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Enchanted Garden Mystery #3
Marigolds for Malice
In the third captivating Enchanted Garden Mystery from Bailey Cattrell, Elliana Allbright will need to dig up clues from the past to weed out a killer...
Elliana Allbright is happy running her perfume shop, Scents & Nonsense, in the charming town of Poppyville, California. And she's even happier when she can use her inherited abilities to infuse her perfumes with an extra special something that eases woes or solves problems for her customers. But she'll need those abilities and more when murder comes to town.
Ellie and her women's business group, the Greenstockings, are helping to open a new museum about local history, and while sorting through the collection of artifacts they discover a time capsule from the days of the Gold Rush. Among the contents is a strange botanical manuscript, recognized by local history professor Eureka Sanford as extremely rare and valuable. When the professor is found dead in the museum, Ellie has no choice but to sniff out the murderer... but this one may have roots that are as old as Poppyville.
Elliana Allbright is happy running her perfume shop, Scents & Nonsense, in the charming town of Poppyville, California. And she's even happier when she can use her inherited abilities to infuse her perfumes with an extra special something that eases woes or solves problems for her customers. But she'll need those abilities and more when murder comes to town.
Ellie and her women's business group, the Greenstockings, are helping to open a new museum about local history, and while sorting through the collection of artifacts they discover a time capsule from the days of the Gold Rush. Among the contents is a strange botanical manuscript, recognized by local history professor Eureka Sanford as extremely rare and valuable. When the professor is found dead in the museum, Ellie has no choice but to sniff out the murderer... but this one may have roots that are as old as Poppyville.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 28, 2018
152 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
September 1, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Elliana Allbright is the owner of Scents & Nonsense where she sells items made with special oils she distills from plants in her own garden. The Enchanted Garden is right next to the shop and abuts right up to her tiny house. The garden is a relaxing place with spots for people to sit and wind down from the stress in their lives. Ellie’s dog, Dash and shop cat, Nabokov have free rein of the area so they may dish out their own kind of comfort too.
Ellie belongs to a women’s group, the Greenstockings. They are busy cataloging artifacts for a new local history museum. In their endeavor, they find want appears to be a time capsule for the 1800’s. The town quickly makes an event out of its opening. Inside they find some rare items and local history professor Eureka Sanford tells all that the items could be quite valuable. After most of the items are returned to the museum, Eureka is found dead and most of the items are missing. Ellie is quite interested in the items for a personal reason so she is determined to root out the killer and get the items back.
Elliana Allbright is a wonderful protagonist. She has a gift passed on by her Gamma of being able to match each person with the right combination of scents for them and any problem they may be facing. Her Gamma’s journal is the guidebook and has been the key to everything she knows. A magical journal that still updates itself long after her Gamma’s passing. In this story, it again plays a critical part in solving the mystery. It is fun tagging along with Ellie as she sniffs around for answers. I love the way she and Detective Lupe Garcia work together, especially this time because the chief of police has taken the lead on the case.
The mystery is not easy to solve and the killer tries to permanently stop Ellie from investigating which just riles her up even more. There are several suspects to check out. While reading along I suddenly had my “aha moment”. I read a little further and thought “no, that can’t be right”, but then after a few more pages I joyously found out I was right. The author tried hard to lead me astray but I was almost as determined as Ellie 😀
Now, I can’t finish this review without mentioning the cover. All the covers for this series have been amazing and I want to give a shout out to cover artist Adrienne Langer. She captures the beauty of Ellie’s enchanted garden perfectly. That alone should have people grabbing the book off the shelves. Then to read the story and read the descriptions the author provides of the entire garden, Ellie’s shop, and her little house provides the added imagery needed to bring the setting to life. Poppyville and Scents & Nonsense sound like somewhere I would love to visit again and again.
An enchanting place, engaging characters, and a truly entertaining mystery all come together to give readers “A Perfect Escape”. Until next time . . . I can hardly wait!!
Elliana Allbright is the owner of Scents & Nonsense where she sells items made with special oils she distills from plants in her own garden. The Enchanted Garden is right next to the shop and abuts right up to her tiny house. The garden is a relaxing place with spots for people to sit and wind down from the stress in their lives. Ellie’s dog, Dash and shop cat, Nabokov have free rein of the area so they may dish out their own kind of comfort too.
