Murder Rooted in Secrets: A completely Gripping Cozy Murder Mystery

by Kara Post

A picture-perfect garden tour. A celebrity gardener with a stolen past. And a deadly secret someone will kill to keep buried.

Retired librarian Amelia Clark expects roses and small-town gossip at Maple Shores' annual Garden Tour, not famous gardener Grant Bellamy murdered in her backyard.

But Grant didn't come to Maple Shores just to admire the flowers.

With her golden retriever Duke sniffing out trouble and best friend Nora serving pastries with a side of gossip, Amelia digs into Grant's past, uncovering stolen discoveries, bitter betrayals, and enemies seeking revenge.

Then her late aunt's journals reveal evidence of a secret Grant returned to claim.

But someone has already started removing the clues.

As old grudges surface and the suspect list grows, Amelia realizes the answer may be hidden in her own garden.

And if she uncovers the truth, the next body among the flowers could be hers.

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2026

Reviews

[Angela Mallett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia worked very hard to bring her aunt's garden back to its former glory before the garden tour. A famous plant specialist came on the tour and was extremely interested in a certain plant, but Amelia refuses to sell anything of her aunt's. When a body shows up, you begin a journey of twists and turns, interesting characters, and cute Duke antics. There are plenty of clues to keep you engaged and guessing . This book is a light, enjoyable mystery and I highly recommend it.

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

[Marietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia has inherited her aunt’s home and has been very busy bring the garden back to its former glory before the garden tour. A famous horticulturist Grant Bellamy, who wants to purchase a rare plant from the garden and is told no that is not for sale for any price. Well Grant turns up dead in the garden the next day right beside the plant that he wanted to buy, and the earth has been moved around it. Amelia and her golden retriever Duke start to sniff around and find a few clues, with her friend Nora help they start to investigate Grant Bellamy past and find all kinds of things. Before he became famous, he had worked with her aunt and got a few cuttings from her and her good friend Thomas Holtman who loved to share what they knew about the plants and gardening in general. But the more they dug into Grant life the more they came to see how he used everyone and took what ever they gave him as his own finds. The suspect list keeps getting longer not shorter, but Amelia just keeps search to find out what really happened. This is a well written story, and it keeps everyone interested in finding out what really happened to Grant. I am looking forward to her next book in the series.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maple Shores is celebrating their annual Garden Tour. Amelia Clark's inherited home and garden are on the tour. and Grant Bellamy, a famous horticulturist, is the star attraction. He arranges the purchase of a rare cutting from Amelia and the next day he's found dead in her garden.
This was my first outing with Amelia, her golden retriever Duke and best friend, Nora, the town baker. Between them they have Amelia's great aunt's journal, Nora's ability to acquire all the town's gossip and secrets, and a Duke who is very much food motivating. They investigate despite Police Detective Mark Evans worries.
The story was nicely paced. It had enough twists and red herrings that that kept me glued to my kindle. As secrets are revealed and clues are found, the town of Maple Shores might never be the same.
A fun and quick read. Duke was adorable. I look forward to their next case.

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

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Rooted in Secrets is a Superb story and series about Amelia Clark a Retired Librarian inherited her Aunt Eleanor's home and Duke a clever dog and Nora Bennett her Best Friend and Bakery Owner. The town is holding the Annual Garden Tour. Grant comes to look at Amelia's garden and wanted to buy one of her plants then early the next morning Duke and Amelia discover him dead in her garden and Detective Mark Evans comes to Investigate. Amelia, Duke and Nora also start to look into this puzzle which has many pieces. Amelia reads Aunt Eleanor's Journal and discovers a hidden secret. But what will be uncovered in the search for the truth?
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read this story and series.

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

[Pranav Bhatnagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Rooted in Secrets by Kara Post is such a lovely cozy mystery! Amelia Clark, her loyal dog Duke, and the charming little town of Maple Shores make this story feel warm and welcoming, even when a murder turns everything upside down. What begins with a garden tour soon becomes a mystery filled with suspicious characters, hidden secrets, an old journal, and a plant that seems to hold more answers than anyone wants to admit. I especially enjoyed the small-town atmosphere, the conversations over coffee and baked treats, and Amelia’s curiosity as she tries to understand what really happened. Duke adds an adorable touch, while the steady flow of clues kept me interested in discovering how everything connected. It is a wonderful choice for readers who enjoy gentle mysteries, quirky town characters, and secrets hiding in the most unexpected places. 🌹

[Shannon Patterson · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery with great characters

This was a lot of fun. The story has a really nice flow, and I enjoyed spending time with Amelia, Nora, and Duke. The characters are warm and easy to root for.

The mystery was slightly predictable in places, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment at all. The garden setting was lovely, and following the clues along with Amelia kept me engaged right through to the end.

4.5 stars, a great pick for cozy mystery fans.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia Nora and Duke the Golden Retriever get involved in a murder when a murder takes place. There is a lot going on than meets the eye. Amelia and Nora have their work cut out for them. An intriguing read. I received this ARC copy via Booksprouts and leave a voluntary review. I recommend this book to other readers . Kara Post.

[Patricia Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Rooted in Secrets is a wonderful addition to the series. I really enjoy visiting Maplewood Shores. The residents are welcoming, fun and quirky. The plot is interesting and keeps you motivated to read to the end. I love that there is a recipe included as well. I can’t wait for the next adventure and highly recommend it.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

.A wild coffee plant and a murdered man. This is the catalyst is this book Amelia is determined to solve the mystery. Will she? I received a .

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

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A garden restored, but now a murder mystery in it?
How does she keep finding these?

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about Amelia and Duke and this was no exception. A lovely read, showing off gardens, an arrogant expert and a rare plant. If you love small town mysteries then you'll love this.