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Motts Cold Case Mystery #1
Poisoned Primrose
Meet Motts and the quirky cast of characters in her world. Poisoned Primrose is a quintessential cosy British mystery and an all-round fun story to throw yourself into.
Autistic, asexual, and almost forty, Pineapple “Motts” Mottley flees London with her cat and turtle to a quaint cottage in Cornwall. She craves the peace of life in a small village. The dead body buried in her garden isn’t quite what she had in mind, though.
Unable to resist her curiosity, she falls directly into a mess of trouble and runs head-first into the attractive detective inspector, Teo Herceg. She tries to balance her business with the investigation, but as the killer focuses on her, staying alive becomes trickier than advanced origami.
Will Motts survive the onslaught of murderously bad luck?
Can she solve the mystery before it all spins out of control and off a cliff?
Autistic, asexual, and almost forty, Pineapple “Motts” Mottley flees London with her cat and turtle to a quaint cottage in Cornwall. She craves the peace of life in a small village. The dead body buried in her garden isn’t quite what she had in mind, though.
Unable to resist her curiosity, she falls directly into a mess of trouble and runs head-first into the attractive detective inspector, Teo Herceg. She tries to balance her business with the investigation, but as the killer focuses on her, staying alive becomes trickier than advanced origami.
Will Motts survive the onslaught of murderously bad luck?
Can she solve the mystery before it all spins out of control and off a cliff?
290 pages, ebook
First published July 25, 2020
148 people are currently reading
1215 people want to read
About the author
Dahlia Donovan
49 books777 followersDahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 20, 2024
This is a cozy mystery book with a character with Autism, and it is the 1st book in the Motts Cold Case Mystery series. I love reading books with characters with Autism because I have two kids with Autism. The main character is Pineapple “Motts” Mottley, and she has autism. I feel her character is written well and the autism part is written very good. Each Autistic person is different, and Motts has most of the talked about signs of Autism. I do think girls with Autism is not talked about has much. Girls with Autism also has different signs that boys. My daughter has autism, and she is kindof like Motts. She sits down and works out how to handle issues. It is hard has a parent to see. I loved the character development and the Autism in this book. I have to say the mystery part took a back set and was not has good has the character development and Autism part. I hope the mystery part is better in the second book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Tangled Tree Publishing) or author (Dahlia Donovan) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
July 1, 2020
With her tortoiseshell Sphinx cat, Cactus, and her turtle, Moss, self proclaimed “asexual, biromantic, and autistic “ Pineapple Mottley (AKA Motts) has inherited her Auntie Daisy’s cottage and moved to Polperro, in Cornwall. She can work from home so the location is no problem, until she finds skeletal remains in the garden. There are many friendly people in the village but it’s evident that some feel that Motts is getting too close to the truth, and are taking steps to keep her from asking more questions. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with the opportunity to review this enjoyable cozy mystery with a refreshingly different protagonist.
July 6, 2020
I tend to read a lot of dark fiction, so I like having a variety of "cozies" on hand to lighten my mood, a bookish palate cleanser so to speak. I saw a review of this soon-to-be released title and the premise intrigued me: an autistic, asexual, almost-40 woman moves to a small village with her cat and turtle, a body is found, and the typical cozy scenarios unfold. What makes this different is our main gal, Motts. Seeing life through the eyes of someone with autism is not something that is done very often in the literary world, and I applaud the author (who is autistic) for creating this lovable, eccentric character. I can't wait to read more Motts!
April 3, 2021
This was only my second cosy mystery I've read, but I really enjoyed it, and I think this will be a favourite in the genre.
I really liked the main character - it was great to see an autistic biromantic asexual MC and I really liked the rep. I especially appreciated that she's someone who lived with her parents well into adulthood, because I'm in the same situation so this was relatable and I think it's a reality for many autistic people.
I really liked the main character - it was great to see an autistic biromantic asexual MC and I really liked the rep. I especially appreciated that she's someone who lived with her parents well into adulthood, because I'm in the same situation so this was relatable and I think it's a reality for many autistic people.
July 27, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I adore Teo. He is caring, smart, and just perfect for Motts. The little things we learn about him are just priceless and so much fun. His affections for Motts feel so genuine, as does the love that she receives from her friends. Between him, her besties, and the village folk, I think this story has just about everything one could want in a cozy mystery. The killer is not immediately apparent, but not too difficult to figure out, and the story moves along swiftly.