Ellie belongs to a women’s group, the Greenstockings. They are busy cataloging artifacts for a new local history museum. In their endeavor, they find want appears to be a time capsule for the 1800’s. The town quickly makes an event out of its opening. Inside they find some rare items and local history professor Eureka Sanford tells all that the items could be quite valuable. After most of the items are returned to the museum, Eureka is found dead and most of the items are missing. Ellie is quite interested in the items for a personal reason so she is determined to root out the killer and get the items back.
Elliana Allbright is a wonderful protagonist. She has a gift passed on by her Gamma of being able to match each person with the right combination of scents for them and any problem they may be facing. Her Gamma’s journal is the guidebook and has been the key to everything she knows. A magical journal that still updates itself long after her Gamma’s passing. In this story, it again plays a critical part in solving the mystery. It is fun tagging along with Ellie as she sniffs around for answers. I love the way she and Detective Lupe Garcia work together, especially this time because the chief of police has taken the lead on the case.
The mystery is not easy to solve and the killer tries to permanently stop Ellie from investigating which just riles her up even more. There are several suspects to check out. While reading along I suddenly had my “aha moment”. I read a little further and thought “no, that can’t be right”, but then after a few more pages I joyously found out I was right. The author tried hard to lead me astray but I was almost as determined as Ellie 😀
Now, I can’t finish this review without mentioning the cover. All the covers for this series have been amazing and I want to give a shout out to cover artist Adrienne Langer. She captures the beauty of Ellie’s enchanted garden perfectly. That alone should have people grabbing the book off the shelves. Then to read the story and read the descriptions the author provides of the entire garden, Ellie’s shop, and her little house provides the added imagery needed to bring the setting to life. Poppyville and Scents & Nonsense sound like somewhere I would love to visit again and again.
An enchanting place, engaging characters, and a truly entertaining mystery all come together to give readers “A Perfect Escape”. Until next time . . . I can hardly wait!!
November 29, 2018
I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and this third book was worth the wait. Marigolds for Malice continues this enchanting series that has just a touch of the paranormal. It is well written and keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book. This author has created a charming setting, with strong characters and a touch of the other worldly. Elliana Albright once again has the misfortune of finding a dead body. This time it is a member of the Greenstockings, a group of women in the town who helped establish a historical museum. As Ellie is drawn into solving this mystery, she finds out there is a connection with her family's past and the story that her fellow Greenstocking was researching. The author weaves the modern murder mystery with the historical murder mystery seamlessly. There are some twists and turns that kept me guessing about the identity of the killer. In the end, both the modern day and the historic mystery are resolved nicely. I also liked that the author solidified Ellie's relationship with Ritter and didn't create a love triangle.
This is an enchanting series that is well written, has strong characters and just a touch of the paranormal. If you enjoy this author's work as Bailey Cates, you are sure to enjoy this series as well. I will definitely be back for any future books in the series.
This is an enchanting series that is well written, has strong characters and just a touch of the paranormal. If you enjoy this author's work as Bailey Cates, you are sure to enjoy this series as well. I will definitely be back for any future books in the series.
September 17, 2018
I finished Marigolds For Malice, by Bailey Cattrell on Sunday. I loved this book. I actually really love the idea for and the way Bailey writes this series. Slightly paranormal, but very light, main character Ellie is blessed with a green thumb and knowledge of plants and essential oils that is clearly her passion and part of her bloodline. With help from her Grandmother's botanical journal, she is able to sense danger, find a cure to what ails you and has the super power of scent. She has a shop cat and a great corgi named Dash and the type of home/work/garden that we all wish we had. This was an interesting story that involved the gold rush, historical finds and treasures along with a bit of heartache and of course a murder mystery. This is Book THree in the Enchanted Garden Mystery series and a delightful read.
June 25, 2021
Sooo good! I am really sad there are not more books in the series.
July 10, 2019
Really enjoyed this installment (hoping there are more?)
I love the way Bailey Cattrell gradually introduces residents of Poppyville throughout the series. Just enough to add maybe 2-3 new faces to the town all the while still weaving in the suspects/their stories without anything being quite obvious. I really enjoy when cozies have a historical spin on the mystery - fun time with this one.
