around and watching the chaos unfold in this small community where literally everyone seems to know everybody’s business.
I also read a previous book in this series before, and I used to find Steph a little nosy sometimes. But in this book, I completely understood her more because she was personally involved and honestly needed to help herself too. That made me more emotionally invested in her side of the investigation.
Mouse was absolutely adorable and honestly one of the highlights of the book for me. Cozy mysteries with lovable pets always work on me.
This isn’t a super intense thriller type of mystery. It’s more cozy, community-driven, and easy to binge when you want something lighter but still entertaining.
June 29, 2026
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Steph and Mouse are now in a little village in Essex. She's supposed to be working with an artist on a revitalization project that concerns an old lot that was once a home. When Steph finds a set of skeletal remains, the local gossip column goes nuts. When the richest man in town is killed, all eyes point to Steph. Can she clear her name, while putting in a garden that the town will love? Will Mouse get along with Nellie's little dog? And who is the Green Raven? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Steph is a big problem for me. I found her to be a rather rude and crude individual. She made comments to even her loved ones that left me feeling like she cared only for one person in the relationship or situation.
Likes: Mouse was fun to follow.
Conclusion: This series isn't for me. If you like cozy mysteries with self-assured protagonists who are positive that they are always right, then this book might be for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Steph and Mouse are now in a little village in Essex. She's supposed to be working with an artist on a revitalization project that concerns an old lot that was once a home. When Steph finds a set of skeletal remains, the local gossip column goes nuts. When the richest man in town is killed, all eyes point to Steph. Can she clear her name, while putting in a garden that the town will love? Will Mouse get along with Nellie's little dog? And who is the Green Raven? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Steph is a big problem for me. I found her to be a rather rude and crude individual. She made comments to even her loved ones that left me feeling like she cared only for one person in the relationship or situation.
Likes: Mouse was fun to follow.
Conclusion: This series isn't for me. If you like cozy mysteries with self-assured protagonists who are positive that they are always right, then this book might be for you. Enjoy the read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I just finished Murder in Season, and I honestly think it's my favorite so far.
Steph and Mouse are in Greenhaven in Essex, where Steph has been hired to create a centenary garden.
Steph is ready to bring in the digger needed to remove all the roots and rocks before she does anything, but finding two skeletons wasn't in her plans.
Naturally the skeletons are the topic of all the local news, so when Steph finds a dead body, a prominent man in town, she soon becomes a prime suspect.
How can Steph prove her innocence in a small town where everyone knows everyone?
With her awesome dog Mouse by her side, she is determined to find out who the killer really is.
This is a fantastic addition to this series. All the characters were so interesting and their personalities made them come to life.
I would love to see Steph and Nellie meet up again, her character felt so real, it was nice to see Steph have that connection.
This a solid 5+ star rating.
Steph and Mouse are in Greenhaven in Essex, where Steph has been hired to create a centenary garden.
Steph is ready to bring in the digger needed to remove all the roots and rocks before she does anything, but finding two skeletons wasn't in her plans.
Naturally the skeletons are the topic of all the local news, so when Steph finds a dead body, a prominent man in town, she soon becomes a prime suspect.
How can Steph prove her innocence in a small town where everyone knows everyone?
With her awesome dog Mouse by her side, she is determined to find out who the killer really is.
This is a fantastic addition to this series. All the characters were so interesting and their personalities made them come to life.
I would love to see Steph and Nellie meet up again, her character felt so real, it was nice to see Steph have that connection.
This a solid 5+ star rating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Murder in Season” the 5th instalment in The Gardener Mystery series by Rosie Sandler set across England. This time we are in the Essex The past can't stay buried forever...
When a fresh body shocks the village, it seems that murder is in season at Greenhaven. Can Steph unearth the truth before the killer decides she's dug too deep?
I enjoyed this story. As I have stated previously, I really like the bond between Steph and Mouse, but in this instalment I love the bond that forms between Steph and Nellie. I hope Nellie pops up on further stories.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep you engaged right to the very end..
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book 6!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When a fresh body shocks the village, it seems that murder is in season at Greenhaven. Can Steph unearth the truth before the killer decides she's dug too deep?
I enjoyed this story. As I have stated previously, I really like the bond between Steph and Mouse, but in this instalment I love the bond that forms between Steph and Nellie. I hope Nellie pops up on further stories.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep you engaged right to the very end..