I can tell you that I am absolutely fascinated with how the author chose to build the character of Motts and, to a lesser extent, Teo. Poisoned Primrose is that perfect little novel one could enjoy on a rainy afternoon with a hot cup of tea. It’s a delightful morsel that left me eager to see more of the marvelous cast of characters who inhabit the quaint little town. I look forward to Motts’ next adventure.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I adore Teo. He is caring, smart, and just perfect for Motts. The little things we learn about him are just priceless and so much fun. His affections for Motts feel so genuine, as does the love that she receives from her friends. Between him, her besties, and the village folk, I think this story has just about everything one could want in a cozy mystery. The killer is not immediately apparent, but not too difficult to figure out, and the story moves along swiftly.
I can tell you that I am absolutely fascinated with how the author chose to build the character of Motts and, to a lesser extent, Teo. Poisoned Primrose is that perfect little novel one could enjoy on a rainy afternoon with a hot cup of tea. It’s a delightful morsel that left me eager to see more of the marvelous cast of characters who inhabit the quaint little town. I look forward to Motts’ next adventure.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
July 17, 2020
I love Maggs. She is a delightful character. Her direct manner is refreshing.
The body is discovered in her garden when she is revamping it after inheriting the cottage from her aunt. I had guessed who the culprit was in this cold case investigation but still thoroughly enjoyed this cozy murder mystery.
The loving friends and support of many of the villagers is evident throughout. I’m unsure how this thirty-something, self employed and autistic lead character would manage without them. It really spoke to me that they were there for her, for the good times and the not-so-good times. They also stepped up and stepped in when she was struggling with the many interactions and increased scrutiny as the case progressed. They really are the family she has chosen for herself.
Her pets are as quirky (and charming) as she is, adding another element to the story. She talks to hers almost as much as I do to mine!
I look forward to more of Maggs and her friends going forward
With thanks to #NetGalley, Tangled Tree Publishing and the author for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.
The body is discovered in her garden when she is revamping it after inheriting the cottage from her aunt. I had guessed who the culprit was in this cold case investigation but still thoroughly enjoyed this cozy murder mystery.
The loving friends and support of many of the villagers is evident throughout. I’m unsure how this thirty-something, self employed and autistic lead character would manage without them. It really spoke to me that they were there for her, for the good times and the not-so-good times. They also stepped up and stepped in when she was struggling with the many interactions and increased scrutiny as the case progressed. They really are the family she has chosen for herself.
Her pets are as quirky (and charming) as she is, adding another element to the story. She talks to hers almost as much as I do to mine!
I look forward to more of Maggs and her friends going forward
With thanks to #NetGalley, Tangled Tree Publishing and the author for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.
July 17, 2020
4.5 Star Review of Poisoned Primrose (Motts Cold Case Mystery #1) by Dahlia Donovan
I was intrigued when I read the blurb for this book and as I enjoy cozy mysteries and Dahlia Donovan is a new author to me, I could not wait to dive in.
Our heroine is Pineapple “Motts” Mottley (I just love the name) who is close to forty, autistic and asexual and I fell for her hard and fast. Motts is quirky and awkward and honestly I liked her. Having moved to Cornwall to escape the rat race, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body in her garden.
Determined to investigate she butts heads initially with the detective inspector in charge of the case, Teo Herceg. She is such a unique character, she talks to her pets, a Sphinx cat, Cactus, and her turtle, Moss which made for some humorous moments.
This was a a book filled with secrets and enough clues to indulge my detective spirit. The intrigue and suspense kept me on riveted as I listened to this story.
I was intrigued when I read the blurb for this book and as I enjoy cozy mysteries and Dahlia Donovan is a new author to me, I could not wait to dive in.
Our heroine is Pineapple “Motts” Mottley (I just love the name) who is close to forty, autistic and asexual and I fell for her hard and fast. Motts is quirky and awkward and honestly I liked her. Having moved to Cornwall to escape the rat race, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body in her garden.
Determined to investigate she butts heads initially with the detective inspector in charge of the case, Teo Herceg. She is such a unique character, she talks to her pets, a Sphinx cat, Cactus, and her turtle, Moss which made for some humorous moments.
This was a a book filled with secrets and enough clues to indulge my detective spirit. The intrigue and suspense kept me on riveted as I listened to this story.
July 26, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery with such wonderful characters. What a refreshing take on village life too, I have to admit this Aussie did look up Polperro after reading the descriptions and fell in love with it. I can honestly say the written visuals given in the book are so accurate, going by the photos I saw online, that I was so pleased my imagery, when reading, was correct.