I love the way Bailey Cattrell gradually introduces residents of Poppyville throughout the series. Just enough to add maybe 2-3 new faces to the town all the while still weaving in the suspects/their stories without anything being quite obvious. I really enjoy when cozies have a historical spin on the mystery - fun time with this one.
September 17, 2018
I have enjoyed the first two books in this series and I was so excited when my library notified me that the third one had come in. I read it in one afternoon as I was immediately swept up into the story within the first few pages. Ellie's "nose" for the scents and truth leads her into another adventure. The plot moved swiftly and the twists kept me guessing until the reveal. I hope there will be more.
October 1, 2018
A great addition to what has become one of my favourite cozy mystery series!I cannot say enough good things about this author and her books,I have never read a book by her that I didn't love.I highly recommend this author and I'm looking forward to anything she writes in the future.
September 11, 2018
Devo dire che, sebbene abbia capito subito chi fosse il colpevole, la lettura è comunque stata piacevole. E mi piace che ci siano vari accenni all'aromaterapia.
September 21, 2018
I have been a fan of this series, because of the theme, the plant lore, the book covers, the characters, and the writing. Book 3 was such a wonderful and quick read that I am hoping for more books in the Enchanted Garden mysteries. Combining past history and a present day activities made for a clever tale.
February 13, 2019
Captivating cozy with a gentle whiff of paranormal by one of my favorite authors. Welcome to Poppyville, CA where Elliana Allbright runs Scents and Nonsense and keeps finding murders to investigate. Her coterie of friends are charming and the mysteries are well plotted. Highly recommended.
September 15, 2018
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ma...
Marigolds for Malice
Enchanted Garden Mystery, Book #3
By Bailey Cattrell
ISBN 9780451476906
Author Website: cricketmcrae(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the third captivating Enchanted Garden Mystery from Bailey Cattrell, Elliana Allbright will need to dig up clues from the past to weed out a killer…
Elliana Allbright is happy running her perfume shop, Scents & Nonsense, in the charming town of Poppyville, California. And she’s even happier when she can use her inherited abilities to infuse her perfumes with an extra special something that eases woes or solves problems for her customers. But she’ll need those abilities and more when murder comes to town.
Ellie and her women’s business group, the Greenstockings, are helping to open a new museum about local history, and while sorting through the collection of artifacts they discover a time capsule from the days of the Gold Rush. Among the contents is a strange botanical manuscript, recognized by local history professor Eureka Sanford as extremely rare and valuable. When the professor is found dead in the museum, Ellie has no choice but to sniff out the murderer… but this one may have roots that are as old as Poppyville.
Review:
What a great cozy mystery this is! I have enjoyed this series very much so far, and Marigolds for Malice did not disappoint. The characters, Ellie’s shop, Enchanted Garden, Ellie’s knowledge of plants, flowers, and herbs and their properties, and the mystery make this a truly engaging read.
Ellie’s shop, Scents and Nonsense, is a successful venture, set on a fabulous lot with the shop, a tiny house rebuilt from a potting shed, and a large garden in between that she has planned and nurtured with great care. Scents and Nonsense carries ample, varied products with custom fragrances, many from her own garden.
A local women in business group called the Greenstockings is helping prepare Heritage House for opening as a local museum on the library lawn. It is an old log cabin that was relocated, and will have numerous displays of local treasures and cultural items, including many tools from the gold mining days.
A butter churn is found, sealed with wax, with 1850 on the top; retired history professor Eureka Sanford believes it to be a time capsule. Felicity, manager of the Hotel California, wants a public opening of it to draw tourists. On the day it is opened, there is a huge crowd of people, including an old friend and colleague of Eureka, Odell Radcliffe and his adult daughter Haley.
One item that captured the crowd’s interest was a large piece of gold. The real stuff. A claim map, a photo,, what looked like a diary page, and a much older-appearing sewn parchment booklet were inside. The most unusual item, to Ellie, was an envelope with a photo of a young woman who looked just like her, with a dried marigold. Ellie doesn’t know who the woman is, maybe an ancestor? To a woman who studied fragrance, what was chilling was the marigold. When Ellie was at home, she opened her grandmother’s journal, a wealth of handwritten information and drawings regarding herbs, flowers, and the like, including Latin names and uses. Gamma had written by the marigold that it meant ill will to the recipient, cruelty, and malice.