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book 6!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
By coincidence my second book in a row about gardens and gardening. The first was chick lit and this is a mystery but they both pursued the underlying idea that gardens help us heal and are good for us.
In this series Steph Williams designs gardens and with each job she stays in the place where the garden is being created. This gives the author plenty of scope for new characters and different story lines. In this book she is in Greenhaven, Essex in a model village which was built to house factory workers in the 1920's. Steph is there to design a Centenary garden but unfortunately the first outing of a digger to clear the site uncovers not one but two skeletons.
This is a fun series with a sensible main character, a reliable partner and a very smart dog. All the attributes of a good cosy. I hope the author has many more ideas up her sleeve for future books.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In this series Steph Williams designs gardens and with each job she stays in the place where the garden is being created. This gives the author plenty of scope for new characters and different story lines. In this book she is in Greenhaven, Essex in a model village which was built to house factory workers in the 1920's. Steph is there to design a Centenary garden but unfortunately the first outing of a digger to clear the site uncovers not one but two skeletons.
This is a fun series with a sensible main character, a reliable partner and a very smart dog. All the attributes of a good cosy. I hope the author has many more ideas up her sleeve for future books.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 23, 2026
I’ve given this one 3 stars (previous ones 4) because I just find Steph a bit more annoying. Mouse is great. The storyline was fair.
Some minor points: 1pm is the afternoon and not morning hence the ‘pm’. Also, she hadn’t told her parents about the skeletons as discussed with her bf then the next time they speak they know all about it and even if they’ve read about it they don’t question why she didn’t tell them.
Why did she not find the time to see her boyfriend from before she started the job in November until she’d all but finished it? Surely in that 5/6 month period they could have had a weekend together?
I think perhaps she needs to do the gardening part time and maybe be a part time PI as well, as she seems to take a lot of time investigating so I can see why Avery got annoyed.
Some minor points: 1pm is the afternoon and not morning hence the ‘pm’. Also, she hadn’t told her parents about the skeletons as discussed with her bf then the next time they speak they know all about it and even if they’ve read about it they don’t question why she didn’t tell them.
Why did she not find the time to see her boyfriend from before she started the job in November until she’d all but finished it? Surely in that 5/6 month period they could have had a weekend together?
I think perhaps she needs to do the gardening part time and maybe be a part time PI as well, as she seems to take a lot of time investigating so I can see why Avery got annoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Who knew gardening could be so deadly? It seems every time Steph and Mouse take on a new project, the bodies seem to pile up. And this latest project is no exception, even if it’s bones. Not just one set of bones, but two! Can Steph and Mouse finish their project and put the mystery of the bones to rest as well? Not if a killer has anything to say about it.
I really love Mouse, but then again, a good pup is a must have in a cozy series. Steph does a fabulous job in each entry with both the gardens she is working in as ell as solving the cases she comes across in her work. Each entry is filled with red herrings and twists and turns that keep you guessing up to the end. It doesn’t get much better than this.
I really love Mouse, but then again, a good pup is a must have in a cozy series. Steph does a fabulous job in each entry with both the gardens she is working in as ell as solving the cases she comes across in her work. Each entry is filled with red herrings and twists and turns that keep you guessing up to the end. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. 4 stars. I’ve read a couple of books in this series (although they can be read as standalone novels) so I’d already met garden designer Steph Williams and her dog mouse and it was great to be joining them on this latest adventure. This time Steph is working in Greenhaven, an Art Deco village in Essex built for factory workers in the 1920s. She has been commissioned to design and build their centenary garden. Greenhaven is home to the poison pen writer in the local newsletter, gossip, secrets, rivals, and resentments. And then, Steph uncovers two skeletons on the garden area. A really good storyline as Steph uncovers exactly what is going on and who is behind it.
August 9, 2026
A good read - I do think the ending was a bit rushed and dare I say unsatisfactory. Outside of the main secondary characters, I kept on finding myself needing to refer back and understand who was who. I fear this is going to be a repeating problem in this series as Steph moves to each new job. The consistent characters from previous books had little impact, and I would have liked a bit more tying up of these otherwise inconsequential interactions. They felt like a momentum reset and broke up the flow a lot which while realistic, was not good for pace.