Now, Pineapple, or Motts as she prefers, is one fantastic character with her total honesty and way of seeing things. Her autism is supported by such wonderful people and being older she has learned many coping strategies. What is terrific is I learned things that I hope could help someone in the future. I intend to read more from this author when you find a new author and enjoy their words you stick to them.
The mystery is a good one, not necessarily predictable as in the why but who... well it did take me a little while to be truthful but then I suspect that was all designed to be that way by this clever writer. One of my favorite elements was the interesting alliteration sentences, as a retired primary school teacher, this was actually one of my favorite fun activities to do to build creativity and descriptive words. What a delight it was to read them and it brought back great memories, thank you.
Teo is an interesting character and a fabulous match for Motts, he is so caring and insightful too. Honestly, all of the villagers I want to get to know better. 😆 They all felt like old friends or that we could be. I look forward to reading more from this author especially this series.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
For more reviews, news and giveaways, check out Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner at;
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Now, Pineapple, or Motts as she prefers, is one fantastic character with her total honesty and way of seeing things. Her autism is supported by such wonderful people and being older she has learned many coping strategies. What is terrific is I learned things that I hope could help someone in the future. I intend to read more from this author when you find a new author and enjoy their words you stick to them.
The mystery is a good one, not necessarily predictable as in the why but who... well it did take me a little while to be truthful but then I suspect that was all designed to be that way by this clever writer. One of my favorite elements was the interesting alliteration sentences, as a retired primary school teacher, this was actually one of my favorite fun activities to do to build creativity and descriptive words. What a delight it was to read them and it brought back great memories, thank you.
Teo is an interesting character and a fabulous match for Motts, he is so caring and insightful too. Honestly, all of the villagers I want to get to know better. 😆 They all felt like old friends or that we could be. I look forward to reading more from this author especially this series.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
For more reviews, news and giveaways, check out Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner at;
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |
July 25, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy mystery with such wonderful characters. What a refreshing take on village life too, I have to admit this Aussie did look up Polperro after reading the descriptions and fell in love with it. I can honestly say the written visuals given in the book are so accurate, going by the photos I saw online, that I was so pleased my imagery, when reading, was correct.
Now, Pineapple, or Motts as she prefers, is one fantastic character with her totally honesty and way of seeing things. Her autism is supported by such wonderful people and being older she has learnt many coping strategies. What is terrific is I learnt things that I hope could help someone in the future. I intend to read more from this author, when you find a new author and enjoy their words you stick to them.
The mystery is a good one, not necessarily predictable as in the why but who... well it did take me a little while to be truthful but then I suspect that was all designed to be that way by this clever writer. One of my favourite elements were the interesting alliteration sentences, as a retired primary school teacher this was actually one of my favourite fun activities to do to build creativity and descriptive words. What a delight it was to read them and it brought back great memories, thank you.
Teo is an interesting character and a fabulous match for Motts, he is so caring and insightful too. Honestly, all of the villagers I want to get to know better. 😆 They all felt like old friends or that we could be. I look forward to reading more from this author especially this series.
July 24, 2020
Cozies aren't usually notable for their representation, and this one checks a lot of boxes. The heroine, Pineapple Motts (I hated her parents immediately, even before they make her life miserable) is autistic and asexual and bi-romantic. She's 39 years old, and has just moved out of her parents' home and has come to live in her dead aunt's cottage in lovely Cornwall. And ta da, she (or rather the person she hired) finds a body buried underneath her garden.
I loved Motts. I didn't expect to, but she has many tendencies I do, and she's surrounded by a number of decent and understanding people. It's probably not realistic, but there are always the bossy parents for balance. And the meanies who are trying to kill her. The mystery is actually very basic, and Motts' investigation primarily consists of bluntly asking people if they knew the dead woman and getting rebuffed for it. But I still liked the book itself because I liked Motts, I liked her thought process and I liked the circle of people she surrounded herself with. I also loved all the food mentions. For the record, I am extremely unhappy that Kernow chocolates don't ship outside UK/EU. I have to find a luxury chocolate maker in US (of which there are many, thankfully) to console myself.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I loved Motts. I didn't expect to, but she has many tendencies I do, and she's surrounded by a number of decent and understanding people. It's probably not realistic, but there are always the bossy parents for balance. And the meanies who are trying to kill her. The mystery is actually very basic, and Motts' investigation primarily consists of bluntly asking people if they knew the dead woman and getting rebuffed for it. But I still liked the book itself because I liked Motts, I liked her thought process and I liked the circle of people she surrounded herself with. I also loved all the food mentions. For the record, I am extremely unhappy that Kernow chocolates don't ship outside UK/EU. I have to find a luxury chocolate maker in US (of which there are many, thankfully) to console myself.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 27, 2020
I've not read a book with several murders involving a character who is autistic, asexual and very much part of a community. At 40 Motts has just moved to a quaint village in beautiful Cornwall with her cat and her turtle. She wants a quiet life, to become independent of her parents who hover over her all the time and get on with it.