Late that night, Ellie returned to Heritage House to see if she could take a closer look at the parchment. She saw the door open and the light on. Eureka was lying behind the desk, dead. There was a legal pad on the desk where Eureka had been taking notes before being clobbered by a mining shovel. It looks like she had been studying the parchment booklet, but the booklet is gone, as is the chunk of gold.
Ellie is the kind of young lady I would enjoy having as a neighbor. She and best friend Astrid are among my favorites. Astrid is a veterinary technician and has a pet sitting service. Where Ellie has the rare ability to see someone and understand what fragrances she might mix to help them, Astrid has the unique gift to see an animal and know what is wrong with it. Their friend Maria, the local librarian, often knows what book a person might need before they do, often having it set aside before they come in to look. With friends like these, life would never be dull!
The plot is as unique as the town itself. The author caught my attention at the beginning – actually, at the colorful cover art – and kept it throughout. I enjoyed the historical elements. Another interesting feature is the author’s command of English, sending me to the dictionary more than once. Elements from the past tied into the of the present, and following those paths was fascinating. Plot twists and turns kept me on my toes; even though I had a sneaking suspicion who the killer was, I continued through Ellie’s reasoning about each person. There were several people who made good suspects, and my opinion almost changed more than once. I highly recommend this exciting and interesting mystery! I was very satisfied with the resolutions to the murder, the photo, the parchment booklet, and other items.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Marigolds for Malice
Enchanted Garden Mystery, Book #3
By Bailey Cattrell
ISBN 9780451476906
Author Website: cricketmcrae(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the third captivating Enchanted Garden Mystery from Bailey Cattrell, Elliana Allbright will need to dig up clues from the past to weed out a killer…
Elliana Allbright is happy running her perfume shop, Scents & Nonsense, in the charming town of Poppyville, California. And she’s even happier when she can use her inherited abilities to infuse her perfumes with an extra special something that eases woes or solves problems for her customers. But she’ll need those abilities and more when murder comes to town.
Ellie and her women’s business group, the Greenstockings, are helping to open a new museum about local history, and while sorting through the collection of artifacts they discover a time capsule from the days of the Gold Rush. Among the contents is a strange botanical manuscript, recognized by local history professor Eureka Sanford as extremely rare and valuable. When the professor is found dead in the museum, Ellie has no choice but to sniff out the murderer… but this one may have roots that are as old as Poppyville.
Review:
What a great cozy mystery this is! I have enjoyed this series very much so far, and Marigolds for Malice did not disappoint. The characters, Ellie’s shop, Enchanted Garden, Ellie’s knowledge of plants, flowers, and herbs and their properties, and the mystery make this a truly engaging read.
Ellie’s shop, Scents and Nonsense, is a successful venture, set on a fabulous lot with the shop, a tiny house rebuilt from a potting shed, and a large garden in between that she has planned and nurtured with great care. Scents and Nonsense carries ample, varied products with custom fragrances, many from her own garden.
A local women in business group called the Greenstockings is helping prepare Heritage House for opening as a local museum on the library lawn. It is an old log cabin that was relocated, and will have numerous displays of local treasures and cultural items, including many tools from the gold mining days.
A butter churn is found, sealed with wax, with 1850 on the top; retired history professor Eureka Sanford believes it to be a time capsule. Felicity, manager of the Hotel California, wants a public opening of it to draw tourists. On the day it is opened, there is a huge crowd of people, including an old friend and colleague of Eureka, Odell Radcliffe and his adult daughter Haley.
One item that captured the crowd’s interest was a large piece of gold. The real stuff. A claim map, a photo,, what looked like a diary page, and a much older-appearing sewn parchment booklet were inside. The most unusual item, to Ellie, was an envelope with a photo of a young woman who looked just like her, with a dried marigold. Ellie doesn’t know who the woman is, maybe an ancestor? To a woman who studied fragrance, what was chilling was the marigold. When Ellie was at home, she opened her grandmother’s journal, a wealth of handwritten information and drawings regarding herbs, flowers, and the like, including Latin names and uses. Gamma had written by the marigold that it meant ill will to the recipient, cruelty, and malice.
Late that night, Ellie returned to Heritage House to see if she could take a closer look at the parchment. She saw the door open and the light on. Eureka was lying behind the desk, dead. There was a legal pad on the desk where Eureka had been taking notes before being clobbered by a mining shovel. It looks like she had been studying the parchment booklet, but the booklet is gone, as is the chunk of gold.
Ellie is the kind of young lady I would enjoy having as a neighbor. She and best friend Astrid are among my favorites. Astrid is a veterinary technician and has a pet sitting service. Where Ellie has the rare ability to see someone and understand what fragrances she might mix to help them, Astrid has the unique gift to see an animal and know what is wrong with it. Their friend Maria, the local librarian, often knows what book a person might need before they do, often having it set aside before they come in to look. With friends like these, life would never be dull!
The plot is as unique as the town itself. The author caught my attention at the beginning – actually, at the colorful cover art – and kept it throughout. I enjoyed the historical elements. Another interesting feature is the author’s command of English, sending me to the dictionary more than once. Elements from the past tied into the of the present, and following those paths was fascinating. Plot twists and turns kept me on my toes; even though I had a sneaking suspicion who the killer was, I continued through Ellie’s reasoning about each person. There were several people who made good suspects, and my opinion almost changed more than once. I highly recommend this exciting and interesting mystery! I was very satisfied with the resolutions to the murder, the photo, the parchment booklet, and other items.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
May 14, 2023
I can't believe it took me this long to finish this book, but I can attest that it's an experience you gotta enjoy slowly.
This definitely is the best out of the three (so far!) and the plot thickening right at the very end was a sucker punch of a cliffhanger! I can't just sit around and wait for a fourth book to be announced, I can't just wait for that long 🥲
Ellie manages to get entangled in a third (And fourth?) murder whole also discovering more about her not so secret powers, this time her family tree plays an important role in all of it.
I was at the edge of my seat throughout the story, that's how you know you're in for a treat.
Can't wait to be graced with the next book!
This definitely is the best out of the three (so far!) and the plot thickening right at the very end was a sucker punch of a cliffhanger! I can't just sit around and wait for a fourth book to be announced, I can't just wait for that long 🥲
Ellie manages to get entangled in a third (And fourth?) murder whole also discovering more about her not so secret powers, this time her family tree plays an important role in all of it.
I was at the edge of my seat throughout the story, that's how you know you're in for a treat.
Can't wait to be graced with the next book!
August 7, 2020
I'm pretty sure that this series was complete with this book, and when it ended, I had to agree that it ended on a good note and everything/everybody got their happy ending. It had been so long since I read the first two books that it took me just a little while to remember who everyone was, but in no time I remembered what I'd liked so much about the series.
At one point, I did guess the killer and the reason. The showdown was a really good one with Chief Gibbon actually thanking Ellie for her good work, since she'd come up with an idea to trap the killer.
At one point, I did guess the killer and the reason. The showdown was a really good one with Chief Gibbon actually thanking Ellie for her good work, since she'd come up with an idea to trap the killer.
March 8, 2019
I enjoy this cozy series. On book 3 and still enjoying it.
This is a solid cozy series. The characters are likable, the setting is fun, and the "theme" is something I am interested in, and enjoy - scents and aromatherapy.
Ellie is a tad bit annoying at a few points, but for the most part she is an agreeable, likable cozy heroine. She mostly avoids doing incredibly stupid things, and if she's occasionally a little over-the-top in the busy-body area, well, this is a cozy mystery, so that's to be expected.
The mystery itself was not super hard to figure out, but since I never try to do that before the reveal that's not an issue for me. It was a well-written suspenseful story, with good pacing and fun moments as the story plays out.
As someone with a hyper-sense of smell I could relate to Ellie smelling things nobody else could so I like her and her ability to use scents to help people.
This is just a fun, entertaining cozy series, and so far I've enjoyed each book. I will keep going with this.
This is a solid cozy series. The characters are likable, the setting is fun, and the "theme" is something I am interested in, and enjoy - scents and aromatherapy.
Ellie is a tad bit annoying at a few points, but for the most part she is an agreeable, likable cozy heroine. She mostly avoids doing incredibly stupid things, and if she's occasionally a little over-the-top in the busy-body area, well, this is a cozy mystery, so that's to be expected.
The mystery itself was not super hard to figure out, but since I never try to do that before the reveal that's not an issue for me. It was a well-written suspenseful story, with good pacing and fun moments as the story plays out.
As someone with a hyper-sense of smell I could relate to Ellie smelling things nobody else could so I like her and her ability to use scents to help people.
This is just a fun, entertaining cozy series, and so far I've enjoyed each book. I will keep going with this.
July 9, 2019
Another cute book in the series - fluffy and fun and sweet, with a little magic and some romance (but I’m still not loving her romantic interest here).
February 13, 2022
Elliana (Ellie) Allbright is happy running her shop, Scents and Nonsense, in Poppyville. She really enjoys helping others with her custom scents and perfumes. But can her abilities help her when a killer comes to town? Ellie and her business group of ladies are helping to open a new museum in town when they find an old time capsule. When it's opened, history professor, Eureka Sanford, recognizes a rare and valuable manuscript which goes missing when she's murdered in the museum.
I've really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. This well-written book combines nature and magic with wonderful characters for a truly incredible read. I was drawn into this engaging and kept hooked from beginning to end. The mystery will keep you on your toes and guessing throughout. I sincerely hope that the author comes back and continues this enchanting series. I highly recommend both book and series which is best read in order.
I've really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. This well-written book combines nature and magic with wonderful characters for a truly incredible read. I was drawn into this engaging and kept hooked from beginning to end. The mystery will keep you on your toes and guessing throughout. I sincerely hope that the author comes back and continues this enchanting series. I highly recommend both book and series which is best read in order.
March 14, 2024
Enchanted Garden Mystery #3. I wish this series didn’t end with this book because I’ve really enjoyed it. Plus the cover for all three books have been so darn cute.
The setting is super charming. I would easily frequent Ellie’s Scents & Nonsense shop and enjoy a stroll through her garden. Being an essential oils user myself, I loved hearing about her blends and how aromatherapy was woven throughout the story. I also adore the fact that she lives in a tiny house on the property.
The cast of regular characters truly made this series extra special. Along with Ellie, I love her cookie baking bestie, Astrid, the reliable detective, Lupe, and Dash, the Corgi sidekick. There were some interesting conversations with Ritter which adds another reason I would have wanted at least one more book - to see how their long distance relationship progressed.
The main mystery was captivating. I successfully chose the correct suspect and reasoning early on. I like that it involved a “time capsule” with a secondary mystery that was linked to Ellie’s distant relative. The paranormal aspects were light in this story, but left you wanting to understand more about the magical powers in this family.
The setting is super charming. I would easily frequent Ellie’s Scents & Nonsense shop and enjoy a stroll through her garden. Being an essential oils user myself, I loved hearing about her blends and how aromatherapy was woven throughout the story. I also adore the fact that she lives in a tiny house on the property.
The cast of regular characters truly made this series extra special. Along with Ellie, I love her cookie baking bestie, Astrid, the reliable detective, Lupe, and Dash, the Corgi sidekick. There were some interesting conversations with Ritter which adds another reason I would have wanted at least one more book - to see how their long distance relationship progressed.
The main mystery was captivating. I successfully chose the correct suspect and reasoning early on. I like that it involved a “time capsule” with a secondary mystery that was linked to Ellie’s distant relative. The paranormal aspects were light in this story, but left you wanting to understand more about the magical powers in this family.
October 1, 2018
I love this series! From the first book, I was pulled into this world of gardens, flowers, scents and a little bit of magic? The heroine owns a shop that she makes perfumes, soaps, bath oils, etc. that she distills herself from the flowers in her 'enchanted' garden. Her grandmother has left her a book that is handwritten with information from what flowers mean to vague hints to help Elliana (beautiful name) solve the murder mysteries. I would put this series in my top favorite cozies though it is relatively new. I understand the author writes another series as Bailey Coates and I will have to investigate that one when I get a chance. This author/series just clicks for me.
August 1, 2020
A decent cozy mystery with a cast of characters that I loved. There are a handful of reasons that this only received 3/5 stars instead of 4/5 — the main one being that I guessed not only which character was the murderer, but I guessed the why. The other reason is that I don’t think police, even in such a small town, would so willingly ask a civilian to help and ask for her opinions too. That was a little odd to me.
