Bloomed To Die

Victorian Mansion Flower Shop Mysteries #2

by Johnnie Alexander

Wedding bells are set to ring in picture-perfect Turtle Cove, where Kaylee Bleu and the Petal Pushers are readying the grounds of Orcas Island's historic lighthouse for the event of the year. Prodigal daughter Brooke Edgars has returned to the island to marry local millionaire James Stratford, but the couple's trip to the altar is altered when Kaylee makes a horrifying discovery: the groom's dead body.

Kaylee becomes even more engaged in the case when her trusty dachshund, Bear's, life is put in danger. She proposes to do local law enforcement a favor and help solve the crime -- even if it means putting herself in harm's way to protect her loved ones.

Thanks to her past life as a plant taxonomist, Kaylee determines that James has been poisoned with oleander, a native flower that's as beautiful as it is deadly. But that answer only leads to more questions: Did one of James's many enemies conspire to murder him? Could he have fallen victim to a fatal fiancee? And was he even the killer's true target?

Unconvinced by the sheriff's assertion that James was the intended victim and that Brooke was more black widow than blushing bride, Kaylee and her garden club friends vow to untie the knots surrounding this whodunit. As they dig up more dirt, they discover that not everything is what it seems. Childhood grievances, bad business deals, hidden pasts -- the motives keep piling up while the murderer remains on the loose.

Can Kaylee lift the veil on the mystery before the killer says "I do" to another murder?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

213 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. As a bestselling, award-winning novelist, she has written more than thirty works of fiction in a variety of genres.

She is a Mosaic Collection author, co-hosts a weekly online show called Writers Chat, serves on the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference Executive Board, and is a regular contributor to the HHHistory.com blog.

A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, Johnnie shares a life of quiet adventure with Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at JohnnieAlexander.com.

Reviews

[Sherri Kukla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the four books I've read so far in this series. Kept me wanting to more know, I was a little disappointed at the end when it became too clear who the killer was before it was actually revealed, but still enjoyed it enough and was in suspense for 90% of the book.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd book in a cute cozy mystery series.

[Maria Tatham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the strong yet tender-hearted detective - Kaylee Bleu - and how in concert with others she solved the unusual and interesting mystery; and the setting - tiny charming Turtle Cove on Orcas Island. I guessed the villain but have read many mysteries. Kudos to Johnnie Alexander and Annie's Fiction for a strong story in a lovely hardback format!

[Elissa Butler Fonseca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
Read this for a book club, wouldn’t otherwise have read :)

Very easy mystery, but I thought the writing was pretty terrible and while the story had lots of characters for you to suspect…. It wrapped up in 2.5 pages and reasons behind who did what were so shallow and lame.
The author had a decent storyline, but the writing and introductions of the characters were very confusing and unclear.
Luckily it was very short and a quick read so I don’t consider it a waste of time :)

[Cheryl Bourdet · Rating 5 out of 5]

More twists

And many answers for all the questions! A great addition for a second book! The twisty story leaves the reader wondering if all the questions will ever be answered satisfactorily.

[Juli Lindenmayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than the last one. Still technically below average. It's going to take me a while to find the 3rd one! And I'm definitely not spending money on it. I don't like skipping books in a series or leaving a series incomplete, but I may have to with this one.

[Michelle Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the ending was very hurried. Blink and you'll miss it. Wish it had felt more climactic.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t care for the murder storyline, but the characters and setting made up for an otherwise so-so plot.

[PottWab Regional Library]

A