What Motts did not expect is to find a body buried in her back garden. This was where the murders start. She did not expect to be personally attacked either because she started an enquiry of her own with her eccentric friends in the village, who all had her back but who could not protect her from someone in the village who was determined to put a stop to all the enquiries.
As is usual in villages, there is usually a lot of history in personal quarrels and this was no exception.
A British cozy mystery set in (again) stunning settings of Cornwall, and this time with a very mixed cast of characters, a touch of romance (just starting btw) and probably more to come.
Very fun read.
What Motts did not expect is to find a body buried in her back garden. This was where the murders start. She did not expect to be personally attacked either because she started an enquiry of her own with her eccentric friends in the village, who all had her back but who could not protect her from someone in the village who was determined to put a stop to all the enquiries.
As is usual in villages, there is usually a lot of history in personal quarrels and this was no exception.
A British cozy mystery set in (again) stunning settings of Cornwall, and this time with a very mixed cast of characters, a touch of romance (just starting btw) and probably more to come.
Very fun read.
July 27, 2020
This is the first book in a new series by Dahlia. This book is a great cozy mystery. Pineapple Motts has finally moved out on her own. Motts is an autistic, asexual, and almost forty. She inherited a cottage in Cornwall from her aunt. What she never expected was for a dead body to be found in her garden. Motts curiosity can’t just leave it to the police. With help from friends and relatives she investigates on her own. Which leads her into some trouble. Someone doesn’t want her digging into things. She finds herself meeting Detective Inspector Teo Herceg. There could be more between them. But Motts isn’t your average girl. Will she be able to stay out of trouble or will trouble find her? I really loved this book. Motts is a fantastic character. Her friends and relatives are great characters as well. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Congrats on Dahlia on another fantastic book.
March 20, 2024
For Pineapple "Motts" Mottley, the joy of finally gaining her independence from her parents at age 39 is rather diminished by the discovery of a dead body in her garden.
At first, the main character, Motts was not a match for me, but she suddenly became a wonderfully funny companion, and I couldn't stop thinking about her when I wasn't reading the book. I loved the setting - the Cornish coast (happy squeals) with a little cottage passed down through the generations. I also admired that Motts wasn't trying to be a detective, she just needed to satisfy her curiosity by questioning people. As for "the romance", romance in a mystery usually repels me, but Motts and Teo are an ideal couple and the concept works well within the story. (I also thought the name of the chocolate company was very clever!)
The next books in the series will be on my TBR list momentarily. This may be too gentle for hardcore mystery fans, but I adore it.
At first, the main character, Motts was not a match for me, but she suddenly became a wonderfully funny companion, and I couldn't stop thinking about her when I wasn't reading the book. I loved the setting - the Cornish coast (happy squeals) with a little cottage passed down through the generations. I also admired that Motts wasn't trying to be a detective, she just needed to satisfy her curiosity by questioning people. As for "the romance", romance in a mystery usually repels me, but Motts and Teo are an ideal couple and the concept works well within the story. (I also thought the name of the chocolate company was very clever!)
The next books in the series will be on my TBR list momentarily. This may be too gentle for hardcore mystery fans, but I adore it.
February 13, 2024
I greatly enjoyed this book! It’s absolutely adorable, quirky, hilarious and very entertaining. The only bummer was that the mystery felt very elementary and didn’t play as big of a role in the overall plot as I expected.
A big shoutout to the representation in this book though!
Overall rating: 4.5
A big shoutout to the representation in this book though!
Overall rating: 4.5
June 30, 2020
Poisoned Primroses is such a cosy mystery and is my first book by the author. Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book and couldn't guess the murderer till the end. It's a good who dunnit novel and is well written.
"Motts" is an autistic, and nearing her 40s. She inherits a house from her aunt and moves there finally leaving her parents home. She first starts her work with the garden when a skeleton of a missing local is discovered.
"Motts" is awkward and amazing. I love how she is always communicating with her pets. It's quite heartwarming. The book is well written and the plot is good. It made me laugh and smile in some parts.
I enjoyed this quick, light and engrossing read. Definitely recommend it.
I loved this book and couldn't guess the murderer till the end. It's a good who dunnit novel and is well written.
"Motts" is an autistic, and nearing her 40s. She inherits a house from her aunt and moves there finally leaving her parents home. She first starts her work with the garden when a skeleton of a missing local is discovered.
"Motts" is awkward and amazing. I love how she is always communicating with her pets. It's quite heartwarming. The book is well written and the plot is good. It made me laugh and smile in some parts.
I enjoyed this quick, light and engrossing read. Definitely recommend it.
September 17, 2021
I'm giving this a healthy rounding up from 3 stars to 4 because I don't like gentle / cozy mysteries, and I knew that's what this was when I bought it, and it turns out I still don't like them! so I think a large part of my 3 star rating is just that, and I feel too guilty about taking off a star for a book being a genre it says it is and that many people enjoy
I bought and read this book primarily for the asexual and autistic rep, and I will confirm that was very good for the most part. I took off half a star though because the MC is written as if she's in her early 20s, not basically 40. I know (being so myself) that autistic people often get treated like children and our interests / mannerisms viewed as childish; this is a solid b-plot between the MC and her parents. So I feel like this is deliberate, it's just not ... well done. Sorry. I think largely the problem is that it's never explained, remarked on, or confronted (until literally the last 2 pages).
*I* know her parents act like and speak to her as if she's barely out of her teens because that's how autistic people often get treated because I am autistic, but it's literally never mentioned in the book. Motts has thoughts about frustrating this is, but she never actually states it's not right or pushes back until the very end. Which is understandable, because that might be normalized for her, but also: none of her friends or other family comment on it. 99.9% of the book is her being treated (and I'd say narratively too, she's *written as*) like she's 20, and then suddenly there's a line about her going through menopause. It's a very weird whiplash. Nothing about her voice, her inner monologue, the other villagers, her romantic interest, her friends--literally NO ONE ever speaks to her like she's an adult, remarks on her being an adult, or remarks on how weird it is that her parents treat her like a teenager. Not even when she interacts with far younger characters (I assume Danny is meant to be late 20s??). There's nothing about worries of dating at 40, no clear indicators of anyone else's ages, how ridiculous her parents' treatment actually is because it's all just passively accepted and glossed over.
Sorry for harping on about this, but it's really difficult to take a character seriously when they're supposedly 40 and yet narratively indistinguishable from a literal YA novel.
I took off another half star, and this is related, for the also strange choice to write Motts as if she's literally never spoken to anyone else in her life before this novel. I don't mean that she's socially awkward or anxious, or any of that. I mean that the narrative expects me to believe this 40 year old woman L I T E R A L L Y has never heard a super common phrase like "Never change." There was another one too that really struck me at the time, something as common as like "I could eat a horse" but now I can't remember it exactly. I do remember she also hadn't ever heard of the suggestion to picture the audience naked if you're nervous about a presentation--not that she found it weird or extra stressful to do that, but she reacted as if she'd never ever ever even heard of the notion. Again, in 40 years.
Autistic person not understanding a common phrase or social norm? Yeah, absolutely. Thinking a common phrase is weird or illogical or just dumb? Yep! I personally hate "Hi, how are you?" because no one actually answers truthfully and if you ask an employee (like a waiter or cashier) "How are you" they cannot answer that. There's no possible answer we can give and not get fired except "Good, thanks" so I HATE being asked that. Please just shut up and ask me your actual question. I would love to read an autistic character who goes on that mental rant. But a fully grown adult person who acts like an 8 year old hearing a new phrase for the very first time in their entire life? Annoying and infantilizing in and of itself.
So I guess maybe petty for me to take off a full star for an autistic person being treated like a child when that is a real issue, but my point is that the *narrative* itself also seemed to go out of its way to treat her like a child too. She really did not read like a 39 year old adult struggling with making her parents believe she is an adult; she read like a 19 year old who Really Kind Of Isn't An Adult Yet trying to get her parents to believe she's an adult :/
I bought and read this book primarily for the asexual and autistic rep, and I will confirm that was very good for the most part. I took off half a star though because the MC is written as if she's in her early 20s, not basically 40. I know (being so myself) that autistic people often get treated like children and our interests / mannerisms viewed as childish; this is a solid b-plot between the MC and her parents. So I feel like this is deliberate, it's just not ... well done. Sorry. I think largely the problem is that it's never explained, remarked on, or confronted (until literally the last 2 pages).