But the book was otherwise well structured, I enjoyed the peripheral world building and I actually would have loved this even more. I was more invested in the garden design than the actual plot, and
But the book was otherwise well structured, I enjoyed the peripheral world building and I actually would have loved this even more. I was more invested in the garden design than the actual plot, and
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Steph's new job is to build a centaury garden in the village of Greenhaven in Essex. It's on a patch of land and she's told that only part of it is for the garden as the rest might be dangerous. After she bumps into the descendent of the founder of the village, she finds out a bit more about the undercurrent that runs through the village. She gets permission to use the rest of the site and is dismayed when some skeletons are discovered there. When the identities of the skeletons are discovered there is another murder and she finds herself in the frame for it.
In true Steph style she has to find out the who and why to clear her name.
Another fun read.
In true Steph style she has to find out the who and why to clear her name.
Another fun read.
May 27, 2026
Steph and Mouse her canine sidekick return they are in Greenhaven in Essex taking on their next commission.
The job is to design a centenary garden and things don’t go as easily as Steph would like .
Some of the villagers are dissatisfied with the designs .
Whilst clearing the area for the garden two skeletons are unearthed.
This leads to Steph doing her own sleuthing to try and find the culprit , will she be able to do this and keep herself out of danger?
As always the book is written well and makes for an easy read .
The cosy mystery kept my interest throughout and I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series .
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books .
The job is to design a centenary garden and things don’t go as easily as Steph would like .
Some of the villagers are dissatisfied with the designs .
Whilst clearing the area for the garden two skeletons are unearthed.
This leads to Steph doing her own sleuthing to try and find the culprit , will she be able to do this and keep herself out of danger?
As always the book is written well and makes for an easy read .
The cosy mystery kept my interest throughout and I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series .
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books .
May 25, 2026
Murder in Season is the latest Gardener mystery. Steph is hired to create a garden in a historic modernist village. She is enjoying the location but there are a lot of secrets in this little town.
While clearing the garden space, she uncovers two skeletons. That is just the beginning.
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I enjoy the characters - they are well written and there are new ones in each book.
While clearing the garden space, she uncovers two skeletons. That is just the beginning.
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I enjoy the characters - they are well written and there are new ones in each book.
June 26, 2026
Uncovering two skeletons whilst designing a centenary garden was not the history that Steph thought she would unearth with her digger. However murder seems to be growing not the roses and when another body turns up, Steph and her dog mouse will have to watch their step.
Despite this being the fifth in the series, I found it a fun read that was easy to get into. The book was well written, with good characterisation and plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged.
Despite this being the fifth in the series, I found it a fun read that was easy to get into. The book was well written, with good characterisation and plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged.
August 17, 2026
This is the 3rd one I’m the series I have read and enjoyed this one just as much as the others. I especially loved the relationship between Mouse and Steph band Mouse and Timmy. The garden references were very interesting and the clues leading to different suspects were very compelling. A good read for the beach.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Steph and her dog Mouse are off to design another garden - this time in a small English village. Unfortunately all does not go as planned and, as usual, Steph soon has another murder to solve. This series just keeps getting better.
July 30, 2026
Light read
I enjoyed this book. It was a light read but the plot and characters were very realistic. I do wish that a page could be added at the end illustrating the garden as it is for me hard to imagine what it was like when completed.
I enjoyed this book. It was a light read but the plot and characters were very realistic. I do wish that a page could be added at the end illustrating the garden as it is for me hard to imagine what it was like when completed.
May 21, 2026
This is a wonderful series!
Love the cover as well!
Love the cover as well!
June 18, 2026
Audiobook
4th in the series and it did not disappoint! Love this series!
4th in the series and it did not disappoint! Love this series!
July 12, 2026
I adore Mouse, his Mr. Rabbit and favorite blue lead.
The main character Steph is a bit off putting & often. confrontational. She is hard to like.
The main character Steph is a bit off putting & often. confrontational. She is hard to like.
July 16, 2026
I love this series so much. Cosy and lighthearted - always a 5 star for me.
July 19, 2026
entertaining summer read
Steph and Mouse are at it again. The 5th book had a different pace, in my opinion. It was a pleasant change. This series is always entertaining. I am forever left wanting more Steph and Mouse! Until the next book I suppose…
Steph and Mouse are at it again. The 5th book had a different pace, in my opinion. It was a pleasant change. This series is always entertaining. I am forever left wanting more Steph and Mouse! Until the next book I suppose…
July 26, 2026
As cozy as it gets. Lots of gardening ruminations. A few bodies. Low stress.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews