Death of a Garden Pest

Gardening Mysteries #2

by Ann Ripley

Unearthing murderers is quickly becoming the specialty of amateur gardener and housewife Louise Eldridge.  Her horticultural skills have garnered her a
role on the public television show Gardening with Nature.   She has cultivated a controversial organic gardening approach that delights environmentalist viewers and alarms chemical-using traditionalists, drawing swarms of protesters, mounds of nasty mail, and absolutely fabulous ratings.

But the bloom of success fades suddenly when the society maven Louise replaced violently turns on her, picking a fight in the studio, only to wind up dead--poisoned by pesticides--moments later.  Louise is suspect number one, and in trying to clear herself, she must grub up clues and root out the real
killer--but with the police and the murderer hot on her trail, she is more likely to be planted six feet under than to stop this deadly canker.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Gardening, Cozy, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

A former newspaperwoman, Ann Ripley now spends her time organic-gardening and writing mysteries. She lives with her husband, Tony, in Lyons, Colorado. Her first novel, Mulch, won the Top Hand Award from the Colorado Authors' League. She is now at work on her fifth gardening mystery.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As a gardener, I’m drawn to books dealing with such and this was a delight! Louise Eldridge is an organic gardener that has notoriety outside the soil she builds. She recently caught a killer and gained a bit of political respect. Such has given her the opportunity to host a garden show on public TV, focusing on her chemical free tactics. Unfortunately, she is taking that position from the current host, and it’s not a too friendly take over... so when said is found dead, just after a spat with Louise was overheard, she becomes the number on suspect. Not only does she has the new show to contend with, but a blossoming teenage daughter, another in college, a husband between jobs, said murderer out on bail a few houses away, and her own pending murder rap. I hope she’s planted a field of valerian nearby!
With her family’s help, the true killer is brought to justice and another notch of respect added to her curriculum vitae.
It’s a fun cast of characters, easy dialogue and best of all, the scripts for her show segments. Good garden reading! I got some good tips in the pages.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio and didn't really care for the reader at all. Listening to her swallow, and either turn pages or move in a squeaky chair and mispronounce words just wasn't for me.

Synopsis on back:

Unearthing murderers is becoming the specialty of amateur gardener Louise Eldridge. Her horticultural skills have garnered her a role on a public televinsion show. She has cultivated a controversial organic gardening approach that delights environmentalist viewers and alarms chemical-using traditionalists, drawing swarms of protesters, mounds of nasty mail, and absolutely fabulous ratings. But the bool of success fades suddenly when the society maven that Louise replaced, violently turns on her and picks a fight in the studio. Later when she winds up dead, poisoned by pesticides, Louise is suspect number one.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I read this whole book, but that’s probably the highest praise I can give this. I hated the blatant misogyny throughout. I hated the family dynamics. It was all incredibly old-fashioned and conservative. The book is from the 90s, but to have the family almost fall apart because the mother gets a job in television was so gross. The mystery is fine but the politics made me hate read this book.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the characters. Bill is a spy. His wife is a housewife w a budding career. I only touch on this bc of all the other negative reviews of the series-Seems it was written more in the 50’s but no more so than most “cozies” even written now. Annoying but not as bad as some written now. He may even be gone in this one. I’ve been binge listening to them and enjoying them.

[Diane Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death of a Garden Pest by Ann Ripley is her second book where Louise gets involved with murder and needs to clear her name. This time she has a garden show on TV and has become very popular. Unfortunately not everyone is enamored with her promotion of organic gardening. Oh Louise, what’s next?

[Kristi Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was completely not for me. I really could not stand anything about the main female lead.

[Lansing Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louise Eldridge, the new host of a local organic garden show, becomes the prime suspect when one of her colleagues dies from the ingestion of a pesticide that was the topic of a recent show.

The group thought the book was a fast read and predictable.
Those that like to garden enjoyed the gardening tips presented after some of the chapters.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the reason I keep marking this lower is that I listen to it on digital books from Talking Books for the handicapped. The reader makes all of the characters sound furious no matter what they are saying. I shouldn't rank it lower but I feel she is creating a tone the book does as well. I do plan to listen to more. I rank the story and garden tips four stars.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in the Louise Eldridge series.

Louise Eldridge, organic gardener, has been offered a co-host position on a PBS gardening show. The offer was made in part due to her prominence gained by capturing a killer. Madeleine Doering, the displaced gardening hostess feels Louise is an amateur and is extremely hostile to her. This makes Louise a prime suspect when Madeleine is murdered.

[Pia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick summer reading.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Watch Rosemary n Thyme on TV instead

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little on the slower side but good.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louise Eldridge, housewife who gardens, gets a gardening show on public TV.
Demanding husband.
Good.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Gardening Mystery

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like the story was a little too predictable from the beginning, but I really enjoy the gardening tips and gardening-related story.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - Good