*I* know her parents act like and speak to her as if she's barely out of her teens because that's how autistic people often get treated because I am autistic, but it's literally never mentioned in the book. Motts has thoughts about frustrating this is, but she never actually states it's not right or pushes back until the very end. Which is understandable, because that might be normalized for her, but also: none of her friends or other family comment on it. 99.9% of the book is her being treated (and I'd say narratively too, she's *written as*) like she's 20, and then suddenly there's a line about her going through menopause. It's a very weird whiplash. Nothing about her voice, her inner monologue, the other villagers, her romantic interest, her friends--literally NO ONE ever speaks to her like she's an adult, remarks on her being an adult, or remarks on how weird it is that her parents treat her like a teenager. Not even when she interacts with far younger characters (I assume Danny is meant to be late 20s??). There's nothing about worries of dating at 40, no clear indicators of anyone else's ages, how ridiculous her parents' treatment actually is because it's all just passively accepted and glossed over.
Sorry for harping on about this, but it's really difficult to take a character seriously when they're supposedly 40 and yet narratively indistinguishable from a literal YA novel.
I took off another half star, and this is related, for the also strange choice to write Motts as if she's literally never spoken to anyone else in her life before this novel. I don't mean that she's socially awkward or anxious, or any of that. I mean that the narrative expects me to believe this 40 year old woman L I T E R A L L Y has never heard a super common phrase like "Never change." There was another one too that really struck me at the time, something as common as like "I could eat a horse" but now I can't remember it exactly. I do remember she also hadn't ever heard of the suggestion to picture the audience naked if you're nervous about a presentation--not that she found it weird or extra stressful to do that, but she reacted as if she'd never ever ever even heard of the notion. Again, in 40 years.
Autistic person not understanding a common phrase or social norm? Yeah, absolutely. Thinking a common phrase is weird or illogical or just dumb? Yep! I personally hate "Hi, how are you?" because no one actually answers truthfully and if you ask an employee (like a waiter or cashier) "How are you" they cannot answer that. There's no possible answer we can give and not get fired except "Good, thanks" so I HATE being asked that. Please just shut up and ask me your actual question. I would love to read an autistic character who goes on that mental rant. But a fully grown adult person who acts like an 8 year old hearing a new phrase for the very first time in their entire life? Annoying and infantilizing in and of itself.
So I guess maybe petty for me to take off a full star for an autistic person being treated like a child when that is a real issue, but my point is that the *narrative* itself also seemed to go out of its way to treat her like a child too. She really did not read like a 39 year old adult struggling with making her parents believe she is an adult; she read like a 19 year old who Really Kind Of Isn't An Adult Yet trying to get her parents to believe she's an adult :/
June 5, 2024
Cosy and sweet. Definitely checking out the rest of the series!
June 30, 2020
Pineapple Mottley, know to friends and family as Motts, has inherited her aunt’s cottage in Cornwall and leaves London behind. As Motts begins to clean up the garden and get it ready for a resurgence, her helper finds a body buried there. Now her parents are even more concerned than ever about her being so far away from them in London.
Being autistic, Motts doesn’t always handle things quite the same as other people do. Motts she has a need to get answers to questions she has and this body means she needs some serious answers….and she can’t help but ask for answers. Now Motts needs to balance her need for answers with her need to stay alive, She’s hoping to go two for two and solve the murder so she can settle into her home and get on with living her life.
This is a great start to a new series set in Cornwall and I couldn’t be more pleased with the location along the sea. The author does a fabulous job with our autistic and asexual protagonist, making her genuine and authentic. I am impress and am looking forward to more in this series.
Being autistic, Motts doesn’t always handle things quite the same as other people do. Motts she has a need to get answers to questions she has and this body means she needs some serious answers….and she can’t help but ask for answers. Now Motts needs to balance her need for answers with her need to stay alive, She’s hoping to go two for two and solve the murder so she can settle into her home and get on with living her life.
This is a great start to a new series set in Cornwall and I couldn’t be more pleased with the location along the sea. The author does a fabulous job with our autistic and asexual protagonist, making her genuine and authentic. I am impress and am looking forward to more in this series.
August 11, 2020
Unusual cozy in some senses.
Motts is easily the amateur sleuth with the hardest task: she’s autistic, so talking to people - let alone possible suspects - gives her anxieties. Still, she tries her darndest and even manages to ruffle enough feathers that someone tries to run her off the road for being nosey.
Classic cozy in that sense.
It’s exhausting to be in Motts’ head for a length of time. But then, it’s exhausting to have an autistic head.