But I loved the touch of magical whimsy! And the historical mystery part was very touching and tragic.
But I loved the touch of magical whimsy! And the historical mystery part was very touching and tragic.
July 25, 2019
I think this might be one of my favourite cozy mysteries ever. I loved the plot (even if I guessed the killer shortly into the mystery), I loved the characters and I love any book set in California. Anything involving even a tad of magic is up my alley. It felt like a cross between Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Nancy Drew as one person, and I loved it.
September 7, 2020
I've had this book quite a while, but had not had the chance to read it until recently. The characters came right to life again, and the mystical aspects were as charming as ever. I've loved this series since the get-go, and now I hope there are more books in it waiting for me. Great writing, plot, characters, setting - just a terrific read!
May 16, 2019
So I racked up a $16 library fine because of this book because I had to keep renewing it since September. Good book very much an eat pray love but mystical floral mystery type situation. Would read the other other books but not willing to rack up more fines.
September 10, 2018
Wederom een heerlijk verhaal om te lezen. Ik geniet van haar beschrijvingen van kruiden en planten in combinatie met een detective verhaal.
Read
July 6, 2025this book got me through third trimester brain fog and then 3 am feedings so ty! shame she didn't continue this series like she did her other
October 28, 2019
Love the history weaving into this book. Looking forward to more in the series!
July 29, 2019
I'm still enjoying this series. The true history of the time capsule/butter churn was quite a twist but I really liked it.
June 8, 2019
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 Stars.
October 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this book in the series. This was perfect for an October cozy read! I love the Poppyville world and the characters. This was a great next installment.
July 31, 2019
This is the third book in the series and I really wanted to like it as well as the first two (although I did like the second one better than the first, I will admit). But I was turned off completely when I found out what the professor was doing.
First, they find an old butter churn and discover that it's a time capsule from the 1800's. When, among much fanfare, it contains an old botanical notebook, Ellie finds it's hot to the touch - at least for her. The rest of the items - a diary page and large gold nugget among them - seem to be just pieces of history.
But the professor who takes charge of everything (save for the nugget which has been removed to the bank) for the museum. While the botanical notebook haunts her, Ellie goes to see if she can look at it again and finds the professor dead and all the items missing. Now, of course, Detective Max Lang thinks she's guilty, but Ellie isn't going to sit still while he tries to pin a murder on her. She's determined to figure out where the notebook is, and who stole it and why...
This book started out well enough, and it was discovered that Ellie's ancestor was the woman in a photo found in the churn. I thought this could be interesting. But it wasn't. It seems the esteemed professor was going to write a book on the photo and the botanical notebook, which would have both belonged to Ellie as the rightful descendant. And she wasn't going to ask Ellie if it was okay to do so, or include her in the book, or ask for her help. Basically, she was going to steal the items for her own profit. I didn't like this one whit, and I didn't feel sorry for her death after that.
I also don't like Max at all. I get that he's the friend of her ex-husband. But did he hate her when they were married, too? Or did he just develop that when they got divorced? There's no reason at all for his attitude unless he loves her ex-husband Harris and is jealous of her for having been married to him. He's a character the book could do without.
It disappointed me so much that I didn't much care for the book after that. And I cared even less for Ellie's "relationship" with Ritter. Which isn't a relationship at all. He goes away for work months at a time, only returning while he's waiting to leave again. He doesn't have any plans to really have a future with her if he's never there. Just around often enough to make sure she isn't seeing anyone else. Nope. No future in that.
These things ended the series for me. Even if there were any more books, I wouldn't read them.
First, they find an old butter churn and discover that it's a time capsule from the 1800's. When, among much fanfare, it contains an old botanical notebook, Ellie finds it's hot to the touch - at least for her. The rest of the items - a diary page and large gold nugget among them - seem to be just pieces of history.
But the professor who takes charge of everything (save for the nugget which has been removed to the bank) for the museum. While the botanical notebook haunts her, Ellie goes to see if she can look at it again and finds the professor dead and all the items missing. Now, of course, Detective Max Lang thinks she's guilty, but Ellie isn't going to sit still while he tries to pin a murder on her. She's determined to figure out where the notebook is, and who stole it and why...
This book started out well enough, and it was discovered that Ellie's ancestor was the woman in a photo found in the churn. I thought this could be interesting. But it wasn't. It seems the esteemed professor was going to write a book on the photo and the botanical notebook, which would have both belonged to Ellie as the rightful descendant. And she wasn't going to ask Ellie if it was okay to do so, or include her in the book, or ask for her help. Basically, she was going to steal the items for her own profit. I didn't like this one whit, and I didn't feel sorry for her death after that.
I also don't like Max at all. I get that he's the friend of her ex-husband. But did he hate her when they were married, too? Or did he just develop that when they got divorced? There's no reason at all for his attitude unless he loves her ex-husband Harris and is jealous of her for having been married to him. He's a character the book could do without.
It disappointed me so much that I didn't much care for the book after that. And I cared even less for Ellie's "relationship" with Ritter. Which isn't a relationship at all. He goes away for work months at a time, only returning while he's waiting to leave again. He doesn't have any plans to really have a future with her if he's never there. Just around often enough to make sure she isn't seeing anyone else. Nope. No future in that.
These things ended the series for me. Even if there were any more books, I wouldn't read them.
May 1, 2021
Marigolds for Malice by Bailey Cattrell (3 stars) is a cozy mystery about the murder of the Professor Sandord in a small-town community following his research about items found in a 1800's time capsule.
Elliana Allbright is a perfumer with her cute shop Scents & Nonsense; excellent pun-ny name, in small-town Poppyville, California. She has a unique ability to infuse her perused with special substances to ease her customers problems. After reading Perfume last month, I was intrigued by her skills, lol. Ellie distills ingredients for the perfumes from plants in her Enchanted Garden; which also has a lovely area for the neighbours to relax. Ellie's corgi Dash and shop cat Nabokov also provide comfort to visitors as they have free rein over the spacious garden.
Ellie and her group of fellow business women, known as the Greenstockings, are sorting through artifacts for a new museum opening when they stumble across a time capsule. In the time capsule, there is a rare manuscript in which the local history Professor Eureka Sandord deems as very valuable. But, the professor is found dead in the museum! Ellie is enlisted to help catch a scent of the murderer ... see what I did there?
Cattrall has great pacing for this mysterious little story and there's some good humour within the pages too. Despite being entertained by this cozy mystery; I easily guessed the murderer early on.
I realized this book was the third in a series after I already requested a copy from the library, but I felt it was okay to jump in without reading the previous two books! My big curiosity with the book is why the police asked Ellie, a civilian, to help and for her opinions about the murder? Maybe I'm just missing some backstory from the previous books in the series though to fill in those blanks about why she helps the authorities.
Anyways, Marigolds for Malice is a fun little whodunnit and I'll definitely track down the other books in the series.
Elliana Allbright is a perfumer with her cute shop Scents & Nonsense; excellent pun-ny name, in small-town Poppyville, California. She has a unique ability to infuse her perused with special substances to ease her customers problems. After reading Perfume last month, I was intrigued by her skills, lol. Ellie distills ingredients for the perfumes from plants in her Enchanted Garden; which also has a lovely area for the neighbours to relax. Ellie's corgi Dash and shop cat Nabokov also provide comfort to visitors as they have free rein over the spacious garden.
Ellie and her group of fellow business women, known as the Greenstockings, are sorting through artifacts for a new museum opening when they stumble across a time capsule. In the time capsule, there is a rare manuscript in which the local history Professor Eureka Sandord deems as very valuable. But, the professor is found dead in the museum! Ellie is enlisted to help catch a scent of the murderer ... see what I did there?
Cattrall has great pacing for this mysterious little story and there's some good humour within the pages too. Despite being entertained by this cozy mystery; I easily guessed the murderer early on.
I realized this book was the third in a series after I already requested a copy from the library, but I felt it was okay to jump in without reading the previous two books! My big curiosity with the book is why the police asked Ellie, a civilian, to help and for her opinions about the murder? Maybe I'm just missing some backstory from the previous books in the series though to fill in those blanks about why she helps the authorities.
Anyways, Marigolds for Malice is a fun little whodunnit and I'll definitely track down the other books in the series.
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