Yay for realism.
Motts has a terrific bunch of friends that come to her aid when her anxieties cause a melt down. Like all the time, and at their own initiative. Where does one find such friends? According to Vina, Motts is the only person that can’t see how terrific she is. Hmm. I don’t see it either. Not terrific enough to have three (later four) friends that are always there for her. Most friendships have some form of reciprocity in them. Not because friends are calculating, but because that is what distinguishes friends from first responders.
So, not so much realism on that front.
I read an ARC through NetGalley.
Motts is easily the amateur sleuth with the hardest task: she’s autistic, so talking to people - let alone possible suspects - gives her anxieties. Still, she tries her darndest and even manages to ruffle enough feathers that someone tries to run her off the road for being nosey.
Classic cozy in that sense.
It’s exhausting to be in Motts’ head for a length of time. But then, it’s exhausting to have an autistic head.
Yay for realism.
Motts has a terrific bunch of friends that come to her aid when her anxieties cause a melt down. Like all the time, and at their own initiative. Where does one find such friends? According to Vina, Motts is the only person that can’t see how terrific she is. Hmm. I don’t see it either. Not terrific enough to have three (later four) friends that are always there for her. Most friendships have some form of reciprocity in them. Not because friends are calculating, but because that is what distinguishes friends from first responders.
So, not so much realism on that front.
I read an ARC through NetGalley.
May 24, 2023
I liked this one, but it needs a serious edit in terms of plot and dialogue. It was really exciting to get to see both some asexual representation (and an asexual romance as well!) and autism representation in Motts. I really liked her as a character and getting to see her thought process throughout the story, as well as her relationship with her friends. I actually thought the parts of the story that weren't focused on the mystery were much more interesting than the mystery itself. Either way, a fun little cozy.
P.S. A small piece of me dies everytime a cozy mystery protagonist ends up with a cop/detective. Why is the detective in the cozy mystery always the love interest?? Why are they out here dating their murder suspects??
Rep: Middle-aged biromantic asexual woman with autism, middle-aged asexual man, middle-aged lesbian of color (Indian), middle-aged gay men of color (Indian; Biracial - Half White/Half Asian)
P.S. A small piece of me dies everytime a cozy mystery protagonist ends up with a cop/detective. Why is the detective in the cozy mystery always the love interest?? Why are they out here dating their murder suspects??
Rep: Middle-aged biromantic asexual woman with autism, middle-aged asexual man, middle-aged lesbian of color (Indian), middle-aged gay men of color (Indian; Biracial - Half White/Half Asian)
February 13, 2025
I really enjoyed two other series by this author and this year one of my goals was to start this series. As I already read two more recent series by this author what surprised me was how long this book was and I think the shorter length of the newer series works better. It felt like it was a longer book, but I didn't feel much happened or as much progress was made in the mystery. Just like the other series I read by this author I enjoyed reading about the relatable autistic main character and liked the daily life scenes more than the mystery parts.
Poisoned Primrose is written from Motts point of view, she's autistic and asexual. She just moved to a quaint cottage in Cornwall that used to belong to her aunt. This is the first time she's living on her own and she starts making the cottage her own. She also has two pets a cat and a turtle. I liked reading about her and feeling at home in the new village and how much calmer it is than London. Although at times I struggled reading about her a bit as she could be so relatable and that was tough at times as I know exactly how disregulating surprise visits or crowded places could be. I liked the romance set up and how accepting he was of her, but I've read so many cozies with the detective as love interests that I prefer cozies that don't have that. I liked seeing Motts interact with her friends and how they have her back and help her out.
While I like the daily life scenes about Motts life, I struggled with the mystery. It just didn't grip me. There were multiple suspects and there's some progress throughout the story, but it felt very slow going. And most of the time Motts got the courage to investigate someone screamed at her or attacked her and it just felt like everyone reacted the same to her questions. I also just wanted more details about the victim and who she was and what her life looked like and how the suspects fit in it, there is some of this, but it didn't really was enough for me. And I just wasn't invested in the mystery at all and it couldn't keep my attention. I even had a hard time remembering who was who and there aren't that many suspects. And Motts doesn't really investigate or figure anything out, the police is actually competent in this book, which is great, but it doesn't make for as engaging a story.
To summarize: This was a decent start to this new series. Having read some of the author's newer series first I was surprised how long this one was and I think the shorter length of her newer series works better. I liked reading about Motts and how she settled into her new cottage. The daily life scenes were fun and I also liked the romance. Motts is autistic and she felt relatable. The mystery didn't grip me as much, it just didn't keep my attention and I felt like the progress was quite slow. The police are competent and I didn't feel Motts efforts really added much to the investigation. It also bothered me how every suspects seemed to get upset and scream or attack Motts when she asked them questions. While I struggled a bit with this one I hope the next book in the series is a better fit for me.
Poisoned Primrose is written from Motts point of view, she's autistic and asexual. She just moved to a quaint cottage in Cornwall that used to belong to her aunt. This is the first time she's living on her own and she starts making the cottage her own. She also has two pets a cat and a turtle. I liked reading about her and feeling at home in the new village and how much calmer it is than London. Although at times I struggled reading about her a bit as she could be so relatable and that was tough at times as I know exactly how disregulating surprise visits or crowded places could be. I liked the romance set up and how accepting he was of her, but I've read so many cozies with the detective as love interests that I prefer cozies that don't have that. I liked seeing Motts interact with her friends and how they have her back and help her out.
While I like the daily life scenes about Motts life, I struggled with the mystery. It just didn't grip me. There were multiple suspects and there's some progress throughout the story, but it felt very slow going. And most of the time Motts got the courage to investigate someone screamed at her or attacked her and it just felt like everyone reacted the same to her questions. I also just wanted more details about the victim and who she was and what her life looked like and how the suspects fit in it, there is some of this, but it didn't really was enough for me. And I just wasn't invested in the mystery at all and it couldn't keep my attention. I even had a hard time remembering who was who and there aren't that many suspects. And Motts doesn't really investigate or figure anything out, the police is actually competent in this book, which is great, but it doesn't make for as engaging a story.
To summarize: This was a decent start to this new series. Having read some of the author's newer series first I was surprised how long this one was and I think the shorter length of her newer series works better. I liked reading about Motts and how she settled into her new cottage. The daily life scenes were fun and I also liked the romance. Motts is autistic and she felt relatable. The mystery didn't grip me as much, it just didn't keep my attention and I felt like the progress was quite slow. The police are competent and I didn't feel Motts efforts really added much to the investigation. It also bothered me how every suspects seemed to get upset and scream or attack Motts when she asked them questions. While I struggled a bit with this one I hope the next book in the series is a better fit for me.
August 23, 2020
Cozy mysteries are not my typical choice of genre. This one won my heart.
Right off the bat, I was drawn into Motts's world. She is such an endearing and relatable character that I would have been happy enough to read the entire book as she puttered through her routines, enjoying her interactions with her family, friends, and beloved pets.
However, Motts's routinely predictable life has been interrupted by a (you guessed it) cozy mystery.
This was such a refreshing read after so many books I've come across containing excessive violence and over-the-top drama. The pacing was perfect. The mystery itself is captivating and rightly diabolical, yet the way the story was told soothed me more than anything else.
I absolutely recommend it and cannot wait to read more from this talented author.
Right off the bat, I was drawn into Motts's world. She is such an endearing and relatable character that I would have been happy enough to read the entire book as she puttered through her routines, enjoying her interactions with her family, friends, and beloved pets.
However, Motts's routinely predictable life has been interrupted by a (you guessed it) cozy mystery.
This was such a refreshing read after so many books I've come across containing excessive violence and over-the-top drama. The pacing was perfect. The mystery itself is captivating and rightly diabolical, yet the way the story was told soothed me more than anything else.
I absolutely recommend it and cannot wait to read more from this talented author.
readers-advisory
April 26, 2024"In this cozy British mystery series, an asexual autistic woman who goes by the nickname “Motts” has her quiet life turned upside down when she discovers a dead body buried in her garden. Now she’s mixed up in a criminal investigation, with a murderer out to get her and a cute detective on her case. This is really not what she had in mind when she moved from the bustle of London to the quiet British countryside. Can she stay alive long enough to solve the case and get back to the life she wanted, or will she wind up as another body buried in the backyard?" Rachel Brittain, BookRiot https://bookriot.com/queer-cozy-myste...
October 12, 2022
A very easy read following a very sweet main character. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
If you're looking for an nice mystery book I would absolutely recommend!
If you're looking for an nice mystery book I would absolutely recommend!
January 8, 2024
It was cute. The focus was all on Mott and her autism and how she handles what life throws at her. The mystery was sort of a side plot. It was a nice, easy, entertaining read.
March 27, 2021
Well, I wanted a fluffy read & this was it.
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June 29, 2020RTC
July 11, 2021
TLDR: This book has so much amazing rep!
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